Two chemoattenuated PfSPZ malaria vaccines induce sterile hepatic immunity.

The global decline in malaria has stalled1, emphasizing the need for vaccines that induce durable sterilizing immunity. Here we optimized regimens for chemoprophylaxis vaccination (CVac), for which aseptic, purified, cryopreserved, infectious Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ) were inoculated under prophylactic cover with pyrimethamine (PYR) (Sanaria PfSPZ-CVac(PYR)) or chloroquine (CQ) (PfSPZ-CVac(CQ))-which kill liver-stage and blood-stage parasites, respectively-and we assessed vaccine efficacy against homologous (that is, the same strain as the vaccine) and heterologous (a different strain) controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) three months after immunization ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ , NCT02511054 and NCT03083847). We report that a fourfold increase in the dose of PfSPZ-CVac(PYR) from 5.12 × 104 to 2 × 105 PfSPZs transformed a minimal vaccine efficacy (low dose, two out of nine (22.2%) participants protected against homologous CHMI), to a high-level vaccine efficacy with seven out of eight (87.5%) individuals protected against homologous and seven out of nine (77.8%) protected against heterologous CHMI. Increased protection was associated with Vδ2 γδ T cell and antibody responses. At the higher dose, PfSPZ-CVac(CQ) protected six out of six (100%) participants against heterologous CHMI three months after immunization. All homologous (four out of four) and heterologous (eight out of eight) infectivity control participants showed parasitaemia. PfSPZ-CVac(CQ) and PfSPZ-CVac(PYR) induced a durable, sterile vaccine efficacy against a heterologous South American strain of P. falciparum, which has a genome and predicted CD8 T cell immunome that differs more strongly from the African vaccine strain than other analysed African P. falciparum strains.

Clinical and molecular spectra of BRAF-associated RASopathy.

Noonan syndrome (NS) and cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome are the most common subtypes of RASopathy. As an effector of Ras, BRAF is one of the molecules responsible for RASopathy. We investigated the phenotypic and genotypic features of 26 patients with BRAF-associated RASopathy. The clinical diagnoses were CFC (n = 21, 80.8%), NS (n = 3, 11.5%), NS/CFC (n = 1, 3.8%), and undefined syndromic intellectual disability (ID) (n = 1, 3.8%). The mostly shared phenotypes were ID (90.5%), cutaneous manifestations (84.6%), congenital heart defects (76.9%), short stature (76.9%), and dysmorphic features such as short neck (65.4%) and low-set ears (65.4%). Importantly, moderate to severe ID (57.1%) and epilepsy (26.9%) were noted. Eighteen different missense mutations were found, including a novel mutation, p.Phe498Tyr. p.Gln257Arg (n = 9, 34.6%) was the most common mutation, and the mutations were clustered in the cysteine-rich domain or protein kinase domain. A review of previously reported cases along with our findings revealed the existence of multiple sub-phenotypes of RASopathy within a single genotype, indicating that BRAF-associated RASopathy is not variant-specific. Our study further delineated the diverse and expanded clinical phenotypes of BRAF-associated RASopathy with their molecular genetic characteristics.

Justicia procumbens Extract (DW2008) Selectively Suppresses Th2 Cytokines in Splenocytes and Ameliorates Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Asthma.

DW2008 is an anhydrous ethanol extract of Justicia procumbens produced by Dong-Wha Pharmaceutical, Inc., Co. as a candidate anti-asthmatic drug. In this study, DW2008 selectively reduced T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in mouse splenocytes and ameliorated ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation by downregulating pulmonary infiltration of differential inflammatory cells and Th2 cytokines more than a decoction or ethanol extract of J. procumbens did in a mouse asthma model. DW2008 also significantly inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness and reduced the thickness of the airway epithelium. HPLC analysis showed that the major peaks (justicidin A and B) of DW2008 were higher than those of the other extracts. Justicidin A and B significantly suppressed Th2 cytokine levels in mouse spleen cells and exhibited a protective effect in ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation. Our findings indicate that DW2008 effectively inhibits allergic airway inflammatory reactions and airway hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of asthma, suggesting its potential as an anti-asthmatic agent.

Births to Parents with Asian Origins in the United States, 1992-2012.

