ABSTRACT
Human cell lines are often used for in vitro biotransformation and transport studies of drugs. In vivo, genetic polymorphisms have been identified in drug-metabolizing enzymes and ABC-drug transporters leading to altered enzyme activity, or a change in the inducibility of these enzymes. These genetic polymorphisms could also influence the outcome of studies using human cell lines. Therefore, the aim of our study was to pharmacogenotype four cell lines frequently used in drug metabolism and transport studies, HepG2, IGROV-1, CaCo-2 and LS180, for genetic polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes and drug transporters. The results indicate that, despite the presence of some genetic polymorphisms, no real effects influencing the activity of metabolizing enzymes or drug transporters in the investigated cell lines are expected. However, this characterization will be an aid in the interpretation of the results of biotransformation and transport studies using these in vitro cell models.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism , Carcinoma/metabolism , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/standards , Inactivation, Metabolic/genetics , Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics , Transferases/genetics , ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/genetics , ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/metabolism , Biological Transport , Biotransformation , Caco-2 Cells , Carcinoma/enzymology , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/enzymology , Cell Line, Tumor , Colonic Neoplasms/enzymology , Colonic Neoplasms/metabolism , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods , Female , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/enzymology , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism , Ovarian Neoplasms/enzymology , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Pharmacogenetics/methods , Polymorphism, Genetic , Transferases/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To provide an alternative language comprehension assessment strategy for patients unable to be tested with traditional verbally/behaviorally based methods. DESIGN: Event-related brain potentials were recorded from three midline scalp locations to visually and aurally computer-presented sentences, 50% of which were semantically appropriate and 50% semantically incongruous. SETTING: A rehabilitation hospital. PATIENT: A 21-year-old man with a traumatic brain injury. RESULTS: The patient exhibited brain response patterns to aurally presented congruous and incongruous sentences indicative of intact semantic processing capabilities. These findings resulted in reinstatement of individualized rehabilitative intervention, with a successful outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This innovative technique provides new opportunities for assessing intellectual function in noncommunicative patients who were patients previously unable to be tested.
Subject(s)
Aphasia/diagnosis , Aphasia/etiology , Brain Injury, Chronic/complications , Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods , Electroencephalography/methods , Evoked Potentials, Auditory , Evoked Potentials, Visual , Language Tests , Adult , Aphasia/rehabilitation , Brain Injury, Chronic/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
We report a study of the measurement properties of goal attainment (GA) scaling when used in the rehabilitation of brain injury patients. GA scaling is an individualized measurement technique with mathematical properties allowing for calculation of summary scores with a normal distribution. The present study examined 16 inpatients, 13 of whom had suffered a traumatic brain injury. In addition to GA scaling, standardized measures were employed to address issues such as content validity and construct validity. GA scaling change scores correlated highly (r = 0.81) with clinical judgment of efficacy and modestly with standard performance measures. A high level of inter-rater reliability was found between admission (r = 0.92) and discharge (r = 0.94) scores. GA scaling seems to be a feasible method of evaluating rehabilitation in brain injury patients, with promising measurement properties. The goals set are extremely meaningful to the patient and rehabilitation team, providing valuable feedback throughout the rehabilitation course.
Subject(s)
Brain Injuries/rehabilitation , Goals , Activities of Daily Living , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Observer Variation , Program Evaluation , Social Behavior , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Canes, crutches and walkers are safe and effective but generally underutilized therapeutic tools. These aids are most helpful to patients who have an unstable gait, whose muscles are weak or who require a reduction in the load on weight-bearing structures. An understanding of the biomechanics of ambulation aids provides insights into how and when these devices should be prescribed. The patient must have sufficient strength, balance and coordination to master the aid and should be trained to use it correctly.