Simplified formulations with high drug loads for continuous twin-screw granulation

As different batches of the same excipients will be intermixed during continuous processes, the traceability of batches is complicated. Simplified formulations may help to reduce problems related to batch intermixing and traceability. Twin-screw granulation with subsequent tableting was used to produce granules and tablets, containing drug, disintegrant and binder (binary and ternary mixtures), only. Drug loads up to 90% were achieved and five different disintegrants were screened for keeping their disintegration suitability after wetting. Granule size distributions were consistently mono-modal and narrow. Granule strength reached higher values, using ternary mixtures. Tablets containing croscarmellose-Na as disintegrant displayed tensile strengths up to 3.1MPa and disintegration times from 400 to 466s, resulting in the most robust disintegrant. Dissolution was overall complete and above 96% within 30 min. Na-starch glycolate offers tensile strengths up to 2.8MPa at disintegration times from 25s to 1031s, providing the broadest application window, as it corresponds in some parts to different definitions of orodispersible tablets. Tablets containing micronized crospovidone are not suitable for immediate release, but showed possibilities to produce highly drug loaded, prolonged release tablets. Tablets and granules from simplified formulations offer great opportunities to improve continuous processes, present performances comparable to more complicated formulations and are able to correspond to requirements of the authorities.

[Bony avulsion of the extensor carpi radialis longus tendon from the base of the second metacarpal: A rare injury]

We report on a 19-year-old male patient with a rare injury: a basis fracture of the second metacarpal with avulsion of the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) tendon. The patient was treated with open reduction and internal plate fixation of the fragment. The functional results after 10 months of follow-up were pronation/supination 90/0/90° (90/0/90°), extension/flexion 70/0/70° (70/0/70°) radial/ulnar duction 20/0/40° (25/0/40°), bilateral grip strength was 115 kPa. The patient suffered no pain at all. The Mayo wrist score reached 100 points. Radiologically, the fracture was consolidated.Consistent diagnostics and surgical therapy lead to functional and radiological recovery following fracture of the second metacarpal base with avulsion of the extensor carpi radialis longus tendon.

Reactivated Moraxella osteitis presenting as granulomatous disease

Granulomatous infections are commonly associated with mycobacteria, brucellosis, actinomycosis, nocardiosis, spirochetes, and fungi. Rarely, granuloma formation is a host response to other bacterial infection. Osteomyelitis and osteitis that reactivate many years after the primary episode is a known phenomenon. A reactivation that presents as a granulomatous disease is rare. We present a case of reactivated osteitis due to Moraxella osloensis with consecutive granuloma formation.

Analysing small insect glands with UV-LDI MS: high-resolution spatial analysis reveals the chemical composition and use of the osmeterium secretion in Themira superba (Sepsidae: Diptera)

For many insect species, pheromones are important communication tools, but chemical analysis and experimental study can be technically challenging because they require the detection and handling of complex chemicals in small quantities. One drawback of traditional mass spectrometry methods such as gas chromatography mass spectrometry is that whole-body extractions from one to several hundred individuals are required, with the consequence that intra- and interindividual differences cannot be detected. Here, we used the recently introduced UV-LDI MS (ultraviolet laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry) to profile the 'osmeterium' of the sepsid fly Themira superba that is located on the edge of the hind tibia of males. Based on analyses of individual legs, we established that the gland produced a secretion that consisted of oxygenated hydrocarbons and putative isoprenoids. The secretion was first detected 24 h after eclosion, and its transfer to the wings of females during mating was demonstrated using UV-LDI MS. We then tested whether the secretion had an anti-aphrodisiac function, but experimental transfer of the secretion to virgin females did not affect mating success or copulation duration. Throughout the study, UV-LDI MS proved invaluable, because it allowed tracking the natural and experimental transfer of small quantities of pheromones to specific body parts of small flies.

Implementation of hysteroscopy in an infertility clinic: The one-stop uterine diagnosis and treatment

Magnetic Resonant Imaging (MRI) has demonstrated that we can differentiate the uterus in 3 important functional areas. Exploration of the uterus in the infertile patient should implement the evaluation of the endometrium, the Junctional zone myometrium (JZ), the outer myometrium and the cervical canal. Especially the JZ myometrium should receive our close attention in the exploration and treatment of the infertile patient. MRI cannot be implemented as a screening examination but also limiting the imaging of the womb to a 2 or 3 D ultrasound exam only does not meet the scientific requirements of sensitivity and specificity. Modern ambulatory uterine diagnosis in a one-stop approach includes transvaginal ultrasound, fluid mini Hysteroscopy, contrast sonography and endomyometrial tissue sampling. Transvaginal Ultrasound being the gold standard for global uterine screening has a cardinal importance for diagnosis of myometrial disorders and uterine congenital malformations whereas hysteroscopy remains the gold standard for the evaluation of the endometrium and cervical canal. The major challenge remains to perform a tissue sampling of the endo-myometrium in an ambulatory, patient friendly and reliable way for which the newly designed Trophy hysteroscope provide a satisfactory answer. This one-stop approach opens a total new and advanced dimension to the screening, diagnosis and treatment of uterine pathology in the infertile patient.

Long-Time Diffusion in Polymer Melts Revealed by 1H NMR Relaxometry

We demonstrate that field-cycling ¹H NMR relaxometry can be used as a straightforward method of determining translational diffusion coefficient D = D(M) in polymer systems. The ¹H spin-lattice relaxation dispersion for polybutadiene of different molecular masses M (446 < M/(g mol^-1) < 9470) is measured at several temperatures (233 < T/K < 408) in a broad frequency range. The diffusion coefficient D(T) is determined from the intermolecular contribution to the overall spin-lattice relaxation rate R₁(ω), which dominates in the low-frequency range and follows a universal dispersion law linear in √ω. The extracted diffusion coefficients are in good agreement with the values obtained previously by field gradient NMR. The molecular mass dependence D = D(M) exhibits two power laws: D ∝ M^-1.3±0.1 and ∝M^-2.3±0.1. They show a crossover for M = 2300, a value that is close to the entanglement molecular mass M_e of polybutadiene. The corresponding power-law exponents are close to the prediction of the tube-reptation model.