Inversion method for soil moisture content based on a distributed fiber optic acoustic sensing system.

The traditional measurement method can't achieve real-time monitoring of soil moisture content (SMC) within a two-dimensional area. To solve the above problems, we propose a rapid SMC monitoring method for two-dimensional area based on distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). DAS demodulates the backward Rayleigh scattering signal containing seismic wave sound velocity information from the active seismic source. The folding ruler approximation is employed to calculate the sound velocity of the soil, which is then inverted to determine the soil moisture content. The experiment measured the soil within a two-dimensional area formed by the seismic source and the acoustic sensing optical cable. The sensing optical cable and the active seismic source are organized into a two-dimensional area and the measurement range is 3 × 10 m with 33 points. The SMC ranges from 15% to 40%. The experiment shows that the absolute error between the measured values obtained by DAS and the water cut meter is 7%. This experiment verifies the feasibility of using the Rayleigh scattering properties to invert SMC and provides a new method for real-time monitoring of SMC in a large area.

Photoluminescence enhancement and excellent thermal stability of Ca2ZnSi2O7:Pr3+ red-emitting phosphors through charge compensator A+ (Li+, Na+ and K+) co-doping for w-LED applications.

The red-emitting Ca2ZnSi2O7:Pr3+ phosphor was synthesized via a solid-state method and alkali metal ions A+ (Li+, Na+, K+) were introduced to improve the photoluminescence performance of Pr3+. XRD results confirmed that the sample structure did not change markedly with appropriate Pr3+/A+ co-doping. Under the blue light excitation of 447 nm, the as-prepared Ca2ZnSi2O7:Pr3+ efficiently emitted a characteristic red luminescence peak at 601 nm. The luminescence intensity of Pr3+ was obviously enhanced with A+ co-doping due to the charge compensation effect and the emission intensity of Ca2ZnSi2O7:0.005Pr3+, 0.005Na+ reached 142.1% compared to Ca2ZnSi2O7:0.005Pr3+. Furthermore, at 210 °C the luminescence intensity of the Ca2ZnSi2O7:0.005Pr3+, 0.005Na+ phosphor remained at âˆ¼93% compared to at 30 °C, showing high thermal stability. The w-LED device packaged with Ca2ZnSi2O7:0.005Pr3+, 0.005Na+ produced a bright white emission. All these results indicated the potential application prospects of red-emitting Ca2ZnSi2O7:Pr3+, A+ phosphors in the field of white light-emitting diodes.

Antioxidants for Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence has shown that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Oxidative stress impairs muscle function, reduces regenerative capacity, and leads to atrophy and muscle weakness. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of antioxidants in treatment of DMD patients. METHODS: Medline, Embase, EBSCOhost, and Cochrane Library databases were searched using relevant keywords regarding DMD and antioxidants. The risk of bias for all included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The effectiveness of antioxidants in improving pulmonary function and muscle strength in DMD patients and their rate of adverse events was evaluated by meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of nine eligible studies were identified. Among these, two studies involving 85 patients compared idebenone with placebo. Pooled data showed a significant improvement in pulmonary function after idebenone treatment. Flavonoids- and omega 3-based compounds (FLAVOMEGA) significantly improved muscle strength. Two studies evaluated coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and reported clinical improvement in physical activity. The remaining four studies evaluated pentoxifylline, superoxide dismutase, vitamin E combination with penicillamine and penicillamine alone, respectively, and found no significant differences between the intervention and placebo groups, measured by pulmonary function, muscle strength, movement function, or quality of life. Most adverse events were mild, while the rates of dropout and serious adverse events were low with respect to antioxidants. CONCLUSIONS: Idebenone appeared to be safe and effective in improving pulmonary function in DMD patients, while pentoxifylline, superoxide dismutase, penicillamine, or a combination of vitamin E with penicillamine did not show a significant therapeutic effect. CoQ10 and FLAVOMEGA might be beneficial in improving muscle strength or physical activity in DMD patients. However, additional trials with more participants are warranted in the future.

Characteristics of infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis syndrome caused by PRRT2 mutation.

