There are more than 100 recognized disorders of the eye. This makes the development of advanced ocular formulations an important topic in pharmaceutical science. One of the ways to improve drug ...delivery to the eye is the use of penetration enhancers. These are defined as compounds capable of enhancing drug permeability across ocular membranes. This review paper provides an overview of anatomical and physiological features of the eye and discusses some common ophthalmological conditions and permeability of ocular membranes. The review also presents the analysis of literature on the use of penetration-enhancing compounds (cyclodextrins, chelating agents, crown ethers, bile acids and bile salts, cell-penetrating peptides, and other amphiphilic compounds) in ocular drug delivery, describing their properties and modes of action.
Using three-dimensional (3D) spectroscopy with a scanning Fabry–Perot interferometer, we study the kinematics of ionized gas in 59 nearby dwarf galaxies. Combining our results with data from the ...literature, we provide a global relation between the gas velocity dispersion σ and the star formation rate (SFR) and Hα luminosity for galaxies with a very broad range of star formation rates: SFR = 0.001–300 M⊙ yr−1. We find that the SFR–σ relation for the combined sample of dwarf galaxies, star-forming, local luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies can be fitted in the form σ ∝ SFR5.3 ± 0.2. This implies that the slope of the L–σ relation inferred from a sample of rotation-supported disc galaxies (including mergers) is similar to the L–σ relation of individual giant H ii regions. We present arguments that the velocity dispersion of the ionized gas does not reflect virial motions in the gravitational potential of dwarf galaxies and instead is determined mainly by the energy injected into the interstellar medium by ongoing star formation.
ABSTRACT
The ionization state and oxygen abundance distribution in a sample of polar-ring galaxies (PRGs) were studied from the long-slit spectroscopic observations carried out with the SCORPIO-2 ...focal reducer at the Russian 6-m telescope. The sample consists of 15 PRGs classified as ‘the best candidates’ in the SDSS-based Polar Ring Catalogue. The distributions of line-of-sight velocities of stellar and gaseous components have given kinematic confirmation of polar structures in 13 galaxies in the sample. We show that ionization by young stars dominates in the external parts of polar discs, while shocks have a significant contribution to gas excitation in the inner parts of polar structures. This picture was predicted earlier in a toy model implying the collision between gaseous clouds on polar orbits with the stellar disc gravitational potential well. The exception is a moderately inclined ring to the host galaxy NGC 5014: the accreted gas in the centre has already settled on the main plane and ionized by young stars, while the gas in the internal part of the ring is excited by shocks. The present study three times increases the number of polar structures with available oxygen abundance estimation. The measured values of the gas metallicity almost do not depend on the galaxy luminosity. The radial O/H gradient in the considered polar rings is shallow or absent. No metal-poor gas was detected. We ruled out the scenario of the formation of polar rings due to cold accretion from cosmic filaments for the considered sample of PRGs.
Abstract
The article deals with the organization of heat exchange processes when using a new heating system for the cargo room of the isothermal car. Using the example of considering a stack formed ...from glass containers with fruit juices packed in cardboard boxes, the equivalent thermophysical characteristics of the cargo in the stack are formulated. Analytical methods are used to determine the main regularities of the regular thermal regime and the nature of thermo-gravitational flows in the cargo room of the car. The possibilities of improving the design of the heating system of the cargo room of isothermal rolling stock for the transportation of perishable cargo are considered. The possibilities of modernization of specialized equipment allowing optimization of the temperature regime in the cargo room of the car are presented. The article deals with the organization of heat exchange processes when using a new heating system for the cargo room of the isothermal car. Using the example of considering a stack formed from glass containers with fruit juices packed in cardboard boxes, the equivalent thermophysical characteristics of the cargo in the stack are formulated. Analytical methods are used to determine the main regularities of the regular thermal regime and the nature of thermo-gravitational flows in the cargo room of the car. The possibilities of improving the design of the heating system of the cargo room of isothermal rolling stock for the transportation of perishable cargo are considered. The possibilities of modernization of specialized equipment allowing optimization of the temperature regime in the cargo room of the car are presented.
As drug delivery to the eye has evolved over the last decades, researchers have explored more effective treatments for ocular diseases. Despite this, delivering drugs to the cornea remains one of the ...most problematic issues in ophthalmology due to the poor permeability of the cornea and tear clearance mechanisms. In this study, four different types of polyaphron formulations are prepared with 10% poloxamer 188 (P188), 10% poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), 1% polyquaternium 10, and 3% sodium carboxymethylcellulose solutions mixed with 1% Brij® L4 in a caprylic/capric triglycerides solution. Their physicochemical characteristics, rheological properties, and stability are assessed. Additionally, a polyaphron with 3% polyquaternium 10 was prepared for the assessment of ex vivo corneal retention along with four other polyaphrons. The best retention on the ex vivo cornea was displayed by the 3% polyquaternium 10-based formulation. The 10% poloxamer 188 along with 1% polyquaternium 10-based polyaphrons appeared to be the most stable among the four prepared formulations. A toxicological evaluation of these formulations was performed using a slug mucosal irritation test and bovine corneal opacity and permeability assay, with all four polyaphrons proving good biocompatibility with ocular tissues. The developed drug delivery systems demonstrated an excellent potential for ocular drug delivery.
