Dehydration of an ethanol/water azeotrope through alginate-DNA membranes cross-linked with metal ions by pervaporation.

To obtain high dehydration membranes for an ethanol/water azeotrope, dried blend membranes prepared from mixtures of sodium alginate (Alg-Na) and sodium deoxyribonucleate (DNA-Na) were cross-linked by immersing in a methanol solution of CaCl2 or MaCl2. In the dehydration of an ethanol/water azeotropic mixture by pervaporation, the effects of immersion time in methanol solution of CaCl2 or MaCl2 on the permeation rate and water/ethanol selectivity through Alg-DNA/Ca(2+) and Alg-DNA/Mg(2+) cross-linked membranes were investigated. Alg-DNA/Mg(2+) cross-linked membrane immersed for 12h in methanol solution of MaCl2 exhibited the highest water/ethanol selectivity.

The usefulness of inspiratory flow rate during inhalation corticosteroid therapy in asthma.

Background: The recently released handheld In-Check device can be used to measure the peak inspiratory flow rate (PIF) of patients and is reportedly useful in determining whether the PIF is sufficient for using inhaler devices. In this study, we evaluated the effects of instructions for the use of the device and of the device type based on measurements of the PIF in asthma.

Objectives: One hundred and thirty-five asthmatic patients who used a fluticasone propionate Diskus (FP-DK) or a budesonide Turbuhaler (BUD-TH) were studied.