The intrinsic limits of conventional cancer therapies prompted the development and application of various nanotechnologies for more effective and safer cancer treatment, herein referred to as cancer nanomedicine. Considerable technological success has been achieved in this field, but the main obstacles to nanomedicine becoming a new paradigm in cancer therapy stem from the complexities and heterogeneity of tumour biology, an incomplete understanding of nano-bio interactions and the challenges regarding chemistry, manufacturing and controls required for clinical translation and commercialization. This Review highlights the progress, challenges and opportunities in cancer nanomedicine and discusses novel engineering approaches that capitalize on our growing understanding of tumour biology and nano-bio interactions to develop more effective nanotherapeutics for cancer patients.

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Cancer nanomedicine: progress, challenges and opportunities.

Overview of membrane science and technology membrane transport theory membrane and modules concentration polarization reverse osmosis ultrafiltration microfiltration gas separation pervaporation ion exchange membrane processes - electrodialysis carrier facilitated transport medical applications of membranes other membranes processed.

Membrane Technology and Applications

Engineered nanoparticles have the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases; for example, by allowing the targeted delivery of a drug to particular subsets of cells. However, so far, such nanoparticles have not proved capable of surmounting all of the biological barriers required to achieve this goal. Nevertheless, advances in nanoparticle engineering, as well as advances in understanding the importance of nanoparticle characteristics such as size, shape and surface properties for biological interactions, are creating new opportunities for the development of nanoparticles for therapeutic applications. This Review focuses on recent progress important for the rational design of such nanoparticles and discusses the challenges to realizing the potential of nanoparticles.

Strategies in the design of nanoparticles for therapeutic applications

The genomes of various tumour cells contain mutant oncogenes that act dominantly, in that their effects can be observed when they are introduced into non-malignant cells. There is evidence for another class of oncogenes, in which tumour-predisposing mutations are recessive to wild-type alleles. Retinoblastoma is a prototype biological model for the study of such recessive oncogenes. This malignant tumour, which arises in the eyes of children, can be explained as the result of two distinct genetic changes, each causing loss of function of one of the two homologous copies at a single genetic locus, Rb, assigned to the q14 band of human chromosome 13. Mutations affecting this locus may be inherited from a parent, may arise during gametogenesis or may occur somatically. Those who inherit a mutant allele at this locus have a high incidence of non-ocular, second tumours, almost half of which are osteosarcomas believed to be caused by the same mutation. Here we describe the isolation of a complementary DNA segment that detects a chromosomal segment having the properties of the gene at this locus. The gene is expressed in many tumour types, but no RNA transcript has been found in retinoblastomas and osteosarcomas. The cDNA fragment detects a locus spanning at least 70 kilobases (kb) in human chromosome band 13q14, all or part of which is frequently deleted in retinoblastomas and osteosarcomas.

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A human DNA segment with properties of the gene that predisposes to retinoblastoma and osteosarcoma

Conventional forms of drug administration generally rely on pills, eye drops, ointments, and intravenous solutions. Recently, a number of novel drug delivery approaches have been developed. These approaches include drug modification by chemical means, drug entrapment in small vesicles that are injected into the bloodstream, and drug entrapment within pumps or polymeric materials that are placed in desired bodily compartments (for example, the eye or beneath the skin). These techniques have already led to delivery systems that improve human health, and continued research may revolutionize the way many drugs are delivered.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/249/4976/1527.full.pdf

New methods of drug delivery.

Freely propagating global waves in the solar atmosphere are commonly observed using extreme ultraviolet passbands (EUV or "EIT waves"), and less regularly in H-alpha (Moreton–Ramsey waves). Despite decades of research, joint observations of EUV and Moreton–Ramsey waves remain rare, complicating efforts to quantify the connection between these phenomena. We present observations of four homologous global waves originating from the same active region between 2014 March 28 and 30 and observed using both EUV and H-alpha data. Each global EUV wave was observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, with the associated Moreton–Ramsey waves identified using the Global Oscillations Network Group network. All of the global waves exhibit high initial velocity (e.g., 842–1388 km s−1 in the 193 A passband) and strong deceleration (e.g., −1437 to −782 m s−2 in the 193 A passband) in each of the EUV passbands studied, with the EUV wave kinematics exceeding those of the Moreton–Ramsey wave. The density compression ratio of each global wave was estimated using both differential emission measure and intensity variation techniques, with both indicating that the observed waves were weakly shocked with a fast magnetosonic Mach number slightly greater than one. This suggests that, according to current models, the global coronal waves were not strong enough to produce Moreton–Ramsey waves, indicating an alternative explanation for these observations. Instead, we conclude that the evolution of the global waves was restricted by the surrounding coronal magnetic field, in each case producing a downward-angled wavefront propagating toward the north solar pole, which perturbed the chromosphere and was observed as a Moreton–Ramsey wave.

