Glycopolymer Code: Programming Synthetic Macromolecules for Biological Targeting

Targeting in a cellular level is still one of the major challenges in biomedical treatments. However, new synthetic and analytical techniques now allow the development of precisely prepared macromolecules. Thus, glycopolymer chains are reported to be prepared with controlled length, monomer sequences, as well as chain‐folded structures. A high level of complexity in synthetic macromolecules also allows increased selectivity in targeting, which is a key factor in biomedical applications.     

冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病的外科治疗

目的分析冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病的临床特点,探讨一期外科治疗的方法和临床疗效。方法分析2004年4月至2006年4月冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病患者13例,其中风湿性心脏病联合瓣膜病1例,二尖瓣病变4例,二尖瓣退行性病变3例,主动脉瓣关闭不全3例,升主动脉瘤1例,继发孔房缺1例。因冠心病首诊入院5例,以其他器质性心脏病首诊入院8例。术前有心绞痛症状者8例,无心绞痛5例。体外循环下一期外科治疗。结果无死亡病例,13例均顺利出院。冠脉搭桥+瓣膜置换8例,冠脉搭桥+瓣膜成形3例,冠脉搭桥+Bentall+室壁瘤切除1例,冠脉搭桥+房缺修补1例。手术中搭桥1～3支,平均(1.92±0.73)支。术后1周,左心室舒张末内径(LVDD)为(51.77±2.64)mm,较术前[(58.92±3.81)mm]明显缩小(P<0.05)。随访3个月,心绞痛症状完全消失,心功能(NYHA)明显提高(P<0.05)。结论冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病临床症状无特异性,容易漏诊。虽然手术风险性和难度增加,但未得到血液重建,对患者更将是致命性的灾难,应争取一期手术。     

Iniencephaly and long-term survival: a rare case report

Introduction Iniencephaly, a neural tube defect involving occiput and inion and combined with rachischisis of the cervical, thoracic spine, and retroflexion position of the head is a very rare congenital abnormality of the fetus–newborn with a 0.1–10 of 10,000 prevalence. This abnormality’s prognosis is thought to be dismal. This abnormality can be associated with other abnormalities such as anencephaly, encephalocele, hydrocephalus, cyclopia, absence of the mandible, cleft lip and palate, cardiovascular disorders, diaphragmatic hernia, renal abnormalities, overgrowth of the arms compared to the legs, and club food and gastrointestinal atresia. Discussion Most of the patients are dead born, and the others die in a few hours. There are only six previously documented long-term survivors. In our case, our patient with iniencephalic signs and findings is still living. She is 2 years old now. We think that this patient presents a mild form of iniencephaly.     

Serum iron levels in schizophrenic patients with or without akathisia.

The pathophysiology of akathisia still remains controversial. Iron deficiency was proposed to be an important factor in the development of akathisia. In the present study, it was aimed to compare levels of serum iron and linked variables in chronic akathisic (n=30), and non-akathisic patients (n=30) with schizophrenia and healthy controls (n=30) because of the controversy in the association of iron and akathisia. The Barnes Akathisia Scale for akathisia and Simpson-Angus Rating Scale for extrapyramidal side effects were used. Serum iron and linked variables and hematological profile of the patients and control subjects were determined. Serum iron levels were significantly lower both in akathisic and non-akathisic groups compared to the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, akathisic patients had significantly lower iron levels than non-akathisic patients (P<0.05). Total iron binding capacity was significantly higher in patients with akathisia compared to the control group (P<0.01). Although non-akathisic patients had a mild increase in total iron binding capacity, it was not statistically significant compared to the control group (P>0.05). Ferritin levels were determined to be significantly lower in both groups compared to the control group (P<0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference in ferritin levels between the patients with and without akathisia (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that an association between akathisia and iron metabolism exists.     

Formulation and in Vitro-in Vivo Evaluation of Sustained-Release Lithium Carbonate Tablets

The release of lithium carbonate incorporated into polymethylmethacrylate, poly vinyl chloride, hy-drogenated vegetable oil, and carbomer matrix tablets was studied in vitro. The formulation containing 10% carbomer showed a sustained-release profile comparable to that of a standard, commercially available, sustained-release preparation containing 400 mg lithium carbonate embedded in a composite material. In vivo the newly formulated and standard sustained-release lithium carbonate tablets were compared to an oral solution and conventional lithium carbonate tablets in 12 healthy subjects. These crossover studies showed that the sustained-release tablets produced a flatter serum concentration curve than the oral solution and conventional tablet, without loss of total bioavailability.