A Critical Review of Alcohol Administration Guidelines in Laboratory Medication Screening Research: Is It Time to Include Treatment Seekers?

Human laboratory studies play an important role in alcohol use disorder (AUD) medication development. Medications that are found to be safe and effective during human laboratory screening will then move to more expensive clinical trials in patient populations. Given the gatekeeping role of human laboratory studies in the medication development pipeline, it is critical that these studies accurately forecast how pharmacotherapies will perform under true-to-life clinical conditions. On the other hand, the design of these studies also must adhere to ethical guidelines: certain aspects of clinical reality cannot be incorporated into screening studies because doing so might place the participant at risk for harm or breach other ethical guidelines. Conventions exist that guide the resolution of these conflicting ideals. This article considers the practice of recruiting non–treatment-seeking heavy drinkers to participate in laboratory screening studies. By convention, volunteers are excluded from laboratory screening studies that involve alcohol administration if they are deemed “treatment seeking,” meaning that they recently stopped drinking or are motivated to do so. Although this common practice may reduce risk to participants, findings may not accurately predict medication effects on treatment seekers. Indeed, there is empirical evidence that treatment seekers differ from nontreatment seekers in their responses to medications (Neuropsychopharmacology 2017a; 42: 1776; Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2017b; 43: 703; J Psychiatr Res 2006; 40: 383). Here, we argue for the importance of recruiting treatment seekers for this research due to their qualitative difference from nontreatment seekers. We argue that these individuals should be the default population in human laboratory medication screening studies. We conclude by discussing 2 case examples of medication experiments led by our research groups that involved administering medications to treatment seekers.     

Addressing climate change through a nursing lens within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Background

In 2000, the United Nations (UN) introduced the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), described as a global movement with the primary aim of ending world-wide poverty (“Millennium Summit,” 2000). The second phase of the project, known as the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda offers an increased emphasis on lessening the mitigating factors associated with climate change and adapting to the negative effects of climate change. Nurses are in the unique position to address the health-related impacts related to climate change through community health approaches aimed at education and promotion of environmental stewardship.

A Competent and Commercially Viable Process for the Synthesis of the Anti-Hypertensive Drug Olmesartan Medoxomil

Drug product purity and potency are of most significance in the regulatory market as we notice many recalled batches worldwide, particularly in the US and Japan. Olmesartan Medoxomil is an anti-hypertensive drug. The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of Olmesartan Medoxomil with 99.9% purity in an overall 62% yield. The synthesis includes three isolations and one purification with easy plant operations. This process describes the formation and control of each individual impurity in all stages. This process for Olmesartan Medoxomil and its intermediates is competent for industrial production in very short reaction time intervals with an appreciable yield and high purity.     

从用药分析的视角看临床药学的发展

通过分别从医生和临床药师的角度对同一张处方进行用药分析,探讨临床药师应具备的素质,并对此进行展望。     

Design of a Master of Science Sustainable Chemistry

Chemistry is the central science for value creation by physical products in the socio-economic system. Unsustainable processes over many decades have led to pressure on the planet and an urgent need for prioritizing sustainable development on a global level. Due to the central role of chemistry, the chemistry profession is an important stakeholder group to shape the transformation towards sustainable development. In order to provide relevant skills, higher education in chemistry requires a view of chemistry in the context of the framework of sustainability and the uptake of new content that is not covered in conventional teaching of chemistry. Such content includes environmental chemistry and toxicology, benign design of chemicals (teaching of chemistry), but also a broader context such as alternative business models and overarching knowledge of international policies and strategies to implement change with respect to chemical industry, chemical products and business (teaching about chemistry) in favor of sustainable development. In this paper, we describe a first of its kind program following this approach: An M.Sc. Sustainable Chemistry. It addresses the above mentioned topics and aims for international professionals of the chemical sector.     

