Microspheres of essential oil in polylactic acid and poly(methyl methacrylate) matrices and their blends

This study is focussed on micro-encapsulation of essential oils in polylactic acid (PLA) and a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix as well as blends of the same. Microspheres were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique and characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The encapsulation efficiencies and release profiles of the essential oils were studied by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and head-space solid-phase microextraction GC-MS, respectively. Furthermore, the microspheres were tested for antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains.

The results showed that the microspheres compositions (PLA/PMMA ratio) have significant effect on their characteristics. The process adopted for preparing the microspheres promoted formation of spherical particles at the sizes of 1.5–9.5?µm. The highest encapsulation efficiency of the prepared microspheres was observed in systems consisting of linalool (81.10?±?10.0?wt. % for PLA system and 76.0?±?3.3?wt. % for PMMA system). Confirmation was also made that the release rate of the microspheres was affected by the size of the same.     

一种防脱出易制作义眼台的研制

目的探讨一种新型简易防脱出的义眼台的制作方法与效果。方法根据眼球摘除后的解剖特点设计义眼台大小,选择聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和涤纶布为材料制作复合材料义眼台,并对6只家兔行眼球摘除后置入义眼台,经HE染色观察及肉眼观察术后不同时间置入物与眼周围组织的解剖关系。结果聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯部分与组织无黏连,涤纶布形成牢固黏连,周围有纤维组织长入并包绕,义眼台无脱出、移位。结论以聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和涤纶布为材料制作复合义眼台,方法简易,效果可靠,组织相容性好,术后反应轻,值得在临床上推广使用。     

Intravenous fate of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-based polyplexes

The objective of this study was to assess the in vivo fate of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (pDMAEMA)-based polyplexes after intravenous administration into mice. Circulation kinetics and tissue distribution in terms of plasmid localization and transfection efficiency were assessed. To gain more insight into the observed biodistribution and gene expression profile, the interaction of pDMAEMA-based polyplexes with blood components (erythrocytes and albumin) was investigated in vitro. In the case of i.v. injection of positively charged polyplexes at a dose of 30 microg DNA most of the radioactivity was found in the lungs and the liver 60 min after injection. In the case of pDMAEMA/DNA polyplexes with a negative charge, uptake occurred mainly by the liver. Administration of positively charged complexes at a 30 microg DNA dose resulted in reporter gene expression primarily in the lungs. Injection of negatively charged complexes and naked plasmid did not result in luciferase expression in any of the organs examined. In vitro turbidity experiments showed the induction of a charge dependent aggregation process upon addition of albumin to the polyplexes pointing out to the involvement of aggregate formation in the dominant lung uptake of the positively charged polyplexes. Also, incubations of polyplexes after pre-incubation with a physiological concentration of albumin with washed erythrocytes confirmed that polyplexes induce the formation of extremely large structures. This paper underlines the need for the design of systems with reduced interaction with blood components to promote the delivery of DNA to target tissues outside the lungs.     

An analysis of the paradoxical effect of morphine on runway speed and food consumption

A previously reported paradigm in which rats run down a runway for food reward followed by morphine injection was analyzed to assess the utility of the paradigm in studies of opiate reinforcement. One experiment replicated the original report that post-trial morphine caused both an increase in runway speed and a decrease in food consumption (taste aversion) over successive trials, and showed in addition that the increase in runway speed did not occur as a result of food deprivation alone, but required the animals to have consumed food in the goal box. A second study using the quaternary opiate antagonist methyl naltrexone to block the peripheral effects of morphine suggested that the increase in runway speed has a peripheral locus while the taste aversion has a central one. A third experiment in which morphine was microinjected into either the lateral ventricle or the ventral tegmental area supported these observations, in that intracranial morphine failed to result in an increased runway speed, but did produce taste aversion after microinjection into either site. These findings also suggest that the increase in runway speed caused by post-trial morphine in this experiment has a peripheral locus of effect, which is probably distinct from the central effect that supports morphine self-administration and conditioned place preference. Offprint requests to: W.A.CorrigallThe views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Addiction Research Foundation     

Chronic administration of theophylline to rats induces a post-insulin binding defect in adipocyte glucose transport

