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Fluorinated Ionizable Lipids for Efficient Spleen-Targeted mRNA Delivery in Cancer Immunotherapy.

Efficient and selective mRNA delivery to immune-related organs, particularly the spleen, remains a major barrier to the broader clinical translation of mRNA therapeutics. Here, leveraging the clinically approved SM-102/ALC-0315 ionizable lipid scaffold, we rationally designed a combinatorial library of fluorinated ionizable lipids (FILs) by systematically modulating hydrophobic tails and fluorine stoichiometry. Through synthesis and evaluation of 74 candidate FILs, we identify SSC6F5 lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as a lead formulation with exceptional spleen-targeting specificity (>90%) across intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous administrations. Compared to clinically approved SM102 LNPs and spleen-tropic SM102/18PA (SORT) LNPs, intravenously administered SSC6F5 LNPs achieve 10.6-fold and 63.1-fold higher splenic mRNA transfection, respectively. Proteomic analysis of protein corona on SSC6F5 LNPs reveals significant enrichment of apolipoprotein D (Apod) and reduction in apolipoprotein H (Apoh), implicating a novel endogenous recognition pathway driving enhanced spleen targeting. Functionally, SSC6F5 LNPs enable efficient genome editing in splenic macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells in Ai9 mice, and elicit potent CD8+ T cell and humoral responses in a B16-OVA murine melanoma model, resulting in significant tumor growth inhibition. These findings establish fluorinated lipids as a mechanistically distinct and translationally versatile platform for precision spleen-targeted mRNA delivery in gene editing and cancer immunotherapy.

Animals↗

Peptides which bind to E-selectin and block neutrophil adhesion.

E-selectin is an inducible cell adhesion molecule which mediates rolling of neutrophils on the endothelium, an early event in the development of an inflammatory response. Inhibition of selectin-mediated rolling is a possible means for controlling inflammation-induced diseases, and several classes of compounds have been tested for this use. We describe here the use of recombinant peptide library screening for identification and optimization of novel ligands which bind to E-selectin. Several of these peptides bind with Kd values in the low nanomolar range and block E-selectin-mediated adhesion of neutrophils in static and flow-cell assays. Administration of the peptide to mice undergoing an acute inflammatory response reduced the extent of neutrophil transmigration to the site of inflammation, demonstrating the utility of this compound as a potential therapeutic. The identification of a peptide ligand for E-selectin suggests that the complete natural ligand for this adhesion molecule may include protein as well as carbohydrate moieties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tufts academic health information network: concept and scenario.

Tufts University School of Medicine's new health sciences education building, the Arthur M. Sackler Center for Health Communications, will house a modern medical library and computer center, classrooms, auditoria, and media facilities. The building will also serve as the center for an information and communication network linking the medical school and adjacent New England Medical Center, Tufts' primary teaching hospital, with Tufts Associated Teaching Hospitals throughout New England. Ultimately, the Tufts network will join other gateway networks, information resource facilities, health care institutions, and medical schools throughout the world. The center and the network are intended to facilitate and improve the education of health professionals, the delivery of health care to patients, the conduct of research, and the implementation of administrative management approaches that should provide more efficient utilization of resources and save dollars. A model and scenario show how health care delivery and health care education are integrated through better use of information transfer technologies by health information specialists, practitioners, and educators.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Creating books for the National electronic Library for Health: expected barriers and useful lessons.

The National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) is now taking shape, as the virtual branch libraries begin to accumulate 'books', among their resources. In the Primary Care branch (http://www.nelh-pc.nhs.uk), one of the first available books was the Statement of Fees and Allowances (otherwise known as the Red Book). While being held up as an example of what the NeLH can offer, this book and the story of its transformation from paper to Internet format is a powerful example of how much further the National Health Service (NHS) must go before it can claim to be fully exploiting the benefits of information technology (IT). This article refers to the author's experience in producing electronic books for primary care using WaX software, and an example of a process change from paper to screen that was managed within a university administrative office. The author suggests that to reap optimal benefits from IT, the NeLH and its collaborators must address the fundamental issues of people and the paper-based processes used by information providers. The NeLH must work with both NHS IT trainers and information providers in a three-way collaboration involving key people and processes, to achieve the efficient production of an updateable and user-friendly library of electronic books.

