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Abstract Introduction Acute tension pneumopericardium due to gastric perforation is a rare and often lethal condition. Only a few case reports have been described in the literature. Diagnosis based on clinical evaluation is difficult and it is usually made incidentally upon computed tomography (CT) or plain radiography of the chest. Since cardiac tamponade caused by pneumopericardium is life-threatening, immediate diagnosis and emergent therapy is vital. Case report We report a 75-year-old male with peptic ulcer disease associated with perforation of the pericardium and acute shock. It is the first reported case with a series of two computed tomograms performed during the 72 h preceding the acute onset of tension pneumopericardium. No radiographic evidence of ulcer perforation was present in the three days prior to the acute event. Discussions Gastric ulcer perforation into the pericardium is rare and could not be detected by CT scan prior the deletorious event. Pneumopericardium seems to be fateful and could not be foreseen by clinical or radiological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new roll-based process and machine for three-dimensional bending of profiles with symmetrical and asymmetrical cross-sections have been developed. Compared to conventional processes like stretch bending, the advantage of the Torque Superposed Spatial (TSS) bending is the kinematic adjustment of the bending contour, leading to higher flexibility and cost efficiency, especially in small batch production. To define the spatial geometry of the workpiece, a torque is superposed to the bending moment. Results of the analytical and numerical investigations concerning the mechanics of deformation and the machine parameters of the new process are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Gastrointestinal (GI) ileus is a common complication after severe burns. Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2i) improved post-operative ileus, but its effect on burn-induced GI dysmotility is unknown. Our aim was to test whether a COX-2i improves gastric emptying (GE) and small bowel transit (SBT) after burn. Experiment on GE: rats were anesthetized and randomized into sham/scald burn, treated/untreated with COX-2i. Six hours after burn, rats received a phenol red meal and were sacrificed 30min later. Gastric emptying was determined based on the percentage of phenol red recovered in harvested stomachs. Experiment on SBT: rats received a duodenostomy and were scald/sham burned 5 days later. Six hours after burn, rats received a phenol red meal through the duodenostomy catheter and were sacrificed 100min later. Geometric center (GC) was calculated for SBT. GE was decreased significantly in burned vs. sham animals (p <0.001). SBT was significantly impaired in burned vs. sham animals (p <0.001). The COX-2i improved GE in the burn rats but not GE in the control rats or SBT in the burn rats. COX-2i improves burn-induced delayed GE, suggesting the mediation of the latter via the prostaglandin pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract With the rise of nanotherapeutics -and nano based products in general-, there has been an increasing need for better understanding and control of nano-particle (NP) synthesis and formulation processes. Size characteristics are often primary, if not critical, quality attributes of nanodispersions. Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tools for inline size characterization during dispersion processing are therefore highly desired. Traditional methods for NP sizing -based on Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) – are typically ill-suited for direct inline application: (i) typical dispersion turbidities in process conditions often exceed by far the application limits for DLS (ii) agitation/flow typical for process conditions is incompatible with standard DLS and (iii) direct and convenient inline application requires a non-invasive PAT tool giving measurements on process relevant time scales. In this article we describe a new non-invasive PAT instrument – the NanoFlowSizer (patent pending)- which provides continuous, real-time, inline size and PSD characterization of concentrated and/or flowing nanodispersions in process environments. The instrument employs Fourier Domain low coherence interferometry, yielding path length resolved dynamic light scattering data of nanodispersions. Particle size characteristics can be analyzed from these data while effects of flow and/or multiple scattering are simultaneously characterized and accounted for. As first application examples we describe (i) real-time monitoring of NP size characteristics by remote measurement of mono and bi-disperse suspensions at different turbidities in a stirred beaker (ii) real-time monitoring of NP size characteristics using an online sampling loop with a micro-flow cell and (iii) real-time inline monitoring of size characteristics of a pharmaceutical nanoemulsion during industrial pilot scale nano-emulsification and for a pharmaceutical NP suspension during circulation, at flowrates ranging up to ~l/min. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An important application of hepatocyte cultures is identification of drugs acting as inducers of biotransformation enzymes that alter metabolic clearance of other therapeutic agents. In the present study we optimized an in vitro system with hepatocytes cultured in alginate microspheres that allow studies of enzyme induction with excellent sensitivity. Induction factors obtained with standard inducers, such as 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbital, were higher compared to those with conventional hepatocyte co-cultures on collagen coated dishes. This is illustrated by activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) after incubation with 5μM 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), a standard inducer for cytochrome P4501A1 and 1A2. Mean activities for solvent controls and 3-MC exposed cells were 2.99 and 449pmol/min/mg protein (induction factor: 150) for hepatocytes cultured in microspheres compared to 2.72 and 80.6pmol/min/mg (induction factor: 29.6) for hepatocytes on collagen coated dishes. To compare these in vitro data to the in vivo situation male Sprague Dawley rats, the same strain that was used also for the in vitro studies, were exposed to 3-MC in vivo using a protocol that guarantees maximal induction. Activities were 29.2 and 1656pmol/min/mg in liver homogenate of solvent and 3-MC treated animals (induction factor: 56.7). Thus, the absolute activities of 3-MC exposed hepatocytes in microspheres are lower compared to the in vivo situation. However, the induction factor in vitro was even higher compared to the in vivo situation (150-fold versus 56.7-fold). A similar scenario was observed using phenobarbital (0.75mM) for induction of CYP2B and 3A isoenzymes: induction factors for testosterone hydroxylation in position 16β were 127.5- and 50.4-fold for hepatocytes in microspheres and conventionally cultured hepatocytes, respectively. The new in vitro system with hepatocytes embedded in solid alginate microspheres offers several technical advantages: (i) the solid alginate microspheres can be liquefied within 60s, allowing a fast and complete harvest of hepatocytes; (ii) alginate capsules are stable allowing transport and mechanical stress; (iii) high numbers of hepatocytes can be encapsulated in short periods; (iv) defined cell numbers between 600 hepatocytes, the approximate number of cells in one capsule, and 18 × 106 hepatocytes, the number of hepatocytes in 6ml alginate, can be transferred to a culture dish or flask. Thus, encapsulated hepatocytes allow a flexible organization of experiments with respect to cell number. In conclusion, we optimized a technique for encapsulation of hepatocytes in alginate microspheres that allows identification of enzyme induction with an improved sensitivity compared to existing systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]