Search

We observed the thermal behavior of four cosmetic reagents with different chemical structures using accelerated aging tests under severe conditions. When citronellyl nitrile and lemonile were exposed to thermal stress, the C N decomposed to form C N, whereas the decomposition of the C O in citral resulted in the formation of CH2 OH. Dihydromyrcenol has the least change in thermal stress. Despite the similarities in the chemical structure of citronellyl nitrile and lemonile, both compounds exhibited different decomposition rates, limiting their possible use as indicators in long term stability tests. The carbonyl (C O) in citral was significantly influenced by thermal stress and exhibited the most notable changes in the sensory scent tests and the spectroscopic analyses. Additionally, it was confirmed that the carbonyl (C O) functionality in a body mist carrier solution was susceptible to decomposition when the formulation of the body mist contained citral (14.5%) and other cosmetic materials such as ethanol and propylene glycol. This study presents the first attempt at establishing the correlation between the structural changes in the component chemicals of cosmetics and the observed fragrance related changes. These findings provide evidence for the feasibility of using carbonyl functional groups as indicators of long term stability in cosmetic products and may lead to the development of new sensory test protocols.

We report on the formation of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film using phytic acid (C6H18O24P6), a naturally obtainable and non-toxic organic acid electrolyte. When the temperature of the phytic acid electrolytes changes from 0 °C to 20 °C, the pore size increases, and the AAO film becomes less dense because the growth rate of the AAO film increases. In particular, when the temperature of the phytic acid electrolyte is above 15 °C, the AAO film changes dramatically. According to XRD analysis, the alpha-alumina intensity was relatively higher in the AAO film grown at low-temperatures (0, 5, 10 °C) than high-temperatures (15, 20 °C). It was possible to obtain a result that the properties were better. The microstructural change of the AAO film according to the temperature of the phytic acid electrolytes affected the breakdown voltage and the number of contamination particles that are generated, which are important properties for plasma corrosion protection coating materials. The AAO film grown in the low-temperature has the most suitable properties for use as a plasma corrosion protection coating material. Notably, the breakdown voltage of the AAO film is 0.45 kV at 14.9 μm thickness, with no observable crack on its surface after the plasma corrosion test. These findings provide significant evidence to support the application of phytic acid as an electrolyte to grow AAOfilms, and the AAOfilm grown in a phytic acid bath can be applied as a plasma corrosion protection coating material.

A Y2O3 coating was prepared using the atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) technique. On exposing the coating to CF4/O2/Ar plasma, a fluorine contamination layer (YOxFy) was formed, which was the main cause of process drift and contamination particle generation on the APS–Y2O3 coating surface. To remove the YOxFy layer on the coating surface, a piranha solution, which is a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, was employed for cleaning. The piranha solution was found to be an excellent medium for removing the YOxFy layer. The amount of contamination particle generated could be reduced by approximately 37% after cleaning with a 3:1 piranha solution compared with before cleaning.

We investigated the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory efficacy of hederagenin coating on maghemite (γ-Fe

Zoonotic avian influenza viruses pose severe health threats to humans. Of several viral subtypes reported, the low pathogenic avian influenza H7N9 virus has since February 2013 caused more than 1,500 cases of human infection with an almost 40% case-fatality rate. Vaccination of poultry appears to reduce human infections. However, the emergence of highly pathogenic strains has increased concerns about H7N9 pandemics. To develop an efficacious H7N9 human vaccine, we designed vaccine viruses by changing the patterns of N-linked glycosylation (NLG) on the viral hemagglutinin (HA) protein based on evolutionary patterns of H7 HA NLG changes. Notably, a virus in which 2 NLG modifications were added to HA showed higher growth rates in cell culture and elicited more cross-reactive antibodies than did other vaccine viruses with no change in the viral antigenicity. Developed into an inactivated vaccine formulation, the vaccine virus with 2 HA NLG additions exhibited much better protective efficacy against lethal viral challenge in mice than did a vaccine candidate with wild-type (WT) HA by reducing viral replication in the lungs. In a ferret model, the 2 NLG-added vaccine viruses also induced hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies and significantly suppressed viral replication in the upper and lower respiratory tracts compared with the WT HA vaccines. In a mode of action study, the HA NLG modification appeared to increase HA protein contents incorporated into viral particles, which would be successfully translated to improve vaccine efficacy. These results suggest the strong potential of HA NLG modifications in designing avian influenza vaccines., This study shows that changing the pattern of N-glycosylation of the pathogenic avian influenza H7N9 virus hemagglutinin protein increases the amount of hemagglutinin incorporated into the viral membrane; the candidate vaccine virus induces neutralizing antibodies and protects animal models from lethal viral challenge.

