Immobilization conditions of Candida tropicalis to be absorbed in polyurethane foam carrier materials were studied on the xylitol production from corn hemicellulosic hydrolysate. Optimum batch-fermentation conditions were as follows: inoculum amount, 7% (volume ratio); polyurethane foam quantity, 1.0 g/100 mL; 30?C; initial pH, 6.0. Shaking speed was divided into two-phase to accommodate the dissolved oxygen, with 200 r/min at 0~24 h and 150 r/min at 24 h~46 h. The immobilized cells on polyurethane foam carrier have high density and good resistance to inhibitors in the hydrolysates. Average xylitol yield and volumetric productivity of polyurethane foam immobilized fermentation were much higher than the fermentation without immobilization. Corn cob hydrolysates can be directly biotransformed to xylitol without decoloration or ion-exchange treatment. This process can effectively reduce production costs, and it shows broad prospects of applications. Average xylitol yield was 67.6% and xylitol volumetric productivity was 1.92 g/(L?h).

Aim To observe the effect of pyrimidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the variance of disc morphology and the expressions of TNF-α, MMP-9 in the cervical disc in cervical dynamic equilibrium rat models, and to investigate the roles of PDTC in the process of intervertebral disc degeneration and the mechanism involved.Methods Fifty-four SD rats were divided into three groups randomly, then the dynamic equilibrium rat model was established by cutting the nuchal superficial and deep muscle of the rats.The dynamic equilibrium rats with PDTC solution intraperitoneal injection after operations were defined as PDTC group (group A), the models with saline intraperitoneal injection after operations as saline group (group B), the rats of fake operation with saline intraperitoneal injection as blank group (group C), and the animals were sacrificed in batches 10 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks respectively after operation.The C5, C6 vertebrae and C5/6 discs were harvested, and the disc morphology was observed.TNF-α, MMP-9 mRNA expressions were detected by q-PCR and protein expression was observed by Western blot.Results Compared with the saline group, the morphology of disc in PDTC group was destructed slightly and fiber ring arranged orderly.TNF-α, MMP-9 gene and protein expressions had no obvious changes (P>0.05) in blank group (group C) at each time point.The expressions of IL-6, MMP-9 mRNA increased with time in group B, but the amount increased fast firstly, and slow lately, reaching peak in 12 weeks.The expression of TNF-α, MMP-9 protein became steady in group B from 10 weeks compared with other time points(P>0.05).TNF-α, MMP-9 genes and proteins expression decreased obviously in PDTC group (group A) compared with saline group (group B) (P<0.01) at each time point, but higher than blank group C(P<0.01) at each time point.Conclusions TNF-α and MMP-9 are important inflammatory factors involved in rat cervical disc degeneration, PDTC relieves the degeneration of rat cervical disc by reducing the expression of TNF-α and MMP-9 via disturbing the NF-κB signal pathway probably, and PDTC may become potential medicine for disc degeneration.