Books↗

Postnatal phenobarbitone for the prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: This section is under preparation and will be included in the next issue. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether postnatal administration of phenobarbitone to preterm infants reduces the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), neurodevelopmental impairment or death. SEARCH STRATEGY: See the Search Strategy of the Neonatal Collaborative Review Group. The reviewer has been a active trialist in this area and has personal contact with many groups in this field. Journals handsearched from 1976 (when cranial CT scanning started) to November 1998 include: Pediatrics, J Pediatrics, Archives of Disease in Childhood, Pediatric Research, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, Acta Paediatrica, European J of Pediatrics, Neuropediatrics, New England J of Medicine, Lancet and British Medical J. The National Library of Medicine (USA) database (via PubMed) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched through to November 1998 using the MeSH terms intraventricular hemorrhage, newborn infants, premature infant, intracranial hemorrhage, phenobarbitone, phenobarbital. The searches were not limited to the English language, as long as the article included an English abstract. Promising articles were read in the original language or translated. SELECTION CRITERIA: Included were randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials in which phenobarbitone was given to preterm infants identified as being at risk of IVH because of gestational age below 34 weeks, birthweight below 1500 g, or respiratory failure. Adequate determination of IVH by ultrasound or CT was also required. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: In addition to details of patient selection and control of bias, the details of the administration of phenobarbitone were extracted. The end-points searched for included: IVH ( with grading), posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation or hydrocephalus, neurodevelopmental impairment and death. In addition, possible adverse effects of phenobarbitone such as hypotension, mechanical ventilation, pneumothorax, hypercapnia, and acidosis were searched for. MAIN RESULTS: Nine controlled trials were included with 740 infants recruited. There was heterogeneity between trials for the outcome IVH, with one trial finding a significant decrease in IVH and another trial finding an increase in IVH in the group receiving phenobarbitone. Meta-analysis showed no difference between the phenobarbitone treated group and the control group in either IVH (typical relative risk 1.04, CI 0.87, 1.25), severe IVH (typical relative risk 0.91, CI 0.66, 1.27), posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (typical relative risk 0.89, CI 0.38, 2.08), severe neurodevelopmental impairment (typical relative risk 1.44, CI 0.41, 5.04) or death before hospital discharge (typical relative risk 0.88, CI 0.64, 1.21) There was a consistent trend in the trials towards increased use of mechanical ventilation in the phenobarbitone treated group, which was supported by the meta-analysis (typical relative risk 1.18, CI 1.06, 1.32; typical risk difference 0.129, CI 0.045, 0.213), but there was no significant difference in pneumothorax, acidosis or hypercapnia. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Postnatal administration of phenobarbitone cannot be recommended as prophylaxis to prevent IVH in preterm infants and is associated with an increased need for mechanical ventilation.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

NAC-1, a rat brain mRNA, is increased in the nucleus accumbens three weeks after chronic cocaine self-administration.

Chronic cocaine use leads to biochemical and behavioral changes that can persist for weeks to months after drug administration is discontinued. Alterations in gene expression in the mammalian CNS may contribute to these long-term neural consequences of cocaine abuse. A combined in situ transcription-PCR amplification strategy was used to isolate a novel mRNA, NAC-1, from the nucleus accumbens of rats 3 weeks after discontinuing 3 weeks of intravenous cocaine self-administration. In rats that self-administered cocaine, levels of NAC-1 were increased approximately 50% in the nucleus accumbens but not in the dorsal striatum or hippocampus, when compared with levels from yoked-saline controls. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated increased numbers of NAC-1-expressing cells in the nucleus accumbens of rats who had self-administered cocaine. NAC-1 mRNA exists as one form, approximately 4400 nucleotides (nt) in size, and also is present at much lower amounts in non-neural tissues. A full-length cDNA clone was isolated from a whole brain library. The predicted polypeptide sequence contains a POZ domain in the first 120 amino acids; the same POZ domain sequence mediates protein-protein interactions among some transcriptional regulators. NAC-1 mRNA levels were also increased in the nucleus accumbens 1 week after 6 d of noncontingent cocaine treatments. Regulation of NAC-1 mRNA in the nucleus accumbens demonstrates a long-term effect of cocaine use on cellular function that may be relevant in behavioral sensitization or cocaine self-administration.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Toward targeted oral vaccine delivery systems: selection of lectin mimetics from combinatorial libraries.

