Improving the Performance Time and Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Trial of the Line-of-Sight Approach and the "APPLES" Mnemonic.

Objectives: To determine whether the line-of-sight approach improved the performance time and accuracy of ultrasound (US)-guided needle placement targeting the subdeltoid bursa in a cadaver among novice operators compared to the side approach. A secondary objective was to determine whether participants thought the APPLES (angle, position, perpendicular, line up, entry, sweep) mnemonic was a helpful guide for performing the procedure.

Methods: Medical students and residents were randomized into either a line-of-sight or side approach group and then crossed over to the other group.

Discovery of synergistic permeation enhancers for oral drug delivery.

Oral drug delivery offers an attractive method of needle-free drug administration. Unfortunately, oral delivery is often hampered by the poor permeability of drugs across the intestinal epithelium. Although several single chemical permeation enhancers have been shown to alleviate permeability difficulties, this often occurs at the expense of safety.

Safe and effective permeation enhancers for oral drug delivery.

Purpose: The use of intestinal permeation enhancers to overcome the absorption challenges associated with oral drug delivery has been hampered by the notion that enhancer efficacy is directly linked to toxicity. This study attempts to gain insight into the principles governing the potency and toxicity behavior of enhancers.

Methods: Fifty-one enhancers were selected from 11 chemical categories and their potency and toxicity were analyzed in Caco-2 monolayers at concentrations spanning three orders of magnitude.