Hardening of Additive Manufactured 316L Stainless Steel by Using Bimodal Powder Containing Nanoscale Fraction

The particle size distribution significantly affects the material properties of the additively manufactured parts. In this work, the influence of bimodal powder containing nano- and micro-scale particles on microstructure and materials properties is studied. Moreover, to study the effect of the protective atmosphere, the test samples were additively manufactured from 316L stainless steel powder in argon and nitrogen. The samples fabricated from the bimodal powder demonstrate a finer subgrain structure, regardless of protective atmospheres and an increase in the Vickers microhardness, which is in accordance with the Hall-Petch relation. The porosity analysis revealed the deterioration in the quality of as-built parts due to the poor powder flowability. The surface roughness of fabricated samples was the same regardless of the powder feedstock materials used and protective atmospheres. The results suggest that the improvement of mechanical properties is achieved by adding a nano-dispersed fraction, which dramatically increases the total surface area, thereby contributing to the nitrogen absorption by the material.     

大柴胡汤治疗大肠癌的猜想

大柴胡汤出自仲圣《伤寒论》，历代医家对其条文注疏不尽相同，但大多数医家对其治疗消化系统疾病的观点认同，因柴胡剂在三阳病篇出现，易多与肝胆疾病相联系，而其条文所述症状，又与现代西医学胰脏疾病相似，故大多对此方的治疗范围规定在肝胆胰脏疾病之中，笔者早期阅读美国汉唐中医学院倪海厦教授讲述《伤寒论》，倪氏指出其方与肝脏及大肠之间有着极为密切的联系，并照搬原方治愈教例大肠癌患者，笔者在此将试论大柴胡汤调节肝与大肠之关系及治疗大肠癌的猜想。     

Inhalation device options for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, resulting from abnormalities in the airway and/or damage to the alveoli. Primary care physicians manage the healthcare of a large proportion of patients with COPD. In addition to determining the most appropriate medication regimen, which usually includes inhaled bronchodilators with or without inhaled corticosteroids, physicians are charged with optimizing inhalation device selection to facilitate effective drug delivery and patient adherence. The large variety of inhalation devices currently available present numerous challenges for physicians that include: (1) gaining knowledge of and proficiency with operating different device classes; (2) identifying the most appropriate inhalation device for the patient; and (3) providing the necessary education and training for patients on device use. This review provides an overview of the inhalation device types currently available in the United States for delivery of COPD medications, including information on their successful operation and respective advantages and disadvantages, factors to consider in matching a device to an individual patient, the need for device training for patients and physicians, and guidance for improving treatment adherence. Finally, the review will discuss established and novel tools and technology that may aid physicians in improving education and promoting better adherence to therapy.     

柴胡解毒汤联合干扰素治疗慢性乙肝的疗效和对细胞因子的影响及机制

目的:观察柴胡解毒汤在治慢性乙型肝炎方面的临床疗效,并借此探讨该方对细胞因子的影响。方法:选取2015年9月至2016年3月重庆三峡高等专科学校附属医院收治的慢性乙型肝炎患者90例,随机分成对照组和观察组,每组45例。对照组采用干扰素注射,1次/d,连续2周后,再改为隔日1次,连用3个月;观察组在使用干扰素基础上采用中药柴胡解毒汤治疗,2次/d,同样治疗14 d后观察2组治疗的临床疗效、肝功能比较、药物不良反应、血清IL-1β、IL-6、5-HT及TNF-α水平的变化、HBs Ag、HBe A、HBV-DNA阴转率等情况。结果:1)治疗后观察组有效率86.67%,对照组有效率68.89%,2组有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);2)2组与治疗前比较,肝功能指标均有明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,观察组ALT、AST及TBIL值均明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);3)不良反应中,对照组出现10例(33.00%),观察组4例(8.80%),观察组不良反应明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);4)2组患者在治疗前,检测的血清IL-1β、IL-6、5-HT及TNF-α含量比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),而组间治疗后比较,观察组明显低于对照组,治疗后,上述指标均较治疗前下降,但观察组下降更明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);5)观察组HBs Ag阴转率为24.4%、HBe Ag阴转率为33.3%、HBV-DNA阴转率为48.8%均明显高于对照组,对照组HBs Ag阴转率为15.5%、HBe Ag阴转率为11.1%、HBV-DNA阴转率为28.9%,2组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:柴胡解毒汤在治疗慢性乙肝方面有显著的临床效果,且不良反应较传统干扰素明显降低,值得推广,同时,该药对细胞因子等指标也有明显降低作用,考虑其可能是通过类似机制起作用。     

