Induction of labor with vaginal prostaglandin E2

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of labor induction with vaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on mode of delivery in post-term pregnancies and to identify possible predictors of successful vaginal delivery.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 211 women with post-term pregnancy (gestational age more than a full 41 weeks) admitted for induction of labor with vaginal applications of PGE2. Findings were compared with women with spontaneous onset of labor (group 2, n = 510). Women with previous Cesarean section were excluded from both study and control groups.

RESULTS

The rate of Cesarean section was significantly higher in the study group (19.4%) than in the control group (9%). A logistic regression model was used to control for maternal and gestational age, gravidity, parity, nulliparity rate, number of used PGE2 tablets, oligohydramnios and delivery weight as possible predictors of Cesarean section (R2 = 0.56, p < 0.001). On stepwise analysis, nulliparity (OR 45.2, 95% CI 2.93-695.5), number of PGE2 applications (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.04-7.52) and maternal age (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01-1.50) were independently and significantly associated with increased risk of Cesarean section. PGE2 induction was a significant independent predictor of Cesarean section (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-3.9).

CONCLUSION

PGE2 induction of labor was successful in approximately 80% of patients with post-term pregnancy, with apparently no serious maternal or fetal complications. Risk factors intrinsic to the patient, and labor induction itself, were the reasons for excess Cesarean deliveries in women with prolonged pregnancies.

A modified Kolsky bar system for testing ultrasoft materials under intermediate strain rates

A 25 mm aluminum Kolsky bar is modified to test ultrasoft materials under intermediate strain rates (10-100 s(-1)). In this modified system, an ultralong loading pulse (5-50 ms) is generated using an 800 mm steel striker in combination with a pulse shaper made of 2.5 mm thick soft rubber. For such long loading pulses, the traditional data reduction scheme based on strain gauge measurements is not possible. We use a laser gap gauge to measure the deformation of the sample directly and monitor the low amplitude dynamic loading stresses on the sample with a pair of piezoelectric transducers that are embedded in the bars. A commercial foam rubber is tested to demonstrate the feasibility of our modified Kolsky bar system.

Pharmacokinetics and linear exposure of AFRESA compared with the subcutaneous injection of regular human insulin

AIM

AFRESA [Technosphere Insulin (TI); MannKind Corporation, Valencia, CA], a dry powder preparation of regular human insulin (RHI), utilizes a novel and versatile drug carrier platform that enables pulmonary administration of medications typically administered by injection. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters of three different inhaled doses of TI with those of subcutaneous (s.c.) RHI.

METHODS

This randomized, open-label, four-way crossover study of 11 healthy, non-smoking volunteers evaluated PK and PD profiles following single inhalations of 25, 50 or 100 U TI and 10 IU RHI administered subcutaneously using a euglycaemic clamp technique.

RESULTS

Following inhalation of TI, peak insulin concentrations (C(max)) were achieved approximately 2 h earlier than with RHI (12-17 min for TI vs. 134 min for RHI). Area under the insulin concentration-time curve (AUC) and insulin C(max) values increased with increasing TI dose. Insulin exposure, as measured by AUC, was found to be linear over the dose range studied. Compared with s.c. RHI, TI at doses of 25, 50 and 100 U showed a relative bioavailability of 25, 23 and 21%, respectively. The maximum bioeffect, as measured by the glucose infusion rate, occurred approximately 2 h earlier for all three TI doses (42, 50 and 58 min, respectively) than for s.c. RHI (171 min). No treatment-related adverse events were reported with TI.

CONCLUSION

TI is an inhaled insulin with a more rapid absorption and a more rapid elimination than subcutaneously administered RHI, resulting in a quick onset and short duration of action. Insulin exposure following TI administration was found to be linear over the dose range of 25-100 U.

Saxagliptin given in combination with metformin as initial therapy improves glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with either monotherapy: a randomized controlled trial

AIM

The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of initial combination therapy with saxagliptin + metformin vs. saxagliptin or metformin monotherapy in treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and inadequate glycaemic control.

