Determination of parameters for successful spray coating of silicon microneedle arrays

Coated microneedle patches have demonstrated potential for effective, minimally invasive, drug and vaccine delivery. To facilitate cost-effective, industrial-scale production of coated microneedle patches, a continuous coating method which utilises conventional pharmaceutical processes is an attractive prospect. Here, the potential of spray-coating silicon microneedle patches using a conventional film-coating process was evaluated and the key process parameters which impact on coating coalescence and weight were identified by employing a fractional factorial design to coat flat silicon patches. Processing parameters analysed included concentration of coating material, liquid input rate, duration of spraying, atomisation air pressure, gun-to-surface distance and air cap setting. Two film-coating materials were investigated; hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). HPMC readily formed a film-coat on silicon when suitable spray coating parameter settings were determined. CMC films required the inclusion of a surfactant (1%, w/w Tween 80) to facilitate coalescence of the sprayed droplets on the silicon surface. Spray coating parameters identified by experimental design, successfully coated 280 μm silicon microneedle arrays, producing an intact film-coat, which follows the contours of the microneedle array without occlusion of the microneedle shape. This study demonstrates a novel method of coating microneedle arrays with biocompatible polymers using a conventional film-coating process. It is the first study to indicate the thickness and roughness of coatings applied to microneedle arrays. The study also highlights the importance of identifying suitable processing parameters when film coating substrates of micron dimensions. The ability of a fractional factorial design to identify these critical parameters is also demonstrated. The polymer coatings applied in this study can potentially be drug loaded for intradermal drug and vaccine delivery

Rabbit and Human Non-Keratinising Stratified Squamous Oesophageal Epithelium Displays Similar Microridge Structure by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Since the oesophageal epithelium of common laboratory animals, rats and mice, is keratinized it is unsuitable for comparison with typical non-keratinized stratified squamous human epithelium. It is thus important to find a suitable animal model for the study of human oesophageal tissue changes. This study investigated the microridge structure of immature and adult rabbit specimens, and adult human biopsies by scanning electron microscopy and morphometry. The investigation revealed a similarity between typical squamous human and adult rabbit oesophageal mucosal epithelium. While human epithelium specimens subdivided into two other groups (non-typical squamous and non-squamous); all typical squamous human biopsies were from patients who had normal endoscopy reports and no reflux symptoms. The surface cells of typical squamous human epithelium displayed complex microridge patterns (64% of cell surface) but patterns in non-typical squamous specimens were more variable (38%) (P \u3c 0.001) and cell boundaries less obvious. Rabbit squames displayed clear microridge patterns with an elevation in the percentage of cell surface covered by microridges, with increasing age, from immature to adult specimens (P \u3c 0.001). There was no statistically significant differences between adult rabbit, and \u27typical squamous\u27 human biopsies (range 51-65%), results which suggest potential use of a rabbit model to study changes in human oesophageal tissue

1973 Research Progress Reports, Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Food Technology

Evaluation of snap bean varieties for processing / Wilbur A. Gould -- Evaluation of tomato cultivars for processing / W. A. Gould, James Black, Emily Korensky, Ruth Stillabower, and Stanley Z. Berry -- Commercial tomato cultivar evaluation / Wilbur A. Gould, Jerry Wright, in cooperation with Stanley Berry, Marion White, Tip Top Canning Co., Beckman and Gast Company and Hirzel Canning Co. -- Relationship of USDA D6 tomato colorimeter to AGTRON E-5 / Wilbur A. Gould and Jerry Wright -- Effects of food additives on the quality of canned tomatoes / Wilbur A. Gould, Jacquelyn Gould, and James Black -- Effects of food additives on the quality of canned tomato juice / Wilbur A. Gould, Ruth Stillabower, Jacquelyn Gould and James Black -- Retention of ascorbic acid in fortified tomato juice ; Effect of storage time and temperature and added ascorbic acid on the total acid and pH of tomato juice / Gerald G. Pope and Wilbur A. Gould -- Cell wall components and tomato juice consistency / David E. Crean -- Lipid content of cabbage & sauerkraut / Andrew C. Peng -- Canned rice-tomatoes / Teung Chin and Wilbur A. Gould -- Development of a canned pecan pie filling / W. A. Gould and S. Perryman -- A new soybean food from tempeh / Nasruddin Iljas, Wilbur A. Gould and Andrew C. Peng -- Rehabilitation and recycling spend cucumber pickling brines / J. R. Geisman and R. E. Henne -- Evaluation of several grape cultivars for wine making / James F. Gallande