Spray freeze drying for dry powder inhalation of nanoparticles

Formulating nanoparticles for delivery to the deep lung is complex and many techniques fail in terms of nanoparticle stability. Spray freeze drying (SFD) is suggested here for the production of inhalable nanocomposite microcarriers (NCM). Different nanostructures were prepared and characterized including polymeric and lipid nanoparticles. Nanoparticle suspensions were co-sprayed with a suitable cryoprotectant into a cooled, stainless steel spray tower, followed by freeze drying to form a dry powder while equivalent compositions were spray dried (SD) as controls. SFD-NCM possess larger specific surface areas (67–77 m²/g) and lower densities (0.02 g/cm³) than their corresponding SD-NCM. With the exception of NCM of lipid based nanocarriers, SFD produced NCM with a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 3.0 ± 0.5 μm and fine particle fraction (FPF ⩽ 5.2 μm) of 45 ± 1.6% with aerodynamic performances similar to SD-NCM. However, SFD was superior to SD in terms of maintaining the particle size of all the investigated polymeric and lipid nanocarriers following reconstitution (S_f/S_i ratio for SFD ≈ 1 versus >1.5 for SD). The SFD into cooled air proved to be an efficient technique to prepare NCM for pulmonary delivery while maintaining the stability of the nanoparticles.     

坤泰胶囊对大鼠胚胎和胎仔的发育毒性研究

目的 评价SD孕鼠在致畸敏感期（怀孕第6～15天）ig给予坤泰胶囊溶液对SD大鼠的母体毒性、胚胎-胎仔毒性和致畸性。方法 雌性SD大鼠低、中、高剂量组在怀孕第6～15天内分别ig给予2.5、5、10 g/(kg?d) 坤泰胶囊成品粉溶液，对照组给予双蒸水。试验期内每天观察动物的一般情况和临床毒性表现；记录孕鼠的体质量；在怀孕第20天进行剖腹检查，摘取卵巢和子宫，观察黄体数、着床数、胚胎生存及死亡情况、生存胎仔的外观、性别、体质量、骨骼及脏器发育等指标。结果 孕鼠及胚胎、胎仔发育的上述各观察指标未见明显异常，与对照组比较无显著差异。结论 在本实验条件下，坤泰胶囊成品粉未见明显的母体毒性与胚胎和胎儿发育毒性。     

舒筋散温熨配合针刺治疗中风偏瘫软瘫期疗效观察

目的:观察舒筋散温熨配合针刺治疗中风偏瘫软瘫期的临床疗效。方法:脑血管意外致偏瘫患者80例,随机分为治疗组与对照组。以简化Fug-Meyer运动功能评分法[1]做指标,观察治疗前后患者症状变化。结果:治疗组疗效优于对照组。结论:舒筋散温熨配合针刺治疗中风偏瘫软瘫期患者具有明显的治疗作用。     

中药黄柏粉配合红霉素治疗72例子宫颈炎患者的临床疗效分析

目的探讨中药黄柏粉配合红霉素治疗子宫颈炎的临床效果。方法选择144例子宫颈炎患者,随机分为治疗组、对照组各72例,治疗组应用中药黄白粉配合红霉素进行治疗,对照组应用消糜灵栓;比较两组的临床治愈率。结果治疗组的急性宫颈炎及各度宫颈糜烂治愈率均较对照组高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论黄柏粉配合红霉素治疗子宫颈炎具有良好效果,值得临床推广应用。     

Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of Flow Pattern of Pharmaceutical Powder Blends Discharged From Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of funnel flow pattern for common pharmaceutical powder blends, upon discharging from modern intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) in drug product manufacturing. The estimation was built upon Jenike’s original radial stress field theory. It was modified to account for the stress-dependence of wall friction angle commonly observed in pharmaceutical powders. A total of 260 flow pattern estimations, based on 20 real-life IBCs and 13 investigational powder blends, were made. The estimated results showed that the mass flow pattern is present in less than 5% of all cases. Funnel flow pattern is clearly prevalent among pharmaceutical powder blends. The prevalence of funnel flow stems from several factors: 1) relatively shallow hopper section shared by all IBCs, 2) the common transition-type geometry, leading to even shallower hopper inclination at the edge of the hopper section, and 3) relatively high wall friction angles resulting from low wall normal stresses. This conclusion was verified through at-scale experiments, by discharging multiple pharmaceutical powder blends from a representative IBC. In general, our study suggests that, unless the powder wall friction can be substantially reduced, pharmaceutical powders are likely to discharge under funnel flow from modern IBCs.