Trends towards portable analytical instrumentation of the last decades have not been equally reflected in developments of portable liquid chromatography (LC) instrumentation for rapid on-site measurements. A miniaturised medium pressure capillary LC (MPLC) system with gradient elution capability has been designed based on a flexible modular microfluidic system using primarily off-the-shelf low cost components to ensure wide accessibility to other analysts. The microfluidic platform was assembled on a breadboard and contained microsyringe pumps and switch valves, complemented with an injection valve and on-capillary detectors, all controlled by a PC. Four miniaturised microsyringe pumps, with 5, 20 and 100 μL syringe volume options, formed the basis of the pumping system. Two pairs of pumps were used for each mobile phase to create gradient elution capability. The two microsyringe pumps in each pairs were linked by two electrically operated microfluidic switching valves and both pairs of pumps were connected through a zero void volume cross-connector, thus providing a low hold-up volume for gradient formation. Sample was injected by a 20 nL nano-LC sampling valve, directly connected to a 18 cm long 100 μm i.d. Chromolith CapRod RP-18 monolithic capillary column. On-capillary LED-based UV-vis photometric detection was conducted through a piece of equal diameter fused silica capillary connected after the column. The performance of the portable LC system was evaluated theoretically and experimentally, including the maximum operating pressure, gradient mixing performance, and the performance of the detectors. The 5 μL microsyringe pump offered the best performance, with typical maximum operating pressures up to 11.4 ± 0.4 MPa (water) and gradient pumping repeatability of between 4 and 9% for gradients between 0.10% s(-1) and 0.33% s(-1). Test analytes of charged and uncharged dyes and pharmaceuticals of varying hydrophobicity showed typical RSD values of 0.7-1.4% and 3.3-4.8% in isocratic mode and 1.2-4.6% and 3.2-6.4% in gradient mode, respectively for retention time and peak area repeatability.

• Klíčová slova
• Capillary liquid chromatography, Light emitting diode photometric on-capillary detection, Microfluidics, Off-the-shelf components, Open platform design, Portable liquid chromatography,
• MeSH
• barvicí látky analýza   MeSH
• chromatografie kapalinová přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• design vybavení * MeSH
• léčivé přípravky analýza   MeSH
• mikrofluidní analytické techniky přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• tlak * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• barvicí látky MeSH
• léčivé přípravky MeSH

Lung protective ventilation is intended to minimize the risk of ventilator induced lung injury and currently aimed at preservation of spontaneous breathing during mechanical ventilation. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is a lung protective ventilation strategy. Commonly used high-frequency oscillatory (HFO) ventilators, SensorMedics 3100, were not designed to tolerate spontaneous breathing. Respiratory efforts in large pediatric and adult patients impose a high workload to the patient and may cause pressure swings that impede ventilator function. A Demand Flow System (DFS) was designed to facilitate spontaneous breathing during HFOV. Using a linear quadratic Gaussian state feedback controller, the DFS alters the inflow of gas into the ventilator circuit, so that it instantaneously compensates for the changes in mean airway pressure (MAP) in the ventilator circuit caused by spontaneous breathing. The undesired swings in MAP are thus eliminated. The DFS significantly reduces the imposed work of breathing and improves ventilator function. In a bench test the performance of the DFS was evaluated using a simulator ASL 5000. With the gas inflow controlled, MAP was returned to its preset value within 115 ms after the beginning of inspiration. The DFS might help to spread the use of HFOV in clinical practice.

• MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lineární modely MeSH
• mechanika dýchání fyziologie   MeSH
• normální rozdělení MeSH
• plíce fyziologie   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• tlak MeSH
• vysokofrekvenční ventilace přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• zpětná vazba MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Phenolic group in therapeutic drugs can be used for a prodrug modification to overcome various undesirable drug properties that may become pharmacological, pharmaceutical or pharmacokinetic barriers for application. Several strategies have been used in order to overcome the limited bioavailability of phenolic drugs. Classical design represents a nonspecific chemical approach to mask undesirable drug properties, limited bioavailability or chemical instability. Targeted prodrug design represents a new strategy for directed and efficient drug delivery. Particularly, targeting the prodrug to specific enzyme or specific membrane transporter has potential as selective drug delivery system mainly in cancer therapy. The article brings examples of ester, sulphate, carbamate, carbonate, phosphate and ether prodrugs as well as the limitations of these prodrug strategies. Some specific enzyme targets are also presented.

