Elevated fibrosis burden as assessed by MRI predicts cryoballoon ablation failure.

Introduction: Late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance (LGE-MRI) imaging is increasingly used in management of atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients. Here, we assess the usefulness of LGE-MRI-based fibrosis quantification to predict arrhythmia recurrence in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation. Our secondary goal was to compare two widely used fibrosis quantification methods.

Epicardial adipose tissue is associated with left atrial volume and fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) and strongly influences the response to treatment. Atrial fibrosis shows similar associations. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may be a link between these associations.

Improving Obstetric Provider Congenital Cytomegalovirus Knowledge and Practices.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is the most common congenital infection. Antenatal education is proven to reduce cCMV risk. Little is known about obstetric provider knowledge and practice patterns around cCMV.

Evaluation of an activated carbon disposal system for safe disposal of model prescription sedative medications.

Lack of a safe and convenient disposal method for expired and unused medications may lead to many problems such as accidental exposure, intentional misuse, and food and water contamination. Activated carbon can offer safe disposal of medications due to its highly porous structure, which exerts strong physical adsorption forces with chemicals. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of an activated carbon-based drug disposal system for deactivating three model sedative prescription medications.

Barriers to College and Health Care Careers Among US Students From a Rural Community.

Introduction: Despite rural origin being a strong predictor of rural practice for health care professionals, rural students face educational barriers and are underrepresented in medical schools. The aim of this study was to identify rural high school students' perceived barriers to college and health-related careers and compare whether perceptions were similar based on gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and parental education.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of all high school students from one rural Michigan community.

Development of Disposal Systems for Deactivation of Unused/Residual/Expired Medications.

Purpose: The objective of this work was to identify deactivation agents and develop a disposal system for unused/ residual/ expired medications.

Methods: Deactivation agents screened included oxidizing agent-sodium percarbonate, hydrolysis agent- sodium carbonate and adsorbants- zeolite and activated carbon. Deactivation studies using these agents were performed on four active pharmaceutical agents (APIs) including ketoprofen, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, metformin hydrochloride and amoxicillin trihydrate.

A novel electronic skin patch for delivery and pharmacokinetic evaluation of donepezil following transdermal iontophoresis.

The nature of Alzheimer's disease limits the effectiveness of available oral treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of transdermal iontophoretic delivery of donepezil in a hairless rat model as a potential treatment modality in Alzheimer's and to evaluate the effect of current densities on its pharmacokinetics. Donepezil loaded integrated Wearable Electronic Drug Delivery (WEDD(®)) patches supplied current levels of 0, 0.

Investigation of drug delivery by iontophoresis in a surgical wound utilizing microdialysis.

Purpose: This study investigated the penetration of lidocaine around and through a sutured incision following the application of iontophoretic and passive patches in the CD Hairless rat.

Materials And Methods: Concentrations in localized areas (suture, dermis, subcutaneous, and vascular) were determined using microdialysis sampling followed by analysis using liquid chromatography with UV detection.

Results: Iontophoresis significantly enhanced the dermal penetration of lidocaine.

Dermal, subdermal, and systemic concentrations of granisetron by iontophoretic delivery.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the iontophoretic delivery of granisetron hydrochloride by novel, self-contained iontophoretic patches and to determine the subcutaneous and dermal absorption kinetics using microdialysis.

Methods: In vitro iontophoretic delivery of granisetron hydrochloride was evaluated at 5, 10, or 20 mg/ml concentrations of donor using Franz diffusion cells and hairless rat skin as a membrane. In vivo studies were performed in hairless rats.

In vivo iontophoretic delivery and pharmacokinetics of salmon calcitonin.

In vivo iontophoretic delivery of salmon calcitonin (SCT) in hairless rats using a self-contained wearable and disposable iontophoretic patch was investigated. Iontophoretic patches with built-in proprietary Zn/AgCl electrodes were used. SCT was formulated in citrate buffer (50mM, pH 4.

Quantification of total dexamethasone phosphate delivery by iontophoresis.

The total amount of dexamethasone phosphate transferred into the human body as a function of iontophoresis has not previously been determined, despite its widespread clinical use in the treatment of localized inflammation. The objective of this study was to document the optimal parameters required for clinical iontophoresis of dexamethasone phophate. Results were achieved by the experiment of in vitro evalutations of dexamethasone phosphate iontophoresis and by in vivo estimations of drug amounts (milligrams) iontophoresed into healthy human volunteers.

Effects of iontophoresis current magnitude and duration on dexamethasone deposition and localized drug retention.

Background And Purpose: Iontophoresis is a process that uses bipolar electric fields to propel molecules across intact skin and into underlying tissue. The purpose of this study was to describe and experimentally examine an iontophoresis drug delivery model.

Subjects And Methods: A mechanistic model describing delivery was studied in vitro using agarose gels and was further tested in vivo by evaluation of cutaneous vasoconstriction following iontophoresis in human volunteers.