Formulation and characterization of mucoadhesive controlled release matrix tablets of captopril

The purpose of this study is to characterize controlled release matrix tablets of captopril and to find out the physicochemical properties that have an effect on the mucoadhesion process. The hydrophilic matrix tablets contain captopril, microcrystalline cellulose, barium sulfate, ascorbic acid, ethylcellulose N100, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K15M, talc, magnesium stearate and colloidal silicon dioxide. The physicochemical properties of the formulations have been characterized using confocal microscopy, contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy. The potential mucoadhesion capabilities of the formulations were assessed measuring the surface free energy, the polar and dispersive forces, the spreading coefficients, the surface roughness, and the network structure of the hydrophilic matrix tablets. The results show that when the concentration of HPMC K15M increases, the spreading coefficients of polymer over mucus and mucus over polymer are more positive, thus increasing the contact between the matrix tablets with the mucus layer. The formulation that contains 15% of HPMC K15M is the formulation that presents a greater swelling capacity, a greater increase in surface roughness, and larger pores within the matrix. This formulation has a higher chain mobility and more free macromolecular chains able to diffuse in the mucus layer. Therefore, this formulation has the greatest potential mucoadhesion capability

Immunity and other defenses in pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum

The genome of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum lacks genes thought to be crucial in other insects for recognition, signaling and killing of microbes

Insufficient antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy: missed opportunities for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Europe

Background: Although mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rates are at an all-time low in Western Europe, potentially preventable transmissions continue to occur. Duration of antenatal combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is strongly associated with MTCT risk.Methods: Data on pregnant HIV-infected women enrolled in the Western and Central European sites of the European Collaborative Study between January 2000 and July 2009 were analysed. The proportion of women receiving no antenatal ART or 1-13 days of treatment was investigated, and associated factors explored using logistic regression models.Results: Of 2,148 women, 142 (7%) received no antenatal ART, decreasing from 8% in 2000-2003 to 5% in 2004-2009 (chi(2)=8.73; P= 14 days antenatal ART and 7.4% (10/136) among those with insufficient ART.Conclusions: Over the last 10 years, around one in 11 women in this study received insufficient antenatal ART, accounting for 40% of MTCTs. One-half of these women were diagnosed before conception, suggesting disengagement from care

Comparación de la electromiografía superficial en el ejercicio de press de banca mediante el uso de MI-ACTION en 1RM. Estudio piloto

Los electroestimuladores son generadores de corriente eléctrica capaces de desencadenar una contracción muscular mediante un potencial de acción producido de manera exógena e involuntaria. Surgen como respuesta alternativa al entrenamiento de fuerza clásico y se tiene constancia de su uso desde finales de los años setenta. (Herrero, García, Morant & García, 2006) Por otro lado, se define la electromiografía superficial (SEMG) como una técnica de detección y análisis del electromiograma, es decir, el potencial eléctrico producido durante las contracciones y las fases de descanso. Permite recoger la señal eléctrica del músculo en movimiento. (Massó et al., 2010; Kamen & Gabriel, 2010) Según diferentes autores (García, 2000; González & Gorostiaga, 2002) Jaime, Enciso & Contreras, 2006), el press banca (PB) ha sido uno de los ejercicios más utilizados del tren superior para la evaluación de la 1-RM y el entrenamiento de fuerza con cargas tanto máximas como submáximas en una gran gama de deportes.Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deport

Experimental verification of neutron phenomenology in lead and transmutation by adiabatic resonance crossing in accelerator driven systems

Energy and space distributions of spallation neutrons (from 2.5 and 3.57 GeV/c CERN proton beams) slowing down in a 3.3 x 3.3 x 3 m3 lead volume and neutron capture rates on long-lived fission fragments 99 Tc and 129 I demonstrate that Adiabatic Resonance Crossing (ARC) can be used to eliminate efficiently such nuclear waste and validate innovative simulation

Results from the TARC experiment: Spallation neutron phenomenology in lead and neutron-driven nuclear transmutation by adiabatic resonance crossing

We summarize here the results of the TARC experiment whose main purpose is to demonstrate the possibility of using Adiabatic Resonance Crossing (ARC) to destroy efficiently Long-Lived Fission Fragments (LLFFs) in accelerator-driven systems and to validate a new simulation developed in the framework of the Energy Amplifier programme. An experimental set-up was installed in a CERN PS proton beam line to study how neutrons produced by spallation at relatively high energy (En ≥ 1 MeV) slow down quasi-adiabatically with almost flat isolethargic energy distribution and reach the capture resonance energy of an element to be transmuted where they will have a high probability of being captured. Precision measurements of energy and space distributions of spallation neutrons (using 2.5 and 3.5 GeV/c protons) slowing down in a 3.3 m × 3.3 m × 3 m lead volume and of neutron capture rates on LLFFs 99Tc, 129I, and several other elements were performed. An appropriate formalism and appropriate computational tools necessary for the analysis and understanding of the data were developed and validated in detail. Our direct experimental observation of ARC demonstrates the possibility to destroy, in a parasitic mode, outside the Energy Amplifier core, large amounts of 99Tc or 129I at a rate exceeding the production rate, thereby making it practical to reduce correspondingly the existing stockpile of LLFFs. In addition, TARC opens up new possibilities for radioactive isotope production as an alternative to nuclear reactors, in particular for medical applications, as well as new possibilities for neutron research and industrial applications. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Children born to women with HIV-1 infection: Natural history and risk of transmission

600 children born to HIV-infected mothers by June 15, 1990, in ten European centres were followed to study the natural history of HIV infection and the vertical transmission rate. They were seen at birth, every 3 months up to 18 months of age, and every 6 months thereafter. At last follow-up, 64 children were judged to be HIV infected and 343 had lost antibody and were presumed uninfected. The initial clinical feature in infected children was usually a combination of persistent lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly, though 30% of children presented with AIDS, or with oral candidosis followed rapidly by AIDS. An estimated 83% of infected children show laboratory or clinical features of HIV infection by 6 months of age. By 12 months, 26% have AIDS and 17% die of HIV-related disease. Subsequently, the disease progresses more slowly and most children remain stable or even improve during the second year. The vertical transmission rate, based on results in 372 children born at least 18 months before the analysis, was 12.9% (95% CI 9.5-16.3%). Virus has been repeatedly isolated in an additional small proportion of children (2.5%, 95% CI 0.7-6.3%) who lost maternal antibody and have remained clinically and immunologically normal. Without a definitive virological diagnosis, the monitoring of immunoglobulins, CD4/CD8 ratio, and clinical signs could identify HIV infection in 48% of infected children by 6 months, with a specificity of more than 99%SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe