The invention relates to a method of customizing a nail-biting and/or finger sucking treatment solution, and a kit for providing a nail-biting and finger sucking treatment that is customizable for a wide range of afflicted users seeking to break a persistent nail-biting and/or finger sucking habit. In exemplary embodiments, the composition kit includes two separate containers, a first container having a nail growth-promoting, waterproofing composition that may be applied directly on a user's nails; and a second container may include an additive for customizing a bitterness factor of the first composition. Typically, the first container includes an applicator such as a brush. To facilitate adding the additive in a manner that is easily customizable, the second container may include a dropper for adding small doses of the additive composition to the first composition. The customizable kit allows the user to safely adjust the bitterness so that the treatment remains effective.

Conjugates derived from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and methods of use thereof are disclosed, useful for, inter alia, identifying and localizing the site of pathology and/or inflammation responsible for the sensation of pain in a patient; for identifying the sites of primary, secondary, benign, or malignant tumors; and for diagnosing infection or confirming or ruling out suspected infection. The NSAID-based conjugates contain an imaging moiety. The conjugates concentrate at sites of increased cyclooxygenase expression, thus revealing the sites of increased prostaglandin production, which is correlated with pain and inflammation, and correlated with tumor presence and/or location. Identifying areas of increased COX expressing can also aid in screening for infections.

A material for brachytherapy is provided comprising a substrate having a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal, wherein the substrate comprises alternating peaks and valleys which are parallel to the longitudinal axis, the alternating peaks and valleys defining latitudinally extending pleats; and a plurality of medicament moieties positioned on the peaks and valleys of the substrate.

A device for orienting a brachytherapy applicator implanted in a treatment cavity may include an elongated body defining an open channel adapted for slidably receiving at least a portion of a shaft or catheter body of a brachytherapy applicator. A manually engageable gripping element at an end of the elongated body is actuated to constrict at least a portion of the channel around a portion of the shaft to help prevent shaft twist and rotational movement between the elongated body and brachytherapy applicator. At least one engaging element on the elongated body is actuated to releasably engage at least one corresponding engaging element on a brachytherapy applicator. Shaft twist and rotational discontinuity between the elongated body and brachytherapy applicator are further prevented when the at least one engaging element of the elongated body engages the at least one corresponding element of the brachytherapy applicator. The device can advantageously be mounted and removed while the applicator is inside the treatment cavity. Furthermore, the device is an external tool that engages the brachytherapy applicator externally about its outer surface.

The invention provides for a medical instrument (400, 500, 600, 700) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (404) and an external beam radiotherapy system (402) for irradiating a target zone (438) of a subject with a beam (442) of ionizing radiation within the imaging zone. The medical instrument further comprises a processor (448) for controlling the medical instrument. Execution of instructions cause the processor to: acquire (100, 200) first magnetic resonance data (458); reconstruct (102, 202) a first magnetic resonance image (460) from the first magnetic resonance data; receive (104, 204) planning data (462), wherein the planning data specifies a spatially dependent radiation dose for the target zone; register (106, 206) the planning data to the first magnetic resonance image; and calculate (108, 208) an external beam dosage plan (468) and a brachytherapy dosage plan (468) using the spatially dependent radiation dose and the first magnetic resonance image.

Methods and devices for minimally-invasive delivery of radiation to the eye (such as the posterior portion of the eye) including cannula systems with multiple treatment positions and/or multiple channels in the distal tip of the cannula systems. The channels can accommodate emanating sources and exposing a target at various treatment positions. The emanating sources may be annulus-shaped.