Improved oral bioavailability of human growth hormone by a combination of liposomes containing bio-enhancers and tetraether lipids and omeprazole.

Liposomes for the oral delivery of human growth hormone (hGH) containing bio-enhancers and tetraether lipids were prepared by dual asymmetric centrifugation. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CpCl), d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 400 succinate, phenylpiperazine, sodium caprate or octadecanethiol were used as permeation enhancers. In vitro data showed that oligolamellar vesicles with average size in the range of 200-250 nm were formed.

Development and investigation of a long-range time-of-flight and color imaging system.

Time-of-flight (Tof) imaging based on the photonic mixer device (PMD) or similar ToF imaging solutions has been limited to short distances in the past, due to limited lighting devices and low sensitivity of ToF imaging chips. Long-range distance measurements are typically the domain of laser scanning systems. In this paper, PMD based medium- and long-range lighting devices working together with a 2-D/3-D camera are presented and several measurement results are discussed.

Growth hormone treatment adherence in prepubertal and pubertal children with different growth disorders.

Background/aims: Treatment of children with growth disorders with recombinant human growth hormone is necessary for improved outcomes, including final height.

Methods: Adherence data from the Observational Study Saizen®-online, recorded with the easypod™ device collected between October 2009 and May 2011, were analyzed in pediatric patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone treatment for a variety of growth disorders.

Results: Data from 75 children (46 boys, 29 girls) with different growth disorders were analyzed over a period of 343 ± 201 (SD) days.

Intuitiveness, ease of use, and preference of a prefilled growth hormone injection pen: a noninterventional, randomized, open-label, crossover, comparative usability study of three delivery devices in growth hormone-treated pediatric patients.

Background: Growth hormone (GH) is used to treat pediatric and adult GH deficiency (GHD) and growth failure in, among others, patients with Turner syndrome or children born small for gestational age. To improve treatment adherence, self-injection devices should be easy to learn, easy to use, and well accepted, especially in pediatric patients. Several GH pen devices are available, each with distinct features designed for specific patient needs.

[Influenza vaccination and skin disease--coincidence or causal association?].

Influenza remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; therefore, vaccination of risk groups is recommended by health authorities in many countries of the world. Vaccination against influenza has been implicated occasionally induce or trigger skin diseases. We review the literature and present data from the German registry for vaccination-associated adverse effects at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.

Wax and suberin development of native and wound periderm of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and its relation to peridermal transpiration.

Native and wound periderm was isolated enzymatically from potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desirée) tubers at different time intervals between 0 days up to 4 weeks after harvesting.

Apoplasmic barriers and oxygen transport properties of hypodermal cell walls in roots from four amazonian tree species.

The formation of suberized and lignified barriers in the exodermis is suggested to be part of a suite of adaptations to flooded or waterlogged conditions, adjusting transport of solutes and gases in and out of roots. In this study, the composition of apoplasmic barriers in hypodermal cell walls and oxygen profiles in roots and the surrounding medium of four Amazon tree species that are subjected to long-term flooding at their habitat was analyzed. In hypodermal cell walls of the deciduous tree Crateva benthami, suberization is very weak and dominated by monoacids, 2-hydroxy acids, and omega-hydroxycarboxylic acids.

Casparian strips in needles of Pinus bungeana: isolation and chemical characterization.

By using cell wall degrading enzymes, Casparian strips were for the first time isolated from Pinus bungeana needle endodermis. They appeared as a fine network, similar to those isolated from roots. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis provided evidence that the Casparian strips were impregnated with lignin, suberin, cellulose and cell wall proteins.

Chemical composition and ultrastructure of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) nodule endodermis in comparison to the root endodermis.

Ultrastructure and development of apoplastic barriers within indeterminate root nodules formed by Vicia faba L. were examined by light and electron microscopy. The nodule outer cortex is separated from the inner cortex by a heavily suberized nodule endodermis, which matures in submeristematic regions and possesses suberin lamellae.