The application of percolation theory to the compaction of pharmaceutical powders

Based on the concepts of percolation theory the compaction process is interpreted as a site-bond percolation phenomenon. The combination of the Heckel equation with an equation derived earlier yields a simple relationship between the tensile strength σ_t, or the deformation hardness P and the relative density. This mathematical model is identical with the fundamental law of percolation theory i.e., X = s(p − p_c)^q with X= system property equivalent to tensile strength or deformation hardness, S = scaling factor, p = site occupation or bond formation probability corresponding to the relative density p,p_c = percolation threshold and critical exponent q = 1 according to percolation on a Bethe lattice. In the case of the tensile strength σ_t and the deformation hardness p, two percolation thresholds p_c(1) and p_c(2) corresponding to p_c(1) and p_c(2) could be identified. The relative density p_c(1) which is close to the relative poured or relative tapped density can be interpreted as a bond percolation threshold. The particles are bonded by weak interparticulate forces and form only loose compacts as used for filling of capsules. The relative density p_c(2) is the relative density where the first stable pharmaceutical compact is achieved which can no longer be disintegrated mechanically into its primary particles. It is of special interest that the above equation is also valid for the elastic modulus with the only percolation threshold p_c(1) = p_c(1).     

Relationships between Activators and Inhibitors of Plasminogen, and the Progression of Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: plasmin is a common activator of the known proteolytic systems involved in the aneurysmal degradation, and is reported to be associated with the expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The aim of this study was to study the activating pathways of plasminogen as predictors of the progression of AAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: one hundred and twelve of 122 male patients with a small AAA (def.: +3cm) were interviewed, examined, had blood samples taken at diagnosis, and scanned annually for 1-5 years (mean 3.5 years), and referred for surgery if the AAA exceeded 5cm in diameter.A random sample of 70 of the 112 cases had plasma levels of urokinase-like-plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue-type-plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), macrophage inhibiting factor (MIF), tumour-growth-factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), homocysteine, and serum levels of IgA-antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae (IgA-CP) and Cotinine (a nicotine metabolite) measured. Spearmans correlation analysis was used for statistics. RESULTS: the annual expansion rate correlated positively with tPA, IgA-CP and S-Cotinine; r =0.37 (p=0.002), 0.29 (p=0.006) and 0.24 (p=0.038), while PAI1, uPA, TGF-beta1, homocysteine, and MIF did not. S-Cotinine did also correlate positively with tPA, r=0.24 (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: the aortic matrix degradation in AAA may be partly caused by an activation of plasminogen by tPA, but apparently not by uPA, which usually dominates matrix degradation. Smoking seems to be a factor for this pathway, while the pathways of IgA-CP and MIF, a new marker of aneurysmal progression, seem different. The latter observations suggest that other proteolytic pathways are involved in the aortic wall degradation in AAA.     

人本原理在医院管理中的应用价值

目的:研究人本原理在护理管理中的应用。方法:把人本原理的管理原则、动力原则、行为原则、能级原则应用于护士长的管理中,尊重、关心、帮助和激励护士,人人参与管理。选择2005年上半年住院病人180例作为改革组,应用人本原理管理。2004年下半年住院病人150例作为传统组,用传统方法管理。结果:通过人本原理管理原则的应用,提高了护理质量,各项指标应用后高于应用前(P<0.05或P<0.01),无投诉、无差错事故发生,病人满意度一直在95%以上,护士参与管理意识增强,团队精神加强,护士按期晋升。护士对病人实行人性化服务,为医院赢得了相应的社会效益和经济效益。结论:人本原理应用于护理管理行之有效,值得推广。     

The Neuronal Toxic Factor in Serum of Type 1 Diabetic Patients is a Complement-fixing Autoantibody

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting in destruction of pancreatic β cells. Many of the pancreatic β cell autoantigens are also neuronal cell components. Using adrenergic neuroblastoma cells, we have previously demonstrated that humoral mechanisms may contribute to the development of diabetic neuropathy in Type 1 patients. We hypothesize that the toxic factor in Type 1 diabetic serum is an immunoglobulin. When neuroblastoma cells were exposed to immunoglobulins precipitated from serum of Type 1 diabetes patients with neuropathy, cell growth was significantly inhibited by day 5 (3.8 ± 2.4 times 10⁵ cells) compared to cells cultured with immunoglobulins from control (8.2 ± 2.3 times 10⁵ cells) or Type 2 diabetic serum (7.0 ± 3.0 times 10⁵ cells). The inhibitory effect (3.2 ± 0.9 times 10⁵ cells) could be removed from Type 1 diabetic serum by affinity precipitation with protein A-agarose (8.0 ± 0.8 times 10⁵ cells). Mild heat denaturing of the serum reversed the inhibitory effect (3.8 ± 0.9 vs 1.4 ± 1.4 times 10⁵ cells), indicating a requirement for complement. Immunofluorescent labelling with anti-IgG secondary antibody of cells exposed to Type 1 diabetic serum indicated recognition of a membrane-bound antigen. The studies in this report support the hypothesis that autoimmune neuronal destruction may contribute to the development of diabetic autonomic neuropathy in patients with Type 1 diabetes.     

