Ultrasound-Assist Extrusion Methods for the Fabrication of Polymer Nanocomposites Based on Polypropylene/Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Isotactic polypropylenes (iPP) with different melt flow indexes (MFI) were used to fabricate nanocomposites (NCs) with 10 wt % loadings of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using ultrasound-assisted extrusion methods to determine their effect on the morphology, melt flow, and electrical properties of the NCs. Three different types of iPPs were used with MFIs of 2.5, 34 and 1200 g/10 min. Four different NC fabrication methods based on melt extrusion were used. In the first method melt extrusion fabrication without ultrasound assistance was used. In the second and third methods, an ultrasound probe attached to a hot chamber located at the exit of the die was used to subject the sample to fixed frequency and variable frequency, respectively. The fourth method is similar to the first method, with the difference being that the carbon nanotubes were treated in a fluidized air-bed with an ultrasound probe before being used in the fabrication of the NCs with no ultrasound assistance during extrusion. The samples were characterized by MFI, Optical microscopy (OM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrical surface resistivity, and electric charge. MFI decreases in all cases with addition of MWCNTs with the largest decrease observed for samples with the highest MFI. The surface resistivity, which ranged from 10¹³ to 10⁵ Ω/sq, and electric charge, were observed to depend on the ultrasound-assisted fabrication method as well as on the melt flow index of the iPP. A relationship between agglomerate size and area ratio with electric charge was found. Several trends in the overall data were identified and are discussed in terms of MFI and the different fabrication methods.     

Les stratégies psychothérapeutiques

Psychological support is an essential concern in the management of alcohol misuses. Motivation and readiness to change are key factors of the evolution. They have to be in the centre of the patient-doctor relation. Regular evaluation is a part of a step by step therapeutic strategy.     

Comparison between a swim-up and a Percoll gradient technique for the separation of human spermatozoa

Two methods of separating human sperm were compared using twenty-two semen samples. The sperm were separated by a swim-up technique or by self-migration on a Percoll gradient followed by medium change. After separation, the sperm obtained were assessed for progressive motility, ATP content, energy charge index ([ATP + 0.5 ADP]/[ATP + ADP + AMP]) and morphology. In general, and especially for semen samples containing less than 20 X 10(6) sperm/ml, separation by Percoll gradient selected sperm that were superior to those separated by the swim-up technique. The relatively high energy charge index (greater than 0.8) showed that the sperm tolerated the separation conditions well. It is suggested that self-migration on a Percoll gradient should prove useful for obtaining sperm of high quality.     

Hepatic Disposition Characteristics of Electrically Charged Macromolecules in Rat in Vivo and in the Perfused Liver

The effect of electric charge on the hepatic disposition of macromolecules was studied in the rat. Charged derivatives of dextran (T-70) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), mitomycin C–dextran conjugates (MMC-D), and lactosaminated BSA (Lac-BSA) were employed as model macromolecules. After intravenous injection, cationic macromolecules were rapidly eliminated from plasma because of their extensive hepatic uptake, while anionic and neutral macromolecules were slowly eliminated. Cationic macromolecules were recovered from parenchymal and nonparenchymal hepatic cells at a cellular uptake (per unit cell number) ratio of 1.4–3.2, while that of Lac-BSA was 14. During liver perfusion using a single-pass constant infusion mode, cationic macromolecules were continuously extracted by the liver, with extraction ratios at steady-state (E _ss) ranging between 0.03 and 0.54, whereas anionic and neutral macromolecules were almost completely recovered in the outflow at steady state. The E _ss for cationized BSA (Cat-BSA) and cationic MMC-Dcat were concentration dependent and decreased at low temperatures and in the presence of colchicine and cytochalasin B. The possible participation of the internalization process in the uptake of cationic macromolecules by hepatocytes was suggested.     

