Efficacy and safety analysis of dexamethasone-lipiodol emulsion in prevention of post-embolization syndrome after TACE: a retrospective analysis

Background To investigate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone-lipiodol emulsion in the prevention of post-embolization syndrome after TACE. Method The data of 255 patients who underwent TACE in the interventional department from June 2017 to June 2020 were collected. This is a retrospective assessment of patients who were non-randomly treated with dexamethasone in TACE. The patients were divided into two groups: TACE using lipiodol + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (TACE group, N = 133); TACE using lipiodol + dexamethasone + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (TACE + dexamethasone group, N = 122). Primary study endpoint: incidence of abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting 0–72 h after TACE in both groups. Secondary study endpoints: incidence of infection after TACE in both groups. Results Incidence of post-embolization syndrome after TACE (TACE group vs TACE + dexamethasone group): abdominal pain, 55.6% versus 36.1% (P value 0.002); fever, 37.6% versus 13.1% (P value 0.000); nausea, 60.9% versus 41.0% (P value 0.001); vomiting, 48.1% versus 21.3% (P value 0.000). Incidence of infection after TACE (TACE group vs TACE + dexamethasone group): 1.5% versus 2.5% (P value 0.583). Conclusion The lipiodol + dexamethasone emulsion can significantly reduce the incidence rate of post-embolization syndrome after TACE, with exact effect and high safety.

The therapeutic effect of Nigella sativa L. seeds oil on experimentally infected rabbits with hepatic coccidiosis

The present study was carried out to investigate the therapeutic effect of Nigella sativa seeds oil emulsion as against Eimeria stiedae experimentally infected rabbits. After isolation of local E. stiedae strain from infected gallbladders, a total of 90 local rabbits (6-8 weeks age) and body weighing (750-1000 gm) were used. They were divided into 6 groups as follow: Group: 1 uninfected and untreated (control group), Group: 2 infected (untreated) with 10,000 sporulated oocysts of E. stiedae, Group: 3 uninfected and given 200mg/kg B.W. N. sativa L. oil emulsion, Group: 4 infected with 10,000 sporulated oocysts of E. steidae. and treated with N. sativa L. oil emulsion of 200 mg/kg B.W on day 16, post infection, Group: 5 uninfected and given 400 mg/kg B.W N. sativa L. oil emulsion, Group: 6 infected with 10,000 sporulated oocysts of E. stiedae. and treated with N. sativa L. oil emulsion of 400 mg/ kg B.W on day 16, post infection. Fecal sample were examined for oocyst count (16 days post infection) at each period of experiment (10, 20 and 30 days) 5 animals for each group were sacrificed, and specimens for liver, were excised for histopathological examination. The E. stiedae infected group showed deleterious pathological changes in infected livers. Both treated doses of N. sativa had significant anticoccidial activities as reflected by reduced fecal oocysts shedding and remarkable improvement of liver tissue histopathology. This improvement include restoration of normal hepatic architecture and increase of the binucleated hepatocytes, disappearance of hemorrhage between the hepatic lobules, formation of foreign body granulomas and reduction in the various stages of the parasites and oocysts in the bile ducts .The result showed that changes more rapid when animals were treated with 400 mg/ kg/ B.W of N. sativa seeds oil emulsion than when treated same emulsion at dose 200 mg/ k.g/ B.W without side effects. From the results obtained in the present study N. sativa seeds oil emulsion was safe without side effects and the dose 400 mg/kg/B.W was more effective against E. stiedae infection than dose 200 mg/kg/B.W which may be recommended for use as adjuvant therapy in clinical practices.

Comparison of Epirubicin-Iodized Oil Suspension and Emulsion for Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in VX2 Tumor

To compare the antitumor efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) by epirubicin suspension (epirubicin suspension: epirubicin-iodized oil mixture without solution) to that by epirubicin emulsion (epirubicin emulsion: epirubicin-iodized oil mixture with solution), the efficacy of treatment by administration of either an epirubicin suspension or emulsion was examined in an animal model. Changes in plasma epirubicin concentration were compared over 24 h immediately after treatment, and enhanced ultrasonographic and histopathological analysis subsequently conducted 7 days after treatment to determine the growth ratio and proportion of viable tumor cells. The growth ratio and proportion of viable tumor cells were found to be significantly lower in the suspension group than in the emulsion group while the plasma epirubicin concentration was found to be significantly higher in the suspension group than in the emulsion group. These results indicate that administration of an epirubicin suspension is a superior form of TACE compared to that of administration of an epirubicin emulsion.

