Implementing a multi-cycle datapath with Liquid Marbles.

Liquid Marbles are liquid droplets encapsulated by hydrophobic powder particles; due to their non-wetting nature, they allow to manipulate liquids efficiently. Literature highlighted their potential to be employed as micro-reactors, micro-containers for growing micro-organisms and cells, micro-fluidics devices, and have also been used in the framework of unconventional computing. In this work, we discuss a theoretical implementation of all required components to define a multi-cycle datapath based on Liquid Marbles.

The concept of Cheeger deformations on fiber bundles with compact structure group.

The purpose of this paper is two-fold: we systematically introduce the notion of Cheeger deformations on fiber bundles with compact structure groups, and recover in a very simple and unified fashion several results that either already appear in the literature or are known by experts, though are not explicitly written elsewhere. We re-prove: Schwachhöfer-Tuschmann Theorem on bi-quotients, many results due to Fukaya and Yamaguchi, as well as, naturally extend the work of Searle-Solórzano-Wilhelm on regularization properties of Cheeger deformations, among others. In this sense, this paper should be understood as a survey intended to demonstrate the power of Cheeger deformations.

Peripheral blood progenitor cell collection without close monitoring of peripheral blood CD34+ cells: A feasible strategy for multiple myeloma or pre-treated Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients mobilized with low-dose cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF.

Background: Daily monitoring of peripheral blood CD34+ cells may not be necessary for all patients with hematologic malignancies for adequate peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) mobilization and harvesting. We therefore designed a regimen for PBPC mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma or pre-treated Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma based on a combination of low-dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) without daily monitoring of peripheral blood CD34+ cells.

Study Design And Methods: A prospective study was performed on patients with multiple myeloma (n = 22) or pre-treated Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 17) whose PBPC were harvested according to the following regimen: 1.

Use of a Caco-2 cell culture model for the characterization of intestinal absorption of antibiotics.

The use of cell culture models, based on human cell lines derived from the intestinal epithelium, is a promising new tool for the in vitro study of oral absorption of drugs. An assay has been developed using the Caco-2 cell line with the aim of studying the in vitro permeability of antibiotics. The reproducibility of the assay conditions have been assessed by means of the transport of two different marker molecules: 3H-mannitol and fluorescein, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value for cells monolayers.

Plasma and tonsillar tissue pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin following intramuscular administration to children.

The population pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in plasma and tonsillar tissue in children was determined following intramuscular administration. Thirty seven patients in all received either a single 5 mg/kg dose; 2 doses of 5 mg/kg, 12 h apart; 3 doses of 5 mg/kg, 12 h apart; or, a single 10 mg/kg dose. Limited data, comprising a maximum of 2 blood samples and 1 tonsillar sample were taken from each patient, with the maximum time being 48 h after the first dose of teicoplanin (in the 3 x 5 mg/kg dosing schedule).

Pharmacokinetics of MDL 63,246, a new semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotic, in the rat.

Following intravenous administration in the rat, the concentration of MDL 63,246 in plasma was high and long-lasting. Concentrations fell with an apparent three-exponential decay. MDL 63,246 was distributed in a high volume and was cleared quite slowly.

Teicoplanin metabolism in humans.

Teicoplanin, a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic, consists of five major components (A2-1 through A2-5), one hydrolysis component (A3-1), and four minor components (RS-1 through RS-4). All the major components contain an N-acyl-beta-D-glucosamine, but they differ in the lengths and branchings of their acyl-aliphatic chains. Previous studies with radiolabeled teicoplanin in rats and humans have shown that the drug is eliminated by the renal route and that metabolic transformation is very minor, about 5%.

Diffusion of teicoplanin and vancomycin in agar.

Teicoplanin, although more active than vancomycin [by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)], produces smaller inhibition zones in sensitivity testing with 30-microgram disks. Our data support the hypothesis that this is due to lower diffusion of teicoplanin in agar media. After 6 hr of incubation, approximately 70% of vancomycin, but only 20% of teicoplanin entered the agar from a paper disk charged with 30 micrograms of antibiotic.

Antimicrobial activity of MDL 62,873, a semisynthetic derivative of teicoplanin, in vitro and in experimental infections.

MDL 62,873 is an amide derivative of teicoplanin A2-2. Like those of natural glycopeptides, its antibacterial activity is mediated by inhibition of cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis. Against streptococci and enterococci, the in vitro activity of MDL 62,873 was similar to that of teicoplanin and greater than that of vancomycin.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of teicoplanin in healthy volunteers after single increasing doses.

