Gel Samples Research Articles

Preparation and cytotoxicity evaluation of hydrogels based on poly(trimethylene carbonate) and carboxyalkyl chitosans for regenerative medicine applications

Aim of this study was to assess possible influence of eight different variants of chitosan-based gels (without cross-linker treatment and cross-linked with one of the next substances – glutaraldehyde or hexamethylene diisocyanate) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) gels onto live tissues using in vitro cell culture model with 14 days incubation and regular light microscopy and final MTT cytotoxicity assay. All gel samples were preliminary undergone radiation sterilization with 25 kGy (equal to 10-6 sterility assurance level) absorbed dose before experiment.Results showed that four of eight tested gels showed mostly biocompatible behavior – both in cell culture and in MTT assay, except for hydrogel chitosan-hexamethylene diisocyanate and carboxyethylchitosan-1, and two poly(trimethylene carbonate) gel samples. For the poly(trimethylene carbonate) such negative results could be avoided in the future via modifications for increasing of hydrophilic properties and functionality, and for two worst chitosan-based gel samples a possible solution for the adequate cytotoxicity evaluation could be a more precision flow cytometry with known fluorescent cytotoxicity assays.

α-Gel (α-Form Hydrated Crystal) Prepared by Eco-Friendly Cationic Surfactant.

We studied the structures and properties of gel samples prepared by mixtures of N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]docosanamide (APA-22) acid salt (APA-22 L-lactic acid), 1-octadecanol (C18OH), and water. The gel samples prepared at the mole ratios [APA-22 L-lactic acid]:C18OH = 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 yielded two phases; one being the α-gel (α-form hydrated crystal) phase, incorporating a significant quantity of water between lamellar bilayers, and the other being the excess water phase. The lamellar d-spacing remained practically unaltered at these mole ratios, thus maintaining the quantity of water incorporated between the lamellar bilayers relatively constant. Starting at 30°C, the gel samples transformed into a lamellar liquid crystal phase at high temperatures (85°C) and a β-gel phase at low temperatures (5°C). Interestingly, following dilution by pure water, the viscosity of the gel samples decreased with increasing C18OH content. We expect that the viscosity change affects the performance of the gel samples as hair conditioners.

Preparation and Evaluation of Aloe-Vera Hydro-Gel containing Anti-Biotic

The main aim of present work is to prepare and evaluate the wound healing effect of Terramycin To screen the wound healing effect of the formulated gel on the animals containing Aloe vera hydro gel and evaluate physical and microbial parameters for the formulated gel. Two gram formulations were weighed (A1, A2, A3 and A4) accurately and kept in a desiccators containing 50gm anhydrous calcium chloride. After three days, the formulations were weighed. Percentage loss is Percentage moisture loss is 1gm. The relative density of the formulation or weight/ml of the formulation was determined by taking the weight in gm of 10ml formulation and 10ml distilled water using RD bottle. Viscosity is an important feature to determine the resistance of flow of gel formulation so that it can spread on the skin properly. It was determined with the help of viscometer using 2 number spindles. pH of the formulation was determined by using pH meter. In this method, electrode was washed with double distilled water, dried with the help of tissue paper and then dipped in 20ml gel formulation. Nutrient agar media was used in microbial growth study. In this method the blank and sample (n=3) petriplates were used and the gel samples were aseptically transferred on to the sample plates in a cross pattern. The microbial growth was observed daily for 14 days.

