Elucidation of thrifty features in adult rats exposed to protein restriction during gestation and lactation.

Since the introduction of the thrifty phenotype hypothesis, the potential traits of thrift have been described in increasingly broad terms but biochemical and behavioral evidence of thrift has not been well demonstrated. The objective of our studies was to use a rodent model to identify features of thrift programmed by early life protein restriction. Robust programming of thrifty features requires a thrifty nutritional environment during the entire window of developmental plasticity.

Social partnering significantly reduced rapid eye movement sleep fragmentation in fear-conditioned, stress-sensitive Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Negative emotionality affects sleep-wake behavior in humans and rodents, and the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat strain is known for its stress-sensitive phenotype. Analyzing rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) microarchitecture by separating REMS into single (siREMS; inter-REM episode interval>3 min) and sequential (seqREMS; interval≤3 min) episodes, we previously reported that cued fear conditioning (CFC) increased REMS fragmentation in WKY compared to Wistar rats by increasing the number of seqREMS episodes. Since social support affects fear responsiveness in humans, we hypothesized that social interaction with a naive partner would affect the sleep-wake response to CFC in WKY rats.

Interplay of formulation and process methodology on the extent of nifedipine molecular dispersion in polymers.

The aim of this study is to evaluate effects of formulation and process technology on drug molecular dispersibility in solid dispersions (SDs). Nifedipine solid dispersions with ethylcellulose (EC) and/or Eudragit RL (RL) prepared by co-precipitation, co-evaporation, and fusion methods were characterized with FTIR, DSC, and XRPD for the content of nifedipine as molecular dispersion, amorphous and/or crystalline suspensions. A method was developed based on regular solution and Flory-Huggins theories to calculate drug-polymer interaction parameter in solid dispersion systems.

The impact of shelter use and housing placement on mortality hazard for unaccompanied adults and adults in family households entering New York City shelters: 1990-2002.

This study examines mortality among New York City (NYC) homeless shelter users, assessing the relationships between mortality hazard and time in shelter, patterns of homelessness, and subsequent housing exits for both adults in families and single adults. Administrative records from the NYC shelter system were matched with death records from the Social Security Administration for 160,525 persons. Crude mortality rates and life tables were calculated, and survival analyses were undertaken using these data.

Anidulafungin: when and how? The clinician's view.

Anidulafungin is the newest addition to the antifungal arsenal. It possesses fungicidal activity against Candida spp., including isolates that are azole and polyene resistant.

Cycling with functional electrical stimulation in an adult with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Background And Purpose: Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk for decreased mobility and health complications, and exercise may combat some of these negative changes. Because people with CP have difficulty generating sufficient muscle force, exercise augmented with functional electrical stimulation (FES) is an option for increasing exercise intensity. This mixed-method (quantitative-qualitative) case report describes the effects-across the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model-of cycling with FES (FES cycling) in an adult with CP.

Mechanical ventilation: introduction for the pharmacy practitioner.

Mechanical ventilation is a common therapeutic modality required for the management of patients unable to maintain adequate intrinsic ventilation and oxygenation. Mechanical ventilators can be found within various hospital and nonhospital environments (ie, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and patient's home residence), but these devices generally require the skill of a multidisciplinary health care team to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Unfortunately, pharmacists have been excluded in the discussion of mechanical ventilation since this therapeutic modality may be perceived as irrelevant to drug utilization and the usual scope of practice of a hospital pharmacist.

Multitemperature stability and degradation characteristics of pergolide mesylate oral liquid.

The stability of pergolide mesylate in an oral aqueous liquid was studied. Stability and solubility data were used to determine the degradation characteristics of the drug in this formulation. Samples were stored in the dark at 35°C, 45°C, and 60°C.

Syntheses and pharmacological evaluations of novel N-substituted bicyclo-heptane-2-amines at N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Several novel norcamphor (bicycloheptane)-based compounds were designed and synthesized as non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists at the phencyclidine binding sites. The heterocyclic ring was also varied to examine piperidine, pyrrolidine, and morpholine groups. We examined pharmacological activities of these compounds in vitro (binding studies) and in vivo (maximal electroshock test).

An ab initio molecular orbital study of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in ortho-substituted arylamides: implications for the parameterization of molecular mechanics force fields.

The aromatic oligoamide (arylamide) foldamer class, characterized by the repetitive aromatic-amide pattern, is one of the most intensively studied foldamer families. In this article, the potential energy profiles with regard to torsional motions around the two types of aromatic-amide bonds (C(a)-C(p) and C(a)-N) are obtained at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The effect of ortho substituents with different hydrogen bonding abilities (OCH(3) vs.

Effect of structural modifications on 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-thiazolidinedione-induced hepatotoxicity in Fischer 344 rats.

Glitazones, used for type II diabetes, have been associated with liver damage in humans. A structural feature known as a 2,4-thiazolidinedione (TZD) ring may contribute to this toxicity. TZD rings are of interest since continued human exposure via the glitazones and various prototype drugs is possible.

Prediction of solubility parameters and miscibility of pharmaceutical compounds by molecular dynamics simulations.

The objectives of this study were (i) to develop a computational model based on molecular dynamics technique to predict the miscibility of indomethacin in carriers (polyethylene oxide, glucose, and sucrose) and (ii) to experimentally verify the in silico predictions by characterizing the drug-carrier mixtures using thermoanalytical techniques. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed using the COMPASS force field, and the cohesive energy density and the solubility parameters were determined for the model compounds. The magnitude of difference in the solubility parameters of drug and carrier is indicative of their miscibility.

Quantitative Assessment of Force Fields on Both Low-Energy Conformational Basins and Transition-State Regions of the (ϕ-ψ) Space.

The free energy surfaces (FESs) of alanine dipeptide are studied to illustrate a new strategy to assess the performance of classical molecular mechanics force field on the full range of the (ϕ-ψ) conformational space. The FES is obtained from metadynamics simulations with five commonly used force fields and from ab initio density functional theory calculations in both gas phase and aqueous solution. The FESs obtained at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory are validated by comparison with previously reported MP2 and LMP2 results as well as with experimentally obtained probability distribution between the C5-β (or β-PPII) and αR states.

Novel poly-DL-lactide-polycaprolactone copolymer based flexible drug delivery system for sustained release of ciprofloxacin.

This research evaluated 7525DLPCL for soft flexible drug delivery systems. The effect of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) loading at three levels (10, 20, and 30%), on thermo-mechanical properties was studied. CIP release was monitored for 12 weeks.

Factors that influence the clinical decision making of novice and experienced physical therapists.

Background: The depth and breadth of prior experience informs clinical decision making in novice and experienced physical therapist clinicians.

Objectives: The aims of this research were to identify differences in clinical decision-making abilities and processes between novice and experienced physical therapist clinicians and to develop a model of the factors that influence clinical decision making.

Design: Qualitative research methods and grounded theory were used to gain insight into the factors and experiences that inform clinical decision making.

Integration of information and scientific literacy: promoting literacy in undergraduates.

The Association of College and Research Libraries recommends incorporating information literacy (IL) skills across university and college curricula, for the goal of developing information literate graduates. Congruent with this goal, the Departments of Biological Sciences and Information Science developed an integrated IL and scientific literacy (SL) exercise for use in a first-year biology course. Students were provided the opportunity to access, retrieve, analyze, and evaluate primary scientific literature.