Recent Advances in Immune Cell Therapy for Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant form of astrocytoma with short survival and a high recurrence rate and remains a global problem. Currently, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other comprehensive treatments are the main treatment modalities, but patients still have a poor prognosis mainly due to the infiltrative growth of GBM and the protective effect of the blood–brain barrier on tumor cells. Therefore, immunotherapy is expected to be a good option for GBM. In the immune system, different cells play varying roles in the treatment of GBM, so understanding the roles played by various immune cells in treating GBM and considering how to combine these effects to maximize the efficacy of these cells is important for the selection of comprehensive and optimal treatment plans and improving GBM prognosis. Therefore, this study reviews the latest research progress on the role of various types of immune cells in the treatment of GBM.

Recent advances in understanding, diagnosing and treating venous thrombosis

Focusing on the current state of the art, this article (a) describes recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), (b) discusses current approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of VTE, (c) outlines the role of aspirin for VTE prevention and treatment, and (d) highlights the unmet needs in VTE management and describes novel approaches to address them.

Biocomposites from Organic Solid Wastes Derived Biochars: A Review

The replacement of natural fiber with biochars to prepare biocomposites has attracted widespread attention recently. Biochar has unique properties, including the porous structure, large specific surface area, high thermal stability, good conductivity, renewable and abundant feedstock source, and environmental friendliness, which provide excellent properties, environmental benefits, and low production costs for biochar-based composites. Biocomposites from organic solid waste-derived biochars show good prospects worldwide in terms of positive social, environmental, and economic impacts. This paper reviews current biochars, elucidates the effects of biochars on the characteristics and performance of biochar composites, and points out the challenges and future development prospects of biochar composites.

Proceedings of the 2018 Advances In Motility and In NeuroGastroenterology: AIMING for the Future Single Topic Symposium

OBJECTIVES

Motility and functional disorders are common in children and often debilitating, yet these disorders remain challenging to treat effectively. At the 2018 Annual North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition meeting, the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Committee held a full day symposium entitled, 2018 Advances In Motility and In NeuroGastroenterology - AIMING for the future. The symposium aimed to explore clinical paradigms in pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders and provided a foundation for advancing new scientific and therapeutic research strategies.

METHODS

The symposium brought together leading experts throughout North America to review the state of the art in the diagnosis and management of motility and functional disorders in children. Presentations were divided into esophageal, antral duodenal, and colorectal modules. Each module included oral presentations by experts in the respective fields, leading to thought-provoking discussions. There were 2 breakout sessions with small group discussions on select topics, focusing on defining scientific insights into the diagnosis and management of pediatric functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in a systematic, segment-based approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The field of neurogastroenterology has made remarkable progress in the last decade. The current report summarizes the major learning points from the symposium highlighting the diagnosis and promising therapies on the horizon for pediatric neurogastrointestinal and motility disorders.

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: Established and emerging treatments

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) patients tend to have a poor overall survival. The primary goals of treatment focus on palliation of symptoms and improvement in overall survival (OS). Single-agent sequential chemotherapy with anthracycline or taxane has remained the cornerstone of treatment for many years. The FDA has approved newer agents such as poly-adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors upfront in germline BRCA (gBRCA) 1/2 mutation carriers; atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel combination frontline in patients with PD-L1 expression > 1%; and sacituzumab govitecan (IMMU-132), an antibody-drug conjugate in heavily pretreated mTNBC patients.

Medicinal Plant Analysis: A Historical and Regional Discussion of Emergent Complex Techniques

The analysis of medicinal plants has had a long history, and especially with regard to assessing a plant's quality. The first techniques were organoleptic using the physical senses of taste, smell, and appearance. Then gradually these led on to more advanced instrumental techniques. Though different countries have their own traditional medicines China currently leads the way in terms of the number of publications focused on medicinal plant analysis and number of inclusions in their Pharmacopoeia. The monographs contained within these publications give directions on the type of analysis that should be performed, and for manufacturers, this typically means that they need access to more and more advanced instrumentation. We have seen developments in many areas of analytical analysis and particularly the development of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and the hyphenation of these techniques. The ability to process data using multivariate analysis software has opened the door to metabolomics giving us greater capacity to understand the many variations of chemical compounds occurring within medicinal plants, allowing us to have greater certainty of not only the quality of the plants and medicines but also of their suitability for clinical research. Refinements in technology have resulted in the ability to analyze and categorize plants effectively and be able to detect contaminants and adulterants occurring at very low levels. However, advances in technology cannot provide us with all the answers we need in order to deliver high-quality herbal medicines and the more traditional techniques of assessing quality remain as important today.