Lymphatic absorption of α-linolenic acid in rats fed flaxseed oil-based emulsion

The bioavailability of α-linolenic acid (ALA) from flaxseed oil in an emulsified formv.a non-emulsified form was investigated by using two complementary approaches: the first one dealt with the characterisation of the flaxseed oil emulsion inin vitrogastrointestinal-like conditions; the second one compared the intestinal absorption of ALA in rats fed the two forms of the oil. Thein vitrostudy on emulsified flaxseed oil showed that decreasing the pH from 7·3 to 1·5 at the physiological temperature (37°C) induced instantaneous oil globule coalescence. Some phase separation was observed under acidic conditions that vanished after further neutralisation. The lecithin used to stabilise the emulsions inhibited TAG hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase. In contrast, lipid solubilisation by bile salts (after lipase and phospholipase hydrolysis) was favoured by preliminary oil emulsification. Thein vivoabsorption of ALA in thoracic lymph duct-cannulated rats fed flaxseed oil, emulsified or non-emulsified, was quantified. Oil emulsification significantly favoured the rate and extent of ALA recovery as measured by the maximum ALA concentration in the lymph (Cmax = 14 mg/ml at 3 h in the emulsion groupv.9 mg/ml at 5 h in the oil group;P < 0·05). Likewise, the area under the curve of the kinetics was significantly higher in the emulsion group (48 mg × h/ml for rats fed emulsionv.26 mg × h/ml for rats fed oil;P < 0·05). On the whole, ALA bioavailability was improved with flaxseed oil ingested in an emulsified state. Data obtained from thein vitrostudies helped to partly interpret the physiological results.

Abstract 1847: Modulation of Cardiac Remodeling with Acellular Matrix Emulsion is Associated with Myofibroblast Proliferation and Angiogenesis via Recruiting C-Kit Positive Cells after Myocardial Infarction

Degradation of native extracellular matrix (ECM) has been associated with maladaptive cardiac remodeling after infarction. This study tested the hypothesis that preservation of ECM by injecting a xenogegeic acellular matrix emulsion in infarct myocardium promotes myofibroblast proliferation and angiogenesis by recruiting host c-kit positive cells. Sixty-four rats were subjected to 45 minutes regional ischemia followed by 3, 7, 21 and 42 days of reperfusion. Histological examination was performed by immunohistological staining and cardiac function was analyzed using echocardiography. ECM emulsion (30–50 μ l) was injected into the area at risk myocardium after reperfusion and localization of the emulsion was confirmed with Masson Trichome staining. At 7 days of reperfusion, the population of c-kit positive cells within the emulsion area increased significantly relative to the control (32±0.6* vs. 15±3/1000 nuclei), consistent with significantly enhanced expression of 31 kDa stem cell factor detected by Western blotting. Along with this change, myofibroblasts accumulated in the emulsion region to a significant extent compared to the control (59±8* vs. 30±3/HPF). Strong immunoreactivity of VEGF was observed in the emulsion area and angiogenesis was significantly enhanced relative to the control, evidenced by increased density of α -smooth muscle actin-positive vessels (70±10* vs. 20±4/HPF) and vWF-positive vessels (95±14* vs. 34±8/HPF), respectively. At 42 days of reperfusion, echocardiography showed improvements in end-systolic volume (0.3±0.1* vs. 0.6±0.3 ml)), fractional shortening (33±5* vs. 24±6%) and ejection fraction (67±6* vs. 53±10%) in the emulsion group. The wall thickness of the infarcted middle anterior septum in the emulsion group was also significantly greater than that in the Control (0.19±0.02* vs. 0.15±0.02cm). Intramyocardial injection of an acellular extracellular matrix emulsion into the ischemic/reperfused myocardium attenuates maladaptive cardiac remodeling and preserves cardiac function, potentially mediated by enhanced myofibroblast proliferation and angiogenesis via recruiting c-kit positive cells. * p<0.05 emulsion vs. control.

Impact of treatment with praziquantel, silymarin and/or β-glucan on pathophysiological markers of liver damage and fibrosis in mice infected with Mesocestoides vogae (Cestoda) tetrathyridia

Mesocestoides vogae tetrathyridia infection in mice causes hepatocyte injury, hepatic granulomatous inflammmation, liver fibrosis and chronic peritonitis manifested with portal hypertension. To reduce the detrimental effect of parasites on the host liver, the effect of the anthelmintic drug praziquantel (PZQ) in combination with natural products silymarin (an antioxidant) and β-glucan (an immunomodulator) was investigated. The therapeutic effect of drugs was assessed by means of aminotransferase (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) activities, content of albumin, total proteins and hyaluronic acid (HA) in sera of ICR mice infected with M. vogae larvae. Animals were treated with PZQ suspended in oil emulsion (Group 1), PZQ combined with silymarin incorporated into lipid microspheres (LMS) (Group 2), PZQ combined with β-glucan incorporated into liposomes (LG) (Group 3), PZQ co-administered with LMS and LG (Group 4). Untreated animals (Group 5) served as the control. Treatment of animals started at the early chronic phase of infection (day 14 p.i.) and lasted 10 days; serum samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 25, 28, 31, 35 and 45 p.i. ALT and AST activities were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in Groups 2, 3 and 4. HA content was significantly (P < 0.05 and 0.01) lower in Groups 2 and 4. Albumin levels were decreased in Groups 2 and 4, total protein concentration decreased in Groups 1 and 3 (P < 0.05 and 0.01). These results showed that combined treatment of PZQ with silymarin and/or β-glucan was able to ameliorate or suppress fibrogenesis in the liver, protect liver cells from oxidative damage and, possibly, stimulate regeneration of the parenchyma.

