Trends in ecstasy use in the United States from 1995 to 2001: Comparison with marijuana users and association with other drug use.

This study aims to estimate changes in the prevalence of ecstasy use over time, analyze the overlap of ecstasy use and other drug use, and compare other drug use in ecstasy versus marijuana users. The authors hypothesized that ecstasy users early in the "epidemic" would be polydrug users and that associations between ecstasy and other drug use would diminish as the prevalence of ecstasy use increased. Data were drawn from public use data files from the 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Ecstasy use increased in the U.S. population and the prevalence was greater in younger age groups. Ecstasy users were likely to use a variety of other drugs; however, association of ecstasy use with other drug use was strongest early in the "epidemic," diminishing as the number of new users increased. Later, more drug-naive adolescents and young adults began experimenting with ecstasy. These results can orient prevention strategies that target ecstasy users. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Isothermal and Dynamic Microcalorimetry for Quantifying the Crystallization of an Amorphous Drug during Interactive Powder Mixing

This study reports the crystallization of amorphous nifedipine during an interactive mixing process quantified by using isothermal and dynamic microcalorimetry. Interactive mixtures of amorphous nifedipine and uniform glass beads were prepared by mixing in a Turbula® mixer. The difference in the extent of crystallization of amorphous nifedipine during mixing was characterized by the time it took for the crystallization of a known amount of amorphous nifedipine in isothermal calorimetry and the change in the height of the crystallization peak at 65°C in dynamic calorimetry. It was found that both isothermal and dynamic microcalorimetry are useful techniques for quantifying the physical transition of amorphous nifedipine during interactive mixing. The rate and extent of crystallization of amorphous nifedipine depended on both mixing time and speed, but mixing time played a more dominant role because the transformation of amorphous to crystalline nifedipine was greater after 3180 revolutions (9.7%) than after 405 revolutions (0.9%) at 27 rpm. The same trend was observed at 109 rpm, but the percentage of crystalline nifedipine after 3180 revolutions was only 5.2%. This meant that an increase in mixing time rather than speed increased the rate of amorphous to crystalline transformation. The greatest cause for crystal transformation during interactive mixing was the presence of crystal seeds of the thermodynamically stable nifedipine Modification I because the amount of amorphous to crystalline transformation increased from 2.6% for a completely amorphous mixture to 6.6% for a 92:8 mixture of amorphous and crystalline nifedipine when mixed for 30 minutes at 106 rpm.     

一种结肠靶向给药胶囊的研究

以1号胃溶空心胶囊为母体,以聚丙烯酸树酯类高分子材料为包衣材料,以愈创木酚甘油醚为模型药物,对不同包衣厚度的结肠溶肠溶胶囊进行了体内外参数研究,结果表明包衣厚度为60～100μm的该肠溶胶囊较为理想.该厚度的胶囊在pH≥7.0的条件下,崩解后所释放出的颗粒在结肠的分布广泛,个体差异小,50%胶囊到达人体回盲部和结肠的时间分别约为4h和5h,达到了结肠靶向给药的设计要求.     

反相胶束增稳室温荧光法测定痕量中药有效成分盐酸小檗碱的研究——兔血浆中痕量盐酸小檗碱的测定

研究了双［２－乙基己基］－磺酸基琥珀酸／环己烷／水（ＡＯＴ／Ｃ６Ｈ１２／Ｈ２Ｏ）反相胶束介质中中药有效成分盐酸小檗碱的荧光性质．并将该法应用于兔血浆中痕量盐酸小檗碱的测定，绘制了药时曲线．该法的线性范围（ｇ／ｍＬ）为：６．０×１０－８～６．０×１０－５，检出限（ｇ／ｍＬ）为：７．２×１０－８，相对标准偏差（％）为：１．１     

