Micro Freeze-Dryer and Infrared-Based PAT: Novel Tools for Primary Drying Design Space Determination of Freeze-Drying Processes

Pharmaceutical Research - Present (i) an infrared (IR)-based Process Analytical Technology (PAT) installed in a lab-scale freeze-dryer and (ii) a micro freeze-dryer (MicroFD®) as effective...     

The influence of a diet based on flaxseed,an omega-3 source,during different developmental periods,on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress

Objective: This study aimed to investigate a flaxseed diet during different developmental periods, and its effect on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress.

Methods: Fifty-six male rats (F₁), born from 14 rats (F₀), were divided into seven groups (n?=?8): flaxseed group (FG); flaxseed group gestation and lactation (FG-GL); flaxseed group weaning (FG-W); flaxseed group weaning and stress (FG-WS); flaxseed group stress (FG-S); flaxseed group gestation lactation and weaning (FG-GLW), and control Group (CG). Stress protocol was undertaken for 1 month. Blood pressure was analysed before and after the stress protocol. The left adrenal glands and serum corticosterone levels were analysed.

Results: Systolic blood pressure before stress was lower in all groups with flaxseed diet compared with the CG (p?=?.00001). After stress, CG showed higher blood pressure compared with FG, FG-GL, and FG-GLW (p?=?.004). The levels of corticosterone were lower in the FG between all groups (p?p?Conclusions: Results suggest a possible factor from a flaxseed diet against the effects of stress on a blood pressure in all periods of life but especially in the gestation and lactation periods.     

Cardiovascular abnormalities in Turner's syndrome: What prevention?

Cardiovascular complications in Turner's syndrome are the most common cause of excess early mortality, with a life expectancy that may be reduced by more than 10 years. Congenital cardiac abnormalities are described in approximately one third of patients. These abnormalities are mostly left heart obstructions, the most common of which are bicuspid aortic valve (16%) and coarctation of the aorta (11%). Dilatations of the ascending aorta are often described and may occur in isolation from any heart disease, suggesting a vasculopathy specific to the syndrome, probably predisposed to by extracardiac risk factors such as oestrogen deficiency, diabetes, dysplidaemia and overweight. The most feared complication is aortic dissection with around a 100 cases, described at average age of approximately 35-years-old. This is believed to complicate 2% of induced pregnancies. Hypertension (HBP) usually essential, affects up to 50% of patients with Turner's syndrome. This is an important risk factor for cardiovascular complications and justifies aggressive treatment. On the other hand, retrospective studies have not demonstrated adverse cardiological effects due to growth hormone treatments. Patients with Turner's syndrome merit regular cardiology follow-up from childhood onwards, particularly if they have treated heart disease. The merits of preventative treatments for aortic dilatation have not been demonstrated in Turner's syndrome and justify prospective trials.     

Junior versus senior physicians for informing families of intensive care unit patients

To compare the effectiveness of information delivered to family members of critically ill patients by junior and senior physicians, we performed a prospective randomized multicenter trial in 11 French intensive care units. Patients (n = 220) were allocated at random to having their family members receive information by only junior or only senior physicians throughout the intensive care unit stay; there were 92 and 93 evaluable cases in the junior and senior groups, respectively, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. Between Days 3 and 5, one family representative per patient was evaluated for comprehension of the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in the patient; satisfaction with information and care; and presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression. No significant differences were found between the two groups for any of these three criteria. Family members informed by a junior physician were more likely to feel they had not been given enough information time (additional time wanted: 3 [0-6.5] vs. 0 [0-5] minutes, p = 0.01) and to have sought additional explanations from their usual doctor (48.9 vs. 34.4%, p = 0.004). Specialty residents, if given opportunities for acquiring experience, can become proficient in communicating with families and share this task with senior physicians.     

Clinical diagnosis of hyposalivation in hospitalized patients

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical criteria for the diagnosis of hyposalivation in hospitalized patients.

Material and Methods

A clinical study was carried out on 145 subjects (48 males; 97 females; aged 20 to 90 years). Each subject was clinically examined, in the morning and in the afternoon, along 1 day. A focused anamnesis allowed identifying symptoms of hyposalivation, like xerostomia complaints (considered as a reference symptom), chewing difficulty, dysphagia and increased frequency of liquid intake. Afterwards, dryness of the mucosa of the cheecks and floor of the mouth, as well as salivary secretion during parotid gland stimulation were assessed during oral examination.

Results

Results obtained with Chi-square tests showed that 71 patients (48.9%) presented xerostomia complaints, with a significant correlation with all hyposalivation symptoms (p<0.05). Furthermore, xerostomia was also significantly correlated with all data obtained during oral examination in both periods of evaluation (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Clinical diagnosis of hyposalivation in hospitalized patients is feasible and can provide an immediate and appropriate therapy avoiding further problems and improving their quality of life.     

Cubic Iron Core–Shell Nanoparticles Functionalized to Obtain High-Performance MRI Contrast Agents

Nanoparticles with SiO 2 coating were synthesized to have a cubic iron core. These were found to have saturation magnetization very close to the highest possible value of any iron-containing nanoparticles and the bulk iron saturation magnetization. The in vitro toxicology studies show that they are highly biocompatible and possess better MRI contrast agent potential than iron oxide NPs.     

Noncoding RET variants explain the strong association with Hirschsprung disease in patients without rare coding sequence variant

The pathogenesis of Hirschsprung disease is complex. Although the RET proto-oncogene is the most frequently affected gene in Hirschsprung disease, rare coding sequence variants explain only a small part of Hirschsprung disease cases. We aimed to assess the genetic background of Hirschsprung disease using a genome-wide association analysis combined with sequencing all RET exons in samples from 105 Hirschsprung disease cases (30 familial and 75 sporadic) and 386 controls.As expected, variants in or near RET showed the strongest overall association with Hirschsprung disease and the most statistically significant association was observed when using a recessive genetic model (rs2435357, NC_000010.10:g.43582056T?>?C; genotype TT, OR?=?17.31, P?=?1.462?×?10^?21). Previously published associations in variants in SEMA (rs11766001, NC_000007.13:g.84145202A?>?C; allele C, OR?=?2.268, P?=?0.009533) and NRG1 (rs4541858, NC_000008.10:g.32410309A?>?G; allele G, OR?=?1.567, P?=?0.015; rs7835688, NC_000008.10:g.32411499G?>?C; allele C, OR?=?1.567, P?=?0.015) were also replicated in the genome-wide association analysis. Sequencing revealed a total of 12 exonic RET rare variants. Of these, eight amino acid changing rare variants and two frameshift variants caused or possibly caused Hirschsprung disease.Only a minority of the Hirschsprung disease cases (9/30 familial; 7/75 sporadic) carried one of the rare variants. Excluding the rare variant carriers from the genome-wide association analysis did not appreciably change the association of rs2435357 with Hirschsprung disease. We estimate that approximately two thirds of the sporadic cases may be statistically attributed to the recessive action of the common non-coding RET variants. Thus, even though most cases do not carry rare RET variants, combinations of rare variants and the common non-coding RET variant cause the majority of the cases in our population.