Optimal functional outcome measures for assessing treatment for Dupuytren's disease: A systematic review and recommendations for future practice

This article is available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright © 2013 Ball et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Background: Dupuytren's disease of the hand is a common condition affecting the palmar fascia, resulting in progressive flexion deformities of the digits and hence limitation of hand function. The optimal treatment remains unclear as outcomes studies have used a variety of measures for assessment. Methods: A literature search was performed for all publications describing surgical treatment, percutaneous needle aponeurotomy or collagenase injection for primary or recurrent Dupuytren’s disease where outcomes had been monitored using functional measures. Results: Ninety-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-two studies reported outcomes using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) ranging from validated questionnaires to self-reported measures for return to work and self-rated disability. The Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score was the most utilised patient-reported function measure (n=11). Patient satisfaction was reported by eighteen studies but no single method was used consistently. Range of movement was the most frequent physical measure and was reported in all 91 studies. However, the methods of measurement and reporting varied, with seventeen different techniques being used. Other physical measures included grip and pinch strength and sensibility, again with variations in measurement protocols. The mean follow-up time ranged from 2 weeks to 17 years. Conclusions: There is little consistency in the reporting of outcomes for interventions in patients with Dupuytren’s disease, making it impossible to compare the efficacy of different treatment modalities. Although there are limitations to the existing generic patient reported outcomes measures, a combination of these together with a disease-specific questionnaire, and physical measures of active and passive individual joint Range of movement (ROM), grip and sensibility using standardised protocols should be used for future outcomes studies. As Dupuytren’s disease tends to recur following treatment as well as extend to involve other areas of the hand, follow-up times should be standardised and designed to capture both short and long term outcomes

The coronary CT angiography vision protocol : a prospective observational imaging cohort study in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery

INTRODUCTION: At present, physicians have a limited ability to predict major cardiovascular complications after non-cardiac surgery and little is known about the anatomy of coronary arteries associated with perioperative myocardial infarction. We have initiated the Coronary CT Angiography (CTA) VISION Study to (1) establish the predictive value of coronary CTA for perioperative myocardial infarction and death and (2) describe the coronary anatomy of patients that have a perioperative myocardial infarction. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Coronary CTA VISION Study is prospective observational study. Preoperative coronary CTA will be performed in 1000–1500 patients with a history of vascular disease or at least three cardiovascular risk factors who are undergoing major elective non-cardiac surgery. Serial troponin will be measured 6–12 h after surgery and daily for the first 3 days after surgery. Major vascular outcomes at 30 days and 1 year after surgery will be independently adjudicated. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Coronary CTA results in a measurable radiation exposure that is similar to a nuclear perfusion scan (10–12 mSV). Treating physicians will be blinded to the CTA results until 30 days after surgery in order to provide the most unbiased assessment of its prognostic capabilities. The only exception will be the presence of a left main stenosis >50%. This approach is supported by best available current evidence that, excluding left main disease, prophylatic revascularisation prior to non-cardiac surgery does not improve outcomes. An external safety and monitoring committee is overseeing the study and will review outcome data at regular intervals. Publications describing the results of the study will be submitted to major peer-reviewed journals and presented at international medical conferences

Risk assessment for the spread of Serratia marcescens within dental-unit waterline systems using Vermamoeba vermiformis

Vermamoeba vermiformis is associated with the biofilm ecology of dental-unit waterlines (DUWLs). This study investigated whether V. vermiformis is able to act as a vector for potentially pathogenic bacteria and so aid their dispersal within DUWL systems. Clinical dental water was initially examined for Legionella species by inoculating it onto Legionella selective-medium plates. The molecular identity/profile of the glassy colonies obtained indicated none of these isolates were Legionella species. During this work bacterial colonies were identified as a non-pigmented Serratia marcescens. As the water was from a clinical DUWL which had been treated with Alpron™ this prompted the question as to whether S. marcescens had developed resistance to the biocide. Exposure to Alpron™ indicated that this dental biocide was effective, under laboratory conditions, against S. marcescens at up to 1x108 colony forming units/millilitre (cfu/ml). V. vermiformis was cultured for eight weeks on cells of S. marcescens and Escherichia coli. Subsequent electron microscopy showed that V. vermiformis grew equally well on S. marcescens and E. coli (p = 0.0001). Failure to detect the presence of S. marcescens within the encysted amoebae suggests that V. vermiformis is unlikely to act as a vector supporting the growth of this newly isolated, nosocomial bacterium

