To Explore the Haemostatic Effect of Compression Haemostasis Using an Ultrasonic Probe under the Guidance of Ultrasound after Radial Artery Puncture

Objective. To evaluate a new haemostasis method using an ultrasound probe to compress the radial artery and haemostasis under direct vision to replace traditional manual compression of the radial artery. Methods. According to a random number table, 240 patients with gastrointestinal tumours who had undergone arterial puncture were divided into Group A (120 cases) and Group B (120 cases). In Group A, patients were under the guidance of ultrasound to confirm the vascular port, determine the compression position of the ultrasound probe, observe the degree of vascular deformation, and press the radial artery puncture port with pressure to stop bleeding under direct vision. In Group B, traditional manual compression was used. All patients received 5 min of compression for haemostasis, and haemostasis conditions were recorded after compression and 24 hours postoperatively. Results. The incidence of bleeding, haematoma, and skin ecchymosis at the puncture site after 5 minutes of compression in Group A was lower than that in Group B ( P < 0.05 ). No significant difference was found between the two groups at 24 hours after the operation ( P > 0.05 ). Conclusion. The method using an ultrasound probe to guide radial artery compression to haemostasis is better than traditional manual compression when applied for compression haemostasis after removing the radial artery catheter.

Viscoelastic and mechanical properties of CNT-reinforced polymer-based hybrid composite materials using hygrothermal creep

In the present work, a combination of experimental and numerical procedure is proposed to study the effects of different hygrothermal conditions on the creep strain, viscoelastic properties of nanocomposites, and mechanical properties of such nanocomposite-based carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) hybrid composite materials. Ultrasonic probe sonicator is used to randomly disperse the multiwalled carbon nanotubes into an epoxy to minimize agglomerations. Dynamic mechanical analysis is employed to conduct the creep tests under different hygrothermal conditions of such nanocomposite samples. The Findley power law is used to obtain the long-term creep behavior of nanocomposite materials. Prony series is used to determine the viscoelastic properties of nanocomposite material in the frequency domain. Coefficient of moisture expansion (CME) is independent of moisture concentration; thus, CME of the nanocomposite is also determined. Strength of materials and Saravanos–Chamis micromechanics (SCM) have also been utilized to obtain the mechanical properties of such hybrid composite materials under different hygrothermal conditions. It has been found that the inclusion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the nanocomposite and hybrid composites improves storage modulus and loss factor (i.e., tan δ) compared to the conventional CFRP-based composite materials under hygrothermal conditions.

Ethanol Extraction of Polar Lipids from Nannochloropsis oceanica for Food, Feed, and Biotechnology Applications Evaluated Using Lipidomic Approaches

Nannochloropsis oceanica can accumulate lipids and is a good source of polar lipids, which are emerging as new value-added compounds with high commercial value for the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Some applications may limit the extraction solvents, such as food applications that require safe food-grade solvents, such as ethanol. However, the effect of using ethanol as an extraction solvent on the quality of the extracted polar lipidome, compared to other more traditional methods, is not yet well established. In this study, the polar lipid profile of N. oceanica extracts was obtained using different solvents, including chloroform/methanol (CM), dichloromethane/methanol (DM), dichloromethane/ethanol (DE), and ethanol (E), and evaluated by modern lipidomic methods using LC-MS/MS. Ultrasonic bath (E + USB)- and ultrasonic probe (E + USP)-assisted methodologies were implemented to increase the lipid extraction yields using ethanol. The polar lipid signature and antioxidant activity of DM, E + USB, and E + USP resemble conventional CM, demonstrating a similar extraction efficiency, while the DE and ethanol extracts were significantly different. Our results showed the impact of different extraction solvents in the polar lipid composition of the final extracts and demonstrated the feasibility of E + USB and E + USP as safe and food-grade sources of polar lipids, with the potential for high-added-value biotechnological applications.

Optimization of Diclofenac Sodium-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) Using the Box-Behnken Design

This study aimed to prepare diclofenac sodium (DCF)–loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) (DCF-loaded NLCs) for optimizing the NLCs by using the Box-Behnken design. A hot emulsification method using an ultrasonic probe was employed to prepare DCF-loaded NLCs. The active ingredient, solid lipid, oil, and emulsifier were DCF, glyceryl monostearate (GMS) (X1), oleic acid (X2), and polysorbate 80 (X3), respectively. The DCF-loaded NLCs had particle sizes of 69.29–187.3 nm. The polydispersity index (PDI) was in the range of 0.216–0.516, indicating a relatively narrow size distribution. The zeta potential of all formulations revealed the negative charge and ranged between -26.0 and -42.13 mV. The percentage encapsulation efficiency (%EE) was 92.71%–104.21%. The responses of all model formulations were created and the optimized formulation was selected by Design-Expert® software. The optimal formulation was composed of 2 g GMS, 0.926 g oleic acid, and 2.724 g polysorbate 80. The particle size and PDI experimental values with the optimal formulation did not differ from those predicted and were within the 95% CI. Therefore, the Box-Behnken design could be efficient in formulating and optimizing DCF-loaded NLCs.

Abstract MP02: Acute Increases Of Renal Perfusion Pressure Activate Mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin Complex 1 And Increase Macrophage Infiltration In The Kidney Of Sprague Dawley Rats.

