Improved cellular response on multiwalled carbon nanotube-incorporated electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan nanofibrous scaffolds

We report the fabrication of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-incorporated electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (CS) nanofibers with improved cellular response for potential tissue engineering applications. In this study, smooth and uniform PVA/CS and PVA/CS/MWCNTs nanofibers with water stability were formed by electrospinning, followed by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde vapor. The morphology, structure, and mechanical properties of the formed electrospun fibrous mats were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and mechanical testing, respectively. We showed that the incorporation of MWCNTs did not appreciably affect the morphology of the PVA/CS nanofibers; importantly the protein adsorption ability of the nanofibers was significantly improved. In vitro cell culture of mouse fibroblasts (L929) seeded onto the electrospun scaffolds showed that the incorporation of MWCNTs into the PVA/CS nanofibers significantly promoted cell proliferation. Results from this study hence suggest that MWCNT-incorporated PVA/CS nanofibrous scaffolds with small diameters (around 160 nm) and high porosity can mimic the natural extracellular matrix well, and potentially provide many possibilities for applications in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.     

细胞培养液中多溴联苯醚以及代谢产物的GC-MS/MS测定方法

利用柱前衍生化耦合气相/质谱/质谱(GC/MS/MS),建立了细胞培养液中13种多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)、8种甲氧基化多溴联苯醚(MeO-PBDEs)和5种羟基化多溴联苯醚(HO-PBDEs)的分析方法.采用氯甲酸甲酯作为HO-PBDEs的衍生化试剂,相比传统重氮甲烷作为衍生化试剂的方法,其衍生化时间明显缩短.同时,衍...     

UV-Derivative Spectrophotometric Determination of Ritonavir Capsules and Comparison with LC Method

Abstract

An ultraviolet-derivative spectrophotometric method (UV-D) has been proposed as an alternative to a previously described liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the quantitative determination of ritonavir in soft gelatin capsules. The spectrophotometric method is based on recording the second-derivative spectra for ritonavir at 222.3 nm of its solutions in methanol. The linear dynamic range was 10.0–30.0 µg · mL^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995. Mean recoveries were between 99.2% and 100.2% for the tested capsules samples. Mean intra- and interassay relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 2.0%. The statistic analysis showed that LC and UV-D methods were equivalent to assay ritonavir capsules.     

An Expeditious Method Combining Multi-Components Determination and Fingerprinting Based on Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photo Diode Array-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Chemometrics: Application for Authentication and Quality Evaluation of Cornus Officinalis Sieb. et Zucc

Selective and efficient analytical methods for authentication and quality evaluation of herbal medicines are significant and necessary. An expeditious method combining multi-components determination and fingerprinting based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA -MS/MS) and chemometrics for authentication and quality evaluation of Cornus Officinalis Sieb. et Zucc was developed. Tandem mass spectrometer operating in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for determination of three characteristic constituents (morroniside, sweroside, and loganin) in C. Officinalis. Meanwhile, UPLC fingerprint of C. Officinalis was established and the data set was submitted for classification to a suite of chemometrics method. Combing main biologically active components content level and chemometrics analysis, the effects of cultivation area, harvesting, and storage time on the quality of C. Officinalis were investigated. The study reveals that multi-components determination coupled with fingerprinting could be applied for authentication and quality evaluation of C. Officinalis which is accurate, efficient, and reliable.     

论卤盐养生（10）

卤盐（包括食盐）是中国矿物药的重要组成部分。从文化价值、临床应用和情志调摄3个方面诠释了卤盐的养生学意义,并全面、详细地阐述了食盐对中国古代文化的四大贡献、6种盐类的现代临床应用价值以及盐湖旅游的6项要素;列举了160多个盐湖卤水的主要化学成分、矿化度或微量元素;摘录了论述卤盐主治功用的古今文献。本文分期刊出。     

Quantitative assessment of moisture damage for cacao bean quality using two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and chemometrics

Quality control of cacao beans is a significant issue in the chocolate industry. In this report, we describe how moisture damage to cacao beans alters the volatile chemical signature of the beans in a way that can be tracked quantitatively over time. The chemical signature of the beans is monitored via sampling the headspace of the vapor above a given bean sample. Headspace vapor sampled with solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) was detected and analyzed with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOFMS). Cacao beans from six geographical origins (Costa Rica, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama) were analyzed. Twenty-nine analytes that change in concentration levels via the time-dependent moisture damage process were measured using chemometric software. Biomarker analytes that were independent of geographical origin were found. Furthermore, prediction algorithms were used to demonstrate that moisture damage could be verified before there were visible signs of mold by analyzing subsets of the 29 analytes. Thus, a quantitative approach to quality screening related to the identification of moisture damage in the absence of visible mold is presented.     

