Ofloxacin/beta-cyclodextrin complexation

Ofloxacin (OFX) is a fluorquinolone characterized by photochemical instability. With the goal to improve its photostability in aqueous solutions, the complexation of ofloxacin with beta-cyclodextrin was investigated. The complexes showed a water solubility enhancement of approximately 2.6 times; nevertheless, the photodegradation of ofloxacin was not reduced. The complexes obtained were characterized by thermal and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, which revealed an interaction between ofloxacin and beta-cyclodextrin. The last analysis indicated that only partial inclusion of the N-methylpiperazinyl moiety occurred, which can explain the fact that photostabilization was not improved. This partial inclusion phenomenon could be explained also by computer-aided molecular modeling.

Antiherpes evaluation of soybean isoflavonoids

The antiviral effects of soybean isoflavonoids have been investigated recently, especially those of genistein. It has been reported that this isoflavone is able to inhibit herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication, which is associated with skin and epithelial mucosa infections. The treatment of these infections with antiherpes drugs has resulted in the emergence of resistant viral strains. Based on this evidence, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-HSV effects of soybean isoflavonoids: daidzein, genistein, glycitein, and coumestrol. Genistein and coumestrol inhibited HSV-1 (KOS and 29R strains, which are acyclovir sensitive and acyclovir resistant, respectively) and HSV-2 (333 strain) replication, whereas no antiviral effects were detected for daidzein and glycitein. The mechanisms of action were evaluated by different methodological strategies. Coumestrol affected the early stages of viral infection, and both compounds were able to reduce HSV-1 protein expression, as well as HSV-2 cell-to-cell spread.

Carbamazepine/betaCD/HPMC solid dispersions. II. Physical characterization

Solid dispersions containing carbamazepine (CBZ) associated with beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) and/or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose were prepared by two different methods, spray-drying or physical mixture, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and x-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD) studies. Scanning electron microscopy pictures showed that spray-drying produced a mixture of hollow, spherical, and partially shrunken microparticles of homogeneous materials, whereas the physical mixtures yielded heterogeneous systems in which all individual components could be identified. Thermal and IR analyses suggest the existence of a strong interaction between CBZ and excipients in spray-dried solid dispersions, but no CBZ polymorphic transition was detected by either IR spectroscopy or XRPD analysis after the spray-drying process.

Social support, motivation, language, and interaction. A longitudinal study of mothers and deaf infants

This project examined the effect of early cognitive, social, and communicative experiences on later social and language development in deaf infants with hearing mothers. Interactions between mothers and deaf infants were found to be positively influenced by social support provided to mothers in the early months of the infants' lives, mothers' visual and tactile responsiveness when their infants were 9 months of age, infants' ability to cope with interactive stress at 9 months of age, and fewer attempts by infants to engage with the social environment during the mastery motivation assessment at 9 months of age. Neither mother-infant affective matching nor maternal visual-tactile responsiveness correlated with the deaf infants' language level.

A comparison of the vocal patterns of deaf and hearing mother-infant dyads during face-to-face interactions

This study was part of a longitudinal investigation of the impact of deafness on the cognitive, social, and communicative development of infants. The current study reports analyses of the vocalizations of deaf and hearing infants and their Deaf or hearing mothers during normal face-to-face interactions when the infants were 9 months old. Results indicate essentially no differences in the amount of positive or negative vocalizations emitted by infants in any of the four groups observed. However, there is a heightened use of vocal games by hearing mothers interacting with deaf infants, indicating that these mothers are incorporating several additional sensory modalities into their vocal expressions. This is interpreted as one way in which parents make their vocal communication more salient and accessible to an infant with a hearing loss. Deaf mothers are also highly active and engaged with their infants, but have been found to rely more extensively on vigorous tactile contact rather than auditory input during these same interactions.

Chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes induced by fission neutrons

The dose-response relationships of dicentrics and excess acentrics were analysed after exposure of human lymphocytes to a mixed fission neutron-gamma-ray beam. From the analysis of exclusively first division cells a linear-quadratic relation was obtained for dicentrics with the ratio of linear and quadratic components, zeta, equal to 2.76 Gy. Over the range of doses studied (0.04-1.97 Gy) intratrack events therefore predominated. This also applied to acentrics which were linearly related to dose. At the lowest level of observed effect and dose, r.b.e. values with respect to 60Co gamma-rays of up to about 11 were derived for dicentrics and acentrics. With increasing neutron dose the r.b.e. decreased.