Studies were carried out to determine whether acute elevation of renal perfusion pressure (RPP) activates the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and inflammation-related genes which may trigger a rapid infiltration of immune cells. RPP was elevated by 40 mmHg (HP group) for 30 minutes in male SD rats (n=5, 10-12 weeks of age) while measuring renal blood flow (RBF; Transonic ultrasonic probe) and urine flow rate. Sham rats (Sham group) were studied in the same way, but RPP was not changed. Since initial studies found that the acute increase of RPP resulted in activation of mTORC1 (pS6 S235/6 /S6; P<0.05) but not mTORC2 (pAKT T308 /AKT ), the effects of inhibition of mTORC1 with rapamycin (Rapa) pretreatment (1.5 mg/kg; n=10) were then determined (HP+Rapa group). RBF was well autoregulated in both HP and HP+Rapa treated rats averaging 6.9 ± 0.5 vs 7.0 ± 0.8 ml/min/gkw in HP (p=0.72) and 8.1 ± 0.8 vs 8.4 ± 0.5 in HP+Rapa group (p=0.34) with a 40 mmHg elevation of RPP. Pressure-natriuresis was unexpectedly blunted in HP+Rapa treated rats increasing from 0.40 ± 0.21 to 4.0 ± 1.1 in HP rats compared to 0.21 ± 0.07 to 2.3 ± 0.5 μmol/min/gkw; p<0.05) in the HP+Rapa treated rats. Urine volumes were similarly affected. Elevation of RPP increased the mTORC1 activity (pS6 S235/6 /S6) in renal cortex (2.8 ± 0.4 vs 4.8 ± 0.5 A.U.; p<0.05, n=5) and outer medulla (2.0 ± 0.3 vs 5.0 ± 0.6 A.U.; p<0.05, n=5) of HP rats compared to Sham. Rapa treatment suppressed this activation. rtPCR analysis found increased mRNA expression of lipocalin-2 (Lcn2; involved innate immune responses; p<0.05), heme oxygenase (Hmox1; p<0.05) and cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox2; p=0.08) in HP rats compared to Sham, responses which were generally blunted by Rapa. Importantly, as determined by immunohistochemistry, CD68 positive macrophage staining was significantly increased (p<0.001) with elevation of RPP in HP compared to sham rat kidneys. This was significantly reduced by Rapa treatment (p<0.001). We conclude that the mTORC1 pathway can be activated very quickly following elevations of RPP and appears to be responsible for rapid macrophage infiltration which is prevented by Rapa treatment. So too, inhibition of mTORC1 with Rapa reduced the pressure-diuresis response through yet unknown mechanisms.

A pH-Sensitive Polymeric Micellar System Based on Chitosan Derivative for Efficient Delivery of Paclitaxel

In this study, an amphiphilic conjugate based on mPEG and cholesterol-modified chitosan with hydrazone bonds in the molecules (mPEG-CS-Hz-CH) was successfully synthesized. Using the polymer as the carrier, the paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded mPEG-CS-Hz-CH micelles were prepared by an ultrasonic probe method. The mean particle size and zeta potential of the optimized PTX-loaded micelles were 146 ± 4 nm and +21.7 ± 0.7 mV, respectively. An in vitro drug release study indicated that the PTX-loaded mPEG-CS-Hz-CH micelles were stable under normal physiological conditions (pH 7.4), whereas rapid drug release was observed in the simulated tumor intracellular microenvironment (pH 5.0). An in vitro cytotoxicity study demonstrated the non-toxicity of the polymer itself, and the PTX-loaded micelles exhibited superior cytotoxicity and significant selectivity on tumor cells. An in vivo antitumor efficacy study further confirmed that the PTX-loaded micelles could improve the therapeutic efficacy of PTX and reduce the side effects. All these results suggested that the mPEG-CS-Hz-CH micelles might be promising pH-sensitive nanocarriers for PTX delivery.

Preclinical study to improve microbubble-mediated drug delivery in cancer using an ultrasonic probe with an interchangeable acoustic lens

Focused ultrasound with microbubbles (FUS-MBs) has shown that it can lead to an efficient drug delivery system (DDS) involving the oscillation and destruction of the MB but is limited in drug delivery due to its narrow pressure field. However, unfocused ultrasound with MBs (UUS-MBs) and an interchangeable acoustic lens can tune and enhance the pressure field for MB destruction to overcome the disadvantages of FUS-MB DDSs. We designed a lens suitable for an ultrasound-phased array probe and studied the optimal treatment conditions for MB destruction in vitro through an optical imaging setup. The DDS effects were evaluated in a rat hepatoma model using doxorubicin (DOX) treatment. A concave lens with a radius of curvature of 2.6 mm and a thickness of 4 mm was selected and fabricated. UUS-MBs with the acoustic lens at 60 Vpp for 32 cycles and a PRF of 1 kHz could induce MB destruction, promoting the DDS even under fluidic conditions. In the animal experiment, the UUS-MBs in the acoustic lens treatment group had a higher concentration of DOX in the tumor than the control group. Our system suggests uses an acoustic lens to increase DDS effectiveness by providing sufficient ultrasound irradiation to the MBs.