Modifications Of Delivery Systems Research Articles

Enhanced Cardiac Testing in a Dual Anti-HER2 Regimen: What Have We Learned?

to anthracyclines by dose reduction, chemical protection with dexrazoxane [4], lowering the peak plasma level by prolonged infusion schedules [5], and, albeit less convincingly, molecular or delivery system modification [6] all demonstrated significant but varying degrees of cardioprotection. More recently it was found that biomarkers, especially troponins,wereagoodsubstituteforcardiacbiopsyspecimens in assessing actual myocyte destruction, and that reducing myocardial stress through b-adrenergic blockade and afterload reductionprotectedtheheart.Theseagentsappeartodosoboth duringthephaseofactualdamageas well asduringtheperiodof posttreatment remodeling [7]. Newer targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, were not expected to cause cardiotoxicity, but when the pivotal trial that dosed trastuzumab along with doxorubicin suggested levels of cardiotoxicity far beyond those expected from the anthracycline alone, interest in theeffectsofcancertreatmentontheheartexploded[8].Therate of cardiac adverse events, initially reported to be 27%, has been cited extensively, although, fortunately,this level ofcardiotoxicity has not been replicated. The subsequent series of clinical trials were conducted to establish both the efficacy of trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting and to determine the incremental extent of cardiotoxicityiftrastuzumabwasadministeredsequentiallyrather

Gore excluder device with the C3 delivery system for management of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Correspondence to: Mark D Morasch Division of Vascular Surgery, Northwestern University, 676 North St Clair, Suite 650 Chicago, IL 60611, USA Tel +1 312 695 2716 Fax +1 312 695 4955 Email mmorasch@nmh.org Abstract: The GORE Excluder stent-graft is one of the currently available devices approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in endovascular aortic repair. Recently, a new delivery system modification has been applied to the Excluder device which allows repositioning of the stent-graft to adjust for accurate proximal landing and facilitate gate cannulation. In this review, we examine the Excluder device with the new C3 delivery system and its potential benefit in the management of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Nontarget Insect Attraction to Methyl Eugenol Traps Used in Male Annihilation of the Oriental Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Riparian Hawaiian Stream Habitat

This study set out to identify insect species associated with the riparian habitat of Hawaiian streams that were susceptible to deployment of the plant kairomone, methyl eugenol, used in male annihilation of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). Sixteen nontarget insect species (13 Diptera and 3 Coleoptera) were found to be attracted to methyl eugenol traps deployed in riparian habitat in a variety of stream ecotypes at various elevations. Only 2 Diptera attracted to the lure, Drosophila perissopoda Hardy and D. Crucigera Grimshaw (Drosophilidae), were Hawaiian endemics, whereas the remainder were alien (nonnative) species. Alien drosophilids Drosophila immigrans Sturtevant and D. suzukii (Matsumura) and alien Desmometopa tarsalis Loew (Milichiidae) were the most abundant species captured in traps overall. Both plant-associated as well as carrion-associated species were captured in methyl eugenol traps. It is suggested that the fruiting cycle of wild guava, Psidium guajava and P. cattelianum , in mountainous and lowland areas of Hawaii is an important mechanism driving the population dynamics of insects attracted to methyl eugenol traps. Host plant demographics and species similarities in ecological requirements are important factors influencing the occurrences of susceptible species between sites. Seasonal periods of low oriental fruit fly numbers coupled with low abundances of nontarget insects create windows of opportunity during which male annihilation procedures with methyl eugenol can achieve maximum effect with minimal environmental risk. Environmentally acceptable use patterns for methyl eugenol can be developed through the modification of delivery systems and adaptation of these systems in surgical procedures tailored to specific ecotypes. These procedures can then provide Hawaiian agriculture with badly needed farm-level or area-wide control of destructive oriental fruit flies.