In Vitro Evaluation of Mucosa Permeation/Retention and Antiherpes Activity of Genistein from Cationic Nanoemulsions

In this report, we described the genistein distribution on excised porcine esophageal mucosa from cationic nanoemulsions, as well as the anti-HSV-1 activity against a viral strain resistant to acyclovir. Genistein-loaded cationic nanoemulsions were prepared by spontaneous emulsification. This procedure yielded monodisperse nanoemulsions exhibiting a mean droplet size of approximately 200-300 nm. Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) was added at the end of the manufacturing process as a thickening agent (at 3%). Such formulations exhibit a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior. The addition of HEC significantly reduces the genistein flux through excised porcine mucosa specimens as compared with values elicited by nanoemulsions before thickening. Furthermore, a significant increase of genistein retention in mucosa was observed as compared to the genistein propylene glycol solution, as illustrated by confocal fluorescence microscopy images. Formulations exhibited antiherpetic activity in vitro against HSV-1 (strain 29R). Taken together, these results suggest that these formulations have promising potential to be used topically for herpes infections.

Studies on the anchorage of ATP diphosphohydrolase in synaptic plasma membranes from rat brain

ATP diphosphohydrolases are described as ecto-enzymes in several tissues. In the present study, synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) was exposed to a series of agents used to distinguish between peripheral (hydrophilic), G-PI-anchored and transmembrane-polypeptide-anchored membrane proteins. These procedures included: (a) nondetergent extraction, (b) Triton X-114 phase partitioning, (c) phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) extraction and (d) protease incubation. In cases (a), (c) and (d) the SPM was incubated with different agents and the ATPase-ADPase activities and the protein concentration was determined in the original sample, in the pellet and in the supernatant obtained after 100,000 g centrifugation. In procedure (b), the SPM was solubilized in 1% triton X-114 and submitted to phase separation onto a sucrose cushion. The aqueous and detergent rich phases obtained by this treatment were assayed for ATPase-ADPase activities and protein determination. The results obtained suggest an intrinsic behaviour for ATP diphosphohydrolase since none of the nondetergent treatments was efficient in removing the enzyme from SPM. Moreover, ATPase and ADPase activities were recovered predominantly (> 50%) in the detergent-rich phase obtained by Triton X-114 partitioning. The enzyme was not released by PI-PLC or proteases. These results indicate that the enzyme is not a GPI-anchored protein, but is probably deeply anchored on the plasma membrane in agreement with the amino acid sequence of the enzyme recently published.

Responses to interactive stress: infants who are deaf or hearing

Nineteen infants who were deaf (D/H) and 19 infants who were hearing (H/H) were observed during face-to-face interactions with their hearing mothers. Infant behaviors were coded for repetitive physical activity and gaze aversion during two episodes of normal play which were interrupted by a "still-face" episode. Mothers' assessments of their infants as "difficult" or "easy" were derived from the Parenting Stress Index (Abidin, 1986). "Difficult" deaf infants displayed significantly more repetitive activity during the initial normal interaction and significantly more gaze aversion during the still-face episode, compared to "easy" deaf babies and both "easy" and "difficult" hearing babies. Implications of these findings are discussed in the context of parental perceptions of infant behaviors, and the importance of visual attention and nonverbal signals for the optimal development of infants who are deaf.

VPA/PLGA microfibers produced by coaxial electrospinning for the treatment of central nervous system injury

The central nervous system shows limited regenerative capacity after injury. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating traumatic injury resulting in loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic function distal from the level of injury. An appropriate combination of biomaterials and bioactive substances is currently thought to be a promising approach to treat this condition. Systemic administration of valproic acid (VPA) has been previously shown to promote functional recovery in animal models of SCI. In this study, VPA was encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microfibers by the coaxial electrospinning technique. Fibers showed continuous and cylindrical morphology, randomly oriented fibers, and compatible morphological and mechanical characteristics for application in SCI. Drug-release analysis indicated a rapid release of VPA during the first day of the in vitro test. The coaxial fibers containing VPA supported adhesion, viability, and proliferation of PC12 cells. In addition, the VPA/PLGA microfibers induced the reduction of PC12 cell viability, as has already been described in the literature. The biomaterials were implanted in rats after SCI. The groups that received the implants did not show increased functional recovery or tissue regeneration compared to the control. These results indicated the cytocompatibility of the VPA/PLGA core-shell microfibers and that it may be a promising approach to treat SCI when combined with other strategies.

