Search

This paper proposes a method for determining the optimal parameters for the thermal testing of plant tissues of fruits and vegetables containing surface and subsurface defects in the form of areas of plant tissues with different thermophysical characteristics. Based on well-known mathematical models for objects of predominantly flat, cylindrical and spherical shapes containing flat, spherical and cylindrical regions of defects, numerical solutions of three-dimensional, non-stationary temperature fields were found, making it possible to measure the power and time of the thermal exposure of the sample surface to the radiation from infrared lamps using the finite element method. This made it possible to ensure the reliable detection of a temperature contrast of up to 4 °C between the defect and defect-free regions of the test object using modern thermal imaging cameras. In this case, subsurface defects can be detected at a depth of up to 3 mm from the surface. To determine the parameters of mathematical models of temperature fields, such as thermal conductivity and a coefficient of the thermal diffusivity of plant tissues, a new method of a pulsed heat flux from a flat heater is proposed; this differs in the method of processing experimental data and makes it possible to determine the required characteristics with high accuracy during the active stage of the experiment in a period not exceeding 1–3 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has released a new guideline on the clinical investigation of antidepressants. The guideline aims to improve the efficacy, safety, and personalization of these medications. It provides information on depressive disorders, clinical trial methodology, statistical analysis, and requirements for trials in difficult-to-treat populations. The guideline also discusses the use of psychedelics in depression treatment and highlights the need for randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. The ongoing consultation process will address remaining challenges in the field. [Extracted from the article]

We describe a method for determining mass-exchange and capacitance characteristics of chemisorbents of carbon dioxide. Through a cartridge equipped with a chemosorbent, a gas-air mixture is blown continuously from a sealed container of a small volume into which the impurity of carbon dioxide is continuously introduced. The gas-air mixture, which has been purified from the impurity, is again introduced into the tank. The concentration of carbon dioxide in a sealed volume is monitored by means of the gas analyzer; the effective mass transfer coefficient and the maximum capacity of the chemisorbent for carbon dioxide are calculated from the obtained data.

Improving and facilitating the process of making new drugs available to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) requires cooperation among the regulators and other stakeholders. This cooperation will also positively contribute towards developing guidelines of the highest quality in medical, regulatory and scientific aspects. This would be beneficial both in areas that require further guideline development, but also in fields where existing guidance should be adapted to take into account evolution in science. Considering the input from all stakeholders, the European Medicines Agency confirmed its intention to update the relevant guideline and apply a flexible approach towards new drug development strategies in MS. This article is the first official position from the EU regulators, presenting the main changes to be expected in the guidance document., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of different demographic and clinical factors on the quality of life and cost of treatment of epilepsy patients on monotherapy with carbamazepine and valproate., Patients and Methods: A total of 146 patients (67 male, 79 female, age range 18-80 years) with focal and generalized seizures were studied for one year. The patients were allocated into two groups depending on the drug they received: group one--46 patients on carbamazepine, and group two--100 patients on valproate. Quality of life (QOL) and total costs per patient per year were calculated. QOL was assessed using a questionnaire--Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Costs included direct medical, non-medical and indirect costs related to either epilepsy or its treatment. The assessed demographic and clinical factors were: age, gender, type of seizures, number of registered adverse events (AE) per three months, interval between seizures and seizure reduction percentage., Results and Conclusions: In both groups, age, gender and type of seizures didn't cause significant differences in the formation of QOL and costs. In the carbamazepine patients costs were influenced by the incidence of AEs, the time between seizures and seizure reduction percentage. In the valproate patients costs were mainly influenced by the time period between seizures while QOL by the incidence of AEs.

Aim: Pharmacoeconomics comprises a system of relatively new methods that inform policy makers about the costs and benefits of different therapies so that limited health care resources may be allocated efficiently. The purpose of this study was to perform a pharmacoeconomic comparison of three of the most widely used antiepileptic drugs in Bulgaria: carbamazepine (two different products: Tegretol and Finlepsin) and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)., Patients and Methods: The inclusion criteria for entering the study were: women or men of age with newly detected and clinically diagnosed epilepsy,monotherapy treatment with the studied drugs, ability to keep personal records. The follow-up visits were conducted in three-month periods, each visit including a thorough evaluation of effectiveness, costs and quality of life. Effectiveness was assessed as seizure reduction percentage and time till new seizure. Costs included direct and indirect medical and nonmedical costs, related to epilepsy or its treatment. The quality of life of the patient was assessed with Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE)--an evaluation instrument accepted for use in clinical practice. The statistical methods used included: descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation and Kaplan-Meyer analyses., Results: The mean seizure reduction was 86.05% for Finlepsin, 83.31% for Tegretol and 66.67% for Trileptal. There were no seizure-free patients on Trileptal, while almost 60% of Tegretol and nearly 50% in Finlepsin patients remained seizure-free for a period of one year., Conclusions: The quality of life of all patients was high, indicating good efficacy and safety as assessed by patients. There was a significant difference in terms of costs in the Trileptal group compared with the other two groups --it incurred higher annual costs as well as higher cost-per-QALY value.