Despite a remarkable increase in Asian births in the U.S., studies on their birth outcomes have been lacking. We investigated outcomes of births to Asian parents and biracial Asian/White parents in the U.S. From the U.S. birth data (1992-2012), we selected singleton births to Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Asian Indian, and Vietnamese. These births were divided into three groups; births to White mother/Asian father, Asian mother/White father, and births to the both ethnic Asian parents. We compared birth outcomes of these 18 subgroups to those of the White mother/White father group. Mean birthweights of births to the Asian parents were significantly lower, ranging 18 g to 295 g less than to the White parents. Compared to the rates of low birthweight (LBW) (4.6%) and preterm birth (PTB) (8.5%) in births to the White parents, births to Filipino parents had the highest rates of LBW (8.0%) and PTB (11.3%), respectively, and births to Korean parents had the lowest rates of both LBW (3.7%) and PTB (5.5%). This pattern of outcomes had changed little with adjustments of maternal sociodemographic and health factors. This observation was similarly noted also in births to the biracial parents, but the impact of paternal or maternal race on birth outcome was different by race/ethnicity. Compared to births to White parents, birth outcomes from the Asian parents or biracial Asian/White parents differed depending on the ethnic origin of Asian parents. The race/ethnicity was the strongest factor for this difference while other parental characteristics hardly explained this difference.

Neonatal and Infant Mortality in Korea, Japan, and the U.S.: Effect of Birth Weight Distribution and Birth Weight-Specific Mortality Rates.

Difference in crude neonatal and infant mortality rates (NMR and IMR) among different countries is due to the differences in its two determinants: birth weight distribution (BWD) and birth weight-specific mortality rates (BW-SMRs). We aimed to determine impact of BWD and BW-SMRs on differences in crude NMR and IMR among Korea, Japan, and the U.S. Our study used the live birth data of the period 2009 through 2010. Crude NMR/IMR are the lowest in Japan, 1.1/2.1, compared to 1.8/3.2, in Korea, and 4.1/6.2, in the U.S., respectively. Japanese had the best BW-SMRs of all birth weight groups compared to the Koreans and the U.S. The U.S. BWD was unfavorable with very low birth weight (< 1,500 g) rate of 1.4%, compared to 0.6% in Korea, and 0.8% in Japan. If Koreans and Japanese had the same BWD as in the U.S., their crude NMR/IMR would be 3.9/6.1 for the Koreans and 1.5/2.5 for the Japanese. If both Koreans and Japanese had the same BW-SMRs as in the U.S., the crude NMR/IMR would be 2.0/3.8 for the Koreans and 2.7/5.0 for the Japanese. In conclusion, compared to the U.S., lower crude NMR or IMR in Japan is mainly attributable to its better BW-SMRs. Koreans had lower crude NMR and IMR, primarily from its favorable BWD. Comparing crude NMR or IMR among different countries should include further exploration of its two determinants, BW-SMRs reflecting medical care, and BWD reflecting socio-demographic conditions.

Arabidopsis brassinosteroid-overproducing gulliver3-D/dwarf4-D mutants exhibit altered responses to jasmonic acid and pathogen.

KEY MESSAGE : Arabidopsis gulliver3 - D/dwarf4 - D displays growth-promoting phenotypes due to activation tagging of a key brassinosteroid biosynthetic gene DWARF4. In gul3-D/dwf4-D , the Jasmonate and Salicylate signaling pathways were relatively activated and suppressed, respectively. Energy allocation between growth and defense is elegantly balanced to achieve optimal development in plants. Brassinosteroids (BRs), steroidal hormones essential for plant growth, are regulated by other plant hormones, including auxin and jasmonates (JA); auxin stimulates the expression of a key brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthetic gene, DWARF4 (DWF4), whereas JA represses it. To better understand the interaction mechanisms between growth and defense, we isolated a fast-growing mutant, gulliver3-D (gul3-D), that resulted from the activation tagging of DWF4, and examined the response of this mutant to defense signals, including JA, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst DC3000) infection, and wounding. The degree of root growth inhibition following MeJA treatment was significantly decreased in gul3-1D/dwf4-5D relative to the wild type, suggesting that JA signaling is partially desensitized in gul3-1D. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the genes involved in JA and salicylic acid (SA) responses, including MYC2, PDF1.2, CORI3, PR1, and PR2, revealed that JA signaling was preferentially activated in gul3-1D, whereas SA signaling was suppressed. As a result, gul3-1D was more susceptible to a biotrophic pathogen, Pst DC3000. Based on our results, we propose a model in which BR and JA cooperate to balance energy allocation between growth and defense responses. In ambient conditions, BRs promote plant growth; however, when stresses trigger JA signaling, JA compromises BR signaling by downregulating DWF4 expression.

