New drug update: 2010.

Five new drugs that are used for medical problems often encountered in the elderly have been selected for consideration in this review. The uses and most important properties of these agents are considered, and a rating for each new drug is determined using the New Drug Comparison Rating (NDCR) system developed by the author. In the NDCR system, a rating from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest rating) is assigned for each new drug.

Aqueous and vitreous penetration of linezolid and levofloxacin after oral administration.

Purpose: To evaluate the time course of drug concentrations achieved in aqueous (AQ), vitreous (V), and serum (S) compartments after oral administration of linezolid and levofloxacin.

Design: Randomized, clinical trial.

Settings: Clinical practice.

Measuring economies of scale at the city market level.

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) techniques have been applied to the assessing efficiency and productivity among individual hospitals. In this article, we employ DEA to address whether economies of scale exist among hospital markets by first assessing individual hospitals operating in 2005 in the State of Florida and then by comparing hospital markets' efficiency relative to each other. The interest in hospital markets stems from issues relating to mergers among hospitals or the reallocation of services (inputs) among hospitals in a market area, particularly as occupancy rates and reimbursements are tending to fall.

Fear conditioning fragments REM sleep in stress-sensitive Wistar-Kyoto, but not Wistar, rats.

Pavlovian conditioning is commonly used to investigate the mechanisms of fear learning. Because the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat strain is particularly stress-sensitive, we investigated the effects of a psychological stressor on sleep in WKY compared to Wistar (WIS) rats. Male WKY and WIS rats were either fear-conditioned to tone cues or received electric foot shocks alone.

Laserspray ionization using an atmospheric solids analysis probe for sample introduction.

A newly introduced high sensitivity laserspray (LSI) mass spectrometry (MS) method that uses laser ablation of a matrix/analyte mixture at atmospheric pressure (AP) to obtain multiply charged ions from nonvolatile as well as high-mass compounds is now implemented using a simple probe device. The probe used in the LSI approach was originally designed for sample introduction into an AP ionization source using the atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) method. Multiply charged mass spectra of peptides and proteins in 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid matrix were readily obtained on two mass spectrometers from different manufacturers with sample introduction using melting point tubes.

Rehabilitation of reaching poststroke: a randomized pilot investigation of tactile versus auditory feedback for trunk control.

Background And Purpose: For individuals poststroke, reaching with the paretic limb is often associated with compensatory trunk movement due to limited active arm movement. We conducted a pilot feasibility study to compare the effects of task-related training on reaching with the paretic limb using each of 2 different techniques for providing feedback about trunk position. We hypothesized that the use of an auditory feedback signal in response to pressure (Sensor group) would be more effective than feedback arising from an external device used to restrain the trunk (Stabilizer group).

Differential patterns of alcohol consumption and dopamine-2 receptor binding in Wistar-Kyoto and Wistar rats.

The Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat strain has been described as an animal model of depressive behavior that consumes significantly greater amounts of alcohol compared to the Wistar (WIS) rat strain. Since the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) type-2 (D2) receptors mediate reward-related behaviors, the present study measured the binding of [(125)I]-Iodosulpiride to D2 receptors in the brains of WKY versus WIS rats following 24 days of voluntary alcohol or water consumption. Alcohol consuming WKY rats showed a significant increase in D2 receptor binding in several regions of the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal systems.

Comparison analysis of primary ligand-binding sites in seven-helix membrane proteins.

Seven-helix transmembrane proteins, including the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), mediate a broad range of fundamental cellular activities through binding to a wide range of ligands. Understanding the structural basis for the ligand-binding selectivity of these proteins is of significance to their structure-based drug design. Comparison analysis of proteins' ligand-binding sites provides a useful way to study their structure-activity relationships.

Effects of anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab on androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.

Aim: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a novel molecular target for anticancer therapy. This study examined the effects of anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab on two human androgen-independent prostate carcinoma cell lines, Du145 and PC-3.

Materials And Methods: Cell proliferation was monitored with a trypan blue viability assay.

Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation in rats imprints long-term reduction in hepatic lipid content selectively in the male offspring.

Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation reduces whole body lipid stores and alters lipid homeostasis in the adult offspring. Lipid homeostasis in the body is regulated, in part, by the liver via the metabolic processes of synthesis and utilization of lipids. The present study tested the hypothesis that maternal protein restriction will imprint changes in hepatic lipid metabolism and thereby alter the hepatic lipid content of the adult offspring.

Laserspray ionization on a commercial atmospheric pressure-MALDI mass spectrometer ion source: selecting singly or multiply charged ions.

Multiply charged ions, similar to those obtained with electrospray ionization, are produced at atmospheric pressure (AP) using standard MALDI conditions of laser fluence and reflective geometry. Further, the charge state can be switched to singly charged ions nearly instantaneously by changing the voltage applied to the MALDI target plate. Under normal AP-MALDI operating conditions in which a voltage is applied to the target plate, primarily singly charged ions are observed, but at or near zero volts, highly charged ions are observed for peptides and proteins.

N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptors are altered by stress and alcohol in Wistar-Kyoto rat brain.

