Recommendations for Comparison of Productivity Between Fed-Batch and Perfusion Processes.

Due to the growing interest in integrated continuous processing in the biopharmaceutical industry, productivity comparison of batch-based and continuous processes is considered a challenge. Integrated continuous manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals requires scientists and engineers to collaborate effectively. Differing definitions, for example, of volumetric productivity, may cause confusion in this interdisciplinary field.

Adaptation for survival: phenotype and transcriptome response of CHO cells to elevated stress induced by agitation and sparging.

In this work, the response and adaption of CHO cells to hydrodynamic stress in laboratory scale bioreactors originating from agitation, sparging and their combination is studied experimentally. First, the maximum hydrodynamic stress, τ(max), is characterized over a broad range of operating conditions using a shear sensitive particulate system. Separate stress regimes are determined, where τ(max) is controlled either by sparging, agitation, or their combination.

Development of a Scale-Down Model of hydrodynamic stress to study the performance of an industrial CHO cell line under simulated production scale bioreactor conditions.

The objective of this study was to develop a Scale-Down Model of a hydrodynamic stress present in large scale production bioreactors to investigate the performance of CHO cells under simulated production bioreactor conditions. Various levels of hydrodynamic stress were generated in 2L bioreactors mimicking those present in different locations of a large scale stirred tank bioreactor. In general, it was observed that tested cells are highly robust against the effect of hydrodynamic stress.

A multi-core CPU pipeline architecture for virtual environments.

Physically-based virtual environments (VEs) provide realistic interactions and behaviors for computer-based medical simulations. Limited CPU resources have traditionally forced VEs to be simplified for real-time performance. Multi-core processors greatly increase the computational capacity of computers and are quickly becoming standard.

Evidence for a late-occurring effect of phoneme repetition during silent reading.

Two reading experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of phoneme repetition during silent reading (also referred to as the visual tongue-twister effect, see McCutchen & Perfetti, 1982; Perfetti & McCutchen, 1982) in conjunction with end-of-clause and end-of-sentence wrap-up effects (Just & Carpenter, 1982; Rayner, Sereno, Morris, Schmauder, & Clifton, 1989). In both experiments, reading time was measured on sentences containing either six or zero words sharing the same initial phoneme. Sentences were presented in a phrase-by-phrase moving window, with each phrase either containing one word that involved a repeated phoneme or a matched word not involving a repeated phoneme.

Oral management of the patient with end-stage liver disease and the liver transplant patient.

The patient with end-stage liver disease who is in need of a liver transplant should have a pretransplant dental evaluation. Such a patient faces lifelong immunosuppression with an increased risk of infection. This article discusses both the need for control of oral diseases before liver transplantation and guidelines for oral care in the immediately postoperative and long-term transplant patient.

Antipyrine clearance and metabolite excretion in Saudi patients with non-alcoholic chronic liver disease.

In this report, we examined the hepatic microsomal enzyme activity in 34 Saudi patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and in 21 healthy Saudi subjects by measuring antipyrine clearance (APCI) and the fraction (%) of antipyrine (AP) dose excreted in urine unchanged (fAP) and in the form of its main metabolites: 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (fHMAP), norantipyrine(fNORAP), and 4-hydroxyantipyrine (f4OHAP). While APCI, fHMAP, fNORAP, f4OHAP were significantly reduced in patients with CLD, fAP was significantly higher in these patients. Correlation was observed between serum albumin and APCI, fHMAP, fNORAP, or f4OHAP and between each two of the last three variables.

Relationship between antipyrine metabolism and acetylation phenotype in health and chronic liver diseases.

The authors examined the activity of N-acetyltransferase and that of microsomal P-450 isoenzymes in health and hepatic disease state by determining the acetylation phenotype and the total (CLAP) and metabolic clearances of antipyrine to form norantipyrine or N-demethylantipyrine (MCLnora), 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (MCLhma), and 4-hydroxyantipyrine (MCLha) in 21 healthy subjects and in 33 patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) and investigated the relationship between the activities of these two enzyme systems. The acetylation phenotype was determined according to the urinary caffeine metabolites test. The mean and (SEM) of CLAP, MCLhma, MCLha, and MCLnora in healthy subjects were 2.

Antipyrine clearance and metabolite excretion in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: Our aim was to study whether chronic hepatitis C affects the three metabolic pathways of the model drug antipyrine differently.

Methods: We measured antipyrine clearance from saliva as well as urinary excretion of its main metabolites 4-hydroxy-antipyrine, 3-hydroxy-methyl-antipyrine, and nor-antipyrine in 24 patients with chronic hepatitis C and in 21 healthy control subjects. Due to incomplete urine collection, 12 liver patients and three controls were excluded.

Elimination studies of antipyrine and its metabolites in healthy Saudi Arabians.

1. We measured the antipyrine clearance in 18 healthy Saudi subjects and determined the urinary excretion of three of its metabolites: 4-hydroxyantipyrine (4-OH AP), norantipyrine (NOR AP) and 3 hydroxymethylantipyrine (3-OHM AP) in 21 subjects. 2.

Elimination of antipyrine and its metabolites in interferon treated hepatitis C.