The parts of equipment in a process chamber for semiconductors are protected with an anodic aluminum-oxide (AAO) film to prevent plasma corrosion. We added cerium(Ⅳ) ions to sulfuric acid in the anodizing of an AAO film to improve the plasma corrosion resistance, and confirmed that the AAO film thickness increased by up to ~20% when using 3 mM cerium(Ⅳ) ions compared with general anodizing. The &alpha, Al2O3 phase increased with increasing cerium(Ⅳ) ion concentration. The breakdown voltage and etching rate improved to ~35% and 40%, respectively. The film&rsquo, s performance regarding the generation of contamination particles reduced by ~50%.

Purpose Ilaprazole, the latest proton pump inhibitor, can be used with clarithromycin and amoxicillin as a triple therapy regimen for eradicating Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacokinetic drug interactions and safety profiles after coadministration of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and ilaprazole. Methods A randomised, open-label, one-way crossover, two parallel sequences study was conducted in 32 healthy subjects. In part 1, the subjects received a single dose of ilaprazole 10 mg in period 1 and clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily for 6 days in period 2. In part 2, the subjects received clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg once in period 1 and ilaprazole 10 mg twice daily for 6 days in period 2. In both sequences, the three drugs were coadministrated once on day 5 in period 2. Pharmacokinetic evaluations of ilaprazole (part 1), and clarithromycin and amoxicillin (part 2) were conducted. Results Twenty-eight subjects completed the study. For ilaprazole, the peak concentration (Cmax) slightly decreased from 479 (ilaprazole alone) to 446 ng/mL (triple therapy) [Geometric least square mean ratio (90% confidence interval), 0.93 (0.70–1.22)]. The area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to the last measurable concentration (AUClast) slightly increased from 3301 to 3538 μg·h/mL [1.07 (0.85–1.35)]. For clarithromycin, the Cmax slightly decreased from 1.87 to 1.72 μg/mL [0.90 (0.70–1.15)], and AUClast slightly increased from 14.6 to 16.5 μg·h/mL [1.09 (0.87–1.37)]. For amoxicillin, the Cmax slightly decreased from 9.37 to 8.14 μg/mL [0.86 (0.74–1.01)], and AUClast slightly decreased from 27.9 to 26.7 μg·h/mL [0.98 (0.83–1.16)]. These changes in the PK parameters of each drug were not statistically significant. Conclusions The coadministration of ilaprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin was tolerable and did not cause a significant PK drug interaction. Thus, a triple therapy regimen comprising ilaprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin may be an option for the eradication of H. pylori. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02998437. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00228-018-2489-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Radotinib is a second‐generation BCR‐ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CP‐CML). Here, using the data from a Phase 3 study conducted in patients with newly diagnosed CP‐CML, the dose–efficacy as well as dose–safety relationship analyses were performed to determine a safe and effective initial dosage regimen of radotinib. A significant positive association was detected between the starting dose of radotinib adjusted for body weight (Dose/BW) and the probability of dose‐limiting toxicity (≥grade 3 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity) (P = 0.003). In contrast, a significant inverse association was discovered between Dose/BW and the probability of major molecular response (BCR‐ABL1/ABL1 ≤ 0.1%) when controlled for sex (P = 0.033). Moreover, frequent dose interruptions and reductions secondary to radotinib toxicities occurred in the Phase 3 study, resulting in nearly half (44%) of patients receiving a reduced dose at a 12‐month follow‐up. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate the need for initial radotinib dose attenuation to improve the long‐term efficacy and safety of radotinib. Hence, the authors suggest a new upfront radotinib dose of 400 mg once daily be tested in patients with newly diagnosed CP‐CML.

