Cyanide and migratory birds at gold mines in Nevada,USA

Since the mid-1980s, cyanide in heap leach solutions and mill tailings ponds at gold mines in Nevada has killed a large but incompletely documented number of wildlife (>9,500 individuals, primarily migratory birds). This field investigation documents the availability of cyanide at a variety of typical Nevada gold mines during 1990 and 1991, describes wildlife reactions to cyanide solutions, and discusses procedures for eliminating wildlife loss from cyanide poisoning. Substantial progress has been made to reduce wildlife loss. About half of the mill tailings ponds (some up to 150 ha) in Nevada have been chemically treated to reduce cyanide concentrations (the number needing treatment is uncertain) and many of the smaller heap leach solution ponds and channels are now covered with netting to exclude birds and most mammals. The discovery of a cyanide gradient in mill tailings ponds (concentration usually 2–3 times higher at the inflow point than at reclaim point) provides new insight into wildlife responses (mortality) observed in different portions of the ponds. Finding dead birds on the tops of ore heaps and associated with solution puddling is a new problem, but management procedures for eliminating this source of mortality are available. A safe threshold concentration of cyanide to eliminate wildlife loss could not be determined from the field data and initial laboratory studies. New analytical methods may be required to assess further the wildlife hazard of cyanide in mining solutions.     

α-Smooth-muscle actin expression in normal and fibrotic human livers

To determine the significance of the expression of -smooth-muscle actin in the fibrotic human liver, normal and diseased livers were stained with anti--smooth-muscle-actin antibody by an immunoperoxidase method. Vitamin A-containing lipocytes were also identified by the modified Kupffer's gold chloride method. In the normal human liver, lipocytes as well as vascular smooth muscle cells expressed -smooth-muscle actin. In alcoholic liver disease, there was an increase in the cells positive for -smooth-muscle actin adjacent to the fibrotic areas, but the response of lipocytes to the gold chloride reaction diminished. In chronic hepatitis, the cells positive for -smooth-muscle actin increased around the enlarged portal areas, and the response to the gold chloride reaction did not change appreciably. An increase in the cells positive for -smooth-muscle actin was associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis in the liver of patients with alcoholic liver disease and chronic hepatitis.     

Liposomes and Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Intracellular Bacterial Infections

The treatment of infections caused by obligate or facultative intracellular microorganisms is difficult because most of the available antibiotics have either poor intracellular diffusion and retention or reduced activity at the acidic pH of the lysosomes. The need for antibiotics with greater intracellular efficacy led to the development of endocytosable drug carriers, such as liposomes and nanoparticles, which mimic the entry path of the bacteria by penetrating the cells into phagosomes or lysosomes. This Review assesses the potential of liposomes and nanoparticles in the targeted antibiotic therapy of intracellular bacterial infections and diseases and the pharmaceutical advantages and limitations of these submicron delivery systems.     

胰岛素壳聚糖纳米粒的制备

 目的制备胰岛素壳聚糖纳米粒。方法采用酶水解和超滤膜分离技术，得到不同相对分子质量的壳聚糖，由凝胶渗透色谱法测定其相对分子质量；采用溶剂扩散法制备纳米粒，研究纳米粒的空间结构，测定其粒径、表面电位(zeta电位)、模型药物胰岛素包封率及体外释放。结果通过控制酶水解条件，经超滤分离得到3种不同相对分子质量的壳聚糖，凝胶渗透色谱法测得的重均相对分子质量(MW)分别为10 289，41500和101 870。经溶剂扩散法制备得到的壳聚糖纳米粒，呈类圆形球体，粒径分布较窄，且随制备工艺中乙醇加入量的增加、分散用超声次数的增多，以及壳聚糖分子量的降低，粒径变小。壳聚糖纳米粒带正电荷，zeta电位值大于+30 mV。放射免疫法测得的药物包封率为72.66%。在壳聚糖酶存在条件下，前1 h体外释放药物较快，1 h后趋于平稳，并能持续释放6 h。结论选用合适相对分子质量壳聚糖制备胰岛素壳聚糖纳米粒，方法简便，药物包封率高，并有一定的缓释作用。     

载多柔比星人血清白蛋白毫微粒和两种免疫毫微粒的体内外靶向性研究

目的 构建载多柔比星的普通毫微粒、全抗体免疫毫微粒和抗体F(ab’)2片段免疫毫微粒，比较它们对肿瘤的体外和体内靶向性，寻找对肿瘤组织具有特异性靶向作用的制剂。方法 采用异型双功能交联剂琥珀酰亚胺基-3-(2-吡啶二硫)丙酸酯(SPDF)，将兔抗大鼠乳腺癌细胞系Walker-256细胞的多克隆抗体(Wab)和其F(ab’)2片段即WF(ab’)2与载多柔比星(Doxorubicin，DRB)的人血清白蛋白毫微粒(DRB-HSA-NP)交联，制备全抗体免疫毫微粒Wab-DRB-HSA-NP和F(ab’)2片段免疫毫微粒WF(ab’)2-DRB-HSA-NP，比较它们的体外肿瘤细胞靶向性和体内组织器官靶向性。结果 与DRB-HSA-NP相比，两种免疫毫微粒均有较好的体外肿瘤特异靶向性，瘤体内给药后在瘤体内的滞留量也显著增高，特别是WF(ab’)2-DRB-HSA-NP，由于所偶联的抗体切除了FC段，降低了抗体与巨噬细胞的结合。结论 免疫毫微粒，特别是WF(ab’)2-DRB-HSA-NP具有较好的肿瘤肥向性，是一种很有价值的靶向制剂。     