Intra-articular delivery of flurbiprofen sustained release thermogel: improved therapeutic outcome of collagenase II-induced rat knee osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease. Intra-articular administration of flurbiprofen is frequently employed in clinic to treat OA, while repeated injections are required because of the limited effective duration. To improve therapeutic outcome and prolong the treatment interval, a poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide) (PCLA–PEG–PCLA) triblock copolymer based flurbiprofen thermosensitive gel for the sustained intra-articular drug delivery was designed in this study. The anti-OA effects of this flurbiprofen thermogel were investigated on collagenase II-induced rat knee OA model by multiple approaches and compared with that of conventional sodium hyaluronate and flurbiprofen injecta. In vitro drug release studies indicated that flurbiprofen was sustained released from the thermosensitive gel for more than three weeks. This sustained drug release system exerted comparable short-term analgesic effects and distinctly improved long-term analgesic efficacy in terms of the increased percentage of the total ipsilateral paw print intensity and the reduced Knee-Bend scores of OA rats. The inflammatory response was attenuated in the samples of flurbiprofen gel treated group by showing decreased IL-1, IL-6, and IL-11 levels in the joint fluid and down-regulated IL-1, IL-6, IL-11, COX-2, TNF-α, and NF-κB/p65 expression in the articular cartilages. The results suggest the suitability of thermosensitive copolymer PCLA–PEG–PCLA for sustained intra-articular effects of flurbiprofen and provide in vivo experimental evidence for potential clinical application of this flurbiprofen delivery system to better management of OA cases.

A RAPID AND EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF ETHANOL CONTENT IN HAND SANITIZERS (ALCOHOL GEL).

The new Coronavirus-Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has increased public awareness about hand hygiene both in-house and in out-of-home situations. As a consequence, there was a shortage of alcohol gel in supermarkets and pharmacies which led to a rise of “alternative brands” and manufacturers for this product in the market. Ethanol is the main active ingredient in hand sanitizer products. For liquid formulas, the use of alcoholmeter is the standard method for quality-control of the ethanol concentration, but for gel products, with high viscosity, this method does not apply. In this paper, it is presented a rapid method for ethanol determination in hand sanitizers (alcohol gel), aiming at the quality-control of this product which is important to assure its efficacy in killing pathogenic microorganisms. The method was applied for seven samples of alcohol gel which showed ethanol mass fraction levels ranging from 53.9 % to 65.3 %, below the alleged content on their label and the recommended concentration for viruses and bacteria inactivation. The use of an ultrasonic bath was proved to be more suitable for sample homogenization rather than hand-shaking. Overall, the method has shown to be rapid and presented good specificity, repeatability, and reproducibility for the proposed application.

Фармакологічне обґрунтування вибору оптимального складу нового вагінального гелю з ресвератролом і гіалуроновою кислотою

The aim of the work study – screening determination of the activity of test samples of gels with resveratrol and hyaluronic acid on a model of hypoestrogenism in rats to identify a leader sample with the optimal content of resveratrol in the dosage form composition. The vaginal gels of a combined composition were developed under the supervision of a doctor of pharmaceutical sciences, professor O. A. Ruban at the Department of Plant Technology NFaU. To model the hypoestrogen state in female rats, the main hormone-producing gland, the ovaries, were removed. Vaginal gels were administered intravaginally 1 time per day for 28 days. The pharmacological effectiveness of the test samples was carried out by such indicators as change in body weight of rats (since women during menopause are prone to increase body weight) and body temperature at the root of the tail (this indicator is considered equivalent to the symptom of «hot flashes» in women), microbiological examination of the vaginal biotope, the pH value of the vaginal secretion, the macro- and microscopic state of the vaginal mucosa, which corresponds to the clinical manifestations of hypoestrogenic state.According to the results of the studied parameters evaluation, a gel with 0,5 % resveratrol showed the highest pharmacological activity: estrogen-like effect was the largest among all test samples of vaginal gels with various concentrations of resveratrol, namely 0,5 %, 1 %, 2 % and 3 %. Under the course application the vaginal gels helped to normalize body weight and body temperature at the root of the tail, a microbiological state and the pH of the vaginal secretion. When the vaginal gel was administered to female rats after bilateral ovariectomy, it prevented the development of dystrophic macro- and microscopic changes in the vaginal mucosa, and as a result led to the restoration of the state of the epithelial plate of the vagina of animals, and the effectiveness of the new vaginal gel exceeded the effect of the reference drug.According to the results of screening studies, a gel with 0,5 % resveratrol was recognized as the leader sample and recommended as the final composition of the dosage form for further in-depth pharmacological studies.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel sugar based cross-linker