1. To study the effect of interferon on hepatic drug metabolism in chronic hepatitis C, we examined nine patients before and at the end of 6 months of interferon treatment. 2.

Dental procedures in patients receiving oral anticoagulation therapy.

Over a 10-year period a uniform management plan for patients receiving long term oral anticoagulation therapy for prosthetic heart valves and needing dental procedures was instituted. Those undergoing dental extraction or gum hygiene in the presence of gross gum pathology (Group A) had their oral anticoagulation discontinued two days prior to the procedure which was carried out only if the INR was 1.5 or less on the day of the procedure.

Histologically advanced chronic hepatitis C treated with recombinant alpha-interferon: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over study.

Chronic hepatitis C is common in Saudi Arabia and most often presents in an advanced stage. To assess the response of patients to interferon, a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study was undertaken. All but 1 patient had cirrhosis or fibrosis before interferon.

Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis complicated by end-stage renal failure treated with recombinant interferon alpha.

Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis occurs in 50% of Saudi patients with end-stage renal failure and requires long-term hemodialysis since it is a contraindication to renal transplantation. Thirteen patients with biochemical and histological documented chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (11 with HCV antibodies) entered a double-blind placebo controlled cross-over study, in which Roferon A 3 MU or placebo were administered subcutaneously 3 times weekly after hemodialysis for 6 months. The mean ALT fell significantly from pretreatment levels of 74.

Impaired elimination of atenolol in a nephropathic patient with self-medication overdose.

A case of intoxication with atenolol (plasma concentration of 2.71 mg/L) caused by an improper self-medication combined with impaired renal function is presented. The patient was supported with atropine, isoproterenol, dopamine, and dobutamine, and a thorough pharmacokinetic monitoring of atenolol was conducted.

Concurrent post-streptococcal carditis and glomerulonephritis: serial echocardiographic diagnosis and follow-up.

The two non-suppurative post-streptococcal events, acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis, rarely occur simultaneously. We describe such a patient, a 16-year-old male who was admitted with fever, agitation and confusion. Blood work-up showed high antistreptolysin O titre, raised serum creatinine and low complement levels.

A clinical-radiological evaluation of benzimidazoles in the management of Echinococcus granulosus cysts.

Nine patients with complicated hydatid disease managed with surgery and mebendazole/albendazole are presented. Five patients received albendazole (1 treatment course) and 5 patients received mebendazole (3 had 2 treatment courses, 1 had a switch-over from mebendazole to albendazole). The mean durations of treatment and follow-up were respectively 7 +/- 2.

Simplified determination of antipyrine clearance by liquid chromatography of a microsample of saliva or plasma.

We describe a simplified and rapid liquid chromatographic determination of antipyrine clearance (CLAP) calculated from peak height ratios of drug/internal standard. Saliva or plasma was collected 24 hr after the oral administration of 1 g of antipyrine to the subject. A 25-microliter aliquot of the sample is deproteinized with acetonitrile containing 3-nitrophenol (internal standard) and injected into a radial compression module equipped with a 10-micron, 8 mm x 10-cm C18 cartridge, using a 0.

An allergic reaction to intravenous methylprednisolone administration.

A 60-year-old woman with acute asthma developed generalised urticaria and rapidly worsening bronchospasm immediately after IV administration of methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Subsequent skin testing was positive for this, but for no other corticosteroid. Later, both IV dexamethasone during a recurrent attack and oral prednisone for panhypopituitarism were well tolerated.

Right atrial, right ventricular and left ventricular thrombi in (incomplete) Behçet's disease.

An 18-year-old man presented with a history of oral sores and presence of high fever, scrotal ulcerations and haemoptysis. Multiple mural cardiac masses were present in the right atrium, right ventricle and left ventricle. Furthermore, pulmonary vasculitis with aneurysm formation and venous thrombosis involving the superior sagittal sinus and right transverse sinus were found, and the diagnosis was made of (incomplete) Behçet's disease.

Trial of different intensities of anticoagulation in patients with prosthetic heart valves.

We compared the efficacy and complications of anticoagulation with warfarin in 258 patients with prosthetic heart valves treated with regimens of "moderate intensity" (prothrombin-time ratio, 1.5; international normalized ratio, 2.65) or "high intensity" (prothrombin-time ratio, 2.

Magnetic resonance imaging of thoracic hydatid disease. Correlation with clinical findings, radiography, ultrasonography, CT and pathology.

Two patients with thoracic manifestations of hydatid disease (HD) are discussed; one patient had recurrent HD of the chest wall and the other, intrapulmonary HD after rupture and intrathoracic extension of an infradiaphragmatic cyst. At magnetic resonance (MR) imaging the manifestations of HD in the thorax are similar to previously reported MR findings in HD in the liver. The presence of a low signal intensity rim on T2 weighted images representing the cyst wall was confirmed.

Colonoscopic diagnosis and medical treatment of ten patients with colonic tuberculosis.

Ten patients with tuberculous enterocolitis were diagnosed colonoscopically. In four, the diagnosis was confirmed by positive acid fast stain or the presence of caseating granuloma in colonic biopsy material or ileal washings. In one other patient a cervical lymph gland revealed acid-fast bacilli.