Performance Evaluation of Composite Antisalt Agents and the Antisalt Dynamics Simulation Mechanism.

The conventional ferrocyanide complex ([Fe(CN)6]4-) has been widely used as a scale inhibitor under mild conditions, but its oxidation at high temperature compromises the subsequent wastewater treatment processes. To conquer the inadequacies of Fe(CN)6]4-, aminotriacetamide (NTA) was synthesized using chloroacetic acid as an initial material and its molecular structure was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, H-NMR, and TGA. NTA was exploited in combination with polyaspartic acid (PASP) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) to prepare a high-performance antisalt composite, and the scaling inhibitor performance was evaluated. The results revealed that as the concentration of the antisalt composite increased from 0.5 to 1.2 wt %, the solubility and inhibition rate increased by 95.6 and 12.33%, respectively, at 100 °C. The results from molecular simulation evidenced that the order of binding energy between a unit mass of the salt inhibitor and sodium chloride crystal increased in the following order; SDBS > NTA > PASP. The deformation strength between the salt inhibitor and sodium chloride crystal increased as follows: NTA > PASP > SDBS. In addition, the antisalt composite mainly hampered salt precipitation through strong adsorptions arising from both the nitrogen atom of NTA and oxygen atom of SDBS with the sodium atom of sodium chloride crystals, and as a result, it not only altered the crystalline form of sodium chloride but also reduced the adsorption of sodium atoms and eventually improved the salt solubility.

Peripheral immunological features of COVID-19 patients in Taizhou, China: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal peripheral immunological features are associated with the progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data were retrieved in a cohort of 146 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. Potential risk factors for the development of severe COVID-19 were evaluated. RESULTS: On admission, lymphocytes, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, eosinophils, and albumin and pre-albumin were dramatically lower, whereas neutrophils, and interleukin (IL)-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were significantly higher in severe cases. By the second week after discharge, all variables improved to normal levels. Covariate logistic regression results showed that the CD8+ cell count and CRP level were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Lower peripheral immune cell subsets in patients with severe disease recovered to normal levels as early as the second week after discharge. CD8+ T cell counts and CRP levels on admission are independent predictive factors for severe COVID-19.

Effects of hydrosalpinx on ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity during the window of implantation measured by power color Doppler ultrasound.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the effects of hydrosalpinx on ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity during the window of implantation, as measured by power color Doppler ultrasound. METHODS: The women recruited to this study included sixty with unilateral or bilateral hydrosalpinx and fifty-seven prior to in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or artificial insemination (AI) performed due to male infertility. Ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity were measured during the window of implantation by power color Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: The proportion of triple-line endometrial pattern and uterine contractions from the cervix to the fundus were significantly lower in the hydrosalpinx group than in the control group. In addition, patients in the hydrosalpinx group had a significantly lower pulsatility index (PI) of uterine spiral arteries. There were no significant differences in endometrial thickness, subendometrial blood flow distribution pattern, uterine artery PI, uterine artery resistance index (RI), or uterine spiral artery RI between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrosalpinx may be involved in the regulation of endometrial receptivity through its influence on endometrial pattern, uterine contractions, and PI of the uterine spiral arteries.

Application of Combined Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Transvaginal Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Endometrial Carcinoma.

Objective. The goal of this study was to explore the clinical value of combining two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transvaginal contrast-enhanced ultrasounds (CEUS) in diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods. In this prospective diagnostic study, transvaginal 2D and 3D CEUS were performed on 68 patients with suspected EC, and the results of the obtained 2D-CEUS and 3D-CEUS images were compared with the gold standard for statistical analysis. Results. 2D-CEUS benign endometrial lesions showed the normal uterine perfusion phase while EC cases showed early arrival and early washout of the contrast agent and nonuniform enhancement. The 3D-CEUS images differed in central blood vessel manifestation, blood vessel shape, and vascular pattern between benign and malignant endometrial lesions (P < 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of transvaginal 2D-CEUS and 2D-CEUS combined with 3D-CEUS for diagnosis of benign and malignant endometrial lesions were 76.9%, 73.8%, 64.5%, 83.8%, and 75.0% and 84.6%, 83.3%, 75.9%, 89.7%, and 83.8%, respectively. Conclusion. 3D-CEUS is a useful supplement to 2D-CEUS and can clearly reveal the angioarchitecture spatial relationships between vessels and depth of myometrial invasion in EC. The combined use of 2D and 3D-CEUS can offer direct, accurate, and comprehensive diagnosis of early EC.

Comparative bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of sirolimus tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: Although sirolimus tablets and oral solutions have been used in clinical practice, no study has been reported on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of a single-dose of sirolimus tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers. The purpose of this study was to compare the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of two different 1-mg sirolimus tablets in healthy Chinese male volunteers and evaluate whether a generic tablet of sirolimus meets the criteria for bioequivalence from the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of China when compared with a reference product. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 healthy Chinese volunteers was eligible for this 6 mg single dose, randomized-sequence, open-label, 2-period crossover study. Blood samples were collected before dosing and at 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, 168, 216, and 264 hours after dosing. Whole blood sirolimus concentration was analyzed by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Pharmacokinetic properties of sirolimus were assessed using noncompartmental analysis. RESULTS: The mean (range) Cmax values of the test and the reference were 15.25 (8.48 - 24.40) and 13.43 (7.90 - 22.90) ng/ml; AUC0-t values were 475.65 (293.33 - 1049.86) and 451.96 (221.52 - 809.11) ng/h/ml. The medians (range) tmax values were 2.0 (1.0 - 8.0) and 2.0 (1.0 - 8.0) hours, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the ratios of Cmax, AUC0-264, and AUC0-∞ were 103.7% to 124.4%, 97.5% to 113.6%, and 98.0% to 114.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this single-dose crossover study the test sirolimus tablets met the criteria for bioequivalence in terms of both rate and extent. Each sirolimus formulation was well tolerated during the study.

