Online Monitoring of PLGA Microparticles Formation Using Lasentec Focused Beam Reflectance (FBRM) and Particle Video Microscope (PVM)

Knowledge of the effects of different product and process variability on microparticle characterization is essential for the successful development, optimization, and scale-up of an encapsulation process. In the current research, the qualitative application of the Lasentec focused beam reflectance (FBRM) system for online monitoring of microparticle size distribution was demonstrated. lasentec particle vision and measurement (PVM) images were also employed to follow up the steps of microparticle formation and ripening. The drug entrapment efficiency and drug release characteristics were found to be dependent on the polymer, drug, and surfactant concentrations. DSC, FTIR, and XRD data revealed that the drug was compatible with the matrix forming polymer in the solid state. As indicated from the chord count data, FBRM was sensitive to the amount of the solid materials and the number of microparticles formed. Linear relationships with good correlations were obtained between polymer, drug, and surfactant levels and the disappearance rate of 5 to 36.8, 18.4 to 135.9, and 63 to 398 µm chord length fractions. Upon organic solvent evaporation, PVM imaging detected various stages of microemulsion droplets, sheath formation, and solidification with subsequent microparticle hardening. This study illustrated the utility of FBRM and PVM in monitoring the progress of particle formation during drug encapsulation.     

Neoadjuvant treatment of advanced stage esophageal adenocarcinoma increases survival.

Sophisticated surgical approaches have a definite but limited role in esophageal cancer. The majority have systemic disease at presentation, minimal residual disease following resection or co-morbid conditions that preclude extensive surgery. This paper examines whether neoadjuvant therapy is effective in advanced-stage disease. A randomized trial, closing September 1995, was followed up to determine results at 5 years. All patients were followed up for more than 5 years. Median survival, based on intention-to-treat, was 17 months for multimodal therapy vs. 12 months for surgery alone (P=0.002). Survival based on treatment received was 27 months vs. 14 months (P=0.0006). Multimodal therapy enhances survival for patients with minimal residual disease. This is consistent with the literature. Under-powered trials cannot prove a real difference to be significant. Future trials should target patients with minimal residual disease.     

Erratum to: Engineering cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for resistance to cotton leaf curl disease using viral truncated AC1 DNA sequences

Virus Genes - An error notified in the labelling of Fig.&;nbsp;1b, 3′tAC1 has been erroneously published as 5′tAC1.     

Evaluation of the 24-hour blood pressure effects of eprosartan in patients with systemic hypertension

BACKGROUND: Eprosartan is a new nonphenyl angiotensin II receptor blocker, which has been approved for the treatment of hypertension. Although the drug has a relatively short plasma half-life of 5 to 9 h, clinical studies have suggested that its antihypertensive effect persists for 24 h. METHODS: We assessed both the changes in 24-h and trough blood pressure (BP) (last 4 h of the ambulatory BP while the patient was awake) of eprosartan at doses of 600 and 1,200 mg once daily in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ambulatory BP was monitored at placebo baseline and after 8 weeks of double-blind therapy. RESULTS: Two hundred patients randomized in the study with 177 patients completing the trial. The 24-h change in BP from baseline was 0.2/0.1 +/- 1.4/1.0 mm Hg, -7.9/ -5.4 +/- 1.0 mm Hg (P < .0001), and -7.4/-5.0 +/- 0.9 mm Hg (P < .0001) in the placebo, 600-mg eprosartan, and 1,200-mg eprosartan groups, respectively. Changes in trough ambulatory BP showed significant reductions of -6.3/-4.1 +/- 1.6/1.1 mm Hg and -7.7/-5.5 +/- 1.5/1.0 mm Hg for 600 mg of eprosartan and 1,200 mg of eprosartan, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that eprosartan at doses of 600 or 1200 mg significantly reduced BP throughout an entire 24-h dosing period. There were no differences between the 600- and 1,200-mg dose; thus, 600 mg once daily should be the only dose used in the treatment of hypertension with eprosartan.     

Intraocular Sustained-Release Delivery Systems for Triamcinolone Acetonide

Recently, the use of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection has increased dramatically in treatment for several ocular diseases. Among them, macular diseases such as macular edema due to diabetic retinopathy, venous occlusive diseases, ocular inflammation and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are very common vision threatening disorders and are great challenges to treat. In these types of chronic retinal diseases, repeated intraocular injections of TA are often required which increases the likelihood of complications. In order to achieve sustained-release, maintain therapeutic levels of TA over longer times and reduce frequency of intravitreal injections, researchers are investigating different implantable devices or injectable systems. However, as of yet, there is no sustained-release product for TA available on the commercial market. This review discusses and compares different sustained-release devices or injectable systems that are currently being developed. Supported by the Discovery Eye Foundation, Henry L. Guenther Foundation, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation and the Research to Prevent Blindness Foundation.     

Adenocarcinoma in ileal duplication cyst: Case report and review of literature

Adenocarcinomas of Ileal Duplication Cysts are an extremely rare occurrence, this is a case report and review of current literature as to the best management of this condition.     

The non-immune inflammatory response: serial changes in plasma iron, iron-binding capacity, lactoferrin, ferritin and C-reactive protein

The interrelationships between various components of the non-immune inflammatory response (white cell count, plasma lactoferrin, C-reactive protein, ferritin, iron and iron-binding capacity), were studied serially in a variety of inflammatory conditions including acute lobar pneumonia, active pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis on gold therapy and sepsis in the face of marrow hypoplasia induced by chemotherapy. Lactoferrin concentrations paralleled the white count in all groups. They were highest in pneumonia and tuberculosis, mildly elevated in rheumatoid arthritis and markedly decreased in neutropenic sepsis. Very high initial lactoferrin concentrations were associated with a poor prognosis in acute pneumonia. C-reactive protein and ferritin concentrations remained elevated through the period of study in acute pneumonia and neutropenic sepsis, while they gradually normalised over weeks in subjects with tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis on therapy. In pneumonia and tuberculosis moderate hypoferraemia and a reduced iron-binding capacity were evident. In contrast, a raised percentage saturation was present in neutropenic sepsis, probably related to erythroid marrow suppression. Comparisons between ferritin, lactoferrin and C-reactive protein in the various groups supported the concept that ferritin behaves in part as an acute phase reactant and that hypoferraemia in inflammation is due to deviation of iron into ferritin stores. The suggestion that lactoferrin is responsible for the hypoferraemia and hyperferritinaemia was not supported by the present data. Iron deficiency appeared to limit the hyperferritinaemic response in rheumatoid arthritis, while erythropoietic inhibition by chemotherapy dampened the hypoferraemic response in neutropenic sepsis.