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Clinical and Translational Science Jul 2024Insufficient labeling information regarding the appropriate age for prescribing drugs to the pediatric population is challenging. This study aimed to analyze the... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Insufficient labeling information regarding the appropriate age for prescribing drugs to the pediatric population is challenging. This study aimed to analyze the off-label prescription of age-related drugs for pediatric patients using claims data from South Korea and to assess the consistency of the approved age in South Korea, the United States, Europe, and Japan. In 2020, 1004 unique drugs were prescribed to the pediatric population in South Korea. We found that 641 drugs (63.8%, p < 0.0001) were related to off-label prescriptions for age-related use at least once, and the total number of off-label prescriptions was 2,236,669 (62.2%, p < 0.0001). Chlorpheniramine (28%) was the most frequently prescribed drug for pediatric patients with an age-related off-label, followed by budesonide (9%) and epinephrine (9%). The degree of agreement in the approved age range for 641 off-label drugs across countries was assessed using the overall kappa coefficient. We observed slight agreement in labeling across all countries (κ: 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14-0.18). The highest degree of agreement was observed between the United States and Europe (0.41, 0.37-0.45) due to pediatric-population-specific legislation. South Korea showed the lowest degree of agreement with the United States and Europe (0.10, 0.06-0.14). The United States, Europe, and Japan showed fair agreement (0.23, 0.21-0.26). However, the degree of agreement between South Korea, the United States, and Japan (0.09, 0.06-0.11) and South Korea, Europe, and Japan (0.08, 0.05-0.10) was low. This study highlights the need for South Korean regulatory agencies to consider introducing pediatric legislation to prescribe evidence-based drugs for safe and effective use.
Topics: Humans; Off-Label Use; Republic of Korea; Child; United States; Japan; Child, Preschool; Drug Labeling; Europe; Infant; Male; Adolescent; Female; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Age Factors; Drug Prescriptions; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 38946123
DOI: 10.1111/cts.13869 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024Some of conventional wastewater disinfectants can have a harmful influence on the environment as well as human health. The aim of this investigation was synthesis and...
Some of conventional wastewater disinfectants can have a harmful influence on the environment as well as human health. The aim of this investigation was synthesis and characterizes ecofriendly pectin/hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)/clay and pectin/HEC/clay incorporated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) and use the prepared bionanocomposite as microbial disinfectants for real wastewater. Pectin/HEC/clay and pectin/HEC/clay/TiO bionanocomposite were characterized by various methods including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP) were carried out. The results of SEM showed that, the prepared bionanocomposite had a smooth surface. Additionally, TiO nanoparticles to the pectin/HEC/clay composites may lead to changes in the FTIR spectrum. The intensity of XRD peaks indicated that, TiONPs was small size crystallite. TGA illustrated that pectin has moderate thermal stability, while HEC generally exhibits good thermal stability. The TEM showed that, TiO nanoparticles have diameters <25 nm. On the other hand, antimicrobial activities of pectin/HEC/clay against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans have been enhanced by adding TiONPs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of pectin/HEC/clay/TiO against E. coli was 200 mg/mL. Moreover, complete eradication of E. coli, Salmonella and Candida spp. from real wastewater was observed by using pectin/HEC/clay/TiO bionanocomposite. Finally, it can be concluded that, the synthesized bionanocomposite is environmentally friendly and considered an excellent disinfectant matter for removal of the microbial pathogens from wastewater to safely reuse.
PubMed: 38944095
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133511 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024Recent advancements have transformed lignin from a byproduct into a valuable raw material for polymers, dyes, adhesives, and fertilizers. However, its structural... (Review)
Review
Recent advancements have transformed lignin from a byproduct into a valuable raw material for polymers, dyes, adhesives, and fertilizers. However, its structural heterogeneity, variable reactive group content, impurities, and high extraction costs pose challenges to industrial-scale adoption. Efficient separation technologies and selective bond cleavage are crucial. Advanced pretreatment methods have enhanced lignin purity and reduced contamination, while novel catalytic techniques have improved depolymerization efficiency and selectivity. This review compares catalytic depolymerization methodologies, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, and noting challenges in comparing yield values due to variations in isolation methods and lignin sources. Recognizing "technical lignin" from pulping processes, the review emphasizes its diverse applications and the necessity of understanding its structural characteristics. Emerging trends focus on bio-based functional additives and nanostructured lignin materials, promising enhanced properties and functionalities. Innovations open possibilities in sustainable agriculture, high-performance foams and composites, and advanced medical applications like drug delivery and wound healing. Leveraging lignin's biocompatibility, abundance, and potential for high-value applications, it can significantly contribute to sustainable material development across various industries. Continuous research in bio-based additives and nanostructured materials underscores lignin's potential to revolutionize material science and promote environmentally friendly industrial applications.