There are very few literature reports on the synthesis of monosaccharide based cross-linkers. A novel monosaccharide sugar-based cross-linker was synthesized by using D-mannitol, and allyl chloride in basic medium at low temperature (40°C) under inert atmospheric conditions. We have used a new synthetic scheme which does not involve the use of autoclave at high temperature and pressure for carrying out allylation with allyl chloride. The synthesized product has been characterized by, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and 1 H Nuclear magnetic resonance (1 HNMR) spectra. The formation of allyl mannitol was also confirmed with the help of elemental analysis of C, H and O. Cross linked polymer gel samples were prepared by polymerizing acrylic acid monomer alongwith the synthesized cross-linker at different concentrations. Aqueous gels have been prepared from the cross-linked polymers and their swelling capacity has been studied. It has been found that these gels act as superabsorbent materials. The optimum ratio of cross-linker and acrylic acid monomer for the preparation of gel having highest swelling capacity (~ 28000% of water) was found to be 0.03 g crosslinker with 12.0 g. monomer.

Can ultrasound probes and gels be the source for opportunistic bacterial infections?

The aim of this study was to investigate the contaminant microorganisms on the surface of probes used in noninvasive ultrasound examination and in the gels. Culture samples were obtained from the convex abdominal probe at the beginning of the day and after use on every five patients. Cultures were taken from linear breast probe at the beginning of the day and after use one very two patients. All samples were taken after wiping with a dry tissue paper until no visible gel remained on the probes. Furthermore, the samples were taken from gels when the gel was first opened, at the end of the day and 24 hours after opening. A total of 76 samples from 25 breast probes, 33 abdominal probes and 18 gels were included. Bacteria was detected in 20 (80%) of 25 linear probe samples. Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were detected in 19 (76%), Burkholderia cepacia and Staphylococcus aureus in two (8%), Cupriavidus pauculus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in one (%4). Bacterial growth was detected in 23 of 33 (69.7%) abdominal probes. aureus and S.maltophilia were isolated in 2 samples, most of which were CNS (n:20; 60.6%). The bacterial growth rate of all probes was 74.13% (43/58). Bacteria was detected in 2 of 18 gel samples (16.66%), two of which were CNS and one of them was S.maltophilia. Although more skin flora bacteria were detected in noninvasive probes and gels, a small number of pathogenic bacteria were also found in our study. Proper disinfection of the noninvasive probes and proper use of gels is therefore necessary. We believe that wiping with nonsterile dry tissue paper after each procedure is insufficient for disinfection of the probe surface. Disinfection and gel usage guidelines should be determined for ultrasound units both in our hospital and in our country.

Effect of Nanoparticles with Different Chemical Nature on the Stability and Rheology of Acrylamide Sodium Acrylate Copolymer/Chromium (III) Acetate Gel for Conformance Control Operations

