The questionable validity of attention bias variability: Evidence from two conceptually unrelated cognitive tasks.

Background: Attention bias variability is thought to measure fluctuations in attention towards and away from threat-related information and is elevated in affective disorders. However, recent evidence suggests that attention bias variability may quantify general reaction time variability rather than attention bias behavior .

Methods: The current study calculated "attention bias variability" from two conceptually unrelated cognitive tasks: the dot-probe task (measuring attentional bias) and the arrow flanker task (measuring cognitive control).

Are There Disparities in Thrombolytic Treatment and Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Hispanic Population Living in Border States versus Nonborder States?

Background: Recent studies have found an underutilization of hospital in-patient care for coronary artery disease in Hispanics living in border states.

Objective: To identify acute treatment disparities in acute ischemic stroke Hispanic patients and determine the effect of such disparity on patient outcomes.

Methods: We identified Hispanic and non-Hispanic acute ischemic stroke patients from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample-2011 data files.

High-throughput mass spectrometric cytochrome P450 inhibition screening.

We describe here a high-throughput assay to support rapid evaluation of drug discovery compounds for possible drug-drug interaction (DDI). Each compound is evaluated for its DDI potential by incubating over a range of eight concentrations and against a panel of six cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes: 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4. The method utilizes automated liquid handling for sample preparation, and online solid-phase extraction/tandem mass spectrometry (SPE/MS/MS) for sample analyses.

Two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry for the enantiomeric analysis and purification of pharmaceutical samples.

A new analytical two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry system (2D SFC/SFC/MS) has been designed and implemented to enhance the efficiency and quality of analytical support in drug discovery. The system consists of a Berger analytical SFC pump and a modifier pump, a Waters ZQ 2000 mass spectrometer, a set of switching valves, and a custom software program. The system integrates achiral and chiral separations into a single run to perform enantiomeric analysis and separation of a racemic compound from a complex mixture without prior clean up.

Design and synthesis of pyrimidinone and pyrimidinedione inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV.

The discovery of two classes of heterocyclic dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibitors, pyrimidinones and pyrimidinediones, is described. After a single oral dose, these potent, selective, and noncovalent inhibitors provide sustained reduction of plasma DPP-4 activity and lowering of blood glucose in animal models of diabetes. Compounds 13a, 27b, and 27j were selected for development.