Infectious bursal disease virus(IBD) causes infectious bursal disease (IBD), which infects bursal of chicken and can evoke immune suppression. This study identified the antigenic epitopes of four McAbs to IBDV VP3(HRB-3F, HRB-7B, HRB-7C and HRB-10E)with pepscan. A set of 17 partially overlapping or consecutive peptides (P1-P17) spanning VP3 were expressed for epitope screening by pepscan. Finally, two antigenic epitopes, 109-119aa and 177-190aa of IBDV VP3, were identified by Western blot and ELISA. The peptides on epitopes could react with IBDV, and they had better immunnogenicity. The sequences of epitopes were compared with that of several other IBDV strains in the same region, and was found they were totally homologous. This study showed the two epitopes were novel conserved linear B cell epitopes on the VP3 of IBDV. This study provides basis for the development of immunity-based prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic measures for control of IBD and further for structural and functional analysis of IBDV.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immune Sera ; immunology ; Immunization ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infectious bursal disease virus ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), calcium phosphate (DCP)/MCC (4:1, w/w) and lactose (Lac)/MCC (4:1) pellets with different intragranular porosity were prepared in an extrusion-spheronizator and three volume ratios of ethanol/water were used as binder agents to prepare pellets. The compression behaviors of these pellets with different intragranular pore volume were evaluated with the parameters of Kawakita model. The results showed that high pore volume of pellets made up of MCC had the best compressibility and low pore volume of pellets had a poor compactibility. However, the compressibility of different porosity of pellets made up of DCP/MCC (4:1) or Lac/MCC (4:1) was good, but they were not significantly different. The reason might be the main compression mechanism of high porosity of MCC pellets was plastic deformation and that of DCP/MCC pellets or Lac/MCC pellets was not plastic deformation but fragmentation. These results can be observed directly by the SEM photographs. According to these results, the conclusion could be drawn that high porosity MCC pellets and different porosity DCP/MCC pellets and Lac/MCC pellets can be used as cushion granules to maintain the original shape and release characteristics of drug pellets when pellets were tabletted.
Calcium Phosphates ; chemistry ; Cellulose ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Excipients ; Lactose ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Porosity ; Pressure ; Tablets

Fluidized-bed manufactured enteric-coated diclofenac sodium pellets were compressed into tablets. The blend of two aqueous acrylic resins dispersion in different ratios, Eudragit NE30D and Eudragit L30D-55, were used to prepare enteric-coated diclofenac sodium pellets of different particle sizes and coating level. The cushioning pellets with different properties and these enteric-coated pellets were compressed into tablets in different proportions. The drug release of the tablets containing these pellets would be lower than 10% in 2 h in simulated gastric fluid, but reach (83 +/- 2.42)% in 1 h in simulated enteric fluid. The mixture of Eudragit NE30D and Eudragit L30D-55 could be used to prepare enteric pellets which are suitable for compression. The cushioning pellets which were composed of stearic acid/microcrystalline cellulose (4:1, w/w) could avoid rupture of the coating of pellets during the compression.
Acrylic Resins ; chemistry ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; chemical synthesis ; Cellulose ; chemistry ; Diclofenac ; chemical synthesis ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Methacrylates ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Tablets, Enteric-Coated ; chemistry

A new mathematical equation characterizing the compression of pharmaceutical materials is presented. This equation presumed that the rate of change of the compressible volume of powder with respect to the pressure is proportional to the compressible volume. The new model provided a good fit to several model substances employing non-linear regression techniques. The validity of the model had been verified with experimental results of various pharmaceutical powders according to the Akaikes informatics criterion (AIC) and the sum of squared deviations (SS). The parameter of the new model might reflect quantitatively the fundamental compression behaviors of the powders. It had demonstrated that the proposed model could well predict the compaction characteristics of solid particles like the Kawakita model.
Compressive Strength ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Powders ; chemistry ; Pressure