How do deaf and hearing mothers regain eye contact when their infants look away?

The authors examine the effects that results when 9-month-old deaf and hearing infants break eye contact during face-to-face interactions with their deaf or hearing mothers. Of particular interest are mothers' responses when their infant looks away, and mothers' degree of success at regaining visual attention by using active bids in either the tactile, visual, or auditory modes. The authors also examine instances of maternal observing and waiting for the infant to reinitiate visual contact. For deaf infants, visual and tactile modalities are particularly important for communicating, interacting, and gaining information about their environment. While hearing parents have been shown to compensate intuitively for a deaf child's inability to perceive auditory cues (Koester, 1992, 1995), deaf parents may offer important insights into the use of other modalities to elicit and maintain a deaf infant's attention. Results of the study indicate a greater reliance among deaf mothers on visual strategies to regain infant attention, and a greater emphasis on vocalizations by hearing mothers, regardless of infant hearing status.

Tactile Contact by Deaf and Hearing Mothers During Face-to-Face Interactions With Their Infants

Tactile contact with an infant plays an important role (though one largely overlooked by researchers until recently) in the development of synchronous interactive dialogues between caregiver and child. Dyads in which one or both partners are deaf present a unique opportunity to examine the use of touch as a means of optimizing or enhancing communication when the number of available sensory channels is restricted. Touch in these dyads may play an important role in eliciting visual attention, in alerting the infant that signed communication is forthcoming, in assisting the infant to achieve emotional regulation, or in simply maintaining contact even when the deaf child has looked away from the partner. The data presented here represent one attempt to investigate the role of touch in relation to deaf infants and deaf parents, for whom it may play a particularly salient role. Both deaf and hearing mothers were observed in videotaped face-to-face interactions with their infants (also either deaf or hearing); maternal behavior was coded for each event during which mothers initiated tactile contact with the infant and was classified according to intensity, location on the infant's body, and type of touch (e.g., active vs. passive). Results of this study indicate that deaf mothers may be especially responsive to the tactile needs of their deaf infants, as shown by qualitative differences in their behavioral interactions with 6- and 9-month-olds. However, hearing mothers with deaf infants also appear to be incorporating more active forms of touch in their interactions, although they tend to rely on longer durations of tactile contact than do the deaf mothers.

Communicative interactions of deaf and hearing children in a day care center. An exploratory study

Interactions were observed in a day care center serving deaf and hearing children. Observations focused on eight children (two deaf with deaf parents, two deaf with hearing parents, two hearing with deaf parents and two hearing with hearing parents) between 2 and 3 years of age. Center classes included deaf and hearing teachers and all children were encouraged to sign. Deaf and hearing children alike frequently interacted with other children and teachers whose hearing status differed from their own. However, each group showed a stronger tendency to initiate communication with same hearing status peers. Hearing children displayed the ability to modify their communications modes to match the hearing status of their intended communication partner. Language ability, not hearing status, was associated with the frequency of communication experienced by each child.

Defining and observing social signals in deaf and hearing infants

Infant gaze, gestures, and affective expression have become generally accepted as indicators of the infant's efforts to initiate or resume interaction with a partner, particularly during moments when the mother may be temporarily unresponsive as shown experimentally in the maternal "Still-Face" situation. Previous studies comparing deaf and hearing infants using this paradigm have revealed diminished signalling by deaf infants with hearing mothers, when signals were defined by the typical indices mentioned above. This study compares results from both a microanalytic coding system (used with 59 dyads) and a more global examination of efforts by 20 deaf and 20 hearing infants to re-engage their deaf or hearing mothers. Emphasis is on the kinds of infant signals that often remain undocumented due to methodological constraints, but that may be recognized by the mother and elicit a delayed response from her when she is able to resume her normal interactive patterns. Results indicate that when these additional "signal" behaviors are considered (such as repetitive hand, arm, or foot movements, or behaviors previously prohibited by the mother), there are few overall differences in eliciting efforts by deaf and hearing infants.