Combating influenza is one of the perennial global public health issues to be managed. Antiviral drugs are useful for the treatment of influenza in the absence of an appropriate vaccine. However, the appearance of resistant strains necessitates a constant search for new drugs. In this study, we investigated novel anti-influenza drug candidates using in vitro and in vivo assays. We identified anti-influenza hit compounds using a high-throughput screening method with a green fluorescent protein-tagged recombinant influenza virus. Through subsequent analyses of their cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetic properties, one candidate (IY7640) was selected for further evaluation. In a replication kinetics analysis, IY7640 showed greater inhibitory effects during the early phase of viral infection than the viral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir. In addition, we observed that hemagglutinin (HA)-mediated membrane fusion was inhibited by IY7640 treatment, indicating that the HA stalk region, which is highly conserved across various (sub)types of influenza viruses, may be the molecular target of IY7640. In an escape mutant analysis in cells, amino acid mutations were identified at the HA stalk region of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus. Even though the in vivo efficacy of IY7640 did not reach complete protection in a lethal challenge study in mice, these results suggest that IY7640 has potential to be developed as a new type of anti-influenza drug. IMPORTANCE Anti-influenza drugs with broad-spectrum efficacy against antigenically diverse influenza viruses can be highly useful when no vaccines are available. To develop new anti-influenza drugs, we screened a number of small molecules and identified a strong candidate, IY7640. When added at the time of or after influenza virus infection, IY7640 was observed to successfully inhibit or reduce viral replication in cells. We subsequently discovered that IY7640 targets the stalk region of the influenza HA protein, which exhibits a relatively high degree of amino acid sequence conservation across various (sub)types of influenza viruses. Furthermore, IY7640 was observed to block HA-mediated membrane fusion of H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B viruses in cells. Although it appears less effective against strains other than H1N1 subtype viruses in a challenge study in mice, we suggest that the small molecule IY7640 has potential to be optimized as a new anti-influenza drug.

With the recent growing interest in flexible electronics, many studies are being conducted on flexible transparent conducting electrodes (TCE) such as Ag nanowires, Ag nanomeshes, carbon nanotubes, and graphenes. However, it will take time for such technologies to replace Sn-doped In 2 O 3 (ITO), which is now widely used, due to challenges with reliability, mass-production, cost, and industry infrastructure. In this study, ITO films with different thicknesses were deposited on a flexible polymer substrate to investigate their optical and electrical properties and flexibility as a function of film thickness. Regardless of thickness, the ITO films' transmittance was about 80% at ~ 550 nm wavelength. The sheet resistances of all films were below 100 Ω/sq although resistance increased with decreasing film thickness. As a result of bending tests, it was found that thinner films had a higher threshold against bending strain. The sheet resistances did not significantly change above a bending radius of ~ 5 mm. In particular, the 50 nm-thick ITO film endured to a bending radius of ~ 3 mm, showing that it is a viable transparent electrode for flexible optoelectronics.

In this study, the anti-tumor activity of hederagenin-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (HMP) was examined in cancer cells. Composite nanoparticles with an average size of 32.5 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation technique. The characteristics of the particles were determined via X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that the magnetic nanoparticles were non-toxic against cancer. In particular, HMPs were cytotoxic at 73.12 % breast cancer (MCF-7), at 70.2 % against prostate cancer (DU145 cells), at 72.15 % against neuroblastoma cancer cells (U87), at 579.15 % in human brain cancer cells (SH-SY5Y), and at 74.5 % in human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) at 250 g/mL. Our results demonstrated the biological applicability of HMPs as anticancer agents and as agents for enhanced drug delivery against human prostate cancer cells. Our results indicate that the magnetic nanoparticles were biostable and that HMPs functioned effectively as drug delivery vehicles. Copyright © 2016 VBRI Press.

Study investigated the optimal anodizing conditions for fabricating an oxide film that produces less contamination in a corrosive plasma environment, using oxalic acid and tartaric acid. Oxide films were produced using sulfuric acid, oxalic acid, and tartaric acid electrolyte mixtures with various mole ratios. The oxide film made by adding 0.05M tartaric acid to 0.3M oxalic acid showed higher breakdown voltage and lower leakage current. Additionally, contamination particles were reduced during plasma etching, thus demonstrates that this mixture presented optimal conditions. However, higher tartaric acid content (0.1 M, 0.15 M) led to lower breakdown voltages and higher leakage currents. Also, it resulted in more cracking during thermal shock tests as well as the generation of more contamination particles during plasma processing.