Highlights of the 14th International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac Computed Tomography

The 14th International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac Computed Tomography was held from 12 May to 14 May 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal. In this article, the three Congress Programme Committee Chairs summarize selected highlights of the presented abstracts and lectures.

Therapeutic Challenges And Advances In The Management Of Systemic Sclerosis-Related Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (SSc-PAH)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disorder with multi-organ involvement. SSc-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the SSc population. With advances in our understanding of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) diagnosis and treatment, outcomes for all PAH patients have significantly improved. While SSc-PAH patients have also benefited from these advances, significant challenges remain. Diagnosis of PAH is a challenging endeavor in SSc patients who often have many co-existing pulmonary and cardiac comorbidities. Given the significantly elevated prevalence and lifetime risk of PAH in the SSc population, screening for SSc-PAH is a critically useful strategy. Treatment with pulmonary arterial (PA) vasodilators has resulted in a dramatic improvement in the survival and quality of life of PAH patients. While therapy with PA vasodilators is beneficial in SSc-PAH patients, therapy effects appear to be attenuated when compared to responses in patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH). This review attempts to chronicle and summarize the advances in our understanding of the optimal screening strategies to identify PAH in patients with SSc. The article also reviews the advances in the therapeutic and risk stratification strategies for SSc-PAH patients.

Adult growth hormone deficiency: clinical advances and approaches to improve adherence

Introduction: There have been significant clinical advances in the understanding of the diagnosis and benefits of long-term recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement in adults with GH deficiency (GHD) since its approval in 1996 by the United States Food and Drug Administration.Areas covered: We searched PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsychInfo databases between January 2000 and June 2019 for published studies evaluating adults with GHD. We reviewed the data of the oral macimorelin test compared to the GHRH plus arginine and the insulin tolerance tests that led to its approval by the United States FDA and European Medicines Agency for adult diagnostic testing. We summarize the clinical advances of long-term benefits of rhGH therapy and the potential effects of GH receptor polymorphisms on individual treatment responsiveness. We identify that non-adherence and discontinuation rates are high and recommend strategies to support patients to improve adherence. We also provide an overview of several long-acting GH (LAGH) preparations currently under development and their potential role in improving treatment adherence.Expert opinion: This article summarizes recent clinical advances in rhGH replacement therapy, the biological and molecular aspects that may influence rhGH action, and offers practical strategies to enhance adherence in adults with GHD.

Advances in Type 1 Diabetes Technology Over the Last Decade

The past 10 years have witnessed rapid advances in the technology used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). While the disease burden is still high, these advances have contributed to improvements in both glycaemic control and quality of life for many of those affected. New technologies allow for individualisation of care, as patients are able to work with their providers to determine which systems best fit their lifestyle and needs. In addition, thanks to improved glucose monitoring technologies, patients can now simultaneously improve glycaemic control and reduce hypoglycaemia, thereby mitigating risk for acute and chronic complications. Technological advances in T1D care are rapidly moving us toward increasingly automated devices, which offer the promise of reduced disease burden. In this article, we review advances in glucose monitoring, insulin and glucagon delivery, and the applications and algorithms seeking to integrate novel technologies.

Autoimmune hepatitis: Current and future therapeutic options

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare immune-mediated liver disease with few major advances in treatment options over the last several decades. Available options are effective in most patients albeit are imprecise in their mechanisms. Novel and more tolerable induction regimens and alternative options for management of patients intolerant or with suboptimal response to traditional therapies including in the post-transplant setting remain an important unmet need. This review aims to summarize recent data on pharmacological options and investigational drugs in development for patients with AIH. Standard therapy using prednisone with or without azathioprine remains the mainstay of therapy and is effective in most patients. Budesonide may be considered for induction in early disease and in those with mild fibrosis, but has not been approved for maintenance therapy. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in combination with steroids might be an alternative first-line therapy, but results from a randomized trial are awaited. MMF as a second-line maintenance agent has moderate efficacy though more frequent adverse events in patients with cirrhosis may be seen. Tacrolimus may be an equally effective second-line option particularly in non-responders, but data remain limited. Management of recurrent AIH post-liver transplantation remains controversial with insufficient data to support long-term steroid use. Moving forward, expanding the scope of therapeutic options to include biologics including B-cell depleting agents may be a promising step. Recent insights in understanding the pathogenesis of AIH could serve as a basis for future therapies, including the elucidation of different immunoregulatory pathways and the potential role of the intestinal microbiome.