The Lateral Enamel Lamina--Component of Tooth Primordia in Selected Mammalian Species

The lateral enamel lamina (LEL) is a part of the enamel organ, which is probably not involved in tooth formation. It represents, besides the "stalk" of the tooth primordium, a second interconnection between enamel organ and oral epithelium or vestibular lamina. We detected the LEL in the sheep ( Ovis aries ), the dolphin ( Stenella attenuata ), and the vole ( Microtus agrestis ) by light microscopy and computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction. The LEL could be found in cap to bell stage tooth primordia, most clearly in slowly developing tooth germs. LEL-like structures have been furthermore described or depicted in tooth germs of the mouse, the elk ( Alces alces ), the dugong ( Dugong dugong ), the elephant ( Loxodonta africana ), and the human. Probably it is a part of all mammalian tooth primordia that undergoes regression during morphogenesis of the enamel organ. As a reducing structure, it should be considered in studies of tooth development.     

Pathways and Fate of Migratory Cells During Late Tooth Organogenesis

Tissue recombination experiments and cell lineage analyses of the developing neural crest have documented the role and central pathways of migratory cells during early craniofacial development. In the present study, regional pathways of cells during late peripheral morphogenesis were investigated using the crown stage tooth organ as a model. Homing targets during tooth integument formation were analyzed to understand the fate of migratory cells involved in late tooth organogenesis and the developmental origin of periodontal tissues. After surgical removal of the oral mucosa, the oral aspect of the dental follicle of lower first mouse molar teeth was labeled using a fluorescent contact dye. Following sacrifice after 0, 2, 4, and 6 days, labeled cells were detected in the dental follicle, in the alveolar bone, and in the periodontal ligament adjacent to the molar root. The distribution of labeled tissues was reconstructed three-dimensionally via confocal microscopy. Using a tooth molar organ culture system, labeled cells within the dental follicle were documented traveling in the apical direction. Our results indicated that cell migration during tooth organogenesis was following specific pathways and that cells within the circumference of the dental follicle were migrating in the apical direction. We speculate that migratory cells passing through the dental follicle connective tissue may contribute to the formation of the periodontium. The present documentation visualizes pathways, role, and dynamics of extensive cell movements during late tooth organogenesis.     

sox19b在斑马鱼胚胎眼睛发育中的作用

目的 通过抑制sox19b基因的表达,探讨sox19b基因在斑马鱼胚胎眼睛发育和形成中的作用。方法 通过显微注射sox19b 吗啉寡聚核苷酸（MO）抑制sox19b 基因的表达,观察胚胎发育过程中表型的变化;采用石蜡包埋组织切片及HE染色、RT-PCR和整封原位杂交等方法探讨敲除sox19b 后对斑马鱼胚胎眼睛发育的调控机制。 结果 敲除sox19b 基因后,斑马鱼胚胎眼睛发育受到影响,表现为眼睛变小或缺失,视网膜及晶状体结构发育异常(n =57/93);眼睛发育过程中重要调控基因 rx3、pax2a及 vsx2 等表达明显降低,进而影响眼睛的发育和形成。 结论 sox19b 基因作为转录调控因子,可以通过调节眼区转录因子的表达进而影响斑马鱼胚胎早期眼睛的发育和形成。     

1 + 1 = 3? The systematic development of a theoretical and evidence-based tailored multimedia intervention to improve medication adherence

Objective

To describe the development of a theoretical and evidence-based tailored multimedia intervention to improve medication intake behavior in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The intervention integrates interpersonal and technology-mediated strategies with the expectation that this will work synergistically.

Methods

The development followed the Medical Research Council's framework. Three literature reviews and three pre-tests among 84 IBD patients and eight nurses were conducted to guide the development of the intervention. A feasibility study was carried out among four nurses and 29 patients.

Results

The components include: (1) an online preparatory assessment (OPA); (2) tailored interpersonal communication; and (3) tailored text messaging. To support the development, the feasibility was tested. Results indicated that the OPA was comprehensive and could be a helpful tool for both patients and nurses to prepare for the consultation. The training was evaluated as being instructive and applicable with a mean mark of 8.5. Of the developed messages, 65.6% received positive evaluations and were used in the intervention.

Conclusion

By applying the framework, we were able to describe the logic behind the development of a tailored multimedia intervention to improve medication intake behavior.

Practice implications

This study could serve as a guide for the development of other health interventions.