Determination of temazepam and related compounds in capsules by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatographic assay method is described for temazepam hard gelatin and soft gelatin capsule analysis. The method is simple, specific, accurate, fast, and stability indicating. A reversed-phase octylsilane (C8) column with a mobile phase composed of methanol:1% acetic acid and detection at 254 nm separated sulfanilamide (internal standard), temazepam, synthetic precursor, and possible degradation products. Detector responses showed linearity to temazepam concentrations over the range 0.075-0.60 mg/mL (r = 0.9999). Mean recovery of temazepam added to capsule excipients was 100.3%. Mean assay results for 15- and 30-mg hard gelatin capsules were 101.5 and 101.3%, respectively. Mean assay results for 10- and 20-mg soft elastic gelatin capsules were 101.1 and 101.5%, respectively.     

Expression of aminopeptidase-n (CD 13) in normal tissues and malignant neoplasms of epithelial and lymphoid origin.

AIMS--To provide a detailed knowledge of the distribution of the CD13 molecule, also known as the protease aminopeptidase-N, on both normal tissues and malignant neoplasms of epithelial and lymphoid origin. METHODS--CD13 antigen was examined by immunocytochemistry, using a recently produced antibody (VS5E) alongside a commercially available anti-CD13 monoclonal antibody. The VS5E recognising CD13 was produced by immunising a doxorubicin resistant breast cancer cell line (MCF-7-ADr). A striking feature of this antibody was that it stained the doxorubicin resistant cells but not the parental cell line. Both antibodies were tested on a broad range of normal tissues and three common types of epithelial malignancy (colon n = 28, lung n = 30, breast n = 35), and 12 cases of Hodgkin''s and 52 of non-Hodgkin''s lymphomas. RESULTS--CD13 was expressed on many tissue and cell types outside the haematopoietic system. In particular it was present on breast epithelium and in 20% (seven of 35) of breast carcinomas, but absent in normal and neoplastic colonic and bronchial tissues and lymphomas. CONCLUSIONS--This study provides not only detailed information about the expression of the CD13 antigen, but also raises the important possibility that CD13 expression may correlate with drug resistance in breast carcinomas.     

Haemophilus influenzae adherent to contact lenses associated with production of acute ocular inflammation.

Ten episodes of adverse responses to contact lens wear, including contact lens-induced acute red eye (CLARE), in which Haemophilus influenzae was isolated from contact lenses and/or from one of the external ocular sites at the time of the event, are described. All episodes occurred in patients wearing disposable hydrogel lenses on a 6-night extended-wear schedule. Two of the patients had recurrent episodes. H. influenzae was usually isolated in large numbers, and other bacteria or fungi colonizing the contact lens or the external ocular surface were usually present in low numbers. Those patients who were colonized with H. influenzae were more than 100 times as likely to have had a CLARE or infiltrative response than those subjects who were not colonized with this bacterium. H. influenzae colonization of the contact lens and eye may be subsequent to colonization of the nasopharynx because four of the seven patients presented with fever at the time of the event, with concurrent upper respiratory tract infection. Contact lens wearers should be made aware of the potential risk of CLARE associated with the wearing of contact lenses for extended periods during and subsequent to upper respiratory tract infection.     

Adhesion molecules in invasion and metastasis

Abstracts of the 4th International Congress of the Metastasis Research Society: Science and Medicine in Cancer MetastasisSymposium 4

Adhesion molecules in invasion and metastasis     

Future Dietitian 2025: informing the development of a workforce strategy for dietetics

Background

Healthcare is changing and the professions that deliver it need to adapt and change too. The aim of this research was to inform the development of a workforce strategy for Dietetics for 2020–2030. This included an understanding of the drivers for change, the views of stakeholders and recommendations to prepare the profession for the future.

Methods

The research included three phases: (i) establishing the context which included a literature and document review (environmental scan); (ii) discovering the profession and professional issues using crowd‐sourcing technology; and (iii) articulating the vision for the future using appreciative inquiry.

Results

The environmental scan described the current status of the dietetic profession, the changing healthcare environment, the context in which dietitians work and what future opportunities exist for the profession. The online conversation facilitated by crowd‐sourcing technology asked the question: ‘How can dietitians strengthen their future role, influence and impact?’ Dietitians and interested stakeholders (726 and 109, respectively) made 6130 contributions. Seven priorities were identified and fed into the appreciative inquiry event. The event bought together 54 dietitians and analysis of the discussions generated five themes: (i) professional identity; (ii) strong foundations‐creating structure and direction for the profession; (iii) amplifying visibility and influence; (iv) embracing advances in science and technology; and (v) career advancement and emerging opportunities.

Conclusions

A series of recommendations were made for the next steps in moving the workforce to a new future. The future for dietetics looks bright, embracing technology, as well as exploring different ways of working and new opportunities, as this dynamic profession continues to evolve.

     

Homosexually active men's views on criminal prosecutions for HIV transmission are related to HIV prevention need

There has been much debate and discussion about the potential public health impact of the emergence of criminal prosecutions for the sexual transmission of HIV in the United Kingdom. This paper offers a unique opportunity to examine data that connects views on criminal prosecutions with evidence of HIV prevention need among an opportunistic sample of men in the UK who are homosexually active. Quantitative and qualitative data on criminal prosecutions were collected as a part of the Gay Men's Sex Survey 2006, and this paper represents an initial analysis of those responses. The data demonstrate how dominant views on criminal prosecutions come into direct conflict with health promotion aims, thereby exacerbating pre-existing HIV prevention need in a population at increased risk of participating in HIV transmission. This conflict is most clearly apparent in the close relationship between men's support of criminal prosecutions, and their expectation that a partner with diagnosed HIV will disclose his status before engaging in sex. Changing such unrealistic and universalised expectations has long been an aim of HIV prevention planning that targets Gay and Bisexual men, yet it would appear that the popularity of criminal prosecutions helps to resist attitudinal change, thereby exacerbating HIV prevention need.     

