“
“Prevention of cardiovascular disease, undoubtedly an emphasis of clinical care in 2014, will provide both opportunities and challenges to patients and their healthcare providers. The recently-released ACC/AHA guidelines on assessment of cardiovascular risk, lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk, management of overweight and obesity, and treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk, have introduced new concepts and revised prior conventional strategies. New to risk assessment are the Pooled Cohort Equations, targeting the expanded concept of atherosclerotic

cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and focusing not solely on mortality but as well on major nonfatal events. The lifestyle management Selleck SB273005 focuses on diet and physical activity for lipid and blood pressure control. The cholesterol guideline identifies four high-risk groups with the greatest benefits from statin therapy: preexisting ASCVD, primary LDL-C elevations 190mm/dl, those 45-75 years with diabetes and LDL-C 70-189 mm/dl without clinical ASCVD, and those 40-75 years without clinical ASCVD with an LDL-C 70-189 mg/dl with a 7.5% or greater 10-year ASCVD risk. Eliminated are arbitrary LDL-C treatment targets, with

individual patient risk status guiding who should take statins GS-7977 clinical trial and the appropriate intensity of statin drugs. Patient-physician discussions of individual benefits and risks are paramount. Management of high blood pressure remains controversial, with two different expert panels offering varying treatment targets; there is general agreement on a <140/90 mmHg goal, but substantial disagreement on blood pressure targets for older adults. Clinicians and their patients deserve a well-researched concensus document.”
“Although it has been SRT1720 known for decades

that the drug nicotine can improve cognitive function, the nature of its effects and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Nicotine activates nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) that normally are activated by endogenous ACh, presumably “”hijacking”" the cholinergic contribution to multiple cognitive functions, notably attention. Thus, studying nicotine’s effects helps to better understand a commonly used drug as well as functions of nAChRs. Moreover, nicotinic agonists are being developed to treat a variety of disorders that involve attention-related or age-related cognitive dysfunction. Studies have shown that nicotine can enhance processing of attended stimuli and/or reduce processing of distracters; that is, nicotine enhances attentional filtering.

CONCLUSION: Using indigenous bacteria enriched from industrial contaminated soil at room temperature, a baffled roller bioreactor is able to biodegrade high diesel oil concentrations at high biodegradation rates. (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry”
“Introduction: In this article, we present a method able to reasonably predict the bone conduction (BC) gain curve. It provides the advantage of advising patients who will receive little

benefit from surgery.

Materials and Method: A group of 284 cases is studied in an attempt to verify the poststapedectomy predictability of their characteristic gain curve (CGC) to define a pattern, which indicates the outcome of surgery. For that purpose, the postoperative BC curve has been modeled by

fitting a linear regression curve (LRC), which I refer selleck compound to here as “”baseline,” into the average audiogram of the 284 cases.

Results: Using the average baseline as the predicted postoperative BC audiogram, in 77% of the cases, the predicted CGC is qualitatively comparable to the measured one.

Discussions: click here The postoperative baseline can be modeled as a shifting of the average frequency of the preoperative baseline toward higher frequencies. This method is useful to predict the probabilities of having a negative slope in the gain curve after stapes surgery and, therefore, will help in the decision-making process for the indication of surgery and to advise patients on the results they can expect to have. A description of

the steps to follow for the application of this method is made available.”
“Rapid innovations in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) now permit the routine acquisition of quantitative measures of myocardial and blood T1 which are key tissue characteristics. These capabilities introduce a new frontier in cardiology, enabling the practitioner/investigator Caspase-3 Inhibitor to quantify biologically important myocardial properties that otherwise can be difficult to ascertain clinically. CMR may be able to track biologically important changes in the myocardium by: a) native T1 that reflects myocardial disease involving the myocyte and interstitium without use of gadolinium based contrast agents (GBCA), or b) the extracellular volume fraction (ECV)-a direct GBCA-based measurement of the size of the extracellular space, reflecting interstitial disease. The latter technique attempts to dichotomize the myocardium into its cellular and interstitial components with estimates expressed as volume fractions. This document provides recommendations for clinical and research T1 and ECV measurement, based on published evidence when available and expert consensus when not. We address site preparation, scan type, scan planning and acquisition, quality control, visualisation and analysis, technical development. We also address controversies in the field.

