Precise dosage of commercial warfarin sodium tablets and hydrochlorothiazide tablets by 3D printing / 药学学报

The aim of this study is to apply 3D printing technology to hospital drug dosing operations, and explore its feasibility and scalability. Drugs often dosed in hospitals are selected as models. The commercially available drug was ground into powder, diluted with medicinal excipients and then mixed with 75% ethanol and binder to prepare a paste for 3D printing. The dose and physicochemical properties of divided tablets were controlled by setting print parameters and printing models in computer software. Different 3D printers were employed to evaluate the impact of the device on the dosing tablet. Two drugs were dosed in this study to explore the scalability of 3D printing technology between different drugs. The drug content of the three divided dose tablets (warfarin sodium 1 mg, 2 mg, hydrochlorothiazide 5 mg) was 1.02±0.03, 1.96±0.01, 5.19±0.06 mg. The content uniformity was 1.0, 5.3, 2.6, respectively. The drug dissolution rate was (99.3±1.2)%, (101.5±0.3)%, (98.1±0.8)% in 45, 45 and 30 min. The mechanical properties of the three sub-doses and the stability within 30 days were in line with the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015) requirements. At the same time, it was found that the printing parameters and prescriptions can affect the properties of the divided dose tablets. By controlling the dilution ratio of commercial drug and printing parameters, the drug release rate can be customized to achieve individualized treatment. Both different modes of 3D printers can produce qualified sub-doses, and 3D print dispensing technology was also versatile between the two drugs. 3D printing can prepare small-volume, high-precision, high-repetition dosing tablets, with all properties in compliance with pharmacopoeia regulations. Thus, this method can be used as a new and scalable sub-dosing method.

Hepatitis G virus genomic RNA is pathogenic to Macaca mulatta.

AIM: To explore the pathogenicity and infectivity of hepatitis G virus (HGV) by observing replication and expression of the virus, as well as the serological and histological changes of Macaca mulatta infected with HGV genomic RNA or HGV RNA-positive serum. METHODS: Full-length HGV cDNA clone (HGVqz) was constructed and proved to be infectious, from which HGV genomic RNA was transcribed in vitro. Macaca mulatta BY1 was intra-hepatically inoculated with HGV genomic RNA, HGV RNA-positive serum from BY1 was intravenously inoculated into Macaca mulatta BM1, and then BB1 was infected with serum from BM1. Serum and liver tissue were taken regularly, and checked with RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and other immunological, serological, histological assays. RESULTS: Serum HGV RNA was detectable in all the 3 Macaca mulattas, serological and histological examinations showed the experimental animals had slightly elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) and developed HGV viremia during the infectious period. The histology, immunohis-tochemistry, and in situ hybridization in liver tissues of the inoculated animals demonstrated a very mild hepatitis with HGV antigen expression in cytoplasm of hepatocytes. RT-PCR and quantitative PCR results showed that HGV could replicate in liver. CONCLUSION: The genomic RNA from full-length HGV cDNA is infectious to the Macaca mulatta and can cause mild hepatitis. HGV RNA-positive serum, from HGV RNA inoculated Macaca mulatta, is infectious to other Macaca mulattas. Macaca mulatta is susceptible to the inoculated HGV, and therefore can be used as an experimental animal model for the studies of HGV infection and pathogenesis.

Cloning, Expression and Biological Activity of VEGI(151), a Novel Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Inhibitor.

VEGI(vascular endothelial cell growth inhibitor) is a novel cytokine which belongs to the TNF super-family. In this study, the VEGI gene from ECV304 cells was cloned. A truncated form of VEGI, where 23 amino acids from N-terminal were deleted and named VEGI(151), was expressed in E.coli with 25.5% of expression rate. The purity of VEGI(151) reached 92.5% after purification. VEGI(151) showed significant inhibitory effect on endothelial cells. IC(50) of VEGI151 was 10 mg/L at 24 h. At the concentration of 0.613 mg/L, VEGI(151) induced apoptosis of endothelial cells within 36 h. However, neither stimulatory effect nor inhibitory effect of VEGI(151) was detected on tumor cells(A549 HepG2 Hela)cultured in vitro. These results suggest that endothelial cells was the main target cells of VEGI(151). Our findings indicate that VEGI(151) is a potential therapeutic drug on angiogenic disease and cancer.

Cloning and expression of NS3 cDNA fragment of HCV genome of Hebei isolate in E.coli.

AIM:To obtain greater antigenicity of HCV NS3 protein.METHODS:The HCV NS3 cDNA fragment was amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction from the sera of the HCV infected patients.The DNA sequence was determined by dideoxy-mediated chain termination method using T7 polymerase.HCV NS3 protein was expressed in E. coli.RESULTS:Sequence analysis indicated that the HCV isolate of this study belongs to HCV-II; SDS-PAGE demonstrated an M(r) 23800 and an M(r) 22000 recombinant protein band which amount to 14% and 11% of the total bacterial proteins separately.Western blotting and ELISA showed NS3 protein possessed greater antigenicity.CONCLUSION:Recombinant HCV NS3 protein was expressed successfully, which provided the basis for developing HCV diagnostic reagents.