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Long-term Application (long-term + application)
Selected AbstractsReview of the potential photo-cocarcinogenicity of topical calcineurin inhibitorsJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Position statement of the European Dermatology Forum ABSTRACT, Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors (TCIs) used for the treatment of atopic eczema modify the immune regulatory function of the skin and may have the potential to enhance immunosuppressive ultraviolet (UV) effects. Current recommendations on UV protection in eczema patients treated with PCIs are inconsistent and have given rise to uncertainty and anxiety in patients. Therefore, the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) developed a position statement which reviews critically the available data with regard to the problem, especially analysing and commenting the limitations of rodent models for the human situation. There is no conclusive evidence from rodent trials to indicate that long-term application of TCIs is photococarcinogenic. There is a need for further studies to investigate the validity of mouse models as well as long-term cohort studies in patients using TCIs. Available data suggest that long-term application of TCIs is safe, that there is no evidence of increased skin cancer risk and that it is ethical to treat patients with TCIs when indicated. [source] Effect of long-term application of epinephrine on rat skin vasculature: Experimental studyMICROSURGERY, Issue 7 2002Ercan Karacao, lu M.D. As a potent vasoconstrictor, epinephrine is used ubiquitously in plastic surgery. It is typically delivered subcutaneously in very low concentrations over a brief time interval. We are aware of no reports describing the long-term release of epinephrine as an independent agent to the soft tissues for the purpose of causing prolonged local vasoconstriction. This study was designed to address two goals: first, to investigate the effect of long-term local release of epinephrine from a drug delivery system on rat abdominal skin vasculature; secondly, to evaluate the pharmacological properties of this drug delivery system (DDS). Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300,400 g, were included in the study. Animals were subdivided into two groups of 15 each. Group A (control group) and Group B (experimental group) were treated with saline and epinephrine-loaded microspheres (msps), respectively. The manufacturing process and formulation studies of the DDS are described. In vivo assays revealed a 7-day sustained release of epinephrine. After 7 days, neither residual nor supraphysiologic release of epinephrine was shown with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Histological studies with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid Schiff revealed a statistically significant increase in number of vessels as well as their diameter and wall thickness (P <0.05). Epinephrine release via this msp/DDS predictably induces local vasoconstriction over a time sequence known to be optimally associated with hypoxia and promotion of vascular augmentation. This model can be valuable in sustaining hemostasis during long-lasting (more than a few hours) surgical procedures by its long-acting vasoconstructive effect. The system's ability to intentionally cause vascular augmentation also bodes great potential in flap and graft surgery. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 22:288,294 2002 [source] Magnetic studies of the carbothermal effect on LiFePO4PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 1 2006A. Ait-Salah Abstract The effect of carbon coating on the properties of LiFePO4 particles is studied from magnetic measurements. Magnetization experiments are an excellent tool to detect very low concentrations of iron-based impurities (<1 ppm) which are poisoning the phospho-olivine used as positive electrode material in rechargeable Li-ion batteries. The results indicate that addition of 5% carbon withdraws traces of the Fe(III) phase such as Fe2P and/or Fe2O3. This carbothermal effect appears to be beneficial for long-term application of LiFePO4 materials in Li-ion batteries. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis: Clinical Results with Different MethodsARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 2 2002Rolf Bambauer Abstract: In 40 patients (22 women, 18 men) suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia resistant to diet and lipid lowering drugs, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis was performed over 84.9 ± 43.2 months. Four different systems (Liposorber, 28 of 40, Kaneka, Osaka, Japan; Therasorb, 6 of 40, Baxter, Munich, Germany; Lipopak, 2 of 40, Pocard, Moscow, Russia; and Dali, 4 of 40, Fresenius, St. Wendel, Germany) were used. With all methods, average reductions of 50.6% for total cholesterol, 52.2% for LDL, 64.3% for lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]), and 43.1% for triglycerides, and an average increase of 10.3% for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were reached. Severe side effects such as shock or allergic reactions were very rare (0.5%) in all methods. In