聚甲基丙烯酸酯纳米粒作为反义寡核苷酸传递系统的研究聚甲基丙烯酸酯纳米粒作为反义寡核苷酸传递系统的研究

目的 研究聚甲基丙烯酸酯阳离子纳米粒作为反义寡核苷酸传递系统的可行性。方法 以Eudragit RL100和RS100为材料,采用溶剂-非溶剂法制备纳米粒,再与寡核苷酸混合即得载药纳米粒。用透射电镜观察其形态、粒径测定仪测定粒径、超滤法测定药物的包封率,通过台盼蓝拒染试验和红细胞溶血试验测定纳米粒的细胞毒性,用流式细胞仪测定荧光标记的寡核苷酸的入胞量。结果 纳米粒的形态规整、大小均匀,平均粒径为127 nm左右,几乎所有的药物被负载。使用聚甲基丙烯酸酯纳米粒作为反义寡核苷酸载体后,进入细胞内的药物量急剧增加,并有显著的剂量依赖性,但对细胞有轻微的毒性作用。结论 聚甲基丙烯酸酯阳离子纳米粒是一种稳定、高效的反义寡核苷酸传递系统。     

阿苯达唑聚氰基丙烯酸正丁酯纳米粒的制备、性质及其组织靶向性研究阿苯达唑聚氰基丙烯酸正丁酯纳米粒的制备、性质及其组织靶向性研究

目的制备阿苯达唑聚氰基丙烯酸正丁酯纳米粒（albendazole polybutycyanocrylate nanoparticles，ABZ-PBCA-NP）TDDS给药系统，并考察相关特性及组织分布靶向性。方法种子乳化聚合法制备阿苯达唑纳米粒；等温吸附法考察纳米粒载药特性；动态透析法研究4种制剂的体外释药动力学；同位素标记阿苯达唑纳米粒在小鼠脏器组织分布和生物利用度。结果ABZ-PBCA-NP体外释药遵循Higuchi方程，加入PVP制成的载药纳米粒符合双指数函数。纳米粒的载药方式遵循Langmuir吸附方程。小鼠ig ³H-ABZ-PBCA-NP后, 药物的肝、脾中的靶向指数分别为11.4和3.9，阿苯达唑纳米粒和混悬剂相对生物利用度分别为76.0%和36.9%。结论制备纳米粒加入PVP可使药物具吸附性和分散性，纳米粒载体可降低药物与血浆蛋白结合率，增强药物的肝、脾脏器靶向性和延缓释药。     

Cellular uptake and concentrations of tamoxifen upon administration in poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles

Purpose: In an attempt to increase the local concentration of tamoxifen in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells, we have prepared and characterized poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoparticle formulation. Methods: PCL (mol wt 14,800 daltons) nanoparticles were prepared by the solvent displacement method in acetonewater system in the presence of Pluronic F-68. PCL nanoparticles, labeled with rhodamine 123, were incubated with MCF-7 estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells to determine uptake, intracellular distribution, and localization as a function of time. Intracellular drug concentrations over a specified period of time using different initial doses were examined using tritiated [³H]-tamoxifen. Results: A significant fraction of the administered rhodamine 123-loaded PCL nanoparticles was found in the perinuclear region of the MCF-7 cells, where estrogen receptors are also localized, after 1 hour of incubation. Measurements of the intracellular concentrations revealed that most of the administered nanoparticle dose was internalized within the first 30 minutes of incubation, and the uptake followed saturable transport kinetics. Conclusion: Results of this study show that PCL nanoparticles were rapidly internalized in MCF-7 cells and intracellular tamoxifen concentrations followed a saturable process. This approach may provide better therapeutic benefit by delivering the drug locally, near the tumor cells, for a longer period of time.     

胶体金免疫标记技术研究胆酸钠促进结肠吸收胰岛素的机理

目的利用胶体金免疫标记技术，研究促吸剂(胆酸钠和水杨酸钠)促进结肠吸收胰岛素的机制。方法 建立大鼠结肠给药模型，考察胰岛素制剂降糖作用，胶体金免疫标记结肠标本，电镜观察。结果以1 u·kg^-1的剂量给予胰岛素制剂，I(不含促吸剂)使大鼠血糖下降至原来的73.2%，II(含有促吸剂)使大鼠血糖下降至原来的16.4%；胶体金颗粒呈团状、点灶状分布，特异性强，无促吸剂时金颗粒仅分布在细胞间隙，有促吸剂时，在细胞表面和内部均可观察到金颗粒。降糖作用与电镜结果具有良好的相关性。结论在促吸剂作用下，胰岛素分子可在结肠上皮细胞进行转运。     

雷公藤甲素聚乳酸纳米粒对大鼠睾丸组织的影响

目的　观察采用聚乳酸纳米粒能否减轻雷公藤甲素的大鼠睾丸毒性。方法　雄性Wistar大鼠分别ig 0 .2及 0 .6mg·kg- 1雷公藤甲素 (非纳米粒组 )及其聚乳酸纳米粒混悬液 (纳米粒组 ) ,连续给药 15d ,以ig生理盐水的大鼠为对照组 ,测定睾丸的脏器系数及其组织匀浆液中酸性磷酸酶 (ACP)活性和果糖含量 ,光镜观察睾丸组织的病理学变化。结果在 0 .6mg·kg- 1剂量下 ,非纳米粒组睾丸ACP活性和果糖的含量均明显低于纳米粒组 (P <0 .0 5 )。光镜观察显示 ,雷公藤甲素 0 .6mg·kg- 1可引起大鼠睾丸的损伤 ,非纳米粒组引起的病变程度明显重于纳米粒组 ,主要表现为睾丸萎缩 ,各级生精细胞变性、坏死、数量减少或消失 ,出现了多核巨细胞。结论以聚乳酸作为药物载体的纳米体系 ,可明显减轻雷公藤甲素对睾丸的毒性