The LEP gene and age of menarche: maternal age as a potential cause of hidden stratification in association studies.

Leptin has a powerful effect on fertility and the initiation of puberty in addition to its effect on obesity. It has been suggested that that in times of fasting, infertility induced by low leptin levels protect the female from the energy demands of pregnancy. Despite this there have been no studies of the potential role of LEP gene variants on the age of onset of menarche. We genotyped 183 non-Hispanic Caucasian adult females at the LEP D7S1875 dinucleotide repeat polymorphism. The alleles were placed into three genotypes, <208/<208 bp, heterozygotes, and > or =208/> or =208 bp. A hierarchical ANOVA was performed with age of menarche as the dependent variable and LEP(1875) genotypes and maternal age (age of the mothers at birth of the subject) as independent variables. There was a significant (P or =30 years. If maternal age effects prove to be generalized, failure to take them into consideration could provide a source of hidden stratification that could significantly alter the replication of association studies.     

The Effect of Preoperative Oral Immunonutrition on Complications and Length of Hospital Stay After Elective Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer–A Randomized Controlled Trial

Major gastrointestinal surgery is associated with immune suppression and a high risk of postoperative complications. The aim of this open, randomized controlled trial was to examine the effect of supplementary per oral immunonutrition (IN) seven days before surgery for pancreatic cancer (PC) on postoperative complications and length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were the changes in functional capability and body weight (BW). Consecutive patients referred for surgery for diagnosed or plausible PC were included. The patients in the intervention group received supplementary IN (Oral Impact®, Nestlé) to reach a goal of 1.5 g protein/kg BW. The control group continued their habitual diet. Complications and LOS were independently assessed by the surgical staff. Secondary outcomes were measured 10, 20, and 30 days postoperatively. Thirty-five patients were included, of whom 19 (54%) were allocated to the intervention group. The doses of IN ranged from 250 to 1000 ml per day and the median compliance was 100 (0–100%). Based on the principle of intention-to-treat, no significant differences were found between the groups. We conclude that the lack of effect could be due to the limited dosage of IN, and/or because only 40% of the patients were at nutritional risk.     

Phoma Saccardo: Distribution,secondary metabolite production and biotechnological applications

Phoma Sacc. is an ubiquitous fungus, which has been reported from plants, soil, human beings, animals, and air. Some species of Phoma like P. sorghina, P. herbarum, P. exigua var. exigua, P. macrostoma, P. glomerata, Phoma macdonaldii, Phoma tracheiphila, Phoma proboscis, P. multirostrata, and Phoma foveata secrete phytotoxin and anthraquinone pigments as secondary metabolites, which have great potential for the biological control of weeds, and can be exploited for the production of mycopesticides, agrophytochemicals, and dyes. Some other species produce pharmaceutically active metabolites, viz., Sirodesmins, Phomenoic acid, Phomenolactone, Phomadecalins, Phomactin A, Phomasetin, Squalestatin-1 (S1), and Squalestatin-2 (S2). The secondary metabolites secreted by some species of Phoma are antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-HIV. Equisetin and Phomasetin obtained from species of Phoma are useful against AIDS. The main goal of the present review is to discuss secondary metabolite production by species of Phoma and their utilization as antibiotics and as biocontrol agents.     

An Ex Vivo Evaluation of Moxifloxacin Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Enriched In Situ Gel for Transcorneal Permeation on Goat Cornea

The study was designed to fabricate the moxifloxacin nanostructured lipid carriers (MOX-NLCs) loaded in situ gel for opthalmic application to improve the corneal permeation and retention and also subside the toxic effect associated with intracameral injection of moxifloxacin in endophthalmitis treatment. Initially, Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the various factors significantly affecting the final formulation attributes. MOX-NLCs with particle size 232.1 ± 9.2 nm, polydispersity index 0.247 ± 0.031, zeta potential ?16.3 ± 1.6 mV, entrapment efficiency 63.1 ± 2.4%, and spherical shape was achieved. The optimized MOX-NLCs demonstrated the Higuchi release kinetics with highest regression coefficient. Besides this, FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction results suggested that MOX had excellent compatibility with excipients. Furthermore, the results of ex-vivo permeation study demonstrated 2-fold higher permeation (208.7 ± 17.6 μg), retention (37.26 ± 2.83 μg), and flux (9.57 ± 0.73 μg/cm² h) compared with free MOX in situ gel. In addition, MOX-NLCs exhibited normal corneal hydration and did not show any sign of structural damage to the corneal tissue as confirmed by histology. Therefore, the findings strongly suggest that MOX-NLCs in situ gel with higher permeation and retention can be a better alternative strategy to prevent and treat the endophthalmitis infection.     

