Computer-aided design of dry powder inhalers using computational fluid dynamics to assess performance

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are gaining popularity for the delivery of drugs. A cost effective and efficient delivery device is necessary. Developing new DPIs by modifying an existing device may be the simplest way to improve the performance of the devices. The aim of this research was to produce a new DPIs using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The new DPIs took advantages of the Cyclohaler® and the Rotahaler®. We chose a combination of the capsule chamber of the Cyclohaler® and the mouthpiece and grid of the Rotahaler®. Computer-aided design models of the devices were created and evaluated using CFD. Prototype models were created and tested with the DPI dispersion experiments. The proposed model 3 device had a high turbulence with a good degree of deagglomeration in the CFD and the experiment data. The %fine particle fraction (FPF) was around 50% at 60?L/min. The mass median aerodynamic diameter was around 2.8–4?μm. The FPF were strongly correlated to the CFD-predicted turbulence and the mechanical impaction parameters. The drug retention in the capsule was only 5–7%. In summary, a simple modification of the Cyclohaler® and Rotahaler® could produce a better performing inhaler using the CFD-assisted design.     

Genetic characterization and diversity of porcine circovirus type 2 in non‐vaccinated South African swine herds

The porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a swine infectious viral pathogen of great significance in global swine herds. It was recently detected at another Province of South Africa sequel to the first detection of North American‐like strain (PCV2a) at Gauteng about two decades ago, but there is a dearth of information about the genomic features and diversity of the viral strains in circulation within the country and the entire sub‐Saharan Africa region. To date, only one complete genome of the virus from South Africa is available on global data base. This current effort is therefore geared towards the full‐genome characterization of the circulating PCV2 strains in the pigs of Eastern Cape Province. With the use of conventional polymerase chain reaction method, fifteen complete PCV2 genomes were successfully amplified, sequenced and assembled from field samples obtained from non‐vaccinated pigs in the region. Neighbor Joining and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses of the ORF2 gene and full genomes unanimously showed that most of the assembled genomes (11) belong to genotype PCV2b. Furthermore, three of the characterized sequences formed clade with other reference mutant PCV2b and PCV2b subtype 1C (i.e. PCV2d) strains from the USA, China and South Korea. The last sequence, however, clustered with other reference strains belonging to PCV2 intermediate clade 2 (PCV2‐IM2), recently identified in a global PCV2 strains phylogenetic analysis. This study reports the first complete genome sequences of PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2‐IM2 in pigs from South Africa, and it gives a possible insight into the genetic characteristics and variability of the viral strains presently in circulation within the country. It further emphasizes the need for more stringent measures in curtailing the introduction and spread of transboundary swine pathogens in the country and entire Southern African region.     

针刺配合肠炎散保留灌肠治疗肛窦炎临床研究

目的观察肛窦炎应用针刺配合肠炎散保留灌肠治疗的效果。方法选取2017年10月-2018年10月就诊的72例肛窦炎患者,采用随机数字表法分为观察组(n=36)与对照组(n=36)。对照组给予肠炎散保留灌肠治疗,观察组为针刺配合肠炎散保留灌肠治疗,比较2组症状、疗效及安全性。结果观察组症状(放射痛、指诊症状及镜检症状)少于对照组,总有效率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);2组安全性相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论针对肛窦炎患者,予以针刺配合肠炎散保留灌肠治疗效果确切,可减少临床症状,加快疾病转归,且治疗安全性较好。     

Revisiting the Hydrogen Storage Behavior of the Na-O-H System

Solid-state reactions between sodium hydride and sodium hydroxide are unusual among hydride-hydroxide systems since hydrogen can be stored reversibly. In order to understand the relationship between hydrogen uptake/release properties and phase/structure evolution, the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation behavior of the Na-O-H system has been investigated in detail both ex- and in-situ. Simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis coupled to mass spectrometry (TG-DTA-MS) experiments of NaH-NaOH composites reveal two principal features: Firstly, an H₂ desorption event occurring between 240 and 380 °C and secondly an additional endothermic process at around 170 °C with no associated weight change. In-situ high-resolution synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction showed that NaOH appears to form a solid solution with NaH yielding a new cubic complex hydride phase below 200 °C. The Na-H-OH phase persists up to the maximum temperature of the in-situ diffraction experiment shortly before dehydrogenation occurs. The present work suggests that not only is the inter-phase synergic interaction of protic hydrogen (in NaOH) and hydridic hydrogen (in NaH) important in the dehydrogenation mechanism, but that also an intra-phase H^δ+… H^δ– interaction may be a crucial step in the desorption process.     

