Magle (Sweden)

Iodine is a well-established antimicrobial agent, but its clinical use is limited by low chemical stability and adverse effects. This work investigates iodine loading into degradable starch microspheres (DSM), elucidating iodine–starch interactions, and structural changes after iodine uptake. Iodine complexation was achieved using a KI/I₂ system, yielding a characteristic purplish-red coloration within the DSM. Swelling and sedimentation analyses showed a slight reduction in DSM density after iodine absorption, without negative impact on hydration capacity. A UV–Vis spectrophotometric method targeting the triiodide band at 352 nm enabled robust quantification of iodine by leveraging equilibrium among iodine species. Sorption isotherms revealed cooperative binding behavior, with iodine uptake increasing nonlinearly in response to the external iodine concentration. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) showed iodine-induced ordering across multiple length scales, including a reduction in the dynamic correlation length and the emergence of characteristic peaks associated with iodine–amylose complex. These results elucidate the physicochemical mechanisms governing iodine incorporation into DSM and highlight the structural consequences of loading, providing a framework for designing starch-based carriers for controlled iodine release.

Sedimentation is an important property of colloidal systems that should be considered when designing pharmaceutical formulations. In pharmaceutical applications, sedimentation is normally described using Stokes' law, which assumes laminar flow of fluid. In this work we studied swelling and hydration of spherical cross-linked amorphous starch microspheres in pure water, solutions of sodium chloride, and in pH-adjusted aqueous solutions. We demonstrated that Reynolds numbers obtained in these experiments correspond to the transition regime between the laminar flow and the turbulent flow and, hence, expressions based on the non-Stokes drag coefficient should be used for calculations of sedimentation velocity from known density or for assessment of density from observed sedimentation velocity. The density of starch microparticles hydrated in water was about 1050 kg/m3, while densities obtained from experiment with other liquids were dependent on the liquids' densities. The data indicate that the swelling of the cross-linked starch microparticles as characterized by their densities is not sensitive to pH and salt concentration in the studied range of these parameters.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) have recently published three major revisions of their guidelines for the management of chronic heart disease, blood lipids, and diabetes. Areas covered: We have scrutinized these guidelines in detail and found that the authors have ignored many studies that are in conflict with their conclusions and recommendations. Expert commentary: The authors of the guidelines have ignored that LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) of patients with acute myocardial infarction is lower than normal; that high cholesterol is not a risk factor for diabetics; that the degree of coronary artery calcification is not associated with LDL-C; and that 27 follow-up studies have shown that people with high total cholesterol or LDL-C live just as long or longer than people with low cholesterol. They have also ignored the lack of exposure-response in the statin trials; that several of these trials have been unable to lower CVD or total mortality; that no statin trial has succeeded with lowering mortality in women, elderly people, or diabetics; and that cholesterol-lowering with statins has been associated with many serious side effects.

Melflufen is a novel cytostatic currently in phase III clinical trials for treatment of multiple myeloma. Development of a process suitable for production is described. The two key features of the novel method are late introduction of the alkylating pharmacophore and an improved method for formation of the bis-chloroethyl group.

We have provided a critical assessment of research on the reduction of cholesterol levels by statin treatment to reduce cardiovascular disease. Our opinion is that although statins are effective at reducing cholesterol levels, they have failed to substantially improve cardiovascular outcomes. We have described the deceptive approach statin advocates have deployed to create the appearance that cholesterol reduction results in an impressive reduction in cardiovascular disease outcomes through their use of a statistical tool called relative risk reduction (RRR), a method which amplifies the trivial beneficial effects of statins. We have also described how the directors of the clinical trials have succeeded in minimizing the significance of the numerous adverse effects of statin treatment.

RTRI is promoting the fundamental research and development concerning superconducting maglev. The topics of research are high-temperature superconducting magnet, maglev vehicles motion simulation, evaluation of the ground coil and the diagnostic technology of systems. Research on application of maglev technology to the conventional railway system is advanced in cooperation with other organizations. The main topics of this issue are a flywheel energy storage system using superconducting magnetic bearings and a magnetic refrigeration system for air-conditioners. This paper describes the existing circumstance of these researches and developments.

We report on a method of synthesizing arrays of individually seeded nanowires. Anelectron beam lithography and metal lift-off method was used to pattern InP(111)Bsubstrates with catalysing gold particles. Vertical nanowire arrays were then grown from the gold particles, using metal–organic vapourphase epitaxy. The lithographic nature of the method allows individual control over eachnanowire. Possible applications for such deterministic and uniform arrays include producingarrays of nanowire devices, two-dimensional photonic band gap structures and fieldemission displays, amongst others.

Exponentially decaying tails of free carriers extend from the neutral material into the depletion region of p-n junctions or Schottky barriers. In nonequilibrium, deep level impurities in the depletion region may readily capture free carriers from these tails. The strongly nonexponential time dependence of the capture is calculated here and is compared with experimental data. This nonexponential time dependence is particularly important in deep level transient spectroscopy, and it also appears in many other junction measurements with deep level impurities.