PURPOSE: Various lectins bind specifically to oligosaccharides on intestinal cells. Exploiting this specificity, Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA1) has been used as a ligand for targeted oral vaccine delivery to M cells (antigen-presenting cells) in follicle-associated epithelium. In this study we characterized compounds identified from mixture-based positional scanning synthetic combinatorial libraries, which mimic UEA1 and, thus, may have properties applicable to targeted drug delivery. METHODS: Two UEA1 mimetics were synthesized and their activity was verified on live cells. The ability of the lead compound, a tetragalloyl D-Lysine amide construct (4-copy gallic acid construct), to deliver dye-loaded polystyrene particles to M cells was assessed in an in situ mouse gut loop model. RESULTS: The 4-copy gallic acid construct inhibited UEA1 binding to Caco-2 cell membranes with an IC50 of 3 microM, a 650- to 5000-fold increase over the natural UEA1 substrate alpha-L-fucose. The biotin-labeled derivative of this construct demonstrated comparable binding activity as verified on live cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Preclinical studies confirmed its ability to mediate M cell-specific delivery of streptavidin-coated particles in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Polyphenolic compounds, D-Lysine scaffolds with multiple galloyl groups, can mimic functional activities of UEA1. Properties of such molecules, including low molecular weight, stability, ease of synthesis and low cost, highlight their potential for application in targeted vaccine delivery.

Administration, Oral↗

Identification of a peptide enhancing mucosal and systemic immune responses against EGFP after oral administration in mice.

Gangliosides are receptors for various peptides and proteins including neuropeptides, beta-amyloid proteins, and prions. Recently, the role of gangliosides in mucosal immunization has attracted attention due to the emerging interest in oral vaccination. Ganglioside GM1 exists in abundance on the surface of the M cells of Peyer's patch, a well-known mucosal immunity induction site. In the present study we identified a peptide ligand for GM1 and tested whether it played a role in immune induction. GM1-binding peptides were selected from a phage-displayed dodecapeptide library and one peptide motif, GWKERLSSWNRF, was fused to the C-terminus of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The fusion protein, but not EGFP fused with a control peptide, was concentrated around Peyer's patch after incubation in the lumen of the intestine ex vivo. Furthermore, oral feeding of the fusion protein but not control EGFP induced mucosal and systemic immune responses against EGFP resembling Th2-type immune responses.

Administration, Oral↗

Single dose dextropropoxyphene, alone and with paracetamol (acetaminophen), for postoperative pain.

BACKGROUND: Patient surveys have shown that postoperative pain is often not managed well, and there is a need to assess the efficacy and safety of commonly used analgesics as newer treatments become available. Dextropropoxyphene is one example of an opioid analgesic in current use, and is widely prescribed for pain relief in combination with paracetamol under names such as Co-proxamol and Distalgesic. OBJECTIVES: To determine the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of single dose oral Dextropropoxyphene alone and in combination with paracetamol (acetaminophen) for moderate to severe postoperative pain. SEARCH STRATEGY: Published reports were identified from: Medline (1966 - November 1996), Biological Abstracts (1985 - 1996), Embase (1980 - 1996), the Cochrane Library (Issue 4 1996), and the Oxford Pain Relief Database (1954 - 1994). Additional studies were identified from the reference lists of retrieved reports. Date of the most recent searches: July 1998. SELECTION CRITERIA: The inclusion criteria used were: full journal publication, postoperative pain, postoperative oral administration, adult patients, baseline pain of moderate to severe intensity, double-blind design, and random allocation to treatment groups which included dextropropoxyphene and placebo or a combination of dextropropoxyphene plus paracetamol and placebo. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted by two independent reviewers, and trials were quality scored. Summed pain intensity and pain relief data were extracted and converted into dichotomous information to yield the number of patients with at least 50% pain relief. This was used to calculate the relative benefit and number-needed-to-treat (NNT) for one patient to achieve at least 50% pain relief. MAIN RESULTS: Six trials (440 patients) compared dextropropoxyphene with placebo and five (963 patients) compared dextropropoxyphene plus paracetamol 650 mg with placebo. For a single dose of dextropropoxyphene 65 mg in postoperative pain the NNT for at least 50% pain relief was 7.7 (95% confidence interval 4.6 to 22) when compared with placebo over 4-6 hours. For the equivalent dose of dextropropoxyphene combined with paracetamol 650 mg the NNT was 4.4 (3.5 to 5.6) when compared with placebo. These results were compared with those for other analgesics obtained from equivalent systematic reviews. Pooled data showed increased incidence of central nervous system adverse effects for dextropropoxyphene plus paracetamol compared with placebo. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: The combination of dextropropoxyphene 65 mg with paracetamol 650 mg shows similar efficacy to tramadol 100 mg for single dose studies in postoperative pain but with a lower incidence of adverse effects. The same dose of paracetamol combined with 60 mg codeine appears more effective but, with the slight overlap in the 95% confidence intervals, this conclusion is not robust. Adverse effects of both combinations were similar. Ibuprofen 400 mg has a lower (better) NNT than both dextropropoxyphene 65 mg plus paracetamol 650 mg and tramadol 100 mg.

