A Preliminary Evaluation of Energy Efficiency for Children with Cerebral Palsy for Driving A Manual Wheelchair and Walking: Use of the Total Heart Beat Index.

: This study aims to compare the total heart beat index (THBI) in evaluating energy efficiency between using a manual wheelchair and walking for children with cerebral palsy (CP). : The energy efficiency was measured in 21 participants with CP (mean age, 13.6 ± 3.

Factors affecting the self-rated health of elderly individuals living alone: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: In Japan, the number of elderly individuals living alone is continuing to increase as society ages. Although studies have considered quality of life, life expectancy, and gender differences in elderly individuals living alone, only a few have considered the health and lifestyle of these individuals. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the factors that affect the self-rated health of elderly individuals living alone to understand this group and how best to offer them support.

Temperature changes caused by the difference in the distance between the ultrasound transducer and bone during 1 mhz and 3 mhz continuous ultrasound: a phantom study.

[Purpose] This study aimed to use a thermograph to observe temperature changes caused by different distances between an ultrasound transducer and bone during 1 MHz and 3 MHz continuous ultrasound emission on a phantom. [Materials and Methods] We observed the distribution of temperature elevations on a phantom consisting of pig ribs and tissue-mimicking material. One megahertz and 3 MHz ultrasound were delivered at 2.

In vivo enhancement of transdermal absorption of ketotifen by supersaturation generated by amorphous form of the drug.

The enhancing effect of supersaturation generated by amorphous ketotifen in silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive matrices (PSA) on the transdermal absorption was evaluated in vivo using hairless rats, and it was compared with the increase of drug amount in skin tissues. The duration of the enhancing effect was also investigated in relation to the time how long supersaturation was maintained in PSA. PSA containing crystalline ketotifen (PSA-Crystalline) and that containing amorphous ketotifen (PSA-Amorphous) were prepared by the solvent casting method using n-hexane and dichloromethane, respectively.

Spatial distribution of viruses associated with planktonic and attached microbial communities in hydrothermal environments.

Viruses play important roles in marine surface ecosystems, but little is known about viral ecology and virus-mediated processes in deep-sea hydrothermal microbial communities. In this study, we examined virus-like particle (VLP) abundances in planktonic and attached microbial communities, which occur in physical and chemical gradients in both deep and shallow submarine hydrothermal environments (mixing waters between hydrothermal fluids and ambient seawater and dense microbial communities attached to chimney surface areas or macrofaunal bodies and colonies). We found that viruses were widely distributed in a variety of hydrothermal microbial habitats, with the exception of the interior parts of hydrothermal chimney structures.

The effects of external heating on the permeation of oxybutynin through human epidermal membrane.

The transdermal delivery system (TDS) of oxybutynin (OXY) is widely used for the treatment of overactive bladder patients. This report aimed to assess the effect of external heating on the pharmacokinetics of OXY after transdermal administration. Franz-type diffusion cell experiments at room temperature, 36 and 45 degrees C were performed to estimate the permeations of OXY through human epidermal membrane with an isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) formulation as a reference.

Enhancement of skin permeation of ketotifen by supersaturation generated by amorphous form of the drug.

Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) matrices containing amorphous ketotifen were prepared and evaluated for enhanced skin permeability of the drug. A solvent casting method using silicone-typed PSA was employed, and n-hexane, an original solvent for the PSA and one more solvent, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, ethyl acetate or toluene, were used for complete dissolution of ketotifen and high dispersion in an amorphous state of the drug. Presence of the amorphous form was judged based on the in vitro drug release rate from the matrix.

[Drug delivery systems for cancer chemotherapy].

Various types of drug delivery system (DDS) for antitumor drugs have been developed to reduce severe systemic toxicities and to enhance antitumor effects by improving their pharmacokinetics. In this paper, outlines are first given of the concept and design of DDS, focusing on polymeric antitumor drugs (macromolecular prodrugs) and then describing the superior DDS effects shown in preclinical studies of DE-310, a DDS optimized for the camptothecin analogue DX-8951. Clinical trials of DE-310 are now ongoing in the USA and Europe.