Significantly more women with BV reported odor, but there were no other significant differences in symptoms between women with and without BV. Patients with BV were significantly selleck kinase inhibitor less likely to have a white discharge. The whiff test was not reported in many cases, however, when a test

was recorded, women with BV were significantly more likely to have a positive test. Approximately 50% of the women with BV had either a parts per thousand yen20% clue cells or pH > 4.5; only 25% had both. Sensitivities of pH > 4.5, pH a parts per thousand yen 4.5, a parts per thousand yen20% clue cells, whiff test and the combination of high pH and clue cells were low (22-81%). Specificities of individual and combined criteria ranged from 68 to 99%. The negative predictive power of pH < 4.5 was 95%; 113 women had a pH less than 4.5 and of these women, 107 did not have BV.

The negative predictive power of a pH < 4.5 is very high, and the majority of women fell into this category. An algorithm for pregnant women could therefore be constructed that would call for pH to be tested. Women with a pH < 4.5 would not receive treatment or undergo further testing. The minority of women with a pH a parts per thousand yen 4.5 would then undergo testing with the Copanlisib purchase Gram stain using Nugent’s criteria.”
“We have investigated by ellipsometry the structural evolution of intrinsic

and doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films during their exposure to a hydrogen plasma in conditions of chemical transport. The

real-time kinetic ellipsometry trajectory at 4.2 eV allowed a precise determination of the amorphous-to-microcrystalline (a -> mu c) phase transition time. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry buy CA4P spectra were collected at both sides of the transition to identify the hydrogen induced changes in the film structure and its time evolution under hydrogen-plasma exposure. The whole ellipsometry diagnostics reveal that, while intrinsic and phosphorus-doped a-Si:H present a similar trend during the plasma treatment, boron-doped a-Si:H differs by the following special features: (i) a rapid formation of the hydrogen-rich subsurface layer with a high hydrogen excess. (ii) An early amorphous-to-microcrystalline phase transition. (iii) A less porous and small-grains formed transition layer. Such a particular behavior of the p-type material is attributed to the effects of boron which, on the one hand, reduces the etching rate by hindering the formation of volatile species such as SiH(4) and, on the other hand, promotes quick and repeated nucleation of nanoparticles and/or crystallites which contribute to the growth film. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3393273]“
“Seven hundred and fifty nonreplicated clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from five hospitals during March 2007 to May 2009. Forty-one isolates (5.

Almost all prepared beads were spherical with similar to 1 mm diameter and efficiently encapsulated resveratrol. The formulation parameters revealed selleck great influence on resveratrol retention and swelling-erosion behavior. In most of the cases, the drug release

data more appropriately fitted with zero-order equation. This study demonstrates that the optimized Zn-pectinate beads can encapsulate very high amount of resveratrol and can be used as delayed release formulation of resveratrol.”
“In this article, a low-cost medium for the production of lipopeptides by the Bacillus subtilis HSO121 was formulated with desizing wastewater as carbon source, which contains starch and its degradation products, and the lipopeptides were biosynthesized. As the result, the yield of crude lipopeptides was 1.03 g/L, and the critical micelle concentration was similar to 50 mg/L. The chemical oxygen demand of the desizing wastewater after cultivation reduced to half compared

with before cultivation. Separation of crude lipopeptides and its application as soaping agents in soaping process were investigated. The optimal soaping process was obtained at pH = 9 and 75 degrees C with 0.05 g/L lipopeptides. Compared with traditional soaping process, FDA approved Drug Library in vitro lipopeptides soaping showed higher efficiency and higher colorfastness, and it is more energy efficient and more environmentally friendly process. (C) A-1331852 Apoptosis inhibitor 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 1640-1646, 2011″
“Background: The contaminant isolated from contaminated heparin was oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS). Other possible contaminants should be evaluated. Methods: Contaminants were isolated from recalled contaminated heparin and were compared to OSCS from animal sources and to heparin by-products synthetically persulfated.

