Tailored synthesis of pH-responsive biodegradable microcapsules incorporating gelatin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid for effective-controlled release.

In response to escalating environmental concerns and the urgent need for sustainable drug delivery systems, this study introduces biodegradable pH-responsive microcapsules synthesized from a blend of gelatin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid. Employing the coacervation process, capsules were created with a spherical shape, multicore structure, and small sizes ranging from 10 to 20 μm, which exhibit outstanding vitamin E encapsulation efficiency. With substantial incorporation of hyaluronic acid, a pH-responsive component, the resulting microcapsules displayed noteworthy swelling behavior, facilitating proficient core ingredient release at pH 5.

The Impact of Item Model Parameter Variations on Person Parameter Estimation in Computerized Adaptive Testing With Automatically Generated Items.

Sibling items developed through automatic item generation share similar but not identical psychometric properties. However, considering sibling item variations may bring huge computation difficulties and little improvement on scoring. Assuming identical characteristics among siblings, this study explores the impact of item model parameter variations (i.

Comparison of Risk of Pneumonia Caused by Fluticasone Propionate versus Budesonide in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) play an important role in lowering the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, ICSs are known to increase the risk of pneumonia. Moreover, previous studies have shown that the incidence rate of pneumonia varies depending on the type of ICS.

Predictors of USMLE Step 1 Outcomes: Charting Successful Study Habits.

Background: The United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 is a test that affects many aspects of medical students' careers. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of various studying habits and academic traits.

Activity: A survey concerning Step 1 study habits and scores was collected and analyzed.

High flow nasal cannulae oxygen therapy in acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Introduction: Severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a significant event that results in substantial mortality.

Objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness of the high flow nasal cannulae (HFNC) therapy in severe AECOPD with moderate hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (ARF) compared to non-invasive ventilation (NIV).

Methods: The prospective observational trial was performed to compare the effectiveness between the HFNC and NIV in severe AECOPD with moderate hypercapnic ARF.

Latino Sexual Beliefs Scale: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men.

The catalyzing forces behind risky sexual behavior are a rich area of interest for public health researchers concerned with reducing HIV risk. Social cognitive theory would suggest that sexual beliefs are a viable example of one such influential agent. Recognizing that culture plays an important role in forming such sexual beliefs, and seeking to understand the unique HIV risks present for Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), this article presents an exploratory factor analysis of the 13-item Latino Sexual Beliefs Scale (LSBS) created as part of a larger study to investigate predictors of condom use among a sample of 482 MSM born in Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic and living in the U.

Estimation of the latent mediated effect with ordinal data using the limited-information and Bayesian full-information approaches.

It is common to encounter latent variables with ordinal data in social or behavioral research. Although a mediated effect of latent variables (latent mediated effect, or LME) with ordinal data may appear to be a straightforward combination of LME with continuous data and latent variables with ordinal data, the methodological challenges to combine the two are not trivial. This research covers model structures as complex as LME and formulates both point and interval estimates of LME for ordinal data using the Bayesian full-information approach.

The insecure psychotherapy base: Using client and therapist attachment styles to understand the early alliance.

The purpose of this study was to test the notion that complementary attachments are best for achieving a secure base in psychotherapy. Specifically, we predicted third to fifth session alliance from client- and therapist-rated attachment style interactions. Using a combined sample of 46 therapy dyads from a community mental health clinic and university counseling center, the client- and therapist-perceived therapy alliance, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance were examined at the beginning of therapy.

Adult attachment, attachment to the supervisor, and the supervisory alliance: how they relate to novice therapists' perceived counseling self-efficacy.

The supervisory relationship is one of the most important components in training therapists' professional development, and it is a frequent area of training-focused research. The current study explored how 57 training therapists' adult romantic attachments relate to the attachment to the supervisor and the supervisory working alliance. Additionally, we explored how both adult attachment and supervisory attachment relate to trainees' perceptions of their counseling self-efficacy (CSE).

New therapeutic approaches to combat arterial thrombosis: better drugs for old targets, novel targets, and future prospects.

Cardiovascular disease and stroke are predominant causes of death in developed countries. Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque in an artery wall and the ensuing thrombotic events are the triggers for acute ischemic injury in these diseases. Platelet activation and aggregation play key roles in this process of atherothrombosis.

A Note on Confidence Intervals for Two-Group Latent Mean Effect Size Measures.

