Sustained release (SR) tablets containing solid dispersions (SD) granules of a poorly water-soluble drug were prepared to investigate the controlled pH-independent release of the drug. Losartan potassium (LST), an anti-hypertensive agent was chosen as a model drug because of its pH-dependent solubility and short elimination half-life. Poloxamer 188 was used as an SD carrier. A free-flowing SD granule was prepared by adsorbing the melt of the drug and poloxamer 188 onto the surface of an adsorbent, Aerosil 300 (fumed silicon dioxide), followed by direct compression with polyethylene oxide (PEO, 5 × 10(6)) to obtain an SD-loaded SR (SD-SR) matrix tablet. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) revealed partially amorphous structures of the drug in the SD granules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) images indicated adsorption of SD granules onto the surface of the adsorbent. The SD granules dissolved completely within 10 min, a dissolution rate much higher than that of pure LST. Moreover, pH-independent sustained release of LST from the SD-SR tablet was achieved for 2h in gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and for 10h in intestinal fluid (pH 6.8). A combination of SD techniques using surface adsorption and SR concepts is a promising approach to control the release rate of poorly water-soluble drugs in a pH-independent manner. 相似文献
Objectives: This study examines the role of depressive symptoms associated with age on contextual memory and how this association could impair the use of strategic instructions during encoding.
Method: Young and older controls and older adults with depressive symptoms performed memory recognition tests for item and context.
Results: Memory results indicated that mild depressive symptoms did not aggravate the age-related contextual memory pattern, but interfered with the magnitude of the memory enhancement provided by specific encoding instructions when compared with young adults. These between-group differences in the use of memory strategies were eliminated with the inclusion of the performance on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test as a covariate.
Conclusion: Mild depressive symptoms were associated with an impaired ability to use incidental memory strategies at encoding, suggesting the need for further investigation on the effects of non-clinical depressive symptomatology on cognitive decline in aging. 相似文献
BackgroundBackground: Hot springs have been traditionally used as an alternative treatment for a wide range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, diabetes, hypertension, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. However, the clinical effects and therapeutic mechanisms associated with hot springs remain poorly defined.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to demonstrate the different effects of hot springs on cellular viability and secretion of inflammatory cytokines on keratinocyte in two geographically representative types of hot springs: NaHCO3-type and NaCl-type, which are the most common types in South Korea.MethodsWe performed WST-1, BrdU measurements, human inflammatory cytokine arrays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in HaCaT cells stimulated with toll-like receptor 3 by polyinosinicpolycytidylic acid.ResultsThe interaction effects of cell viability and cell proliferation were not significantly different regardless of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stimulation and cultured hot springs type. Cytokine array and enzymelinked immunosorbent assay analysis showed increased expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stimulation, with expression levels differing according to hot springs hydrochemical composition. Cytokine reduction was not significant.ConclusionThe effects and mechanisms of hot springs treatment in keratinocytes were partially elucidated. 相似文献
Carassius auratus were exposed for 96 h to different concentrations of uranyl nitrate (corresponding to 0, 100, 450, and 2,025 μg U L−1) and killed after different postexposure periods (0, 48, and 96 h) to assess uranium bioaccumulation, peroxisome proliferation
(catalase [CAT]), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]), and DNA integrity in erythrocytes
(comet assay). In addition, feeding behaviour was recorded as a general response to toxicant exposure. Results provided evidence
of uranium bioaccumulation in muscle of C. auratus after exposure to the highest concentrations (450 and 2,025 μg U L−1). This tissue was able to depurate uranium to control levels 96 h after exposure ceased. However, no perturbations in feeding
behaviour or cell damage were observed in the tested organisms, except for the apparent irreversible inhibition of CAT activity
immediately after exposure in the highest concentration tested. Data on DNA integrity (comets) showed that waterborne uranium
exposure was able to induce genotoxicity in C. auratus erythrocytes because fish exposed to all concentrations exhibited higher DNA damage than controls 96 h after exposure. No
DNA damage repair was apparent throughout the postexposure period, which was contrary to a recovery scenario. This experiment
provides evidence of uranium’s ability to induce physiologic impairment and genotoxicity in freshwater fish at environmentally
relevant concentrations. 相似文献
Nails have a limited number of reactive patterns to disease. Accordingly, toenail
changes of different etiologies may mimic onychomycosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of toenail onychomycosis among patients with leg
ulcer and toenail abnormalities attending a dermatology clinic.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted through the analysis of clinical
records and results of mycological examination.
RESULTS
A total of 81 patients were included, with a median age of 76.0 years. Most
ulcers were of venous etiology, followed by those of mixed and arterial
pathogenesis. The mycological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of
onychomycosis in 27.2% of the patients. The etiologic agent was a
dermatophyte in 59.1% of isolates in nail samples, while Trichophyton
interdigitale was the most frequent fungal species (40.9%).