Results: A great variability in molecular weight was observed in the isolated contaminants. Dermatan sulfate with high-molecular-weight in addition to OSCS was detected. Oversulfated chondroitin sulfate from different sources as well as heparin by-products produced activation of prekallikrein to kallikrein at variable rates as measured by the generation of kallikrein. All agents produced activation of the complement system. All compounds formed complexes with platelet factor 4 (PF4) and all produced (14)C serotonin release in the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) analysis. The agents also exhibited variable anticoagulant responses that were mostly mediated via heparin cofactor II. Conclusion: These results suggest that heparin contaminants represent a heterogeneous group of oversulfated glycosaminoglycans (OSGAGs) which may mediate multiple pathophysiologic responses.”
“The objective of this study was to prepare and evaluate the pectin-based dosage form for buccal adhesion. Carbenoxolone sodium, which is used for the treatment of aphthous ulcers in oral cavity, was used as a model drug.

Simultaneously, expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein increased in sensorineural fields of organ of Corti, macula, and crista

ampullaris. Throughout the investigated period, apoptotic caspase-3 positive cells were mainly distributed at the luminal and basal surfaces of labyrinth epithelium. An inhibitor of apoptosis IGF-1 co-expressed with Bcl-2 and increased in the sensorineural fields with advancing development.

Conclusion

The described expression pattern indicates selleck chemical roles for cell proliferation in the growth of the inner ear and Bcl-2 in differentiation of sensorineural fields and protection from apoptosis. Both IGF-1-and caspase-3-mediated apoptosis seem to contribute to proper morphogenesis, differentiation, and innervations of sensorineural fields within click here the cochlea, semicircular canals, saccule, and utricle. Alterations in spatiotemporal interplay of investigated factors might lead to disturbances of vestibular and cochlear function.”
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 2.4 atmospheric pressure absolutes for 90 minutes per day ameliorated the signs and symptoms of agitation, confusion, and emotional distress in a 27-year-old male seven days following a traumatic accident. Hyperbaric oxygen was used to treat the patient’s crush injury and underlying

nondisplaced pelvic fractures which were sustained in a bicycle versus automobile traffic accident. Its effect on the patient’s neuropsychiatric symptoms was surprising and obvious immediately following the initial hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Complete cognitive and psychiatric recovery was achieved by the seventh and final hyperbaric oxygen treatment. We propose that hyperbaric oxygen was effective in improving the patient’s neuropsychiatric symptoms by reducing cerebral oxidative stress, inflammation, vasogenic edema, and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. Further investigation into the use of hyperbaric oxygen as a novel therapy for the secondary prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder that often accompanies postconcussive syndrome may be warranted. BMS-754807 in vitro We acknowledge that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to have a strong placebo effect on neurologic and psychiatric diseases.”
“Objective

To compare dose measurements of three different irradiation setups for an animal model of unilateral cochlear irradiation using radiochromic films positioned at the cochlear plane. A method of dosimetry is proposed.

Methods

Radiation field simulation was performed to locate the cochlear plane for irradiation experiments using CT scan images. Fifteen film pieces were irradiated at the cochlear plane with 3 different irradiation field sizes. A 12-mm diameter field (n = 5), 5.7 mm diameter field (n = 5), and a 6.5 x 7.2 mm field (n = 5). After obtaining an ideal irradiation field size, 15 film pieces were used to compare dosimetry between tissue substitute materials (PVC n = 5 and PVC + Teflon, 5 each) and real tissue (frozen animal, n = 5).

