Methods: The clinical information of the patient was collected. Microscopy of blood smear was conducted after Giemsa staining. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood, and PCR was conducted to amplify rDNA. The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed with BLAST
Results: The patient returned from a one-week tour in a tropical rain forest in Malaysia. The first disease attack occurred in Guangzhou on Oct. 16, 2014, with fever, shivering and sweating. The patient was initially diagnosed as malaria and hospitalized on Oct. 26, 2014. Microscopic observation revealed typical forms of P. knowlesi in blood smear. The red blood cells became enlarged, with big trophozoites appearing as a ring with dual cores and dark brown malaria pigment. The trophozoites were slightly bigger and thicker than P. falciparum. The schizont had 6-8 merozoites, with obvious brown malaria pigment. PCR resulted in a specific band of 1 099 bp. BLAST analysis showed that the sequence of the PCR product was 99% homologous to P. knowlesi (acession No. AM910985.1, L07560.1 and AY580317.1). The patient was diagnosed as P. knowlesi infection, and was then given an 8-day treatment with chloroquine and primaquine, together with dihydroartemisinin piperaquine phosphate tablet. The patient was discharged after recovery on Oct. 28, 2014.
Conclusion: According to the clinical symptoms, epidemiological history and laboratory test, the patient has been confirmed as P. knowlesi infection. It may also be the first active case of knowlesi malaria reported in China.
METHODS: Caprine islets were isolated and purified. Islets were handpicked and the diameter of the islets was recorded using light microscopy. Viablility of the islets was analyzed by confocal microscopy. Insulin secretion assay was carried out and analyzed by ELISA.
RESULTS: When tested at 48 h after isolation, these small islets were 29.3% more viable compared to the large-sized islets. Large islets showed a high ratio (P
AIM: To develop a neutron-activated, biodegradable and theranostics samarium-153 acetylacetonate (153SmAcAc)-poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) microsphere for intraarterial radioembolization of hepatic tumors.
METHODS: Microspheres with different concentrations of 152SmAcAc (i.e., 100%, 150%, 175% and 200% w/w) were prepared by solvent evaporation method. The microspheres were then activated using a nuclear reactor in a neutron flux of 2 × 1012 n/cm2/s1, converting 152Sm to Samarium-153 (153Sm) via152Sm (n, γ) 153Sm reaction. The SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres before and after neutron activation were characterized using scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, particle size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and gamma spectroscopy. The in-vitro radiolabeling efficiency was also tested in both 0.9% sodium chloride solution and human blood plasma over a duration of 550 h.
RESULTS: The SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres with different SmAcAc contents remained spherical before and after neutron activation. The mean diameter of the microspheres was about 35 µm. Specific activity achieved for 153SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres with 100%, 150%, 175% and 200% (w/w) SmAcAc after 3 h neutron activation were 1.7 ± 0.05, 2.5 ± 0.05, 2.7 ± 0.07, and 2.8 ± 0.09 GBq/g, respectively. The activity of per microspheres were determined as 48.36 ± 1.33, 74.10 ± 1.65, 97.87 ± 2.48, and 109.83 ± 3.71 Bq for 153SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres with 100%, 150%, 175% and 200% (w/w) SmAcAc. The energy dispersive X-ray and gamma spectrometry showed that no elemental and radioactive impurities present in the microspheres after neutron activation. Retention efficiency of 153Sm in the SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres was excellent (approximately 99%) in both 0.9% sodium chloride solution and human blood plasma over a duration of 550 h.
CONCLUSION: The 153SmAcAc-PLLA microsphere is potentially useful for hepatic radioembolization due to their biodegradability, favorable physicochemical characteristics and excellent radiolabeling efficiency. The synthesis of the formulation does not involve ionizing radiation and hence reducing the complication and cost of production.