pH Stability of Defibrase_ in Aqueous Solution Determined by En-zyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Stability of Defibrase in various pH buffer solutions was investigated. Enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) and coagulating time method were used to assess antigenic stability and coagulating stability, respectively. The change of antigenic activities and coagulating activities of Defibrase in the same buffer solutions (pH 6, 7 and 8, with the exception of pH 3.6) showed similar tendency to decline with the time. Concentrated Defi-brase was relatively stable at neutral pH 6~7, more than 95% of its initial activities (100BUmL-1) was kept after a 10-day storage at 40 oC, whereas in pH 3.6 and pH 9 buffer solutions, diluted Defibrase was very labile. Addition of Triton X-100 or bovine serum albumin could effectively prevent loss of Defibrase by minimizing adsorption of De-fibrase to plastic surface (P<0.005). Concentration of Defibrase could also affect its stability in aqueous solutions.

Mitigation of blast loadings on structures by an anti-blast plastic water wall

Seven in-situ tests were carried out in far field to study the blast mitigation effect of a kind of water filled plastic wall. Test results show that the mitigation effect of water filled plastic wall is remarkable. The maximum reduction of peak reflected overpressure reaches up to 94.53%, as well as 36.3% of the minimum peak reflected overpressure reduction in the scaled distance ranging from 1.71 m/kg1/3 to 3.42 m/kg1/3. Parametric studies were also carried out. The effects of the scaled gauge height, water/charge scaled distance(the distance between the explosive charge and the water wall), water wall scaled height and water/structure scaled distance(the distance between the water wall and the structure) were systematically investigated and compared with the usual rigid anti-blast wall. It is concluded that these parameters affect the mitigation effects of plastic water wall on blast loadings significantly, which is basically consistent to the trend of usual rigid anti-blast wall. Some formulae are also derived based on the numerical and test results, providing a simple but reliable prediction model to evaluate the peak overpressure of mitigated blast loadings on the structures.

SYNTHESIS AND DRUG RELEASE OF CROSSLINKING POLYPHOSPHATES

A new class of crosslinking polyphosphates were synthesized characterizedby IR 1HNMR, 31PNMR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. In vitrodegradation of the polyphosphates obtained and the release of antineoplastic drugMethotrexate (MTX) and contraceptive Levonorgestrel (LNG ) by nsing thesepolymers as matrix were studied. Zero order release rate was rkserved in the case ofLNG release.

Successful use of adalimumab for treating fistulizing Crohn's disease with pyoderma gangrenosum:Two birds with one stone

Crohn＇s disease （CD） is a chronic relapsing and remitting autoinflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that has many intestinal and extraintestinal complications. The purpose of treatment is long-term remission, reduction of complications, and improvement of patients＇ quality of life. In many cases, this can be quite challenging and it is necessary to have a well thought out management strategy. We present the case of a 38-year-old woman with fistulizing CD that manifested as diffuse abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea accompanied by arthralgia. In addition, there were ulcerative lesions surrounded by cutaneous inflammation and erythema on her extremities, indicative of pyoderma gangrenosum. The patient was treated with high doses of parenteral methylprednisolone without any improvement and was started on adalimumab. A positive response to adalimumab therapy was observed： after 2 mo of therapy, the ulcerative skin lesion healed completely and the enterogastric fistula was closed affcer 5 mo adalimumab treatment. Adalimumab might be a suitable initial as well as maintenance therapy in patients with complicated CD.

Research progress on the skincare efficacy of sulfated glycosaminoglycans

With the improvement of consumers’scientific skin care consciousness,skin problems-oriented efficacy skin care and precise skin care methods have become the future development trend.Glycosaminoglycans are long,linear polysaccharides comprised of repeated disaccharide units,which are highly expressed endogenously in the skin.They are commonly present in skin cells,cell surface and extracellular matrix,with pleiotropic biological function.In addition to hyaluronic acid,the sulfated glycosaminoglycans heparin,heparan sulfate,dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate play an important role in anti-wrinkle,firming,soothing,and improving microvascular circulation,but are still in the research and development stage in cosmetics.This paper summarizes the skincare mechanism of sulfated glycosaminoglycans,and demonstrates the potential of sulfated glycosaminoglycans as functional raw materials in cosmetics.

“九一八”事变后新记《大公报》“明耻教战”论考辨——以台北“国史馆”藏“蒋介石档案”为中心的考察

长期以来,囿于史料的局限,学术界对于"九一八"事变后,蒋介石是否曾请于右任致电张季鸾,请《大公报》帮助宣传"缓抗"一事,一直未有定论,而对于《大公报》所主张"明耻教战"论的评价,也是众说纷纭。通过对于台北"国史馆"所藏"蒋介石档案"中相关内容的研究,不难发现,所谓"请托电"一事,并非事实,《大公报》所主张之"明耻教战"论,则直当是源于其主持人胡政之、张季鸾的"恐日"心理。

Poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based artesunate nanoparticles:formulation,antimalarial and toxicity assessments

Objective： The aim of this study was to formulate polymer-based artesunate nanoparticles for malaria treatment. Methods： Artesunate was loaded with poly（D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid） （PLGA） by solvent evaporation from an oil-in-water single emulsion. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calo- rimetry analyses. In vivo antimalarial studies at 4 mg/kg were performed on Swiss male albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Hematological and hepatic toxicity assays were performed. In vitro cytotoxicity of free and en- capsulated artesunate （Art-PLGA） to cell line RAW 264.7 was determined at concentrations of 7.8-1000 pg/ml. Re- sults： The particle size of the formulated drug was （329.3±21.7） nm and the entrapment efficiency was （38.4±10.1）%. Art-PLGA nanoparticles showed higher parasite suppression （62.6%） compared to free artesunate （58.2%, P〈0.05）. Platelet counts were significantly higher in controls （305 000.00±148 492.40） than in mice treated with free artesunate （139 500.00±20 506.10） or Art-PLGA （163 500.00±3535.53） （P〈0.05）. There was no sign of hepatic toxicity following use of the tested drugs. The half maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） of Art-PLGA （468.0 pg/ml） was significantly higher （P〈0.05） than that of free artesunate （7.3 pg/ml） in the in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Conclusions： A simple treatment of PLGA-entrapped artesunate nanoparticles with dual advantages of low toxicity and better antiplasmodial efficacy has been developed.

Investigation of flexible electrodes modified by TiN,Pt black and IrO_x

TiN, platinum （Pt） black and iridium oxide are introduced to the stimulating sites to improve the performance of the flexible electrode. Low temperature process is used to fabricate the modifying films. TiN is coated on the gold sites by magnetron sputtering while platinum black and iridium oxide are coated by electroplating and electrodeposifion, respectively. The impedance of the electrode decreases dramatically after modification. The combined analysis of surface morphology and cyclic voltammograms （CV） in phosphate buffer saline （PBS） solution indicates that the modified electrode sites have larger electrode-electrolyte capacitance and smaller faradic resistance than unmodified sites, thus they have smaller electrochemical impedances.

A novel o-nitrobenzyl-based photocleavable antitumor prodrug with the capability of releasing 5-fluorourail

An o-nitrobenzyl-based photocleavable antitumor prodrug with a terminal carboxyl group was designed and synthesized.The photolysis properties of the prodrug were investigated by means of1H NMR,HPLC,UV,and MTT methods.The results showed that the toxicity of the anticancer drug was effectively shielded before release.However,the prodrug effectively regained the antitumor capability against cancer cells by release of 5-fluorouracil when it was exposed to ultraviolet irradiation.