Structure, transport and photoconductance of PbS quantum dot monolayers functionalized with a copper phthalocyanine derivative

We simultaneously surface-functionalize PbS nanocrystals with Cu 4,4′,4′′,4′′′-tetraaminophthalocyanine and assemble this hybrid material into macroscopic monolayers.

Visualization and analysis of the release mechanism of shellac coated ascorbic acid pellets

Shellac coated sustained release ascorbic acid containing pellets were investigated using scanning electron microscopy in order to visualize the release mechanism and to establish a correlation to dissolution data. Scanning electron micrograph pictures revealed different drug release profiles of individual pellets. Single pellet dissolution measurements demonstrated that the release profile of the encapsulated dosage form, containing approximately 400 pellets per capsule, is a combination of different release profiles of all individual pellets. The release of ascorbic acid occurred only in some small spots on the surface area of the pellets and could be visualized by the reduction of silver ions from an aqueous silver nitrate solution. These spots could be identified as defects in the shellac sustained release film using scanning electron microscopy. In further trials, the dissolution rate of an individual pellet could be related to the number and dimension of holes in its membrane. In conclusion, the release is characterized by surface defects and scanning electron microscopy studies are a useful tool to get new information for a better understanding of the drug release.

[Prosta Fink Forte capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multicentric surveillance study in 2245 patients]

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Therapeutic use and safety of a pumpkin seed extract were tested in a multicentric clinical trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

2,245 patients suffering from benign prostate hyperplasia (stage I to II according to Alken) received for 12 weeks 1-2 capsules Prosta Fink Forte per day. Urinary symptoms were recorded by the International Prostate Symptom Score according to the American Urological Association (I-PSS), the influence on quality of life has been recorded by a quality of life questionnaire (LQ Index).

RESULTS

The I-PSS decreased by 41.4%, life quality improved by 46. 1% during therapy. More than 96% of the patients reported no undesired side effects under the treatment with Prosta Fink Forte.

CONCLUSION

Prosta Fink Forte facilitates an efficient improvement of BPH symptoms, especially in early stages.

Effects of digitoxigenin, digoxigenin, and various cardiac glycosides on cardenolide accumulation in shoot cultures of Digitalis lanata

Various cardenolide genins and cardenolide glycosides were administered to light-grown and dark-grown Digitalis lanata shoot cultures to investigate conversion reactions related to the formation and rearrangement of the sugar side chain of Digitalis glycosides. Digitoxigenin was converted to digitoxigen-3-one, 3-epidigitoxigenin, and digoxigenin. In addition, various cardiac glycosides were formed, including mono-glycosides with glucose, glucomethylose, fucose, and digitalose, as well as the corresponding diglycosides, all containing a terminal glucose. Digitoxosylated cardenolides were not formed, although the light-grown shoot cultures were capable of producing these compounds. Exogenous cardenolide fucosides were not converted into cardenolide digitoxosides. Administration of evatromonoside (digitoxigenin monodigitoxoside) did not force the formation of cardenolide di- or tridigitoxosides. Our results support the hypothesis that cardenolide fucosides and digitoxosides are formed via different biosynthetic routes and that cardenolide genins can be fucosylated but not digitoxosylated, indicating that digitoxosylation may only occur at an earlier stage in the cardenolide pathway.

A new cytoplasmic male sterile genotype in the sugar beet Beta vulgaris L.: a molecular analysis

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from fertile (N) and possibly new cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) genotypes was studied in the sugar beet Beta vulgaris L. It was found by restriction endonuclease analysis that BMC-CMS, a cytoplasm that was derived from the wild beet Beta maritima, contained a unique type of mtDNA which is distinguishable from both the N and S-CMS, the only other CMS genotype that is currently availabe in B. vulgaris L. The organization of three genes: coxI, coxII and cob, was analyzed by hybridization with heterologous probes from maize. These genes have a similar structure in N and BMC-CMS that is different from S-CMS. It is concluded that BMC-CMS is a novel CMS genotype in the sugar beet.