Solvation and aggregation of n,n'-dialkylimidazolium ionic liquids: a multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation study.

The solvation and aggregation of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl) in water and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were examined by analysis of (1)H and (35/37)Cl chemical shift perturbations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Evidence of aggregation of the IL n-butyl chains in aqueous environments at IL concentrations of 75-80 wt% was observed both in the NMR experiments and in the MD simulations. The studies also show that [C4mim]Cl behaves as a typical electrolyte in water, with both ions completely solvated at low concentrations.

Ferenczi's collaboration with rank: on paradigm shift and the origins of complementarity in psychoanalysis.

The publication in 1923 of Sigmund Freud's The Ego and the Id is generally recognized as a watershed event in the history of psychoanalysis. The following year Ferenczi and Rank jointly published a book on psychoanalytic technique, The Development of Psychoanalysis (Ger: Entwicklungsziele der Psychoanalyse), concurrently with the independent publication of Ferenczi's Thalassa: A Theory of Genitality (Ger: Versuch einer Genitaltheorie) and Rank's The Trauma of Birth, the latter of which sparked a storm of controversy within the psychoanalytic community. The ensuing debate over technical and theoretical issues raised in these works signaled the emergence of two rival paradigms (following the model described by Thomas Kuhn) in psychoanalytic technique, the one based on ego psychology and drive-dynamics, the other on preoedipal ego development and object relations, which, when viewed from a present-day vantage point, may be considered complementary.

Conserved network properties of helical membrane protein structures and its implication for improving membrane protein homology modeling at the twilight zone.

Homology modeling techniques remain an important tool for membrane protein studies and membrane protein-targeted drug development. Due to the paucity of available structure data, an imminent challenge in this field is to develop novel computational methods to help improve the quality of the homology models constructed using template proteins with low sequence identity. In this work, we attempted to address this challenge using the network approach developed in our group.

Disparity between prostate tumor interior versus peripheral vasculature in response to verteporfin-mediated vascular-targeting therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light-based cancer treatment modality. Here we employed both in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging to visualize vascular response and tumor cell survival after verteporfin-mediated PDT designed to target tumor vasculature. EGFP-MatLyLu prostate tumor cells, transduced with EGFP using lentivirus vectors, were implanted in athymic nude mice.

Aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin: is the combination appropriate and effective or inappropriate and too dangerous?

Objective: To review the rationale, clinical practice guideline recommendations, and clinical trial data describing bleeding and clinical outcomes associated with the use of the combination of aspirin, a thienopyridine, and warfarin.

Data Sources: An English-language literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1966-March 2008) and the search terms aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, thienopyridine, warfarin, antiplatelet, anticoagulant, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Additional references were identified by reviewing reference citations of articles retrieved.

New drug update: 2007.

A unique rating system compares five new drugs with existing therapies and evaluates the uses and most important properties of each new agent. Advantages, disadvantages, and other important information regarding the new drug are considered and identified, including their use in the elderly.

Intravital microscopic analysis of vascular perfusion and macromolecule extravasation after photodynamic vascular targeting therapy.

Purpose: Photodynamic therapy (PDT), involving the combination of a photosensitizer and light, is being evaluated as a vascular disrupting therapy and drug delivery enhancement modality based on its effects on vascular perfusion and barrier function. Since tumor vasculature is the common route for the delivery of both blood and therapeutic agents, it is important to compare the effects of PDT on blood perfusion and substance transport.

Materials And Methods: Tumor blood cell velocity and the extravasation of high molecular weight dextran molecules were continuously monitored by intravital fluorescence microscopy for up to 60 min after PDT using three doses of verteporfin in the MatLyLu prostate tumor model.

Contribution of reactive oxygen species to para-aminophenol toxicity in LLC-PK1 cells.

para-aminophenol (PAP) causes nephrotoxicity by biochemical mechanisms that have not been fully elucidated. PAP can undergo enzymatic or non-enzymatic oxidation to form reactive intermediates. Using modulators of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the role of ROS in PAP toxicity in LLC-PK(1) cells was investigated.

Effect of gender, dose, and time on 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-thiazolidinedione (DCPT)-induced hepatotoxicity in Fischer 344 rats.

1. The thiazolidinedione ring present in drugs available for type II diabetes can contribute to hepatic injury. Another thiazolidinedione ring-containing compound, 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-thiazoli-dinedione (DCPT), produces liver damage in rats.

Strategies to maximize the encapsulation efficiency of phenylalanine ammonia lyase in microcapsules.

The activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) encapsulated in cellulose nitrate microcapsules is only 23% of the activity of PAL in Tris buffer. This lower activity is partially due to its incomplete encapsulation. The objective of the study was to maximize the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of PAL by optimizing different formulation parameters.

Enhancing an advanced community pharmacy practice experience through use of a student pharmacist manual.

Objective: To present a model to preceptors in a community setting for a structured and quality advanced community pharmacy practice experience (ACPPE).

Design: Experiential report.

Setting: Chain pharmacy.

Current implications for the managed care of dementia.

Medicare Part D changes are becoming an increasingly complex issue, presenting a challenge to many physicians treating dementia patients. A 2006 American Medical Directors Association survey found that 70% of its members reported difficulty with the Medicare prescription drug plan, with 28% of all physicians having difficulty in accessing dementia medications. Concerns about medication access are worrisome, particularly in light of data demonstrating their positive effects on behavioral symptoms, which may result in reduced use of psychotropic medications.

Polypharmacy in elderly patients.

