Rationalising polymer selection for supersaturated film forming systems produced by an aerosol spray for the transdermal delivery of methylphenidate

Film forming systems offer a number of advantages for topical and transdermal drug delivery, in particular enabling production of a supersaturated state which can greatly improve drug absorption and bioavailability. However the suitability of individual film forming polymers to stabilise the supersaturated state and optimise delivery of drugs is not well understood. This study reports the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to measure the solubility of methylphenidate both as the free base and as the hydrochloride salt in two polymethacrylate copolymers, Eudragit RS (EuRS) and Eudragit E (EuE) and relates this to the ability of films formed using these polymers to deliver methylphenidate across a model membrane. EuRS provided greater methylphenidate delivery when the drug was formulated as the free base in comparison EuE because the lower solubility of the drug in EuRS provided a higher degree of drug saturation in the polymeric film. In contrast EuE provided greater delivery of methylphenidate hydrochloride as EuRS could not prevent its crystallisation from a supersaturated state. Methylphenidate flux across the membrane could be directly related to degree of saturation of the drug in the film formulation as estimated by the drug solubility in the individual polymers demonstrating the importance of drug solubility in the polymer included in film forming systems for topical/transdermal drug delivery. In addition DSC has been demonstrated to be a useful tool for determining the solubility of drugs in polymers used in film forming systems and the approaches outlined here are likely to be useful for predicting the suitability of polymers for particular drugs in film forming transdermal drug delivery systems

Diagnosis of lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum by two-dimensional echocardiography

Originally described in 1964, lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum currently remains a diagnosis established primarily at autopsy. Clinical interest in this disorder has centered on the reported association with supraventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Because two-dimensional echocardiography allows detailed assessment of atrial septal configuration, we reviewed two-dimensional echocardiographic reports obtained over a 1 year period and identified 17 patients who had features consistent with lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum. Nine were men and the average age was 70 years. Autopsy confirmation of the echographic findings was possible in one patient. In nine patients, ideal body weight was exceeded by 10% or more. The atrial septum viewed from the subcostal transducer position showed a distinctive echo-dense globular thickening sparing the valve of the fossa ovalis. The resultant tomographic image of the atrial septum had a characteristic dumbbell appearance. The mean thickness of the atrial septum was 21 mm (range 15 to 29). Seven patients had supraventricular arrhythmias, and eight had P wave abnormalities.The two-dimensional echocardiographic features described are distinctive and suggest that this technique is the procedure of choice not only for establishing the diagnosis of lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum but also for providing a means for prospective follow-up of patients with this little known entity

Određivanje dužine korijenskog kanala: procjena CDR® intraoralnog radiografskog sustava in vivo

The Computed Dental Radiolography System® (CDR: Schick Technologies, Long Island City, NY) is a CCD-based digital intraoral radiographic device which possesses a measurement software algorithm that can be adjusted with respect to an object of known dimension. This “calibration ” algorithm was compared to the CDR® preset mode and analog film using 30 root canals in vivo. The three measurement methods differed significantly from each other for 40% o f the canals sampled. Two o f the three differed significantly for 50% o f canals. No difference existed between the methods for 10% o f the canals. Estimates of tooth length using the calibrated mode differed from those obtained using a conventional radiographic technique by an average o f 1.2 mm, while those using the calibrated mode differed by 1.9 mm. The 1.2 mm average for the calibrated CDR® was judged to be an acceptable degree o f clinical error for most root canal procedures and indicates that the calibration function of the CDR® system should be used when measuring endodontic working lengths. The results demonstrated that calibration to a 15 mm probe when using the Schick CDR® system is more consistent with a comparable measurement, if film is used as the “gold standard”, than are measurements of the tooth length using the CDR® without calibration.Sustav "Kompjuterizirane dentalne radiografije" (CDR: Schick Technologies. Long Island City. NY) je na CDD-u zasnovan uređaj za digitalnu intraoralnu radio grafiju koji posjeduje "Software-ski algoritam" za mjerenja koji se može prilagoditi prema objektu poznate veličine. Ovaj "kalibracijski" algoritam uspoređen je sa sustavom CDR (kompjutorizirane dentalne radiografije) bez mjernog algoritma i analognim filmom rabeći 30 korijenskih kanala in vivo. Tri postupka mjerenja značajno su se razlikovali u 40% mjerenih korijenskih kanala. Dva od tri postupka razlikovala su se u 50% mjerenih kanala. Nikakve razlike između postupaka nije bilo u 10% mjerenih korijenskih kanala. Procjena duljine zuba korištenjem kalibriranog načina razlikovala se od procjene dobivene konvencionalnom (analognom) radio grafskom tehnikom za otprilike 1,2 mm, dok se od digitalnog sustava bez mjernog algoritma razlikovala za prosječno 1,9 mm. Razlika od 1,2 mm za "kalibrirani CDR" se procjenjuje kao prihvatljiva klinička greška za većinu endodontskih postupaka i ukazuje da bi se "kalibracijski sustav CDRa" trebao rabiti pri mjerenju radne duljine korijenskog kanala. Rezultati ukazuju da je kalibracija sonde do 15 mm kad se rabi Schch-ov CDR sustav postojanija s usporednim mjerenjem ako se film koji se mjeri uzme kao "zlatni standard", nego je mjerenje duljine CDR sustavom bez kalibracije

Modeling the ecology and evolution of biodiversity: Biogeographical cradles, museums, and graves

