Effect of volume of porogens on the porosity of PLGA scaffolds in pH-controlled environment

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a well-studied biodegradable polymer used in drug delivery and other medical applications such as in tissue regeneration. It is often necessary to impart porosity within the scaffold (microparticles) in order to promote the growth of tissue during the regeneration process. Sodium chloride and ammonium bicarbonate have been extensively used as porogens in the generation of porous microstructure. In this study, we compared the effect of volumes (250?μl, 500?μl and 750?μl) of two porogens, sodium chloride (1.71 M) and ammonium bicarbonate (1.71 M), on the porosity of PLGA microparticles.     

Study on the interactions of pharmacokinetics and liver distributions between rosuvastatin and repaglinide in rats

In the present study,we aimed to investigate the interactions of pharmacokinetics and liver distributions between rosuvastatin and repaglinide in rats.Coadministration of repaglinide (0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg) for 7 d significantly increased the AUC_0–24 and C_max of rosuvastatin (P<0.01), but dramatically decreased the CL/F of rosuvastatin (P<0.01) after a single dose of rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg). There were no obviously changes in the parameters of T_max and t_1/2. Coadministration of repaglinide also decreased the liver distribution of rosuvastatin (P<0.01). Coadministration of rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg) for 7 days significantly increased the AUC_0–12 and C_max of repaglinide (P<0.05), and decreased the CL/F of repaglinide (P<0.01) after a single dose of repaglinide (1 mg/kg). The liver distribution of repaglinide was also decreased (P<0.01). Our animal study indicated that repaglinide could significantly affect the pharmacokinetics and liver distribution of rosuvastatin in rats and vice versa.     

Patient preferences for clinical follow-up after primary treatment for soft tissue sarcoma: A cross-sectional survey and discrete choice experiment

BackgroundPatients treated for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) require long-term follow-up to detect recurrent or metastatic disease, yet marked differences exist in clinical approaches to the length of follow-up, frequency of consultations and investigations undertaken at follow-up visits. There has been no published work assessing patient expectations or the acceptability of post-treatment follow-up strategies. This study aimed to assess the patient acceptability of different follow-up strategies following curative surgery for soft tissue sarcoma and to investigate the hypothetical levels of recurrence risk at which different follow-up regimes were acceptable.MethodsPatients were recruited from the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. The study used a cross-sectional survey incorporating a best-worst scaling discrete choice experiment to assess patient preferences regarding different aspects of follow-up.Results132 patients participated (47% response). The nature of investigations undertaken during follow-up was the most important aspect of post-surgical care. Patients typically preferred appointments routinely consisting of clinical examination and chest X-ray, and for follow-up to remain in secondary care rather than general practice.ConclusionClear protocols for STS patient follow-up can improve consistency and equity of care. In determining the optimum follow-up plan for STS patients from the patient perspective, this study provides valuable information that should be considered alongside the clinical effectiveness of follow-up strategies to maximise patient outcomes and use NHS resources appropriately.