Influence of neutron irradiation on Eudragit coated tablets: validation of neutron activation II

Enteric coated dexchlorpheniramine maleate (DCPA) tablets and pellets with varying coating thickness were subjected to several in vitro tests after irradiation by thermal neutrons in a flux of 1. 1 x 10(13) n cm-2 s-1 for 2, 4 or 15 min. The appearance of the tablet formulation changed extensively after exposure of the tablets to pile radiation. The irradiation caused the film to loosen from the surface of the core, indicating the generation of gases during the irradiation process. Already after irradiating the tablets for 2 min the disintegration and dissolution behaviour were significantly changed. The extent of tablet damage increased with increasing time of exposure and increasing thickness of the coating. Compared with the tablet formulation, the cores could resist a larger amount of irradiation since dissolution behaviour of the cores was only affected after 15 min of irradiation. This indicates that the irradiation procedure initially affects the coating of the formulation. Although the dissolution behaviour of the pellet formulations changed significantly after the irradiation procedure, the changes were too small to be attributed exclusively to radiation damage.     

Transfection of the gene for B7-1 but not B7-2 can induce immunity to murine malignant mesothelioma

A 56-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis was admitted because of bilateral hip pain. In a few months of her hospitalization, a relatively abrupt renal dysfunction was emerged besides complement breakdown, and renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis. Immunofluorescence study showed peripheral granular deposits of IgG, IgM, and C3 in the glomeruli. Cresents were predominantly composed of macrophages and glomerular epithelial cells. Amyloid nephropathy, renal vasuculitis, and association of other collagen vascular diseases were negligible for the causative factor. It was suggested that immune complexes were formed in the glomeruli, in which both humoral and cellular immune responses were to be induced, that brought cescents formation in the lesions. Crescentic glomerulonephritis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is rare and a possible pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of renal dysfunction are discussed with the special reference to immune complex-induced inflammation.     

Do disease specific characteristics add to the explanation of mobility limitations in patients with different chronic diseases? A study in The Netherlands

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine whether disease specific characteristics, reflecting clinical disease severity, add to the explanation of mobility limitations in patients with specific chronic diseases. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross sectional study of survey data from community dwelling elderly people, aged 55-85 years, in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The additional explanation of mobility limitations by disease specific characteristics was examined by logistic regression analyses on data from 2830 community dwelling elderly people. MAIN RESULTS: In the total sample, chronic non-specific lung disease, cardiac disease, peripheral atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, stroke, arthritis and cancer (the index diseases), were all independently associated with mobility limitations. Adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, and medical treatment disease specific characteristics that explain the association between disease and mobility mostly reflect decreased endurance capacity (shortness of breath and disturbed night rest in chronic non-specific lung disease, angina pectoris and congestive heart failure in cardiac disease), or are directly related to mobility function (stiffness and lower body complaints in arthritis). For atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus, disease specific characteristics did not add to the explanation of mobility limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide evidence that, to obtain more detailed information about the differential impact of chronic diseases on mobility, disease specific characteristics are important to take into account.     

Psychological aspects of disasters

This article describes several topics necessary for understanding the psychological impact of disasters. Topics discussed include characteristics of disaster that impact psychological response, stages of response, factors influencing individual and collective trauma, and important aspects of psychological interventions. The author shares several conclusions about the nature of people, culture, and society based on his many years of work in disaster mental health.