Importance: Infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis (ICCA) is a rare neurological disorder. Many affected patients are either misdiagnosed or prescribed multiple antiepileptic drugs. Objective: To explore therapeutic drug treatments and dosages for ICCA in children. Methods: Detailed clinical features (e.g., past medical history and family history), genetic features, and treatment outcomes were collected from the records of six patients with ICCA. Results: Mean age at paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) onset was 8 years 8 months (range, 3-12 years); the clinical presentation was characterized by daily short paroxysmal episodes of dystonia/dyskinesia. All patients had infantile convulsions at less than 1 year of age, and the mean onset age was 5.5 months (range, 4-7 months). Two patients had a family history of ICCA, PKD, or benign familial infantile epilepsy. Whole exome sequencing identified the c.649-650insC mutation in PRRT2 in six patients; three mutations were inherited and three were de novo. All patients were prescribed low-dose carbamazepine and showed dramatic improvement with the complete disappearance of dyskinetic episodes after 3 days. They attended follow-up for 5-17 months and were attack-free until the final follow-up. Interpretation: PRRT2 mutations are the primary cause of ICCA. Low-dose carbamazepine monotherapy is effective and well-tolerated in children.

R233H mutation in patients with tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency and corresponding phenotypes: a study of four cases and literature review.

Owing to the small number of patients with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) deficiency, no genotype-phenotype correlations have yet been identified. To investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation of R233H mutation in TH deficiency, we analyzed the clinical manifestations and treatment responses of four patients with the R233H homozygous mutation. Thirty-eight additional patients, available from the literature, known to be homozygous or heterozygous for the R233H mutation, were combined with the four cases from our hospital. Data for a total of 42 patients were retrieved. Our four patients showed clinical presentation consistent with Type A TH deficiency, and responded well to levodopa therapy, with an improvement in clinical symptoms within 1-2 weeks. In the 42 patients, 20 of 42 patients (48%) were homozygous and 22 (52%) were heterozygous for the R233H mutation. Of the 20 patients who were homozygous for the R233H mutation, a majority (80%) suffered from Type A TH deficiency. Of the 8 patients that were heterozygous for the R233H/the mutation located downstream of exon 11, 7 patients (86%) suffered from Type B TH deficiency. Of the 7 patients who were heterozygous for the R233H/nonsense mutation, 6 (86%) suffered from Type B TH deficiency. Genotype-phenotype correlation of R233H mutation was observed in TH deficiency. The homozygous R233H mutation frequently manifests as Type A TH deficiency, whereas R233H/nonsense mutation or any mutation located downstream of exon 11 manifests as Type B TH deficiency.

Childhood strokes in China describing clinical characteristics, risk factors and performance indicators: a case-series study.

AIM: To investigate clinical characteristics, risk factors (RFs), neurologic deficits and medical care provided in children who had a stroke in China. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-series study using the medical records of children aged 1 month to 18 years with arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) or haemorrhagic stroke (HS) (with the entry codes I60, I61, I62, I63 (ICD-10)), who were admitted to different hospitals in Beijing, between January 2018 and December 2018. We obtained the following information from the charts: demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, RFs for paediatric stroke, laboratory examination, neuroimaging records and neurologic sequelae. RESULTS: We identified 312 first admissions for stroke (172 AIS and 140 HS). The mean age at onset was 8.6±3.9 years for patients who had an AIS and 8 (5-13) years for patients who had an HS. There were more males than females in both groups (AIS: 59.88% vs 40.12%; HS: 52.14% vs 47.86%). A known aetiology was identified in 92.44% and 86.43% of patients who had an AIS and HS, respectively. The leading cause of AIS was cerebrovascular diseases including moyamoya (68.6%), while that for HS was arteriovenous malformation (51.43%). The most common initial clinical presentation was hemiplegia (86.05%) in patients who had an AIS and headache (67.86%) in patients who had an HS. The use of healthcare, including acute treatment (antithrombotic in 17.44%, anticoagulant in 5.23%) and secondary prevention (antithrombotic in 6.39%, anticoagulant in 1.16%), varied and was significantly lower among patients who had an AIS. The most common complications were epilepsy (22.09%) and pneumonia (4.65%) in patients who had an AIS and epilepsy (17.14%) and hydrocephalus (12.14%) in patients who had an HS. Neurological deficits occurred in 62.8% of patients who had an AIS and 72.86% of patients who had an HS. CONCLUSION: Cerebral arteriopathy was a major RF for both AIS and HS in children living in China. Large epidemiological studies are required to identify RFs to prevent stroke as well as appropriate interventions.

Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin selectively ablates T-CAEBV cells.

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) represents a new subtype of lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates and often leads to malignant transformation of infected cells. Efficient therapeutic strategies are presently unavailable; therefore, the development of therapies to prevent CAEBV-mediated transformation and disease progression is crucial. Here, we used microarray analysis and luciferase reporter assays to reveal the potential role of activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) in T cell type of-CAEBV infection. Using a series of cellular and molecular experiments, we demonstrated that dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), a novel NF-kB inhibitor, can selectively induce apoptosis in SNT-16 cells infected with CAEBV. Mechanistic studies suggested that DHMEQ induces SNT-16 cell apoptosis through NF-kB inhibition coupled with oxidative stress generation. Thus, activated NF-kB could be a new target for CAEBV therapeutics. Owing to its selective targeting ability, DHMEQ may be a candidate for a novel therapeutic regimen to control the progression of CAEBV infections.

