Microbubble generation by piezotransducer for biological studies

Bubbles induced by blast waves or shocks are speculated to be the major cause of damages in biological cells in mild traumatic brain injuries. Microbubble collapse was found to induce noticeable cell detachment from the cell substrate, changes in focal adhesion and biomechanics. To better understand the bubble mechanism, we would like to construct a system, which allows us to clearly differentiate the impact of bubbles from that of shocks. Such a generator needs to be low profile in order to place under a microscope. A piezoelectric transducer system was designed to meet the need. The system uses either a flat or a spherical focusing piezoelectric transducer to produce microbubbles in a cuvette loaded with cell-culture medium. The transducer is placed on the side of the cuvette with its axis lining horizontally. A cover slip is placed on the top of the cuvette. The impact of the waves to the cells is minimized as the cover slip is parallel to the direction of the wave. Only bubbles from the medium reach the cover slip and interact with cells. The effect of bubbles therefore can be separated that of pressure waves. The bubbles collected on a cover slip range in size from 100 μm to 10 μm in radius, but the dominant size is 20-30 μm.

Processing of Soju Industrial Bioresidue to Extract Microcrystalline Cellulose and Characterization

Soju industrial biomass residue (SIBR) is a lignocellulosic agro-industrial biowaste available in large quantities in soju producing countries. In this study, an attempt was made to extract microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a biopolymer from SIBR by controlled acid hydrolysis. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the presence of cellulose I structure with two peaks around 2θ = 15 and 22.5° and increase in crystallinity after acid hydrolysis treatment. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed no significant chemical affect of the cellulose fragment. Thermo-gravimetric analysis reveals that the extracted MCC have a good thermal stability (319°C). Dynamic light scattering studies confirmed the presence of MCC in micro range (126.4 nm) which was supported by transmission electron microscopy. The results of this work are useful for extracting valuable and widely applicable cellulose, and help solve management of SIBR in terms of disposal and pollution problems.

The Intelence aNd pRezista Once A Day Study (INROADS): a multicentre, single-arm, open-label study of etravirine and darunavir/ritonavir as dual therapy in HIV-1-infected early treatment-experienced subjects

OBJECTIVES

Following antiretroviral therapy failure, patients are often treated with a three-drug regimen that includes two nucleoside/tide reverse transcriptase inhibitors [N(t)RTIs]. An alternative two-drug nucleoside-sparing regimen may decrease the pill burden and drug toxicities associated with the use of N(t)RTIs. The Intelence aNd pRezista Once A Day Study (INROADS; NCT01199939) evaluated the nucleoside-sparing regimen of etravirine 400 mg with darunavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg once-daily in HIV-1-infected treatment-experienced subjects or treatment-naïve subjects with transmitted resistance.

METHODS

In this exploratory phase 2b, single-arm, open-label, multicentre, 48-week study, the primary endpoint was the proportion of subjects who achieved HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL at week 48 [confirmed virological response (CVR), non-virological failure (VF) censored]. Key secondary endpoints included assessments of changes from baseline to week 48 in viral load, immunological response, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, safety, tolerability, metabolic and bone markers and body fat.

RESULTS

Forty-one of the 54 enrolled subjects completed the study. Adverse events (7%) and VF (7%) were the most common reasons for discontinuation. The week 48 CVR rate in the intent-to-treat (ITT) non-VF censored population was 89% (primary endpoint). Seven subjects experienced VF. Common adverse events were diarrhoea (15%), rash (15%) and upper respiratory tract infection (11%). Mild/moderate lipid elevations, minimal changes in limb fat distribution and bone mineral density and no clinically relevant changes in glucose metabolism were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Etravirine 400 mg and darunavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg as a two-drug once-daily regimen in treatment-experienced subjects or treatment-naïve subjects with transmitted resistance was virologically efficacious and well tolerated.