In this double-blind, randomized study, five healthy subjects per group received doses of 15, 20, or 25 mg of teicoplanin per kg of body weight, and one subject per group received a 0.9% NaCl placebo as single intravenous infusion over 30 min. Serial blood samples and urine were collected for 13 days postadministration, and concentrations of teicoplanin were determined by microbiological assay.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of rifapentine and its metabolite in human plasma by direct injection into a shielded hydrophobic phase column.

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of rifapentine, a cyclopentyl semisynthetic analogue of rifamycin belonging to the class of piperazinyl hydrazone derivatives of 3-formylrifamycin SV, and its metabolite, 25-desacetylrifapentine, in human plasma was developed using direct injection of the sample onto a Supelco LC HISEP column. The mean recovery was 100.3% for rifapentine and 99.

Distribution and excretion of teicoplanin in rats after single and repeated intravenous administration.

After the i.v. administration of a single 10 mg/Kg dose of [14C] teicoplanin to rats, no substantial differences were found between males and females as regards the hematic profile, the excretion pattern and tissue distribution.

Teicoplanin metabolism in rats.

This study was done to see whether teicoplanin undergoes metabolic transformation in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were given 7.6 mg of [14C]teicoplanin (904 U/mg, 7.

Pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in pediatric patients.

The pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin have been studied in 13 pediatric male patients from 2 to 12 years of age. Patients were given a single 3-mg/kg intravenous dose of teicoplanin for prophylaxis. Blood and urine samples were collected for 8 days after administration, and teicoplanin levels were determined by microbiological assay.

Pharmacokinetics of intraperitoneal teicoplanin in patients with chronic renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The pharmacokinetic profile of teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic active against Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, is described in five patients with end-stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A single 3 mg kg-1 dose was given intraperitoneally in the dialysate during a 6 h dwell time. The drug appeared in the plasma within 15 min at 1.

Pharmacokinetics of A40926 in rats after single intravenous and subcutaneous doses.

A40926 is a new glycopeptide antibiotic with unique activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and high and prolonged levels in mouse blood (B. P. Goldstein, E.

Pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in the elderly.

The pharmacokinetic profile of teicoplanin was studied in 12 elderly patients with a moderate degree of renal impairment (mean creatinine clearance, 51.3 ml/h/kg before treatment), after a single 6 mg/kg iv dose. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated both by a three-compartment open pharmacokinetic model and by non-compartmental analysis; peak plasma levels, 15 min after administration, averaged 45 mg/l.

A receptor-antibody sandwich assay for teicoplanin.

We have developed a new method for quantifying teicoplanin in complex matrixes, a receptor-antibody sandwich assay (RASA). The method is based on bioselective adsorption of teicoplanin onto microtiter plates coated with albumin-epsilon-aminocaproyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine, a synthetic analog of its biological target, and reaction with anti-teicoplanin antibodies. The sandwich complexes are detected by incubation with peroxidase-labeled goat antibodies to rabbit IgGs and chromogenic reaction with o-phenylenediamine.

Teicoplanin pharmacokinetics in patients with chronic renal failure.

The pharmacokinetic profile of teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic active against Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, was studied in 5 healthy male volunteers and 29 adult patients with various degrees of renal impairment, given a single 3 mg/kg intravenous dose. Teicoplanin was assayed in plasma and urine specimens by a microbiological method. Pharmacokinetic parameters for teicoplanin were estimated both by a 3-compartment open pharmacokinetic model and by non-compartmental analysis.

Pharmacokinetics of [14C]teicoplanin in male rats after single intravenous dose.

The pharmacokinetic profile of [14C]teicoplanin was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats given a single 10,000-U/kg intravenous dose. The disposition of the antimicrobial activity in the body was estimated by a three-compartment open model. Plasma concentration data were fitted to a three-exponent equation.

Comparison of the solid phase enzyme receptor assay (SPERA) and the microbiological assay for teicoplanin.

A solid phase enzyme receptor assay (SPERA) for teicoplanin has been developed and recently presented in a kit form. The assay relies on the competition between antibiotic present in the biological fluid and peroxidase labelled teicoplanin for albumin-epsilon-amino-caproyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine (BSA-epsilon-ACA-D-Ala-D-Ala), a synthetic analog of the biological receptor. The kit contains BSA-epsilon-ACA-D-Ala-D-Ala coated microplates together with all the necessary reagents.

Pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We have studied the pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic active against Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, in five patients with end-stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Although teicoplanin was eliminated in the peritoneal fluid, relatively little was recovered (6.8 +/- 1.