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ABSTRACT Purpose Subureteral injection of bulking agents in the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux is widely accepted therapy with high success rates. Although the grade of vesicoureteric reflux and experience of surgeon is the mainstay of this success, the characteristics of augmenting substances may have an effect particularly in the long term. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) with two different bulking agents: Dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Dx/HA) and Polyacrylate polyalcohol copolymer (PPC). Materials and Methods A total 80 patients (49 girls and 31 boys) aged 1-12 years (mean age 5.3 years) underwent endoscopic subureteral injection for correction of VUR last six years. The patients were assigned to two groups: subureteral injections of Dx/HA (45 patients and 57 ureters) and PPC (35 patients and 45 ureters). VUR was grade II in 27 ureters, grade III in 35, grade IV in 22 and grade V in 18 ureters. Results VUR was resolved in 38 (66.6%) of 57 ureters and this equates to VUR correction in 33 (73.3%) of the 45 patients in Dx/HA group. In PPC group, overall success rate was 88.8% (of 40 in 45 ureters). Thus, Thus, this equates to VUR correction in 31 (88.5%) of the 35 patients. Conclusions Our short term data show that two different bulking agent injections provide a high level of reflux resolution and this study revealed that success rate of PPC was significantly higher than Dx/HA with less material.

Quantum chemical techniques reasonable in practical simulation of carbon-centered radical reactions were evaluated scaling up from addition and cyclization of small radicals to growing chains in homo- , cross- and cyclo- polymerization. The methods preselected via “cost – deviation from experiment” criteria were explored relative to growing molecular systems of radical cyclocopolymerization between divinyl ether and maleic anhydride: alternating cross-propagation with cyclization and side homopolymerization reactions. The following methods were found to be optimal for estimation of activation barriers and thermodynamics parameters: DFT M06-2X with 6-311+G(d) and 6-311+G (2df,p) basis sets or ONIOM M06-2X/6-311+G(d):B3LYP/6-31G(d) – for more complex systems. Spin-restricted open shell calculations by ROMP2/6-311+G (3df, 2p) have shown unfeasible increase in computational costs retaining similar accuracy. The optimal techniques facilitated new mechanistic insights into regulating the polymerization including kinetic-thermodynamic control factors for regulation of furan-/pyran-related isomerism within the chain that is essential for tailoring functionality of the derivatives. The approach builds methodology basis for research of similar macromolecular systems including alike polymeric platforms for preparations of broad biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Factors of phase separations in solutions of the polyelectrolytes were elucidated. [•] The separations were strictly controlled by pH, ionic strength, and chains length. [•] The transitions occurred rapidly, reversibly, and at enzyme-friendly conditions. [•] The transformations obeyed main regularities inherent in polyelectrolyte complexes. [•] The findings could be of practical use, specifically for antitumor drugs delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Copolymer of divinyl ether and maleic anhydride (DIVEMA) is known to possess some anti-tumor and immune-stimulating activity and use as a drug carrier in anti-tumor drug delivery systems. Samples of DIVEMA of different degrees of polymerization were synthesized and characterized. Interaction of the hydrolyzed water-soluble DIVEMA polyanions with poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium) cations (PEVP) has been studied. According to the potentiometry data, almost all carboxylic groups of the polyanions were able to form ion pairs with PEVP. In aqueous and water–salt solutions, formation of either soluble or insoluble polyelectrolyte complexes occurred depending on pH, ratio of the oppositely charged groups, and degree of polymerization of PEVP and/or DIVEMA. The phase separations followed general rules revealed by studying mixtures of PEVP and polycarboxylic acids. However in the case of DIVEMA, a significant broadening of the region for insoluble complexes at the expense of the region of soluble complexes was established. The data obtained demonstrate plausible advantages of the complex formation as the non-covalent modification of the polymeric carrier that endow DIVEMA with the ability for reversible soluble–insoluble transformation, in particular at physiological pH and ionic strength. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Macrophages are active secretory cells that display functionally distinct phenotypes that are regulated by inflammation. We have found that apoprotein E (ApoE), a component of plasma lipoproteins, was synthesized and secreted by resident and nonspecifically stimulated macrophages elicited with thioglycollate broth, but not by activated macrophages obtained from mice treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin, pyran copolymer, whole Corynebacterium parvum, or bacterial endotoxin. ApoE represented approximately 1% of the newly synthesized protein and approximately 10% of secreted protein of resident and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. ApoE from thioglycollate-elicited macrophages was indistinguishable from ApoE in mouse plasma lipoproteins, as determined by immunoreactivity, peptide mapping, and molecular weight. When specific antibodies were used to localize cell-associated ApoE, strong immunofluorescence was seen in the Golgi region of resident and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages immediately after removal from the peritoneal cavity, as well as after culture for up to 7 d. In contrast, activated macrophages did not synthesize or secrete ApoE to an appreciable extent and had no immunocytochemically detectable intracellular ApoE. When activated macrophages were cultured in medium containing serum, their activated state, as judged by production of H2O2, declined within 48-72 h in parallel with the induction of synthesis and secretion of ApoE and detection of intracellular ApoE by immunofluorescence. During prolonged culture the rate of synthesis and secretion of ApoE increased in both resident and activated macrophages. Therefore, the synthesis and secretion of ApoE may serve as markers for the functional state of macrophages.