METHODS

In this multicentre, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled phase 3 trial, 1306 treatment-naïve patients with T2D >or=18 to <or=77 years, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) >or=8 to <or=12%, fasting C-peptide concentration >or=1.0 ng/ml, body mass index <or=40 kg/m(2) were randomized to receive saxagliptin 5 mg + metformin 500 mg, saxagliptin 10 mg + metformin 500 mg, saxagliptin 10 mg + placebo or metformin 500 mg + placebo for 24 weeks. From weeks 1-5, metformin was uptitrated in 500-mg/day increments to 2000 mg/day maximum in the saxagliptin 5 mg + metformin, saxagliptin 10 mg + metformin and metformin + placebo treatment groups. The main outcome measure was HbA1c change from baseline to week 24. Selected secondary outcomes included change from baseline to week 24 in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7% and postprandial glucose area under the curve (PPG-AUC).

RESULTS

At 24 weeks, saxagliptin 5 mg + metformin and saxagliptin 10 mg + metformin demonstrated statistically significant adjusted mean decreases vs. saxagliptin 10 mg and metformin monotherapies in HbA1c (-2.5 and -2.5% vs. -1.7 and -2.0%, all p < 0.0001 vs. monotherapy) and FPG (-60 and -62 mg/dl vs. -31 and -47 mg/dl, both p < 0.0001 vs. saxagliptin 10 mg; p = 0.0002 saxagliptin 5 mg + metformin vs. metformin; p < 0.0001 saxagliptin 10 mg + metformin vs. metformin). Proportion of patients achieving an HbA1c <7% was 60.3 and 59.7%, respectively, for saxagliptin 5 mg + metformin and saxagliptin 10 mg + metformin (all p < 0.0001 vs. monotherapy). PPG-AUC was significantly reduced [-21,080 mg x min/dl (saxagliptin 5 mg + metformin) and -21,336 mg x min/dl (saxagliptin 10 mg + metformin) vs. -16,054 mg x min/dl (saxagliptin 10 mg) and -15,005 mg x min/dl (metformin), all p < 0.0001 vs. monotherapy]. Adverse event occurrence was similar across all groups. Hypoglycaemic events were infrequent.

CONCLUSION

Saxagliptin + metformin as initial therapy led to statistically significant improvements compared with either treatment alone across key glycaemic parameters with a tolerability profile similar to the monotherapy components.

Changes in the characteristics of clients admitted to an Australian therapeutic community, “The Buttery”, 1980-92

Data are presented on the characteristics of clients admitted to an Australian therapeutic community, The Buttery, between 1980 and 1992. The typical client was a 28-year-old male with a primary opioid drug problem complicated by polydrug use, particularly of alcohol and stimulants. Prior treatment experience was common, with one in three having been enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment. The average age of clients increased by about 7 months per year, and there was an increase in the prevalence of alcohol, stimulant and polydrug problems over the period of study. There was also an increase in the exposure of clients to methadone maintenance treatment prior to admission to the Buttery. Overall, the characteristics of patients in this drug-free treatment programme were strikingly similar to those observed among patients in methadone maintenance treatment over the same period.

Outcomes for the elderly (≥70 years) from a three-arm phase III trial of gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin (GC) or paclitaxel (GP) versus paclitaxel plus carboplatin (PC) for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

