Jia Han

This manuscript offers a comprehensive overview of nanotechnology's impact on the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, with a focus on BCS Class II and IV drugs. We explore various nanoscale drug delivery systems (NDDSs), including lipid-based, polymer-based, nanoemulsions, nanogels, and inorganic carriers. These systems offer improved drug efficacy, targeting, and reduced side effects. Emphasizing the crucial role of nanoparticle size and surface modifications, the review discusses the advancements in NDDSs for enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Challenges such as production cost and safety are acknowledged, yet the potential of NDDSs in transforming drug delivery methods is highlighted. This contribution underscores the importance of nanotechnology in pharmaceutical engineering, suggesting it as a significant advancement for medical applications and patient care.

Many individuals with neurological disorders rely on using catheters to empty their bladder. However, catheters are associated with urethral trauma and urinary tract infections. Peripheral nerve stimulation at frequencies of 500 - 10,000 Hz is associated with reduction of muscle contraction without causing fatigue. We hypothesized that high frequency sacral nerve stimulation would be associated with reduced pelvic muscle activity without reduced bladder pressures. We implanted five healthy cats with pulse generators connected to nerve cuff electrodes on sacral nerves S1 and S2. We applied stimulation at frequencies of 20 Hz, 500 Hz, or 10 kHz. We measured bladder pressure using our custom-designed wireless, catheter-free bladder sensor, and measured pelvic floor electromyogram (EMG) as a proxy for urethral sphincter activity. Stimulation at 10 kHz was associated with a lack of increase in peak-to-peak pelvic floor EMG amplitude compared to stimulation at 20 and 500 Hz, which suggested blockade of the nerves that control the pelvic floor muscles. All three stimulation frequencies yielded bladder contractions. High frequency sacral nerve stimulation may reduce pelvic floor activity without decreasing bladder pressure. This approach may enable catheter-free bladder emptying for individuals with neurologically driven urethral sphincter overactivity.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure urinary uromodulin and explore the urinary uromudulin level in IgA nephropathy. METHODS: The rabbit anti-human uromodulin polyclonal antibodies were coated on plates to capture uromodulin and the mouse anti-human uromodulin monoclonal antibody was used as detecting antibody to set up ELISA procedure. The precision and repeatability of this ELISA method were evaluated, and then this method was compared with the commercialized Tamm-Horsfall Glycoprotein ELISA Kit by examining urinary uromodulin levels in 55 individuals. Finally, the urinary uromodulin level in 166 IgA nephropathy patients were detected as well as 48 normal controls with this established method. RESULTS: The detecting range of uromodulin was 0.78-12.5 μg/L by this method. The coefficient of variation within-run was 7.5%, and between-run of coefficient of variation was 7.9%. Correlation of this method and comercialized kit was good (r=0.615, P<0.001). The urinary uromodulin/urinary creatinine ratio in IgA nephropathy was significantly lower than that in normal controls. CONCLUSION: The established ELISA method is sensitive and repeatable, and can be used in further studies.