CONCLUSIONS
Most toenail abnormalities in patients with chronic leg ulcer were not
onychomycosis. This study highlights the importance of systematic
mycological examination in these patients, in order to avoid overtreatment
with systemic antifungals, unnecessary costs and side effects. 相似文献
A wide range of factor VIII and IX levels is observed in heterozygous carriers of hemophilia as well as in noncarriers. In female carriers, extreme lyonization may lead to low clotting factor levels. We studied the effect of heterozygous hemophilia carriership on the occurrence of bleeding symptoms. A postal survey was performed among most of the women who were tested for carriership of hemophilia in the Netherlands before 2001. The questionnaire included items on personal characteristics, characteristics of hemophilia in the affected family members, and carrier testing and history of bleeding problems such as bleeding after tooth extraction, bleeding after tonsillectomy, and other operations. Information on clotting factor levels was obtained from the hospital charts. Logistic regression was used to assess the relation of carrier status and clotting factor levels with the occurrence of hemorrhagic events. In 2004, 766 questionnaires were sent, and 546 women responded (80%). Of these, 274 were carriers of hemophilia A or B. The median clotting factor level of carriers was 0.60 IU/mL (range, 0.05-2.19 IU/mL) compared with 1.02 IU/mL (range, 0.45-3.28 IU/mL) in noncarriers. Clotting factor levels from 0.60 to 0.05 IU/mL were increasingly associated with prolonged bleeding from small wounds and prolonged bleeding after tooth extraction, tonsillectomy, and operations. Carriers of hemophilia bleed more than other women, especially after medical interventions. Our findings suggest that not only clotting factor levels at the extreme of the distribution, resembling mild hemophilia, but also mildly reduced clotting factor levels between 0.41 and 0.60 IU/mL are associated with bleeding. 相似文献
Bestrophins form Ca2+-activated Cl? channels and regulate intracellular Ca2+ signaling. We demonstrate that bestrophin 1 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it interacts with stromal interacting molecule 1, the ER-Ca2+ sensor. Intracellular Ca2+ transients elicited by stimulation of purinergic P2Y2 receptors in HEK293 cells were augmented by hBest1. The p21-activated protein kinase Pak2 was found to phosphorylate hBest1, thereby enhancing Ca2+ signaling and activation of Ca2+-dependent Cl? (TMEM16A) and K+ (SK4) channels. Lack of bestrophin 1 expression in respiratory epithelial cells of mBest1 knockout mice caused expansion of ER cisterns and induced Ca2+ deposits. hBest1 is, therefore, important for Ca2+ handling of the ER store and may resemble the long-suspected counterion channel to balance transient membrane potentials occurring through inositol triphosphate (IP3)-induced Ca2+ release and store refill. Thus, bestrophin 1 regulates compartmentalized Ca2+ signaling that plays an essential role in Best macular dystrophy, inflammatory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, as well as proliferation. 相似文献
OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was performed to evaluate the effects of genital prolapse surgery on sexuality. Additionally we investigated which variables are risk factors for persistence or development of sexual problems after surgery. METHODS: All 82 patients participating in a randomized trial comparing vaginal and abdominal surgical correction of descensus uteri, were asked to complete the Questionnaire for screening Sexual Dysfunctions (QSD) before and at six months and one year after surgery. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients completed the questionnaire. General satisfaction about sexuality was significantly improved after surgery. Of 41 patients who were sexually active both before surgery and at one year after surgery, 28 (68.3%) patients reported sexual problems before surgery. In 13 (46.4%) of these patients, all sexual problems disappeared. Of the 13 patients without sexual problems before surgery, two patients reported de novo sexual problems. The relative risk on disappearance of sexual problems in patients with large cystocele was 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.1-2.1) times higher than the risk in patients without large cystocele. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction about sexuality increases and the prevalence of sexual problems decreases in patients undergoing surgical correction of descensus uteri. 相似文献
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of membrane sweeping at 41 weeks for the prevention of post-term pregnancy. DESIGN: A multicentre randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Fifty-one primary care midwifery practices in the Netherlands. POPULATION: A total of 742 low-risk pregnant women at 41 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to serial sweeping of the membranes (every 48 hours until labour commenced up to 42 weeks of gestation) or no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Post-term pregnancy (>or=42 weeks). Subgroup analyses were performed on nulliparous and parous women. Secondary outcomes included adverse effects. RESULTS: Serial sweeping of the membranes at 41 weeks decreased the risk of post-term pregnancy (87/375 [23%] versus 149/367 [41%]; relative risk [RR] 0.57, 95% CI 0.46-0.71; number needed to treat [NNT] 6 [95% CI 4-9]). Benefits were also seen in both subgroups (nulliparous: 57/198 [29%] versus 89/192 [46%]; RR 0.62 [95% CI 0.48-0.81]; NNT 6 [95% CI 4-12] and parous: 30/177 [17%] versus 60/175 [34%]; RR 0.49 [95% CI 0.34-0.73]; NNT 6 [95% CI 4-6]). Adverse effects were similar in both the groups except for uncomplicated bleeding, which was reported more frequently in the sweeping group. Other obstetric outcomes and indicators of neonatal morbidity were similar in both groups. There were two perinatal deaths in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Membrane sweeping at 41 weeks can substantially reduce the proportion of women with post-term pregnancy. 相似文献