Contribution to the rheological testing of pharmaceutical semisolids

Rheological behaviour of pharmaceutical semisolid preparations significantly affects manufacturing process, administration, stability, homogeneity of incorporated drug, accuracy of dosing, adhesion in the place of application, drug release, and resulting therapeutic effect of the product. We performed test of consistency by penetrometry, rotational, oscillation and creep tests, and squeeze and tack tests of model samples to introduce methods suitable for characterization and comparison of semisolids in practice. Penetrometry is a simple method allowing sorting the semisolids to low and high stress-resistant materials but deficient for rheological characterization of semisolids. Value of yield stress, generally considered to be appropriate feature of semisolids, is significantly influenced by the method of testing and the way of evaluation. The hysteresis loops of model semisolids revealed incomplete thixotropy, therefore, three-step thixotropy test was employed. Semisolids showed nonlinear response in the creep phase of tests and partial recovery of structure by storing energy in the recovery phase. Squeeze and tack tests seem to be convenient ways for comparison of semisolids. Our study can contribute to a better understanding of different flow behaviour of semisolids given by different physicochemical properties of excipients and can bring useful approaches to evaluation and comparison of semisolids in practice.     

Effect of UVB 311 nm irradiation on normal human skin

Ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) on the skin induces erythema, inflammation and modifications of the immune system. These changes have been reported after excessive short-term or long-term exposure to broad spectrum UVB. In this study, we examined the effects of local repetitive UVB irradiation of 311 nm wavelength on the skin of seven young volunteers. Skin biopsies were taken before and after UVB irradiation, and we immunohistochemically analyzed the expression of CD1a and HLA-DR antigens of Langerhans cells (LC), the possible infiltration of dermis/epidermis by CD11b macrophages, the modifications or the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) involved in the binding of leukocytes to the endothelial surface and the development of perivascular infiltrates of LFA-1⁺ mononuclear cells. We also determined the expression of substance P receptors (SPR) using biotinylated substance P (SPB). Exposure of UVB 311 nm induced a drastic reduction of CD1a⁺ cells and a moderate increase of HLA-DR⁺ dendritic cells in the epidermis without infiltration by CD11b macrophages. An increase of the binding of SPB to upper layer epidermal cells was noted in five of seven biopsies. In the dermis, vessel-associated ICAM-1 expression increased and an induction of E-selectin occurred on nearly 20 to 40% of endothelial cells, but VCAM-1 expression remained undetectable. The percentage of LFA-1⁺ cells did not change significantly after irradiation. These observations may be compatible with a selective role of UVB 311 nm on the skin immune response.     

Histopathological characterisation of effects of the mouse Pax6 missense mutation on eye development

Mutations in PAX6/Pax6 lead to a variety of ocular anomalies in humans and mice. The aim of the study was to characterise the ocular abnormalities caused by the missense Pax6^Leca4 mutation and compare them to published observations on Pax6 alleles that are functionally equivalent to Pax6⁻ null alleles (such as Pax6^Sey and Pax6^Sey-Neu) and human inherited eye diseases. Ocular features of homozygous Pax6^Leca4/Leca4 and heterozygous Pax6^Leca4/+ embryos at E12.5-E18.5, heterozygous Pax6^Leca4/+ young mice at P18 and heterozygous Pax6^Leca4/+ adults at 12 weeks were analysed histologically with their wild-type Pax6^+/+ littermates. Homozygous Pax6^Leca4/Leca4 fetuses died perinatally with no eyes although an optic cup rudiment with pigmented cells developed. Pax6^Leca4/+ mice were microphthalmic and a range of other severe ocular phenotypes affected both the anterior and the posterior segments. In contrast to Pax6^+/−, the Pax6^Leca4/+ eyes had no goblet cells in the corneal epithelium, the iris was not hypoplastic and there was no lens-corneal epithelial plug. However, microphthalmia was more severe, corneal vascularisation occurred earlier (during fetal stages), pigmented cells were present in the vitreous and corneal stroma and the ciliary body was malformed or abnormal. These results show that, although Pax6^Leca4/+ lacked some eye abnormalities commonly seen in Pax6^Sey/+ and Pax6^Sey-Neu/+ eyes, in most respects their eyes were more severely affected. These differences probably reflect both differences between the Pax6^Leca4 and the Pax6^Sey-Neu mutations and differences in modifier gene expression in different genetic backgrounds. The presence of pigmented cells in the cornea is a novel observation. Some Pax6^Leca4/+ ocular abnormalities were similar to those present in human Peters' anomaly and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) so Pax6^Leca4/+ mice provide a useful model for some inherited eye diseases.     

