Effect of particle shape on dry particle inhalation: study of flowability, aerosolization, and deposition properties.

The shape effects of dry particles on flowability, aerosolization, and deposition properties in inhalation drug delivery are studied. The properties are compared with similar size range particles of different shapes such as sphere, needle, cube, plate, and pollen. Flowability of the particles is characterized by Carr's compressibility index and angle of slide (theta) method.

Minimum detectable change in water diffusion using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging.

The objective of this study was to determine the minimum change in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and transverse diffusivity (TD) that can be detected in a repeated diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) session with 95% confidence, i.e., the minimum detectable change (MDC).

Short-term exposure evaluation of adult smokers switching from conventional to first-generation electrically heated cigarettes during controlled smoking.

This randomized, controlled study in 110 male and female adult smokers evaluated biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure (carbon monoxide [CO], carboxyhemoglobin [CO-Hb], nicotine, urine mutagenicity) under controlled smoking conditions when adult smokers of 1 conventional cigarette brand (CC1) were switched to an electrically heated cigarette smoking system (EHCSS) or a low-tar conventional cigarette (CC2). Baseline exposure was determined while all subjects smoked CC1. Subjects then were stratified for gender and cigarette consumption and randomized to 1 of 5 groups-EHCSS1, EHCSS2, CC1, CC2, or no smoking-and monitored for 8 days.