Alginate Microsphere Encapsulation of Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles: A Novel Strategy for Intraperitoneal Drug Delivery

Alginate hydrogels have been broadly investigated for use in medical applications due to their biocompatibility and the possibility to encapsulate cells, proteins, and drugs. In the treatment of peritoneal metastasis, rapid drug clearance from the peritoneal cavity is a major challenge. Aiming to delay drug absorption and reduce toxic side effects, cabazitaxel (CAB)-loaded poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) nanoparticles were encapsulated in alginate microspheres. The PACAlg alginate microspheres were synthesized by electrostatic droplet generation and the physicochemical properties, stability, drug release kinetics, and mesothelial cytotoxicity were analyzed before biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy were studied in mice. The 450 µm microspheres were stable at in vivo conditions for at least 21 days after intraperitoneal implantation in mice, and distributed evenly throughout the peritoneal cavity without aggregation or adhesion. The nanoparticles were stably retained in the alginate microspheres, and nanoparticle toxicity to mesothelial cells was reduced, while the therapeutic efficacy of free CAB was maintained or improved in vivo. Altogether, this work presents the alginate encapsulation of drug-loaded nanoparticles as a promising novel strategy for the treatment of peritoneal metastasis that can improve the therapeutic ratio between toxicity and therapeutic efficacy.     

Clinical effect of buprenorphine or butorphanol,in combination with detomidine and diazepam,on sedation and postoperative pain after cheek tooth extraction in horses

The objective of this study was to compare effects of butorphanol (BUT) or buprenorphine (BUP), in combination with detomidine and diazepam, on the sedation quality, surgical conditions, and postoperative pain control after cheek tooth extraction in horses, randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups (BUT: n = 20; BUP: n = 20). A bolus of detomidine (15 μg/kg, IV) was followed by either BUP (7.5 μg/kg, IV) or BUT (0.05 mg/kg, IV). After 20 min, diazepam (0.01 mg/kg, IV) was administered and sedation was maintained with a detomidine IV infusion (20 μg/kg/h), with rate adjusted based on scores to 5 variables. All horses received a nerve block (maxillary or mandibular), and gingival infiltration with mepivacaine. Sedation quality was assessed by the surgeon from 1 (excellent) to 10 (surgery not feasible). A pain scoring system (EQUUS-FAP) was used to assess postoperative pain. Serum cortisol concentrations and locomotor activity (pedometers) were measured.Horses in BUP and BUT required a median detomidine infusion rate of 30.2 μg/kg/h (20 to 74.4 μg/kg/h) and 32.2 μg/kg/h (20 to 48.1 μg/kg/h), respectively (P = 0.22). Horses in the BUP group had better sedation quality (P < 0.05) during surgery and higher step counts (P < 0.001) postoperatively. Buprenorphine combined with detomidine provided a more reliable sedation than butorphanol. However, the EQUUS-FAP pain scale became unreliable because of BUP-induced excitement behavior.     

Surrogate Correlations and Near-Infrared Diffuse Reflectance Sensing of Trace Metal Content in Soils

Near-infrared diffuse reflectance sensing (NIRS) of soils has been the object of considerable interest and research in the last few years. This has been motivated by the prospect that this method seems to provide a cheap, convenient alternative to conventional, time-consuming methods for the measurement of a wide range of soil parameters. In particular, various authors have advocated that NIRS could be used to measure rapidly and non-destructively the concentration of trace metals in surface soils. Correlation analyses between NIRS spectra and trace metal concentration have yielded inconclusive results to date, suggesting that trace metal concentration may belong to a class of “tertiary” soil parameters, linked to NIRS spectra through “surrogate”, or indirect, correlations, involving some other primary or secondary parameter like clay or organic matter content, to which NIRS spectra are very sensitive. To assess the validity of this surrogate correlation hypothesis in the case of trace metals, experiments were carried out with soil samples varying only in the amount of trace metals they contain. Field-aged Hudson and Arkport soil pots spiked with Cu and Zn, freshly spiked samples of the same soils, and samples of a metalliferous peat soil from Western New York naturally rich in Cd and Zn were subjected to NIRS under laboratory conditions. Detailed analysis indicates that the NIR spectrum is sensitive to sample handling, including the orientation of the samples in the NIRS instrument, but that, at the same time, there is no discernable effect of the presence of trace metals on any part of the NIR spectrum. These results provide strong experimental support to the hypothesis of “surrogate” correlation for trace metals, and indicate that trace metals, even in severely contaminated soils, should not interfere with the NIR sensing of primary or secondary parameters, like organic matter content. Further work is needed to determine if this feature of NIR spectra extends to other soil chemical parameters.     

