The study had three purposes: (1) to obtain information about mother-infant interactions in a rarely studied nocturnal prosimian, the pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus); (2) to compare pygmy lorises with a closely related and better-studied nocturnal prosimian, the Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis); and (3) to determine how the presence of a second offspring affected mother-infant interactions in pygmy lorises. Three Bengal slow loris mothers and 3 pygmy loris mothers served as subjects, along with their 10 offspring (4 Bengal slow loris singletons, 2 pygmy loris singletons and 2 sets of pygmy loris twins). Observations were carried out in a zoo research facility for the first 24 weeks of the infants' lives. Although the two species differ in size and reproductive patterns, mother-infant interactions were similar. The primary modes of infant and adult contact were ventral and passive contact, respectively. Mothers parked their infants from the first week, and infants followed from the second week. Mothers displayed little protection or rejection, and there was little aggression. Infants solicited play and social grooming from their mothers. Pygmy loris mothers engaged in social grooming and play with their infants more frequently and for longer periods if the infant was a singleton rather than a twin.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of pantoprazole (40 mg) as compared to omeprazole MUPS (20 mg) after repeated oral dose administration.

The effects on intragastric p11 and gastrin secretion of once daily pantoprazole (40 mg) and a new formulation omeprazole (20 mg) in a Multiple Unit Pellet System (MUPS) were investigated during two treatment periods of 7 days each in a randomized crossover study with 16 healthy Helicobacter pylori-negative male volunteers. Intragastric pH was measured using continuous 24 hour pH-metry on days 1 and 7. The results were compared to the baseline curves obtained before each treatment period. On day 1, pantoprazole raised the intragastric pH significantly higher and more quickly than omeprazole MUPS (pH median 1.9 vs. 1.6, baseline pH 1.4). After 7 days, the 24 h gastric pH medians were still in favor of pantoprazole (pH 3.0 vs. 2.8). With respect to the basal gastrin concentration, both treatments resulted in similar increases. For pantoprazole, no differences were observed in AUC and Cmax after single and repeated dosing. However, the new omeprazole MUPS formulation still showed the well-known effect of initial low bioavailability increasing after repeated dosing. Pantoprazole and omeprazole were well tolerated. There seems to be no advantage in the new omeprazole formulation compared with the conventional capsule with regard to bioavailability and increase in intragastric pH. The results of this study confirm former results in which pantoprazole (40 mg) was shown to be significantly superior to omeprazole (20 mg) in elevating intragastric pH.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Therapeutic delivery systems: a new approach to evaluate physical properties of transdermal delivery systems (TDS).

In the present paper a new methodological setup to objectify the parameters adhesiveness and adhesive strengths of Transdermal Delivery Systems is presented. The setup includes 6 steps: Evaluation of skin type, application of the patch by a pneumatic device, evaluation of detached area of the patch by planimetric means, assessment of the adhesive strength by a patch removal unit, evaluation of reddening of the skin, and examination for water uptake of the skin layers by high resolution ultrasound. Each step is described individually. Further problems arising from studies performed with this methodological setup concerning possible adhesive-drug interactions as well as uncorrelated drug behavior to nondetached area of the patch with regard to the pharmacokinetic profile are discussed.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

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