Toward Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for Asia.

Environmental and human health challenges are pronounced in Asia, an exceptionally diverse and complex region where influences of global megatrends are extensive and numerous stresses to environmental quality exist. Identifying priorities necessary to engage grand challenges can be facilitated through horizon scanning exercises, and to this end we identified and examined 23 priority research questions needed to advance toward more sustainable environmental quality in Asia, as part of the Global Horizon Scanning Project. Advances in environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, biological monitoring, and risk-assessment methodologies are necessary to address the adverse impacts of environmental stressors on ecosystem services and biodiversity, with Asia being home to numerous biodiversity hotspots. Intersections of the food-energy-water nexus are profound in Asia; innovative and aggressive technologies are necessary to provide clean water, ensure food safety, and stimulate energy efficiency, while improving ecological integrity and addressing legacy and emerging threats to public health and the environment, particularly with increased aquaculture production. Asia is the largest chemical-producing continent globally. Accordingly, sustainable and green chemistry and engineering present decided opportunities to stimulate innovation and realize a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Engaging the priority research questions identified herein will require transdisciplinary coordination through existing and nontraditional partnerships within and among countries and sectors. Answering these questions will not be easy but is necessary to achieve more sustainable environmental quality in Asia. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1485-1505. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Paediatric outcomes and timing of admission.

Studies of adult patients have demonstrated that weekend admissions compared with weekday admissions had a significantly higher hospital mortality rate. We have reviewed the literature to determine if the timing of admission, for example, weekend or weekday, influenced mortality and morbidity in children. Seventeen studies reported the effect of timing of admission on mortality, and only four studies demonstrated an increase in those admitted at the weekend. Meta-analysis of the results of 15 of the studies demonstrated there was no significant weekend effect. There was, however, considerable heterogeneity in the studies. There were two large UK studies: one reported an increased mortality only for planned weekend admissions likely explained by planned admissions for complex conditions and the other showed no significant weekend effect. Two studies, one of which was large (n=2913), reported more surgical complications in infants undergoing weekend oesophageal atresia and trachea-oesophageal repair. Medication errors have also been reported to be more common at weekends. Five studies reported the effect of length of stay, meta-analysis demonstrated a significantly increased length of stay following a weekend admission, the mean difference was approximately 1 day. Those data, however, should be interpreted with the caveat that there was no adjustment in all of the studies for differences in disease severity. We conclude that weekend admission overall does not increase mortality but may be associated with a longer length of stay and, in certain conditions, with greater morbidity.

Assessment of pharmacodynamic equivalence and tolerability of lanthanum carbonate oral powder and tablet formulations: a single-center, randomized, open-label, 2-period crossover study in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Phosphate binders are commonly used in tablet form to help patients with hyperphosphatemia limit their absorption of dietary phosphate. These patients frequently have a heavy tablet burden so alternative formulations provide choice and may support adherence. Lanthanum carbonate (LC) is a phosphate binder currently available as a chewable tablet. This study was conducted to support an application for marketing authorization for the oral powder formulation within the European Union. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and tolerability of an oral powder formulation of LC compared with the reference chewable tablet formulation. METHODS: A Phase I, single-center, randomized, open-label, 2-period, crossover study to assess pharmacodynamic equivalence of the 2 formulations was conducted in healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years receiving a diet standardized for phosphate content. Individuals were randomized to receive a different formulation in each period, taking 10 doses of 1000-mg LC at 3000 mg/d per period with an intervening washout of ≥14 days. The primary pharmacodynamic variable was mean daily excretion of urinary phosphorus over 3 days while receiving LC. Pharmacodynamic equivalence was confirmed if the 90% CI for the difference between formulations in least squares (LS) mean excreted urinary phosphorus was within ±20% of the LS mean value for the tablet formulation. Secondary end points included determination of pharmacokinetic parameters and assessment of tolerability by recording of adverse events. RESULTS: In total, 72 individuals entered the study. They were predominantly men (72.2%), with a mean (SD) age of 31.4 (8.26) years and a BMI of 25.8 (2.45) kg/m(2). The LS mean (SE) excreted urinary phosphorus was 16.8 (0.48) mmol/d during administration of LC tablets (±20% = ±3.35 mmol/d). The corresponding value during administration of LC oral powder was 15.2 (0.48) mmol/d; 90% CI for the difference between formulations was -2.38 to -0.82 mmol/d, confirming pharmacodynamic equivalence. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal, and no serious adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: In this multiple-dose study, the oral powder and tablet formulations of LC were well tolerated and met the regulatory criteria for pharmacodynamic equivalence in these healthy volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00880750.

Removal of metal ions from aqueous solution by adsorption onto low-cost biosorbent.