We investigated the efficacy of a simple syngeneic tumor vaccine to induce specific antitumor immunity in female C57Bl/6 mice. Tumor vaccine was prepared by mixing irradiated B-16 melanoma tumor cells with the pleiotropic biological response modifier-maleic anhydride divinyl ether (MVE-2). Experimental animals were pretreated with the vaccine in order to prevent the development of intraperitoneal (i.p.) B-16 melanoma tumors after inoculation of viable tumor cells. More than 40% of prevaccinated animals challenged i.p. with 5 x 10(5) viable tumor cells were completely protected from tumor development and remained tumor-free 100 days after tumor cell inoculation. The percentage of tumor-free animals (survivors) rose to as much as 90% when the application of tumor vaccine was repeated two weeks after the first vaccination (i.e. one week after the inoculation of viable tumor cells). The induced antitumor response depended predominantly upon macrophage function, since vaccinated animals which were depleted of peritoneal macrophages died within the same time range as animals in the control group. Also, tumor-type specificity of the vaccine was confirmed by the fact that the animals vaccinated with B-16 melanoma vaccine were not protected from the development of another type of tumor. In conclusion, comparison of the experimental data with the data from the literature suggests that our simple tumor vaccine may be as effective as genetically engineered tumor vaccines. At the same time, this kind of vaccine is easier to control and thus safer to apply in humans when compared to genetically engineered vaccines.

The effects of anticalculus dentifrices were compared with other commercially available dentifrices in in vitro models of dentin sensitivity. Changes in the hydraulic conductance of dentin discs were measured with and without a smear layer before and after treatment and also after a post-treatment acid etch. The capacity of dentifrices to occlude open dentinal tubules in vitro was also assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There was good correlation (R = 0.98) between our test and values reported in the literature. Tartar control dentifrices gave reductions in fluid flow rates through the dentin discs comparable to those obtained with Promise, Sensodyne, Thermodent and Denquel. Additionally, tartar control dentifrices did not remove microcrystalline debris (smear layers) from the surfaces of dentin in vitro. These results were confirmed by SEM. Thus, according to the hydrodynamic theory of dentin sensitivity, these in vitro results suggest that pyrophosphate-containing dentifrices should reduce dentinal sensitivity.

Acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) and cholinesterase (acylcholine acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.8), respectively, were covalently attached to a cross-linked copolymerisate of maleinic anhydride and butanediol-divinylether. Based on the coupling procedure reported by Brümmer et al. (Brummer, W., Hennrich, N., Klockow, M., Lang, H. and Orth, H.D. (1972) Eur. J. Biochem. 2k, 129--135), a simple method is described which requires only 24 h for completion and provides a sufficient yield. Although a polyanionic carrier was used the Km and k2 values as well as the substrate and pH optima of the bound acetylcholinesterase and bound cholinesterase did not differ considerably from the corresponding values of the free enzymes. Bound acetylcholinesterase and to some extent also bound cholinesterase did not lose any enzymatic activity after storage in saline at 4 degrees C for 140 days.

This study describes the principle of a simple rapid method for encapsulating hydrochlorothiazide in butyl half-ester of polyvinyl methyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymer to produce a controlled release dosage form. Unplasticized microcapsules and microcapsules plasticized with Tween 80 and castor oil were prepared. Particle size distribution, flow properties and drug content of microcapsules suggested the suitability of the method for encapsulating a wide variety of materials. The in-vitro release rate was studied as a function of core: coat ratio, type and concentration of plasticizer. Various release mechanisms were considered but no single mechanism can explain all the data completely.

Complexes formed by the interaction of histone H1 and the immunomodulator Pyran co-polymer, were evaluated using nephelometric titration. At a constant concentration of histone (10 microgram/ml), maximum turbidity was obtained at a Pyran concentration of 2 microgram/ml. Titration of H1 by Pyran was found to be sensitive to ionic strength. Concentration of Na+ greater than 200 mM or Mg+2 greater than 3 mM apparently blocked Pyran . H1 complex formation.

The release of 3-methylpyrazole from monolithic polymer films into aqueous media has been studied. The diffusion of the active agent decreased with increasing of the content of acetate groups in reacetylated poly(vinyl alcohols) and with increasing of the ester lengths in copolymers of maleic esters, respectively. The release rate of active ingredient is dependent on the hydrophilicity of the polymer films. Contrary to the glass transition temperature the hydrophilicity of polymers expressed the interaction between polymer chains and water in a direct way. The hydrophilicity of copolymers of maleic esters correlated with the turbidimetric point, which can be determined by acidimetric titrations. The influences of interactions between polymers and the active agents on their diffusion in the polymers were also discussed.