If you have been reading about nasal formulation and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.
Last reviewed on 2025-09-14. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Reported pharmacological work centers on neurotrophic signaling, including changes in BDNF and NGF expression in hippocampal tissue in animal models. Human data come largely from studies conducted in Russia, and how well those results generalize to other populations remains an open question. Regulatory status differs sharply by jurisdiction: Semax is a registered prescription medicine in Russia, while it holds no approved marketing status in the United States or the European Union. Outside such jurisdictions it is generally handled as a research chemical, which affects both documentation and quality expectations.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide whose sequence is Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was developed as a fragment analog of adrenocorticotropic hormone, modeled specifically on the ACTH(4-10) region. The first four residues reproduce that fragment, while a Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide is appended at the C-terminus. Work on the compound originated in Russia, where it entered clinical use as an intranasal preparation. Its sequence places it among short regulatory peptides studied for effects on the central nervous system rather than on the adrenal axis.
The C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension is not incidental. Proline-rich tails are known to resist several common peptidases, and the published literature attributes the longer half-life of Semax, relative to unmodified ACTH fragments, to this feature. The modification also removes the melanocyte-stimulating and corticosteroidogenic activity that characterizes longer ACTH-derived sequences. Because the molecule is small and hydrophilic, it is typically formulated as an aqueous solution for intranasal or parenteral delivery. Acetylation or amidation at the termini appears in closely related research peptides and shifts the mass by a fixed increment.
Published research on this peptide originates mainly from Russian laboratories, and the wider international literature is comparatively thin. Studies have used rodent models of stroke, hypoxia, and memory tasks, with a smaller number of human trials reported. Reported outcomes include changes in attention and memory measures, along with effects on neurotrophic factor expression in some experiments. Small sample sizes, inconsistent dosing protocols, and limited independent replication are widely noted limitations, so the strength of the clinical evidence remains an open question.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide whose sequence is Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. The first four residues correspond to the ACTH(4-10) fragment, while the terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension was added to improve metabolic stability. Its molecular formula is C37H51N9O10S and its monoisotopic mass is approximately 813.9 Da. The compound is classified as a peptide research chemical and as a registered pharmaceutical product in Russia, but it does not hold marketing approval in the European Union or the United States. Naming conventions vary across supplier catalogs.
Development of the compound took place in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, largely through peptide research groups affiliated with the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute and Moscow State University. Investigators screened fragments of adrenocorticotropic hormone for activity on the central nervous system while attempting to separate cognitive effects from hormonal ones. The shortened sequence was selected because it retained behavioral activity in animal models without stimulating corticosteroid release. Early publications described the molecule as an ACTH(4-10) analog.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weight | ~813.9 Da (free heptapeptide) | N-acetylated form is about 42 Da heavier |
| Residue count | 7 (heptapeptide) | Four residues from ACTH(4-10), three added |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Usually supplied lyophilized |
| Solubility class | Freely soluble in water | Also dissolves in DMSO and polar organic solvents |
| Related parent fragment | ACTH(4-10) | Parent motif is Met-Glu-His-Phe |
当时的短肽研究普遍关注能否穿越血脑屏障、在低剂量下产生中枢效应，Semax 属于这一路线。鼻内给药是其主要使用方式，俄语文献报道的适应症涵盖缺血性卒中、短暂性脑缺血发作、认知功能减退以及视神经病变。这些研究大多发表在当地期刊上，样本规模与终点设置同西方试验惯例存在差异，国际同行对其临床证据的强度看法不一。
各国监管态度分化明显。俄罗斯按处方药管理，部分东欧国家留有使用记录；欧盟与美国未批准其作为药物上市，市面流通品通常标注为研究用化学品。身份差异意味着标示含量、纯度与无菌性缺少统一核查。体育领域还牵涉反兴奋剂名录，跨境携带则受目的地药品法规约束。
Semax 是人工设计的七肽，序列为 Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro，骨架取自促肾上腺皮质激素片段 ACTH(4-10)。它于二十世纪八十年代在苏联的分子遗传学研究机构内合成。设计目标是保留该片段与注意力和记忆相关的活性，同时剔除促皮质激素释放等内分泌作用。此后俄罗斯将其登记为药品并进入临床使用。
Scientific literature on semax is unevenly distributed. A substantial share of published work originates from a small number of laboratories in Russia, while independent replication elsewhere is limited. Human data consist mostly of small trials with short follow-up, and several reported outcomes rely on subjective rating scales. Questions about how much intact peptide reaches the central nervous system after nasal administration, and how long it persists there, are still unresolved. The compound is best described as an active research subject rather than a settled pharmacological agent.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was derived from the ACTH(4-10) fragment, a short segment of adrenocorticotropic hormone that lacks the hormonal activity associated with the full-length peptide. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow developed the compound during the 1980s. It has been registered as a pharmaceutical product in Russia and several neighbouring countries, where it is supplied as a nasal solution, and it is also sold internationally as a research chemical.