OBJECTIVE: To explore KM3 multiple myeloma (MM) cell line specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response in vitro mediated by autologous dendritic cells (DCs) aroused by KM3 cells' lysates and acid-eluted peptides. METHODS: Monocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy individuals and MM patients, and were cultured in serum medium with IL-4, GM-CSF, and TNF-alpha to generate DCs. These DCs were pulsed by KM3 cells' lysates or the acid-eluted peptides, then incubated with autologous T lymphocytes for 3 days to induce KM3 cell antigen specific CTL. MTT assay was performed to examine the specific KM3 cells' lysing ability of CTL. RESULTS: DCs were generated in peripheral blood monocytes cultured in the serum medium containing GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNF-alpha. Autologous T lymphocytes induced by IL-2 and DCs pulsed with KM3 cells' lysates or the acid-eluted peptides showed strong killing effect on KM3 cells. CONCLUSION The DCs pulsed by KM3 cells' lysates or the acid-eluted peptides incubated with autologous T lymphocytes can induce KM3 cell antigen specific CTL.
Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Multiple Myeloma ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective: To assess fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyper-intensity (FVH) and explore its relationship with CT perfusion (CTP) penumbral/infarct core mismatch ratio and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) final infarct volume in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods: The CTP and MRI images of 38 AIS patients with MCAO were reviewed. The FVH score (longitudinal direction) [FVH score (L)] and FVH score (transverse direction) [FVH score (T)] were quantified on the FLAIR images. The FVH score (L) (range, 0-16) was based on a rostrocaudal extension of FVH and the FVH score (T) (range, 0-3) was based on FVH supply of the occluded MCA territory. The mismatch ratio was calculated from the ratio of the [mean transit time - cerebral blood volume (CBV)] lesion/CBV lesion on the CTP images. The DWI infarct volume was measured on the DWI images. Results: The mismatch ratio was larger for the group of FVH score (L)=7~8 than those of FVH score (L)=5~6 and FVH score (L)=3~4 (p=0.03), whereas the DWI infarct volume was smaller (p=0.04). Similarly, the mismatch ratio of FVH score (T)=2~3 group was larger than FVH score (T)=1 group (p=0.01), whereas the DWI infarct volume was smaller (p=0.02). Both FVH score (L) and FVH score (T) correlated positively with mismatch ratio (P=0.02, P=0.001, respectively), but negatively with DWI infarct volume (P=0.03, P=0.004, respectively). Conclusions: Higher FVH score is associated with larger mismatch ratio and smaller DWI infarct volume in AIS patients with MCAO. FLAIR vascular hyperintensity may represent collateral arterial circulation, and may play a role in protecting the ischemic penumbra.
Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery

Objective To analyze the relationship between socioeconomic position and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and multi-morbidity among older adults in rural Yunnan Province. Methods A total of 4 833 older adults aged 60 years and over were selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling method in rural Yunnan Province. Information was acquired from questionnaire and health examination. Principal component analysis was used to construct the socioeconomic comprehensive score. Results The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, COPD and multi-morbidity in target persons was 50.6%, 10.2%, 6.4%, 5.5%, 5.4% and 16.1% respectively. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was much higher in female compared with male (both P<0.05), in contrast the prevalence of COPD was much higher in male than female( 2=5.499, P=0.019)The prevalence of hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, COPD and multi-morbidity was increased with age(all P<0.05);Minority ethnic were more likely to develop hypertension, coronary heart disease, COPD and multi-morbidity than Han ethnic(all P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that older adults with lower socioeconomic position had higher probability of suffering from hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, COPD and multi-morbidity (all P<0.05). Conclusions There are significant socioeconomic differences between socioeconomic position and prevalence of five major chronic diseases and multi-morbidity among older adults in rural Yunnan province. Older adults with low socioeconomic position should be key population for future prevention and control of chronic diseases.

Fluorescence intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) is a potential alternative for identifying anatomical variation and preventing iatrogenic bile duct injuries by using the near-infrared probe indocyanine green (ICG).However,the dynamic process and mechanism of fluorescenceIOC have not been elucidated in previous publications.Herein,the optical properties of the complex of ICG and bile,dynamic fluorescence cholangiography and iatrogenic bile duct injuries were investigated.The emission spectrum of ICG in bile peaked at 844 nm and ICG had higher tissue penetration.Extrahepatic bile ducts could fluoresce 2 min after intravenous injection,and the fluorescence intensity reached a peak at 8 min.Inaddition,biliary dynamics were observed owing to ICG excretion from the bile ducts into the duodenum.Quantitative analysis indicated that ICG-guided fluorescence IOC possessed a high signal to noise ratio compared to the surrounding peripheral tissue and the portal vein.Fluorescence IOC was based on rapid uptake of circulating ICG in plasma by hepatic cells,excretion of ICG into the bile and then its interaction with protein molecules in the bile.Moreover,fluorescence IOC was sensitive to detect bile duct ligation and acute bile duct perforation using ICG in rat models.All of the results indicated that fluorescence IOC using ICG is a valid alternative for the cholangiography of extrahepatic bile ducts and has potential for measurement of biliary dynamics.