不同海拔高度严重烧伤延迟复苏大鼠脑组织中能量负荷的变化及其意义

目的：探讨不同海拔高度严重烧伤延迟复苏大鼠脑组织能量负荷变化及其意义。方法：以120只雄性Wistar大鼠建立高原（海拔3800m）实验模型（TBSA30％，Ⅲ度），随机分为延迟、即时复苏组和正常对照组，分别于伤后1、6、12、24、72h及7d取材。兰州地区取相等数量动物重复实验。应用高效液相色谱法检测脑组织中AMP、ADP、ATP的含量，并计算能量负荷。结果：能量负荷在高原正常对照组与兰州地区正常对照组差异显著（P〈0．01）。高原烧伤后脑组织能量负荷与对照组相比均降低，即时复苏组伤后早期即出现显著变化（P〈0．01），伤后72h开始恢复，伤后7d差异无显著，延迟复苏组伤后7d仍星显著差异（P〈0．01）。与即时复苏组比较伤后6～24h无显著差异，伤后72h～7d呈显著性差异（P〈0．01）。高原地区各时相点与兰州地区比较，EC值均降低，除即时复苏组6h外，具有统计学意义。结论：不同海拔高度严重烧伤延迟复苏大鼠脑组织能量负荷的改变一定程度上反映了脑损伤的严重程度。     

Spécificités de la prise en charge postopératoire de l’enfant et de l’adolescent opéré du pied*

Resumé: Cet article inhabituel dans son fond et dans sa forme surprendra le lecteur. Il se propose de dérouler la chronologie de l’acte opératoire et de ses suites dans le cadre de la chirurgie du pied de l’enfant et de l’adolescent, et de l’analyser sous l’angle de la pratique quotidienne et non de la technique opératoire ou de l’évaluation des résultats; puis de confronter cette pratique aux demandes de la société (absence de douleur, rapidité du résultat, absence de complication et évaluation du résultat à l’égard du service à rendre). * Communication présentée au congrès SFMCP / AFCP de Biarritz les 20-21 mai 2005     

吡哌酸片的电荷转移反应分光光度测定

研究了吡哌酸与四氯苯醌间的荷移反应．两者在硼砂缓冲溶液中形成１∶１的络合物，其λ_（ｍａｘ）为３３０．８ｎｍ，摩尔吸光系数ε＝１．６６×１０~４，ＲＳＤ为２．２％。用于测定制剂含量，结果与药典方法一致。     

Low energy charge and high adenosine content in smooth muscle of human bladder in comparison with striated muscle

Summary This study determined the energy charge, adenosine and inosine content of human bladder smooth muscle in comparison with striated muscle of the same individual. Biopsies were obtained from 21 women who were subjected to urethrocystopexy because of urinary stress incontinence. We found that the ATP content of bladder smooth muscle was only about one-eighth of that of striated muscle. The energy charge of bladder smooth muscle was 0.78±0.13, which is low compared with striated muscle (0.92±0.02). The adenosine content of bladder smooth muscle was 6.7 times higher than striated muscle and the adenosine/ATP ratio was 1∶9 compared with 1∶450 for striated muscle. These findings were in accordance with our previous studies on uterine smooth muscle.     

Mechanisms of proteinuria in nephrotic humans

The glomerular capillary wall imposes a remarkably efficient barrier to the passage of proteins the size of albumin and larger. The development of heavy proteinuria signifies impairment of the function of this barrier. Because endogenous proteins of graded size are heterogeneous with respect to their molecular charge and undergo extensive tubular reabsorption, they are not useful for quantifying the extent of barrier dysfunction. An alternative approach is to determine the fractional clearance of uncharged and non-reabsorbable polymers of graded size. When combined with a hydrodynamic theory of solute transport through a heteroporous membrane, the intrinsic properties of healthy and diseased glomerular capillary walls can be inferred. This approach reveals the nephrotic range proteinuria that attends minimal change nephropathy to be associated with impairment of both the size- and charge-selective properties of glomerular capillary walls.