Long Term Glaucoma Drug Delivery Using a Topically Retained Gel/Microsphere Eye Drop.

The purpose of this study was to characterize and determine the efficacy of a long-term, non-invasive gel/microsphere (GMS) eye drop for glaucoma. This novel drug delivery system is comprised of a thermoresponsive hydrogel carrier and drug-loaded polymer microspheres. In vitro release of brimonidine from the GMS drops and gel properties were quantified.

Prediction of hydrogen flux through sulfur-tolerant binary alloy membranes.

Metal membranes play a vital role in hydrogen purification. Defect-free membranes can exhibit effectively infinite selectivity but must also provide high fluxes, resistance to poisoning, long operational lifetimes, and low cost. Alloying offers one route to improve on membranes based on pure metals such as palladium.

Transdermal estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate in hormone replacement therapy are both antioxidants.

We have evaluated the effects of the different components of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the production of free radicals in platelet membranes from menopausal women. The study included 12 women in menopause for at least 6 months to a maximum of 4 years. First, the effect was determined of progestin only during the administration of 20 mg/day medroxyprogesterone acetate for 5 days.

[Evaluation of bronchiectasia with AMBER and high-resolution computerized tomography. Prospective study of a group of 50 patients].

The authors compared the diagnostic value of AMBER and HRCT in the evaluation of bronchiectasis. A series of 50 patients with conventional X-ray findings suggestive of this condition (increased pulmonary markings, loss of pulmonary volume and segmental cysts) were submitted to HRCT. In all the patients with bronchiectasis (25/50), AMBER showed increased pulmonary markings in one or more localizations, while loss of pulmonary volume was observed in 22 cases and segmental cysts in 8.

Altered lipid composition, increased lipid peroxidation, and altered fluidity of the membrane as evidence of platelet damage in preeclampsia.

Objective: To assess lipid composition, lipid peroxidation, and fluidity of the membrane of platelets from preeclamptic women.

Methods: We studied 40 primigravid women at 28-32 weeks' gestation; 20 were preeclamptic and 20 were normotensive. After preparing platelet membranes, we extracted lipids, measured cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations, and calculated the proportion of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids.

Effects of calcium on Na+,K(+)-ATPase isolated from human placenta.

It has been reported that Ca2+ can be either stimulatory or inhibitory of the activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase obtained from different sources. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of increasing concentrations of Ca2+ on Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity and of placenta. The temperature dependence of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity and of spectral parameters of a spin label paramagnetic maleimide) were also (MSL, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl-4-maleimide) were also investigated in absence and in presence of 2 mM Ca2+.

Modifications in platelet membrane transport functions in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and in gestational diabetes.

The pathogenesis of plasma membrane alterations present in diabetes mellitus is unclear. To add new insights to the question, platelet membrane properties were evaluated in 16 women presenting impaired glucose tolerance at the 28-29th week of gestation (GDM) and in 8 women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). 15 healthy pregnant women (HPW) and 21 healthy non-pregnant (HNPW) women were the control group for GDM and IDDM, respectively.

Modifications induced by gestational diabetes mellitus on cellular membrane properties.

Alterations in erythrocyte plasma membrane properties (enzymatic activities and membrane fluidity) have been observed in patients affected by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In order to verify whether these alterations are present also in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) we studied the plasma membranes obtained from two different cellular types (erythrocyte from both mother and cord blood and placenta syncytiothrophoblast cell) of 16 healthy pregnant women and 15 women affected by GDM. The following determinations were performed on the membrane preparations: Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity, acetyl-cholinesterase (AchE) activity, membrane fluidity and cholesterol:phospholipid ratio.

Modifications induced by gestational hypertension on platelet calcium transport.

Several studies have recently demonstrated that the platelets of subjects affected by essential hypertension have, in their basal state, an elevated cellular calcium content. Such data appear particularly interesting with regard to gestational hypertension (GH). Supposing that the intracellular calcium may be involved in the regulation of blood pressure we have studied the cytosolic calcium concentration, Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity, Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, fluidity, and the cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) molar ratio of the plasma membranes in platelets from 20 normotensive pregnant women and 20 women affected by mild gestational hypertension without pharmacological treatment, near term.

In vitro effect of magnesium on the Na/K-ATPase isolated from human placenta.

Magnesium (Mg) is an activator of many cellular processes, among which is cation transport. An imbalance of cation transport may be involved in several diseases, as well as during pregnancy. Since the action of Mg in vivo in preventing gestational diseases is known, as well as its role in vitro on some cation transport activities, we studied the action of increasing concentrations of Mg on the activity of the enzyme Na/K-ATPase isolated from placental tissue of six normotensive women, at term.

Calcium and sodium transport in gestational hypertension.

The enzymatic activities of Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase were determined on erythrocyte membranes from 9 normotensive and 9 gestational hypertensive pregnant women near term. A reduction in the activity of the Na+/K+ ATPase and a relative increase in the activity of the Ca2+ ATPase were found in the hypertensive patients, possibly due to a conformational alteration of erythrocyte membranes. This observation supports the possible role of the transmembrane cation transport in the pathogenesis of gestational hypertension.

[Radio-chemotherapy of inoperable malignant brain gliomas].

Numerous studies have proved the benefit of the use of postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of malignant cerebral gliomas. The data concerning the efficiency of the treatment of unoperated gliomas are rather scarce. The data obtained in 28 cases of malignant cerebral gliomas, defined as inoperable and treated with radio-chemotherapy, are reported.

Cytologic diagnosis of primary pulmonary actinomycosis: report of two cases.

Two cases of primary pulmonary actinomycosis had a radiologic and clinical picture of malignancy. The cases were diagnosed by microscopic examination of sputum that had been embedded in paraffin. The sputum samples were sent to the cytology laboratory for screening for neoplastic cells, and colonies of Actinomyces were seen in all samples.

[Method for radiographic determination of body contours (author's transl)].

After a brief description of some methods used for the determination of body contour in radiotherapy, the authors present a method which using the double radiographic exposition, allows such a determination with precision and without having need of expensive equipments. They present the graphic results of the tests done on phantom and in vivo, comparing these ones with the measures obtained by CT, performed in purpose of diagnosis. For a rapid execution of the method, they list the passages to follow for its application.