PubMed: 38944064
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133506 -
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science... Jun 2024This article describes the development of a representative dataset of extractables and leachables (E&L) from the combined Extractables and Leachables Safety Information...
This article describes the development of a representative dataset of extractables and leachables (E&L) from the combined Extractables and Leachables Safety Information Exchange (ELSIE) Consortium and the Product Quality Research Institute (PQRI) published datasets, representing a total of 783 chemicals. A chemical structure-based clustering of the combined dataset identified 142 distinct chemical classes with two or more chemicals across the combined dataset. The majority of these classes (105 chemical classes out of 142) contained chemicals from both datasets, whereas 8 classes contained only chemicals from the ELSIE dataset and 29 classes contain only chemicals from the PQRI dataset. This evaluation also identified classes containing chemicals that were flagged as potentially mutagenic as well as potent (strong or extreme) dermal sensitizers by tools. The prevalence of alerting structures in the E&L datasets was approximately 9% (69 examples) for mutagens and 3% (25 examples) for potent sensitizers. This analysis showed that most (80%; 20 of 25) E&L predicted to be strong or extreme dermal sensitizers were also flagged as potential mutagens. Only two chemical classes, each containing three chemicals (alkyl bromides and isothiocyanates), were uniquely identified in the PQRI dataset and contained chemicals predicted to be potential mutagens and/or potent dermal sensitizers.
Topics: Risk Assessment; Computer Simulation; Mutagens; Humans; Drug Contamination; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Drug Packaging
PubMed: 38942479
DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2022.012819 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The purpose of this study was to evaluate and validate methylene blue migration from printed time-temperature indicators (TTIs) into food. It also highlights the...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and validate methylene blue migration from printed time-temperature indicators (TTIs) into food. It also highlights the importance of establishing regulatory measures and safety standards for food packaging, suggesting that this can contribute to improving food packaging safety. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify methylene blue migration in various food simulant and food matrix samples. The results show that the level of methylene blue migration varies significantly depending on the chemical properties of the food mimetic and the composition of the food matrix. The established method demonstrated a high sensitivity, with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.0019-0.0706 μg/L (kg) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.0057-0.2138 μg/L (kg). This study highlights the need for a regulatory framework to mitigate the health risks associated with methylene blue in intelligent packaging systems and argues that regulatory thresholds should be set to ensure food safety and quality.
PubMed: 38928829
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121888 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Increasing the number of resistant bacteria resistant to treatment is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. These bacteria are created in wounds and injuries and... (Review)
Review
Increasing the number of resistant bacteria resistant to treatment is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. These bacteria are created in wounds and injuries and can be transferred through hospital equipment. Various attempts have been made to treat these bacteria in recent years, such as using different drugs and new sterilization methods. However, some bacteria resist drugs, and other traditional methods cannot destroy them. In the meantime, various studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma can kill these bacteria through different mechanisms, making cold plasma a promising tool to deactivate bacteria. This new technology can be effectively used in the food industry because it has the potential to inactivate microorganisms such as spores and microbial toxins and increase the wettability and printability of polymers to pack fresh and dried food. It can also increase the shelf life of food without leaving any residue or chemical effluent. This paper investigates cold plasma's potential, advantages, and disadvantages in the food industry and sterilization.
Topics: Food Packaging; Plasma Gases; Sterilization; Atmospheric Pressure; Food Preservation; Bacteria
PubMed: 38928343
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126638 -
BMC Chemistry Jun 2024The antibacterial characteristics of graphene oxide (GO-SB) nano-sheets generated by charring sugarcane bagasse (SB) are described in this study. The antibacterial...
Fluffy-like amphiphilic graphene oxide and its effects on improving the antibacterial activity and thermal outstanding of ethyl cellulose /polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel film.
