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Ji-Hyun Kang*,1 Jinmann Chon*,2 Young-Il Kim,1 Hyo-Jung Lee,1 Dong-Won Oh,1 Hong-Goo Lee,1 Chang-Soo Han,1 Dong-Wook Kim,3 Chun-Woong Park11College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; 2School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea*These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: Tacrolimus (TCR), also known as FK-506, is a biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class II drug that is insoluble in water because of its high log P values. After dermal application, TCR remains in the stratum corneum and passes through the skin layers with difficulty.Purpose: The objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with thermosensitive properties to improve penetration and retention.Methods: We prepared TCR-loaded thermosensitive solid lipid nanoparticles (TCR-SLNs) with different types of surfactants on the shell of the particle, which conferred the advantages of enhancing skin permeation and distribution. We also characterized them from a physic point of view and performed in vitro and in vivo evaluations.Results: The TCR contained in the prepared TCR-SLN was in an amorphous state and entrapped in the particles with a high loading efficiency. The assessment of ex vivo skin penetration using excised rat dorsal skin showed that the TCR-SLNs penetrated to a deeper layer than the reference product (0.1% Protopic®). In addition, the in vivo skin penetration test demonstrated that TCR-SLNs delivered more drug into deeper skin layers than the reference product. FT-IR images also confirmed drug distribution of TCR-SLNs into deeper layers of the skin.Conclusion: These results revealed the potential application of thermosensitive SLNs for the delivery of difficult-to-permeate, poorly water-soluble drugs into deep skin layers.Keywords: tacrolimus, thermosensitive, solid lipid nanoparticle, FT-IR imaging, atopic dermatitis, dermal delivery

We present the phylogenetic affinities and DNA barcode of Gila cf. eremica, a geographically isolated and morphologically divergent population from G. eremica DeMarais, 1991. Mitochondrial phylogenetic analyses of cyt–b, cox1 and nd2 show a clades pattern within the G. eremica lineage, placing G. cf. eremica in a clade of specific identity to and sharing a putative common ancestor with G. eremica from the Mátape River basin. The barcoding analysis using a character–based approach of CAOS showed seven single pure characters discriminating G. eremica from its regional congener G. purpurea, and one fixed character in G. cf. eremica discriminating it from G. eremica. These results and the recent detection of diagnostic morphological differences between G. cf. eremica and G. eremica support the hypothesis of Gila cf. eremica as an significant evolutionary unit within the G. eremica lineage.

Jinmann Chon,1 Moosang Kim2 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 2Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medcine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea Abstract: Endophthalmitis following intraocular surgery can be devastating. This case report demonstrates successful management of late-onset Streptococcus mitis endophthalmitis treated by vitrectomy, panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) and silicone oil tamponade. A 75-year-old man presented with painful vision loss in his right eye. The patient had uneventful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in the right eye at an outside clinic 6 weeks prior. Examination disclosed hypopyon and vitritis, as well as discrete inflammatory collections in the vitreous. The patient underwent vitrectomy with PRP and silicone oil tamponade. Vitreous cultures were positive for S. mitis, a pathogen associated with severe tissue damage and poor clinical outcomes. One month after the surgery, intraocular inflammation was stabilized, and visual acuity was improved from light perception to 20/200. Aggressive surgical management may play a role in improving outcomes in these patients. Keywords: late-onset endophthalmitis, Streptococcus mitis, vitrectomy

White spot syndrome virus ( WSSV) has caused substantial global economic impact on aquaculture, and it has been determined that strains can vary in virulence. In this study, the effect of viral load was evaluated by infecting Litopenaeus vannamei with 10-fold serial dilution of tissue infected with strain WSSV Mx-H, and the virulence of four WSSV strains from north-western Mexico was assessed along with their variable number of tandem repeat ( VNTR) genotypes in ORF75, ORF94 and ORF125. The LD50 of the Mx-H strain was a dilution dose of 10−7.5; the mortality titre was 109.2 LD50 per gram. In shrimp injected with 102.5 to 106.5 LD50, no significant virulence differences were evident. Using mortality data, the four WSSV strains grouped into three virulence levels. The Mx-F strain (intermediate virulence) and the Mx-C strain (high virulence) showed more genetic differences than those observed between the Mx-G (low-virulence) and Mx-H (high-virulence) strains, in ORF94 and ORF125. The application of high-viral-load inocula proved useful in determining the different virulence phenotypes of the WSSV strains from the Eastern Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Experimental, prospective study.Objectives:We evaluated the long-term clinical efficacy of transanal irrigation (TAI) and its effect on the quality of life of spina bifida children and their caregivers.Setting:Republic of Korea.Method:Forty-four spina bifida pediatric patients with constipation, fecal incontinence or both, underwent a TAI program at our spina bifida clinic between December 2010 and October 2013. The children and their caregivers were evaluated using a self-administered questionnaire before TAI and at 3 months and 3 years after initiation of the program.Results:Successful treatment outcome was achieved in 38 (86.4%) children after a mean follow-up duration of 33 months (range, 30-36). The mean number of fecal incontinence episodes per week, the number of diaper changes and the total time for bowel care per day before the program decreased at the latest follow-up examination from 7.3 to 0.4 (P<0.001), 1.6 to 0.2 (P<0.001) and 29.2 to 19.4 min (P=0.038), respectively. These results remained constant from short-term follow-up at 3 months to 3 years. Caregivers and children could go out more often (P=0.002), and the emotional impact of bowel care on caregivers decreased (P<0.001). The reported mean overall satisfaction with TAI was 8/10. The common adverse effect during TAI was abdominal discomfort (60.5%).Conclusion:We observed a sustained significant improvement in defecation symptoms and quality of life for 3 years in spina bifida children who underwent continuous TAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]