Wafer-type temperature sensors are widely used during semiconductor fabrication as integrated monitoring sensors for the real-time monitoring of wafer surface temperature, which affects the quality and yield of semiconductor devices. In recent years, various wafer-type temperature sensors have been developed according to the process type and temperature range for monitoring the temperature distribution. However, there is little research on the calibration system to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the developed wafer-type temperature sensor. In this study, we designed a system for the calibration of wafer-type temperature sensors. With this system, the traceability of the sensor can be guaranteed by calibrating the sensing characteristics, such as area uniformity, temperature stability, and accuracy. The conventional temperature calibration bath is calibrated by placing a wafer-type temperature sensor in a liquid-controlled system to have uniform temperature. This method is difficult to apply to the field because the wafer-type temperature sensor can be contaminated by liquids and can adversely affect semiconductor processes. For this reason, we used a heating chamber similar to chemical vapor deposition equipment for a calibration system. We evaluated the properties of the calibration system including the rising time (which means the time taken to reach the target temperature) and temperature stability according to the heat capacity. Moreover, we developed a measurement method that allows for the evaluation of the temperature of the wafer-type temperature sensor within 15 min at 150 °C. The calibration system and measurement method developed in this study are expected to improve the efficiency of semiconductor fabrication processes.

Biocompatibility is very important for cell growth using 3D printers, but biocompatibility materials are very expensive. In this study, we investigated the possibility of cell culture by the surface modification of relatively low-cost industrial materials and an efficient three-dimensional (3D) scaffold made with an industrial ABS filament for cell proliferation, spheroid formation, and drug screening applications. We evaluated the adequate structure among two-layer square shape 3D scaffolds printed by fused deposition modeling with variable infill densities (10&ndash, 50%). Based on the effects of these scaffolds on cell proliferation and spheroid formation, we conducted experiments using the industrial ABS 3D scaffold (IA3D) with 40% of infill density, which presented an external dimension of (XYZ) 7650 &micro, m &times, 7647 &micro, 210 &micro, m, 29.8% porosity, and 225 homogenous micropores (251.6 &micro, 245.9 &micro, m). In the IA3D, spheroids of cancer HepG2 cells and keratinocytes HaCaT cells appeared after 2 and 3 days of culture, respectively, whereas no spheroids were formed in 2D culture. A gold nanoparticle-coated industrial ABS 3D scaffold (GIA3D) exhibited enhanced biocompatible properties including increased spheroid formation by HepG2 cells compared to IA3D (1.3-fold) and 2D (38-fold) cultures. Furthermore, the cancer cells exhibited increased resistance to drug treatments in GIA3D, with cell viabilities of 122.9% in industrial GIA3D, 40.2% in IA3D, and 55.2% in 2D cultures when treated with 100 &micro, M of mitoxantrone. Our results show that the newly engineered IA3D is an innovative 3D scaffold with upgraded properties for cell proliferation, spheroid formation, and drug-screening applications.

Parkinson&rsquo, s disease (PD), a common adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder with complex pathological mechanisms, is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons. The present study demonstrated that the herbal medicines Hepad 1 and 2 protected against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice and SH-SY5Y cells. Hepad 1 and 2 remarkably alleviated the enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-&alpha, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, macrophage-1, and phosphorylated i&kappa, B-&alpha, ) and apoptotic signals (Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-3, and poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase-1). Additionally, Hepad reduced MPTP-induced oxidative damage by increasing the expression of anti-oxidant defense enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase) and downregulating the levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4. This study also showed that the neuroprotective effects of Hepad include anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-oxidative properties, in addition to activation of the protein kinase B, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathways. Furthermore, oral administration of Hepad 1 and 2 attenuated the death of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive substantia nigra neurons that was induced by 20 mg/kg MPTP. Therefore, our results suggest that Hepad 1 and 2 are useful for treating PD and other disorders associated with neuro-inflammatory, neuro-apoptotic, and neuro-oxidative damage.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl plays an important role in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) and c-Abl inhibition could be neuroprotective in PD and related α-synucleinopathies. Nilotinib, a c-Abl inhibitor, has shown improved motor and cognitive symptoms in PD patients. However, issues concerning blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, lack of selectivity and safety still remain. Radotinib HCl is a selective Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor that not only effectively access the brain, but also exhibits greater pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles compared to Nilotinib and other c-Abl inhibitors. Here, we show the neuroprotective efficacy of Radotinib HCl, a brain penetrant c-Abl inhibitor, in a pre-clinical model of PD. Importantly, in vitro studies demonstrate that the treatment of Radotinib HCl protects the α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFF)-induced neuronal toxicity, reduces the α-synuclein PFF-induced Lewy bodies (LB)/Lewy neurites (LN)-like pathology and inhibits the α-synuclein PFF-induced c-Abl activation in primary cortical neurons. Furthermore, administration of Radotinib HCl inhibits c-Abl activation and prevents dopaminergic neuron loss, neuroinflammation and behavioral deficits following α-synuclein PFF-induced toxicity in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that Radotinib HCl has beneficial neuroprotective effects in PD and provides an evidence that selective and brain permeable c-Abl inhibitors can be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of PD and related α-synucleinopathies.

