The Intestinal Absorption of a Prodrug of the mGlu2/3 Receptor Agonist LY354740 is Mediated by PEPT1: In Situ Rat Intestinal Perfusion Studies

LY354740 is a potent mGlu2/3 agonist with a limited oral bioavailability. Its alanyl prodrug, LY544344, showed high affinity to the intestinal peptide transporter PEPT1, and improved the oral bioavailability of LY354740 in various animal models. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of in vivo absorption of the dipeptidic prodrug LY544344. The permeabilities of LY544344 and LY354740 were examined in the rat in situ single‐pass intestinal perfusion model. The intestinal absorptive flux of LY354740 was shown to be very low in comparison with LY544344. The absorptive flux of LY544344 could best be described by a Michaelis–Menten process in parallel with a linear process. The estimated parameters were: J_max = 26.7 × 10^?5 µmol/(cm²‐s), K_m = 2.6 mM. The absorptive permeability of LY544344 was reduced to approximately 5% of control in the presence of excess Gly‐Sar, a known PEPT1 substrate. Intracellular accumulation of LY354740 and LY544344, estimated postperfusion, showed high levels of LY354740 over LY544344 at all perfusate concentrations studied. However, there was a decline in the intracellular ratio of LY354740 to LY544344 at higher concentrations, suggesting that the metabolic activation to release LY354740 is saturable. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99: 1574–1581, 2010     

Epidemiologic observations of operating room infections resulting from variations in ventilation and temperature.

Over a period of years the ventilation system of a community hospital progressively deteriorated until it no longer met regulatory guidelines. The hospital, a publicly funded military facility, requested funding to repair the ventilation system, but funds were not forthcoming because of budget austerity. When an increase in infections was documented, high-risk operations were curtailed and funding was expedited. With the new improved ventilation system the operating rooms once again met regulatory guidelines and infections returned to baseline rates. Throughout the period infections remained below recognized national levels.     

Skin Cancer Prevention: A Time for Action

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States accounting for more than 840,000 cases and 9,400 deaths annually. It is estimated that 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers and much of melanoma incidence can be attributed to sun exposure. The evidence suggests that regular use of sunscreen (Sun Protective Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher), wearing protective, tightly woven clothing and wide brimmed hats, and avoiding sun exposure when the ultraviolet rays are strongest (between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.) can dramatically reduce the risk of skin cancer. Interventions to promote sun-protection behaviors that target children and adults are necessary to reduce the growing incidence rate of skin cancer in the United States.MA during the time of this research     

Hair dye use and risk of leukemia and lymphoma.

Data from a population-based case-control study of incident leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among adult men in Iowa and Minnesota were used to evaluate risk associated with hair dye use. The relative risk for ever using hair dyes was 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-2.7) among leukemia patients, and 2.0 (CI = 1.3-3.0) among cases with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There was a suggestion of increased risk with extent of hair dye use. Given the widespread use of hair coloring products, these observations deserve more detailed evaluation in populations where the exposure is relatively common.     

Corticosteroids for the Enhancement of Fetal Lung Maturity: Impact on the Gravida with Preeclampsia and the HELLP Syndrome

Summary: This study was undertaken to determine maternal impact of corticosteroids administered for the promotion of fetal lung maturity in mothers with the HELLP syndrome. Twenty-seven of 427 women with the HELLP syndrome treated between 1980–1991 received a full course of steroids prior to preterm delivery. This group was compared to 27 matched control patients with the HELLP syndrome who received no corticosteroids. Subjects were matched for maternal age, race, sex of the fetus, and severity of the HELLP syndrome. The antepartum platelet count stabilized or increased in 25 of 27 steroid-treated women in contrast to 0 of 15 control women (p <0.00001). In comparison to control patients, LDH serum concentrations in steroid-treated patients stabilized or decreased and the SGOT/AST and SGPT/ALT stabilized or decreased during therapy (p < 0.005). The interval from delivery to platelet nadir in patients with Class III HELLP syndrome was shorter in the steroid-treated group (p<0.008) than in untreated patients.