Acetaminophen↗

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) versus opioids for acute renal colic.

BACKGROUND: Renal colic is a common cause of acute severe pain. Both opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for treatment, but the relative efficacy of these drugs is uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To examine the benefits and disadvantages of NSAIDs and opioids for the management of pain in acute renal colic. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Renal Group's specialised register (May 2003), the Cochrane Central Register of Randomised Controlled Trials (CENTRAL - The Cochrane Library issue 2, 2003), MEDLINE (1966 - 31 January 2003), EMBASE (1980 - 31 January 2003) and handsearched reference lists of retrieved articles. Most recent search date: January 2005 SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any opioid with any NSAID, regardless of dose or route of administration were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data was extracted and quality assessed independently by two reviewers, with differences resolved by discussion. Dichotomous outcomes are reported as relative risk (RR) and measurements on continuous scales are reported as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analysis by study quality, drug type and drug route have been performed where possible to explore reasons for heterogeneity. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty trials from nine countries with a total of 1613 participants were identified. Both NSAIDs and opioids lead to clinically significant falls in patient-reported pain scores. Due to unexplained heterogeneity these results could not be pooled although 10/13 studies reported lower pain scores in patients receiving NSAIDs. Patients treated with NSAIDs were significantly less likely to require rescue medication (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.93, P = 0.007), though most of these trials used pethidine. The majority of trials showed a higher incidence of adverse events in patients treated with opioids, but there was significant heterogeneity between studies so the results could not be pooled. There was significantly less vomiting in patients treated with NSAIDs (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.53, P < 0.00001). In particular, patients receiving pethidine had a much higher rate of vomiting compared with patients receiving NSAIDs. Gastrointestinal bleeding and renal impairment were not reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Both NSAIDs and opioids can provide effective analgesia in acute renal colic. Opioids are associated with a higher incidence of adverse events, particularly vomiting. Given the high rate of vomiting associated with the use of opioids, particularly pethidine, and the greater likelihood of requiring further analgesia, we recommend that if an opioid is to be used it should not be pethidine.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Hyperbaric oxygenation for tumour sensitisation to radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is common and radiotherapy is one well-established treatment for some solid tumours. HBO may improve the ability of radiotherapy to kill hypoxic cancer cells, so the administration of radiotherapy while breathing HBO may result in a reduction in mortality and tumour recurrence. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of radiotherapy while breathing HBO. SEARCH STRATEGY: In November 2004 we searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), (The Cochrane Library Issue 3), MEDLINE, EMBASE , CINAHL, DORCTHIM and reference lists of articles. Relevant journals were handsearched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised studies comparing the outcome of malignant tumours following radiation therapy while breathing HBO versus air (with or without sham therapy). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three reviewers independently evaluated the quality of the relevant trials using the method of Schulz (Schulz 1995) and extracted the data from the included trials. MAIN RESULTS: Nineteen trials contributed to this review (2286 patients: 1103 allocated to HBO and 1153 control). With HBO, there was a reduction in mortality for head and neck cancers at both one year and five years after therapy (Relative risk (RR) 0.83, P = 0.03, number needed to treat (NNT) = 11 and RR 0.82, P = 0.03, NNT = 5 respectively), as well as improved local tumour control at three months (RR with HBOT 0.58, P = 0.006, NNT = 7). The effect of HBO varied with different fractionation schemes. Local tumour recurrence was less likely with HBO at one year (head and neck, RR 0.66, P < 0.0001, NNT = 5), two years (uterine cervix RR 0.60, P = 0.04, NNT = 5) and five years (head and neck (RR 0.77, P = 0.01). Any advantage is achieved at the cost of some adverse effects. There was a significant increase in the rate of both severe radiation tissue injury (RR 2.35, P < 0.0001, (number needed to harm (NNH) = 8) and the chance of seizures during therapy (RR 6.76, P = 0.03, NNH 22) with HBO. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence that HBO improves local tumour control and mortality for cancers of the head and neck, and local tumour recurrence in cancers of the head and neck, and uterine cervix. These benefits may only occur with unusual fractionation schemes. HBO is associated with significant adverse effects including oxygen toxic seizures and severe tissue radiation injury. The methodological and reporting inadequacies of the primary studies included in this review demand a cautious interpretation. More research is needed for head and neck cancer, but is probably not justified for bladder cancer. There is little evidence available concerning malignancies at other anatomical sites on which to base a recommendation.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Rat pineal S-antigen: sequence analysis reveals presence of alpha-transducin homologous sequence.

