Acceptability of Multiparticulate Dosing Using Sympfiny® Delivery System with Children (Age 1-12)

This study investigated multiparticulate formulation administered over a two-week period of time via the Sympfiny^® system with children of ages 1-12 years. The study was conducted with parent-child pairs (N = 120 total participants) following a specific dose strategy to mimic PURIXAN's dosing guidelines based upon the child's age. PURIXAN^® (mercaptopurine) and Methotrexate have been identified as potential chemotherapy drugs that could benefit from reformulation into multiparticulate. Multiparticulate drugs have advantages as they can be flavorless, and do not require liquid reconstitution and do not require refrigeration. The study included three parts: initial in-person session, 14 days of at-home use, and a final in-person session. The in-person sessions were conducted at HS Design's (HSD) (Morristown, NJ, USA) offices located in Morristown, New Jersey, where a study moderator captured and recorded all subjective comments by participants and observed device use to identify use errors. The participants were instructed to administer a dose (placebo) for the next 14 days and at each dose delivery to fill out a daily survey regarding their experience. Overall, the cumulative survey responses and feedback collected during the in-person sessions suggest that child participants ages 5-12 years old found multiparticulate to be an acceptable formulation and would be willing to take this medication if they were sick. Over time, more children ages 1-4 did not open their mouths; consistently around 15-20% of 1-4 years olds spat the placebo. However, approximately 95% of parents found the Sympfiny^® system acceptable and indicated that they would use it to deliver medication to their child.

Analysis of ordered arrays of adsorbed lysozyme by scanning tunneling microscopy

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used to observe lysozyme at a graphite surface directly in order to gain mechanistic information about the molecular events involved in protein adsorption. The experiments were performed using an insulated tip in an aqueous protein solution, allowing the time course of the adsorption process to be followed, including the evolution of ordered arrays. Ordered arrays of protein molecules were observed, with lattice spacings that varied with bulk protein concentration and salt strength. Fourier analysis was used to determine the average cell dimensions of an array. From the observed lattice spacings, it was possible to estimate the surface coverage of the protein, and thus, by varying the conditions, adsorption isotherms could be obtained. These isotherms compare well with adsorption isotherms measured using total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) spectroscopy on a hydrophobic surface. Since the protein is charged and the electrolyte has an effect on the isotherms, electrostatics are a likely controlling factor. Molecular electrostatics computations were thus used to investigate the possible origins of the lattice structure, and they suggest that favorable intermolecular interactions among adsorbed molecules are consistent with hydrophobically dominated protein-surface interactions.

STM and AFM in biotechnology

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are capable of providing atomic-scale images, as well as insights into functional characteristics, of surfaces. Biological materials can be studied by depositing them on appropriate substrates, and samples have been imaged with varying degrees of resolution. In this review, the principles of STM and AFM are summarized, and practical aspects of implementing them for studies relevant to biotechnology are discussed, with the emphasis on investigations of biological macromolecules such as DNA and proteins. Items covered include samples, surfaces, medium, tips, and typical operating conditions. Finally, prospects are discussed for potential future applications to biotechnology.

TORCH: a literature review and implications for practice

Major issues related to TORCH (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalo virus, and herpes virus) perinatal infection are of concern to maternity and neonatal nurses. General and congenital modes of transmission, associated congenital defects, incidence of infection, and relative fetal/neonatal effects of primary as compared to recurrent maternal infection are described. Associated nursing implications emphasizing prenatal prevention and early detection, intrapartal management, neonatal symptom detection, and nursery infection control as well as concerns about breastfeeding with maternal TORCH are discussed.