During enhanced oil recovery (EOR), reservoir heterogeneities and fluids distributions promote preferential flow channels formation. Therefore, different types of gels have been proposed to improve swept efficiency on chemical flooding by plugging high permeability zones. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effect that nanotechnology has on the inhibition of syneresis and the rheological properties of the Acrylamide Sodium Acrylate Copolymer/Chromium (III) Acetate gel system for conformance applications in mature reservoirs. Thus, a methodology is proposed in four stages: First, (I) nanoparticles synthesis, and characterization, followed by (II) bottle tests to monitor gelation kinetics and syneresis degree at 70 °C, then (III) description of the rheological evaluation on static and dynamic conditions to calculate gelation time and viscoelastic modulus (G’ and G”), and finally (IV) the displacement test with the best gel system in the presence of nanoparticles. Results showed that the best nanoparticle was the chromium oxide (Cr2O3), which represented the lesser syneresis degree and increased gelation time. Syneresis of gel samples in the presence of Cr2O3 at day 30 was under 1% for gels prepared with 4000, 6000, and 8000 mg·L−1 of polymer, and polymer to crosslinker ratio (p/c) of 40:1. Regarding SiO2, MgO, and Al2O3 nanoparticles, results show an improvement of gel strength. However, their thermal stability in terms of syneresis was lower. Displacement test in a triple parallel Slim Tube was able to recover an additional 37% of oil of the total oil present in the sandpacks, confirming the effectivity of the system when 100 mg·L−1 of Cr2O3 nanoparticles are included.

Research on the development of dental gel technology with metronidazole benzoate and hyaluronic acid

Aim. Development of technology of dental gel with combined composition, establishment of optimal technological parameters for the introduction of active and auxiliary substances.Methods. After production of experimental gel, we determined homogeneity for the samples with the method of SPhU 1.1, section 511. The particle size of the suspension was studied using a XY-B2TLED microscope under polarized light according to SPhU 2.9.37. The quantitative determination of metronidazole benzoate and the accompanying impurities A, B, C, miramistin, sodium hyaluronate was performed by liquid chromatography, according to SPhU section 2.2.29, section 2.2.46.Results. According to the results of chemical and microscopic studies, the optimal method of introducing metronidazole benzoate into the gel base is the suspension method. To ensure the best distribution of metronidazole benzoate, a micronized substance was used and the technological parameters of pre-homogenization of metronidazole benzoate in propylene glycol at 20-25 °C were determined. Microphotographs of the gel samples showed that homogenization of metronidazole benzoate with propylene glycol at a speed of 3000 to 4000 rpm provides a homogeneous translucent gel of white colour. Selected methods of dissolution and technological parameters allow to obtain a stable gel without degradation products of active substances.Conclusions. The optimal way of introducing into the gel base the combination of active substances: metronidazole benzoate, myramistine, hyaluronate sodium is substantiated. The rational technology of production of the combined dental gel is developed. Critical stages and parameters of technological process are defined, criteria of their acceptability are established

Enhanced sciatic nerve regeneration by poly-L-lactic acid/multi-wall carbon nanotube neural guidance conduit containing Schwann cells and curcumin encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles in rat.

The main aim of this study was to improve the efficacy of peripheral nerve regeneration by an artificial neural guidance conduit (NGC) as a carrier to transplant allogeneic Schwann cells (SCs) and curcumin encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles (nanocurcumin). The conduit was prepared by poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and surface-modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes (mMWCNT) and filled with SCs and nanocurcumin. SCs play an important role in the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve and controlled curcumin release can decrease SCs apoptosis, and enhance the regeneration and functional recovery of injured peripheral nerves. The mechanical properties, contact angle, and cell biocompatibility experiments showed that the optimized concentration of mMWCNT inside PLLA wall of conduits was 0.15wt%. The drug release experiments showed slower release of curcumin from nanocurcumin samples compared to nanocurcumin encapsulated inside NGC wrapped fibrin gel sample. It was found that simultaneous using of both SCs and curcumin inside NGC had a significant role in sciatic nerve regeneration in vivo. Histological examination revealed a significant increase in the number of axons in injured sciatic nerve following treatment by SCs and nanocurcumin compared to negative control group. Histological evaluation also revealed a significant decrease in the number of vessels in fibrin groups compared to positive control group. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the reaction time and sciatic functional index (SFI) values of rats with injured sciatic nerve treated by NGC/SCs/nanocurcumin sample and autograft sample. In conclusion, our results strongly showed that PLLA/mMWCNT nanofibrous conduit filled with fibrin gel containing SCs and nanocurcumin is a proper strategy for improving nerve regeneration after a nerve transaction in the rat.