S-antigen (S-Ag) is a soluble, highly antigenic protein, the administration of which induces autoimmune uveitis. This protein is found in the retina and pineal. Retinal S-Ag from three species has been sequenced. In this study rat pineal S-Ag was sequenced. Clones were isolated from a rat pineal lambda gt11 cDNA library by probing with a 300 bp fragment of mouse retinal S-Ag cDNA containing the 5'-coding region. The largest clone isolated (RPS-118; 1364 bp) contained the entire coding sequence. Comparison of the rat pineal and mouse retinal S-Ag nucleotide sequences indicated a high homology (95%). The deduced amino acid sequence was found to contain 403 residues (congruent to 44 992 Da). Comparison of the rat pineal and mouse retinal S-Ag amino acid sequences also revealed high homology (97%). The similarity of both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of rat pineal and mouse retinal S-Ag indicates that expression of the S-Ag gene in both tissues is similar. Further analysis of the rat pineal S-Ag sequence indicated that it contained essentially the same major uveitopathogenic region of S-Ag present in bovine retina; minor uveitopathogenic sites were somewhat different. As is true of retinal S-Ag, rat pineal S-Ag contains the same consensus phosphoryl-binding site present in many GTP/GDP-binding proteins and a homologous sequence found in the C-terminus of alpha-transducin. These sequences may play a role in the action of pineal S-Ag in transmembrane signal transduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Application of ALOGPS 2.1 to predict log D distribution coefficient for Pfizer proprietary compounds.

Evaluation of the ALOGPS, ACD Labs LogD, and PALLAS PrologD suites to calculate the log D distribution coefficient resulted in high root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of 1.0-1.5 log for two in-house Pfizer's log D data sets of 17,861 and 640 compounds. Inaccuracy in log P prediction was the limiting factor for the overall log D estimation by these algorithms. The self-learning feature of the ALOGPS (LIBRARY mode) remarkably improved the accuracy in log D prediction, and an rmse of 0.64-0.65 was calculated for both data sets.

1-Octanol↗

Hepatitis B vaccine boosters: is there a clinical need in high endemicity populations?

The Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases in Asia recently conducted a survey of primary-care physicians in Asia, which revealed that many physicians administer boosters in their clinical practice and that there is considerable variation and uncertainty among physicians regarding this practice. This paper serves as a response to physicians' uncertainties by reviewing the literature regarding the administration of hepatitis B vaccine boosters in high endemicity areas and presenting the Steering Committee's guidelines for booster administration. While there are few data to support a need for routine hepatitis B vaccine boosters as a public health measure, they help to provide reassurance of immunity against breakthrough infection in certain risk groups. In clinical practice, primary-care physicians must exercise their judgment regarding the need for booster vaccination on an individual basis. This paper examines the available literature on the administration and value of hepatitis B vaccine boosters, explores the differences between the public health approach and clinical practice, and provides guidelines for those who use boosters in high endemicity Asian populations. Relevant articles were identified through searches of MEDLINE (1975-2003) and the Cochrane Library, using 'hepatitis B' and 'booster' as primary search terms. Guidelines for those who decide to administer hepatitis B vaccine boosters include: boosting approximately 10-15 years after primary vaccination; boosting rather than not when monitoring of antibody levels is not feasible; boosting immunocompromised patients when the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen titer falls below 10 mIU/mL; and boosting healthcare workers based on the endemicity of the particular country.

Endemic Diseases↗

Quality improvement and health care: an annotated bibliography.

W. Edwards Deming's theories of continuous quality improvement, using statistical analysis to identify problems or errors in operational processes, are in the early stages of development in service organizations after substantial success in industry, especially in Japan. Information on continuous quality improvement for libraries is sparse. The articles in this annotated bibliography will help interested readers learn more about this theory and its application in the health care business.

Hospital Administration↗

Selection of tumor-binding ligands in cancer patients with phage display libraries.

