Clinical Utility of Personalized Serum IgG Subclass Ratios for the Differentiation of IgG4-Related Sclerosing Cholangitis (IgG4-SC) from Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) and Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

Background: The differential diagnosis of immunoglobulin G4-sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) or cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is important. In this study, we aimed to find the best combinations of serum IgG subclasses and IgG4 levels for differentiating IgG4-SC from PSC or CCA.

Methods: In total, 31 patients with IgG4-SC, 27 patients with PSC, and 40 patients with CCA were enrolled from 2003 to 2017 at a single tertiary referral center.

Monitoring Volatility Change for Time Series Based on Support Vector Regression.

This paper considers monitoring an anomaly from sequentially observed time series with heteroscedastic conditional volatilities based on the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method combined with support vector regression (SVR). The proposed online monitoring process is designed to detect a significant change in volatility of financial time series. The tuning parameters are optimally chosen using particle swarm optimization (PSO).

Lung cancer with superior vena cava syndrome diagnosed by intravascular biopsy using EBUS-TBNA.

Since superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a critical condition, immediate diagnostic approach and therapy are imperative to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. Here, we report a case of lung cancer with SVCS, which was diagnosed through intravascular tumor biopsy using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). EBUS-TBNA enabled us to obtain tissue sufficient for diagnosis, without significant complications.

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculous Mediastinal Lymphadenitis, with an Esophagomediastinal Fistula, Mimicking an Esophageal Submucosal Tumor.

Mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis rarely mimics esophageal submucosal tumor, particularly in the case of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Herein, we report the case of a 61-year-old woman who visited a local hospital complaining of odynophagia. An initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an esophageal submucosal tumor, and subsequent chest computed tomography showed subcarinal lymphadenopathy with an esophagomediastinal fistula.

Preparation and pharmaceutical evaluation of new tacrolimus-loaded solid self-emulsifying drug delivery system.

The purpose of this study was to develop a novel tacrolimus-loaded solid self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) using Labrafac as an oil phase. The ternary phase diagram was plotted with Labrafac, Labrasol and Lauroglycol used as an oil, surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively. The liquid SEDDS formulated with Labrasol, Lauroglycol and Labrafac (70:15:15, volume ratio) furnished the smallest emulsion globule size.

A novel solid dispersion system for natural product-loaded medicine: silymarin-loaded solid dispersion with enhanced oral bioavailability and hepatoprotective activity.

A surface-attached silymarin-loaded solid dispersion with improved dissolution profile and enhanced oral bioavailability was formulated using silymarin, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Tween 80 in water. In this solid dispersion, hydrophilic PVP was adhered onto the surface of crystalline drug rendering silymarin hydrophilic without changing its crystallinity. The drug solubility from the optimised solid dispersion prepared with silymarin/PVP/Tween 80 at the weight ratio of 5/2.

Development of novel fast-dissolving tacrolimus solid dispersion-loaded prolonged release tablet.

The goal of this research was to develop a novel prolonged release tablet bioequivalent to the commercial sustained release capsule. A number of tacrolimus-loaded fast-dissolving solid dispersions containing various amounts of DOSS were prepared using the spray drying technique. Their solubility, dissolution and pharmacokinetics in rats were studied.

Docetaxel-loaded thermosensitive liquid suppository: optimization of rheological properties.

The main purpose of this work was to optimize the rheological properties of docetaxel (DCT)-loaded thermosensitive liquid suppositories for rectal administration. DCT-loaded liquid suppositories were prepared by a cold method and characterized in terms of physicochemical and viscoelastic properties. Major formulation parameters including poloxamer (P407) and Tween 80 were optimized to adjust the thermogelling and mucoadhesive properties for rectal administration.

Development of docetaxel-loaded solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for enhanced chemotherapeutic effect.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) in improving the bioavailability of docetaxel (DCT) and its chemotherapeutic effect. The DCT-loaded SNEDDS was prepared by employing rational blends of capryol 90, labrasol, and transcutol HP using ternary phase diagram. The liquid nano-emulsion was spray-dried into solid SNEDDS (D-SNEDDS) using an inert porous carrier, colloidal silica.

Physicochemical characterization and in vivo evaluation of solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system for oral administration of docetaxel.

To formulate a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for the oral administration of docetaxel as an alternative to commercial docetaxel-loaded injectable products, it was prepared by spray-drying an aqueous solution containing liquid SNEDDS and colloidal silica. Its physicochemical properties and oral bioavailability were investigated compared to a clear docetaxel solution administered intravenously or orally to rats. In the docetaxel-loaded solid SNEDDS prepared with colloidal silica, the liquid SNEDDS composed of Capryol 90, Cremophore EL and Transcutol HP (45/35/20, volume ratio) was absorbed inside the pores of carriers, and docetaxel was present in a changed amorphous state.

Development of novel ibuprofen-loaded solid dispersion with enhanced bioavailability using cycloamylose.

To develop a novel ibuprofen-loaded solid dispersion with enhanced bioavailability using cycloamylose, it was prepared using spray-drying techniques with cycloamylose at a weight ratio of 1:1. The effect of cycloamylose on aqueous solubility of ibuprofen was investigated. The physicochemical properties of solid dispersions were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction.

Development of sildenafil-loaded orally disintegrating tablet with new lactate salt.

To develop a sildenafil lactate-loaded orally disintegrating tablet with a faster drug effect onset and immediate action of erection, the orally disintegrating tablets were prepared with various amounts of menthol and colloidal silica using the direct compression technique followed by vacuum drying. Their tablet properties such as friability, hardness, wetting time and disintegration time were investigated. The oral bioavailability of sildenafil in the orally disintegrating tablet was then compared with the sildenafil citrate-loaded commercial tablet (Viagra(®)) in rabbits.

Occipital lobe epilepsy: clinical characteristics, surgical outcome, and role of diagnostic modalities.

Purpose: To assess the role of various diagnostic modalities, to identify surgical prognostic factors and concordances with presurgical evaluations, and to characterize the clinical features of occipital lobe epilepsy (OLE), we studied 26 patients who were diagnosed as having OLE and underwent epilepsy surgery.

Methods: Diagnoses were established by standard presurgical evaluations, which included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), ictal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), scalp video-EEG monitoring, and intracranial EEG monitoring. After epilepsy surgery, patients were followed up for >2 years.