GigaMatrix: an ultra high-throughput tool for accessing biodiversity

Recombinant approaches for tapping into the biodiversity present in nature for the discovery of novel enzymes and biosynthetic pathways can result in large gene libraries. Likewise, laboratory evolution techniques can result in large but potentially valuable libraries. Thorough screening of these libraries requires ultra high-throughput methods. The GigaMatrix^™ screening platform addresses this opportunity using reusable high-density plates with 100,000 to 1,000,000 through-hole wells in a microplate footprint. In addition to throughputs of over 10⁷ wells per day, the platform offers a significant reduction in reagent use and waste, has fully integrated automated “cherry picking,” and uses no complicated dispensing equipment. Wells containing putative hits from targeted fluorescent liquid phase assays are revealed by a fluorescent imaging system. Vision-guided robotics are utilized to recover hits by accessing individual 200 μm and smaller wells with a disposable sterile needle. The GigaMatrix platform has proven to be an effective and efficient tool for screening gene libraries for both discovery and evolution applications.     

Retailers' tagging practices: a potential liability?

This study investigates the coverage of federally mandated information on over‐the‐counter (OTC) drug labels by electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags applied to the exterior of cartons. Using adult‐strength analgesics containing acetaminophen as a case study, researchers investigated the issue in Houston, Texas (24 stores) and Lansing, Michigan (33 stores). The information obscured by EAS tags was identified and classified for a total of 849 packages using a standardized data collection instrument. The results indicated that 293 packages examined, or 34.5%, had information mandated by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) fully or partially obscured by the EAS tags. Retailers and manufacturers should be aware of such practices to reduce potential liability. Recommendations for improving EAS tag usage on OTC products are presented. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The face of the patent is not the “Whole Story”: determining effective life of a pharmaceutical patent in the United States

This article provides an overview of the factors that may contribute to the effective term of protection for a pharmaceutical product in the USA––by patent and by FDA market exclusivities, identifies public and commercial sources for collecting relevant patent term and exclusivity data, and provides a strategy for ensuring that the effective term of protection has been calculated accurately.     

m-Chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) Modulates the Discriminative Stimulus Effects of Cocaine Through Actions at the 5-HT?C Receptor.

Agonists acting at the serotonin-1B receptor (5-HT?BR) and 5-HT?CR have been reported to potentiate and block, respectively, the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine. The present investigation reassessed the antagonistic effects of the mixed 5-HT?C/?BR agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) on the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine in the presence or absence of selective antagonism of the 5-HT?BR or 5-HT?CR. The stimulus effects of cocaine were attenuated by mCPP at doses that reduced response rates. The selective 5-HT?CR antagonist SB 242084, but not the selective 5-HT?BR antagonist GR 127935, reversed the mCPP-evoked attenuation of the cocaine cue and the suppression of response rates. These results demonstrate that the suppressive effects of mCPP on cocaine discrimination are related to stimulation of the HT?CR. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physical and Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Among Women in Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Although several studies have examined the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and drug use among women in drug treatment programs, more information is needed to delineate differences, as a function of the specific drug used. Data from a random sample of 416 women attending methadone programs were analyzed to elucidate the differential associations between IPV and use of the following: marijuana only, cocaine only, heroin only, or cocaine and heroin. Prevalence of IPV among this sample far exceeded estimates from the general population. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, use of cocaine only was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing IPV compared with no drug use. Similar results were found for women using both cocaine and heroin. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mediating and Moderated Effects of Adolescent Behavioral Undercontrol and Parenting in the Prediction of Drug Use Disorders in Emerging Adulthood.

This study tested whether the effects of parental alcoholism on drug use disorders in emerging adulthood were mediated by behavioral undercontrol and parenting in adolescence and whether parenting buffered the relation between undercontrol and drug use disorders. Participants were 175 children of alcoholics and 190 matched control participants from an ongoing longitudinal study (L. Chassin, F. Rogosch, & M. Barrera, 1991). Results showed that undercontrol and parental discipline mediated 58% of the effect of parental alcoholism on drug use disorders. The relation between behavioral undercontrol and drug use disorders was further moderated by parental support. This effect was "protective but reactive" (S. S. Luthar, D. Cicchetti, & B. Becker, 2000); at high levels of behavioral undercontrol the protective effect of parental support was lost. Highly undercontrolled adolescents may have such a strong diathesis for drug use disorders that buffers may not have the same effect as in those with better control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)