Relative bioavailability and pharmacokinetic comparison of two different enteric formulations of omeprazole.

In order to comply with the requirements for a drug listed in China, the study was developed to compare the pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of two different enteric formulations of omeprazole (OPZ) in healthy Chinese subjects. A total of 32 volunteers participated in the study. Plasma concentrations were analyzed by nonstereospecific liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method. After administration of a single 40-mg dose of the two OPZ formulations, the comparative bioavailability was assessed by calculating individual AUC(0‒t) (the area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to the last measurable concentration), AUC(0‒∞) (the area under the concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity), C(max) (the maximum observed concentration), and T(peak) (the time to C(max)) values of OPZ, 5-hydroxyomeprazole (OH-OPZ), and omeprazole sulfone (OPZ-SFN), respectively. The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of AUC(0‒t), AUC(0‒∞), and C(max) were 85.4%‒99.0%/88.8%‒98.6%/87.6%‒99.4%, 85.5%‒99.2%/89.0%‒98.6%/88.5%‒101.3%, and 72.3%‒87.6%/79.6%‒91.1%/88.4%‒99.1% for OPZ/OH-OPZ/OPZ-SFN, respectively, and T(peak) values did not differ significantly. In this study, the test formulation of OPZ in fasting healthy Chinese male volunteers met the Chinese bioequivalance standard to the reference formulation based on AUC, C(max), and T(peak).

Determination of lansoprazole in human plasma by rapid resolution liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: application to a bioequivalence study on Chinese volunteers.

A simple, sensitive and rapid LC/MS/MS method was developed for the quantification of lansoprazole in human plasma. After a simple sample preparation procedure by one-step protein precipitation with acetonitrile, lansoprazole and the internal standard bicalutamide were chromatographed on a Zorbax SB-C(18) (3.0 mm x 150 mm, 3.5 microm, Agilent) column with the mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (70:30, v/v, containing 5 mM ammonium formate, pH was adjusted to 7.85 by 1% ammonia solution). Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via negative eletrospray ionization source (ESI(-)). The lower limit of quantification was 5.5 ng/mL, and the assay exhibited a linear range of 5.5-2200.0 ng/mL. The validated method was successfully applied to investigate the bioequivalence between two kinds of preparation (test vs. reference product) in twenty-eight healthy male Chinese volunteers.

Determination of risperidone in human plasma by HPLC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in Chinese volunteers.

This study presents a rapid, specific and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for determination of risperidone (RIS) in human serum using paroxetine as an internal standard (IS). An Alltima-C18 column (2.1 mmx100 mm, 3 microm) and a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile (40:60, v/v) were used for separation. The analysis was performed by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) method, and the peak area of the m/z 411.3-->191.1 transition for RIS was measured versus that of the m/z 330.1-->192.1 transition for IS to generate the standard curves. The assay linearity of RIS was confirmed over the range 0.25 approximately 50.00 ng/ml and the limit of quantitation was 0.05 ng/ml. The linear range corresponds well with the serum concentrations of the analytes obtained in clinical pharmacokinetic studies. Intraday and interday relative standard deviations were 1.85% approximately 9.09% and 1.56% approximately 4.38%, respectively. The recovery of RIS from serum was in the range of 70.20% approximately 84.50%. The method was successfully applied to investigate the bioequivalence between two kinds of tablets (test versus reference products) in 18 healthy male Chinese volunteers. The result suggests that two formulations are bioequivalent.

[Study on determination of desloratadine in human serum and its pharmacokinetics by HPLC/MS].

OBJECTIVE: To study the determination of desloratadine in human serum and its pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. METHODS: A single oral dose of 10 mg desloratadine was given to 18 healthy volunteers. The serum concentrations of desloratadine were determined by HPLC-MS assay. The pharmacokinetics parameters of desloratadine tablets were calculated with program 3P97. RESULT: The main pharmacokinetics parameters of desloratadine tablets were as followsút(max)(1.611 +/-0.366)h, C(max) (4.455+/-1.990)microg x L(-1), AUC(0-t) (58.50+/-21.34)microg x L(-1) x h(-1), AUC(0-infinity) (60.59+/-22.32)microg x L(-1) x h(-1), t(1/2(ke)) (20.303+/-5.833)h, Ke (0.0372+/-0.0116)h(-1) and CL(0.1838+/-0.0563)L x h(-1). CONCLUSION: Desloratadine tablet is absorbed quicker in the 18 healthy volunteers than the reports and its peak blood concentration reached at 1.5 h after oral administration with t(1/2) 20 h.