Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), common variations among the DNA of individuals, are being uncovered and assembled into large SNP databases that promise to enable the dissection of the genetic basis of disease and drug response (i.e., pharmacogenomics). Although great strides have been made in understanding the diversity of the human genome, such as the frequency, distribution, and type of genetic variation that exists, the feasibility of applying this information to uncover useful pharmacogenomic markers is uncertain. The health care industry is clamoring for access to SNP databases for use in research in the hope of revolutionizing the drug development process. As the reality of using SNPs to uncover drug response markers is rarely addressed, this review discusses practical issues, such as patient sample size, SNP density and genome coverage, and data interpretation, that will be important for determining the applicability of pharmacogenomic information to medical practice.

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Designing and modifying fabrics in such a way that they offer high protection against UV-light ("UV-cutting") is a relatively new application. Thin, untreated fabrics made, for example, from cotton, silk, polyamide, and polyacrylonitrile offer sun protection factors (SPF) only in the range of 3 to 5, i.e., their UV-cutting effect is inadequate when the sun's irradiation is intense. The SPFs of fabrics can be increased in a variety of ways, using thicker fabrics or applying UV-absorbers. In this article we are presenting a model that makes it possible to predict SPFs of fabrics as a function of a diversity of parameters, such as fabric type, thickness, and porosity, as well as UV-absorber ( or dye or optical brightener) type and concentration. Important parameters for achieving high SPFs are identified. The model is confirmed by experimental data. We also provide data about how long it takes until reddening of unprotected skin is observed under various conditions.

We report the synthesis, crystal structures, and basic physicochemical properties of six co-crystals of piracetam. Co-crystals of piracetam with l-tartaric acid, with citric acid in a 1:1 and 3:2 ratio, with racemic mandelic acid, and with l-mandelic acid, as well as a piracetam−citric acid ethanol solvate were found in a focused screening approach. Sample amounts of up to several hundred milligrams of each co-crystal were obtained from either solvent-drop grinding, solution evaporation, or crystallization from solution. Crystal structure analysis revealed that the often observed amide-carboxylic acid R2 2(8) synthon is rarely found in the herein reported crystal structures. The mentioned motif can be used as a target for hydrogen bonds; however, in presence of a multitude of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors it cannot serve for an anticipation of co-crystals. Compared to piracetam the piracetam−l-tartaric acid co-crystal shows improved hygroscopic properties.

Solvent mixtures can be used to thermodynamically suppress solvate formation as a competing reaction in solution-based cocrystallization experiments. This has been demonstrated successfully for the cocrystallization of carbamazepine and saccharin in the presence of up to nine different solvate-forming solvents and was further tested by cocrystallization experiments with 18 other known cocrystal formers of carbamazepine. It was found that the chances of success of this approach increase with the number of solvents in the mixture. It was additionally observed that solvent mixtures can be used to level out the solubility differences between different compounds.