Prognostic factors for treatment outcomes in transient tachypnea of the newborn.

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a clinical syndrome associated with respiratory distress usually seen shortly after delivery in infants. This study aims to determine the risk factors predicting treatment outcomes in infants with TTN. METHODS: Data from 236 infants diagnosed with TTN during the study period were evaluated retrospectively. Logistic regression analyses were performed to select significant risk factor for prognosis (prolonged oxygen therapy, application of mechanical ventilator, and prolonged hospital stay) of TTN among components of clinical variables. RESULTS: Of the 236 TTN infants, 111 (47.0%) infants were delivered via cesarean section (CS) without labor, 29 (12.3%) infants were delivered via CS with labor, and 96 (40.7%) were delivered via vaginal birth. Lower Apgar score at 1 min (OR: 3.03; 95%CI: 1.25-7.36) and lower umbilical artery pH (OR: 4.00; 95%CI 1.55-10.49) were associated with a significantly increased risk for mechanical ventilator care. Also, late-preterm delivery (OR: 4.70; 95%CI: 2.11-10.49) was independently associated with risk of prolonged duration of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Late-preterm delivery, lower initial umbilical artery pH (<7.25), and lower Apgar score at 1 min were independently associated with poor prognostic treatment outcomes in infants with TTN.

Preventive Intervention Program on the Outcomes of Very Preterm Infants and Caregivers: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Increased survival in the very preterm population results in a higher risk of developing neurodevelopmental and behavioral disabilities among survivors. We examined the outcomes of very preterm infants and parents after a preventive intervention program of four home visits by a specialized nurse, 5 days, 2 weeks, and 1 month after discharge, respectively, and at CA 2 months, followed by up to 12 times of group sessions between CA 3 and 6 months. Our multicenter randomized controlled trial assessed 138 preterm infants (gestational age ≤30 weeks or birth weight ≤1500 g) enrolled from the three participating hospitals. We randomly allocated the preterm babies to either the intervention or the control group. The primary outcome was the neurodevelopmental outcomes of Bayley-III scores at CA 10 and 24 months. At CA 10 months and 24 months, there were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in the cognitive, motor, and language domains of Bayley-III scores. In addition, there were no significant differences in the mother's depression scale, mother-child attachment, and the modified Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment.

Congenital syphilis unusually presenting with prematurity-related severe neonatal morbidities including meconium obstruction: A case report and review of the literature.

RATIONALE: Congenital syphilis (CS) can manifest as a variety of clinical presentations according to the severity in symptomatic infants during neonatal period. Preterm neonates with CS may have more clinical evidences of infection and be more severely affected by CS compared with term ones. With increasing survival of markedly premature infants for recent decades, CS may be a challenging problem in those with severe manifestations associated with combined pathophysiologies of CS and prematurity. PATIENT CONCERNS: A very low birth weight infant at 32 weeks gestation presented with an unusual CS presentation consisting of prematurity-associated severe neonatal morbidities including meconium obstruction, prolonged cholestatic jaundice with elevated liver enzymes, and disseminated intravascular coagulation with a bleeding diathesis, in addition to common or typical manifestations of CS. DIAGNOSES: Congenital syphilis. INTERVENTIONS: Therapy consisting of a complete course of parenteral penicillin, blood component therapy, proximal ileotomy with inspissated meconium evacuation and distal loop ileostomy, and other conservative treatments. OUTCOMES: Resolution with normal gastrointestinal function and improved liver function was observed. LESSONS: This case suggests that in premature infants CS may manifest as unusual severe neonatal morbidities that may result from combination of syphilitic pathologies and contributors or conditions associated with prematurity including multisystem immaturity.