[Clinical analysis of 2 cases with chylothorax due to primary lymphatic dysplasia and review of literature].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of 2 cases with chylothorax due to primary lymphatic dysplasia and to elevate pediatrician's recognition level for this disease. METHOD: Clinical manifestations of the children were retrospectively analyzed. Primary lymphatic dysplasia was diagnosed by lymphoscintigraphy. RESULT: The first patient was a male aged 2-year-7-month who presented with a history of tachypnea for 43 days, fever and sore throat for 5 days at the early stage of the illness. He had a history of external injury before his illness. Physical examination showed his left chest bulging and left side diminished breath sound. His pleural effusion showed dark red (It was divided into two layers after standing, the upper layer turned into milky white, and the lower turned into hemorrhagic liquid) . White blood cell (WBC) count was 9 000×10(6)/L, mononuclear cell was 0.9, polykaryocytes was 0.1, triglyceride was 12.37 mmol/L in the pleural effusion. Contrast-enhanced lung CT (revascularization) showed pericardial effusion and a massive left sided pleural effusion. The second patient was a male aged 9 years and 6 months, who presented with a history of cough for 24 days, intermittent fever, vomiting, abdominal pain for 19 days, and edema of lower limbs for 4 days. Physical examination showed edema in both eyelids, lower extremities and scrotum. The level of albumin was 14 g/L and the titer of Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM was 1: 320 in the serum. His hydrothorax pleural effusion showed milk white. White blood cell (WBC) count was 74×10(6)/L, mononuclear cell was 0.78, polykaryocytes was 0.22, triglyceride was 1.01 mmol/L in the pleural effusion. Chyle test showed positive in his pleural effusion and seroperitoneum. High-resolution CT of the lung revealed bilateral interstitial and parenchymal infiltration and both sided pleural effusion. Abdominal ultrasound showed giant hypertrophy of the gastric mucosa and massive ascites. Gastroscopy showed giant hypertrophy of the gastric mucosa. Lymphoscintigraphy revealed primary lymphatic dysplasia in both children. CONCLUSION: Primary lymphatic dysplasia might occur in children and result in dropsy of serous cavity (chylothorax, chylopericardium, chylous ascites). Dropsy of serous cavity showed bloody or milk white. WBC count might elevate with lymphocyte increasing mostly, triglyceride was often higher than 1.0 mmol/L in dropsy of serous cavity. Primary lymphatic dysplasia can be diagnosed by lymphoscintigraphy.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of polyacetylenes with inhibitory activity against NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala (Compositae) is one of the most well-known traditional Chinese medicine in China, Japan and Korea, which has a long history of use for the treatment of splenic asthenia, edema, anorexia, and excessive perspiration, etc. As active compounds of anti-inflammatory activity of this medicinal plant have not been fully elucidated, the aim of this study was to isolate and identify the active constituents inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production from the rhizomes of A. macrocephala. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inhibitory activity against NO production in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 macrophages was evaluated by Griess reaction. Fifteen polyacetylenes were isolated from the active ethyl acetate extract using activity-guided screening. The structures of all compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and comparison with published data. The compounds were further tested for their inhibitory activity against NO production. RESULTS: Seven new polyacetylenes, named atractylodemaynes A-G (1-7), along with eight known ones (8-15) were isolated. Compound 14 was isolated for the first time from the rhizomes of A. macrocephala. The study showed that the tested compounds exhibited inhibitory activity against NO production in a dose-dependent manner. Among them, compounds 10, 11 and 12 had relatively stronger inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 28, 23 and 19µM, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the polyacetylenes might greatly contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of the rhizomes of A. macrocephala.

