Robust Control of Repeated Drug Administration with Variable Doses Based on Uncertain Mathematical Model.

The aim of this paper was to design a repeated drug administration strategy to reach and maintain the requested drug concentration in the body. Conservative designs require an exact knowledge of pharmacokinetic parameters, which is considered an unrealistic demand. The problem is usually resolved using the trial-and-error open-loop approach; yet, this can be considered insufficient due to the parametric uncertainties as the dosing strategy may induce an undesired behavior of the drug concentrations.

Effect of Molecular Composition of Head Group and Temperature on Micellar Properties of Ionic Surfactants with C12 Alkyl Chain.

The paper analyses influences of the temperature and hydrophilic groups on micellar properties of ionic surfactants with 12-carbonic hydrophobic chains. The aim is to assess the impact of hydrophilic groups and temperature on thermodynamic parameters and micellization. This knowledge is indispensable for the formulation of new dosage forms.

[Alcoholic mitochondrial cardiomyopathy].

The effect of alcohol on oxidative phosphorylation, activity of cytochrome oxidase and the content of cytochromes in mitochondria of the heart muscle was studied in rabbits after 14- and 21-day subcutaneous administration of 20% alcohol solution. Alcohol was found to exert an inhibitory effect on oxygen consumption and on the rate of energy production in mitochondria of the heart muscle, to decrease the specific activity of cytochrome oxidase and to increase the cytochrome content in the mitochondria. The authors classify these metabolic derangements under the concept of alcoholic mitochondrial cardiomyopathy and discuss broader aspects of mitochondrial diseases in medicine.

Metabolic adaptation of myocardial mitochondria to mild altitude hypoxia.

We studied the metabolic parameters of myocardial mitochondria (respiration, respiratory control index, oxidative phosphorylation rapidity and coefficient of oxidative phosphorylation) in two groups of rats: one living at an altitude of 140 m above sea level (control group) and the other living from birth at an altitude of 1350 m above sea level for 2 and 4 months (experimental group). Compared with the control rats, the experimental rats during 2 and 4 months of mild altitude acclimatization increased their basal and stimulated respiration, as well as the rapidity of energy production by myocardial mitochondria. The coefficient of oxidative phosphorylation under mild altitude hypoxia decreased but the respiratory control index did not change.

[The role of mitochondrial energy metabolism and oxygen free radicals in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune myocarditis].

In a model of autoimmune myocarditis in guinea piga, the authors studied energy producing processes in mitochondria and the role of oxygen free radical generation in tissue injury. A significant decrease in the capacity of oxidative phosphorylation was detected in parameters QO2 (S3) on the basis of glutamate + malate (p < 0.005) and pyruvate (p < 0.