In vivo delivery and long-term tissue retention of nano-encapsulated sirolimus using a novel porous balloon angioplasty system.

Aims: Among antirestenotic compounds, sirolimus displays a superior safety profile compared to paclitaxel, but its pharmacokinetic properties make it a challenging therapeutic candidate for single-time delivery. Herein we evaluate the feasibility of delivery, long-term retention and vascular effects of sirolimus nanoparticles delivered through a novel porous angioplasty balloon in normal porcine arteries and in a swine model of in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods And Results: Sirolimus nanoparticle formulation was delivered via porous balloon angioplasty to 753 coronary artery segments for pharmacokinetic studies and 26 segments for biological effect of sirolimus delivery in different clinical scenarios (de novo [n=8], ISR [n=6] and following stent implantation [n=12]).

Spore trap analysis and MSQPCR in evaluating mold burden: a flooded gymnasium case study.

A school gymnasium was accidentally flooded by the fire-suppression sprinkler system. The surface water was removed immediately and, after 10 days, a professional firm engaged to dry the environment. Twenty five days after the flooding, the school decided to evaluate whether there was any mold growth in the gymnasium.

Solution phase parallel synthesis and evaluation of MAPK inhibitory activities of close structural analogues of a Ras pathway modulator.

A solution phase parallel synthesis approach was undertaken to rapidly explore the structure-activity relationship of an inhibitor of the Ras/Raf protein interaction identified from a small molecule compound library. Evaluation of the MAPK pathway signaling inhibitory activity of the synthesized analogues as well as their antiproliferative activity and ability to inhibit soft agar growth were performed.