Difference in the thickness of mouthguards fabricated from ethylene-vinyl acetate co-polymer sheets with differently arranged v-shaped grooves

PurposeTo investigate the form of mouthguard sheets that best retains its thickness.MethodsMouthguards were molded using ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) sheets and a suction-type molding device. Five sheet conditions were compared. These were I-N (Incisal part of the cast positioned at the center – Normal sheet), I-H (Incisal part positioned at the center – Horizontal v-shaped groove 30 mm from the anterior end), I-C (Incisal part positioned at the center – Convexing v-shaped groove toward the back 10–40 mm from the anterior end), C-N (Center part positioned at the center – Normal sheet), and C-C (Center part positioned at the center – Convexing v-shaped groove toward the back 10–30 mm from the anterior end). Post-molding thickness was determined for the incisal (incisal edge and labial surface) and molar portion (cusp, central groove, and buccal surface). Sheets were heated until they sagged 15-mm below the clamp. Scheffé multivariate comparison was performed to compare changes in post-molding thickness among sheet conditions.ResultsPost-molding thickness of mouthguard material differed significantly between the two portions; rates of thickness reduction were smaller for I-C and C-C compared with other conditions. There were no significant differences between I-C and C-C at any measurement points.ConclusionThe present results suggested that thickness reduction of the EVA sheet material after vacuum-forming may be decreased at both incisal and molar portions if the v-shaped groove with a v-shaped cross section was given in the frontal teeth region of the sheet at the apparatus and materials for this study used.     

Adenosine A2A receptors and brain injury: broad spectrum of neuroprotection, multifaceted actions and "fine tuning" modulation

This review summarizes recent developments that have contributed to understand how adenosine receptors, particularly A2A receptors, modulate brain injury in various animal models of neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD), stroke, Huntington's disease (HD), multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and HIV-associated dementia. It is clear that extracellular adenosine acting at adenosine receptors influences the functional outcome in a broad spectrum of brain injuries, indicating that A2A Rs may modulate some general cellular processes to affect neuronal cells death. Pharmacological, neurochemical and molecular/genetic approaches to the complex actions of A2A receptors in different cellular elements suggest that A2A receptor activation can be detrimental or protective after brain insults, depending on the nature of brain injury and associated pathological conditions. An interesting concept that emerges from these studies is A2A R's ability to fine tune neuronal and glial functions to produce neuroprotective effects. While the data presented here clearly highlight the complexity of using adenosinergic agents therapeutically in PD and other neurodegenerative disorders and point out many areas for further inquiry, they also confirm that adenosine receptor ligands, particularly A2A receptor ligands, have many promising characteristics that encourage the pursuit of their therapeutic potential.     

Incidence rate of injection-site granulomas resulting from the administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues for the treatment of prostatic cancer

PURPOSE: Granulomas resulting from the administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues (LH-RH analogues) are thought to be very rare. We report on our clinical experience with injection-site granulomas that result from the administration of LH-RH analogues, and we evaluate the incidence rate of these granulomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the clinical records of 118 patients who were administered LH-RH analogues in 2005. We describe the clinical data of patients who experienced injection-site granulomas and evaluated the incidence rate. RESULTS: Five patients demonstrated injection-site granulomas due to LH-RH analogue administration. The incidence rate was 4.2% (5 of 118 patients). Most of the granulomas occurred after the first or second administration of 11.25mg of leuprorelin acetate. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of granulomas resulting from the administration of LH-RH analogues was thought to be very rare. Our study, however, revealed a higher incidence rate than expected, especially for leuprorelin acetate.     

The Selection of a Pharmaceutical Salt—The Effect of the Acidity of the Counterion on Its Solubility and Potential Biopharmaceutical Performance

A roadmap for the selection of a pharmaceutical salt form for a development candidate is presented. The free base of the candidate did not have sufficient chemical stability for development. The initially selected salt form turned out to be undevelopable because it was unstable during scale-up synthesis and storage. The rationale for the new solid form screening and the criteria for selection are discussed. Before the final selection, the pH solubility profiles of the 2 new salts, a benzoate and a besylate, were compared. Atypical solubility behavior was observed for the benzoate salt in hydrochloric acid with and without normal saline. A scheme is proposed illustrating how the pKas of the counterion and active pharmaceutical ingredient, the medium composition, and final pH affect the solubility and solution equilibria of the 2 selected salt forms. This scheme also includes the equilibria between solution and solid phases in different pH ranges. The pharmaceutical importance of this research is that it sheds light on how the acidity of the counterion can affect the solubility of the selected salt form in the gastric environment. With a well-designed formulation strategy, this property potentially can be translated to optimal biopharmaceutical performance of the drug product.     

醋酸去氨加压素致低钠血症性脑病2例

例1为25岁女性宫外孕患者,于输卵管切开取胚术＋盆腔粘连分离术术后静脉滴注醋酸去氨加压素15μg,1次/12 h。第2天静脉滴注醋酸去氨加压素约30 min 时,患者出现谵妄、神志恍惚、抽搐、牙关紧闭,实验室检查血钠为125 mmol/ L（术前为142 mmol/ L）,考虑为醋酸去氨加压素所致低钠血症性脑病,立即停止输注醋酸去氨加压素并给予补钠等对症治疗,约10 min 后患者症状缓解。第2天患者神志清楚,血钠141 mmol/ L。例2为42岁女性患者,于肛周脓肿根治术后静脉滴注醋酸去氨加压素18μg,1次/12 h。用药第4天患者出现头晕、多汗、双手震颤,畏寒、尿少。第5天出现恶心,双眼上翻,双上肢强直阵挛,实验室检查血钠为124 mmol/ L（术前为141 mmol/ L）,头颅 CT 检查示大脑半球白质区广泛水肿,考虑为醋酸去氨加压素所致低钠血症性脑病。停用醋酸去氨加压素,立即给予补钠等对症治疗,1 d 后患者症状消失,血钠138 mmol/ L。     

醋酸曲安奈德局部注射对变应性鼻炎患者血清白介素4和γ干扰素的影响

目的：评价醋酸曲安奈德局部注射对变应性鼻炎患者血清白介素4（interleukin-4,IL-4）和Y干扰素（interferon-γ,INF-γ）表达水平的影响.方法：60例变应性鼻炎患者随机分成观察组和对照组各30例,对照组予盐酸西替利嗪片10 mg,po,qd,观察组患者双侧中、下鼻甲黏膜下局部注射醋酸曲安奈德治疗.治疗4周后,检测两组患者血清IL-4、IFN-γ水平,比较两组疗效和药品不良反应.结果：观察组总有效率为93.33％,高于对照组的73.33％,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.治疗4周后,观察组IL-4浓度低于对照组（P＜0.01）,IFN-γ浓度高于对照组（P＜0.01）.两组均未发现不能耐受的不良反应或严重不良反应.结论：醋酸曲安奈德局部注射治疗变应性鼻炎疗效较佳,能够降低患者血清IL-4水平,并提高血清IFN-γ水平.     

Mode of spironolactone anti-androgenic action: Inhibition of androstanolone binding to rat prostate androgen receptor

The anti-androgenic action of spironolactone was compared to that of cyproterone acetate and R 2956, two potent anti-androgenic steroids, on rat prostate, in vivo and in vitro. Like these compounds, spironolactone inhibits the formation of the specific androstanolonereceptor complex in cytoplasm and consequently in nuclei. Of its dethioacetylated metabolites, canrenone, but not canrenoate-K, exhibits the same in vitro action.