[Biotransformation by human intestinal flora and absorption-transportation characteristic in a model of Caco-2 cell monolayer of d-corydaline and tetrahydropalmatine].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biotransformation by human intestinal flora, and the absorption and transportation characteristic in a model of human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (Caco-2 cell) monolayer of d-corydaline (CDL) and tetrahydropalmatine (THP). METHOD: CDL or THP was incubated with crude enzymes of human intestinal flora under the anaerobic environment and 37 degrees C conditions to transform CDL or THP. Caco-2 cell monolayer was used as an intestinal epithelial cell model for determination of the permeability of CDL or THP from apical side (AP side) to basolateral side (BL side) or from BL side to AP side. Transportation parameters and permeability coefficients (P(app)) were then calculated, and P(app) values were compared with the reported values for model compounds, propranolol as a well absorbed drug and atenolol as a poor absorbed drug. The concentration of CDL or THP was measured by HPLC coupled with photodiode array detector. RESULT: CDL or THP in the human intestinal flora incubation system did not happen biotransformation. In the Caco-2 cell monolayer model, the P(app) magnitudes of both CDL and THP were 1 x 10(-5) cm x s(-1) in the bi-directional transport, which were identical with propranolol. And their transports were concentration dependent between 0-180 min. CONCLUSION: Both CDL and THP may be stable in the human intestinal flora incubation system, and their absorption and transportation in the human Caco-2 cell monolayer model are mainly via passive diffusion mechanism.

Clinical characteristics and genetic profiles of 44 patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID): report from Shanghai, China (2004-2011).

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a rare type of genetic associated immune disorder, is poorly characterized in mainland China. We retrospectively reviewed 44 patients with SCID who received treatment from 2004 to 2011 in Shanghai, China, and herein summarize their clinical manifestations and immunological and preliminary genetic features. The male-to-female ratio was 10:1. Twenty five patients presented with X-SCID symptoms. Only one patient was diagnosed before the onset of symptoms due to positive family history. The mean time of delay in the diagnosis of X-SCID was 2.69 months (range, 0.5-8.67). Thirty-seven of the 44 patients died by the end of 2011 with the mean age of death being 7.87 months (range, 1.33-31). Six patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); only one of them survived, who was transplanted twice. The time between onset and death was shorter in the HSCT-treated group compared with the untreated group (2.87 ± 1.28 and 3.34 ± 0.59 months, respectively), probably due to active infections during transplantation. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) complications occurred in 14 of the 34 patients who received BCG vaccination. Transfusion-induced graft-versus-host disease occurred in 5 patients. Total 20 mutations in interleukin-2 receptor subunit gamma (IL2RG) were identified in 22 patients, including 11 novel mutations. Most patients were misdiagnosed before referred to our SCID Center. Therefore, establishing more diagnostic centers dedicated to the care of PID and accessible by primary immunodeficiency patients will facilitate early, correct diagnosis and better care of SCID in China.

Four new dammarane-type triterpene saponins from the stems and leaves of Panax ginseng and their cytotoxicity on HL-60 cells.

Four new triterpene saponins, ginsenosides Rh(14)-Rh(17)(1- 4), along with two known compounds, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg2 and dammar-(E)-20(22),24-diene-3 ß,6 α,12 ß-triol, were isolated from the stems and leaves of Panax ginseng. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 3 ß,6 α,12 ß,24 ξ-tetrahydroxy-dammar-(E)-20(22),25-diene 6- O- α- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3 ß,12 ß,24 ξ-trihydroxy-dammar-(E)-20(22),25-diene 3- O- ß- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3 ß,6 α,12 ß-trihydroxy-dammar-(E)-20(22),24-diene 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), and 3-oxo-6 α,12 ß,20(S)-trihydroxy-dammar-24-ene 6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4) by means of extensive spectroscopic and chemical methods, respectively. The isolated compounds were tested for IN VITRO cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells.

Distribution and clinical features of primary immunodeficiency diseases in Chinese children (2004-2009).

Two hundred and one patients have been diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) in our center from January 2004 to December 2009. The male-to-female ratio was 5.29:1. Spectrums of PIDs were as follows: predominantly antibody deficiency disease was the most common category (94 patients, 48.2%), followed by other well-defined immunodeficiency syndromes (40 patients, 20.5%), combined T and B cell immunodeficiencies (33 patients, 16.9%), congenital defects of phagocyte number and/or function (21 patients, 10.8%), and diseases of immune dysregulation (six patients, 3.1%). Agammaglobulinemia was the most frequent disease type. The median of diagnosis lag was 18.0 months. Pneumonia was the most common manifestation of PID patients. Some manifestations were prone to concentrate in certain diseases. As for therapy, 99 patients (50.8%) received intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy; 13 patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and nine of them were still alive. In this study, we sought to describe and analyze the distribution, clinical features, and therapy methods of PIDs among children diagnosed in our country and to compare with reports from other countries and regions.

Controlled release of Paclitaxel from amphiphilic copolymer hybrid assembly nanoparticles.

