Formulation of an oral dosage form utilizing the properties of cubic liquid crystalline phases of glyceryl monooleate.

Glyceryl monooleate is a Food and Drug Administration-approved food additive which has the ability to form various liquid crystalline phases in the presence of various amounts of water. The unique properties of the cubic liquid crystalline phase that result upon the presence of excess body fluids at body temperature were utilized to formulate an oral dosage form containing furosemide as the model drug. The aim was to develop a formula, which has both bioadhesive and sustained release properties of the resultant cubic phase, so that increasing gastric residence time to improve bioavailability of the drug and at the same time obtaining a sustained action. The system was found to be affected by the limited solubility of furosemide in both the carrier system and the pH of surrounding medium. As a consequence, the addition of some solubility modifiers was investigated in order to obtain the desired properties of the expected liquid crystalline system.     

Radioiodination and biological evaluation of candesartan as a tracer for cardiovascular disorder detection

The goal of the study aims to evaluate newly radioiodinated candesartan (CAN) as a potential cardiovascular tracer. CAN was labeled using ¹²⁵I with chloramine‐T (Ch‐T) and N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) with full characterization of cold Iodo‐candesartan. Factors such as pH, reaction temperature, reaction time, substrate, and oxidizing agent amounts were studied to optimize the radioiodination of CAN. The optimum radiochemical yield of ¹²⁵I‐CAN was 98%. The labeled compound was separated and purified using high‐pressure liquid chromatography. The biological distribution indicates the suitability of ¹²⁵I‐CAN as a novel tracer to detect cardiovascular disorders.     

Gastric Emptying and Intestinal Transit of Various Enteral Feedings Following Severe Burn Injury

Background  

Burn-induced delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit limits enteral feeding/resuscitation.     

Personal genome testing: Test characteristics to clarify the discourse on ethical, legal and societal issues

Background

As genetics technology proceeds, practices of genetic testing have become more heterogeneous: many different types of tests are finding their way to the public in different settings and for a variety of purposes. This diversification is relevant to the discourse on ethical, legal and societal issues (ELSI) surrounding genetic testing, which must evolve to encompass these differences. One important development is the rise of personal genome testing on the basis of genetic profiling: the testing of multiple genetic variants simultaneously for the prediction of common multifactorial diseases. Currently, an increasing number of companies are offering personal genome tests directly to consumers and are spurring ELSI-discussions, which stand in need of clarification. This paper presents a systematic approach to the ELSI-evaluation of personal genome testing for multifactorial diseases along the lines of its test characteristics.

Discussion

This paper addresses four test characteristics of personal genome testing: its being a non-targeted type of testing, its high analytical validity, low clinical validity and problematic clinical utility. These characteristics raise their own specific ELSI, for example: non-targeted genetic profiling poses serious problems for information provision and informed consent. Questions about the quantity and quality of the necessary information, as well as about moral responsibilities with regard to the provision of information are therefore becoming central themes within ELSI-discussions of personal genome testing. Further, the current low level of clinical validity of genetic profiles raises questions concerning societal risks and regulatory requirements, whereas simultaneously it causes traditional ELSI-issues of clinical genetics, such as psychological and health risks, discrimination, and stigmatization, to lose part of their relevance. Also, classic notions of clinical utility are challenged by the newer notion of 'personal utility.'

Summary

Consideration of test characteristics is essential to any valuable discourse on the ELSI of personal genome testing for multifactorial diseases. Four key characteristics of the test - targeted/non-targeted testing, analytical validity, clinical validity and clinical utility - together determine the applicability and the relevance of ELSI to specific tests. The paper identifies and discusses four areas of interest for the ELSI-debate on personal genome testing: informational problems, risks, regulatory issues, and the notion of personal utility.     

Prognostic implications of Q waves and T-wave inversion associated with early repolarization

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of early polarization (ER) in a stable population and to evaluate the prognostic significance of the association or absence of Q waves or T-wave inversion (TWI).Patients and MethodsIn this retrospective study performed at the university-affiliated Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care Center from March 1, 1987, through December 31, 1999, we evaluated outpatient electrocardiograms. Vital status and cause of death were determined in all patients, with a mean ± SD follow-up of 7.6±3.8 years.ResultsOf the 29,281 patients, 87% were men and 13% were African American. Inferior or lateral ER was present in 664 patients (2.3%): in inferior leads in 185 (0.6%), in lateral leads in 479 (1.6%) , and in both inferior and lateral leads in 163 (0.6%). Only when Q waves or TWI accompanied ER was there an increased risk of cardiovascular death (Cox proportional hazards regression model, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 3.4-7.2; P<.001).ConclusionCommon patterns of ER without concomitant Q waves or TWI are not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death; however, when either occurs with ER, there is a hazard ratio of 5.0. These findings confirm that ER is a benign entity; however, the presence of Q waves or TWI with ER is predictive of increased cardiovascular death.     

Design of semisynthetic analogues and 3D-QSAR study of eunicellin-based diterpenoids as prostate cancer migration and invasion inhibitors

Prostrate cancer constitutes the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in United States. Eunicellin-based diterpenoids are important bioactive marine natural products isolated from corals of alcyonaria species. The bioactivities of eunicellin diterpenes were correlated with their chemical structures. Recently eunicellin diterpenes from the Red Sea soft coral Cladiella pachyclados showed significant anti-migratory and anti-invasive activities against prostate cancer in wound-healing and Cultrex^® invasion models. These results encouraged the semisynthetic and 3D-QSAR studies of this unique marine natural product class as possible hits for the control of metastatic prostate cancer. Ten new semisynthetic analogues of cladiellisin (1) were prepared. These include C-6 carbamoylation and ?¹¹⁻¹⁷ epoxidation. Carbamate analogues of 1 showed potent anti-migratory and anti-invasive activities against PC-3 cells. Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) and Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA) were performed using SYBYL 8.1 program package to create a valid 3D-QSAR model to guide future design of potent eunicellin diterpenes cancer migration inhibitors. Eunicellin-based diterpenes are potential marine natural hits appropriate for optimization as inhibitors of metastatic prostate cancer.     

Prevalence, distribution and correlates of tobacco smoking and chewing in Nepal: a secondary data analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2006

Background

In order to improve treatments for cannabis use disorder, a better understanding of factors associated with successful quitting is required.

Method

This study examined differences between successful (n = 87) and unsuccessful (n = 78) cannabis quitters. Participants completed a questionnaire addressing demographic, mental health, and cannabis-related variables, as well as quitting strategies during their most recent quit attempt.

Results

Eighteen strategies derived from cognitive behavioral therapy were entered into a principal components analysis. The analysis yielded four components, representing (1) Stimulus Removal, (2) Motivation Enhancement, (3) (lack of) Distraction, and (4) (lack of) Coping. Between groups comparisons showed that unsuccessful quitters scored significantly higher on Motivation Enhancement and (lack of) Coping. This may indicate that unsuccessful quitters focus on the desire to quit, but do not sufficiently plan strategies for coping. Unsuccessful quitters also had significantly more symptoms of depression and stress; less education; lower exposure to formal treatment; higher day-to-day exposure to other cannabis users; and higher cannabis dependence scores.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that coping, environmental modification, and co-morbid mental health problems may be important factors to emphasize in treatments for cannabis use disorder.     

Effect of intraperitoneal and incisional port site lidocaine on pain relief after gynecological laparoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled study

Objective

To evaluate the role of Intraperitoneal and port site use of local anesthetic (Lidocaine HCl) in gynecological laparoscopy for postoperative pain relief.