Individual processes shaping geographical patterns of biodiversity are increasingly understood, but their complex interactions on broad spatial and temporal scales remain beyond the reach of analytical models and traditional experiments. To meet this challenge, we built a spatially explicit, mechanistic simulation model implementing adaptation, range shifts, fragmentation, speciation, dispersal, competition, and extinction, driven by modeled climates of the past 800,000 years in South America. Experimental topographic smoothing confirmed the impact of climate heterogeneity on diversification. The simulations identified regions and episodes of speciation (cradles), persistence (museums), and extinction (graves). Although the simulations had no target pattern and were not parameterized with empirical data, emerging richness maps closely resembled contemporary maps for major taxa, confirming powerful roles for evolution and diversification driven by topography and climate

Two-dimensional echocardiographic spectrum of univentricular atrioventricular connection

The spectrum of anomalies in hearts having a univentricular atrioventricular (AV) connection was examined by two-dimensional echocardiography in 183 patients and the anatomic findings were compared with angiography. The mode of AV connection was found to be of three types: 1) double inletvia two A V valves; 2) singleinlet via one AV valve with absence of the other (left or right AV valve atresia); and 3) common inletvia a common AV valve. Identification of an accessory chamber by two-dimensional echocardiography was possible with 90% sensitivity, but it was limited compared with angiography in patients with severely hypoplastic anterior Chambers and pulmonary valve atresia. All patients with subaortic outlet foramen obstruction were detected. Great artery position and the presence of obstruction to pulmonary flow were correctly predicted in all but one patient. Two-dimensional echocardiography was superior to angiography for the detection of AV valve abnormalities which were present in 27% and included abnormal chordae, hypoplasia or dysplasia of either valve. Two-dimensional echocardiography should play an essential role in the complete preoperative assessment of patients with univentricular AV connection

Prospects for the Study of Evolution in the Deep Biosphere

Since the days of Darwin, scientists have used the framework of the theory of evolution to explore the interconnectedness of life on Earth and adaptation of organisms to the ever-changing environment. The advent of molecular biology has advanced and accelerated the study of evolution by allowing direct examination of the genetic material that ultimately determines the phenotypes upon which selection acts. The study of evolution has been furthered through examination of microbial evolution, with large population numbers, short generation times, and easily extractable DNA. Such work has spawned the study of microbial biogeography, with the realization that concepts developed in population genetics may be applicable to microbial genomes (Martiny et al., 2006; Manhes and Velicer, 2011). Microbial biogeography and adaptation has been examined in many different environments. Here we argue that the deep biosphere is a unique environment for the study of evolution and list specific factors that can be considered and where the studies may be performed. This publication is the result of the NSF-funded Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI) theme team on Evolution (www.darkenergybiosphere.org)

Eagle Wallet

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the world towards contactless technology. With the increase of these tech innovations the advantages have become clear. Using a smart phone to pay for items is convenient and efficient. The “Eagle Wallet” Android application utilizes Radio Frequency ID (RFID)/Near Field Communications (NFC) technology so students, faculty, and staff can use their smart phone to pay for meals. The application allows users to take advantage of the University’s “Dining Dollars” discount of ten percent off posted prices as well as view progress of any meal plans purchased. The user’s login credentials are stored safely in a remote server, and bank information uses bank grade security. The future implementations for the application would be to have the application work with on campus scanners at vending machines, campus merchants, bookstore, and buildings. The less contact between people and public items the less the virus is spread on campus

Outcomes of acute intraoperative surgical conversion during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

PurposeOutcomes and predictors of acute surgical conversion during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) were examined using the American College of Surgeons-National Safety and Quality Improvement Project (ACS-NSQIP) Database (2005 to 2008).MethodsAcute intraoperative surgical conversions occurring during elective EVAR were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Nonemergent EVAR and primary open surgical repairs of infrarenal aneurysms were examined for comparison. Perioperative morbidity was categorized as wound, pulmonary, venous thromboembolic, genitourinary, cardiovascular, operative, and septic. Mortality, overall morbidity, and length of stay (LOS) were examined.ResultsWe identified 72 acute conversions, 2414 open repairs, and 6332 EVAR without acute conversion. Demographics and comorbidities were generally similar among operative groups. Mean operative time was 274 minutes for acute conversion vs 226 minutes for primary open repair and 162 minutes for EVAR (conversion vs EVAR and open repair vs EVAR P < .0001 for each; conversion vs open repair P = .0014; analysis on rank operative time). Blood transfusion was required in 69% of acute conversions (mean volume, 6.0 units) vs 73% of open repairs (mean volume, 3.3 units) and 12% of EVARs (mean volume, 2.6 units; P < .0001 for each pair-wise comparison; analysis on rank number of units among those transfused). Major morbidity was 28% for acute conversions, 28% for open repairs, and 12% for EVARs. Mortality was 4.2% for acute conversions, 3.2% for open repairs, and 1.3% for EVARs. Median (quartile 1, quartile 3) LOS was 7 (5, 9) days for acute conversion and open repair, and 2 (1, 3) days for EVAR. Morbidity and mortality were significantly higher for acute conversion and open repair vs EVAR. The OR (95% confidence interval) for morbidity was 2.9 (1.7-4.8) after conversion and 2.8 (2.5-3.2) after open repair (P < .0001 for both) and for mortality was 3.4 (1.0-10.9; P = .0437) for conversion and 2.5 (1.9-3.5; P < .0001) for open repair. Morbidity and mortality were similar between acute conversion and open repair. A similar pattern among repair groups was demonstrated for LOS, with similar LOS for acute conversions and open repair, which were significantly longer than those observed for EVAR. No significant demographic or medical risk factor predictors of acute conversion during EVAR were identified.ConclusionAcute surgical conversion was a rare complication affecting 1.1% of EVAR cases, with no broadly identifiable at-risk population. When conversion did occur, morbidity and mortality rates paralleled those observed for elective open repair