Development and Characterization of Zeolite-A from Elefun Kaolin

Zeolites are important industrial materials of unique chemical structure that are utilized in various industrial plants as adsorbent for gases, liquid, solids or even as catalysts. The use of synthetic chemicals as starting materials for commercial production of Zeolite-A is cost intensive. However, low-cost raw materials such as clay minerals, coal ashes, natural zeolites, municipal solid wastes and industrial sludge have been widely used. In this study, the synthesis and characterization of Zeolite-A from natural raw Kaolin (Elefun) clay using hydrothermal treatment technique was investigated. The raw and beneficiated kaolin were experimentally studied and comparison was made based on material characterization and application. Metakaolinization was achieved by thermal activation of the beneficiated kaolin at 850 oC for 2 hours. Thereafter, Sodium Aluminosilicate gel was prepared with the molar ratio SiO2/Al2O3 = 2.6, Na2O/SiO2 = 3.0, and H2O/Na2O = 40 by mixing calculated amounts of metakaolin with sodium hydroxide solution of analytical grade. The gelled samples were aged for 24 hours at ambient temperature and subsequently crystallized for 24 hours at 100 °C. The starting kaolin, beneficiated kaolin, calcined kaolin and final product were characterized using X- Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and results were corroborated by X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM). The results showed that Zeolite-A can be synthesized from Elefun kaolin by ageing at room temperature for 24 hours and crystallization at 100 ° C for 24 hours.

Multinuclear absolute magnetic resonance thermometry

Non-invasive measurement of absolute temperature is important for proper characterization of various pathologies and for evaluation of thermal dose during interventional procedures. The proton (hydrogen nucleus) magnetic resonance (MR) frequency shift method can be used to map relative temperature changes. However, spatiotemporal variations in the main magnetic field and the lack of local internal frequency reference challenge the determination of absolute temperature. Here, we introduce a multinuclear method for absolute MR thermometry, based on the fact that the hydrogen and sodium nuclei exhibit a unique and distinct characteristic frequency dependence with temperature and with electrolyte concentration. A one-to-one mapping between the precession frequency difference of the two nuclei and absolute temperature is demonstrated. Proof-of-concept experiments were conducted in aqueous solutions with different NaCl concentrations, in agarose gel samples, and in freshly excised ex vivo mouse tissues. One-dimensional chemical shift imaging experiments also demonstrated excellent agreement with infrared measurements.

One Pot Cooking of Rice Grains for Preparation of Rice-Gel Samples Using a Small-Scale Viscosity Analyzer: Small-scale Rice-gel Preparation from Grains.

Rice-gel prepared by the following three steps: rice grain cooking, shearing of the cooked rice, and cooling for gel formation, is expected as a novel food ingredient for modification of various food products such as bread and noodles. To meet the demand for high-throughput systems for research and developments on the new rice gels, herein we established a mini-cooking system for preparation of rice gel samples from grains using a small-scale viscosity analyzer (Rapid Visco Analyzer; RVA). Polished rice grains (4 g) were cooked with 22 mL of water in a canister, and the paddle equipped in the canister was rotated at 2,000 rpm for 30 min (80 °C was used as a representative) to shear the cooked rice. The sheared paste was cooled to 10 °C at 160 rpm, and the initial gelation property was evaluated by viscosity analysis within the RVA. Alternatively, the sheared paste was transferred to an acrylic mold and kept at 4 °C for 0, 1, 3, and 5 days for determination of the hardness with a compression test. Compressive forces required to penetrate 20 % thickness for three tested rice cultivars were measured, and the trend of the value shifts during preservation is similar to the corresponding trend obtained in 300-g grain scale laboratory tests, whereas the individual values were halved in the former. This small cooking method could offer a useful assay system for a rapid evaluation in the breeding programs and in the high-throughput screening of additives for the modification of properties.

