Increased dissolution rates of tranilast solid dispersions extruded with inorganic excipients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of Neusilin® (NEU) a synthetic magnesium aluminometasilicate as inorganic drug carrier co-processed with the hydrophilic surfactants Labrasol and Labrafil to develop Tranilast (TLT) based solid dispersions using continuous melt extrusion (HME) processing. Twin – screw extrusion was optimized to develop various TLT/excipient/surfactant formulations followed by continuous capsule filling in the absence of any downstream equipment. Physicochemical characterisation showed the existence of TLT in partially crystalline state in the porous network of inorganic NEU for all extruded formulations. Furthermore, the in line NIR studies revealed a possible intermolecular H–bonding formation between the drug and carrier resulting in the increase of dissolution of TLT. The capsules containing TLT extruded solid dispersions showed enhanced dissolution rates and compared with the marketed Rizaben® product

Studies on the antidiarrhoeal, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of ethanol-extracted leaves of yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana)

This study screened the antidiarrhoeal, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of ethanol-extracted leaves of yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana). The extract was tested against castor oil-induced diarrhoea in a model of albino rats and showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity (P<0.01). Disc diffusion technique was used to test the in vitro antibacterial activities of the extract and exhibited poor antibacterial activities against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria (mainly Bacillus sp). Ethanol-extracted leaves of yellow oleander showed narrow zone of inhibition in the bacterial lawns of Shigella flexineri, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella sp, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella sonnei. Cytotoxicty was determined against brine shrimp nauplii and LC50 of the plant extract was determined as 627.21μg/ml. The wide range of LC50 value denotes the safety effect of the extract

Prediction of malignant transformation and recurrence of oral epithelial dysplasia using architectural and cytological feature specific prognostic models

Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is a precursor state usually preceding oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Histological grading is the current gold standard for OED prognostication but is subjective and variable with unreliable outcome prediction. We explore if individual OED histological features can be used to develop and evaluate prognostic models for malignant transformation and recurrence prediction. Digitised tissue slides for a cohort of 109 OED cases were reviewed by three expert pathologists, where the prevalence and agreement of architectural and cytological histological features was assessed and association with clinical outcomes analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression and Kaplan–Meier curves. Within the cohort, the most prevalent features were basal cell hyperplasia (72%) and irregular surface keratin (60%), and least common were verrucous surface (26%), loss of epithelial cohesion (30%), lymphocytic band and dyskeratosis (34%). Several features were significant for transformation (p < 0.036) and recurrence (p < 0.015) including bulbous rete pegs, hyperchromatism, loss of epithelial cohesion, loss of stratification, suprabasal mitoses and nuclear pleomorphism. This led us to propose two prognostic scoring systems including a ‘6-point model’ using the six features showing a greater statistical association with transformation and recurrence (bulbous rete pegs, hyperchromatism, loss of epithelial cohesion, loss of stratification, suprabasal mitoses, nuclear pleomorphism) and a ‘two-point model’ using the two features with highest inter-pathologist agreement (loss of epithelial cohesion and bulbous rete pegs). Both the ‘six point’ and ‘two point’ models showed good predictive ability (AUROC ≥ 0.774 for transformation and 0.726 for recurrence) with further improvement when age, gender and histological grade were added. These results demonstrate a correlation between individual OED histological features and prognosis for the first time. The proposed models have the potential to simplify OED grading and aid patient management. Validation on larger multicentre cohorts with prospective analysis is needed to establish their usefulness in clinical practice

Modulation control and spectral shaping of optical fiber supercontinuum generation in the picosecond regime

Numerical simulations are used to study how fiber supercontinuum generation seeded by picosecond pulses can be actively controlled through the use of input pulse modulation. By carrying out multiple simulations in the presence of noise, we show how tailored supercontinuum Spectra with increased bandwidth and improved stability can be generated using an input envelope modulation of appropriate frequency and depth. The results are discussed in terms of the non-linear propagation dynamics and pump depletion.Comment: Aspects of this work were presented in Paper ThJ2 at OECC/ACOFT 2008, Sydney Australia 7-10 July (2008). Journal paper submitted for publication 30 July 200

Long-Term Satisfaction and Body Image After Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Background: Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) rates have been increasing in the US, and although high levels of satisfaction with CPM have been reported, few studies have evaluated the long-term effects on body image, comparing CPM with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and unilateral mastectomy (UM). Methods: We analyzed responses from a survey of women with both a personal and family history of breast cancer who were enrolled in the Sister Study (n = 1176). Among women who underwent mastectomy, we examined satisfaction with the mastectomy decision, as well as variation in the use of reconstruction and experience of complications. Five survey items, evaluated individually and as a summed total score, were used to compare body image across surgery types (BCS, UM without reconstruction, CPM without reconstruction, UM with reconstruction, and CPM with reconstruction). Results: Participants were, on average, 3.6 years post-diagnosis at the time of survey (standard deviation 1.7). The majority of women (97% of CPM, 89% of UM) were satisfied with their mastectomy decision. Reconstruction was more common after CPM than after UM (70 vs. 47%), as were complications (28 vs. 19%). Body image scores were significantly worse among women who underwent CPM than among women who underwent BCS, with the lowest scores among women who underwent CPM without reconstruction. Conclusions: In our sample, most women were highly satisfied with their mastectomy decision, including those who elected to undergo CPM. However, body image was lower among those who underwent CPM than among those who underwent BCS. Our findings may inform decisions among women considering various courses of surgical treatment