Background: Polypharmacy (ie, the use of multiple medications and/or the administration of more medications than are clinically indicated, representing unnecessary drug use) is common among the elderly.

Objective: The goal of this research was to provide a description of observational studies examining the epidemiology of polypharmacy and to review randomized controlled studies that have been published in the past 2 decades designed to reduce polypharmacy in older adults.

Methods: Materials for this review were gathered from a search of the MEDLINE database (1986-June 2007) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1986-June 2007) to identify articles in people aged >65 years.

Computational Study of the Small Zr(IV) Polynuclear Species.

Despite widespread zirconium use ranging from nuclear technology to antiperspirants, important aspects of its solvation chemistry, such as the nature of small zirconium(IV) hydroxy cluster ions in aqueous solution, are not known due to the complexity of the zirconium aqueous chemistry. Using a combination of Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations and conventional quantum mechanical calculations, we have determined the structural characteristics and analyzed the aqueous solution dynamics of the two smallest zirconium(IV) cluster species possible, i.e.

Effect of arginine hydrochloride and hydroxypropyl cellulose as stabilizers on the physical stability of high drug loading nanosuspensions of a poorly soluble compound.

The objective of the present study is to formulate Naproxen nanosuspensions at high drug concentrations of up to 300 mg/ml using ball milling and is to investigate the additive effect between hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and arginine hydrochloride as stabilizers. The nanosuspensions were obtained at different arginine hydrochloride/polymer weight ratios. Stability of Naproxen suspensions at 100 and 300 mg/ml was determined over a period of 14 days by measuring the particle size.

Computational study of the Zr4+ tetranuclear polymer, [Zr4(OH)8(H2O)16]8+.

The Zr(4+) tetramer, [Zr(4)(OH)(8)(H(2)O)(16)](8+), is thought to be the major component of the Zr(4+) polymer system in aqueous solution, present as a dominant ionic cluster species compared to other Zr(4+) clusters under various experimental conditions. Despite widespread applications of zirconium, the structure and dynamics of the tetramer in aqueous solution are not well understood. We conducted a combination of ab initio molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical studies in the gas phase and aqueous solution and related our results to the available experimental data to provide atom-level information on the behavior of this species in aqueous solution.

Physical characterization of thin semi-porous poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) membranes for tissue engineering.

This study examines physical properties of solvent-cast poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA): poly(ethylene glycol) PEG membranes as a function of PEG molecular weight (MW) and incubation in vitro for 6 weeks. PEGs of MW 400, 1450 and 8000 were used. The morphological, thermal, mechanical and permeability properties of the membranes were studied prior to and after 3 and 6 weeks of incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37 degrees C.

Hydrogen bonds in ionic liquids revisited: (35/37)Cl NMR studies of deuterium isotope effects in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

Detailed knowledge of the structure, dynamics, and interionic interactions of ionic liquids (ILs) is critical to understand their physicochemical properties. In this letter, we show that deuterium isotope effects on the chloride ion 35/37Cl NMR signal represent a useful tool in the study of interionic hydrogen bonds in imidazolium chloride ILs. Sizable Delta35/37Cl(H,D) values obtained for the model system 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl) upon deuteriation of the imidazolium C-2 and C-2,4,5 positions, of nearly 1 and 2 ppm, respectively, show that the approach can readily identify and differentiate Cl.

Stressed polystyrene causes increased membrane sensitivity of adherent cells to fluid shear force: technical note.

Adherent cells transduce signals from the extracellular matrix, which result in changes to various cell functions, including cell spreading and morphology. However, changes to mechanical properties of cell membranes due to adherence to a substratum have not been studied. Adherent Nara Bladder Tumour (NBT) II cells on polystyrene (PS) discs made from pure, atactic polystyrene react differently between the peripheral 1mm zone and centre of the disc.

A bingo game motivates students to interact with course material.

Objectives: To create a bingo game that would increase student interaction with course material and provide students with options for demonstrating learning and earning extra credit.

Design: A bingo game was created in which each of the 25 squares contained an activity (eg, video, crossword puzzle, poem, quiz) that encouraged interaction with course material and appealed to multiple learning styles. Students who achieved bingo earned a 5-point (5%) grade bonus.

Drug-polymer interaction and its significance on the physical stability of nifedipine amorphous dispersion in microparticles of an ammonio methacrylate copolymer and ethylcellulose binary blend.

Using spectroscopic and thermal analysis, this study investigated drug-polymer interaction and its significance on the physical stability of drug amorphous dispersion in microparticles of an ammonio polymethacrylate copolymer (Eudragit RL) (RL) and ethylcellulose (EC) binary blend (RL/EC = 2:1 w/w) prepared for use in controlled release of poorly water-soluble drugs. Solid dispersion of the model drug, nifedipine in the microparticles could be described as an ideal amorphous mixture for drug loadings up to 11% w/w. The antiplasticizing effect of the polymer blend was indicated by a significant increase in the glass transition point from approximately 50 degrees C for the amorphous nifedipine to approximately 115 degrees C for its solid solution.

Lack of an effect of oral iron administration on mycophenolic acid pharmacokinetics in stable renal transplant recipients.

Study Objectives: To determine if coadministration of polysaccharide iron complex and slow-release ferrous sulfate alter the absorption of mycophenolic acid (MPA), and to examine the potential influence of dosing relative to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) administration and the effect of immediate- versus sustained-release iron products on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of MPA.

Design: Prospective, open-label, three-phase, crossover, steady-state pharmacokinetic study.

Setting: National Institutes of Health-sponsored General Clinical Research Center at a university medical center.