8052

Background: Approximately 50% of lung cancer patients (pts) are ≥ 70 y, however, this population has been historically underrepresented in clinical trials. Even among pts ≥ 70 y, doublet chemotherapy has been shown to be superior to single-agent therapy (Lilenbaum JCO 2005, Sederholm JCO, 2005), and the efficacy and safety of platinum-based chemotherapy doublets in NSCLC pts ≥ 70 years with good PS have been reported to be similar to those in younger pts (Fossella, ASCO 2003, #2528, Kelly, ASCO 2001, A-1313). The current analysis examined whether any differences were present by age in a three arm trial of GC or GP versus a standard regimen of PC. Methods: 1135 chemonaïve pts with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were randomized to receive: G 1000 mg/m2 d 1,8 plus C AUC 5.5 d 1; or G 1000 mg/m2 d 1,8 plus P 200 mg/m2 d 1; or P 225 mg/m2 plus C AUC 6.0 d 1. Stratification was based on stage, baseline weight loss, and brain metastases. Cycles were repeated every 21 days up to 6 cycles or disease progression. Clinical results were retrospectively analyzed in by patient age. Results: See Table . Conclusions: In this trial of commonly used regimens for advanced NSCLC, pts 70–74 years of age had significantly longer survival than pts 75–79 years of age. Pts 80+ years of age also had lower survival than the 70–74 year age group, but this difference was not statistically significant. No pts 80+ years of age had brain metastases at study entry. There was no clear pattern with respect to the effectiveness of individual treatment regimens by age group.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Incidence and outcomes associated with brain metastases (BM) in a three-arm phase III trial of gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin (GC) or paclitaxel (GP) versus paclitaxel plus carboplatin (PC) for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

8076

Background: A limited number of randomized phase III studies of advanced or metastatic NSCLC have included a mixed population of patients (pts) with and without BM at presentation. Analyses of pts with lung cancer from the 1970s and 1980s indicated that the incidence of BM at the time of diagnosis was approximately 10%. Methods: 1135 chemonaïve pts with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were randomized to receive: G 1000 mg/m2 d 1, 8 plus C AUC 5.5 d 1; or G 1000 mg/m2 days 1 and 8 plus P 200 mg/m2 d 1; or P 225 mg/m2 plus C AUC 6.0 d 1. Stratification was based on stage, baseline weight loss, and presence or absence of BM. Cycles were repeated every 21 d up to 6 cycles or disease progression. Pts who developed BM as the only evidence of progression were able to be treated with whole brain radiation and steroids and remained on study. Results were retrospectively analyzed in by presence or absence of BM at study entry. Results: BM rates by subgroup were as follows (%): overall (17.1), nonsquamous (19.3), squamous (6.9), <70 y (21.3), ≥ 70 y (7.1), female (19.2), male (15.7), Caucasian (16.7), African American (18.8%), Hispanic (22.2), PS 0 (12.9), PS 1 (19.7), weight loss <5% (18.3), weight loss ≥ 5% (15.1), and stage IV (19.0). Among pts with (N=194) and without (N=941) BM, response rates=28.9% and 29.1%, median survival = 7.7 mos (95% CI: 6.7, 9.3) and 8.6 mos (95% CI: 7.9, 9.5), and median time to progression = 4.3 mos (95% CI: 3.4, 5.6) and 4.6 mos (95% CI: 4.2, 5.1), respectively. Rates of grade 3 or 4 adverse events were not different among pts with and without BM. Median survival among pts with BM was 7.6 mos for GC (N=66, 95% CI: 6.3, 10.1), 8.2 mos for GP (N=64, 95% CI: 4.6, 10.5), and 7.7 mos for PC (N=64, 95% CI: 6.1, 10.2). Conclusions: 1) The higher incidence of BM (17.1%) observed in this trial may be related to the increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma, or to the increasing sensitivity of imaging modalities. 2) There was no difference in response, time to progression or survival for pts with or w/o BM.

[Table: see text]

Flow cytometric immunobead assay for the detection of BCR-ABL fusion proteins in leukemia patients

BCR-ABL fusion proteins show increased signaling through their ABL tyrosine kinase domain, which can be blocked by specific inhibitors, thereby providing effective treatment. This makes detection of BCR-ABL aberrations of utmost importance for diagnosis, classification and treatment of leukemia patients. BCR-ABL aberrations are currently detected by karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or PCR techniques, which are time consuming and require specialized facilities. We developed a simple flow cytometric immunobead assay for detection of BCR-ABL fusion proteins in cell lysates, using a bead-bound anti-BCR catching antibody and a fluorochrome-conjugated anti-ABL detection antibody. We noticed protein stability problems in lysates caused by proteases from mature myeloid cells. This problem could largely be solved by adding protease inhibitors in several steps of the immunobead assay. Testing of 145 patient samples showed fully concordant results between the BCR-ABL immunobead assay and reverse transcriptase PCR of fusion gene transcripts. Dilution experiments with BCR-ABL positive cell lines revealed sensitivities of at least 1%. We conclude that the BCR-ABL immunobead assay detects all types of BCR-ABL proteins in leukemic cells with high specificity and sensitivity. The assay does not need specialized laboratory facilities other than a flow cytometer, provides results within approximately 4 h, and can be run in parallel to routine immunophenotyping.