Metabolism and pathophysiology of sodium and chlorine in tissue after neutron irradiation

The photon emission of tissue was measured after radiotherapy with various doses of fission neutrons. Spectral analyses of the decay rates resulted in data for the exchange of sodium and chlorine between the irradiated tissue and the whole body. In 12 cases we found that about three fifths of Na and Cl exchange rapidly between the extravascular and vascular liquids with a turnover half-life of 13 +/- 2 min. Slowly exchangeable or non-exchangeable fractions are deposited in the soft tissue. New defined mass exchange rates for Na and Cl amount to an average of 0.8 mval min-1 kg-1 of soft tissue. The turnover of the electrolytes in tissue with large tumours is about twice that in tissues with small metastasis. Depending on dose, radiotherapy led in all cases to distinct variations of the metabolism. A maximum of the exchange of Cl combined with a minimum of Na occurs at about 85 Gy of conventional or at 10 Gy of lead-filtered fission neutron radiation. These results show directly for the first time the local response of the electrolyte metabolism to therapy.

In vivo neutron activation analysis of sodium and chlorine in tumor tissue after fast neutron therapy

In 12 patients with recurrences and metastases of different primaries (head and neck cancer, breast cancer, malignant melanoma, and osteosarcoma) who were treated with reactor fission neutrons the photon emission of irradiated tissue was measured after each radiotherapy fraction. Spectral analyses of the decay rates resulted in data for the exchange of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) between the irradiated tissue and the body. About 60% of Na and Cl exchanged rapidly with a turnover half-life of 13 +/- 2 min. New defined mass exchange rates for Na and Cl amount to an average of 0.8 mval/min/kg of soft tissue. At the beginning of radiotherapy the turnover of the electrolytes in tissues with large tumor volumes was about twice that in tissues with small tumor volumes. Depending on the dose, neutron therapy led in all cases to variation in the metabolism. A maximum of Cl exchange and a minimum of Na exchange occurred after 10 Gy of neutrons (group of six previously untreated patients) or after 85 Gy (photon equivalent dose) of combined photon-neutron therapy. A significant increase in non-exchangeable fraction of Na from about 40 to 80% was observed in three tumors after a neutron dose of 10 Gy administered in five fractions correlated with a rapid reduction of tissue within 4 weeks after end of therapy. These results demonstrate for the first time the local response of the electrolyte metabolism to radiotherapy.

Peri-interventional ischemic stroke after coronary angiography: a large-scale nationwide cohort analysis from 2006 to 2020

Background

Ischemic stroke after coronary angiography is a life-threatening complication, leading to high mortality and long-term sequelae in surviving patients. Contemporary data from a European nationwide perspective are however lacking.

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the incidence, temporal trends, and outcome of ischemic stroke complicating coronary angiography in a German nationwide cohort.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of healthcare records from 2006–2020 based on ICD-10 and OPS codes obtained from the German Federal Statistical Office was carried out. Patients ≥18 years of age hospitalized for coronary angiography (both diagnostic and percutaneous interventions) were included in this analysis. Ischemic stroke events as well as co-morbidities were identified using ICD-10 and OPS codes. The outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regressions were computed for the association of ischemic stroke with in-hospital mortality adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, and diabetes mellitus.

Results

Overall 5,098,751 cases of patients undergoing coronary angiography (mean age 68.7±11.4 years; 28.0% female) between 2006 and 2020 were included. Ischemic stroke occurred in 3,808 (0.07%) patients. In comparison, individuals who suffered from peri-interventional ischemic stroke were older (70.8±11.1 vs. 68.7±11.4; p<0.001), more likely female (33.4% vs. 27.9%; p<0.001), and differed significantly according to their clinical characteristics (see Table 1). Patients with ischemic stroke had a significantly longer in-hospital stay (18.3±15.5 vs. 6.4±8.0 days; p<0.001), and higher rates of in-hospital mortality (18.0% vs. 3.2%; p<0.001) compared to patients without ischemic stroke. After multivariable adjustment, ischemic stroke remained independently associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality with an Odds ratio of 6.5 (95% Confidence Interval: 5.9, 7.1; p<0.001). Also, incidence of peri-interventional stroke increased gradually from 0.03% in 2006 to 0.12% in 2020 (see Figure 1).

