Cationic triblock copolymer micelles enhance antioxidant activity, intracellular uptake and cytotoxicity of curcumin.

The aim of the present study was to develop curcumin loaded cationic polymeric micelles and to evaluate their loading, preservation of curcumin antioxidant activity and intracellular uptake ability. The micelles were prepared from a triblock copolymer consisting of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) and very short poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) segments (PDMAEMA9-PCL70-PDMAEMA9). The micelles showed monomodal size distribution, mean diameter of 145 nm, positive charge (+72 mV), critical micellar concentration around 0.

[Sensitization to mites in house dust among children suffering bronchial asthma].

The results of studying allergy to domestic dust in 168 patients suffering from bronchial asthma are presented. The diagnosis was made by means of the domestic dust allergen (10000 PNU), fraction E extracted from the whole allergen by Berrens and Young's method, and with lyophilized extract from D. pteronussinus, farinae and Glycyphagus ticks isolated from domestic dust by Voohorst and Spieksma's method.

[Place of serum cholinesterase in the diagnosis of chronic liver diseases].

Serum cholinesterase activity (ChE) was studied in 84 patients with chronic liver diseases (cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, chronic cholecystocholangiohepatitis, hepatolenticular degeneration). Most pronounced alterations were found in cirrhosis. Significant difference is not established between cardiac and "noncardiac" cirrhosis but is well established between decompensated and compensated cirrhosis.