Phage display has been used extensively in vitro and in animal models to generate ligands and to identify cancer-relevant targets. We report here the use of phage-display libraries in cancer patients to identify tumor-targeting ligands. Eight patients with stage IV cancer, including breast, melanoma, and pancreas, had phage-displayed random peptide or scFv library (1.6 x 10(8)-1 x 10(11) transducing units/kg) administered i.v.; tumors were excised after 30 minutes; and tumor-homing phage were recovered. In three patients, repeat panning was possible using phage recovered and amplified from that same patient's tumor. No serious side effects, including allergic reactions, were observed with up to three infusions. Patients developed antiphage antibodies that reached a submaximal level within the 10-day protocol window for serial phage administration. Tumor phage were recoverable from all the patients. Using a filter-based ELISA, several clones from a subset of the patients were identified that bound to a tumor from the same patient in which clones were recovered. The clone-binding to tumor was confirmed by immunostaining, bioassay, and real-time PCR-based methods. Binding studies with noncancer and cancer cell lines of the same histology showed specificity of the tumor-binding clones. Analysis of insert sequences of tumor-homing peptide clones showed several motifs, indicating nonrandom accumulation of clones in human tumors. This is the first reported series of cancer patients to receive phage library for serial panning of tumor targeting ligands. The lack of toxicity and the ability to recover clones with favorable characteristics are a first step for further research with this technology in cancer patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Vitamin E supplementation for prevention of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Treating very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with pharmacologic doses of vitamin E as an antioxidant agent has been proposed for preventing or limiting retinopathy of prematurity, intracranial hemorrhage, hemolytic anemia, and chronic lung disease. However, excessive doses of vitamin E may result in side effects. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of vitamin E supplementation on morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched MEDLINE (October 2002), EMBASE (March 2002), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR) from the Cochrane Library, 2003, Issue 1, and personal files for clinical trials assessing vitamin E in preterm infants. SELECTION CRITERIA: We selected trials analyzing primary outcomes (mortality or combined long-term morbidity) or secondary outcomes (other morbidity) in infants with gestational age less than 37 weeks or birth weight less than 2500 grams. The intervention was allocation to routine supplementation with vitamin E in the treatment group versus placebo, no treatment or another type, dose or route of administration of vitamin E. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-six randomized clinical trials fulfilled entry criteria. No study assessed combined long-term morbidity. Routine vitamin E supplementation significantly reduced the risk of germinal/intraventricular hemorrhage (typical relative risk [RR] 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73, 0.99), increased the risk of sepsis (typical RR 1.52, CI 1.13, 2.04) and increased hemoglobin concentration by a small amount, but did not significantly affect mortality and other morbidity. In VLBW infants, vitamin E supplementation increased the risk of sepsis, and reduced the risk of severe retinopathy and blindness among those examined. Subgroup analyses in VLBW infants showed (1) an association between serum tocopherol levels greater than 3.5 mg/dl and increased risk of sepsis and reduced risk for severe retinopathy among those examined; and (2) an association between intravenous, high-dose administration of vitamin E and increased risk of sepsis. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E supplementation in preterm infants reduced the risk of intracranial hemorrhage but increased the risk of sepsis. In very low birth weight infants it increased the risk of sepsis, and reduced the risk of severe retinopathy and blindness among those examined. Evidence does not support the routine use of vitamin E supplementation by intravenous route at high doses, or aiming at serum tocopherol levels greater than 3.5 mg/dl.

Humans↗

Peptide inhibition of glomerular deposition of an anti-DNA antibody.

Antibodies to double-stranded DNA are pathognomonic of systemic lupus erythematosus and deposit in the kidneys of lupus patients to cause glomerulonephritis. Recent data suggest that a significant proportion of anti-DNA antibodies may cross-react with renal antigens and be sequestered in the kidney by virtue of this cross-reactivity. If this is true, antigenic competition for pathogenic antibodies might prevent their deposition in kidneys and the ensuing tissue damage. To generate surrogate antigens that could be used for this purpose, we have used peptide display phage libraries to identify peptides that react with R4A, a pathogenic mouse monoclonal anti-DNA antibody that deposits in glomeruli. We have demonstrated that the peptides bind in or near the double-stranded DNA binding site. Furthermore, the peptides are bound preferentially by the R4A antibody as compared with two closely related antibodies derived from it, one of which deposits in renal tubules and one of which displays no renal pathogenicity. Administration of one of these peptides in a soluble form protects mice from renal deposition of the R4A anti-DNA antibody in vivo. This represents a new therapeutic approach in systemic lupus erythematosus that focuses on protecting target organs from antibody mediated injury.

Animals↗