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Byline: S. Thomas, R. Babu, K. Agarwal, V. Puri, M. Jain, M. Andley, S. Tudu Introduction: CD10 is a zinc-dependent peptidase (metalloproteinase). Stromal CD10 expression in breast cancer correlates with [...]

In the modern environment conscious era, there has been a huge demand for the effective green method to fabricate biomaterials for sustained transdermal release of diltiazem hydrochloride to treat hypertension and cardiac failure. In this vein, the present study explores the amination of waste jute sourced nanocellulose (ANC) and its effect as a reinforcing filler to design electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan based polymeric nanofibrous scaffold for drug delivery. The characterization results of FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) confirm the successful chemical modification of nanocellulose (NCC). SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) results indicate the morphological modifications in ANC due to grafting. ANC enhances the mechanical properties of scaffold and sustains the release of the loaded drug to 67.89±3.39% as compared to the pure PVA/chitosan scaffold of 92.63±4.63% over a period of 72 h as shown by the results of in-vitro drug release study. Moreover, the incorporation of 0.5 % ANC improves the anti-bacterial activity against both gram-positive (97.4±4.87%, reduction in viable cells count) and gram-negative bacteria (98.5±4.93%, reduction in viable cells count). Further, the skin irritation and MTT assay authenticate the biocompatibility of the developed scaffold. The overall findings hence prove the efficacy of the engineered scaffold as a potential transdermal patch for sustained drug delivery applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This retrospective study was designed to present the clinical characteristics and histopathological features of Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma (PNEC) of breast, and to evaluate the impact on outcome following its management on the line of more common primary adenocarcinoma of breast., Materials and Methods: Records of four patients diagnosed with PNEC of breast were retrospectively reviewed. Data were obtained from medical record from January 2008 to December 2012. Diagnosis of PNEC was confirmed by histopathological examination (HPE) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of tissue obtained from Trucut biopsy of the breast lump in all four patients. PNEC of breast was defined by the presence of more than 50% of invasive tumor cells with cytoplasmic immunoreaction for neuroendocrine (NE) markers synaptophysin, chromogranin or neuron specific enolase as per WHO classification. All patients were treated with Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM), six cycle of Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin and 5-Flurouracil (CAF) based adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy., Results: There were four female patients. The mean age was 58~years (50-65 years). Breast lump was the presenting complaint in all patients. The result of HPE showed tumor size ranging from 4 to 6.5 cm in diameter. Axillary lymph node metastasis was detected in three (75%) patients. ER and PR expression was positive in four (100%) and three patients (75%) respectively. None of the patients expressed Her-2-neu. IHC staining was positive for NE markers chromogranin in three (75%) patients, synoptophysin in two patients (50%) and Neuron specific enolase three (75%) patients. The mean follow-up time was 27.7 months (range 48-9). All four patients survived without any loco-regional or metastatic recurrence with one patient developing lymphedema of arm., Conclusions: Breast lump is the most common presentation of PNEC of the breast with characteristic expression of NE markers by the tumor. Management of this rare tumor may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy depending on the size of the tumor, lymph node and hormone receptor status. However, most appropriate treatment plan has yet to be established.