ENHANCEMENT OF SOLUBILITY AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF BCS CLASS-II AMBRISENTAN: IN VITRO, IN VIVO AND EX VIVO ANALYSIS

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of the BCS class II poorly water-soluble drug ambrisentan by solid dispersion (SD) techniques using Gelucire 50/13 as a hydrophilic carrier. Methods: Solid dispersion of ambrisentan was prepared by kneading method using different dug: carrier ratios. Prepared SD was characterized for solubility, drug content, percentage yield, in vitro dissolution, ex vivo permeation and bioavailability. Solid-state characterization was performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: All the SDs formulations showed increase in drug solubility and dissolution when compared with its pure form. Aqueous solubility of the drug was found to be increased 8.23 fold in SD. DSC study showed that endothermic peak of the drug was disappeared in spectra of SD, confirming its amorphous conversion, XRD study revealed the reduction to almost absence of specific high-intensity peaks of drug which confirmed the reduction of crysatallinity of ambrisentan in SD. SEM of optimized SD formulation demonstrates the complete encapsulation and solubilization drug. In vitro dissolution study showed that optimized SD formulation (ASD4) gives the faster drug release of 101.5% in 60 min, as compare to its pure form and other SD formulations. Conclusion: Solid dispersion ASD4 prepared with 1:4 drug to carrier ratio showed the highest drug solubility and in vitro dissolution. The ex vivo and in vivo studies performed on optimized formulation ASD4 showed enhancement in drug permeability and bioavailability in Gelucire 50/13 based SD formulation

Biological Processes: Relationships Between Earthworms and Soil Temperature

Soil fauna play important roles in many soil processes and conditions which relate to agricultural systems. Earthworms are credited with enhancing soil fertility and soil physical properties by their feeding and burrowing activities. Most research on earthworms has focused on the warmer seasons of the year and relatively little is known about earthworm activity and survival during the portion of the year with frozen soils. Earthworms may survive winter by acclimatization, aestivation, or by burrowing to deeper depths where the soil is not frozen. More research is needed on the fate of earthworms in frozen soils. Suggested research areas include: 1) studies designed to determine the effects of freezing temperatures on the survival and behavior of earthworms, 2) studies to determine the effect of freezing and freeze-thaw cycles on the structure and stability of earthworm burrows, and 3) studies to determine the effect of freezing and thawing on the physical integrity of the burrow linings and cast materials

Quantitative blood loss: a validation study

Objective: To determine if quantitative blood loss would correlate to predicted blood loss based on change in blood concentration of hemoglobin. Conclusion: The correlation between calculated blood using modified Brecher’s formula showed poor overall correlation to quantitative blood loss. There was a higher correlation at blood loss greater than 1500 cc which is where estimated blood loss has been shown to be most poor. Possible reasons for this poor correlation include maternal factors influencing hemoglobin levels, gestational age, error in blood loss calculation, inaccuracy of Brecher’s formula in pregnancy

TB40: Effect of Dietary Changes on the Tissue Composition of Rats

The following experiments were done to study the effects of both long-term and day-by-day dietary changes of fat and protein on tissue fat and serum cholesterol levels.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1157/thumbnail.jp

TB1: Effect of Dietary Protein and Fat on the Deposition of C14 from Rhodospirillum rubrum in Rats Conditioned to a Low Protein-Fat Free Diet

The object of the experiments described in this publication was to gain information concerning the fate of a radioactive food fed to rats which had been made deficient in essential fatty acids (EFA). These experiments were designed to determine the effect of kinds and proportions of dietary fats and proteins on the distribution of a high protein C 14 -labeled food in rats that have been on a lo w-protein, fat-free diet and show the typical EFA deficiency symptoms.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1183/thumbnail.jp

TB21: Relationships of Proteins, Essential Fatty Acids and Cholesterol in the Rat and the Mouse

This report describes extensive experiments to search for effects of various types and levels of dietary protein and dietary fat, especially linoleic acid, on such parameters of well-being as growth, appearance, tissue moisture and lipid content, tissue and serum cholesterol levels and lipid iodine numbers. Inbred mice were used in initial experiments and inbred rats were used in later experiments.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1181/thumbnail.jp

Management of vaginal wall perforation during a second trimester dilation and evacuation

Background: We report an unusual case involving vaginal perforation associated with second trimester dilation and evacuation. Review of the literature fails to identify additional reports. Case: A 22 year G3P1011 female at 16 weeks gestation referred for evaluation following incomplete dilation and evacuation was found to have vaginal perforation, and communication with the peritoneal cavity on pelvic examination. Examination under anesthesia and laparoscopy confirmed multiple vaginal perforations with intraperitoneal defects and hematomas but no viscus involvement. Cervical dilation was accomplished with osmotic dilators placed under ultrasound guidance during exam under anesthesia, with evacuation completed approximately 16 hours later without further complication. Conclusion: This is the first case of vaginal perforation at time of dilation and evacuation reported in the literature. Laparoscopy should be performed to evaluate for intraabdominal injury to bowel, bladder and/or blood vessels. Use of osmotic dilators during the second trimester could potentially decrease the risk of vaginal perforation during the dilation portion of the procedure

Frozen Soils: A Perspective On Past And Future Research For Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Frozen soils impact many industries which rely· on soil, water, and .air resources in developing and manufacturing products. Most noteworthy is the agricultural industry in the northern United States where soils, which sustain food and fiber production, are subjected to frequent freezing and thawing. Soil freezing and thawing influences soil erodibility, surface and ground water quality, air quality, and biological activity. Many strides toward understanding frozen soil processes and managing lands to minimize the adverse effects of freezing and thawing have been made over the last two decades. Yet, further efforts to identify frozen soil processes which influence wind and water erosion, soil faunal adaptation, soil quality, movement of agricultural chemicals,· and rural and urban water supplies will aid industry and society in meeting future needs for food and water

Spatial accessibility and social inclusion: The impact of Portugal's last health reform

Health policies seek to promote access to health care and should provide appropriate geographical accessibility to each demographical functional group. The dispersal demand of health‐careservices and the provision for such services atfixed locations contribute to the growth of inequality intheir access. Therefore, the optimal distribution of health facilities over the space/area can lead toaccessibility improvements and to the mitigation of the social exclusion of the groups considered mostvulnerable. Requiring for such, the use of planning practices joined with accessibility measures. However,the capacities of Geographic Information Systems in determining and evaluating spatial accessibility inhealth system planning have not yet been fully exploited. This paper focuses on health‐care services planningbased on accessibility measures grounded on the network analysis. The case study hinges on mainlandPortugal. Different scenarios were developed to measure and compare impact on the population'saccessibility. It distinguishes itself from other studies of accessibility measures by integrating network data ina spatial accessibility measure: the enhanced two‐stepfloating catchment area. The convenient location forhealth‐care facilities can increase the accessibility standards of the population and consequently reducethe economic and social costs incurred. Recently, the Portuguese government implemented a reform thataimed to improve, namely, the access and equity in meeting with the most urgent patients. It envisaged,in terms of equity, the allocation of 89 emergency network points that ensured more than 90% of thepopulation be within 30 min from any one point in the network. Consequently, several emergency serviceswere closed, namely, in rural areas. This reform highlighted the need to improve the quality of the emergencycare, accessibility to each care facility, and equity in their access. Hence, accessibility measures becomean efficient decision‐making tool, despite its absence in effective practice planning. According to anapplication of this type of measure, it was possible to verify which levels of accessibility were decreased,including the most disadvantaged people, with a larger time of dislocation of 12 min between 2001 and 2011