Quantitative analysis of adsorption and desorption of volatile organic compounds on reusable zeolite filters using gas chromatography.

In this study, we propose a method to quantitatively analyze the concentration of VOCs adsorbed on zeolite filters via gas chromatography (GC). The sampled VOCs from the filters with ethanol as a solution were characterized using GC to determine the concentration of the adsorbed VOCs by comparing the areas of GC peaks of the detected VOCs and ethanol. The proposed method also enabled determination of the desorption (regeneration) conditions of the zeolite filters according to heating temperature and time for various VOCs. Repeated adsorption and desorption of VOCs on zeolite filters and GC analyses allow us to evaluate the durability and reusability of the filter and could help predict the lifetime of zeolite filters in practice.

Flexible Transparent Electrode Characteristics of Graphene Oxide/Cysteamine/AgNP/AgNW Structure.

Graphene oxide (GO)-cysteamine-Ag nanoparticles (GCA)-silver nanowire (AgNW) fabricated by depositing GCA over sprayed AgNWs on PET films were proposed for transparent and flexible electrodes, and their optical, electrical, and mechanical properties were analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, current-voltage measurements, and bending test. GCA-AgNW electrodes show optical transmittance of >80% at 550 nm and exhibit a high figure-of-merit value of up to 116.13 in the samples with sheet resistances of 20-40 Ω/◻. It was observed that the detrimental oxidation of bare AgNWs over time was considerably decreased, and the mechanical robustness was improved. To apply the layer as an actual electrode in working devices, a Pt/GO/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate/GCA-AgNW/polyethylene terephthalate structure was fabricated, and resistive switching memory was demonstrated. On the basis of these results, we confirm that the proposed GCA-AgNW layer can be used as transparent and flexible electrode.

Delayed Motor Development and Infant Obesity as Risk Factors for Severe Deformational Plagiocephaly: A Matched Case-Control Study.

The prevalence of deformational plagiocephaly (DP) has increased since the recommendation of positioning infants to their back during sleeping and is affected by various biological and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate associations between DP and perinatal or infant characteristics, including obesity. This case-control study included 135 infants (81 males) aged 2-12 months who were diagnosed with DP using calculated cranial vault asymmetric index and cranial index and 135 age- and sex-matched controls. Motor development was evaluated using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, and obesity was defined by body mass index. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess potential risk factors for DP and its severity. One hundred thirty-five infants with DP were divided into the following three subgroups according to severity indicated by the cranial vault asymmetry index: mild to moderate group (n = 87, 64.4%), severe group (n = 48, 35.6%), and a combined plagiocephaly and brachycephaly group (n = 79, 58.5%). Independent risk factors significantly associated with development of DP were bottle-only feeding (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.65; 95% CI: 2.70-8.00), little tummy time when awake (aOR = 3.51, 95% CI: 1.71-7.21), delay of motor development (aOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.08-7.49), and obesity at diagnosis (aOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.02-5.90). Among these risk factors, delay of motor development (aOR = 4.91, 95% CI: 1.46-16.51) and obesity at diagnosis (aOR = 4.10, 95% CI: 1.42-11.90) were particularly related to severe DP. In conclusion, this study confirms that DP risk is positively associated with bottle-only feeding, infrequent tummy time, and delayed development of motor milestones. Notably, this study demonstrates infant obesity as a new risk factor for DP. Our findings suggest that obesity should be identified early and managed comprehensively in infants with DP.

Comparative Metabolite Profiling of Wild and Cultivated Justicia procumbens L. Based on 1H-NMR Spectroscopy and HPLC-DAD Analysis.

Justicia procumbens L. is known across Korea, India, China, and Taiwan as a remedy against fever, cough, sore throat, and cirrhosis of ascites. J. procumbens provides the raw material for a candidate anti-asthma drug (DW2008S) currently completing phase I clinical trials sponsored by Dong Wha Pharmaceutical Company. HPLC-DAD was used to quantify phytochemical constituents of J. procumbens, and HPLC and 1H-NMR results were assessed by multivariate analysis. This is the first time a comparative study using HPLC-DAD and NMR fingerprints has been applied to identify chemical differences between wild and cultivated J. procumbens. The amount of justicidin B as the marker compound was higher in cultivated samples (0.80 ± 0.25 mg/g) than in wild ones (0.63 ± 0.30 mg/g). Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) from HPLC and NMR data revealed that there were clear differences between wild and cultivated types and identified five secondary metabolites, which could help distinguish between wild and cultivated plants. Among these five lignans, diphyllin showed the most potent discrimination between two types and was significantly detected higher in cultivated ones than in wild ones. A combination of 1H-NMR and HPLC-DAD analysis is effective for J. procumbens standardization and metabolomics studies.

