Plasmonic photothermal and photodynamic therapy (PPTT and PDT, respectively) are two cancer treatments that have the potential to be combined in a synergistic scheme. The aim of this study is to optimize the PPTT treatment part, in order to account for the PDT lack of coverage in the hypoxic tumor volume and in cancer areas laying in deep sites. For the needs of this study, a mouse was modeled, subjected to PDT and its necrotic area was estimated by using the MATLAB software. The same procedure was repeated for PPTT, using COMSOL Multiphysics. PPTT treatment parameters, namely laser power and irradiation time, were optimized in order to achieve the optimum therapeutic effect of the combined scheme. The PDT alone resulted in 54.8% tumor necrosis, covering the upper cancer layers. When the PPTT was also applied, the total necrosis percentage raised up to 99.3%, while all of the surrounding studied organs (skin, heart, lungs and trachea, ribs, liver and spleen) were spared. The optimized values of the PPTT parameters were 550 mW of laser power and 70 s of irradiation time. Hence, the PPTT–PDT combination shows great potential in achieving high levels of tumor necrosis while sparing the healthy tissues.

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Background/Aims Dementia is a major disease worldwide, with an increasing incidence rate. This study estimated the societal cost of dementia in Greece, with the aim of helping policy makers to plan health services and evaluate their efficiency. Methods This study was conducted at a specialist neurological hospital in Greece with 110 patients with dementia and 110 caregivers. Local rates were used to determine the cost of services, medicines and staff salaries. Caregivers completed a survey reporting the time spent caring for the patient and any other expenses. Results were correlated with the three stages of disease severity (mild, moderate and severe) with a multivariate regression model. Results Informal care comprised the largest proportion of the total cost of caring for a patient with dementia. Furthermore, it was found that more severe dementia was associated with higher costs in private and public social and informal care. Conclusions Informal carers provide the majority of care for patients with dementia. More support from social care services is needed to cope with the predicted increase in dementia incidence in the near future.

Stephan Heilen, Hadriani genitura - Die astrologischen Fragmente des Antigonos von Nikaia. Band 1: Edition und Übersetzung. Band 2: Kommentar. Texte und Kommentare, Band 43, Berlin - Boston, Walter de Gruyter 2015, XI + 1450 pp. [ISBN: 978-3- 11-028847-6; e-ISBN (PDF): 978-3-11-028873-5; e-ISBN (EPUB): 978-3-11-038874-9; ISSN: 0563-3087]. (Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum) Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum, The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology. Origins and Influence. Ancient Magic and Divination, vol. 11, Leiden-Boston, Brill, 2016, XXIV+574 pp. [ISBN: 978-90-04-306020-2 (hardback) & 978-90-04-30621-9 (e-book); ISSN: 1566-7952]. (Stephan Heilen) Celia Sánchez Natalías (ed.), Litterae Magicae. Studies in Honour of Roger S. O. Tomlin. Supplementa MHNH, vol. 2. Zaragoza, Libros Pórtico 2019, 262 pp.[ISBN: 978-84-7956-183-3]. (Eleni Chronopoulou)