Emulsion Formulation Reduces Propofol's Dose Requirements and Enhances Safety

Background Propofol, a highly lipophilic anesthetic, is formulated in a lipid emulsion for intravenous use. Propofol has brisk onset and offset of effect after rapid administration and retains rapid offset characteristics after long-term administration. The authors tried to determine whether the emulsion vehicle is requisite for propofol's evanescent effect-time profile. Methods The time course of sedation and electroencephalographic (EEG) effect after propofol administration was measured in three studies in rats instrumented. In study 1, propofol was infused in either emulsion or lipid-free vehicle (n = 12), in a repeated measures cross-over design. In study 2, propofol in lipid-free vehicle was infused with or without simultaneous infusion of drug-free lipid emulsion (n = 6) in a repeated measures cross-over design. In study 3, propofol was infused in either emulsion (n = 5) or lipid-free vehicle (n = 5) to EEG burst suppression. Results In study 1, relative to the emulsion formulation, propofol administered at equivalent doses in lipid-free vehicle resulted in a longer time to effect onset (1.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.1 min, EEG) and a trend for delayed anesthetic recovery (26.8 +/- 9.4 vs. 17 +/- 3.5 min, EEG; 26.1 +/- 8.8 vs. 16.8 +/- 3.3 min, sleep). In study 2, coadministration of drug-free emulsion with propofol did not alter the time course of effect. In study 3, more than twice the dose of propofol was required to achieve EEG burst suppression with the lipid-free formulation. Two animals died after administration of propofol to EEG burst suppression with the lipid-free formulation; no deaths occurred in the emulsion group. Conclusion The incorporation of propofol in emulsion reduces dose requirements and produces rapid onset and recovery of anesthetic effect.

Administration of Lipid-Emulsion Versus Conventional Amphotericin B in Patients with Neutropenia

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of a 20% lipid emulsion as a delivery system for amphotericin B (1 mg/mL) administered over 1 hour to patients with neutropenia with hematologic malignancies compared with amphotericin B (0.1 mg/mL) administered in dextrose 5% solution over the same time. Design: A prospective, comparative, randomized, labeled study. Setting: Hematology unit, pharmacy service, university general hospital. Participants: Twenty patients with neutropenia with hematologic malignancies and proven or suspected fungal infections, 10 in the fat emulsion group (group 1) and 10 in the dextrose 5% group (group 2). Main Outcome Measures: Clinical tolerance (i.e., fever, shaking chills, nausea, blood pressure, pulse rate) and biologic tolerance (i.e., urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium). Results: Clinical tolerance was comparable in both groups although amphotericin B in fat emulsion was better tolerated. Medication for symptoms related to the administration of amphotericin B was given in 6 cases in group 1 and in 8 cases in group 2. There was a statistically significant difference in the urea concentrations between the 2 groups (p = 0.023); there was an observed increase between the initial and the final serum urea (56.8 mg/d in group 1, 79.8 mg/dL in group 2). Statistically significant differences in creatinine serum concentrations (84.9 μmol/L in group 1, 123.8 μmol/L in group 2) (p = 0.047) were found. No differences were found in the antifungal efficacy of the treatment. However, as amphotericin B was started in the majority of cases (75%) as empiric treatment for fever unresponsive to antibiotic therapy, it is difficult to compare the efficacy of both preparations. Conclusions: The clinical tolerance of lipid-emulsion infusions is similar to that of conventionally administered amphotericin B therapy. Renal toxicity appears to be decreased when the drug is administered in a fat emulsion. This type of preparation permits the reduction of the volume and the time of administration for amphotericin B therapy.

Die magnetischen Momente der Hyperonen

In 1959 W. GENTNER supported strongly the project of endowing the CERN-emulsion group with a pulsed-magnet equipment. A 300 kilo-Joule condenserbank and coils were constructed to supply fields of 200 kilo-Gauss over a few hundreds cm3 and for several milliseconds. One of the aims was to make use of this apparatus to measure the magnetic moments of short-living particles.In this report we try to summarize the present status of knowledge about the magnetic moment of hyperons, describing the method of measuremenents and reviewing the results obtained in various high-energy laboratories.