Anti-inflammatory activity of a combined gel based on plant components in a model of adjuvant arthritis in rats

Topicality. According to WHO, more than 4 % of the population globe suffer from a variety of joint and spine disorders. In Ukraine, more than 34,500 patients with primary joint diseases are registered annually. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system have a chronic course that requires long-term treatment and puts increased demands on the effectiveness and safety of anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, the above justifies the feasibility and relevance of the search for new highly effective and safe domestic drugs.Aim. To make an experimental study of the pharmacological activity of a combined gel for the treatment of inflammatory joint disease if chronic inflammation – adjuvant arthritis in rats.Materials and methods. The subjects of the study were model samples of a combined gel with active pharmaceutical ingredients - white willow bark, common sage leaves dried extract and methyl salicylate. The anti-inflammatory properties of the new gel were studied using a model of adjuvant arthritis in rats (sensitization to the base of the tail by PAF at 0.1 ml/animal, and the introduction on the seventh day of a resolving dose by PAF 0.1 ml/animal under aponeurosis of the right hind limb subplantarly). Diclofenac sodium gel, 5 %, was used as the comparison drug. The test specimens were applied to the affected paw surface daily at a dose of 0.2 ml/animal. Indicators: volume of edema of animal paws (3, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days of experiment); leukocyte and FAN content in the blood and alkaline and acid phosphatase activity and serum CIK content (21 days).Results and discussion. According to the results of studies, against the background of chronic inflammation, the combined gel shows an efficiency comparing to the diclofenac sodium gel, 5 %, conceding to it only in its anti-exudative effect. However, a positive feature of the new gel, in contrast to the drug of comparison, is the ability to maintain the cellular level of non-specific animal immunity, which is significantly impaired under the condition of this pathology.Conclusions. The obtained experimental data substantiate the prospect of further pharmacological studies of the developed combination gel based on the active ingredients of white willow bark, sage medicinal leaves dried extract and methyl salicylate.

Recovery of Methanol from Natural Gas on Alumina-Modified Silica Gel Adsorbent

The features of methanol conversion using silica gel adsorbents modified with alumina, the result of which is the formation of dimethyl ether, are considered. The conversion of methanol to dimethyl ether on modified silica gel was studied in experimental and industrial plants in a wide temperature range and at various gas supply flows. There were obtained the dependences of the degree of conversion of methanol to dimethyl ether on the temperature of catalysis on modified samples of silica gel, the distribution of absorbed components in industrial adsorption plant for drying natural gas.

Hybrid sol–gel coatings doped with cerium nanocontainers for active corrosion protection of AA2024

This work presents a new approach to develop protective pre-treatment for AA2024 based on the inhibitor efficiency of cerium ions which are considered as a promising alternative to replace chromate compounds. The inhibition properties of cerium salts for improving the anti-corrosion performance of AA2024 have been characterized by polarization curves and EIS measurements. Cerium ions were inserted into nanoclays platelets by cationic-exchange reactions (CeMMT). XRD analysis proved the presence of cerium ions intercalated into clay structure. EIS measurements and polarization curves highlighted a high corrosion inhibition effect of cerium-modified nanoclays. This effectiveness can be related to the release of 60% of cerium ions from CeMMT structure in sodium chloride as determined by UV–vis measurements. Salt spray test made on scratched sol–gel samples indicated a self-healing effect of cerium ions which provide an active corrosion protection to aluminum substrate. EIS measurements revealed that hybrid sol–gel films doped with CeMMT improve barrier properties and anticorrosion protection of aluminum 2024 substrate.