Control of a neuroprosthesis for grasping using off-line classification of electrocorticographic signals: case study

STUDY DESIGN

Proof of concept study to control a neuroprosthesis for grasping using identification of arm movements from ECoG signals.

OBJECTIVE

To test the feasibility of using electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals as a control method for a neuroprosthesis for grasping.

SETTING

Acute care hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Lyndhurst Centre. Both hospitals are located in Toronto, Canada.

METHODS

Two subjects participated in this study. The first subject had subdural electrodes implanted on the motor cortex for the treatment of essential tremor (ET). ECoG signals were recorded while the subject performed specific arm movements. The second subject had a complete SCI at C6 level (ASIA B score) and was fitted with a neuroprosthesis, capable of identifying arm movements from ECoG signals off-line, for grasping. To operate the neuroprosthesis, subject 2 issued a command that would trigger the release of a randomly selected ECoG signal recorded from subject 1, associated with a particular arm movement. The neuroprosthesis identified which arm movement was performed at the time of recording and used that information to trigger the stimulation sequence. A correct ECoG classification resulted in the neuroprosthesis producing the correct hand function (that is grasp and release).

RESULTS

The neuroprosthesis classified ECoG signals correctly delivering the correct stimulation strategy with 94.5% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

The feasibility of using ECoG signals as a control strategy for a neuroprosthesis for grasping was shown.

Nonlinear spectral imaging of human hypertrophic scar based on two-photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation

BACKGROUND

A noninvasive method using microscopy and spectroscopy for analysing the morphology of collagen and elastin and their biochemical variations in skin tissue will enable better understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertrophic scars and facilitate improved clinical management and treatment of this disease.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain simultaneously microscopic images and spectra of collagen and elastin fibres in ex vivo skin tissues (normal skin and hypertrophic scar) using a nonlinear spectral imaging method, and to compare the morphological structure and spectral characteristics of collagen and elastin fibres in hypertrophic scar tissues with those of normal skin, to determine whether this approach has potential for in vivo assessment of the pathophysiology of human hypertrophic scars and for monitoring treatment responses as well as for tracking the process of development of hypertrophic scars in clinic.

METHODS

Ex vivo human skin specimens obtained from six patients aged from 10 to 50 years old who were undergoing skin plastic surgery were examined. Five patients had hypertrophic scar lesions and one patient had no scar lesion before we obtained his skin specimen. A total of 30 tissue section samples of 30 mum thickness were analysed by the use of a nonlinear spectral imaging system consisting of a femtosecond excitation light source, a high-throughput scanning inverted microscope, and a spectral imaging detection system. The high-contrast and high-resolution second harmonic generation (SHG) images of collagen and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) images of elastin fibres in hypertrophic scar tissues and normal skin were acquired using the extracting channel tool of the system. The emission spectra were analysed using the image-guided spectral analysis method. The depth-dependent decay constant of the SHG signal and the image texture characteristics of hypertrophic scar tissue and normal skin were used to quantitatively assess the amount, distribution and orientation of their collagen and elastin components.

RESULTS

Our experiments and data analyses demonstrated apparent differences between hypertrophic scar tissue and normal skin in terms of their morphological structure and the spectral characteristics of collagen and elastin fibres. These differences can potentially be used to distinguish hypertrophic scar tissues from normal skin and to evaluate treatment responses.