Hearing aid use in the elderly as measured by datalogging and self-report

Objectives: The primary aim was to compare the objective and the subjective assessments of hearing aid use among elderly people at a 6-month follow-up after fitting. A secondary aim was to determine whether advanced knowledge of follow-up impacts hearing aid use. Design: Hearing aid use was assessed by datalogging (objective) and self-report (subjective) 6 months after initial fitting. Participants were also randomised to an intervention (informed of 6-month follow-up at fitting) or control group (informed just prior to follow-up). Study sample: A total of 181 hearing aid recipients?≥60 years (mean age?=?79.2 years). Results: Daily hearing aid use based on datalogging (mean?=?6.12?h, SD?=?4.94) was significantly less than self-reports (mean?=?8.39?h, SD?=?5.07). More severe hearing impairment and prior hearing aid experience were associated with increased hearing aid use. Advanced knowledge of the follow-up had no significant impact on use, which did not differ between intervention (n?=?93) and control (n?=?88) groups. Conclusions: Elderly people typically use their hearing aids for a substantial part of the day in the 6 months after fitting, but tend to overestimate their usage. Datalogging is recommended to identify those who do not use or rarely use their aids so that appropriate rehabilitation and support can be provided.     

High frequency immittance findings: newborn versus six-week-old infants

This study aimed to compare the high frequency (1 kHz) tympanometry (HFT) and acoustic reflex (AR) measures obtained from infants at birth and at 6-7 weeks of age. HFT results and AR thresholds using a 2-kHz tone and broadband noise activators were obtained from 42 healthy full-term neonates (15 boys and 27 girls) at both test sessions, separated by six weeks. The results showed that the mean values of HFT test parameters and AR thresholds obtained at 6-7 weeks were generally greater than those obtained at birth. In particular, the differences in mean values of uncompensated admittance at 200 daPa, uncompensated peak admittance, uncompensated peak susceptance, peak-compensated static admittance, and AR thresholds with a 2 kHz tone and broadband noise were found to be statistically significant. The findings from this study suggest the need to have separate sets of normative HFT and AR data for infants at birth and 6-7 weeks.     

Spatio-temporal changes in pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among MSM in mainland France between 2016 and 2021: a Bayesian small area approach with MSM population estimation

Introduction

In France, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been publicly available since 2016, mainly targeting at men who have sex with men (MSM). Reliable and robust estimations of the actual PrEP uptake among MSM on a localized level can provide additional insights to identify and better reach marginalized MSM within current HIV prevention service provision. This study used national pharmaco-epidemiology surveillance data and regional MSM population estimations to model the spatio-temporal distribution of PrEP uptake among MSM in France 2016–2021 to identify marginalized MSM at risk for HIV and increase their PrEP uptake.

Methods

We first applied Bayesian spatial analyses with survey-surveillance-based HIV incidence data as a spatial proxy to estimate the size of (1) regional HIV-negative MSM populations and (2) MSM who could be eligible for PrEP use according to French PrEP guidelines. We then applied Bayesian spatio-temporal ecological regression modelling to estimate the regional prevalence and relative probability of the overall- and new-PrEP uptake from 2016 to 2021 across France.

Results

HIV-negative and PrEP-eligible MSM populations vary regionally across France. Île-de-France was estimated to have the highest MSM density compared to other French regions. According to the final spatio-temporal model, the relative probability of overall PrEP uptake was heterogeneous across France but remained stable over time. Urban areas have higher-than-average probabilities of PrEP uptake. The prevalence of PrEP use increased steadily (ranging from 8.8% [95% credible interval 8.5%;9.0%] in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to 38.2% [36.5%;39.9%] in Centre-Val-de-Loire in 2021).

Conclusions

Our results show that using Bayesian spatial analysis as a novel methodology to estimate the localized HIV-negative MSM population is feasible and applicable. Spatio-temporal models showed that despite the increasing prevalence of PrEP use in all regions, geographical disparities and inequalities of PrEP uptake continued to exist over time. We identified regions that would benefit from greater tailoring and delivery efforts. Based on our findings, public health policies and HIV prevention strategies could be adjusted to better combat HIV infections and to accelerate ending the HIV epidemic.     

Unaltered aerobic power and endurance following glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy

The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether the muscle atrophy associated with glucocorticoid excess results in a reduction in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and endurance during exercise. Female rats were administered single subcutaneous injections of cortisone acetate (CA) (100 mg X kg-1 b.w.) or the vehicle (1% carboxymethyl cellulose) for 14 consecutive days. The weights of plantaris muscles (which were used as a marker of the atrophy) of CA-treated rats were 27% less than those of plantaris muscles in the vehicle-treated rats. This condition also produced a 12-fold increase in free serum glucocorticoid concentrations (cortisol) but did not alter serum androgen (testosterone) levels. Peak VO2 (ml X kg-1 X min-1) and endurance were greater in CA-treated vs vehicle-treated animals; however, these effects were shown to be a function of body weight loss. Homogenate oxygen uptakes in the presence of pyruvate or palmitate were also similar in slow-twitch soleus, fast-twitch red vastus, and fast-twitch white vastus lateralis muscles between CA- and vehicle-treated groups. These data provide no evidence to demonstrate that the catabolic actions of glucocorticoids in skeletal muscle result in a decrement in work capacity through at least 14 d of treatment.