The diameter of the fibroid copolymer was about 100 nm, and the length of that reached about 1000 nm. In the article, a newer concerned mechanism of copolymerization was proposed. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 2635-2647, 2010″
“In this paper we explore the acoustic detection method applied

to the investigation of the magnetocaloric effect Danusertib in Gd and Gd(5)(Ge(1-x)Si(x))(4) compounds, in the temperature range from 230 to 360 K and for magnetic fields up to 20 kOe. Measurements were performed in as-cast materials, both for powder and pellet samples, and in tree samples with compositions around Gd(5)Ge(2)Si(2) that underwent different thermal treatments. Small differences were observed when comparing powder and pellet samples of Gd and Gd(5)(Ge(1-x)Si(x))(4) compounds with 0.500<x <= 1.00. For the alloys with BMS-777607 mw composition around Gd(5)Ge(2)Si(2), which exhibit giant magnetostriction and coexistence of distinct phases, expressive changes were observed when comparing powder and pellet samples. Based on these cases, it is easy to see that the acoustic method can distinguish a second-order phase transition from a first-order magnetic-crystallographic one, and that it presents good sensitivity to detect spurious material phase in small

quantities. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3357375]“
“Background: Immunogenicity of the 10-valent pneumococcal non-type-able Haemophilus influenzae protein D-conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) was evaluated when coadministered buy Copanlisib with DTPw-HBV/Hib and OPV at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age in the Philippines, or with DTPw-HBV/Hib and IPV at 2, 4, and 6 months of age in Poland.

Methods: In this double-blind, controlled study (107007/NCT00344318) 400 Filipino and 406 Polish infants 6 to 12 weeks of age were randomized (3:1) to receive either PHiD-CV or the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vCRM). Immune responses were assessed I month

post-dose III.

Results: Percentages of infants with anti-pneumococcal antibody concentrations >= 0.2 mu g/mL (GSK’s 22F-inhibition ELISA) were within the same range for both pneumococcal conjugate vaccine groups, with the exception of serotypes 6B and 23F for which lower percentages were observed in the PHiD-CV group in Poland. At least 98.2% of PHiD-CV vaccinees had antibody concentrations >= 0.2 mu g/ml, against Pneumococcal serotypes 1, 5, and 7F. In both countries, anti-pneumococcal antibody geometric mean concentrations against serotypes 18C and 19F were higher in the PHiD-CV group than in the 7vCRM group. Antibody geometric mean concentrations for most of the other common serotypes were within the same range for both groups in the Philippines and were lower in the PHiD-CV group in Poland.

0. Other predictors were assessed with an additional questionnaire. Predictors of persistency were examined with univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

ResultsThe AUD persistency rate was 29.5% [95% confidence intervals (CI)=20.0-39.0]. In the multivariable model, the older (25-34 and 35-44) age groups had lower

AUD persistency [odds ratio (OR)=0.05; 95% CI=0.00-0.49 and OR=0.14; 95% CI=0.02-0.79, respectively] than the youngest age group (18-24). A higher number of weekly drinks and a comorbid anxiety disorder predicted AUD persistency (OR=1.03; 95% CI=1.00-1.07 and OR=4.56; 95% CI=1.04-20.06, respectively). Furthermore, remission was associated with a reduction of six drinks per week between T-0 and T-1. It should be noted, however, that 35.8% (95% CI=22.4-49.2) NSC-23766 of people in diagnostic remission still drank more than the recommended maximum (more than seven/14 drinks weekly for women/men).

ConclusionsOnly SCH727965 ic50 a minority of people in the Netherlands with alcohol use disorder as defined by DSM-5 still have the disorder 3 years

later. Factors that help to identify people at risk of alcohol use disorder persistence are: younger age, a higher number of weekly drinks and a comorbid anxiety disorder. A substantial number of people recently in diagnostic remission still drink above the maximum recommended level.”
“Purpose of review

To list the main questions and dilemmas raised by hypospadias management and its long-term evaluation.

Recent findings

Criteria of evaluation of hypospadias have changed in terms of anatomical description and biological screening. A better understanding of the causative and epidemiological aspects of the development anomalies of the genital tubercle has led to a more adjusted biological and

surgical approach. The place of preoperative biological screening, preoperative hormonal stimulation and the choice of urethroplasty are the three main fields of discussion between hypospadiologists. Evaluation of outcome is the critical point Gamma-secretase inhibitor as there are no current consensual protocols, and long-term results are often lacking as well as psychological evaluation.

