Risultati preliminari delle indagini archeologiche ed etnografiche presso il sito di Togolok 1

Modern Turkmenistan is mainly constituted by a desert landscape, yet despite its harsh climate, cultures have been able to construct networks of water channels since the Bronze Age. This has resulted in a man-made landscape that integrates towns and villages. Extensive surveys and recent archaeological excavations have highlighted that between 2400 and 2100 BC (Namazga V period), the region of the Murghab alluvial fan was characterised by the development of complex urban societies. However, starting from the Late Bronze Age, a new group of mobile pastoralists appeared in the Murghab region and settled along the edges of the sedentary sites. Although their presence is well-attested both by survey and excavation data, their degree of interaction with the sedentary farmers is still debated. In modern Turkmenistan, semi-mobile shepherds continue to drive their cattle across the Murghab, using mobile camps for different months. This paper presents the preliminary results of the excavation of the sedentary site of Togolok 1, as well as the first ethnographic study of the mobile communities of the Murghab region

Investigation into the toxicity of traditional Uyghur medicine Quercus infectoria galls water extract.

Quercus infectoria galls (QIG) is being widely used in Traditional Uyghur Medicine. To gather preclinical safety information for the aqueous extract of QIG, a toxicity study was performed.Subject animals were randomized, and divided into exposure and control groups. In the acute toxicity phase, three different doses--5, 7.5, and 10 g/kg, respectively--were administered via enema to imprinting control region (ICR) mice. An experiment using the maximum tolerance dose (MTD) i.e.10 g/kg was also performed. Data were gathered for 14 days, and study parameters were clinical signs, body weight, general behavior, adverse effects and mortality. At the day 14, major organs of the subjects were examined histologically. Chronic toxicity was also evaluated in Wistar rats for over 180 consecutive days. The rats were divided into three groups with different doses of 0.2 g/kg, 0.8 g/kg, and 2 g/kg, QIG. Furthermore, observations were carried out in rabbits to investigate if there were signs of irritation.In comparison to control group, acute, chronic toxicity and mortality were not significantly increased in exposure group.Study result suggests that the aqueous extract of QIG is unlikely to have significant toxicity and that clinical trials may proceed safely

Process analytical technology as in-process control tool in semi-continuous manufacturing of PLGA/PEG-PLGA microspheres

Nowadays, among 3rd generation drug delivery systems, biodegradable polymeric based long-acting injectable depot has achieved tremendous success in clinical application. So far, there have been two dozen of commercial products of Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres available in the market. Recently, continuous manufacturing concept has been successfully applied on oral solid formulation from buzzword to reality. However, the polymeric injectable microspheres are still stayed at batch manufacturing phase due to the lack of understanding of knowledge matrix. In this study, micro-mixer as a plug-and-play emulsification modules, Raman spectroscopy and focused beam reflectance measurement as real-time monitoring modules are integrated into a novel semi-continuous manufacturing streamline to provides more efficient upscaling flexibility in microspheres production. In this end to end semi-continuous manufacturing process, amphiphilic block polymer monomethoxy-poly (ethylene glycol) modified PLGA (mPEG-PLGA) was used for encapsulating Gallic acid. Additionally, with guarantee of good robustness, the correlation relationship between critical process parameters, critical material attributes and critical quality attributes were investigated. The time-space evolution process and mechanism for formation of PEG-PLGA microsphere with particular morphology were elaborated. Altogether, this study firstly established semi-continuous manufacturing streamline for PLGA/PEG-PLGA microspheres, which would not only lower the cost of production, narrow process variability and smaller equipment/environmental footprint but also applied in-process control (IPC) and QbD principle on complicated production process of microspheres. Therefore, this study build confidence in the industrial development of PLGA/PEG-PLGA microspheres and establish best practice standards, which might be a quantum leap for developing PLGA microspheres in the future

Scale for tissue sample pathology grading.

<p>Scale for tissue sample pathology grading.</p

Biochemistry parameters in chronic toxicity test.

<p>Values are mean ± SD. *P<0.05 for difference from controls.</p

Histological samples from the MTD test: A–C.

<p>Panels A1–A2 show normal liver. Panels B1–B2 show normal kidney and Panels C1–C2 show normal colon tissues. <b>Control (×40), QIG3 (×40)</b>.</p

Body weight changes during chronic toxicity test: A–B.

<p>Panel A for male rats. Panel B for female rats.</p

Histological and body weight changes in mucosal irritation test: A–C.

<p>Panels A1–A3 show photomicrographs of the colon sections (×10).Panels B1–B3 show photomicrographs of the anus sections (×40). Panel C shows body weight changes.</p

Signs of acute toxicity test.

<p>Signs of acute toxicity test.</p

Hematologic measures during the chronic toxicity test.

<p>Values are mean ± SD. *P<0.05 for difference from controls.</p