• MeSH
• biologická dostupnost MeSH
• fenoly chemie   MeSH
• léčivé přípravky aplikace a dávkování   metabolismus   MeSH
• lékové transportní systémy * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• prekurzory léčiv MeSH
• protinádorové látky aplikace a dávkování   farmakokinetika   farmakologie   MeSH
• racionální návrh léčiv * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fenoly MeSH
• léčivé přípravky MeSH
• prekurzory léčiv MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH

Healthcare facilities use a number of information system/information and communication technologies. Each healthcare facility faces a need to choose sourcing strategies most suitable to ensure provision of information system/information and communication technology services, processes and resources. Currently, it is possible to observe an expansion of sourcing possibilities in healthcare informatics, which creates new requirements for sourcing strategies. Thus, the aim of this article is to identify factors influencing information system/information and communication technology sourcing strategies in healthcare facilities. The identification was based on qualitative research, namely, a case study. This study provides a set of internal and external factors with their impact levels. The findings also show that not enough attention is paid to these factors during decision-making.

• Klíčová slova
• health information systems, health information technology, information technology design and development methodologies, information technology healthcare evaluation, sourcing,
• MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• informační systémy statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• komunikace * MeSH
• kvalitativní výzkum MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• případové studie organizací MeSH
• rozhodování MeSH
• zdravotnická zařízení * MeSH
• zdravotnické zdroje * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The preparation of liquisolid systems presents a promising and innovative possibility for enhancing dissolution profiles and improving the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. This study aims to evaluate the differences in the properties of liquisolid systems containing combinations of 3 commercially used superdisintegrants (sodium starch glycolate, crospovidone, and croscarmellose sodium). Multiple regression models and contour plots were used to study how the amount and the type of superdisintegrant used affected the quality parameters of liquisolid tablets. The results revealed that an increased amount of crospovidone in the mixture improves disintegration and wetting time and enhances drug release from the prepared liquisolid tablets. Moreover, it was observed that a binary blend of crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate improved tablet disintegration. Considering the obtained results, it could be stated that crospovidone showed the best properties to be used as superdisintegrant for the preparation of liquisolid systems containing rosuvastatin.

• Klíčová slova
• Biopharmaceutics Classification System, dissolution rate, excipients, multivariate analysis, solid dosage form, solid state, solubility, sorption, tableting, wetting,
• MeSH
• farmaceutická chemie metody   MeSH
• farmaceutické pomocné látky chemická syntéza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• lékové formy MeSH
• pomocné látky chemická syntéza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• povidon chemická syntéza   metabolismus   MeSH
• rozpustnost MeSH
• škrob analogy a deriváty   chemická syntéza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• sodná sůl karboxymethylcelulosy chemická syntéza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• uvolňování léčiv MeSH
• výzkumný projekt MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• farmaceutické pomocné látky MeSH
• lékové formy MeSH
• pomocné látky MeSH
• povidon MeSH
• škrob MeSH
• sodium starch glycolate MeSH Prohlížeč
• sodná sůl karboxymethylcelulosy MeSH

A microfluidic cell capture device was designed, fabricated, evaluated by numerical simulations and validated experimentally. The cell capture device was designed with a minimal footprint compartment comprising internal micropillars with the goal to obtain a compact, integrated bioanalytical system. The design of the device was accomplished by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Various microdevice designs were rapidly prototyped in poly-dimethylsiloxane using conventional soft lithograpy technique applying micropatterned SU-8 epoxy based negative photoresist as moulding replica. The numerically modeled flow characteristics of the cell capture device were experimentally validated by tracing and microscopic recording the flow trajectories using yeast cells. Finally, we give some perspectives on how CFD modeling can be used in the early stage of microfluidics-based cell capture device development.

• MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• hydrodynamika MeSH
• mikrofluidika přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae chemie   MeSH
• výpočetní biologie přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The recent pandemic has shown that protecting the general population from hazardous substances or pathogens can be a challenging and urgent task. The key element to adequate protection is appropriately sized, well-fitted and sufficiently distributed personal protective equipment (PPE). While these conditions are followed for adult PPE wearers, they are less considered when it comes to protecting subadults. In this study, the assessment of the fit and design improvements of a 3D-printed facial half mask for subadult wearers (4-18 years) is designed. The target population was represented by 1137 subadults, aged 4.06-18.94 years, for whom 3D face models were acquired. The half mask tested, which was originally provided in one subadult size, did not fit appropriately the target population. This finding prompted the creation of four size categories using the age-dependent distribution of the centroid size calculated from 7 facial landmarks. For each size category, a modified half-mask virtual design was created, including resizing and reshaping, and fit was evaluated visually and numerically using averaged and random 3D face representatives.Practitioner summary: The reason for this study was to describe procedures which led to design improvement of an existing half-mask and provide respiratory protection for subadults. To address this, fit was assessed using an innovative metric approach. Four sizes were then created based on centroid size, resulting in improved fit and design.Abbreviations: CH: cheilion landmark; CS: centroid size; EX: exocanthion landmark; GN: gnathion landmark; N: nasion landmark; PPE: personal protective equipment; PR: pronasale landmark; RPE: respiratory protective equipment.

