Microspheres of essential oil in polylactic acid and poly(methyl methacrylate) matrices and their blends

This study is focussed on micro-encapsulation of essential oils in polylactic acid (PLA) and a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix as well as blends of the same. Microspheres were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique and characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The encapsulation efficiencies and release profiles of the essential oils were studied by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and head-space solid-phase microextraction GC-MS, respectively. Furthermore, the microspheres were tested for antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains.

The results showed that the microspheres compositions (PLA/PMMA ratio) have significant effect on their characteristics. The process adopted for preparing the microspheres promoted formation of spherical particles at the sizes of 1.5–9.5?µm. The highest encapsulation efficiency of the prepared microspheres was observed in systems consisting of linalool (81.10?±?10.0?wt. % for PLA system and 76.0?±?3.3?wt. % for PMMA system). Confirmation was also made that the release rate of the microspheres was affected by the size of the same.     

The impact of neighborhoods and friendships on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents: A report from the medical student CHANGES study

Objective

To examine the experience of interracial anxiety among health professionals and how it may affect the quality of their interactions with patients from racially marginalized populations. We explored the influence of prior interracial exposure—specifically through childhood neighborhoods, college student bodies, and friend groups—on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents. We also examined whether levels of interracial anxiety change from medical school through residency.

Data Source

Web-based longitudinal survey data from the Medical Student Cognitive Habits and Growth Evaluation Study.

Study Design

We used a retrospective longitudinal design with four observations for each trainee. The study population consisted of non-Black US medical trainees surveyed in their 1st and 4th years of medical school and 2nd and 3rd years of residency. Mixed effects longitudinal models were used to assess predictors of interracial anxiety and assess changes in interracial anxiety scores over time.

Principal Findings

In total, 3155 non-Black medical trainees were followed for 7 years. Seventy-eight percent grew up in predominantly White neighborhoods. Living in predominantly White neighborhoods and having less racially diverse friends were associated with higher levels of interracial anxiety among medical trainees. Trainees' interracial anxiety scores did not substantially change over time; interracial anxiety was highest in the 1st year of medical school, lowest in the 4th year, and increased slightly during residency.

Conclusions

Neighborhood and friend group composition had independent effects on interracial anxiety, indicating that premedical racial socialization may affect medical trainees' preparedness to interact effectively with diverse patient populations. Additionally, the lack of substantial change in interracial anxiety throughout medical training suggests the importance of providing curricular tools and structure (e.g., instituting interracial cooperative learning activities) to foster the development of healthy interracial relationships.     

鱼油抗大鼠动脉粥样硬化的实验研究

以大鼠高脂血症及动脉粥样硬化模型观察鱼油的作用，并与舒降之、诺衡比较。鱼油组血清总胆固醇（ＴＣ）、甘油三酯（ＴＧ）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ＬＤＬ－Ｃ）及ＬＤＬ－Ｃ／ＴＣ显著低于高脂组（均为Ｐ＜０．０１）；生化与病理检查提示鱼油能防止肝内脂质沉积，减少肝组织脂质过氧化物水平；鱼油能明显抑制高脂饮食造成的早期动脉粥样硬化病变。鱼油降ＴＧ的作用与舒降之及诺衡无明显差异，降ＴＣ的效果优于诺衡（Ｐ＜０．０５），改变脂蛋白成分的作用不及舒降之与诺衡。研究表明鱼油能延缓大鼠高脂血症和动脉粥样硬化的发生与发展。     

从包涵体中纯化重组人幽门螺杆菌热休克蛋白A亚单位

目的：建立一种有效从包涵体中纯化重组人幽门螺杆菌热休克蛋白A亚单位HspA的方法。方法：重组基因工程大肠杆菌发酵后，表达的Hp r HspA包涵体经洗涤，变性，复性，采用Q Sepharose High Performance阴离子交换层析和Superdex75凝胶过滤层析分离纯化，使用SDS－PAGE和HPLC检测纯度，选用ELISA和动物实验对纯化蛋白的免疫学活性和生物学活性进行鉴定。结果：Hp的HspA包涵经洗涤和溶解后，Hp的HspA的纯度＞60％，包涵体溶解液经阴离子交换层析和凝胶过滤层析后纯度超过95％，Hp的HspA纯品经检测具有良好的免疫学活性和生物学活性。结论：本研究建立的分离纯化方法可从包涵体中获得高纯度的重组HspA蛋白，为进一步的动物实验研究奠定了基础。     

