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.     

Fractal dimension in CT low attenuation areas is predictive of long-term oxygen therapy initiation in COPD patients: Results from two observational cohort studies

BackgroundSome chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients develop hypoxemia with disease progression, with some even requiring long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). Lung function, especially diffusing capacity, and the annual decline in PaO₂, are reported to be predictive factors of chronic respiratory failure. However, the association between lung morphometry evaluated using computed tomography (CT) images and LTOT initiation is unknown.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the relationship between clinical indices, including pulmonary function, body mass index (BMI), and CT parameters, at baseline and LTOT initiation in two prospective COPD cohorts. In the Nara Medical University cohort (n = 76), the low attenuation area (LAA) and its fractal dimension (fractal D) were adapted as the indices for parenchymal destruction in CT images. The association between these CT measurements and LTOT initiation was replicated in the Kyoto University cohort (n = 130).ResultsIn the Nara Medical University cohort, lower BMI (hazard ratio [HR]:0.70, p = 0.006), lower % diffusing capacity (%DLCO) (HR: 0.92, p = 0.006), lower %DLCO/VA (HR, 0.90, p = 0.008), higher RV/TLC (HR, 1.26, p = 0.012), higher LAA% (HR: 1.18, p = 0.001), and lower fractal D (HR: 3.27 × 10^?8, p < 0.001) were associated with LTOT initiation. Multivariate analysis in the Kyoto University cohort confirmed that lower %DLCO and lower fractal D were independently associated with LTOT initiation, whereas LAA% was not.ConclusionFractal D, which is the index for morphometric complexity of LAA in CT analysis, is predictive of LTOT initiation in COPD patients.     

大面积堆场逐级增高下软土地基变形特性

通过历时2 a的现场监测,揭示了大面积堆场逐级增高情况下软土地基变形特性的规律,总结了固结沉降的规律,为软土地基的固结沉降分析计算提供依据.     

国产和日本产柱晶白霉素与其它常用抗生素的体外抗菌活性比较

用试管双倍稀释法测定国产与日本产柱晶白霉素对104株革蓝氏阳性球菌的体外抗菌活性并与9种常用抗生素进行比较。结果表明:国产和日本产柱晶白霉素对革蓝氏阳性球菌的抑菌率基本一致。国产柱晶白霉素的抑菌、杀菌作用强于红霉素;略优于氯霉素和四环素;与青霉素G、庆大霉素基本相似,但不及氨苄青霉素、苯唑青霉素、丁胺卡那霉素及强力霉素。     

高压脉冲电场对乳铁蛋白抑菌性能的影响

研究了高压脉冲电场(PEF)对乳铁蛋白(LF)的抑菌性能的影响。结果表明,LF质量浓度、电场强度、脉冲频率、脉冲数的增加,有利于LF抑菌能力的增强,而温度的升高会使之减弱。电场强度为35 kV/cm时,LF的抑菌能力达到最大值。LF的质量浓度越高,对电场强度的变化越敏感。当脉冲个数达到744时,LF的相对抑菌能力提高了34%。处理温度为15～55℃时,PEF处理的LF的相对抑菌性能增长了5%左右。当温度升高至65℃时,LF的相对抑菌能力下降显著,降低了约22%。     

人源性多肽pCM-19抗菌机制的初步研究

目的：初步分析人源性多肽pCM-19的抗菌作用机制。方法：利用荧光素掺入破损细胞膜的原理，采用流式荧光激活细胞分析（FACScan）和扫描电子显微镜分析pCM-19对靶菌膜的作用机制。结果：FACS分析法结果显示pCM-19处理后的大肠杆菌PI着染细菌比例明显高于未处理组，并且随作用时间的延长，PI着染BL-21菌比例增大，20min时达最高水平，20min以后反而降低；扫描电子显微镜观察到pCM-19处理后的大肠杆菌有明显的表面形态学的改变，如细菌体积缩小、细菌表面出现皱缩、凹陷似有孔洞形成。结论：人源性多肽pCM-19可能作用于细菌细胞壁和（或）细胞膜，通过改变其通透性而发挥杀菌作用。     

食盐对普通玉米杂交种淀粉糊化性质的影响

采用快速粘度分析仪（RVA）研究了食盐对18种普通玉米杂交种淀粉糊化性质的影响。结果表明：食盐显著降低了所有普通玉米杂交种淀粉的峰值、破损值和回生值;提高了谷值、终粘度、出峰时间和成糊温度。但对不同的普通玉米杂交种淀粉的糊化性质的影响程度有显著差别。随着食盐溶液质量分数的增加,普通玉米杂交种淀粉的谷值、终粘度、出峰时间和成糊温度也逐渐增加,破损值和回生值则显著降低,峰值受食盐溶液质量分数的影响很小。     

Characterization of hindlimb motoneuron membrane properties in acute and chronic spinal cats

The purpose of this study was to determine if changes in hindlimb motoneuron membrane electrical properties occur 4–6 months after spinal transection in the adult animal. Eight acute and nine chronic animals were spinalized at T₁₂. Intracellular recordings from motoneurons innervating the triceps surae were performed. Membrane electrical properties, including resting potential, action potential peak amplitude, afterhyperpolarization duration, rheobasic current, input resistance and axonal conduction velocity were measured. There were no statistical differences found between group means or frequency distributions in the membrane properties of motoneurons assessed from acute and chronic spinal animals. Thus, alteration of motoneuron membrane properties does not appear to be a major contributing factor to the hyperexcitable hindlimb reflex activity demonstrated by chronic spinal animals.     

黑龙江省地产中药抗菌作用的实验研究

为开发我省地产中药资源，作者对地产中草药进行了较为全面系统的研究，本文仅报道我省几种地产中草药抗菌作用的实验研究，将抗菌效果好的艾叶、泽兰、大活、木贼、苦参和与之对照的紫丁香的抗菌作用进行对比，结果表明，紫丁香的抗菌作用效果好，毒副作用小。另外所试中３药因抗菌作用不如叶、泽兰、大活、木贼、苦参、紫丁香具有较好抗菌作用。是很有研究价值的中药。