Decontamination technology: the missing element.

Understanding decontamination technology as it applies to compounding sterile preparations and its role in achieving an acceptable level of sterility assurance in compounded preparations is essential. Delivering safe preparations to patients requires the key elements that make up an acceptable sterility-assurance level. Those key elements are decontamination of the preparation components and the environment in which they are compounded, aseptic technique, and proper air quality of the compounding environment.

Sterilization of compounded parenteral preparations: verification of autoclaves.

This article discusses the basic principles for verification of a sterilization process and provides a recommended approach to assure that autoclaves deliver the sterility-assured levels required for patient safety. Included is a summary of the protocol and verification (validation) results of a previously published case study involving autoclaves. To assure the sterility of compounded preparations, a verification procedure must be in place.

Lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone-III selectively releases follicle stimulating hormone in the bovine.

Recent studies have shown that lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone (l-GnRH) is localized in the mammalian brain, and that l-GnRH-III, can selectively induce FSH secretion in the rat both in vivo and in vitro. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to determine if l-GnRH-III could elicit selective FSH release in cattle and compare this response with that to mammalian luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (m-LHRH). Cattle were chosen as the animal model because previous studies have demonstrated that FSH and LH are secreted by separate gonadotropes in that species.

Understanding the critical components of a successful cleanroom and barrier isolator project.

The critical components of clean-room and barrier isolator systems are described. Cleanroom and barrier isolator systems have four basic parts: the physical structure, the internal environment, the interaction technology, and the monitoring system. To create an aseptic environment, pharmacists must understand each of these components and be able to provide vendors with clear specifications.

Effects of the anabolic steroid, boldenone undecylenate, on certain reproductive parameters in bulls.

A total of 17 bulls was used to study the effects of boldenone undecylenate on growth and semen characteristics in beef bulls. In trial 1 nine mature mixed-breed beef bulls with satisfactory semen quality were divided into two groups. Group I (n = 5) received boldenone undecylenate (1.