The antibacterial characteristics of graphene oxide (GO-SB) nano-sheets generated by charring sugarcane bagasse (SB) are described in this study. The antibacterial capability of GO-SB was improved when it was grafted with ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form GO-SB/EC/PVA hydrogels. Characterization of GO-SB nanosheets and GO-SB/EC/PVA hydrogels was accomplished by using FTIR, SEM, XRD, and thermal studies. The antimicrobial activity was carried out against Gram positive bacteria [Micrococcus leutus & Staphylococcus aureus], Gram negative bacteria [Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa] and pathogenic fungal yeast [Candida albicans] applying the disc diffusion method. The disc diffusion method results showed that the improved GO-SB/EC/PVA exhibited a reasonable level of antimicrobial capability against Micrococcus leutus, demonstrating that the antimicrobial improvement of GO-SB was more effective in the GO-SB/EC/PVA hydrogels by increasing the inhibition zone of Gram-positive bacteria, Micrococcus leutus from (13.0 to 16.0 mm).
PubMed: 38926782
DOI: 10.1186/s13065-024-01221-3 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Jun 2024Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contain abundant circular RNAs (circRNAs) and are involved in cellular processes, particularly hypoxia. However, the process that...
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contain abundant circular RNAs (circRNAs) and are involved in cellular processes, particularly hypoxia. However, the process that packaging of circRNAs into neuronal sEVs under hypoxia is unclear. This study revealed the spatial mechanism of the Fused in Sarcoma protein (FUS) that facilitates the loading of functional circRNAs into sEVs in hypoxia neurons. It is found that FUS translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and is more enriched in hypoxic neuronal sEVs than in normal sEVs. Cytoplasmic FUS formed aggregates with the sEVs marker protein CD63 in cytoplasmic stress granules (SGs) under hypoxic stress. Meanwhile, cytoplasmic FUS recruited of functional cytoplasmic circRNAs to SGs. Upon relief of hypoxic stress and degradation of SGs, cytoplasmic FUS is transported with those circRNAs from SGs to sEVs. Validation of FUS knockout dramatically reduced the recruitment of circRNAs from SGs and led to low circRNA loading in sEVs, which is also confirmed by the accumulation of circRNAs in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, it is showed that the FUS Zf_RanBP domain regulates the transport of circRNAs to sEVs by interacting with hypoxic circRNAs in SGs. Overall, these findings have revealed a FUS-mediated transport mechanism of hypoxia-related cytoplasmic circRNAs loaded into sEVs under hypoxic conditions.
PubMed: 38924471
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202404822 -
European Journal of Dermatology : EJD Apr 2024
Topics: Humans; Triamcinolone Acetonide; Cicatrix; Female; Drug Packaging; Glucocorticoids; Adult; Male; Face; Combined Modality Therapy
PubMed: 38907566
DOI: 10.1684/ejd.2024.4659 -
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines Jun 2024Although various anti-inflammatory medications, such as ephedrine, are employed to manage cough-variant asthma, their underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully...
Although various anti-inflammatory medications, such as ephedrine, are employed to manage cough-variant asthma, their underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully understood. Recent studies suggest that exosomes derived from airway epithelial cells (AECs) contain components like messenger RNAs (mRNAs), micro-RNAs (miRNAs), and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), which play roles in the occurrence and progression of airway inflammation. This study investigates the influence of AEC-derived exosomes on the efficacy of ephedrine in treating cough-variant asthma. We established a mouse model of asthma and measured airway resistance and serum inflammatory cell levels. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses were used to assess gene and protein expression levels. Exosomes were isolated and characterized. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were conducted to examine the interaction between hnRNPA2B1 and lnc-TRPM2-AS1. In the ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged mouse model, ephedrine treatment reduced inflammatory responses, airway resistance, and Th1/Th2 cell imbalance. Exosomes from OVA-treated AECs showed elevated levels of lnc-TRPM2-AS1, which were diminished following ephedrine treatment. The exosomal lnc-TRPM2-AS1 mediated the Th1/Th2 imbalance in CD4 T cells, with its packaging into exosomes being facilitated by hnRNPA2B1. This study unveils a novel mechanism by which ephedrine ameliorates OVA-induced CD4 T cell imbalance by suppressing AEC-derived exosomal lnc-TRPM2-AS1. These findings could provide a theoretical framework for using ephedrine in asthma treatment.
Topics: Animals; Asthma; Ephedrine; Exosomes; Mice; Ovalbumin; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Epithelial Cells; Th2 Cells; Female; RNA, Long Noncoding; Humans; Th1 Cells; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38906600
DOI: 10.1016/S1875-5364(24)60554-6