NIR spectroscopic methods for monitoring blend potency in a feed frame - calibration transfer between offline and inline using a continuum regression filter.

A material sparing method for near-infrared (NIR) calibration was developed using an offline apparatus coupled with a calibration transfer method to enable a partial least squares (PLS) model to monitor the concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in the feed frame of a rotary tablet press. The offline apparatus was designed to simulate the powder flow dynamic and NIRS measurement environment of a tablet-press feed frame. A comprehensive experimental design, including calibration and testing, was employed to determine blend inhomogeneity. NIR spectra were collected at both the feed frame (inline) conditions and the simulator (offline) conditions. The simulator conditions were designed to mimic the density and powder flow in the feed frame during the actual tableting process. The offline data were pretreated by an orthogonalization-based calibration transfer algorithm, a continuum regression filter (CR filter), before being subjected to PLS modeling. This study demonstrated: (1) calibration for inline application can be generated using an offline apparatus, and (2) the CR filter, as an innovative calibration transfer method, can generalize the offline method for multiple feed frame conditions.

Susceptibility vessel sign predicts poor clinical outcome for acute stroke patients untreated by thrombolysis.

The location and length of the susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) predicts poor outcome for patients having received reperfusion therapy. The aim of the present study was to assess the predictive value of SVS regarding the clinical outcome for patients untreated with thrombolysis. A retrospective study on acute stroke patients who underwent multimodal magnetic resonance imaging within 3 days from the onset of symptoms was performed. None of the patients had received thrombolysis therapy. The presence, location and length of the SVS were assessed. Uni- and multivariate analyses were used to examine the association between SVS and clinical outcome. A total of 43 SVS+ and 73 SVS- patients were included in the study. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of ≤2 at 3 months was determined in 41.9% of patients in the SVS+ group and 79.4% in the SVS- group (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of SVS was an independent parameter to predict mRS >2 at 3 months (odds ratio, 3.390; 95% confidence interval, 1.122-10.240; P=0.030). For patients with SVS+ status, the location and length of the SVS were not independent predictors of the clinical outcome. In conclusion, the presence of SVS may predict poor clinical outcome for acute stroke patients untreated with thrombolysis.

[CADASIL with clinical manifestations of baldness, lumbago and Parkinson's symptoms].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with the subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) case with clinical manifestations of baldness, lumbago and Parkinson's symptoms. METHODS: Clinical and imaging data of the patient were analyzed. The patient and his family members were also subjected to genetic testing. RESULTS: The symptoms of the patient included recurrent stroke, dementia, and mood disturbance, in addition with lumbago, baldness and Parkinson's symptoms but no migraine. Cranial MRI of the patient showed bilateral symmetric leukoencephalopathy and multiple small subcortical lacunar infarcts. A point mutation in exon 11 of the NOTCH3 gene (R558C) was discovered in the proband and four asymptomatic relatives. CONCLUSION: CADASIL is characterized by recurrent subcortical ischemic stroke, dementia, pseudobulbar palsy, and mood disturbance. Baldness, lumbago and Parkinson's symptoms may also be seen in such patients.

A novel SYNE1 gene mutation in a Chinese family of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy-like.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, a novel mutation in exon 46 at codon 2304 (G2304R) of the SYNE1 gene is described in a Chinese family (proband, mother, and sister) with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy-like, which clinically manifests as muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, joint contracture, and without significant cardiac abnormalities. METHODS: Clinical examination and neuroimaging of the captured target region and high-throughput sequencing were performed in a family of four generations. Muscle changes were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging and muscle biopsies. RESULTS: Target region capture sequencing yielded a novel missense mutation in codon 2304 (G2304R), which is a heterozygous A to G point mutation at position 6910 (c.6910A > G) in exon 46 of SYNE1 leading to a glycine-to-arginine substitution (p.Gly2304Arg). The results were also identified by Sanger sequencing in three family members but not in the other three unaffected family members and 100 control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: This mutation is probably pathogenic and is the first of its kind reported in a familial Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy-like.