Effects of GH gene polymorphism and sex on carcass traits and fatty acid compositions in Japanese Black cattle

To investigate the effects of bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene polymorphism on carcass traits and fatty acid compositions in Japanese Black cattle caused by nucleotide substitution of CTG (allele A)/GTG (allele B) at codon 127 and of ACG (allele A and B)/ATG (allele C) at codon 172 of bGH, GH genotypes of 135 cattle were determined using allele specific-multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Allele A gave greater rib thickness and lower melting point of fat (MP) while allele B gave higher C18:1% ( P  < 0.05). Allele C gave higher C18:1, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), unsaturated fatty acid (USFA) percentages ( P  < 0.05). It also gave lower saturated fatty acid (SFA) percentages, higher MUFA/SFA and USFA/SFA ratios, and lower MP ( P  < 0.05). Interactions of sex and GH alleles were analyzed. In heifers, allele A gave higher carcass weight, daily carcass gain, rib eye area, rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, and BMS while allele B gave greater rib eye area and rib thickness ( P  < 0.05). Allele C gave higher C18:1 ( P  < 0.01), MUFA ( P  < 0.01), USFA percentages ( P  < 0.05) and MUFA/SFA and USFA/SFA ratios ( P  < 0.01), and lower C16:0 and SFA percentages ( P  < 0.05) and MP ( P  < 0.01). GH gene polymorphism affected carcass traits and fatty acid compositions although the effects were more pronounced in heifers.     

Modified Pollard transects for assessing tropical butterfly abundance and diversity

This paper introduces and discusses the consistency and effectiveness of an inexpensive modification of Pollard transects for assessing the diversity and abundance of tropical butterfly communities in two national parks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To measure butterfly abundance, students walked simultaneous timed transects at the interface of forest and cleared areas. They either counted the number of individuals observed or tabulated the number of specimens collected with nets. After a short training period, the number of butterflies observed or collected on simultaneous transects was statistically indistinguishable among student groups, and there was a significant positive correlation between observation counts and collected number of individuals. As a measure of species richness, the number of butterfly species sampled on each simultaneous transect was tabulated and did not differ statistically. To measure diversity, alpha of the logseries model was calculated for each collected sample, and statistical fit to a logseries model was determined. Although virtually all daily samples and the year's accumulated sample at one park fit the logseries model, about 35% of the daily samples and the entire year's sample did not fit at the other park. Despite these differences between the two parks, values for alpha from daily samples at both parks varied similarly (from 15 to 50 in almost all cases), and values from the entire year's samples were statistically indistinguishable. The repeatability of results among novices, such as students, suggests that timed transects have great promise for furthering our understanding of butterfly community demographics.     

Environmental persistence of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-dioxin in soil around hardstand 7 at eglin air force base,Florida

Background and Goal  A number of global events have generated intense scientific scrutiny and public concern of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxin). DIoxins have been associated with a range of adverse health effects. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is recognized as among the most dangerous of the dioxin compounds, and was a contaminant found In one of the herbicides used for vegetation control during the Vietnam conflict: Agent Orange. As a result of purging spray systems and leaking drums of Agent Orange concentrate, TCDD contamination occurred in the soils surrounding Hardstand 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. This research uses a multimedia model to estimate the TCDD concentrations in surface soil around Hardstand 7 for a 70-year time Interval beginning with observed surface soil concentrations 1984. Methods  Hardstand 7 is a nearly 40-m circular concrete and asphalt aircraft parking area. The hardstand was used as a staging area for spraying equipment used to disseminate herbicide In a test area called C-52A within EAFB. Concentrated herbicide was also stored in 208-L barrels for use with the equipment, and later, for disposal. In 1984, a field investigation characterized the extent of TCDD contamination in surface soils around Hardstand 7 using a radial sampling protocol. The 1984 observed concentrations and locations was used in a multimedia model, CalTOX, as an initial source term concentrations and locations to estimate expected concentrations during the subsequent 70-years. Results  The results indicate that more than 94% of the TCDD observed in surface soils 1984 will remain after a 70-year period. Access restrictions and remediation activities at the site eliminate bar verification of the CalTOX estimates. Conclusions. TCDD is highly persistent in the soil medium and natural attenuation may not produce a significant decrease In soil concentrations. Recommendation  Active remediation actions may be required to prevent exposure to TCDD contamination surface soils. Verifying CalTOX concentration estimates an Important step that should be performed, however, the, model provides an easy to use tool to estimate TCDD surface soil contamination at herbicide storage or dispersion staging sites.