CONCLUSIONS

All the measurements were performed in backscattering geometry and demonstrated that nonlinear spectral imaging has the ability to differentiate hypertrophic scar tissue from normal skin based on noninvasive SHG imaging, and TPEF imaging revealed the microstructure and spectral features of collagen and elastin fibres. With the advances in spectral imaging apparatus miniaturization, we have good reason to believe that this approach can become a valuable tool for the in vivo pathophysiology study of human skin hypertrophic scars and for assessing the treatment responses of this disfiguring disease in clinic. It can also be used to track the development of hypertrophic scars and to study wound healing processes in a noninvasive fashion without biopsy, fixation, sectioning and the use of exogenous dyes or stains.

Is the relationship between syndromes of depression and dementia temporal? The MRC-ALPHA and Hefei-China studies

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown a temporal association between depressive symptoms and cognitive decline. However, the relationship between syndromes of depression and dementia is unknown.

METHOD

A total of 1736 people aged > or = 65 years in China and 5222 older people in the UK were interviewed using the Geriatric Mental State Examination (GMS) and reinterviewed at follow-up. Five levels of syndromes of depression and dementia were diagnosed using the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy (AGECAT).

RESULTS

Although there were fewer depressive syndromes in Chinese than British participants, both populations showed a similarly high level of syndromes of dementia (organic disorder) (20% for women, 14% for men). There was a significant cross-sectional correlation between syndrome levels of depression and dementia (correlation coefficients: 0.141-0.248 for Chinese, 0.168-0.248 for British). This was maintained for different age, gender and people with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD). The relationship between syndromes of baseline depression and follow-up dementia was less substantial: the correlation coefficient was 0.075 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.021-0.128] for the Chinese sample at the 1-year follow-up, and 0.093 (95% CI 0.061-0.125) for the British at the 2-year follow-up and 0.093 (95% CI 0.049-0.130) at the 4-year follow-up. This relationship disappeared in participants without baseline organic syndromes. In a multiple adjusted logistic regression analysis, an increased risk of organic syndromes seemed to be associated with baseline, mainly in the highest level of, depressive syndromes.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between syndromes of depression and dementia might be temporal. The lack of an obvious dose-response relationship between baseline depressive syndromes and follow-up dementia syndromes suggests that the causal relationship between depression and dementia needs further investigation.

Cost-benefit evaluation of a decentralized water system for wastewater reuse and environmental protection

This paper proposed a net benefit value (NBV) model for cost-benefit evaluation of wastewater treatment and reuse projects, and attention was mainly paid to decentralized systems which are drawing wide interests all over the world especially in the water-deficient countries and regions. In the NBV model, all the factors related to project costs are monetary ones which can be calculated by using traditional methods, while many of the factors related to project benefits are non-monetary ones which need sophisticated methods for monetization. In this regard, the authors elaborated several methods for monetization of the benefits from wastewater discharge reduction, local environment improvement, and human health protection. The proposed model and methods were applied for the cost-benefit evaluation of a decentralized water reclamation and reuse project in a newly developed residential area in Xi'an, China. The system with dual-pipe collection and grey water treatment and reuse was found to be economically ineligible (NBV > 0) when all the treated water is reused for artificial pond replenishment, gardening and other non-potable purposes by taking into account the benefit of water saving. As environmental benefits are further considered, the economic advantage of the project is more significant.

WAFER-SCALE, SOLID FREEFORM FABRICATION OF FULLY-ASSEMBLED METAL MICRO-MECHANISMS FOR MINIMALLY-INVASIVE MEDICAL DEVICES

The EFAB process was first presented at the SFF Symposium in 1998, at a very early stage of its development. Currently, the technology is able to produce complex 3-D devices-including mechanisms built pre-assembled-in production volumes, using a three-step process of selective electrodeposition of one metal, blanket electrodeposition of another metal, and planarization. Layer thickness is as small as 4 μm, minimum feature size is down to 10 μm, and linear tolerances are ~2 μm. Metals are biocompatible materials with mechanical properties similar to stainless steel. The technology enables new instruments for minimally-invasive surgical and interventional procedures.