Food processing and technology 1978: a summary of research

Evaluation of tomato cultivars for processing / W. A. Gould, W. Stone, J. Mount, L. Witt, Y. Yamada, and S. Z. Berry -- Geotrichum candidum in midwestern tomato processing plants and various methods of inhibiting its growth / James G. Fox and Wilbur A. Gould -- Effects of various qualities of raw tomatoes (subjective evaluation) on color of extractable juice (objective evaluation) / Yasunori Yamada and Wilbur A. Gould -- Protein content of seeds taken from tomatoes at various stages of ripeness / Daniel Brodowski and J. R. Geisman -- Effects of cultivar, break temperature, and extraction methods on the viscosity of tomato juice / Hashmy Bel-Haj and Wilbur A. Gould -- A study of some factors affecting the solid content of canned tomatoes / J. R. Mount and W. A. Gould -- Prediction of ascorbic acid stability in canned apple juice / Mohamed I. Mahmoud and Wilbur A. Gould -- Investigation of protein content of ohio grown soybeans / Girish N. Desai and Andrew C. Peng -- Recovery and functionality of soybean leaf proteins / Mohammed H. Ali and Andrew C. Peng -- Carotene content of green snap beans / H. Fenercioglu and D. E. Crean -- Effect of reconditioning on the ascorbic acid content of potato cultivars / I. S. Arkoudilos and D. E. Crean -- Kinetic studies of polyphenol oxidase from HiDri cabbage / Ling-May Chen and Andrew C. Peng -- Refinements in pickle brine recycling / T. Glares and J. R. Geisman -- Use of ultraviolet light to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus growth on the surface of baked pumpkin pie / Nicholas N. Kallas and Wilbur A. Gould -- Development of a nutritionally improved corn masa / Thomas H. Rieman and Wilbur A. Gould -- Mechanical deboning of Lake Erie freshwater drum / W. E. Stone and W. A. Gould -- Lake Erie freshwater drum fillet processing, storage, and evaluation / W. E. Stone and W. A. Goul

Connective tissue growth factor(CCN2), a pathogenic factor in diabetic nephropathy. What does it do? How does it do it?

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is a member of the CCN family of matricellular proteins. Its expression is induced by a number of factors including TGF-β. It has been associated with fibrosis in various tissues including the kidney. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) develops in about 30% of patients with diabetes and is characterized by thickening of renal basement membranes, fibrosis in the glomerulus (glomerulosclerosis), tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis, all of which compromise kidney function. This review examines changes in CTGF expression in the kidney in DN, the effects they have on glomerular mesangial and podocyte cells and the tubulointerstitium, and how these contribute to driving fibrotic changes in the disease. CTGF can bind to several other growth factors modifying their function. CTGF is also able to interact with receptors on cells, including integrins, tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA), low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and heparan sulphate proteoglycans. These interactions, the intracellular signalling pathways they activate, and the cellular responses evoked are reviewed. CTGF also induces the expression of chemokines which themselves have pharmacological actions on cells. CTGF may prompt some responses by acting through several different mechanisms, possibly simultaneously. For example, CTGF is often described as an effector of TGF-β. It can promote TGF-β signalling by binding directly to the growth factor, promoting its interaction with the TGF-β receptor; by triggering intracellular signalling on binding the TrkA receptor, which leads to the transcriptional repression of Smad7, an inhibitor of the TGF-β signalling pathway; and by binding to BMP-7 whose own signalling pathway opposing TGF-β is inhibited, leading to enhanced TGF-β signalling

2021 roadmap on lithium sulfur batteries

Batteries that extend performance beyond the intrinsic limits of Li-ion batteries are among the most important developments required to continue the revolution promised by electrochemical devices. Of these next-generation batteries, lithium sulfur (Li–S) chemistry is among the most commercially mature, with cells offering a substantial increase in gravimetric energy density, reduced costs and improved safety prospects. However, there remain outstanding issues to advance the commercial prospects of the technology and benefit from the economies of scale felt by Li-ion cells, including improving both the rate performance and longevity of cells. To address these challenges, the Faraday Institution, the UK's independent institute for electrochemical energy storage science and technology, launched the Lithium Sulfur Technology Accelerator (LiSTAR) programme in October 2019. This Roadmap, authored by researchers and partners of the LiSTAR programme, is intended to highlight the outstanding issues that must be addressed and provide an insight into the pathways towards solving them adopted by the LiSTAR consortium. In compiling this Roadmap we hope to aid the development of the wider Li–S research community, providing a guide for academia, industry, government and funding agencies in this important and rapidly developing research space