Preparation and properties of modified chitosan as potential matrix materials for drug sustained-release beads.

Modified chitosan such as chitosan alpha-ketoglutaric acid (KCTS) and hydroxamated chitosan alpha-ketoglutaric acid (HKCTS) were successfully prepared. The modified chitosan were employed in the formation of drug-loaded, iron(III)-crosslinked polymeric beads. The produced polymers were characterized by IR, NMR, WXRD and DSC measurements.

Preparation and characterization of glutaraldehyde cross-linked O-carboxymethylchitosan microspheres for controlled delivery of pazufloxacin mesilate.

O-carboxymethylchitosan (OCMC) microspheres containing an antibiotic drug pazufloxacin mesilate (PM) have been successfully prepared by emulsion cross-linking using glutaraldehyde (GA). Various manufacturing parameters, including amount of cross-linking agent and OCMC:PM ratios were altered to optimize process variables during the microspheres production. The structure and morphology were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Mechanisms and kinetics of chelating reaction between novel chitosan derivatives and Zn(II).

Modified chitosan such as chitosan alpha-ketoglutaric acid (KCTS) and hydroxamated chitosan alpha-ketoglutaric acid (HKCTS) are successfully prepared. The resulting polymers were characterized by 13C NMR and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. A adsorption system was applied to study the adsorption of Zn(II) ion onto chitosan derivatives.

Kinetics of adsorption of Zn(II) ion on chitosan derivatives.

The adsorption of Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution by chitosan derivatives (KCTS and HKCTS) was studied in a batch adsorption system. The adsorption capacities and rates of Zn(II) ions onto chitosan derivatives were evaluated. The adsorption isothermal data could be well interpreted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models.

[Effects of habitat patch on Lophura nycthemera population].

To understand the relationships between the distribution of Lophura nycthemera population and the attributes of habitat patch,this paper investigated the population of L. nycthemera in the National Gutian Mountain Natural Reserve and its periphery area in Zhejiang Province from September 1998 to August 1999. The relative population density of L.

Genetic analysis of agricultural traits in rice related to phosphorus efficiency.

Relative tillering ability, available spike, biomass, and grain yield of P1, P2, F1, and F(2,3) were used to study the genetic development of rice related to phosphorus efficiency with a quantitative genetic model. The results indicated that under a low-P condition, the relative tillering ability and the relative available spike were apt to the additivity-dominance-epistasis model with two couples of major genes, between which additive, dominant and epistatic effects existed, and with multi-gene modifications. Their maximum major gene effect mostly indicated additivity, but sub-maximum major gene effect mostly indicated dominance.

[RAPD analysis on germplasm resources of different farm races of Morinda officinalis].

Objective: To explore the genetic diversity of different farm races of Morinda officinalis on molecular level.

Methods: The molecular biological technique-random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were used.

Results: Of the 40-mer arbitary primers, 14 were found to amplify polymorphic products.

Cardioprotective effect of des-Aspartate-angiotensin-I (DAA-I) on cytokine gene expression profile in ligation model of myocardial infarction.

We investigate the influence of des-Aspartate-angiotensin-I (DAA-I) on the cytokine expression profile in a rodent model of myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction model was created in female Wistar rats by coronary artery ligation. Animals were randomized to receive intravenously either a daily dose of 1.

An application of control region sequence as a matrilineage marker for Elliot's pheasant of a zoo population.

Control region sequence, an mtDNA marker, was usually used in phylogenesis analysis in species level or genetic structure study among populations. In this study, enlightened by its character of maternal heredity in vertebrates, we used control region sequence as a matrilineage marker for Elliot's pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) of Ningbo Zoo population. In Ningbo Zoo, 36 individuals of Elliot's pheasant were descendants from three female founders introduced in 1988.

[Effects of various organic fertilizers on growth and mineral nutrient absorption of Morindar officinalis].

Objective: To study the effects of various organic fertilizers on the growth and the mineral nutrient absorption of Morindar officinalis.

Method: The growing character and the mineral nutrition contents were determined with conventional assay methods.

Result: The influences of four kinds of fertilizers on the bionomics and nutrient absorption of M.

Loop X/XI, the largest cytoplasmic loop in the membrane-bound melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli, is a functional re-entrant loop.

The melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli is a membrane-bound sugar-cation cotransporter consisting of 12 transmembrane helices connected by cytoplasmic and periplasmic loops, with both N- and C-terminus on the cytoplasmic side. Using a functional cysteine-less carrier, cysteine was substituted individually for residues 347-378 that comprise the largest cytoplasmic loop X/XI. The majority of the cysteine mutants have good protein expression levels.

[Effects of additives on tissue culture and rapid propagation of Dendrobium canducum].

Effects of additives on tissue culture and rapid propagation of Dendrobium canducum Walla. ex Lindal. by 1/2 MS added activated charcoal, plant growth regulators, banana juice, apple juice and potato juice were studied.

An investigation of cysteine mutants on the cytoplasmic loop X/XI in the melibiose transporter of Escherichia coli by using thiol reagents: implication of structural conservation of charged residues.

The melibiose transporter (Mel B) of Escherichia coli is a cation-coupled (H(+), Li(+), and Na(+)) membrane protein (MW 50 kDa) consisting of 12 transmembrane helices that are connected by periplasmic and cytoplasmic loops, with both the C- and N-ends located on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Previous investigations on the largest cytoplasmic loop X/XI indicated that it is a functional re-entrant loop. In this communication, the cysteine mutants on loop X/XI were studied with charged thiol reagents MTSES, MTSET, and IAA for both the inhibition patterns and charge replacement/function rescue of inactive mutants in which the original charged residues were replaced by neutral cysteines.

Thermosetting gels with modulated gelation temperature for ophthalmic use: the rheological and gamma scintigraphic studies.

For ophthalmic drug delivery, Pluronic F127 solutions have a phase transition temperature too low for them to be instilled into the eye at room temperature. Refrigerator storage is usually required to make administration easier, whereas the potential irritation of cold to the sensitive ocular tissues may result in poor topical bioavailability. The purpose of this study is to develop a thermosetting gel with a suitable phase transition temperature by combining Pluronic analogs and to examine the influence of incorporating mucoadhesive polysaccharide, sodium hyaluronate (HA-Na), on the ocular retention of the gel.