Summary

Efforts are made to coordinate the management and evaluation of disorders of sex development (DSD) patients and more specifically hypospadias patients. National, European (EuroDSD) and international (consensus conferences) aim at finding common tracks to improve the quality of treatment and follow-up.”
“Objectives: It is a common clinical observation that collateral vessel development is impaired in diabetic patients with ischaemic vascular diseases. Consequently, alternative revascularisation strategies in diabetic patients are needed. This study presents the effect and mechanism of new peptide therapeutic angiogenesis in an ischaemic and diabetic mouse model.

Design: Streptozocin-injected mice that had undergone hind-limb ischaemia were treated with angiogenic peptides.

Log transformed SDNN (lnSDNN) and LF (lnLF) decreased; lnSDNN from 4.0 +/- 0.4 to 3.9 +/- 0.5, P = 0.002; 4.0 +/- 0.4 to 3.9 +/- 0.5, P = 0.016; and 4.1 +/- 0.4 to 3.9 +/- 0.4, P = 0.004, respectively; lnLF from 6.3 +/- 1.0 to 6.1 +/- 1.2, P = 0.001; 6.4 +/- 1.0 to 6.2 +/- 1.1, P = 0.019; and 6.5 +/- 1.0 to 6.2 +/- 1.1, P = 0.020, respectively. No correlation of any HRV parameter with VAS score was found.

Conclusion. HRV parameters may detect responses to heat pain, but are not suitable to assess pain AR-13324 chemical structure intensity.”
“Pregnancy is characterized by transient changes in the maternal immune system, also evident at peripheral level. The present study analyzes the kinetics and possible factors affecting peripheral white

blood cell populations throughout pregnancy in a herd of high-producing

dairy cows chronically infected or not with Neospora caninum. We examined 54 pregnant parous cows: 29 Neospora-seronegative and 25 Neospora-seropositive cows. Blood samples were collected on Days 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 of gestation. General Linear Model (GLM) repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the interaction Neospora-seropositivity x parity significantly affected total leukocyte, neutrophil and monocyte counts with lower levels of total leukocytes, lower neutrophil and higher monocyte counts recorded in primiparous Neospora-seropositive cows. In addition, STA-9090 cell line N. caninum-seropositive cows had significantly increased monocyte counts on Day 180 of gestation compared to seronegative ones. Other factors significantly associated with changes in total and/or differential leukocyte profiles were period of pregnancy, season, twin pregnancy and milk production. In conclusion, a parity-associated effect of chronic N. caninum infection was observed on peripheral blood cell profiles in dairy cattle during gestation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“We VX-689 carry out the first principles calculations for bulk, surface, and bilayer system of Heusler alloys Co2MnAl and Co2MnSi. In the bulk system, the Mn moments feel much larger exchange (molecular) field than the Co moments. In the surface density of states of Co, the half-metallicity

disappears in both systems, even though the magnetic moments are enhanced due to localization of d-states. The exchange constant of the surface Co is much reduced in Co2MnSi. In the bilayer system with MgO, both the magnetic moments and exchange constants of Co atoms at the interface are remarkably decreased. We suppose that such instability of Co moments at the interface is responsible for the strong dependences of the magnetoresistance ratio on both the temperature and bias voltage, which was measured in the magnetic tunnel junction of Co2MnAl(Si)/MgO. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3058622]“
“In 2005 and 2006 an outbreak of disease associated with border disease virus (BDV) infection caused high mortality in the Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) in the Catalan Pyrenees (NE Spain).

3 MPa, a PC solution concentration of 16%, and a tip-to-collection-screen distance (TCD) of 25 cm. The filtration efficiency improvement of the air blowing-assisted electrospun web can be attributed to the narrow distribution of fiber diameter and small mean flow pore size of the electrospun web. Performance results show that the air blowing-assisted

electrospinning process can be applied to produce PC nanofiber mats with high-quality filtration. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011″
“Objective. The objective of this CH5424802 research buy study was to develop a self-completion questionnaire measuring quality of life in patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases.

Study design. The stages of development involved the use of both clinical expert input, via a modified Delphi technique, and patient input, via qualitative interviews, in the generation of items. Item reduction was carried out using a judgment method.