Quantifying the Relationship between Moreton–Ramsey Waves and “EIT Waves” Using Observations of Four Homologous Wave Events

Interest in stealth coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is increasing due to their relatively high occurrence rate and space weather impact. However, typical CME signatures such as extreme-ultraviolet dimmings and post-eruptive arcades are hard to identify and require extensive image processing techniques. These weak observational signatures mean that little is currently understood about the physics of these events. We present an extensive study of the magnetic field configuration in which the stealth CME of 3 March 2011 occurred. Three distinct episodes of flare ribbon formation are observed in the stealth CME source active region (AR). Two occurred prior to the eruption and suggest the occurrence of magnetic reconnection that builds the structure which will become eruptive. The third occurs in a time close to the eruption of a cavity that is observed in STEREO-B 171A data; this subsequently becomes part of the propagating CME observed in coronagraph data. We use both local (Cartesian) and global (spherical) models of the coronal magnetic field, which are complemented and verified by the observational analysis. We find evidence of a coronal null point, with field lines computed from its neighbourhood connecting the stealth CME source region to two ARs in the northern hemisphere. We conclude that reconnection at the null point aids the eruption of the stealth CME by removing field that acted to stabilise the pre-eruptive structure. This stealth CME, despite its weak signatures, has the main characteristics of other CMEs, and its eruption is driven by similar mechanisms.

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The Magnetic Environment of a Stealth Coronal Mass Ejection.

Urban settlements are rapidly growing outward and upward, with consequences for resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem and public health, but rates of change are uneven around the world. Understanding trajectories and predicting consequences of global urban expansion requires quantifying rates of change with consistent, well-calibrated data. Microwave backscatter data provides important information on upward urban growth - essentially the vertical built-up area. We developed a multi-sensor, multi-decadal, gridded (0.05° lat/lon) data set of global urban microwave backscatter, 1993-2020. Comparison of backscatter from two C-band sensors (ERS and ASCAT) and one Ku-band sensor (QuikSCAT) are made at four invariant non-urban sites (~3500 km2) to evaluate instrument stability and multi-decadal pattern. For urban areas, there was a strong linear correlation (overall R2 = 0.69) between 2015 ASCAT urban backscatter and a continental-scale gridded product of building volume, across 8450 urban grid cells (0.05° × 0.05°) in Europe, China, and the USA. This urban backscatter data set provides a time series characterizing global urban change over the past three decades. 

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A global urban microwave backscatter time series data set for 1993–2020 using ERS, QuikSCAT, and ASCAT data

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation: long-term results and comparison of two surgical techniques.

Resume Objectifs Evaluer le benefice de la consultation d'anesthesie (CA) par rapport a la visite preanesthesique (VP) realisee la veille de l'intervention. Type d'etude Etude prospective, controlee, randomisee. Patients L'etude a inclus 296 patients hospitalises respectivement en urologie, ophtalmologie ou ORL, randomises en un groupe CA (suivie d'une VP) et un groupe VP (sans CA prealable). Methodes Le critere principal de jugement etait la duree d'hospitalisation preoperatoire et les criteres secondaires le nombre des reports d'intervention et la satisfaction des patients. Resultats Dans le groupe CA, la duree du sejour preoperatoire etait plus courte de 0,4 jours ( P = 0,001 ). Sur les 19 interventions reportees (7%), 15 l'etaient pour une cause medicale, dont 13 dans le groupe VP et deux dans le groupe CA ( P = 0,009). La CA n'etait pas vecue comme une contrainte par la majorite des patients. Conclusion La CA a permis de reduire la duree d'hospitalisation preoperatoire et le nombre des reports d'intervention de cause medicale.

David Long

Papers

Quantifying the Relationship between Moreton–Ramsey Waves and “EIT Waves” Using Observations of Four Homologous Wave Events

The Magnetic Environment of a Stealth Coronal Mass Ejection.

A global urban microwave backscatter time series data set for 1993–2020 using ERS, QuikSCAT, and ASCAT data

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation: long-term results and comparison of two surgical techniques.

Intérêt de la consultation d'anesthésie par rapport à la seule visite préanesthésique