Previous studies have shown that the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat strain is more sensitive to stressors and consumes significant quantities of alcohol under basal as well as stressful conditions when compared to other strains. Given that the glutamate neurotransmitter system has been implicated in depression and addiction, the goals of the present study were to investigate the effects of stress and stress-alcohol interactions on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the rat brain. Thus this study measured the binding of [(3)H] MK-801 to NMDA receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), caudate putamen (CPu), nucleus accumbens (NAc), hippocampus (HIP) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) in WKY rats in comparison to the Wistar (WIS) rat strain.

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics of tetrameric transmembrane peptide bundles within a lipid bilayer.

The conformations of model transmembrane peptides are studied to understand the structural and dynamical aspects of tetrameric bundles using a series of coarse grain (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations since membrane proteins play a crucial role in cell function. In this work, two different amphipathic models have been constructed using similar hydrophobic/hydrophilic characteristics with two structurally distinct morphologies to evaluate the effect of roughness and hydrophilic topology on the structure of tetrameric bundles, one class that forms an ion-channel and one class that does not. Free energy calculations of typical amphipathic peptide topologies show that using a relatively smooth surface morphology allows for a stable conformation of the tetramer bundle in a diamond formation.

Lobe transport analysis of the Kelvin-Stuart cat's eyes driven flow.

Mixing and transport in the driven Kelvin-Stuart cat's eyes dynamical system is studied using lobe transport theory and the topological approximation method (TAM). The application of the TAM also provides a global bifurcation analysis. Lobe areas are calculated using the Melnikov amplitude function, which has been derived for the Kelvin-Stuart system.

Factors associated with inappropriate inpatient prescribing of acid-suppressive therapy.

Objectives: Acid-suppressive therapy is used for 54-70% of inpatients, and is frequently prescribed for inappropriate indications. The objective of this study was to identify characteristics associated with inappropriate prescribing of acid-suppressive therapy.

Methods: A random sample of adult internal medicine inpatients admitted between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006 was screened for acid-suppressive therapy.

Figuring out sex in a reconfigured body: experiences of female colorectal cancer survivors with ostomies.

Colorectal cancer survivors with ostomies can face complex concerns regarding sexuality. We used an anthropological perspective to examine the experiences of 30 female colorectal cancer survivors with ostomies to shed light on the sexual challenges and adaptations made in the wake of cancer surgery and treatment. Participants fell into four categories with regard to their sexual experience post surgery; however, not all women found their altered sexuality to be particularly problematic.

Golimumab: a tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To review the pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, efficacy, and safety data of golimumab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) monoclonal antibody.

Data Sources: A search of MEDLINE (1950-September 2009) was performed to identify any published clinical trials or review articles pertaining to golimumab. Key search terms included golimumab, rheumatoid arthritis, CNTO 148, and anti-TNF-alpha inhibitors.

Implementation and evaluation of vancomycin nomogram guidelines in a computerized prescriber-order-entry system.

Purpose: The implementation and evaluation of vancomycin nomogram guidelines in a computerized prescriber-order-entry (CPOE) system are described.

Methods: Initial vancomycin orders for patients over age 18 years who received vancomycin between August 1 and September 30, 2006 (preimplementation), and between March 1 and April 30, 2007 (postimplementation), were compared with vancomycin nomogram recommendations to determine if the vancomycin regimen ordered coincided with the nomogram recommendation. The numbers of regimen changes and vancomycin serum concentrations measured during the first five days of therapy were also assessed.

Interaction between clopidogrel and proton-pump inhibitors.

The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend initiating a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding if patients are receiving concomitant therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin. Recently, concern has been raised regarding the ability of PPIs to decrease the antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel. To date, there are 16 studies that evaluated the outcomes of using clopidogrel with a PPI.

New drugs 09, part 2.

In this article, you'll learn about six new drugs, including: * clevidipine, an I.V. antihypertensive for use when oral medication isn't feasible * romiplostim and eltrombopag olamine, new agents for chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura * C1 inhibitor (human) for hereditary angioedema.

New drugs 09, part 1.

In this article, you'll learn about 10 new drugs, including: * nebivolol HCl, the newest beta-adrenergic blocking agent for hypertension * methylnaltrexone bromide, a subcutaneous injection for opioid-induced constipation * alvimopan, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist to combat postoperative ileus.Unless otherwise specified, the information in the following summaries applies to adults, not children. Consult the product insert for information about each drug's safety during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Anthelmintic screening of Sub-Saharan African plants used in traditional medicine.

Aim Of Study: This study screened for anthelmintic activity of plant species traditionally used in the treatment of intestinal parasites and their symptoms in Sub-Saharan Africa in an effort to confirm their local use and aid in the search for new compounds since resistance is a growing concern.

Materials And Methods: Aqueous and organic extracts of 33 plant parts from 17 plant species traditionally used in the treatment of intestinal infections in Sub-Saharan Africa were evaluated for their anthelmintic activity. This activity was assessed using a standard motility assay against a levamisole resistant strain of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.