Advances in identification of genes involved in autosomal recessive intellectual disability: a brief review

Intellectual disability (ID) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder, affecting 1%-3% of the general population. The number of ID-causing genes is high. Many X-linked genes have been implicated in ID. Autosomal dominant genes have recently been the focus of several large-scale studies. The total number of autosomal recessive ID (ARID) genes is estimated to be very high, and most are still unknown. Although research into the genetic causes of ID has recently gained momentum, identification of pathogenic mutations that cause ARID has lagged behind, predominantly due to non-availability of sizeable families. A commonly used approach to identify genetic loci for recessive disorders in consanguineous families is autozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing. Combination of these two approaches has recently led to identification of many genes involved in ID. These genes have diverse function and control various biological processes. In this review, we will present an update regarding genes that have been recently implicated in ID with focus on ARID.

[Advances of long-acting recombinant protein therapeutics]

Some of the recombinant protein therapeutics with short half-life requires high frequent dose or injection, which results in poor patient compliance. This challenge has prompted the development of long-acting recombinant proteins in recent years. Four strategies and methods, including chemical modification, protein engineering, fusion proteins and protein glycosylation are used to modify protein molecule and finally obtain improved pharmacokinetics (PK) properties. This article reviews the four strategies of half-life extension and presents a detailed list of long-acting therapeutics on US, EU and China markets.

Moving Forward: Recent Developments for the Ferret Biomedical Research Model

Since the initial report in 1911, the domestic ferret has become an invaluable biomedical research model. While widely recognized for its utility in influenza virus research, ferrets are used for a variety of infectious and noninfectious disease models due to the anatomical, metabolic, and physiological features they share with humans and their susceptibility to many human pathogens. However, there are limitations to the model that must be overcome for maximal utility for the scientific community. Here, we describe important recent advances that will accelerate biomedical research with this animal model.

Giant cell arteritis: beyond temporal artery biopsy and steroids

Giant cell arteritis is the most common primary vasculitis of the elderly. The acute complications of untreated giant cell arteritis, such as vision loss or occasionally stroke, can be devastating. The diagnosis is, however, not altogether straightforward due to variable sensitivities of the temporal artery biopsy as a reference diagnostic test. In this review, we discuss the increasing role of imaging in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. Glucocorticoid treatment is the backbone of therapy, but it is associated with significant adverse effects. A less toxic alternative is required. Conventional and novel immunosuppressive agents have only demonstrated modest effects in a subgroup of steroid refractory Giant cell arteritis due to the different arms of the immune system at play. However, recently a study of interleukin-6 blockade demonstrated benefits of giant cell arteritis. The current status of these immunosuppressive agents and novel therapies are also discussed in this review.

[Advances in studies on chemical compositions of Atractylodes lancea and their biological activities]

This article mainly summarises the results of the chemical compositions and its pharmacological activities of Atractylodes Radix. The chemistry components isolated from Atractylodes Radix are mainly sesquiterpenoids, enediynes, triterpenoids, aromatic glycosides, and etc. Pharmacological results showed that Atractylodes Radix has inhibition of gastric acid secretion, promoting gastrointestinal movement and gastric emptying, hpyerglycemic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection and nervous system activity, etc. This article hopefully to provide a reference for further research, development and utilization of Atractylodes Radix.

Advances in Pediatric Critical Care Research in India

Over last 2 decades, there has been a significant progress made in the field of pediatric critical care in India. There has been complementary and parallel growth in the pediatric critical care services in India and the number of pediatric critical care providers who are either formally trained in India or who have returned to India after their formal training abroad. The pediatric critical care community in India has recognized obvious differences in profiles of critical illnesses and patients between Indian subcontinent and the West. Therefore there is a growing interest in generating scientific evidence through local research which would be applicable to critically ill children in Indian subcontinent. This article focuses on advances in pediatric critical care research in India and its future directions.