A convenient pathway to control drug release from hybrid assembly nanoparticles of several kinds of copolymers was investigated in this paper. Three kinds of biodegradable amphiphilic copolymers, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(L-lactic acid), poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polycaprolactone-poly(ethylene glycol) were used to assemble into hybrid assembly nanoparticles as carriers of paclitaxel. The results show that small spherical hybrid assembly nanoparticles (diameter < 100 nm) with good paclitaxel loading ability and entrapping efficiency were obtained simply through hybrid assembling of different copolymers. The in vitro release studies indicate that paclitaxel release rate can be controlled easily by varying the ratio of the hybrid copolymers. The release control mechanism is assigned to the crystallization adjustment of the cores of hybrid assembly nanoparticles which provide a convenient approach to control drug release for drug-loaded nanoparticles.

[Preparation of V(E) acetate-loaded amphiphilic block copolymer nano-dispersions].

V(E) acetate-loaded methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic acid) amphiphilic diblock copolymer nano-dispersion (PMV) was prepared by self-emulsification/solvent evaporation method. The drug-loaded amount, size distribution of PMV nanoparticles, and entrapment efficiency of V(E) acetate (V(E)A) were determined by UV and laser particle analyzer. Drug release in vitro was primarily investigated by UV. The results indicate that the size of PMV nanoparticles is less than 300 nm and PMV is largely influenced by preparation methods, property of solvents, V(E)A-fed amount, and the concentration of dispersion. The initial burst release is not observed and the accumulated release is more than 79% after 14 h. This study develops a new formulation for V(E)A and provides an experimental basis for the novel drug delivery systems of V(E)A.

[Therapeutic mechanisms of interferon-beta and intravenous immunoglobulin for experimental peripheral neuropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic mechanisms of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for experimental peripheral neuropathy induced by Campilobacter jejuni (Cj) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHOD: Forty healthy Wistar rats weighing 205 - 230 g were divided into IFN-beta, IVIG, IFN-beta plus IVIG and control groups. After the immune neuropathy was induced in the rats by Cj LPS, IFN-beta (1.3 microg/kg) was given by subcutaneous injection to the rats every other day for 6 weeks; IVIG [400 mg/(kg x d)] was given to the rats for five days, every other week for two times and IFN-beta [1.3 microg/(kg x d)] and IVIG [400 mg/(kg x d)] were given to the rats on the same days. Meanwhile, the control group was given PBS. The sera were collected in the 2nd, 4th and 6th week after therapy, the titers of anti-GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 and TNF-alpha in sera of immunized rats were measured by ELISA; histological study of sciatic nerve was performed and IgG on sciatic nerve was detected by immunohistochemistry in the 6th week. RESULTS: (1) There were no significant differences in titers of anti-GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 and TNF-alpha among the 3 therapeutic groups and control group after therapy for 2 weeks (P > 0.05). (2) The titers of anti- GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 or TNF-alpha in the control group were much higher than those of the IFN-beta group, the IVIG group or the IFN-beta and IVIG group after therapy for 4 weeks (P > 0.01) and there were no significant differences in titers of antibody among the 3 therapeutic groups (P > 0.05); the titers of MMP-9 or TNF-alpha in the IFN-beta and IVIG group were lower than those of the IFN-beta group or the IVIG group (P < 0.05). (3) The titers of anti-GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 or TNF-alpha in the control group were much higher than those of the IFN-beta group, the IVIG group or the IFN-beta with IVIG group after therapy for 6 weeks (P > 0.01); the IFN-beta with IVIG group had much lower levels of all indexes than the IFN-beta group or the IVIG group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IFN-beta and IVIG showed therapeutic effects on immune peripheral neuropathy through inhibiting the humoral and cellular immunity simultaneously in the peripheral neuropathy induced by CJ LPS, treatment with combined IFN-beta and IVIG was more effective.

Investigation on the properties of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)/chitosan graft co-polymers.

Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)/chitosan graft co-polymers (CS-g-mPEGs) with different degrees of substitution were synthesized by reductive N-alkylation of chitosan with poly(ethylene glycol) aldehyde. The crystalline and thermal properties of CS-g-mPEGs were characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). The results indicate that CS-g-mPEG solids represent microphase separation morphology with mPEG crystal and CS domains coexistence and the introduction of PEG on CS improves the thermal decomposition. The hydrodynamic behavior of CS-g-mPEGs in aqueous solution and the influence of NaCl were investigated. The results indicate that the hydrodynamic behavior of CS-g-mPEGs in aqueous solution is significantly affected by the degree of substitution and the concentration of NaCl, which are quite different from that of CS. The results of this paper also certify that CS-g-mPEGs keep the property of complexation with a counter-ion, such as tripolyphosphate, to form nanoparticles through the electrostatic interaction.