Simultaneous Water Sorption and Crystallization in ASDs 2: Modeling Long-Term Stabilities.

The physical stability of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) is a major topic in the formulation research of oral dosage forms. To minimize the effort of investigating the long-term stability using cost- and time-consuming experiments, we developed a thermodynamic and kinetic modeling framework to predict and understand the crystallization kinetics of ASDs during long-term storage below the glass transition. Since crystallization of the active phrarmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in ASDs largely depends on the amount of water absorbed by the ASDs, water-sorption kinetics and API-crystallization kinetics were considered simultaneously.

Water Sorption in Rubbery and Glassy Polymers, Nifedipine, and Their ASDs.

Polymers like poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (PVPVA) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) are commonly used as a matrix for amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) to enhance the bioavailability of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The stability of ASDs is strongly influenced by the water sorption in the ASD from the surrounding air. In this work, the water sorption in the neat polymers PVPVA and HPMCAS, in the neat API nifedipine (NIF), and in their ASDs of different drug loads was measured above and below the glass-transition temperature.

Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis of a multidisciplinary renal education program for patients with chronic renal disease.

Aim: The aim of this economic evaluation is to address the economic impact of a multidisciplinary renal patient education on the work maintenance of patients with chronic renal disease.

Method: A total of 281 patients were recruited. An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis considering direct medical costs and days in the work force was performed.

[Current aspects of oncological rehabilitation].

On completion of acute medical treatment oncological rehabilitation serves the purpose of re-integrating the patient into the everyday situation, family and working life, while at the same time improving his/her quality of life. The aims of outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation are based on an individual analysis of both physical and psychosocial problems and are implemented within the framework of an interdisciplinary therapeutic program. Not the least of the positive effects of rehabilitation is the saving of costs achieved by shortening the patient's time in hospital and reducing the number of working days lost.

[Differential Diagnosis Macro CK Type 1 in Thoracic Pain Syndrome and Increased CK-MB].

Background: Macro CK (creatine kinase) as a reason for high CK values has been known since 1979. Even in the era of troponin determination for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, an elevated CK value can still cause confusion, especially as CK-MB rises earlier than troponin. The case report should remind us of this often forgotten differential diagnosis of elevated CK.

Comparison of the effects of losartan and atenolol on common carotid artery intima-media thickness in patients with hypertension: results of a 2-year, double-blind, randomized, controlled study.

Background: Hypertension induces progressive pathologic changes in the arterial wall. Experimental findings suggest that these changes, which include intima-media thickening, may be mediated, at least in part, by angiotensin II (AII).

Objective: The Losartan Vascular Regression Study (LAARS) was a double-blind, parallel-group, randomized, controlled, multicenter study designed to compare the effects of the AII antagonist losartan and the beta-blocker atenolol on ultrasonographically determined intimamedia thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Hereditary premenopausal breast cancer.

Less than 1% of breast cancers occur between the age of 20 and 30 years, but more than 50% of breast cancers under the age of 30 years are hereditary. Breast cancer mainly occurs sporadically, however, in 5 to maximally 10% of cases a genetic predisposition is present. Mutations in the already sequenced tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 account for 60-70% of these hereditary breast cancers.

An unusual case of systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis, and transient monoclonal gammopathy.

A 23-year-old female patient suffering from active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was treated with azathioprine (2 mg/kg per day) and prednisone. Lupus nephritis class III with increasing proteinuria developed 28 months after disease onset. Treatment was switched to monthly pulse cyclophosphamide administered intravenously for 6 months (total dose 6.

Effect of nitrendipine on renal function in renal-transplant patients treated with cyclosporin: a randomised trial.

Background: Calcium antagonists such as nitrendipine reduce the effects of cyclosporin on renal haemodynamics, however, their long-term efficacy has not been established. We did a randomised trial to investigate the effects of nitrendipine on renal function in renal-transplant patients treated with cyclosporin.

Methods: 253 renal-transplant patients were recruited: 52 normotensive patients (diastolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg) were assigned placebo and 57 nitrendipine 5 mg twice daily; 71 hypertensive patients (diastolic blood pressure >90 to <115 mm Hg) were assigned placebo and 73 nitrendipine 10 mg twice daily.

Renal diseases in ankylosing spondylitis: review of the literature illustrated by case reports.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can be accompanied by extraarticular manifestations in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurologic and renal organs. Secondary renal amyloidosis is the most common cause of renal involvement in AS (62%) followed by IgA nephropathy (30%), mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (5%) as well as rarely membranous nephropathy (1%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (1%) and focal proliferative glomeruleonephritis (1%). Treatment associated nephrotoxicity may result from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or disease modifying agents.