补脾泻肝法治疗腹泻型肠易激综合征临床研究

目的观察补脾泻肝法治疗腹泻型肠易激综合征的临床疗效。方法100例腹泻型肠易激综合征患者随机分为2组,治疗组60例给予白术芍药散加味,对照组40例给予丙咪嗪合替加色罗治疗。2组均4周为1个疗程,观察疗效,并于3-6个月后观察2组病例复发情况。结果治疗组治愈率为65%,总有效率为85%,6个月内复发率为20%,对照组则分别为32.5%、72.5%、55.56%,2组比较差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论补脾泻肝法治疗腹泻型肠易激综合征优于丙咪嗪合替加色罗,疗效确切。     

Photolysis and ozonolysis of (iso) desmosine-containing crosslinked peptides from porcine aorta elastin

This report describes the use of photolysis and ozonolysis as a means of achieving complete cleavage of the pyridinium ring of (iso)desmosine in crosslinked elastin peptides. Although photolysis leads to the opening of the ring with concomitant formation of lysine, the peptide chains remain attached. Subsequent ozonolysis is able to completely achieve the cleavage of the rest of the ring skeleton, thus leading to the separation of the peptide chains. Formation of new amino acids, i.e. α-aminoadipic and glutamic acids, is emphasized. Localization of these amino acids within the released peptides should be of help in structural investigations on the crosslinking zones involving either isodesmosine or desmosine. However, other amino acids such as tyrosine and phenylalanine are sensitive to this procedure and side reactions occur which are responsible for peptide bond cleavage with the formation of breakdown products.     

仙人掌粉对糖尿病大鼠血糖的影响

目的　研究仙人掌对糖尿病血糖的影响。方法　采用四氧嘧啶造成大鼠实验性糖尿病模型 ,然后将高、中、低 3种剂量的仙人掌粉加入到基础饲料中进行实验观察。结果　仙人掌粉高 (10g kg·d)、中 (5 .0g kg·d)剂量组均可显著降低糖尿病大鼠空腹血糖 ,并且高剂量组具有显著改善糖尿病大鼠尿量增加的作用。各剂量组对正常大鼠血糖无明显影响。结论　仙人掌粉能有效降低四氧嘧啶所导致的糖尿病大鼠的血糖、尿量     

无名异冲剂促进去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松性骨折愈合的机制研究

为探讨无名异冲剂促进去卵巢 SD大鼠骨质疏松性骨折愈合的机制 ,用 48只 6月龄雄性 SD大鼠建立骨质疏松性骨折模型 ,随机分为模型组、跳骨片组、仙灵骨葆组、无名异冲剂组 ,于灌胃后 2周、4周取材 ,观察 X线片、骨密度、光镜 ,骨痂钙、磷、胶原含量 ,结果显示灌胃第 2周时 ,各组动物各项指标均无显著性差异 ;第4周时 ,无名异冲剂组的骨密度 ,骨痂钙、磷、胶原含量的检测结果与模型组有显著性差异 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,X线及光镜观察骨痂的生长情况 ,无名异冲剂组也优于模型组 ,说明无名异冲剂能够通过提高骨密度 ,改善骨骼钙、磷、胶原的代谢 ,促进骨折端骨痂的生长 ,达到治疗骨质疏松性骨折的目的。     

Simultaneous Quantification of an Enantiomer and the Racemic Compound of Ibuprofen by X-ray Powder Diffractometry

Purpose. An X-ray powder diffractometric method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of the relative amounts of the racemic compound (±) of ibuprofen (I) and S(+)-ibuprofen (II), when they occur as a mixture. Methods. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of I and II show pronounced differences. This formed the basis for the determination of the relative amounts of I and II when they occur as a mixture. X-ray lines with d-spacings of 14.41 and 4.37 Å were unique to I and II, respectively. Mixtures containing different proportions of I and II were prepared which also contained lithium fluoride (III) as an internal standard. Results. A linear relationship was obtained when the intensity ratio (intensity of the 4.37 Å line of II/intensity of the 2.01 Å line of III) was plotted as a function of the weight fraction of II in the mixture. Similar results were obtained in the case of I. Using these standard curves, the weight fractions of I and II in 'unknown' mixtures were determined. The experimentally determined analyte concentration ranged between 98 and 104% of the true value. The relative error in the analyses of individual samples was < 10%. The minimum detectable weight fraction of I in II and II in I were 0.032 (3.2% w/w) and 0.034 (3.4% w/w), respectively. The minimum quantifiable weight fractions were 0.136 for I and 0.112 for II. Since the X-ray diffraction patterns of S(+)-ibuprofen and R(–)-ibuprofen are identical, the conclusions drawn regarding mixtures of I and II will also hold true in the quantitative analyses of mixtures of I and R(–)-ibuprofen.