Conclusion

In a contemporary nationwide cohort of patients hospitalized for coronary angiography spanning 15 years, the incidence of ischemic stroke remained low, although a gradual increase from 2006 to 2020 was documented. The occurrence of ischemic stroke was independently associated with a markedly increased risk of in-hospital mortality. These findings might be helpful in evaluating patients undergoing coronary angiography and to reduce the high mortality and morbidity associated with this complication in future.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Chlorine and sodium perfusion and electrolyte balance in human tissue and tumours before and during neutron and photon radiotherapy

Radiotherapy with nuclear reactor fission neutrons was applied in 49 cases of pretreated patients with superficial metastases or relapses from primary carcinoma. Measurements of the decay rates of the radiation-induced radioactivity of 49Ca, 38Cl and 24Na in the irradiated tissue resulted in values for the simultaneous local kinetics of chlorine and sodium, and in approximate data on the electrolyte masses. The electrolytes were present in non-exchangeable and exchangeable compartments of soft tissue. Exchange times of the intravascular to extravascular turnover and the frequencies of the exchange fractions were determined for a series of irradiations. The results have been interpreted in terms of the mean electrolyte exchange rates, of a standardized functional blood flow, and of the supply capacity of the vascular system. In the average of all cases, the regional perfusion was reduced by about 30% by irradiation up to 14 Gy (equivalent photon dose = 45 Gy) connected with an increase in the non-exchangeable fractions. After fractionated doses higher than 14 Gy, functional blood flow and supply capacity increased to 120%, and fixed electrolytes were removed from the irradiated tissue. Data on electrolyte kinetics and vascularity are compared with the literature.

Development and validation of a LC method for determination of genistein in topical nanoemulsions

The aim of this study was to develop and validate an isocratic LC method for the quantification of genistein in topical nanoemulsions. The analyses were performed at room temperature on a reversed-phase C18 column using a mobile phase composed of methanol/water/acetonitrile (70:25:5, w/w/w) at 1.0 ml x min(-1). The detection was carried out on a UV detector at 327 nm. The linearity, in the range of 25-75 microg/ml, presented a determination coefficient (r2) higher than 0.999, calculated by the least square method. No interferences from the excipients (egg-lecithin, octyldodecanol or medium chain triglycerides) were detected. The R.S.D. values for intra- and inter-day precision experiments were lower than 2.3%. The recovery of genistein from nanoemulsions ranged from 96.6% to 106.6%. The excellent performance of the method, its linearity, accuracy and precision, demonstrate that it can be readily used to quantify genistein incorporated in nanoemulsions.

First experiences with fission neutrons in the radiation therapy of cancer patients

16 patients have been treated until October 1987 at the mixed reactor beam of the RENT-facility in Munich-Garching. All of them received a single dose of 200 to 250 cGy after complete conventional radiotherapy and in same cases also surgery because of the lack of complete tumor resection or local tumor control after radiation control. The ages ranged from 40 to 84 years. The follow-up amounted between two and 28 months, 8.5 months on the average. The tumors selected appeared to be particularly suitable because of their growth in poorly perfused tissues, after the previous surgery and/or radiotherapy. All cases are briefly reported. The general experience from the very limited study is promising. The local effects to the tumor tissue so far are impressive. No severe side effects which could be related to the RENT-session were observed until now.

Preference for complexity in the auditory and visual modes

The contribution of sex and age was determined in comparisons of complexity preference in the auditory and visual modes. Six tonal passages and 22 random polygons of varying complexity constituted the auditory and visual stimuli, respectively. Preferences for complexity were elicited from 30 M and 30 F Ss, all of similar socio-economic status, in each of the age groups 5 and 17 yrs. Preference for complexity was not correlated across auditory and visual modes for any age or sex group. It was interesting, however, that although for 5-yr-old boys there was anon-significant inverse relationship between modes, and for 17-yr-old youths there was a non-significant direct relationship, the difference between these two correlations was significant. There was a significant (p less than .001) increase in visual complexity preference with age, although no such effect was found for auditory complexity; preference in the auditory mode remained at a moderate level for all groups.