• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2016

Porcine beta-defensin-1 (PBD-1) gene plays an important role in the innate immunity of pigs. The peptide encoded by this gene is an antimicrobial peptide that has direct activity against a wide range of microbes. This peptide is involved in the co-creation of an antimicrobial barrier in the oral cavity of pigs. The objective of the present study was to detect polymorphisms, if any, in exon-1 and exon-2 regions of PBD-1 gene in Large White Yorkshire (LWY) and native Ankamali pigs of Kerala, India. Blood samples were collected from 100 pigs and genomic DNA was isolated using phenol chloroform method. The quantity of DNA was assessed in a spectrophotometer and quality by gel electrophoresis. Exon-1 and exon-2 regions of PBD-1 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the products were subjected to single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Subsequent silver staining of the polyacrylamide gels revealed three unique SSCP banding patterns in each of the two exons. The presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the PCR products. A novel SNP was found in the 5'-UTR region of exon-1 and a SNP was detected in the mature peptide coding region of exon-2. In exon-1, the pooled population frequencies of GG, GT, and TT genotypes were 0.67, 0.30, and 0.03, respectively. GG genotype was predominant in both the breeds whereas TT genotype was not detected in LWY breed. Similarly, in exon-2, the pooled population frequencies of AA, AG, and GG genotypes were 0.50, 0.27, and 0.23, respectively. AA genotype was predominant in LWY pigs whereas GG genotype was predominant in native pigs. These results suggest that there exists a considerable genetic variation at PBD-1 locus and further association studies may help in development of a PCR based genotyping test to select pigs with better immunity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2007

Mucus is an aqueous gel complex with a constitution of about 95% water, high molecular weight glycoprotein (mucin), lipid, salts etc. Mucus appears to represent a significant barrier to the absorption of some compounds. Natural mucoadhesive agent was isolated and purified from the aqueous extract of the seeds of prosopis pallida (PP). Formulated tablet with the isolated material by wet granulation method. Some natural edible substances are in consideration for candidates as mucoadhesive agents to claim more effective controlled drug delivery as an alternative to the currently used synthetic mucoadhesive polymers. Subjected the materials obtained from natural source i.e. PP and standard synthetic substance, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose for evaluation of mucoadhesive property by various in vitro and in vivo methods. Through standard dissolution test and a model developed with rabbit, evaluated in vitro controlled release and bioadhesive property of theophylline formulation. Mucoadhesive agent obtained from PP showed good mucoadhesive potential in the demonstrated in vitro and in viνo models. The results suggest that the mucoadhesive agent showed controlled release properties by their application, substantially. In order to assess the gastrointestinal transit time in vivo, a radio opaque X-ray study performed in healthy rabbit testing the same controlled release formulation with and without bioadhesive polymer. Plasma levels of theophylline determined by the HPLC method and those allowed correlations to the in vitro mucoadhesive study results. Better correlation found between the results in different models. PP may acts as a better natural mucoadhesive agent in the extended drug delivery system.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.413-421
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• 2004

Sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (SPPESK) membranes and sol-gel derived SPPESK/silica hybrid membranes have been investigated as potential polymer electrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. In comparison with the SPPESK membrane, the SPPESK/silica membranes exhibited higher water content, improved proton conductivity, and lower methanol permeability. Notably, the silica embedded in the membrane acted as a material for reducing the fraction of free water and as a barrier for methanol transport through the membrane. From the results of proton conductivity and methanol permeability studies, we suggest that the fractions of bound and free water should be optimized to obtain desirable proton conductivities and methanol permeabilities. The highly sulfonated PPESK hybrid membrane (HSP-Si) displayed higher proton conductivity (3.42 ${\times}$ 10$^2$ S/cm) and lower methanol permeability (4.15 ${\times}$ 10$\^$7/ $\textrm{cm}^2$/s) than those of Nafion 117 (2.54 ${\times}$ 10$^2$ S/cm; 2.36 ${\times}$ 10$\^$6/ $\textrm{cm}^2$/s, respectively) at 30$^{\circ}C$. This characteristic of the SPPESK/silica membranes is desirable for future applications related to DMFCs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.241-249
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• 1999

Diaper dermatitis, or commonly called 'diaper rash', is among the most prevalent cutaneous disorders of infancy and early childhood and important issue in nursing. The term itself is not diagnostic since it encompasses a variety of acute inflammatory reactions which are best regarded as a family of disorders arising from a combination of factors specifically attributable to the use of diapers Intensive study of the rash Process has shown that skin wetness and fecal enzyme activity are damaging to skin and lead to the development of diaper rash. This suggests that it is important to keep urine away from babies' skin, so that the skin remains as dry as Possible and maintains its barrier function abilities. Controlling the urine will also minimize the mixing of urine and feces within the diaper. which helps prevent the increased activity of enzymes that attack the skin and cause irritation. Therefore, a diaper that keeps the skin drier and limits the mixing of urine and feces will help Prevent the conditions that lead to diaper rash. Since their introduction about 35 years ago, disposable baby diapers have undergone many design and performance changes. In Particular. the Performance of diapers was advanced by the introduction of absorbent gel materials (AGMs) to Provide advantages in skin care. dryness, and leakage Protection Especially, important was the introduction of AGM which increased the absorbent capacity of the diaper several fold and Yielded marked reductions in the degree of skin hydration occurring under the diaper Studies show not only drier skin but more stable skin pH and less dermatitis with AGM diapers than with home-laundered cloth diapers or single-use diapers without AGM Minimizing diaper area skin wetness is important for managing and Preventing diaper rash. To minimize wetness, parents should use super absorbent diapers.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenics Conference
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• 2002.02a
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• pp.340-340
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• 2002

