Percocet is a trademarked, potent compound painkiller used to treat moderately severe to severe acute (short-term) pain. The main ingredient of Percocet is oxycodone, a potent opioid agonist; in addition, the drug contains paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen. It is notable for its potential for drug abuse.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first approved Percocet in 1976, under application ANDA 085106.

Pharmacology

Endo Pharmaceuticals currently manufactures Percocet, as well as Percodan which contains oxycodone and aspirin. Percocet tablets are available in six combinations of oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen, with different appearances and maximum daily doses:

* 2.5 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: pink oval tablet, maximum daily dose 12 tablets

* 5 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: blue round tablet, maximum daily dose 12 tablets

* 7.5 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: peach oval tablet, maximum daily dose 8 tablets

* 7.5 mg oxycodone HCl & 500 mg acetaminophen: peach capsule-shaped tablet, maximum daily dose 8 tablets

* 10 mg oxycodone HCl & 325 mg acetaminophen: yellow capsule-shaped tablet, maximum daily dose 6 tablets

* 10 mg oxycodone HCl & 650 mg acetaminophen: yellow oval tablet, maximum daily dose 6 tablets

For the 2.5 mg oxycodone HCl tablet, the usual dose is 1-2 tablets every six hours as needed for pain; for the other tablets, the usual dose is 1 tablet every six hours as needed for pain.

Watson Laboratories manufactures generic versions of five of the six types of Percocet tablets (with 5, 7.5, and 10 mg oxycodone HCl).

Menkes syndrome is an inborn error of metabolism in which cells in the body cannot absorb enough copper. Copper added at oddly low levels in the liver and brain, but at elevated than normal levels in the kidney and intestinal lining. The disorder causes severe cerebral degeneration and arterial changes, resulting in death in infancy. The disease can often be diagnosed by looking at a victim’s hair, which appears to be both whitish and kinked when viewed under a microscope. There is often extensive neurodegeneration in the gray matter of the brain. Menkes’ disease is transmitted as an X-linked recessive trait.

A condition is considered X-linked if the transformed gene that causes the disorder is sited on the X chromosome, one of the two sex chromosomes. In males, one altered copy of the gene in each cell is enough to cause the condition. In females, a mutation must be present in both copies of the gene to cause the disorder. Males are affected by X-linked recessive disorders much more frequently than females. A number of other diseases, including type IX Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, may be the result of allelic mutations and it is hoped that research into these diseases may prove useful in fighting Menkes’ disease. About 1 in 300,000 individuals are affected.

About one-third of cases results from new mutations in the gene and occurs in people with no history of the disorder in their family. Menkes syndrome is characterized by thin and coarse hair, growth failure, and deterioration of the nervous system. Extra signs and symptoms comprise weak muscle tone, sagging facial features, seizures, mental retardation, and developmental delay. In rare cases, symptoms begin later in childhood and are less severe. Symptoms appear during infancy and are largely a result of abnormal intestinal copper absorption with secondary deficiency in copper-dependent mitochonrial enzymes.

Normal or faintly slowed development may proceed for 2 to 3 months, and then there will be severe developmental delay and a loss of premature developmental skills. Menkes syndrome affected children may be born prematurely, but appear healthy at birth and develop normally for 6 to 8 weeks. Treatment usually only helps when started very early in the course of the disease. Treatment with daily copper injections may improve the outcome in Menkes disease if it begins within days after birth. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. See a genetic counselor if you want to have children and you have a family history of Menkes syndrome.

Building Information Modeling or BIM is the latest buzzword in construction industry worldwide. It has been flaunted on the front page of construction magazines; more seminars are being arranged throughout year and many companies are involved in developing products/tools around BIM. So, what is BIM? Why it so popular and what lies there in it for architects and builders?

What is BIM?

Well known industry analyst Jerry Laiserin briefs the BIM process as follows – “Building Information Modeling or BIM is a digital representation of the building process to facilitate exchange and interoperability of information in digital format.”

So, BIM is a process of demonstrating both graphical and non-graphical aspects of the full building life cycle and creating a single repository of design and construction documents, specifications and schedules. BIM process generates 3D Model encompassing geometric and geographic information of the building and properties of its components. Bentley, ArchiCAD and Revit are the popular CADD software used to generate standard 3D BIM models.

3D/4D Building Information Model

Team members equipped with desktop PCs are networked together and contain BIM 3D modeling tools with field-specific files and a master file. A 3D model is relatively easy for all members to understand and visualize. Drawing or fabrication job can be coordinated remotely using affordable web conferencing applications such as Webex enabling team to virtually “walk through” during the construction process. In 4D modeling you have an added fourth element of time with 3D model providing better control on project schedules and activities.

What are the benefits of BIM?

Since each and every detail related to building construction is at one place and viewed by all team members design performance increases significantly. For example, the structural engineer can consult immediately with the architect regarding energy consumption strategies pertaining to structure insulation and heating. In this way BIM Model facilitates much improved coordination and collaboration among design and construction team and reduces information loss associated with project management. This helps in saving both costs and construction time and potentially benefit all the stake-holders of construction process including designers, structural engineers and contractors.