Surface modification of synthesized Fe3O4 super-paramagnetic nanoparticles and performance investigation in gelation parameters enhancement: application in enhanced oil recovery

Application of different surface modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles for enhancing the gel polymers properties and oil recovery increase using gel polymers has been investigated. Fe3O4 Super-paramagnetic nanoparticles were prepared using co-precipitation method, and the surface modified using citric acid, ascorbic acid and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, SiO2). All the surface modified nanoparticles were super-paramagnetic, considering the vibrating sample magnetometer test results. Adding Fe3O4 and Fe3O4@SiO2 to the gellant samples has resulted in shear viscosity increase of the gel (9.32–9.92 Pa.s and 10.28 Pa.s), but Fe3O4@ascorbic acid has resulted in shear viscosity decrease (8.79 Pa.s) and the gellant sample containing Fe3O4@citric acid did not convert to gel polymer. The samples containing Fe3O4@ascorbic acid synersised after 5–10 days. Nanoparticles has changed the order and constant of the gelation reaction, too. The injection of the gel sample containing 8000 ppm Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles in a heterogeneous micromodel resulted in blocking the high permeability zone and subsequently led to a significant increase in the oil recovery factor from 27.3 to 54%.

Dynamic moisture loss explored through quantitative super-resolution microscopy, spatial micro-viscosity and macroscopic analyses in acid milk gels

Molecular interactions and dynamic changes at a range of length scales affect the structuring of food materials, as such it is essential to explore structure at a range of different length scales. Herein, four acid milk gel samples are produced from either fresh or reconstituted skim milk that either had no heat treatment or had undergone heat treatment at 85 °C for 10 min. Milk acid gels demonstrate complex structure on a range of length scales of interest in colloidal materials and exhibit different macroscopic and water binding properties. A method is presented to measure the dynamic moisture loss in these samples, without applying external force. Super-resolution microscopy images are quantitatively analysed to describe the gel microstructure with precise features. Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging Microscopy is used to spatially resolve differences in molecular confinement across the sample's microstructure, which is quantified for each sample. Moisture loss and microstructural analyses are correlated to bulk and macroscopic properties determined through rheological and texture analysis, pH and conductivity measurements. More severe thermal and processing treatments leads to a reduction in moisture loss over time. Differences in moisture loss and mechanical properties relate to different thermal processing histories, but are not fully explained by levels of denatured whey proteins, and appear related to changes in mineral balance. The methods presented provide a comprehensive and complementary overview of material properties across relevant length scales and relevant sample conditions.

Serum uric acid concentration (SUAC): A useful tool to assess extent and severity of chronic plaque psoriasis in Pakistani population.

Objectives: Psoriasis is a systemic chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Psoriasis can lead to multiple complications and co-morbidities. It has also been observed that raised serum uric acid levels predispose to gouty arthritis and also thought to be a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The basic aim of this study was to ascertain level of serum uric acid in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and control cases which might be a useful tool for assessing the extent and severity of chronic plaque psoriasis. Study Design: Case control study. Setting: At Outpatient’s Department (OPD) of Department of Dermatology, PNS Shifa, Karachi. Period: From January 2013 to December 2016. Material & Methods: One hundred and ninety four (194) patients were taken in this study and 97 patients were biopsy proven cases of psoriasis and 97 other participants included as control cases reporting to OPD with other complaint like acne, hair fall and fungal infections. After written and informed consent, 5ml of venous blood was drawn in sterile syringe and using gel sample tube to see the serum uric acid levels. On the basis of laboratory reports the elevated serum uric acid level in psoriatic versus normal controls was recorded on a pre-designed proforma. Results: There were 54.6% (106/194) male and 45.4% (88/194) female. Elevated serum uric level was 4.5 times (Approximate of 4.46) more common in cases than control group (OR: 4.46 95%CI: 1.83 to 10.91). Conclusion: Raised levels of serum Uric acid have been seen frequently in psoriatic patients. Early treatment for higher levels of serum uric acid might play a critical role in the better treatment of psoriatic patients. These results revealed that serum uric acid concentration (SUAC) of psoriasis may play a vital role in assessing the complex multifactorial etiology of the psoriasis, severity and other possible metabolic factors.