This note suggests delta method implementations for deriving confidence intervals for a latent mean effect size measure for the case of 2 independent populations. A hypothetical kindergarten reading example using these implementations is provided, as is supporting LISREL syntax.

Phototoxicity of phenylenediamine hair dye chemicals in Salmonella typhimurium TA102 and human skin keratinocytes.

Phenylenediamines (PD) are dye precursors used to manufacture hair dyes. The three PDs, 1,2-,1,3-, and 1,4-PD and three chlorinated PDs, 4-chloro-1,2-PD, 4-chloro-1,3-PD, and 4,5-dichloro-1,2-PD were studied for their mutagenic effect in Salmonella typhimurium TA 102, cytotoxicity in human skin keratinocyte cells, and for DNA cleavage. The results show that all six compounds are not toxic/mutagenic in TA 102 bacteria or skin cells, and do not cause DNA cleavage in PhiX 174 phage DNA.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in an animal model of chronic peritoneal exposure.

Objectives: Acute infection in an animal model of chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) induces structural changes in the peritoneum and altersfunctional characteristics of transport. These changes may compromise observations of the chronic effects of dialysis solutions. To test the hypothesis that antibiotics would prevent acute infection without affecting transport and structural properties, we characterized the frequency of infection in our rat model of PD and examined whether the inclusion of antibiotics in the dialysis solution altered the transport and structural properties of the peritoneum.

Intraperitoneal immunotherapy for metastatic ovarian carcinoma: Resistance of intratumoral collagen to antibody penetration.

Purpose: Convective transport of macromolecules from the peritoneal cavity into tumor is determined by its hydraulic permeability and the pressure gradient. Previous studies showed that establishing a pressure gradient into the tumor failed to result in significant penetration. This study addresses the hypothesis that the extracellular matrix is the major resistance to the penetration of an i.

Correlating structure with solute and water transport in a chronic model of peritoneal inflammation.

To study the process of chronic peritoneal inflammation from sterile solutions, we established an animal model to link structural changes with solute and water transport. Filtered solutions containing 4% N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) or 4% glucose (G) were injected intraperitoneally daily in 200- to 300-g rats and compared with controls (C). After 2 mo, each animal underwent transport studies using a chamber affixed to the parietal peritoneum to determine small-solute and protein mass transfer, osmotic filtration, and hydraulic flow.

Physiological characterization of human ovarian cancer cells in a rat model of intraperitoneal antineoplastic therapy.

Destruction of cancer cells by therapies directed against new molecular targets requires their effective delivery to the tumor. To study diffusion and convection of intraperitoneal (ip) therapy to ip tumors, we established a new athymic rat (RNU) model with ovarian tumor cells (SKOV3 and OVCAR3) implanted in the abdominal wall. The model simulates metastatic tumor and facilitates the measurement of physiological parameters that govern transport forces.

ATP stimulates the release of prostacyclin from perfused veins isolated from the hamster hindlimb.

ATP-stimulated prostacyclin release from veins was investigated using epigastric veins isolated from hamsters. Veins were perfused with MOPS-buffered physiological salt solution (PSS). ATP was administered into the perfusate, and the bath solution (MOPS-PSS) was collected and assayed for the presence of the stable prostacyclin metabolite 6-keto-PGF1alpha.

Blood flow control during exercise: role for the venular endothelium?

During an increasing metabolic demand, as in exercise, the close venular-arteriolar pairing allows for diffusion of vasoactive substances from the venular blood to the arterioles. Adenosine triphosphate release from red blood cells may stimulate the venular endothelium to release vasoactive metabolites of arachidonic acid. The venous circulation is in an optimal position to provide a feedback regulation of arteriolar diameter.

Calcium-dependent synthesis of prostacyclin in ATP-stimulated venous endothelial cells.

Prostacyclin is a powerful vasodilator that is released from vascular endothelial cells. Previous studies in our laboratory have indicated that arachidonic acid metabolites from venous endothelium play an important role in the dilation of adjacent arterioles during muscle stimulation. Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that ATP released from red blood cells during hypoxia stimulates dilation of arterioles.

The synthesis and biological characterization of a ceramide library.

A facile synthesis of a combinatorial ceramide library and their activities in the NF-kappaB pathway and in apoptosis induction/prevention were demonstrated. A novel NF-kappaB activating molecule was discovered among ceramide containing beta-galactose, and the structural requirements of ceramides for apoptosis induction was elucidated.