3D human face dataset was used for modifying and validating protective equipment for subadultsTo ensure optimal protection for subadults, four size categories were proposed based on 3D face landmarks and centroid sizeModified half-mask design fit was validated virtually using a visual and numerical approach.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D face database, Personal protective equipment, centroid size, sizing system, subadults, virtual design, virtual fit assessment,
• MeSH
• 3D tisk MeSH
• COVID-19 prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• design vybavení * MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• masky * MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• obličej MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• prostředky na ochranu dýchání MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Gloves that attenuate vibration above approximately 25 Hz and that exceed the characteristics of standard viscoelastic gloves have been developed using an air bladder system in the palm and fingers of a glove. Testing was performed on a variety of viscoelastic gloves currently marketed to obtain the ratio of energy leaving the handle of a vibrating device and the energy entering the hand. Several simple rectangular air bladders of varying thickness were developed and tested for their vibration attenuating characteristics. A four degree-of-freedom, lumped-parameter model of the vibration response of the human and air bladder was developed using measured hand and bladder parameters. This model, along with subjective criteria, was used to design and fabricate two prototype air bladder gloves. These gloves were tested and found to exceed adopted standard requirements and the characteristics of standard viscoelastic gloves. The prototypes in this study will be further developed, adapted and marketed for practical applications.

• MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci z povolání etiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• ochranné rukavice * MeSH
• pružnost MeSH
• vibrace škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• viskozita MeSH
• vzduch MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

A transparent, cylindrical chamber system was developed to allow measurement of gas-exchange by small crop canopies in the undisturbed plant growth environment. The system is an elaboration of the Minitron system developed previously to compare growth of small plants in different environments within the same general growth area. The Minitron II system described herein accommodates hydroponic culture and separate control of atmospheric composition in individual chambers. Root and shoot environments are compartmented separately to accommodate atmospheres of different flow rate and/or gaseous composition. A series of 0-rings and tension-adjustable springs allow carbon dioxide in the flowing atmosphere to be analyzed without cross-contamination between chamber compartments or from external gas sources. Carbon dioxide has been maintained at set point +/- 9 g m-3 over a range of CO2 concentrations from 382 to 2725 g m-3 and with an atmosphere turnover rate of 136.7 cm3 s-1 by computer-assisted mass flow controllers. Each chamber has dimensions large enough (61 cm internal diameter, 0.151 m3 internal volume) to allow adequate replication of individual plants for statistical purposes (e.g., up to 36 equally-spaced plant holders). No significant variation in growth or photosynthetic rate of leaf lettuce occurred between chambers for a given set of environmental conditions. Gas-exchange rates in different chambers changed to a similar extent as CO2 concentration in the flowing atmosphere or chamber temperature were varied by the same amount. When coupled with appropriate control systems, Minitron II chambers can provide separate controlled environments for multiple small plants with adequate precision and at relatively low cost.

• Klíčová slova
• NASA Discipline Life Support Systems, NASA Discipline Number 61-10, NASA Program CELSS, Non-NASA Center,
• MeSH
• atmosféra MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• fotosyntéza fyziologie   MeSH
• hydroponie přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• oxid uhličitý metabolismus   MeSH
• prostředí kontrolované * MeSH
• salát (hlávkový) růst a vývoj   metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• systémy udržující život přístrojové vybavení   normy   MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• uzavřené ekologické systémy * MeSH
• výhonky rostlin růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Názvy látek
• oxid uhličitý MeSH

Glucocorticoid drugs are commonly used in the treatment of many acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, application of these steroids is limited because of their physico-chemical properties, such as very low water solubility. Glucocorticoids also exhibit serious adverse side effects. Therefore, new drug delivery systems are being developed, with the aim of improving the physicochemical properties of glucocorticoids while avoiding undesirable side effects associated with systemic administration. Here we discuss the design and synthesis of conjugates of prednisolone (PD), methylprednisolone (MPD) and similar glucocorticoids. In this review, possibilities for targeting inflammatory sites, and reducing dosages and administration frequency through increasing drug circulation time are discussed. This review summarises synthetic approaches for the preparation of covalent conjugates, which are divided into two groups: low molecular weight conjugates and polymeric conjugates. These two groups are further divided into subgroups based on the chemical structure of the conjugates. Published results from in vitro and in vivo testing of prepared conjugates are also discussed.

• MeSH
• antiflogistika aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   chemická syntéza   chemie   MeSH
• lékové transportní systémy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• methylprednisolon aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   analogy a deriváty   chemická syntéza   chemie   MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• molekulová hmotnost MeSH
• prednisolon aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   analogy a deriváty   chemická syntéza   chemie   MeSH
• prekurzory léčiv aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   chemická syntéza   chemie   MeSH
• racionální návrh léčiv * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antiflogistika MeSH
• methylprednisolon MeSH
• prednisolon MeSH
• prekurzory léčiv MeSH