Technical Advances in Image Guidance of Radionuclide Therapy

Internal radiation therapy with radionuclides (i.e., radionuclide therapy) owes its success to the many advantages over other, more conventional, treatment options. One distinct advantage of radionuclide therapies is the potential to use (part of) the emitted radiation for imaging of the radionuclide distribution. The combination of diagnostic and therapeutic properties in a set of matched radiopharmaceuticals (sometimes combined in a single radiopharmaceutical) is often referred to as theranostics and allows accurate diagnostic imaging before therapy. The use of imaging benefits treatment planning, dosimetry, and assessment of treatment response. This paper focuses on a selection of advances in imaging technology relevant for image guidance of radionuclide therapy. This involves developments in nuclear imaging modalities, as well as other anatomic and functional imaging modalities. The quality and quantitative accuracy of images used for guidance of radionuclide therapy is continuously being improved, which in turn may improve the therapeutic outcome and efficiency of radionuclide therapies.

[Advances in the studies of testicular microlithiasis]

With the increased attention to men's health and development of ultrasound imaging technology, clinicians are achieving a better understanding of testicular microlithiasis. This review presents an overview on recent studies of the etiology, pathogenesis, and imaging characteristics of testicular microlithiasis, its impact on male reproductive function, and its relation ship with testis tumors and other related diseases, as well as its treatment strategies and follow-up proposals, aiming to provide some new evidence for further understanding and management of the disease.

The role of nanotechnology in the treatment of viral infections

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with viruses in particular making global impact on healthcare and socioeconomic development. In addition, the rapid development of drug resistance to currently available therapies and adverse side effects due to prolonged use is a serious public health concern. The development of novel treatment strategies is therefore required. The interaction of nanostructures with microorganisms is fast-revolutionizing the biomedical field by offering advantages in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Nanoparticles offer unique physical properties that have associated benefits for drug delivery. These are predominantly due to the particle size (which affects bioavailability and circulation time), large surface area to volume ratio (enhanced solubility compared to larger particles), tunable surface charge of the particle with the possibility of encapsulation, and large drug payloads that can be accommodated. These properties, which are unlike bulk materials of the same compositions, make nanoparticulate drug delivery systems ideal candidates to explore in order to achieve and/or improve therapeutic effects. This review presents a broad overview of the application of nanosized materials for the treatment of common viral infections.

Imaging Advances in Urolithiasis

The prevalence of urinary stones in the United States has been described as 1 in 11 persons reporting a history of stones. Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis, management, and follow-up for these patients and imaging technology over the last 100 years has advanced as the disease prevalence has increased. CT remains the gold standard for imaging urolithiasis and changes in this technology, with the addition of multidetector CT and dual-energy CT, as well as the changes in utilization of CT, have decreased the radiation dose encountered by patients and allowed for improved stone detection. The use of digital tomography has been introduced for follow-up of recurrent stone formers offering the potential to lower radiation exposure over the course of a patient's lifelong treatment. However, there is still a demand for improved imaging techniques to detect smaller stones and stones in larger patients at lower radiation doses as well as the continued need for the judicious use of all imaging modalities for healthcare cost containment and patient safety.

Gastroenterological surgery in Japan: The past, the present and the future

In the last two centuries, there has been remarkable progress in the field of gastroenterological surgery, including the curative resection of cancers, replacement of failed organs through transplantation, increased safety of undergoing major surgeries and decreased operative morbidity through developments in minimal access surgery. Japan has very much been at the forefront of these advances, as is evident from the present review, from advancing the surgical management of gastric cancer to the pioneering work in live-donor transplantation. This review also highlights many instances where surgical management of the same pathologies has evolved differently between Japan and the West. It is encouraging that many procedures established in Japan are eventually taken up by the West, often after rigorous assessment affirming the quality and applicability of such techniques. In Japan, many of the crucial issues in gastroenterological surgery are increasingly addressed through large multi-institutional prospective control trials, ensuring that Japanese surgeons continue to contribute to the advances in gastroenterological surgery.