CT features of primary cerebral lymphoma in AIDS and non-AIDS patients

Computed tomographic study of six cases with primary cerebral non-Hodgkin lymphoma are reviewed. Three had a history of intravenous drug abuse and were diagnosed as having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). All cases presented with space occupying lesions in the frontal lobe with the exception of Case 4. Computed tomography demonstrated multiple lesions in AIDS cases whereas non-AIDS lesions were invariably single. The AIDS patients died within 1 year despite radiotherapy as compared with the non-AIDS patients.     

Sleep disturbances in IDDM patients with nocturnal hypoglycemia.

Eight insulin-dependent diabetic patients were studied to evaluate sleep patterns during normoglycemia and spontaneous and insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Two channels of electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram and actooculogram were recorded. The signals were analyzed off-line, using a polygraphic sleep analysis system. The scoring was mainly based on the color density spectral array of the EEG. Blood glucose and growth hormone were measured serially. Asymptomatic, spontaneous nocturnal hypoglycemia occurred in 38% of the nights. Conventional sleep analysis showed a tendency toward prolongation of the two first rapid eye movement cycles on hypoglycemic nights, although it was insufficient to explain the activities seen during hypoglycemia. Blood glucose values below 2.0 mmol/l were observed in some of the patients accompanied by EEG changes with increased theta and delta activity.     

Extrusion-Spheronization of Talc using Microcrystalline Cellulose as a Pellet Aid: Part I

Purpose

The aims of the present work were to pelletize talc by extrusion-spheronization technique using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as a pelletization aid and to study its performance as a neutral substrate for coating. A 3² factorial design was used to study the effect of independent variables (X1, amount of talc, and X2, MCC) on pellet properties.

Methods

A total of nine batches of pellets prepared (TP1–TP9) were evaluated for the percentage yield, topology, sphericity, micromeritics, mechanical properties, and disintegration time. An optimized talc pellet batch (TP9) and plain MCC pellet (MP0) were layered with felodipine, coated using aqueous ethyl cellulose dispersion (Surelease NG), and subsequently evaluated for drug release performance.

Results

The yield of talc pelletization process was found in the range of 41.50–90.80 % wt/wt. All pellets (TP1–TP9) showed satisfactory angle of repose, aspect ratio (AR) <1.20 (except batch TP1 and TP2), Carr’s compressibility index, 5.29–13.32, and optimum Kawakita constants indicating excellent flow properties. Topologically, talc and MCC pellets had similar surface texture as evidenced from SEM analysis. Although crushing strength of TP9 was significantly low than MP0 (P?P?Conclusion The drug release studies showed that functionalized TP9 and MP0 both followed extended first-order kinetics and showed similarity factor (f2) 74.53 demonstrating comparable performance of talc and MCC pellets.     

Current and evolving stent evaluation by coronary computed tomographic angiography

Objectives : To demonstrate the variety of stent abnormalities that may be evaluated by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA). Background : The application of CTA to the evaluation of coronary stents has focused almost entirely on the detection of in‐stent restenosis. Methods : All CTA performed for stent evaluation at a single institution were reviewed. Results : In addition to in‐stent restenosis, stent fracture, and overlap failure, a multiplicity of stent‐related problems not previously addressed by CTA was categorized and illustrated: late stent thrombosis, jailed branches, edge stenosis, bifurcation stents, inadequate stent expansion, stent aneurysms, peri‐stent plaque, and stenting into bridged myocardium. Conclusions : CTA may be used to evaluate the full range of stent‐related problems. This work provides the framework for future studies validating these applications. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.