Physical and sensory characterizations of oral coatings of oil/water emulsions.

The physical and sensory properties of oil coatings on the tongue formed by five oil/water emulsions varying in oil content were investigated. A total of 20 subjects processed orally each emulsion for 30 s in triplicate. In vivo fluorescence measurements at the front and back of the anterior tongue were made to quantify the oil fraction deposited at different time points. Calibration lines relating fluorescence intensity to oil fraction were determined using pig tongues at 37.5 °C to mimic oral conditions. The oil fraction on the tongue increased linearly with an increasing oil content of the emulsions. The oil fraction deposited at the back of the anterior tongue was 1.5-2.0× larger than at the front. The intensity of sensory attributes describing after-feel perception was related to the oil fraction by Weber-Fechner's law. This study uses in vivo fluorescence to study food behavior in the mouth and unravel new insights in after-feel perception of emulsions.

Efavirenz replacement by immediate full-dose nevirapine is safe in HIV-1-infected patients in Cambodia.

BACKGROUND: Efavirenz is used for the antiretroviral treatment of HIV/tuberculosis-coinfected patients in developing countries. A switch to nevirapine is regularly carried out because of the cost and side effects of efavirenz. Pharmacokinetic studies suggested that nevirapine should be initiated at full dose when used as a substitute for efavirenz. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to measure the cumulative incidence of adverse events (AEs) related to nevirapine in patients switched from efavirenz to immediate full-dose nevirapine (FDN). METHODS: In 2001 an antiretroviral treatment programme was initiated with the first-line regimen stavudine, lamivudine and efavirenz. In 2003, the fixed-dose combination of stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine was recommended. Thus, first-line therapy was changed and FDN was initiated when patients were switched from efavirenz to nevirapine. RESULTS: Between April and December 2004, 394 patients were switched from efavirenz to FDN. The cumulative incidence of AEs related to nevirapine was 13.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.2-16.7] and that of severe AEs was 8.9% (95% CI 6.5-11.9). In women the incidence of AEs was 17.6% (95% CI 12.1-24.3) and that of severe AEs was 12.2% (95% CI 7.7-18.2). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that an FDN switch from efavirenz does not appear to result in more AEs than when nevirapine is initiated with escalating doses. These data are particularly relevant in resource-limited settings.