Summary To determine whether adenosine is involved in long-term regulation of glucose transport in adipose tissue, we have investigated effects of administration of an adenosine receptor antagonist (theophylline) on adipocyte glucose transport. Rats were injected with theophylline (30 mg/kg, dissolved in 0.9% NaCl) daily for 7 days. Controls were injected with saline. The rats were then killed, and epididymal adipocytes were isolated. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport rates were decreased by about 25%–30% in the cells from theophylline-treated rats at all insulin concentrations tested. The half-maximally effective concentration of insulin was not altered (6.5±0.5 and 6.7±0.5 mU/l in control and treated cells respectively), suggesting a post-insulin binding defect. This was confirmed by the finding that ¹²⁵I-insulin binding to the cells was not altered. Adenosine receptor number and affinity (measured on detergent-solubilized adipocyte extracts using ¹²⁵I-hydroxyphenylisopropyl adenosine) was also not changed by theophylline treatment. We conclude that theophylline administration causes decreased glucose transport rates in rat adipocytes at a post-insulin binding level. Thus, chronic adenosine receptor blockade impairs adipocyte glucose transport, suggesting that adenosine is involved in long-term regulation of glucose metabolism in adipose tissue.     

PMMA/HA-GF医用复合材料制备及性能测试

本文主要研究了无机玻璃纤维增强聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)/羟基磷灰石(HA)复合材料的制备及相关的性能测试,证明此复合材料性能稳定、物理机械强度高以及工艺简单,有良好的应用前景。     

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis and composition of acrylates in dentin bonding systems

Background Dentin-bonding systems contain sensitizing acrylates. They are increasingly used in dentistry, but only few cases of allergy have been encountered. Objective This study reports observations on eleven patients sensitized by acrylates in dentin-bonding compounds. Furthermore, the composition of dentin-bonding products was analysed and compared with the information given in the material safety data sheets. Methods Patch testing was performed to reveal allergic contact dermatitis, and chamber provocation tests to reveal possible respiratory sensitivity. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to analyse the chemical composition of the bonding products. Results The most common sensitizer in our material of eleven patients was 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA). Another putative sensitizer, BIS-GMA, used in dentin adhesives, did not cause sensitization. The typical allergic dermatitis localized to the fingertips (pulpitis). Seven of the eleven patients also developed paresthesia of the fingertips. One patient with positive patch test reactions to (meth)acrylates had pharyngitis hut no skin symptoms. One patient was sensitized because she had been patch tested with too high a concentration (undiluted) of dentin-bonding components. Material safety sheets gave inaccurate or wrong information about the contents. Conclusion Dentin-bonding acrylates are strong sensitizers, and even a single exposure may sensitize.     

甲基叔丁基醚无铅汽油肾脏毒性的实验研究

目的：了解甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE）无铅汽油对肾脏的毒性及毒作用机制。方法：昆明种小鼠经呼吸道静式染毒，MTBE无铅汽油22．9、11．4及2．3g/m^3每天一次，连续2h，共22d亚急性染毒。日立－7150型全自动生化仪检测血清中尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐（Cr）含量；肾组织均浆中丙二醛（MDA）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）含量分别用荧光法，邻苯三酚自氧化固定时间法测定；电镜观察肾皮质区超微结构的变化，结果：22.9g/m^3染毒组雌性小鼠血清中BUN含量与阴性对照组间比较差异有显著性（P＜0．05）；电镜观察到22.9g/m^3染色毒对照组雌雄性小鼠的肾小球基底膜，肾小管细胞线粒体及绒毛均未见显著异常改变。结论：MTBE无铅汽油对肾小球的滤过功能有一定的影响，雌性小鼠可能更为敏感。     

Enhancement of performance by methyl β-carboline-3-carboxylate, in learning and memory tasks

Benzodiazepines are known to induce a profound anterograde amnesia in man. In this report, it is shown that methyl β-carboline-3-carboxylate (β-CCM), an inverse agonist of the benzodiazepine receptor, has the opposite effect; it enhances performance in learning and memory tasks. Three different learning models were used: habituation to a new environment and passive avoidance in mice and imprinting in chicks. The opposite effects of both β-CCM and the benzodiazepine diazepam were blocked by administration of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788, provicling evidence that the benzodiazepine receptor is involved in these effects.