New Supramolecular Drug Carriers: The Study of Organogel Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles.

An aqueous solution of sodium citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in the presence of lauroyl-L-alanine (CALA) forms a stable gel. The structure of the gel and the distribution profile of AuNP in it were analyzed. Will nanoparticles separated from each other with sodium citrate behave in the same way in solution and trapped in the gel matrix? Will the spatial limitation of solvent molecules aggregate nanoparticles and destroy their homogeneity? These questions are very important from the point of view of the use of gold nanoparticles, trapped in the gel structure as carriers of drugs in the slow-release process.

Trainee doctors' views on mental illness among their peers and access to support services.

The mental health of doctors in training raises two major concerns, first that they are reluctant to, and have difficulty accessing, treatment, and second that undiagnosed and untreated doctors expose patients to unacceptable risks. Four 1-h focus groups were held, with participants' views explored on their observations about mental health as an issue amongst doctors, their personal knowledge of, and preferences for, sources of support, and other related factors. Transcripts were analysed using a thematic framework approach.

Effect of gel matrix confinement on the solvent dynamics in supramolecular gels.

Supramolecular gels formed by the sugar gelator of methyl-4,6-O-(p-nitrobenzylidene)-α-d-glucopyranoside (1) with 1,3-propanediol (PG) and 1-butanol (BU) were prepared with different gelator concentrations. The solvent dynamics within gels, characterized by the diffusion coefficient (D) and the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1), was the subject of NMR diffusometry and relaxometry studies. The diffusion was studied as a function of diffusion time and gelator concentrations.

The solvent-gelator interaction as the origin of different diffusivity behavior of diols in gels formed with sugar-based low-molecular-mass gelator.

Organogels are soft materials consisting of low-molecular-mass gelators (LMOGs) self-assembled through noncovalent interactions into 3D structures, in which free spaces are filled by organic solvents. 4,6,4',6'-O-terephthylidene-bis(methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside) (1) is found to be a new LMOG. It gelatinizes only a limited number of solvents.

Stereoscopic vision-based robotic manipulator extraction method for enhanced soft tissue reconstruction.

The availability of digital stereoscopic video feedback on surgical robotic platforms allows for a variety of enhancements through the application of computer vision. Several of these enhancements, such as augmented reality and semi-automated surgery, benefit significantly from identification of the robotic manipulators within the field of view. A method is presented for the extraction of robotic manipulators from stereoscopic views of the operating field that uses a combination of marker tracking, inverse kinematics, and computer rendering.

Diffusive diffraction phenomenon observed by PGSE NMR technique in a sugar-based low-molecular-mass gel.

The paper presents the diffusive diffraction phenomenon observed by the single-pulse-gradient spin-echo (s-PGSE) NMR technique in a real porous material: a gel composed of low-molecular-mass gelator methyl-4,6-O-(p-nitrobenzylidene)-α-D-glucopyranoside and toluene. Thanks to this phenomenon, we can probe the true microstructure (not xerogel) in which the toluene diffuses. To analyze the measured diffusion-diffraction pattern, we employed a composite bicompartmental model that superimposes restricted diffusion in small cavities of the gel matrix within the bundles of crossing fibers, with free diffusion in large and unconfined compartments between the bundles of crossing fibers.

Real-time three-dimensional soft tissue reconstruction for laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Accurate real-time 3D models of the operating field have the potential to enable augmented reality for endoscopic surgery. A new system is proposed to create real-time 3D models of the operating field that uses a custom miniaturized stereoscopic video camera attached to a laparoscope and an image-based reconstruction algorithm implemented on a graphics processing unit (GPU).

Methods: The proposed system was evaluated in a porcine model that approximates the viewing conditions of in vivo surgery.

A compact high-definition low-cost digital stereoscopic video camera for rapid robotic surgery development.

Robotic surgical platforms require vision feedback systems, which often consist of low-resolution, expensive, single-imager analog cameras. These systems are retooled for 3D display by simply doubling the cameras and outboard control units. Here, a fully-integrated digital stereoscopic video camera employing high-definition sensors and a class-compliant USB video interface is presented.

Achieving online consent to participation in large-scale gene-environment studies: a tangible destination.

Background: Population based genetics studies are dependent on large numbers of individuals in the pursuit of small effect sizes. Recruiting and consenting a large number of participants is both costly and time consuming. We explored whether an online consent process for large-scale genetics studies is acceptable for prospective participants using an example online genetics study.

A possible application of magnetic resonance imaging for pharmaceutical research.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-destructive and non-invasive method, the experiment can be conducted in situ and allows the studying of the sample and the different processes in vitro or in vivo. 1D, 2D or 3D imaging can be undertaken. MRI is nowadays most widely used in medicine as a clinical diagnostic tool, but has still seen limited application in the food and pharmaceutical sciences.

