Upconversion, MRI imaging and optical trapping studies of silver nanoparticle decorated multifunctional NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanocomposite

The multifunctional upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are fascinating tool for biological applications. In the present work, photon upconverting NaGdF₄:Yb,Er and Ag nanoparticles decorated NaGdF₄:Yb,Er (NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@Ag) nanoparticles were prepared using a simple polyol process. Rietveld refinement was performed for detailed crystal structural and phase fraction analysis. The morphology of the NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@Ag was examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscope, which reveals silver nanoparticles of 8 nm in size were decorated over spherical shaped NaGdF₄:Yb,Er nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 90 nm. The chemical compositions were confirmed by EDAX and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry analyses. The upconversion luminescence (UCL) of NaGdF₄:Yb,Er at 980 nm excitation showed an intense red emission. After incorporating the silver nanoparticles, the UCL intensity decreased due to weak scattering and surface plasmon resonance effect. The VSM magnetic measurement indicates both the UCNPs possess paramagnetic behaviour. The NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@Ag showed computed tomography imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging study exhibited better T1 weighted relaxivity in the NaGdF₄:Yb,Er than the commercial Gd-DOTA. For the first time, the optical trapping was successfully demonstrated for the upconversion NaGdF₄:Yb,Er nanoparticle at near-infrared 980 nm light using an optical tweezer setup. The optically trapped UCNP possessing paramagnetic property exhibited a good optical trapping stiffness. The UCL of trapped single UCNP is recorded to explore the effect of the silver nanoparticles. The multifunctional properties for the NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@Ag nanoparticle are demonstrated.

Application of iron oxide nanoparticles to control the release of minocycline for the treatment of glioblastoma

Background: The utilization of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) to control minocycline release rates from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds fabricated from an easy/economical technique is presented. Results & methodology: A larger change in temperature and amount of minocycline released was observed for scaffolds with higher amounts of Fe3O4 NPs, demonstrating that nanoparticle concentration can control heat generation and minocycline release. Temperatures near a polymer's glass transition temperature can result in the polymer's chain becoming more mobile and thus increasing drug diffusion out of the scaffold. Elevated temperature and minocycline released from the scaffold can work synergistically to enhance glioblastoma cell death. Conclusion: This study suggests that Fe3O4 NPs are promising materials for controlling minocycline release from polymeric scaffolds by magnetic hyperthermia for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Effects of a Standard American Diet and an anti-inflammatory diet in male and female mice

BACKGROUND

Obesity and chronic pain are prevalent concerns. Pain is frequently experienced in weight-bearing joints, but is common in other areas of the body as well, suggesting other factors. Poor diet often contributes to obesity and can directly influence the immune system. We have shown that poor diet prolongs recovery from inflammatory injury. Therefore, our goal was to determine whether poor-quality diet-induced consequences could be prevented or reversed by an anti-inflammatory diet (AID).

METHODS

A Standard American Diet (SAD) was developed to investigate the effects of poor diet on pain. The SAD includes amounts of refined sugar, carbohydrates and fats that better model the typical American diet, as compared to high-fat diets. We developed an AID to explore whether the effects of the SAD could reverse or whether the AID would enhance recovery prophylactically. The AID was developed using ingredients (epigallocatechin gallate, sulforaphane, resveratrol, curcumin and ginseng) with known anti-inflammatory properties. Following 15 weeks of diet [SAD, AID or regular (REG)] exposure, male and female mice underwent inflammatory injury, at which point some animals had their diets switched for the remainder of the study.

RESULTS

Animals who consumed the SAD showed longer recovery compared to the AID- and REG-fed animals. Animals switched off the SAD had faster recovery times, with AID-fed animals recovering as fast as REG-fed animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor diet prolonged recovery from inflammatory injury. Substitution of SAD with AID or REG promoted faster recovery. These findings suggest diet can be used as a non-pharmacological intervention following injury.

SIGNIFICANCE

Obesity may increase susceptibility to chronic pain often due to poor diet. Diet has potential to be used as treatment for pain. This study investigates the use of a novel translatable diet to act as a preventative (i.e. prior to surgery) or an intervention (i.e. following an injury).

Impact on blood pressure control of a six-month intervention project

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a six-month structured education programme on blood pressure (BP) control in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. All patients attending the Specialist Hypertension Clinic, University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), between January 4 and March 29, 1999, with blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg (n = 80), were randomly divided into Group 1, cases (n = 42) and Group 2, controls (n = 38). A 40-item pretested questionnaire, administered at the baseline and final visits of both groups, elicited demographic, lifestyle and knowledge data. Group 1 attended monthly structured interventions for six months. Except for diastolic blood pressure among male controls, diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention period (p < 0.01). Knowledge improved among the male patients (p < 0.01). Among the female patients, activity scores were significantly increased (p < 0.01), weight (p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.05) were significantly reduced. There were no differences in these variables among the controls. This intervention had a benefit in blood pressure control.

Perioperative nursing--the Jamaican perspective

Under constraints of a restricted economy Jamaica strives to deliver health care at the standard of developed countries. Nurses in Jamaica assume various roles as they provide perioperative nursing care; they work as a team and act as patient advocates. Bonds of caring and love are often established between patients, families, and the nursing staff. The quality of nursing care often determines the client's perioperative outcome, and Jamaican nurses strive to meet the challenges inherent in achieving positive patient outcomes.

Traveling for care: factors influencing health care access for rural dwellers

This study explored 19 rural dwellers' perceptions of health care issues through semi-structured interviews. Sample selection, data collection, and analysis adhered to the grounded theory method in that an interactive design was maintained. The strategy of traveling for care describes how rural dwellers deal with the problem of varying access to health care. This study uncovers the influencing factors that impact on rural dwellers' decisions when traveling for care. Most rural dwellers choose to wait before seeking health care; those factors that contributed to the decision to wait includes limited financial resources to pay for health care, prior experiences within the system, and the prevalent belief that they can provide self-care effectively. When self-care was not successful they evaluated their resources to assist in their decision making. The last phase of this strategy was choosing the distance they would go to receive health care. Choosing the distance varied greatly among the participants. A few choose to go without health care whereas others would go to any lengths to resolve their health problem.