Optimal birth weight and term mortality risk differ among different ethnic groups in the U.S.

Among European countries, optimal birth weight at which the mortality is minimal is shown to be different by country. We investigated this difference examining one geopolitical population, the U.S. term live births, born to the five groups of the same ethnic parents; White, Black, Hispanic, North Asian, and South Asian. North Asians and South Asians had more favorable maternal factors for birth weight. Yet, Whites had the highest mean birth weight and South Asians, the lowest. However, neonatal mortality rate in Whites was 0.78 per 1,000 live births, significantly higher than 0.36 and 0.72 per 1,000 live births in North Asians and South Asians, respectively. Other maternal factors hardly explained this ethnic disparity in birth weight or mortality. Optimal birth weight was greatest in Whites (3,890 g), and least in South Asians (3,491 g). However, neonatal mortality at optimal birth weight was significantly lower in North Asians. Adjustment of maternal factors except parental ethnicity changed little of this difference. Optimal birth weight and its mortality differ by ethnicity. On planning the best birth outcome in a population, one should consider the variable mortality risks by ethnicity.

Prediction of Postnatal Growth Failure among Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Postnatal growth failure (PGF) in preterm infants remains an important clinical issue. In this study, we analysed the incidence of PGF among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and evaluated the risk factors for PGF based on the data of 2799 VLBW infants obtained from the Korean Neonatal Network database from 2013 to 2014. PGF was defined as a decrease in weight Z score between birth and discharge of more than -1.28 using the Fenton growth charts. Risk factors were evaluated in relation to birth weight for gestational age, namely small (SGA) or appropriate (AGA) for gestational age, using propensity score matching used for between-group differences. The overall incidence of PGF was 45.5%, with a rate of 68.9% in the SGA group and 36.2% in the AGA group. PGF was negatively correlated with gestation and birth weight; additionally, PGF was associated with a higher incidence of co-morbidities. Predictors of PGF in the SGA group were respiratory distress syndrome and days to attain 100 mL/kg of enteral feeding. The only predictor of PGF in the AGA group was days to attain 100 mL/kg of enteral feeding. Early initiation and aggressive progression of enteral nutrition may decrease the incidence of PGF.

Preparation of Polyimide/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite and Its Application to Nonvolatile Resistive Memory Device.

2,6-Diaminoanthracene (AnDA)-functionalized graphene oxide (GO) (AnDA-GO) was prepared and used to synthesize a graphene oxide-based polyimide (PI-GO) by the in-situ polymerization method. A PI-GO nanocomposite thin film was prepared and characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV-visible spectroscopy. The PI-GO film was used as a memory layer in the fabrication of a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device with aluminum (Al) top and indium tin oxide (ITO) bottom electrodes. The device showed write-once-read-many-times (WORM) characteristics with a high ON/OFF current ratio (Ion/Ioff = 3.41 × 108). This excellent current ratio was attributed to the high charge trapping ability of GO. In addition, the device had good endurance until the 100th cycle. These results suggest that PI-GO is an attractive candidate for applications in next generation nonvolatile memory.

Prediction of Methionine and Homocysteine levels in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats as a T2DM animal model after consumption of a Methionine-rich diet.

