Evaluation of the Active Targeting of Melanin Granules after Intravenous Injection of Dendronized Nanoparticles

The biodistribution of dendronized iron oxides, NPs10@D1_DOTAGA and melanin-targeting NPs10@D1_ICF_DOTAGA, was studied in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and planar scintigraphy through [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-radiolabeling. MRI experiments showed high contrast power of both dendronized nanoparticles (DPs) and hepatobiliary and urinary excretions. Little tumor uptake could be highlighted after intravenous injection probably as a consequence of the negatively charged DOTAGA-derivatized shell, which reduces the diffusion across the cells' membrane. Planar scintigraphy images demonstrated a moderate specific tumor uptake of melanoma-targeted [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-NPs10@D1_ICF_DOTAGA at 2 h post-intravenous injection (pi), and the highest tumor uptake of the control probe [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-NPs10@D1_DOTAGA at 30 min pi, probably due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect. In addition, ex vivo confocal microscopy studies showed a high specific targeting of human melanoma samples impregnated with NPs10@D1_ICF_Alexa647_ DOTAGA.

How a grafting anchor tailors the cellular uptake and in vivo fate of dendronized iron oxide nanoparticles

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by thermal decomposition have been grafted with two dendrons bearing respectively a monophosphonic anchor (D2) or a biphosphonic tweezer (D2-2P) at their focal point.

[Cancer of the cervix uteri in young people]

The age-group distribution, risk factors, histopathological aspects, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of 111 diagnosed and/or treated cervical carcinomas in women aged up to 40 years out of 478 cases with the same diagnosis were reviewed. It is considered that the incidence of 23.2% in this series is situated at the extreme of the high frequencies reported in the literature. Nineteen per cent of the cases were diagnosed in stages O and Ia, a well organize program for early detection being required. In our series, the 5-year survival rate was 73.3%. This finding, although in a small series of cases, supports the opinion that age has no influence upon the prognosis of this disease.

[Clinico-epidemiological considerations on an outbreak of Q fever in the Argeş region]

The present paper reports on a Q fever episode, including 45 subjects (caretakers, technicians, workers building stables) in a zootechnical cooperative in the district of Argeş. In the new unit milch and reproduction cows were brought from various parts of the district. None of the animals showed visible signs of the disease. No cases of Q fever had been reported in man or animals in the locality until then. The episode had an explosive character, the outbreak occurring during the calving season. The diagnosis was established clinically, epidemiologically, radiologically and serologically.