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Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents HIV infection through the daily administration of anti-HIV drugs, such as Truvada combination tablets (a combination of emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)). However, since PrEP is not approved in Japan, generic drugs sold overseas are imported and used by individuals. Then, the present study investigated the pharmaceutical equivalence of two generic drugs of Truvada (Generic A and Generic B). Tablet properties were examined by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The dissolution behaviors and membrane permeabilities of FTC and TDF were assessed by the dissolution test using the paddle method and a membrane permeation experiment using Caco-2 cell monolayers, respectively. The dissolution behaviors of FTC and TDF differed between Truvada and its generic drugs. Furthermore, the membrane permeation rates of FTC and TDF in Generic B were slower than those in Truvada, and the AUC of FTC in Generic B was significantly smaller than that in Truvada. Differences were observed in the dissolution behaviors and membrane permeabilities of FTC and TDF in generic drugs (particularly Generic B) from those in Truvada. Since there are concerns regarding the clinical implications of these results, further studies, including in vivo experiments, are needed to ensure the safety of generic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a novel preparative method for nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab) paclitaxel with high drug loading, which was based on improved paclitaxel solubility in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and self-assembly of paclitaxel in PEG with albumin powders into nanoparticles. That is, paclitaxel and PEG were firstly dissolved in ethanol, which was subsequently evaporated under vacuum. The obtained liquid was then mixed with human serum albumin powders. Thereafter, the mixtures were added into phosphate-buffered saline and nab paclitaxel suspensions emerged after ultrasound. Nab paclitaxel was finally acquired after dialysis and freeze drying. The drug loading of about 15% (W/V) were realized in self-made nab paclitaxel, which was increased by approximately 50% compared to 10% (W/V) in Abraxane. Now this new preparative method has been authorized to obtain patent from China and Japan. The similar characteristics of self-made nab paclitaxel compared to Abraxane were observed in morphology, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and circular dichroism spectra analysis. Consistent concentration-time curves in rats, biodistributions in mice, anti-tumor activities in mice, and histological transmutation in mice were also found between Abraxane and self-made nanoparticles. In a word, our novel preparative method for nab paclitaxel can significantly improve drug loading, obviously decrease product cost, and is considered to have potent practical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last half century, the existence of an additional thermal transition in between the glass transition and the Curie/melting transition has been frequently observed on vinylidenefluoride-based ferro-, pyro- and piezoelectric homo- and co-polymers. The transition has also been observed recently in some of the related relaxor-ferroelectric terpolymers. Despite its well-known existence and the rich history of its treatment in the literature, the origin(s) and a more or less complete picture of the mid-temperature transition have remained elusive until now. Over the years, several authors have put forth various explanations for the so-called mid-temperature transition — some complementary and some contradictory to each other. At the 17th IEEE International Symposium on Electrets (ISE-17) in Limerick, Ireland, in September 2019, the mysterious mid-temperature transition and its possible mechanism(s) became the subject of a panel discussion a) to mark the Golden Jubilee of the discovery of piezoelectricity in polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) by Heiji Kawai of Kobayashi Institute of Physical Research, Japan, as well as the Centennial of the first recognition of ferroelectricity in piezoelectric Seignette's or Rochelle salt. The panel put forward a new hypothesis that the mid-temperature transition is most likely a result of several interrelated processes that take place within the respective temperature range. The relevant processes include an upper glass transition or relaxation, a relaxation related to conformational disorder, possible imperfect/time-dependent structures formed as a result of thermal processing and secondary crystallization, as well as interface polarization effects at crystalline-amorphous boundaries. The article captures the essence of the panel discussion and the perspectives obtained therefrom to elucidate the complex mid-temperature transition in vinylidenefluoride-based