缺氧对卵巢癌细胞Caov-3转移特性的影响

目的探讨缺氧条件对卵巢癌细胞Caov-3体外黏附和迁移能力的影响。方法在常氧和缺氧条件下培养卵巢癌细胞Caov-3,分别用四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)比色法和细胞迁移试验测定常氧和缺氧条件下培养的Caov-3细胞体外黏附和迁移能力。结果缺氧条件下,Caov-3细胞在Matrigel和纤维连接蛋白Fn基质上黏附数量增加,黏附促进率分别为17.1%和15.2%,与常氧条件下比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。缺氧条件下,Caov-3细胞在Matrigel基质上迁移距离增大,分别为258.8±19.5μm和331.3±24.4μm,迁移促进率为28.0%,与常氧条件下比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论缺氧环境对卵巢癌细胞Caov-3体外黏附和迁移具有明显的促进作用。     

Sucrose-dependent accumulation of oral streptococci and their adhesion-defective mutants on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite

The adhesion and accumulation of oral streptococci on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite was examined in strains representing species that appear in initial plaque ( Streptococcus sanguise FC1 and Streptococcus oralis C5) and in more mature plaque ( Streptococcus gordonii G9B). Washed cells of strains FC1 and C5 did not attach better to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite than did strain G9B, suggesting that the degree of initial adhesiveness does not alone account for the temporal appearance of these bacteria in dental plaque. Growing cells of each strain were also examined for their ability to accumulate on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite. The addition of sucrose to the medium promoted the accumulation of strain G9B more than it promoted the accumulation of strains FC1 and C5. Sucrose also enhanced the accumulation of adhesion-defective mutants of each strain to levels similar to those of the respective parent strains. These results suggest that sucrose-dependent accumulation may facilitate the colonization of the tooth surface by these species of oral streptococci when adhesion is limited by reduced bacterial adhesiveness or limited pellicle-binding sites.     

Elevation of cell adhesion molecule immunoreactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex in bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Neuroimaging reports of increases in signal hyperintensities in white and deep gray matter and other work indicate that there might be an inflammatory response in affective disorders. METHODS: The microvascular immunoreactivity of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was measured with image analysis in postmortem tissue from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) from 15 unipolar and 15 bipolar subjects and compared with each other and with 15 subjects with schizophrenia and 15 control subjects. RESULTS: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 immunoreactivity in gray and white matter of the ACC in bipolar subjects was increased compared with control subjects (gray: p =.001; white: p <.001) and schizophrenic subjects (gray: p =.016; white: p =.025) and modestly increased in white matter compared with unipolar subjects (p =.049). No such differences were found in the DLPFC. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with the presence of an inflammatory response in the ACC in bipolar disorder.     

环缩酚肽抑制视网膜表达VEGF及PECAM基因和血管增生

[目的]观察两种环缩酚肽衍生物(Hep-A和Hep-B)对氧诱导的小鼠视网膜表达血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和细胞黏附分子(PECAM;ICAM-1;VCAM-1)基因的影响及血管增生的变化.[方法]建立氧诱导的血管增殖性视网膜病变模型,12 d开始给小鼠皮下注安慰剂(第1组,n=7)、Hep-A 10 mg/kg(第2组,n=6)或者Hep-B 10 mg/kg(第3组,n=6),每天两次.5 d后取出左侧眼,分离视网膜并抽提RNA,用荧光定量PCR测出上述基因含量,并分别求出每个靶基因与标准基因S16含量的比率;右眼经心脏荧光素灌注后取眼球做视网膜平铺片,用图像分析软件定量计算视网膜新生血管的面积.[结果]视网膜中VEGF/S16的mRNA比率为:第1组(0.554±0.050),第2组(0.355±0.037),第3组(0.287±0.051);PECAM/S16为:第1组(2.050±0.249),第2组(1.228±0.153),第3组(1.027±0.210).经ANOVA分析,第2组和第3组分别与第1组比较,视网膜中VEGF基因表达分别减少36%和48.2%(P=0.001);PECAM基因表达分别减少40.1%(P＜0.05)和49.9%(P＜0.01);而VCAM-1和ICAM-1表达无明显差异.视网膜平片检测视网膜新生血管面积:第1组为(1.06±0.03)mm2/眼,第2组为(0.17±0.01)mm2/眼,第3组为(0.11±0.01)mm2/眼;经ANOVA分析,第2组和第3组分别与第1组比较,视网膜新生血管的面积明显减少(P＜0.001).[结论]两种环缩酚肽衍生物均抑制氧诱导的小鼠视网膜表达VEGF和PECAM基因,并抑制其形成视网膜新生血管.     

宫腔电切镜治疗宫腔粘连32例临床分析

目的探讨宫腔电切镜分离宫腔粘连的效果。方法2001年1月～2003年12月对32例宫腔粘连采用宫腔电切镜进行粘连分离治疗。结果14例Ⅰ、Ⅱ度宫腔粘连分离至宫腔完全恢复正常。9例Ⅲ度宫腔粘连中6例可暴露出患侧输卵管开口。9例Ⅳ、Ⅴ度宫腔粘连中5例宫腔形状分离至恢复正常，但无法暴露出输卵管开口，1例子宫穿孔，腹腔镜手术修补，术后恢复良好。无水中毒、术后感染等并发症。27例月经异常25例(92．6％)术后月经正常，2例(7．4％)仍闭经。12例术前有不同程度周期性腹痛术后得到缓解。术后妊娠率42．9％(6／14)。结论宫腔镜分离粘连是一种安全、有效的方法。