the course of treatment, an improvement in general well being and increased performance were experienced by 39 of 40 patients. Assessing the different apheresis systems used, at the end of the trial, there were no significant differences with respect to the clinical outcome experienced with the patients' total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride concentrations. However, to reduce high Lp(a) levels, the immunoadsorption method with special Lp(a) columns (Lipopak) seems to be most effective: ,59% versus ,25% (Kaneka) , (Baxter), and ,29% (Dali). The present data demonstrate that treatment with LDL apheresis of patients suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia resistant to maximum conservative therapy is very effective and safe even in long-term application. [source] 3223: Dry eye syndrome and omega-3 fatty acidsACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010T KAERCHER Purpose Dry eye disease is characterized by an inflammatory component of the ocular surface. Pathways to modulate inflammation include corticoids and cyclosporine. Omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid represent an alternate pharmacologic way to influence the inflammatory cascade. Methods Clinical studies. Results An epidemiologic study in 32.470 healthy women showed that those with a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids had a 68% decreased prevalence of dry eye syndrome. Hyposecretory dry eye was tested after intake of omega-3 fatty acids for 45 days. Symptoms, signs and inflammatory markers like HLA-DR improved. Hyperevaporative dry eye improved after a long-term supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids with respect to symptoms, break-up time and meibom score. Patients with refractive surgery (PRK) improved after omega-3 fatty acids intake; this was derived from the OSDI-score, Schirmer I test and tear clearance. In 102 contact-lens wearers the symptoms and signs of dry eye improved after 12 weeks therapy with omega-3 fatty acids. Conclusion Nutricionals with omega-3 fatty acids show evidence-based effects on the inflammatory component of ocular surface disease and tear film disorder. Their beneficial effect was tested for hypovolemic and hyperevaporative dry eye. Patients after refractive surgery and contact lens wearers improved after supplementation, too. In contrast to the available anti-inflammatory therapy the supplementation is apt for a long-term application. [source] Oncolytic virotherapy for cancer treatment: challenges and solutionsTHE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 11 2005J. J. Davis Abstract Advances in gene modification and viral therapy have led to the development of a variety of vectors in several viral families that are capable of replication specifically in tumor cells. Because of the nature of viral delivery, infection, and replication, this technology, oncolytic virotherapy, may prove valuable for treating cancer patients, especially those with inoperable tumors. Current limitations exist, however, for oncolytic virotherapy. They include the body's B and T cell responses, innate inflammatory reactions, host range, safety risks involved in using modified viruses as treatments, and the requirement that most currently available oncolytic viruses require local administration. Another important constraint is that genetically enhanced vectors may or may not adhere to their replication restrictions in long-term applications. Several solutions and strategies already exist, however, to minimize or circumvent many of these limitations, supporting viral oncolytic therapy as a viable option and powerful tool in the fight against cancer. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Incorporation of Electronics within a Compact, Fully Implanted Left Ventricular Assist DeviceARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 11 2002Kevin Bourque Abstract: The promise of expanded indications for left ventricular assist devices in the future for very long-term applications (10+ years) prompts sealed (i.e. fully implanted) systems and less-obtrusive and more reliable implanted components than their external counterparts in percutaneous configurations. Furthermore, sealed systems increase the fraction of total power losses dissipated intracorporeally, a disadvantage that must be carefully managed. We set out to incorporate the motor drive and levitation control electronics within the HeartMate III blood pump without substantially increasing the pump's size. Electronics based on a rigid-flex satellite printed circuit board (PCB) arrangement that could be folded into a very compact, dense package were designed, fabricated, and tested. The pump's lower housing was redesigned to accommodate these PCBs without increasing any dimension of the pump except the height, and that by only 5 mm. The interconnect cable was reduced from 22 wires to 10 (two fully redundant sets of 5). An ongoing test of the assembled pump in vitro has demonstrated no problems in 5 months. In addition, a 20-day in vivo test showed only 1°C temperature rises, equivalent to pumps without incorporated electronics at similar operating conditions. [source] | ||||||||||