Sticky knowledge: a possible model for investigating implementation in healthcare contexts.

Background: In health care, a well recognized gap exists between what we know should be done based on accumulated evidence and what we actually do in practice. A body of empirical literature shows organizations, like individuals, are difficult to change. In the business literature, knowledge management and transfer has become an established area of theory and practice, whilst in healthcare it is only starting to establish a firm footing.

How we can interpret the T1 dispersion of MC, HPMC and HPC polymers above glass temperature?

The chain dynamics in methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) were studied with the aid of field-cycling NMR relaxometry technique in the temperature range from 300 to 480 K that is above the glass transition, but below thermal degradation. The frequency dependence of proton spin-lattice relaxation time was determined between 24 kHz and 40 MHz for selected temperatures. The experimental spin-lattice relaxation dispersion data were fitted with the power law relations of T(1) proportional variant omega(gamma) predicted by the tube/reptation model.

Spatially resolved solvent interaction with glassy HPMC polymers studied by magnetic resonance microscopy.

Magnetic resonance microscopy was used to study the interaction of an alkaline water solvent (pH=12) with hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) matrices with different molecular masses Mw=12,000, 86,000, and 120,000. The polymers in the form of cylinders were hydrated at 37 degrees C and monitored at equal time intervals with a 300MHz Bruker AVANCE. The spatially resolved spin-spin relaxations times T2 and diffusion coefficients D of the solvent molecules within the gel layer of HPMC samples, along with changes in the dimension of the glass core of the polymers were determined as a function of hydration times.

[Clinical picture and morphological changes of upper intestinal tract mucosa in children with Helicobacter pylori infection].

The authors analysed clinical picture and morphological (macroscopic and histopathologic) changes in gastric and duodenal mucosa in 150 children diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori infection chosen randomly among the hospitalized in 1998-2000 years.

[Resistance to antibiotics used in Helicobacter pylori infection in children].

In literature and clinical findings, the attention has been turned to the resistance to the antibiotics used in Helicobacter pylori eradication, especially metronidazole and clarithromycin. Drug-resistance was evaluated in 50 children. Primary drug-resistance to the antibiotics used in eradications was determined in this group, and additionally, in 18 children who were subjected twice to unsuccessful eradicative therapy.

Magnetic resonance imaging study of the transport phenomena of solvent into the gel layer of hypromellose matrices containing tetracycline hydrochloride.

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to study the diffusion of a water solution of hydrochloric acid into hypromellose (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose) matrices. Spatially resolved information was obtained about the self-diffusion coefficient and spin-spin relaxation time of solvent protons in the gel layer of hypromellose matrices loaded with different amounts of tetracycline hydrochloride. The data showed the influence of the drug concentration on the diffusion and spin-spin relaxation.

The swelling properties of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose loaded with tetracycline hydrochloride: magnetic resonance imaging study.

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to study the behavior of the gel layer thickness in hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) matrices loaded with different amounts of soluble tetracycline hydrochloride. The time dependence of the diffusion front, effective T2, and proton-density analysis clearly indicates a Case II diffusion mechanism in the system composed of water solution of hydrochloric acid (pH = 2) and HPMC. The solvent penetration front was used to describe the swelling properties as well as the integrity of the HPMC matrices.

Developmental dyslexics show altered allocation of attention in visual classification tasks.

Objectives: Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded to investigate allocation of attention in adult developmental dyslexics.

Subjects And Methods: Twelve adult developmental dyslexics and 12 matched normal controls performed three visual choice reaction tasks. In the passive oddball condition, subjects watched two different simple visual stimuli presented with 87.

Cognitive brain potentials to novel acoustic stimuli in adult dyslexic readers.

Event-related brain potentials were recorded in two three-stimulus oddball tasks in 13 adult dyslexic and 13 age- and IQ-matched normal readers. The stimuli consisted of a random series of frequent (80%) and non-frequent tones (10%) as well as occasionally inserted novel sounds (10%). The experiment comprised an active (response to the rare target tone) and a passive listening condition.

In situ, real time observation of the disintegration of paracetamol tablets in aqueous solution by magnetic resonance imaging.

The disintegration behavior of paracetamol tablets was studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the Snapshot FLASH method. The total time of the single experiment is 425 ms and allows the study of the disintegration process in real time. The study was carried out in vitro under acidic gastric pH conditions and may help to predict the behavior of paracetamol tablets in the stomach after oral administration.

Serum concentrations of individual monocarboxylic short-chain fatty acids C2-C6 in underweight children.

The serum concentrations of individual short-chain fatty acids containing 2-6 carbon atoms were studied in 12 underweight children. Mean n-butyric and iso-valeric acid levels were significantly elevated in underweight children, while those of n-valeric and iso-caproic acids were not significantly higher than in the control group. The level of total free fatty acids was also increased in the underweight group.