A two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 )-based gas sensor was decorated with Pt nanoparticles (NPs) for high sensitivity and low limit of detection (LOD) for specific gases (NH 3 and H 2 S). The two-dimensional MoS 2 film was grown at 400°C using metal organic gas vapour deposition. To fabricate the MoS 2 gas sensor, an interdigitated Au/Ti electrode was deposited using the electron beam (e-beam) evaporation method with a stencil mask. The MoS 2 gas sensor without metal decoration sensitively detects NH 3 and H 2 S gas down to 2.5 and 30 ppm, respectively, at room temperature (RT). However, for improved detection of NH 3 and H 2 S gas, we investigated the functionalization strategy using metal decoration. Pt NP decoration modulated the electronic properties of MoS 2 , significantly improving the sensitivity of NH 3 and H 2 S gas by 5.58× and 4.25×, respectively, compared with the undecorated MoS 2 gas sensor under concentrations of 70 ppm. Furthermore, the Pt NP-decorated MoS 2 sensor had lower LODs for NH 3 and H 2 S gas of 130 ppb and 5 ppm, respectively, at RT.

The electrical properties of nanostructured Gd-doped CeO₂ (n-GDC) as a function of temperature and water partial-pressure were investigated using ac and dc measurements. For n-GDC, protonic conductivity prevails under wet condition and at low temperatures ( 200℃) under both dry and wet conditions. The grain boundaries in n-GDC were highly selective, being conductive for protonic transport but resistive for oxygen ionic transport. The protonic conductivity reaches about 4 × 10 −7 S/cm at room temperature (RT).

The adsorption behavior of tris (dimethylamino)-cyclopentadienyl-zirconium (Cp-Zr) precursor using an in-situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was studied. In attempt to improve the detection intensity of an adsorbed precursor, nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the Ge ATR crystal surface employing the spray method. The absorption characteristics studies were carried out over the Ge crystal temperature in the range of 30∼50℃. Upon increasing the temperature, a reduction of absorption was observed. Based on the peak intensities of ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy, higher-ZrO₂ absorption efficiency occurs when the nano-particles are utilized compared to pure Ge crystal.

Nanoparticles were applied to a crystal surface to increase its precursor adsorption efficiency in an attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometer. Nanoparticles with varying dispersion stabilities were employed and the resulting precursor adsorption characteristics were assessed. The size of the nanoparticles was

We developed the contamination prevention module of an optical window for an In-Situ Particle Monitor (ISPM) system. the core part of the module is the generator of an ultrasonic wave and the module is to remove particles stuck to the window by the transfer of the wave force to the window surface. In order to enhance transfer efficiency of the waves the frequency of the ultrasonic wave was optimized and a low impedance material (plexiglass) and a soft sealing material (Si rubber) were used. The ISPM with the developed module was installed at the exhaust line of a BPSG CVD equipment and the effect of the module was verified.

In this study, the anti-tumor activity of mitoxantrone loaded on magnetic nanoparticles (MTMP) was examined using DU145 prostate cancer cells. Composite nanoparticles with an average size of 20 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation technique. The MTMP nanoparticles were cytotoxic to DU145 cells and inhibited cell proliferation. The expression levels of apoptosis related proteins in DU145 cells, including PARP and caspase 3, were increased after MTMP treatment. In this study, the therapeutic potential of MTMP in targeted-therapy against prostate cancer was demonstrated and MTMP was more effective when coupled to drug delivery vehicle than pure mitoxantrone.

