Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is being investigated as a treatment for localized prostate cancer. Photodynamic therapy uses a photosensitizing drug which is activated by a specific wavelength of light, in the presence of oxygen. The activated drug reacts with tissue oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species which are responsible for localized tissue necrosis. One of the determinants of the PDT eff...

AIM To assess radiographically irrigant penetration in the root canal system of curved roots during root canal shaping procedures ex vivo. METHODOLOGY Thirty extracted mandibular molar teeth with moderate to severe curvature were used. A special aiming device was used to guarantee that each successive radiograph was taken with the same positioning. The mesiolingual canal of each tooth was ins...

Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a debilitating side effect of spinal anesthesia, the result of dural puncture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage with an incidence of 3% to 75% in patient populations. Despite numerous in vitro and in viva studies that have identified predictors associated with PDPH, debate continues on the best technique to reduce CSF leak after dural puncture. The purp...

Needle biopsy of small or nonpalpable breast lesions has a high nondiagnostic sampling rate even when needle position is guided by stereotaxis or ultrasound. We assess the feasibility of using a near-infrared fiber optic probe and computer-aided detection for the microscopic guidance of needle breast biopsy procedures. Specimens from nine consented patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery ...

The external application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) results in a shallow penetration depth in thick or extensive condylomata acuminata (CA) lesions, thus demonstrating a poor therapeutic effect for those patients. To compare the efficacy of needle-free injection with external application of ALA in PDT for the treatment of CA, 160 CA patients with thick or exten...

STUDY QUESTION Can pharma drug discovery approaches be utilized to transform investigation into novel therapeutics for male infertility? SUMMARY ANSWER High-throughput screening (HTS) is a viable approach to much-needed drug discovery for male factor infertility. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is both huge demand and a genuine clinical need for new treatment options for infertile men. However,...