质粒pGH/BL_(21)在大肠杆菌中表达条件的研究

目的　寻找质粒 pGH/BL2 1在大肠杆菌中的最佳表达条件。方法　当它在大肠杆菌中表达时 ,考查不同IPTG诱导浓度及不同的诱导时间对表达产物的影响 ,表达产物的量以SDS -PAGE电泳方法分析。结果　该基因的最佳表达条件为 :IPTG诱导浓度 1.0mmol/L ,诱导时间 4h。结论　IPTG对不同的基因在不同的表达体系中需不同的诱导条件 ,只有找到它的最佳诱导条件才能保证终产物的最大产率     

Airborne emissions at skin surfaces: a potential biological exposure index

 Dermal exposures of methanol were administered in a clinical study designed to compare several biological indicators. Four subjects were exposed in five exposure sessions of varying length. In each session, a sequence of measurements of methanol concentrations in blood, breath, and headspace samples of air at exposed and unexposed skin were collected before and after dermal exposures. Skin headspace samples, collected in gas sampling bags, were designed to reflect equilibrium skin: air partitioning. At exposed skin, headspace samples were highly elevated for at least 8 h following exposure, indicating the presence of a methanol reservoir in skin. After exposure, methanol concentrations at exposed skin showed a rapid initial decline, then a slower first-order decrease. Methanol concentrations were clearly detectable in headspace samples at unexposed skin. Substantial transfer from exposed skin occurred due to mechanical contact and washing. When transfer was restricted, surface concentrations at unexposed skin were similar to levels in breath and were strongly correlated to methanol concentrations in blood. While results are preliminary due to the small sample sizes and several unresolved experimental issues, the simple, rapid, and noninvasive skin headspace measurements appear useful as a biological exposure indicator that clearly shows the presence and site of a dermal exposure, and measurements at unexposed skin reflect concentrations in blood. Received: 14 March 1995/Accepted: 3 November 1995     

雷公藤和昆明山海棠植物中挥发性化学成分比较

雷公藤(Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f.)为卫矛科雷公藤属植物的一种,分布在我国长江以南诸省区。民间早期用其治疗类风湿性关节炎,现已用于多系统疾病的治疗。雷公藤的主要成分包括二萜类、三萜类、倍半萜类和生物碱。近年来,雷公藤的多种药理作用引起广大科研人员的关注,同时,也促进了同属     

Mortality studies of machining fluid exposure in the automobile industry III: A case-control study of larynx cancer

A case-control study of larynx cancer was conducted within a cohort of automobile workers exposed to metal working fluids, commonly referred to as machining fluids (MF). Results are based on 108 cases of larynx cancer and 5:1 matched controls. Risks associated with specific types of MF, as well as specific components of the fluids were evaluated. Based on a retrospective exposure assessment, lifetime exposures to straight and soluble fluids, grinding particulate, biocides, selected metals, sulfur, and chlorine were examined. Exposure to asbestos and acid mists at two of the three study sites was also characterized. Results suggest that straight mineral oils are associated with almost a two-fold excess in larynx cancer risk. There was also evidence of an association with elemental sulfur, commonly added to straight MF to improve the integrity of the materials under extreme pressure and heat. It is not clear whether sulfur is causally related to an excess relative risk of larynx cancer or whether the observed association is the result of unmeasured confounding by another contaminant or process feature. For example, the high stress operations that require MF enriched with sulfur are also more likely to produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the process. Thus, the observed association with sulfur may be due to an association with PAH. The finding of excess risk of laryngeal cancer associated with MF is consistent with several previous reports in the literature. This is the first study, however, to distinguish straight mineral oils from other types of MF. Based on these findings, a general reduction in concentrations of straight mineral oil particulate in occupational environments would be prudent.     

润滑油抗泡机理的研究 Ⅱ.助泡剂对泡沫倾向的影响及抗泡剂配伍性能

考察了各类添加剂在不同浓度、温度及不同基础油中的泡沫倾向,并测定了这些条件下体系的表面张力。从表面化学角度解释了添加剂对泡沫性质的影响,并通过对抗泡剂配伍性能的研究,验证了消泡机制:抗泡剂须具备高的表面活性才能吸附于泡膜表面,降低泡膜的表面粘弹性,改变膜的流变性能,从而起消泡作用。