BACKGROUND: Although alterations in the methionine metabolism cycle (MMC) have been associated with vascular complications of diabetes, there have not been consistent results about the levels of methionine and homocysteine in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the current study was to predict changes in plasma methionine and homocysteine concentrations after simulated consumption of methionine-rich foods, following the development of a mathematical model for MMC in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats, as a representative T2DM animal model. METHOD: The model building and simulation were performed using NONMEM® (ver. 7.3.0) assisted by Perl-Speaks-NONMEM (PsN, ver. 4.3.0). Model parameters were derived using first-order conditional estimation method with interactions permitted among the parameters (FOCE-INTER). NCA was conducted using Phoenix (ver. 6.4.0). For all tests, we considered a P-value < 0.05 to reflect statistical significance. RESULTS: Our model featured seven compartments that considered all parts of the cycle by applying non-linear mixed effects model. Conversion of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) to homocysteine increased and the metabolism of homocysteine was reduced under diabetic conditions, and consequently homocysteine accumulated in the elimination phase.Using our model, we performed simulations to compare the changes in plasma methionine and homocysteine concentrations between ZDF and normal rats, by multiple administrations of the methionine-rich diet of 1 mmol/kg, daily for 60 days. The levels of methionine and homocysteine were elevated approximately two- and three-fold, respectively, in ZDF rats, while there were no changes observed in the normal control rats. CONCLUSION: These results can be interpreted to mean that both methionine and homocysteine will accumulate in patients with T2DM, who regularly consume high-methionine foods.

Phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase at Tyrosine 407 negatively regulates Ras transformation of fibroblasts.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mediates signal transduction in response to multiple extracellular inputs, via tyrosine phosphorylation at specific residues. We recently reported that FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation negatively regulates the enzymatic and biological activities of FAK, unlike phosphorylation of other tyrosine residues. In this study, we further investigated the effect of FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation on cell transformation. We found that FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation was lower in H-Ras transformed NIH3T3 and K-Ras transformed rat-2 fibroblasts than in the respective untransformed control cells. Consistently, FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation was decreased in parallel with cell transformation in H-Ras-inducible NIH3T3 cells and increased during trichostatin A-induced detransformation of both K-Ras transformed rat-2 fibroblasts and H-Ras transformed NIH3T3 cells. In addition, overexpression of a phosphorylation-mimicking FAK Tyr-407 mutant inhibited morphological transformation of H-Ras-inducible NIH3T3 cells and inhibited invasion activity and anchorage-independent growth of H-Ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation negatively regulates transformation of fibroblasts.

Measuring levels of biogenic amines and their metabolites in rat brain tissue using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection.

We developed a method to detect biogenic amines and their metabolites in rat brain tissue using simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography and a photodiode array detection. Measurements were made using a Hypersil Gold C-18 column (250 × 2.1 mm, 5 µm). The mobile phase was 5 mM perchloric acid containing 5 % acetonitrile. The correlation coefficient was 0.9995-0.9999. LODs (S/N = 3) and LOQs (S/N = 10) were as follows: dopamine 0.4 and 1.3 pg, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid 8.4 and 28.0 pg, serotonin 0.4 and 1.3 pg, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid 3.4 and 11.3 pg, and homovanillic acid 8.4 and 28.0 pg. This method does not require derivatization steps, and is more sensitive than the widely used HPLC-UV method.

Participation of a coordinating center pharmacy in a multicenter international study.

PURPOSE: The activities of a coordinating center pharmacy (CCP) supporting a multicenter, international clinical trial are described. SUMMARY: Serving in a research support role comparable to that of a commercial clinical trial supply company, a CCP within the Johns Hopkins Hospital Investigational Drug Service (JHH IDS) uses its management expertise and infrastructure to support multicenter trials, such as the recently completed Clot Lysis: Evaluating Accelerated Resolution of Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Phase III (CLEAR III) trial. The role of the CCP staff in supporting the CLEAR III trial was overall investigational product (IP) management through coordination of IP-related operations to ensure high-quality care for study participants at study sites in the United States and abroad. For the CLEAR III trial, the CCP coordinated IP supply activities; provided education to site pharmacists; developed study-specific documents, including pharmacy manuals; communicated with trial stakeholders, including third-party IP distributors; monitored treatment assignments; and performed quality assurance monitoring to ensure compliance with institutional, state, federal, and international regulations regarding IP procurement and storage. Acting as a CCP for a multicenter international study poses a number of operational challenges while providing opportunities for the CCP to contribute to research of global importance and enrich the skill sets of its personnel. CONCLUSION: The development and implementation of the CCP at JHH IDS for the CLEAR III trial included several responsibilities, such as IP supply management, communication, and database, regulatory, and finance management.