Metal-organic (MO)CVD of bismuth telluride thin films is investigated by using a combination of optimized bismuth and tellurium precursors along with H2 as a reactant gas. Good quality films are obtained, even at 300 °C. The Bi precursors are trimethyl bismuth (Bi(CH3)3, Bi(Me3)) and triethyl bismuth (Bi(C2H5)3, Bi(Et)3), and the Te precursors are diethyl tellurium (Te(C2H5)2, Te(Et)2), di-isopropyl tellurium (Te(C3H7)2, Te(iPr)2), and di-tertiarybutyl tellurium (Te(C4H9)2, Te(tBu)2). The integrated absorbance area of C-H stretching vibrations in the range 2800–3200 cm−1 is estimated to determine the decomposition rate of the Bi and Te precursors. C-oriented Bi2Te3 films are obtained at 300 °C and under 2.5 Torr using Bi(Et)3 and Te(tBu)2 and characterized. Further, the microstructure, crystallinity, and surface morphology of the films are determined. The appropriate stoichiometry of the bismuth telluride films is obtained as Bi/Te = 2:3. The combination of Bi(Et)3 and Te(tBu)2 is the most effective for low-temperature deposition because, compared to the other precursors, the decomposition of these precursors starts at a lower temperature. Investigations of the precursor decomposition behavior show that the absorbance of C-H stretching vibrations of ligands in precursors in the gas phase is sensitive to the analysis conditions.

It is well known that the CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism influences the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), but no report has addressed the effects on ilaprazole, a newly developed PPI. To investigate the effects of the CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism on the disposition and pharmacodynamics of ilaprazole, multiple doses of once-daily 10 mg ilaprazole were repeatedly administered for 7 days to 27 healthy Korean participants, comprising 9 homozygous CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers (homo EMs), 10 heterozygous EMs (hetero EMs), and 8 homozygous poor metabolizers (PMs). The plasma concentration and pharmacodynamic response were measured in the last dose interval. Each genotype group was matched for gender and thus was composed of 4 male and 4 female participants when the analysis was conducted. The pharmacokinetic parameters estimated from the plasma concentrations of ilaprazole and its metabolite ilaprazole sulfone, the serum gastrin level, and the 24-hour intragastric pH were compared among the CYP2C19 genotype groups. No statistically significant differences in the maximum plasma concentration at steady state(C(ss,max)) and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to 24 hours (AUC(τ)) of ilaprazole and ilaprazole sulfone were observed among the homo EM, hetero EM, and PM CYP2C19 genotypes. In addition, the mean 24-hour intragastric pH, the percentage of time at pH >4, and the AUC(τ) of serum gastrin showed no significant differences among the CYP2C19 genotype groups. The data suggests that the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ilaprazole are not significantly influenced by the CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism in healthy participants.

ZnO thin films were spin-coated on Pt substrats (Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si) by using a sol-gel process and were characterized as a function of sintering temperature. The films were annealed at 600, 650, 700, and 750 °C to find the optimum annealing temperature in air. The crystalline structure, stress, and c-axis lattice constant were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Strong (002) peaks were found in the XRD spectrum of the ZnO films, and the position of the peak changed from 34.48° ∼ 34.53° as the annealing temperature went from 600 °C to 750 °C. The stress decreased with increasing sintering temperature up to 700 °C and then increased until 750 °C. The FWHM for the (002) peak decreased to a minimum at 700 °C and then increased until 750 °C. Grain sizes were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The maximum grain sizes was obtained in the ZnO film sintered at 700 °C; its grains size was about 112 nm in diameter. However, green emissions were not found in ZnO films sintered at temperatures between 600 ∼ 750 °C. Therefore, additional experiments were carried out in order to find green emissions. Films were annealed at 800, 900, 1000, and 1100 °C. The intensities of the peaks in the ZnO film sintered at 1100 °C increased rapidly, and a green emission at about 519 nm was found. At temperatures above 900 °C, the X-ray diffraction peaks for Zn2SiO4 willemite were found. As the annealing temperature was increased, the relative amounts of silicon atoms and the ratio of oxygen to zinc (O/Zn) increased. This indicates that the origin of the green emissions and the Zn2SiO4 is related to the amounts of oxygen and silicon present.

