Thirteen moth species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Noctuidae) newly recorded in South Africa, with comments on their distribution

Background

Thanks to the high diversity of ecosystems and habitats, South Africa harbours tremendous diversity of insects. The Kruger National Park, due to its position close to the border between two biogeographic regions and high heterogeneity of environmental conditions, represents an insufficiently studied hotspot of lepidopteran diversity. During our ecological research in the Kruger National Park, we collected abundant moth material, including several interesting faunistic records reported in this study.

New information

We reported 13 species of moths which had not yet been recorded in South Africa. In many cases, our records represented an important extension of the species' known distribution, including two species (Ozarbagaedei and O.persinua) whose distribution ranges extended into the Zambezian biogeographic region. Such findings confirmed the poor regional knowledge of lepidopteran diversity.

Nanoparticle-Modified Apoferritin Nanotransfer for Targeted Cytostatic Transport

BACKGROUND

Ferritin is a globular intracellular protein that acts as the main reservoir for iron. Malignancies are associated with increased plasma ferritin concentrations. A number of studies show that tumor cells express high levels of transferrin receptors (TfR). Increased TfR expression was observed in prostate carcinoma. Apoferritin (APO) can be used as a protein nanotransporter into which a suitable medicinal substance can be encapsulated. Nanoparticles increase the permeability of tumor cells to nanotransporters and have a photothermal effect. The aim of this study was to encapsulate doxorubicin (DOX) into APO and to modify the resulting APO/DOX with gold (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles prepared by green synthesis (AgNPsGS).

METHODS

APO was characterized using 10% sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) - 120 V, 60 min, 24 mM Tris, 0.2 M glycine, 3 mM SDS. DOX fluorescence (Ex 480 nm; Em 650 nm) was observed, with a typical absorption maximum at 560 nm. Electrochemical measurement was performed in Brdicka solution (three-electrode setup). AgNPsGS were prepared by green synthesis using clover (Trifolium pratense L.).

RESULTS

An electrophoretic study of APO and APO/DOX (5-100 μg/mL) was performed and the behavior of APO and APO/DOX (10 μM) as a function of pH was monitored. In an acidic environment, APO forms subunits of about 20 kDa; in an alkaline medium, it forms a globular protein of about 450 kDa. A change in APO/DOX mobility (about by 10%) was observed. A film of gold nanoparticles was applied to the APO/DOX surface. APO/DOX-AuNPs were washed with ultra-pure water. pH-dependent release of DOX a was monitored. The amount of DOX analyzed was increased by up to 50%. Furthermore, an AgNPsGS-DOX complex (1 mg AgNPsGS/100 μM DOX) was generated and prepared. Subsequently, the AgNPsGS-DOX complex was encapsulated into APO. To further improve therapeutic efficacy, the APO/AgNPsGS-DOX complex was coated with an Au layer. APO/AgNPsGS-DOX/AuNPs were stable and DOX was released from the complex after physical parameters had changed.

CONCLUSION

APO nanocomplexes were prepared and modified to increase therapeutic efficacy against tumors. Tumor cell targeting was achieved by binding to TfR and via increased tumor cell permeability and retention. Release of the drug was made possible due to a pH change and photothermal activation that will now be tested. This work was supported by COST European Cholangiocarcinoma Network CA18122 and International Collaboration Project of The European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine. The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers. Submitted: 21. 3. 2019 Accepted: 14. 5. 2019.

Chemoembolization for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma - National Registry-Based Analysis

BACKGROUND

To evaluate survival benefit in patient undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by national registry data analysis and comparison of regions with unequal usage of interventional radiology procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 4,343 patients with primary diagnosis of HCC between 2010-2016 were extracted from the databases of The Czech National Cancer Registry. The analysis was supported by data from the National Registry of Paid Health Services and the Death Records Database. Primary treatment option was categorized as liver resection, ablation, TACE and chemotherapy. The regional data analysis provided information of interventional radiology procedures frequency for primary treatment of HCC. The 14 main regions were symmetrically divided to group with well-developed interventional radiology service and low-developed interventional radiology service according the frequency of stage adjusted interventional radiology procedure usage (< 15%, > 15%). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used for survival and hazard ratios (HR) analyses.

RESULTS

Only 1,730 patients had assessed any primary treatment option, 16.5 % (285) were treated by TACE. Median of survival were significantly different in regions with well and low developed interventional radiology service for whole study population (13.2 vs. 6.5 months, p < 0.001), patients treated in regions with well-developed interventional radiology service had lower risk of death during treatment (HR 0.73; 0.66-0.81). The patient treated by TACE had median of survival 15.8 months (13.5-18.1), while the survival was not significantly different in region groups.

CONCLUSION

The usage of anticancer therapies based on interventional radiology procedures is a huge factor influences the survival of HCC patient according population-based data. Studies gathering data from cancer register databases can provide further information on treatment effectiveness. This work was created at Masaryk University in the project „Oncological radiological interventions and their benefit in complex oncological treatment, comparison of dedicated oncological treatment results data of the Czech republic II“ (MUNI/A/1574/2018), supported by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. This publication was additionally suported by Ministry of Health grant No. 15-32484A. The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers. Submitted: 1. 3. 2019 Accepted: 4. 3. 2019.

[Management of care of HIV-positive pregnant women in the period 1996-2014]

OBJECTIVE

The evaluation of multidisplinary care about HIV positive pregnant women in the Czech Republic.

DESIGN

Review.

SETTINGS

Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika 1. LF UK a Nemocnice na Bulovce, Praha.

METHODS

The vertical transmission of HIV infection from mother to fetus occurs most often during birth, still 1-2% of HIV-positive pregnant women will transfer the virus transplacenta. Due to careful screening for HIV during pregnancy, counselling, combination antiretroviral (cART) therapy, childbirth planning and its performance by C-section there appears a significant decrease of the virus transmission to the fetus, its occurrence is around 2%. If the HIV infection is detected in the context of screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), we begin with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) depending on the level of viremia and CD4 as soon as possible. All HIV-positive pregnancies are tested for possible coinfection with hepatitis C. Since the first application of the antiretroviral treatment, the therapy is applies throughout the duration of the pregnancy. The labours of the HIV- positive women in the Czech Republic are scheduled. The primary choice is a caesarean section during the 38th week of pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

From 1996-2014 the HIV positive status at 18 months of child age was confirmed in 4 cases in the Czech Republic. Three children were born to mothers whose HIV status was unknown at the time of the birth. Thanks to strict adherence to the interdisciplinary care, HIV positive woman have a chance to deliver a HIV-negative newborn and the risk of the transmission of the virus is significantly low.