Removal of heavy metals (Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II)) from aqueous solution was investigated using native or saponified chicory pulp biomass. Firstly, carbohydrates constituted about 70% of pulp dried matter. The pectic fraction represented 12-14% of dried matter and about 51% of these pectic units were esterified by methanol. The pH of the zero net proton charge of the pulp ranged from 4.5 to 5. Native pulp contained numerous surface functional groups and their cation exchange capacity is 0.566 meq g(-1). After saponification of chicory pulp, the cation exchange capacity reached 0.959 meq g(-1) due to the demethylation of carboxylic groups from pectic polymers. Then, the kinetics and equilibrium of sorption were examined. A pseudo second-order kinetic model was used to correlate experimental data and to determine the kinetic parameters. The equilibrium sorption data fitted well with the Langmuir model and showed the following affinity order of the materials: Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. The maximum adsorption capacities ranged from 0.215 to 0.315 mmol g(-1) for native pulp and from 0.341 to 0.507 mmol g(-1) for saponified pulp. Finally, competitive effects were observed in multi-metallic solution adsorption experiments.

Groundwater quality assessment of one former industrial site in Belgium using a TRIAD-like approach.

Contaminated industrial sites are important sources of pollution and may result in ecotoxicological effects on terrestrial, aquatic and groundwater ecosystems. An effect-based approach to evaluate and assess pollution-induced degradation due to contaminated groundwater was carried out in this study. The new concept, referred to as "Groundwater Quality TRIAD-like" (GwQT) approach, is adapted from classical TRIAD approaches. GwQT is based on measurements of chemical concentrations, laboratory toxicity tests and physico-chemical analyses. These components are combined in the GwQT using qualitative and quantitative (using zero to one subindices) integration approaches. The TRIAD approach is applied for the first time on groundwater from one former industrial site located in Belgium. This approach will allow the classification of sites into categories according to the degree of contaminant-induced degradation. This new concept is a starting point for groundwater characterization and is open for improvement and adjustment.

Effects of omeprazole on the pharmacokinetic profiles of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate and extended-release mixed amphetamine salts in adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX), a long-acting prodrug stimulant, and mixed amphetamine salts extended-release (MAS XR), alone or with omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). METHODS: This open-label, randomized, 4-period crossover study enrolled healthy adults (18-45 years). Subjects alternately received single doses of LDX 50 mg and MAS XR 20 mg at 4-day intervals. Following washout, subjects received omeprazole (40 mg/day x 14 days), with alternate single doses of LDX 50 mg or MAS XR 20 mg added on days 7 and 11. Blood samples were collected predose and 0 to 96 hours postdose for pharmacokinetic analysis. Safety assessments included adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Overall, 24 subjects were randomized; 21 completed the study. For LDX monotherapy, d-amphetamine mean (SD) exposure was 45.0 (13.97) ng/mL and 713.0 (134.75) ng . h/mL; when coadministered with omeprazole it was 46.3 (9.71) ng/mL and 761.6 (191.13) ng . h/mL, for Cmax and AUCinf, respectively. The median Tmax was 3 hours with and without omeprazole. For MAS XR monotherapy, total amphetamine mean (SD) exposure was 36.6 (9.19) ng/mL and 640.8 (95.66) ng . h/mL; when coadministered with omeprazole it was 38.1 (7.35) ng/mL and 643.9 (143.16) ng . h/mL, for Cmax and AUCinf, respectively. The median Tmax was 5 hours and 2.75 hours without and with omeprazole, respectively; 57.1% to 61.9% of subjects receiving MAS XR and 25% receiving LDX showed an earlier (>or= 1 hour) Tmax with omeprazole. Both medications had AEs consistent with amphetamine use. CONCLUSIONS: Total exposure was unaffected by omeprazole for both compounds. However, approximately 50% of subjects receiving MAS XR showed an earlier Tmax while on omeprazole, indicating unpredictable release of active drug by the second bead of MAS XR, most likely related to reduced stomach acid while on a PPI compromising the pulsed delivery of MAS XR. No clear trend was observed for LDX.

Projecting future drug expenditures--2009.

PURPOSE: Drug expenditure trends in 2007 and 2008, projected drug expenditures for 2009, and factors likely to influence drug expenditures are discussed. SUMMARY: Various factors are likely to influence drug expenditures in 2009, including drugs in development, the diffusion of new drugs, drug safety concerns, generic drugs, Medicare Part D, and changes in the drug supply chain. The increasing availability of important generic drugs and drug safety concerns continue to moderate growth in drug expenditures. The drug supply chain remains dynamic and may influence drug expenditures, particularly in specialized therapeutic areas. Initial data suggest that the Medicare Part D benefit has influenced drug expenditures, but the ultimate impact of the benefit on drug expenditures remains unclear. From 2006 to 2007, total U.S. drug expenditures increased by 4.0%, with total spending rising from $276 billion to $287 billion. Drug expenditures in clinics continue to grow more rapidly than in other settings, with a 9.9% increase from 2006 to 2007. Hospital drug expenditures increased at a moderate rate of only 1.6% from 2006 to 2007; through the first nine months of 2008, hospital drug expenditures increased by only 2.8% compared with the same period in 2007. CONCLUSION: In 2009, we project a 0-2% increase in drug expenditures in outpatient settings, a 1-3% increase in expenditures for clinic-administered drugs, and a 1-3% increase in hospital drug expenditures.