Advancing Nursing Practice with a Unit-based Clinical Expert

Objective: To explore patterns in the practice of nursing and patient outcomes.
Design: Qualitative field research.
Population, Sample, Setting: Populations were critical care nurses and critically ill adult patients in the 10-bed medical critical care unit of a 900-bed teaching hospital. A convenience-purposive sample of 27 nurses and 31 patients was studied in 1985.
Methods: Six months of participant observation, unstructured interviews, and the constant comparison method of grounded theory.
Findings: Markedly different patterns were found in expert and nonexpert practice. The substantive theory of conversion helped explain how the majority of nonexpert nurses advanced their practice. The metaphor of catalyzed conversion captures how a unit-based expert nurse serves as a catalyst to advance the practice of nonexperts. Presence, defined as the way of being within a given clinical context, differentiated nurses.
Conclusions: (a) Expert and nonexpert practices are substantively different, (b) Expert and nonexpert practice results in different patient outcomes, (c) Conversion helps explain changes in nonexpert practice.
Clinical Implications: A unit-based expert nurse can increase patient-focused care.     

The hemolysin of escherichia coli

Many strains of E. coli elaborate a hemolysin which is responsible for the zone of -hemolysis surrounding bacterial colonies on blood agar. The significance of this cytolysin as a determinant of bacterial pathogenicity has been established in animal models with the use of genetically engineered, isogenic bacterial strains. An analogous role in human infections has been inferred from the high association of hemolysin production with disease. Studies at a molecular genetical level have defined 4 genes that are required for the synthesis, post,translational modification and secretion of the hemolysin. The structural gene hlyA encodes for a 107-110 000 polypeptide, which must be modified in an unknown manner to its active form by the product of the neighboring hlyC gene. Genes hlyb and hlyD encode for proteins that export the molecule to the extracellular medium. The signal for secretion is contained in the C-terminal portion of the toxin molecule. The secreted hemolysin attacks plasma membranes of target mammalian cells by inserting as a monomer into the bilayer and generating hydrophilic transmembrane pores of approximately 2 nm effective diameter. The pores display a marked selectivity for cations over anions and pore-opening is dependent on the presence of a correct transmembrane potential. Binding to a membrane target does not require the presence of a specific receptor, and pores may be generated in planar lipid membranes consisting solely of phosphatidylcholine. Pore formation in nucleated cells can trigger secondary reactions such as stimulation of arachidonate metabolism with release of lipid mediators, probably initiated by passive influx of extracellular Ca²⁺. Perfusion of subcytolytic doses through isolated and ventilated rabbit lungs induces lung edema that is at least partially due to such secondary events. The capacity of E. coli hemolysin to damage human tissues via primary and secondary processes is consistent with the concept of its pathogenic role in human infections.[/p]Corresponding author.     

于阴阳与基因调控关系辨治胃黏膜上皮内瘤变

胃黏膜上皮内瘤变是胃癌前病变,具有发展为胃癌的危险。阳主动,阴主静,文章基于阴阳理论,衷中参西,微观辨证与宏观辨证结合,以阴阳消长失调和基因调控紊乱的关系为出发点,认为胃黏膜上皮内瘤变发生时胃黏膜细胞凋亡周期紊乱和细胞异常增殖分化是阴阳消长失衡在细胞基因调控水平上的体现,进而探讨胃黏膜上皮内瘤变的病因病机以及辨证论治过程,为中医药治疗胃黏膜上皮内瘤变提供更多的理论依据,丰富治疗该病的临床手段。     

心阻抗容积图的传统理论及其局限性

本文就心阻抗容积图的传统理论及其局限性展开讨论。由于传统理论模型与人体胸部结构差异太大，使这一方法存在很多问题。而实践中关于心输出量（ＣＯ）的计算，误差较大，可靠性差。