Results. Expert input was derived from 5 professors or consultants in oral medicine. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 patients during the item-generation phase of development. An initial item pool of 28 items was generated from the clinician and patient input. GSK2126458 Importance ratings ranged from 4.0 to 0.44. Items with importance ratings below 1 were reviewed and considered

for exclusion. Three items were subsequently excluded and 1 item added resulting in a final 26-item instrument.

Conclusions. click here This is the first discipline-specific quality-of-life measure developed in the field of oral medicine. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011;111:578-586)”
“Habitat loss and fragmentation promote relatively predicable shifts in the functional signature of tropical forest tree assemblages, but the full extent of cascading effects to biodiversity persistence remains poorly understood. Here we test the hypotheses that habitat fragmentation (a) alters the relative contribution of tree species

exhibiting different reproductive traits; (b) reduces the diversity of pollination systems: and (c) facilitates the functional convergence of reproductive traits between edge-affected and early-secondary forest habitats (5-32 years old). This study was carried out in a severely fragmented 670-km(2) forest landscape of the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil. We assigned 35 categories of reproductive traits to 3552 trees (DBH >= 10 cm) belonging to 179 species, which described their pollination system, floral biology, and sexual system. Trait abundance was calculated for 55 plots of 0.1 ha across four habitats: forest edges, small forest fragments (3.4-83.6 ha). second-growth patches, and core tracts of forest interior within the largest available primary forest fragment (3500 ha) in the region.

“
“Dehydroabietic acid (DHA), sodium stearate

(NaSt), DHA/NaSt (1/1 wt/wt) mixture, the reaction products of DHA/NaSt (1/1 wt/wt) mixture after heating at 220 degrees C for 10 min and sodium dehydroabietate (DHAA-Na) were qualitatively analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and wide angle X-ray diffractometry (WAXD). The crystallization behavior, spherulitic morphology, optical and mechanical properties of iPP samples nucleated by DHA, NaSt, DHA/NaSt (1/1 wt/wt) mixture, and DHAA-Na under the same concentration (0.3 wt %) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscope (PLM), optical and mechanical measurements. The results showed that an “”in situ”" reaction occurred between DHA and NaSt, and an effective transparent nucleating LY3023414 research buy agent (DHAA-Na) was produced

during the melting blending of iPP and DHA/NaSt (1/1 wt/wt) mixture in the twin screw extruder. The crystallization onset and peak temperatures, the gloss and the mechanical properties were improved markedly; the crystallization half-time, the spherulitic size, and the haze were reduced substantially when iPP samples are nucleated by DHA/NaSt (1/1 wt/wt) mixture. The optimum composition ratio Selleckchem NU7026 of DHA/NaSt should be kept at approximate to 1/1 wt/wt and above 0.4 wt %/0.4 wt %. The DHA/NaSt bi-component nucleator was effective for iPP with different MFR values. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 2436-2444, 2009″
“Eccrine porocarcinoma (EP) is a rare skin malignant lesion representing 0.005-0.01% of all cutaneous tumors. It is a tumor that most commonly present in elderly people aged over 60 years. Approximately 250 cases of EP have been reported since this disease was first described in 1963. However, only three cases occurring specifically on the ear (including the current case) have been documented in the literature to date. Based on the rarity of EP selleck chemicals llc of the ear, we present this 78-year-old man with EP on the right ear

lobule, which was diagnosed accidentally during the management of other unrelated problems. The etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease are discussed, with a brief review of the literature in this report.”
“Poly(L-lactic acids) (PLLAs) were grafted to both ends of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to produce bio-compatible amphiphilic PLLA-PEO-PLLA triblock copolymers. The self-assembling behaviors of two PLLA-PEO-PLLA copolymers in aqueous solutions were examined by Dynamic Light Scattering and Transmission Electron Microscopic techniques. PLLA-PEO-PLLA formed spherical micelles, whereas PLLA-PEO-PPO-PEO-PLLA pentablock copolymers were reported to produce vesicles. It is believed that the PPO segment within the PLLA-PEO-PPO-PEO-PLLA pentablock copolymers has a dominant role in the formation of vesicles. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.