Molecular Dynamics Study of the Primary Ferrofluid Aggregate Formation

Investigations of the phase transitions and self-organization in the magnetic aggregates are of the fundamental and applied interest. The long-range ordering structures described in the Tom\'anek's systematization (M. Yoon, and D. Tom\'anek, 2010 [1]) are not yet obtained in the direct molecular dynamics simulations. The resulted structures usually are the linear chains or circles, or, else, amorphous (liquid) formations. In the present work, it was shown, that the thermodynamically equilibrium primary ferrofluid aggregate has either the long-range ordered or liquid phase. Due to the unknown steric layer force and other model idealizations, the clear experimental verification of the real equilibrium phase is still required. The predicted long-range ordered (crystallized) phase produces the faceting shape of the primary ferrofluid aggregate, which can be recognized experimentally. The medical (antiviral) application of the crystallized aggregates has been suggested. Dynamic formation of all observed ferrofluid nanostructures conforms to the Tom\'anek's systematization.Comment: Revised in the JMM

Estimates of hadron azimuthal anisotropy from multiparton interactions in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 14 TeV

We estimate the amount of collective "elliptic flow" expected at mid-rapidity in proton-proton (p-p) collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), assuming that any possible azimuthal anisotropy of the produced hadrons with respect to the plane of the reaction follows the same overlap-eccentricity and particle-density scalings as found in high-energy heavy ion collisions. Using a Glauber eikonal model, we compute the p-p eccentricities, transverse areas and particle-multiplicities for various phenomenological parametrisations of the proton spatial density. For realistic proton transverse profiles, we find integrated elliptic flow v2 parameters below 3% in p-p collisions at sqrt(s) = 14 TeV.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures. Very minor mods. Version to appear in EPJ-

Reading and numeracy attainment of children reported to child protection services: A population record linkage study controlling for other adversities

Background: Maltreated children are at risk of poor educational outcomes, but also experience greater individual, family, and neighbourhood adversities that may obscure an understanding of relationships between child protection involvement and educational attainment. Objective: To examine associations between child protection involvement and 3rd- and 5th-grade reading and numeracy attainment, while controlling multiple other adversities. Participants and Setting Participants were 56,860 Australian children and their parents from the New South Wales Child Development Study with linked multi-agency records. Methods: Multinomial logistic regressions examined associations between level of child protection involvement (Out-Of-Home Care [OOHC] placement; substantiated Risk Of Significant Harm [ROSH]; unsubstantiated ROSH; non-ROSH; and no child protection report) and standardised tests of 3rd- and 5th-grade reading and numeracy. Fully adjusted models controlled demographic, pregnancy, birth, and parental factors, and early (kindergarten) developmental vulnerabilities on literacy and numeracy, and other developmental domains (social, emotional, physical, communication). Results: All children with child protection reports were more likely to attain below average, and less likely to attain above average, 3rd- and 5th-grade reading and numeracy, including children with reports below the ROSH threshold. Children with substantiated ROSH reports who were not removed into care demonstrated the worst educational attainment, with some evidence of protective effects for children in OOHC. Conclusions: A cross-agency response to supporting educational attainment for all children reported to child protection services is required, including targeted services for children in OOHC or with substantiated ROSH reports, and referral of vulnerable families (unsubstantiated and non-ROSH cases) to secondary service organisations (intermediate intervention).Kristin R.Laurens, Fahkrul Islam, Maina Kariuki, Felicity Harris, Marilyn Chilvers ... Sally A.Brinkman ... et al

Biochemical analysis on blood and crop contents of household chickens along with their production and health status in Bangladesh

This study aimed to assess the biochemical parameters of household chickens at crop and blood levels and measure the body weight. For this purpose, 350 Deshi (local) and 27 Fayoumi day old chicks were reared in 2 separate brooders within a house for 15 days. Body weight, serum total protein and calcium levels of these chicks were evaluated on day 0 and 15. After control house trial, birds were distributed among the selected households. Again, body weights and certain biochemical parameters were assessed from randomly selected birds at 60, 120 and 180 days of age. Fayoumi birds gained higher weight (P<0.001) than at control trial, whereas Deshi birds attained better weight (P<0.001) at household. Crop contents were dominated by carbohydrate. The level of crude proteins and calcium in crop contents increased along with age regardless of bird types. The average phosphorous in the crop contents was 0.3% (60 days), 2.6% (120) and 0.7% (180) regardless of bird types. Both serum total protein (P<0.05) and calcium (P<0.05) were significantly difference in between bird types at control house study. In conclusion, Deshi birds attained higher weight at household. The crude protein was below standard. Calcium and Phosphorous levels in the crop contents varied with ages, regardless of bird types. \ua9 2012 PVJ