This study examined the cytotoxic effects of the γ-Fe 2 O 3 magnetic nanoparticles (GMNs) on a range of tumor cell lines. GMNs, approximately 20 nm in diameter, were prepared using a chemical coprecipitation technique, and coated with two surfactants to obtain a water-based product. A 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) −2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay revealed the GMNs to be non-toxic to human fibroblast cells and most of the tumor cell lines tested. However, the magnetic nanoparticles coated with the anti-cancer drugs exhibited cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. These results suggest that GMNs are not cytotoxic to the tumor cells and normal human cells tested in this study. In addition, the magnetic nanoparticles are biostable and magnetic nanoparticles coated with anti-cancer drugs are effective drug delivery vehicles. These results highlight the potential of drug-coated Fe 2 O 3 magnetic nanoparticles as new anti-tumor agents.

This paper has developed an evaluation method of the plasma-resistant characteristics of coated parts for plasma processing equipment. To quantitatively analyze the performance of coated parts, a plasma-resistant test was conducted on Al2O3 films, which have been widely used as a parts coating material. The breakdown voltage, surface roughness, etching rate, and particle generation were measured. The results indicated that the breakdown voltage dramatically decreased after plasma exposure, and electrical properties declined. Surface roughness, etching rate, and particle generation linearly increased depending on plasma exposure time. Under comprehensive consideration of the changes in characteristics caused by the impact of plasma processes, an evaluation method has been developed for the characteristics of coated parts for plasma processing equipment.

The diagnosis studies of the process of chemical vapor deposition were carried out by using in-situ particle monitor (ISPM) and self-plasma optical emission spectroscopy (SPOES). We used the two kinds of equipments such as the silicon plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system with silane gas and the borophosphosilicate glass depositon system for monitoring. Using two sensors, we tried to verify the diagnostic and in-situ sensing ability of by-product gases and contaminant particles at the deposition and cleaning steps. The processes were controlled as a function of precess temperature, operating pressure, plasma power, etc. and two sensors were installed at the exhaust line and contiguous with each other. the correlation of data (by-product species and particles) measured by sensors were also investigated.

A series of fumagillin analogues containing the C6-substituted cinnamoyl moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for antiangiogenic activity. Among them, 4-hydroxyethoxy-cinnamoyl fumagillol (4a) and 4-hydroxyethoxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamoyl fumagillol (4d) exhibited more potent anti-proliferation activity in CPAE and HUVEC cells with low cytotoxicity in vitro. These compounds are presently under further pharmacological evaluation studies.

Tunnelling spectroscopy has been performed on W-doped VO2 single crystal near the metal–insulator transition temperature. A remarkable change was observed in the electronic density of states of the conduction band just below the transition temperature. Based on the observed results, a model is proposed for the onset of the metal–insulator transition in VO2 in relation to the band diagram by the local density approximation plus Hubbard U calculation. The tunnelling energy gap observed was in good agreement with band calculations and optical measurements near the transition temperature.

The importance of development of single enantiomers (optically pure isomers) of chiral molecules has been recognized and manifested in countless pharmaceutical and biological advancement. (RS)-(±)-Higenamine (racemic mixture), an active ingredient of Aconite tuber , has been shown to have antioxidant activity along with inhibitory action of iNOS expression in various cells. In the present study, the effects of each enantiomer of higenamine [(S)-(−)-higenamine and (R)-(+)-higenamine] were investigated in comparison with the effects of racemic mixture [(RS)-(±)-higenamine] on iNOS expression and NO production in RAW 264.7 cells activated with LPS. In addition, the effects of higenamine enantiomers on the survival rates were also investigated using mice, in which each test compound was injected (i.p.) 90 min prior to LPS. All three forms of higenamine inhibited iNOS expression and reduced NO production with IC 50 of 26.2, 86.3, and 53.4 μM, for (S)-, (R)-, and (RS)-higenamine, respectively. (S)-higenamine also significantly reduced serum NOx level and increased survival rates in LPS-treated mice. In contrast, (R)-isomer only showed tendency to increase the survival rates which was not statistically significant when compared to LPS-treated controls. Taken together, it was concluded that (S)-higenamine may be more beneficial than (R)-enantiomer in diseases associated with iNOS over-expression, such as septic shock.

The plasma temperature of Ar gas in hollow cathode discharge were measured. This is done by measuring the line profile of the 1s/sub 8/-2p/sub 8/ transition in Ar, using a single-frequency diode laser. Low power diode lasers have been successfully used for investigation of the line profiles of Ar transitions in hollow cathode discharges. It turns out that the plasma temperature of Ar is 640∼783 K in the discharge current range at 7∼10 mA.