In an effort to develop alternative single buffer layer technology for YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-{\delta}}$ (YBCO) coated conductors, we have investigated both LaMnO$_3$, (LMO) and La$_2$Zr$_2$O$_{7}$ (LZO) as potential buffer layers. High-quality LMO films were grown directly on textured Ni and Ni-W (3%) substrates using rf magnetron sputtering. Highly textured LZO buffers were grown on textured Ni substrates using sol-gel alkoxide processing route. YBCO films were then grown on both LMO and LZO buffers using pulsed laser deposition. Detailed X-ray studies have shown that YBCO films were grown on both LMO and LZO layers with a single epitaxial orientation. A high J$_{c}$ of over 1 MA/cm$^2$ at 77 K and self-field was obtained on YBCO films grown on both LMO-buffered Ni or Ni-W substrates, and also on LZO-buffered Ni substrates. We have identified LaMnO$_3$ as a good diffusion barrier layer for Ni and it also provides a good template for growing high current density YBCO films. Similarly we have also demonstrated the growth of high J$_{c}$ YBCO films on all solution buffers. We will discuss in detail about our buffer deposition processes. processes.s.s.s.s.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.417-422
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• 2005

This study was aimed to design and formulate the moisture-activated patches containing ofloxacin and lidocaine for antibacterial and local anesthetic action. The solubility of lidocaine at $32^{\circ}C$ in various vehicles decreased in the rank order of PG $759.5{\pm}44.5\;mg/mL$ > PGL > IPM > PEG 300 > PEG 400 > Ethanol > PGMC > DGME > PGML > OA > $Captex^{\circledR}\;300$ > $Captex^{\circledR}\;200$ > water $(4.0{\pm}0.1\;mg/mL)$. Ofloxacin revealed very low solubility, which the highest solubility was obtained from PEG 400 $(18.7{\pm}6.3\;mg/mL)$ among the vehicles used. The addition of lactic acid increased the solubility of ofloxacin dramatically; the solubility at 5% lactic acid was $133.7{\pm}9.7\;mg/mL$. As $2-hydroxypropyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ was added at the concentrations of 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 mM, the solubilities of lidocaine and ofloxacin were enhanced up to three and two times, respectively, with concentration-dependent pattern. Gel intermediates for filmtype patches were prepared with mucoadhesive polymer, viscosity builders, lidocaine or ofloxacin at pH values from 5 to 7. Gels were cast onto a release liner and dried at room temperature. Dried patch was attached onto an adhesive backing layer, thus forming a patch system. Patches containing a single drug component were characterized by in vitro measurement of drug release rates through a cellulose barrier membrane. The release study was carried out at $37^{\circ}C$ using a Franz-type cell. Receptor solutions were isotonic phosphate buffers (pH 7.4). Samples $(100\;{\mu}L)$ were taken over 24 hours and quantitated by a verified HPLC method. The releases from all tested were proportional to the square root of time. The release rates were 0.9, 157.3 and $281.7\;{\mu}g/cm^{2}/min^{1/2}$ for the lidocaine patches and 19.8,37.2 and $50.7\;{\mu}g/cm^{2}/min^{1/2}$ for the ofloxacin patches at the concentrations of 0.3, 0.5 and 1 %, respectively. The release rates were dose dependent in both drug patches $(R^{2}\;=\;0.9077\;for\;lidocaine;\;R^{2}\;=\;0.9949\;for\;ofloxacin)$ and those were also thickness-dependent $(R^{2}\;=\;0.9246\;for\;lidocaine;\;R^{2}\;=\;0.9512\;for\;ofloxacin)$.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.328-331
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• 1995

$^{99m}Tc$ labeled PnAO(propylene amine oxime) derivatives have been widely studied as brain perfusion agents. We synthesized and characterized a PnAO derivative, (RR/SS/ meso)-4,8-diaza-3,9-dimethylundecane-2, 10-dione bisoxime(PRODD). Proton-NMR spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography(silica gel) were performed for its characterization. PRODD was labeled with $^{99m}Tc$ using stannous chloride as reducing agent. The labeling efficiency was determined to be about 85%. Brain uptakes of $4.16{\pm}0.42$ %ID/g and $3.24{\pm}0.13$ %ID/g were found after 10min and 30min after intravenous injection. Brain-to-blood ratios were 1.17 and 0.75 at 10 and 30 minutes, which were lower than 1.3 and 1.9 of the ratios with commercial ${\pm}$-HMPAO. Autoradiographs of rat brain sections showed the gray matter to white matter ratios of $1.13{\pm}0.10$ at 30 min after intravenous injection, which was lower than $1.94{\pm}0.19$ of commercial $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO. With the above findings, we concluded that the lipophilic $^{99m}Tc$-PRODD complex was able to cross the blood-brain barrier, however the complex showed lower uptake than $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO in mouse or rat brains. We could suggest possibility that PRODD could be used as another $^{99m}Tc$ chelator.