ferro-, pyro- and piezoelectric homo-, co- and ter-polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal degradation was performed at 175, 200, and 250 °C from 100 to 2000 h on flame‐retardant ethylene propylene rubber (FR‐EPR) with the same compositions as those used in the insulation of a safety‐related cable in nuclear power plants. For these samples, indenter modulus (IM), elongation at break, tensile strength, and complex permittivity were measured to clarify mechanical and dielectric properties. Fourier transform infrared absorption and differential scanning calorimetric spectra were also measured to determine structural changes. As a result, it was found that FR‐EPR becomes hard by oxidation and crosslinking, and that it becomes brittle as the degradation becomes more severe. In addition, such changes in mechanical properties by the aging occur much earlier than the changes in dielectric properties. Regarding this, IM is a good indicator to examine the degradation degree of FR‐EPR. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to modify an EQUIA coat (EC; GC, Japan) by incorporating 1 and 2 wt.% of zinc oxide (ZnO; EC-Z1 and EC-Z2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2; EC-T1 and EC-T2) nanoparticles, whereby structural and phase analyses were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, micro-hardness, and water absorption analyses were conducted, and the microstructure was studied by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy. FTIR spectra showed a reduction in peak heights of amide (1521 cm−1) and carbonyl (1716 cm−1) groups. XRD showed peaks of ZnO (2θ ~ 31.3°, 34.0°, 35.8°, 47.1°, 56.2°, 62.5°, 67.6°, and 68.7°) and TiO2 (2θ ~ 25.3°, 37.8°, 47.9, 54.5°, 62.8°, 69.5°, and 75.1°) corresponding to a hexagonal phase with a wurtzite structure and an anatase phase, respectively. Thermal stability was improved in newly modified materials in comparison to the control group. The sequence of obtained glass transitions was EC-T2 (111 °C), EC-T1 (102 °C), EC-Z2 (98 °C), EC-Z1 (92 °C), and EC-C (90 °C). EC-T2 and EC-T1 showed the highest (43.76 ± 2.78) and lowest (29.58 ± 3.2) micro-hardness values. EC showed the maximum water absorption (1.6%) at day 7 followed by EC-T1 (0.82%) and EC-Z1 (0.61%). These results suggest that EC with ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles has the potential to be used clinically as a coating material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new calibration solution reference material for the determination of perfluorooctane sulfonate anion (PFOS) and its salts has been issued as a certified reference material (CRM) by the National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST). The purity amount-of-substance fraction of raw material potassium perfluorooctane sulfonate (K-PFOS) was evaluated based on the results obtained using the freezing point depression method, and the purity mass fraction of the raw material was calculated using the average molar mass of impurities, the molar mass of K-PFOS, and the purity amount-of-substance fraction. The certified concentration of this CRM was obtained by multiplying the dilution ratio of the raw material in a prepared solution (methanol) determined from the gravimetric blending method by the purity of the raw material. The preparation concentration of K-PFOS as a certified value of NMIJ CRM 4220-a was determined to be 9.93 mg kg−1. In addition, the standard uncertainty of the certified value was evaluated from the purity evaluation as well as from sample inhomogeneity, instability, and preparation variation obtained from LC/MS measurements of different gravimetrically prepared solutions of the NMIJ CRM. Consequently, the expanded uncertainty was estimated to be 0.15 mg kg−1with a coverage factork = 2 corresponding to the half-width of estimated confidence interval of approximately 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The starch properties of four Japanese wheat varieties/breeding lines suitable for both bread and noodles were compared with those of popular commercial wheat classes from the USA, Canada and Australia. All starches were analyzed for amylose content, pasting properties measured by a rapid visco analyzer (RVA), swelling power, thermal properties measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), enzyme digestibility, and chain length distribution of amylopectin (DP 6–17). All starch characteristics studied, except the chain length distribution of amylopectin, were significantly different among the tested wheat classes and varieties/breeding lines. Including Japanese wheat varieties/breeding lines, higher amylose contents and lower peak viscosities were found in hard wheats than in soft wheats. Interestingly, enthalpy, in the amylose–lipid complex measured by DSC, showed significant correlations with the pasting temperature from the RVA and swelling power. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]