A series of erythrose, ribose, and substituted pyrrolidine containing 2,4-thiazolidinediones were synthesized. Among them, thirteen unsaturated thiazolidinediones, six saturated thiazolidinediones and two unsaturated malonates were evaluated for their ability to enhance glucose utilization in cultured L6 myocytes. On the basis of the in vitro activity, 5-{4- [2-(1-benzyl-3,4-bis-benzyloxypyrrolidin-2-yl)ethoxy]benzylidene}thiazolidine-2,4-dione 24b was selected as the candidate for further pharmacological studies.

Three-dimensional (3D) models play an important role in understanding the behavior of a tumor in a well-defined microenvironment, because some aspects of tumor characteristics cannot be fully recapitulated in cell monolayers. In this study, a novel method is presented for the culture of tumor spheroids and for in vivo 3D cell growth simulation of a tumor on a 3D cell chip fabricated in the 3rd floor structure. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal imaging show that, soon after the adjacent tumor adheres to the micropatterned pillar sidewalls, they are subsequently pulled between the pillars in a suspended position. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of mitroxanthrone in the two-dimensional (2D) plate were at the concentration of 345.65 µg/ml. In contrast, the IC50 value of 3D mitroxanthrone in the 3D cell chip was not detected at the system. Our results indicated that 3D spheroids are generated in uniformly fabricated cancer cell chips, and large numbers of morphologically homogenous spheroids are easily produced. The result showed that the 3D cancer cell chip is more resistant to anticancer agents than 2D plate cell culture. Thus, the 3D cancer cell chip could be used for high-throughput investigations of the efficacy vs. toxicity of drugs or numerous other cancer spheroid cellular and biochemical assays.

Background: Radotinib is a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CP-CML). It is typically administered as a fixed dose; however, a subanalysis of the Phase 2 study (Leuk Lymphoma. DOI 10.3109/10428194.2015.1113278) demonstrated that as the dose adjusted for body weight (Dose/BW) increased the risk of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) significantly. Aims: To assess the impact of Dose/BW of radotinib on the occurrence of DLT as well as on the achievement of major molecular response (MMR) using the clinical data obtained from the Phase 3 study Methods: The Phase 3 study involved 160 CP-CML patients who were randomly assigned to a fixed dose of radotinib 300 mg BID or 400 mg BID regardless of BW. The authors performed a logistic regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between daily Dose/BW and the probability of achieving MMR at 12 months as well as experiencing DLT by 12 months. Chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank test) were utilized to compare the incidence of MMR and DLT, respectively, according to specific Dose/BW cut-offs. Results: Efficacy. Dose/BW of radotinib was negatively associated with the rate of MMR when controlled for gender (p = 0.033). That is, increasing Dose/BW rather decreased the likelihood of achieving MMR. More specifically, patients who received ≥13 mg/kg/d showed a significantly lower rate of MMR at 12 months (35%) than those who received Conclusion: Dose adjustment of radotinib based on BW is warranted so as not to exceed 13 mg/kg/d. Therefore, a two-tier weight-based dosing regimen was developed: radotinib 300 mg BID for patients who weigh 60 kg or less, and 400 mg BID for patients who weigh more than 60 kg. A prospective clinical trial would be needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this new dosing regimen. Disclosures Noh: Il-Yang Pharmaceutical: Research Funding. Jung:Il-Yang Pharmaceutical: Research Funding. Park:Il-Yang Pharmaceutical: Employment. Jo:Il-Yang Pharmaceutical: Employment. Shin:Il-Yang Pharmaceutical: Employment. Kim:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; ILYANG: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Lee:Il-Yang Pharmaceutical: Research Funding.

In this study, the anti-tumor activity of mitoxantrone loaded on magnetic nanoparticles (MTMP) was examined using DU145 prostate cancer cells. Composite nanoparticles with an average size of 20 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation technique. The MTMP nanoparticles were cytotoxic to DU145 cells and inhibited cell proliferation. The expression levels of apoptosis related proteins in DU145 cells, including PARP and caspase 3, were increased after MTMP treatment. In this study, the therapeutic potential of MTMP in targeted-therapy against prostate cancer was demonstrated and MTMP was more effective when coupled to drug delivery vehicle than pure mitoxantrone.