The quality of leadership (QL): the EFQM leadership criterion in relation to the 360° feedback evaluation method

The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) integral quality management model covers nine issues: five so-called enabler criteria and four so-called result-oriented criteria. The first enabler criterion concerns leadership and covers all kind of strategic management aspects. However, directly or indirectly, the leadership of the board of directors or its individual members is characterized and scored. An even more explicate technique, originated in a totally different way, is the 360° feedback evaluation method. In this paper both methods are compared and practiced on various individuals. A checklist was developed to facilitate scoring in the EFQM leadership submodel. Both methods, although from a different origin, could be linked easily, covered very similar aspects and gave results that were in excellent agreement with each other. The scoring showed almost identical results, supporting in large the use of the integral EFQM model. Received: 25 May 2002 Accepted: 17 July 2002 Presented at the European Conference on Quality in the Spotlight in Medical Laboratories, 7–9 October 2001, Antwerp, Belgium Correspondence to H. M. J. Goldschmidt     

A quality systems approach for identifying and controlling sources of error with point of care testing devices

Historically, due to the size and nature of the instrumentation, highly skilled laboratory professionals performed clinical testing in centralized laboratories. Today’s clinicians demand realtime test data at the point of care. This has led to a new generation of compact, portable instruments permitting ”laboratory” testing to be performed at or near the patient’s bedside by nonlaboratory workers who are unfamiliar with testing practices. Poorly controlled testing processes leading to poor quality test results are an insidious problem facing point of care testing today. Manufacturers are addressing this issue through instrument design. Providers of clinical test results, regardless of location, working with manufacturers and regulators must create and manage complete test systems that eliminate or minimize sources of error. The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) in its EP18 guideline, ”Quality management for unit-use testing,” has developed a quality management system approach specifically for test devices used for point of care testing (POCT). Simply stated, EP18 utilizes a ”sources of error” matrix to identify and address potential errors that can impact the test result. The key is the quality systems approach where all stakeholders – professionals, manufacturers and regulators – collaboratively seek ways to manage errors and ensure quality. We illustrate the use of one quality systems approach, EP18, as a means to advance the quality of test results at point of care. Received: 26 June, 2002 Accepted: 17 July 2002 Presented at the European Conference on Quality in the Spotlight in Medical Laboratories, 7–9 October 2001, Antwerp, Belgium Abbreviations NCCLS National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (formerly) · POCT point of care testing · QC quality control · HACCP hazard analysis critical control points · CLIA clinical laboratory improvement amendments (of 1988) Correspondence to S. S. Ehrmeyer     

Determination and quantification of active phenolic compounds in pigeon pea leaves and its medicinal product using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A novel method using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) has been optimized and established for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of ten active phenolic compounds originating from the pigeon pea leaves and a medicinal product thereof (Tongluo Shenggu capsules). In the present study, the chromatographic separation was achieved by means of a HiQ Sil C18V reversed-phase column with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution. Low-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID-MS/MS) using the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) analysis was employed for the detection of ten analytes which included six flavonoids, two isoflavonoids and two stilbenes. All calibration curves showed excellent coefficients of determination (r(2) ≥ 0.9937) within the range of tested concentrations. The intra- and inter-day variations were below 5.36% in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD). The recoveries were 95.08-104.98% with RSDs of 2.06-4.26% for spiked samples of pigeon pea leaves. The method developed was a rapid, efficient and accurate LC-MS/MS method for the detection of phenolic compounds, which can be applied for quality control of pigeon pea leaves and related medicinal products.     

A stereotypic,transplantable liver tissue-culture system

A method of coculturing adult rat hepatic parenchymal cells (PC) and stromal cells in a three-dimensional framework of nylon filtration screens or biodegradable polymer meshes was developed in our laboratory. Rat liver stroma, which includes vascular and bile duct endothelial cells, fat-storing cells, fibroblasts, and Kupffer cells, were isolated by gradient centrifugation afterin situ liver perfusion and expanded in monolayer culture prior to seeding onto nylon screens or bioresorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) polymers oriented into a felt-like construct. A second inoculum of freshly isolated PC was applied after the stromal cells became established. Histological analyses revealed that PC proliferation occurred until all available space for expansion within the template was exhausted. These cells retained their rounded morphology, and after 4–5 wk 7–9 “layers” of PC filled the 140-μm deep template. Dioxin-inducible cytochrome P450 activity was detected for up to 58 d in culture, and albumin, fibrinogen, transferrin, and soluble fibronectin were detected in the medium by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for 48 d in vitro. Immunohistochemical analysis of sections through the cultures confirmed the presence of these proteins as well as cytokeratin at the cellular level; the extracellular matrix stained for both collagen type III and laminin. Long-term PC proliferation and function were enhanced by the presence of stromal cells as well as by a meshwork template whose geometry allows the interaction of PC with stroma and matrix on several different planes. To permit transplantation, co-cultures of hepatic PC and stromal cells were established on PGA felt constructs instead of nylon screens. After 24 d in vitro, these constructs were grafted into sites in the mesentery, omentum, and sub-cutaneous tissues of adult Long-Evans rats. The growth of hepatocytes after 30 din situ was evident by histological analysis; grafts of co-cultures regenerated a liver-like architecture consisting of sinusoids and putative biliary structures. In addition, PC at these extrahepatic graft sites were positive for albumin, transferrin, and fibrinogen synthesis by immunohistochemistry. Graft survival was enhanced when recipients were subjected to 40% hepatectomy. Hepatic PC:stromal cell cocultures may prove useful in the restoration of liver function either by direct transplantation using PGA or similar templates, or as extracorporeal devices, using nylon screens.