Abstract
We study the galactic wind in the edge-on spiral galaxy UGC 10043 with the combination of the CALIFA integral field spectroscopy data, scanning Fabry–Perot interferometry (FPI) and multiband ...photometry. We detect ionized gas in the extraplanar regions reaching a relatively high distance, up to ∼4 kpc above the galactic disc. The ionized gas line ratios (N ii/Hα, S ii/Hα and O i/Hα) present an enhancement along the semiminor axis, in contrast with the values found at the disc, where they are compatible with ionization due to H ii-regions. These differences, together with the biconic symmetry of the extra-planar ionized structure, make UGC 10043 a clear candidate for a galaxy with gas outflows ionizated by shocks. From the comparison of shock models with the observed line ratios, and the kinematics observed from the FPI data, we constrain the physical properties of the observed outflow. The data are compatible with a velocity increase of the gas along the extraplanar distances up to <400 km s−1 and the pre-shock density decreasing in the same direction. We also observe a discrepancy in the SFR estimated based on Hα (0.36 M⊙ yr−1) and that estimated with the cigale code, the latter being five times larger. Nevertheless, this SFR is still not enough to drive the observed galactic wind if we do not take into account the filling factor. We stress that the combination of the three techniques of observation with the models is a powerful tool to explore galactic winds in the Local Universe.
Rheumatoid factor became the first laboratory marker of rheumatoid arthritis and one of the first serological markers used to recognize the major autoimmune diseases. Details of the discovery with ...special regard to contribution of E. Waaler and H. Rose are presented in this historical review. Same assays used to exam the rheumatoid factor, its frequency and modern view on diagnostic significance in different diseases are described in this article.
Since 1950's corticosteroids (CS) have remained the cornerstone of immunosuppressive therapy for immune-mediated kidney diseases. However multiple adverse events, associated with the prolonged CS ...therapy, became the basis for the development of novel treatment approaches. Current evidence supports the implementation of the steroid-sparing regimens for the treatment of different types of glomerulonephritis. Randomised controlled trial PEXIVAS demonstrated the efficacy and safety of early steroid tapering, starting from the second week of therapy, in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis with kidney involvement. Several trials showed the efficacy of oral prednisolone 0.3-0.5 mg/kg/daily as a part of multitarget therapy for severe proliferative lupus nephritis. A combination of calcineurin inhibitors and low-dose CS are effective for remission induction in membranous nephropathy, as well as the steroid-free rituximab regimen for the patients with moderate risk of disease progression. Medium dose CS showed promising effect in patients with IgA-nephropathy. Long-term high dose CS remain the standard-of-care for the treatment of minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, however patients with steroid-dependent and relapsing disease tacrolimus and rituximab can help to achieve steroid-sparing effect. The role of CS pulse-therapy is currently debated, nevertheless it remains a compulsory treatment in several conditions. Thus, overall trend is directed towards the minimization of the maximal doses of CS and/or treatment duration. However, to implement this approach morphological verification of the diagnosis and personalized assessment of the potential risk and benefit are required.
Immune-mediated kidney diseases like glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis are not the most common cause of chronic kidney disease in the population, however the difficulties in their ...management, as well as a more rapid deterioration of kidney function, compared to diabetes mellitus and hypertension, justify the importance of this problem for internal medicine. Due to the fundamental discoveries in pathology and to the introduction of various methods of laboratory and instrumental investigation in the second half of the XX century substantial progress was made in the diagnostic approaches and treatment of these conditions. State-of-the-art diagnostic approach requires complex evaluation of the clinical, laboratory and morphological data to identify the nosological form of the disease. The accumulation of knowledge in the field of diseases' pathogenesis led to the revision of the current classification of glomerulonephritis that should be based on the immunopathogenesis of these conditions. The following phenotypes were suggested: autoimmunity-related, autoinflammation-related, alloimmunity-related, infections-related, and monoclonal gammopathy-related. The assessment of disease activity and chronicity in the kidney tissue should be mandatory. Personalized selection of the optimal treatment modality on the basis of the diagnosis, severity, and individual features of the patient is currently possible. The leading trends include rational prescription of glucocorticoids (steroid-sparing regimens) and cytotoxic agents, e.g. cyclophosphamide, as well as the introduction of multitarget regimens that include biologic agents or small molecules selectively suppressing B-cells or various complement pathways. Another mandatory component of treatment on par with immune suppression is nephroprotective therapy, which currently comprises not only traditional renin-angiotensin-aldosterone antagonists, but also endothelin receptor antagonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Current guidelines emphasize the importance of the non-pharmacological interventions for the implementation of the nephroprotective strategy. Rational combination of the aforementioned approaches allows for the optimization of the management of patients with immune-mediated kidney diseases, although it requires high competencies and strict adherence to the principles of the evidence-based medicine from the healthcare providers.
The authors developed four variants of the qNMR technique (1H or 13C nucleus, DMSO-d6 or CDCl3 solvent) for identification and quantification by NMR of 22R and 22S epimers in budesonide active ...pharmaceutical ingredient and budesonide drugs (sprays, capsules, tablets). The choice of the qNMR technique version depends on the drug excipients. The correlation of 1H and 13C spectra signals to molecules of different budesonide epimers was carried out on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of experimental spectral NMR data (1H-1H gCOSY, 1H-13C gHSQC, 1H-13C gHMBC, 1H-1H ROESY). This technique makes it possible to identify budesonide epimers and determine their weight ratio directly, without constructing a calibration curve and using any standards. The results of measuring the 22S epimer content by qNMR are comparable with the results of measurements using the reference HPLC method.
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