Search results for "controlled"

Antiretroviral genotypic resistance in plasma RNA and whole blood DNA in HIV-1 infected patients failing HAART

2008

The extent to which HIV-1 proviral DNA mutations cause clinically relevant antiretroviral resistance is still controversial. Paired plasma HIV-1 RNA and whole blood DNA were compared in patients failing HAART to investigate if the additional knowledge of archived mutations could improve the selection of potentially active drugs. Seventy-three HIV-1-infected patients with first/second HAART failure were studied before starting a new regimen based on RNA genotyping. Follow-up data after a 12-week therapy were available. DNA genotyping was retrospectively performed on stored whole blood samples and mutational profiles were compared to those from RNA. The mean number of IAS pol mutations was si…

2021

The controlled release of antibiotics prevents the spread of pathogens and thereby improves healing processes in regenerative medicine. However, high concentrations may interfere with healing processes. It is therefore advantageous to use biodegradable materials for a controlled release. In particular, multilayer materials enable differential release at different surfaces. For this purpose, collagen sheets of different properties can be bonded by photochemical crosslinking. Here, we present the development and application of an easily accessible, additively manufactured sample holder to study the controlled release of vancomycin from modularly assembled collagen laminates in two directions.…

What Is the Most Recent Evidence on the Prevention and Early Treatment of Invasive Fungal Infections in Nonneutropenic Critically Ill Patients?

2017

: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. Candida species are the most important fungal pathogens and among the most frequent causes of infection in critically ill patients. Studies have evaluated the correlation between the onset of antifungal treatment and survival. However, definitive diagnosis of IFI is time-consuming in clinical practice. Antifungal prophylaxis and preemptive or empirical treatments are among therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat early fungal infections in selected patients. Recently, new evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews has been published. Moreover, new clinical p…

Nanosponges for the protection and release of the natural phenolic antioxidants quercetin, curcumin and phenethyl caffeate

2020

The inclusion of polyphenols into nanoporous materials may significantly improve their application as radical trapping agents for therapeutic purposes. In the present work, nanosponges based on hypercross- linked cyclodextrins and calixarenes (NS1–NS3) were used as carriers of three natural phenolic antioxidants: quercetin (Que), curcumin (Cur) and phenethyl caffeate (Phec). Good w/w loadings, namely 7.3% for the Que–NS1 composite, 17.3% for Cur–NS2 and 12.9% for Phec–NS3, were achieved. The release kinetics and the inhibition rate constants (kinh) of the reaction with alkylperoxyl radicals (ROO.) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solutions at pH 7.4 were studied and indicated better antioxidant ac…

Algae and Their Extracts in Medical Treatment

2018

Scientific efforts undertaken in recent decades have undoubtedly proven that algae are an inestimable and, what is more, important renewable source of hundreds of chemical compounds characterized by a wide spectrum of biological activity. Polysaccharides, phenolic compounds and their derivatives, pigments, proteins, lipids, and fatty acids are the substances that can be isolated from seaweeds, possessing antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, antilipidemic, antitumor, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, antioxidant, and antiallergic properties, which can be successfully utilized for human needs. The majority of attention has been focused on marine polysaccharides and their application in medicine a…

Maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation through music a behavioral and neuroimaging study of males and females

2015

Music therapists use guided affect regulation in the treatment of mood disorders. However, self-directed uses of music in affect regulation are not fully understood. Some uses of music may have negative effects on mental health, as can non music regulation strategies, such as rumination. Psychological testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were used explore music listening strategies in relation to mental health. Participants (n = 123) were assessed for depression, anxiety and Neuroticism, and uses of Music in Mood Regulation (MMR). Neural responses to music were measured in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in a subset of participants (n = 56). Discharge, using music to…

ETC-1002: A future option for lipid disorders?

2014

ETC-1002 is a new investigational low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering agent (Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.). ETC-1002 is a dicarboxylic acid derivative with a novel mechanism of action targeting two hepatic enzymes - adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), inhibiting sterol and fatty acid synthesis and promoting mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid oxidation. This agent is currently in phase II clinical research. Available data report that ETC-1002 significantly decreased LDL-C levels (up to 32%) in both patients with normal and elevated baseline levels of triglycerides. Such beneficial effect is superior to curre…

Efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2020

Background Bempedoic acid is a first-in-class lipid-lowering drug recommended by guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Our objective was to estimate its average effect on plasma lipids in humans and its safety profile. Methods and findings We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of phase II and III randomized controlled trials on bempedoic acid (PROSPERO: CRD42019129687). PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched, with no language restriction, from inception to 5 August 2019. We included 10 RCTs (n = 3,788) comprising 26 arms (active arm [n = 2,460]; control arm [n = 1,328]). Effect sizes for changes in lipids and high-…

Effects of high intensity resistance aquatic training on body composition and walking speed in women with mild knee osteoarthritis : a 4-month RCT wi…

2017

Objective: To investigate the effects of 4-months intensive aquatic resistance training on body composition and walking speed in post-menopausal women with mild knee osteoarthritis (OA), immediately after intervention and after 12-months follow-up. Additionally, influence of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) will be investigated. Design: This randomised clinical trial assigned eighty-seven volunteer postmenopausal women into two study arms. The intervention group (n = 43) participated in 48 supervised intensive aquatic resistance training sessions over 4-months while the control group (n = 44) maintained normal physical activity. Eighty four participants continued into the 12-months' fo…

A versatile mechanized setup for controlled experiments in archeology

2020

Experimentation has always played an important role in archeology, in particular to create reference collections for use-wear studies. Different types of experiments can answer different questions; all types should therefore be combined to obtain a holistic view. In controlled experiments, some factors are tested, while the other factors are kept constant to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Yet, controlled experiments have been conducted with variable degrees of control. Although they seem decoupled from archeological applications, mechanized experiments and the robust causal relationships they measure are critical to answer archeological questions like understanding the processes of use-…