Development took place during the 1980s at institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where peptide fragments of ACTH were screened for cognitive and neuroprotective effects. The compound received regulatory approval in Russia as a nasal preparation, marketed for conditions such as ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, and optic nerve disorders. Registration in other countries has not followed. Most published clinical reports originate from a small number of Russian research groups, and independent replication outside that setting remains limited. The regulatory status therefore differs sharply between Russia and the rest of the world.
Laboratory work points toward modulation of neurotrophic signaling, particularly expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in hippocampal tissue. Studies also describe effects on monoamine turnover, inflammatory mediators, and oxidative markers. These observations come mainly from animal models and cultured cells, so the causal chain in humans is not firmly established. Whether the reported molecular changes translate into measurable clinical benefit is an open question. Reviews generally present the mechanism as plausible rather than demonstrated.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It is described in the literature as an analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short N-terminal portion of adrenocorticotropic hormone that retains some neurotropic activity without the full hormonal effects of the parent peptide. The molecule carries a methionine residue at the N-terminus and two proline residues near the C-terminus, features that shape both its interactions with receptor systems and its chemical stability. The free peptide corresponds to the formula C37H51N9O10S and a molecular mass near 813.9 Da.
The compound was developed in the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, where it emerged from research on short ACTH fragments and their effects on the central nervous system. Russian pharmaceutical listings describe it as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent, most often formulated as nasal drops. It is not a marketed medicine in the United States or the European Union, and no pharmacopoeial monograph covers it. Consequently, most published clinical experience with the substance originates from a small number of research centres, mainly in Russia and neighbouring countries.
troops back in could have saved South Vietnam. On 17 April 1975, the Lon Nol regime collapsed, and the Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh. On 20 April, Kissinger instructed Graham Martin, U.S. ambassador in Saigon, to start preparing to evacuate all Americans from the country. Kissinger further instructed Martin that no South Vietnamese were to be included in the pull out. Martin complained to Kissinger that the "only ass which isn't covered is mine", Kissinger assured him: "When this thing is finally over, I'll be hanging several yards higher than you". On 29 April, Option IV, the largest helicopter evacuation in history, began as 70 Marine helicopters flew 8,000 people from the American embassy to the fleet offshore. Later in the day, Kissinger ordered Martin to blow up the satellite terminal at the embassy, saying, "I want you heroes home". At 7:53 am, the last Marine helicopter departed from the embassy in Saigon, marking the end of the American presence in Vietnam. On 30 April 1975, Saigon fell to the PAVN, and the war in Vietnam finally ended.
== Benefits of microchimeric cells == The severity of preexisting autoimmune disorders is reduced during pregnancy and it is most apparent when fetal microchimeric cells levels are highest - during the last trimester. These cells can also replace injured maternal cells and recover tissue function (type I diabetes mouse model showed replacement of defective maternal islet cells by fetal-derived pancreatic cells). Fetal microchimeric cells can differentiate into cell types that infiltrate and replace injured cells in models of Parkinson's disease or myocardial infarction. They also help in wound healing by neoangiogenesis. Seeding of fetal microchimeric cells into maternal tissues has been proposed to promote care of offspring after birth (seeding of maternal breast tissue may promote lactation, and seeding of brain may enhance maternal attention).
=== Function during breastfeeding === Oxytocin has a crucial role in the process of milk ejection. After sucking, the release of oxytocin stimulates the myoepithelial cell contraction in the breast, which forces milk to move from the alveoli, via the milk ducts, and towards the nipple. Oxytocin is secreted quicker than prolactin. It facilitates the flow of pre-existing breast milk for the current feeding, hence helping the infant in obtaining milk easily.
== Diagnosis == Diagnosis typically occurs in the first few years of life and should be confirmed with a review of symptoms as well as genetic testing with targeted panels that include the ALMS1 gene as well as other ciliopathies, retinal diseases, cardiomyopathy, and obesity. Typically, the first symptoms to be observed are nystagmus, photophobia, impaired vision, and/or infantile cardiomyopathy within the first two years of life. Obesity and/or sensorineural hearing loss are often next and should be followed by genetic/molecular testing to try and identify two pathogenic variants of ALMS1 to confirm or deny the presence of the disease. However, the rarity of the disease, variability of symptoms, and lack of experts can make diagnosis very difficult. Additionally, since it can be difficult to identify both biallelic pathogenic variants in the ALMS1 gene, there is existing diagnostic criteria as shown below.
From Zunsser's view that "one cannot practice a profession like a trade" (p.157), he observed that, for instance, "an improvement in the mechanism of an automobile, or of a shoe buckle" — which were "matters of convenience or luxury", and therefore, "[could] be dispensed with easily by those who are forced to do without them" — were in an entirely "different category" from matters concerning "the relief of the sick and the prevention of unnecessary sorrow by the maintenance of individual and public health" which, "as soon as we are in possession of the knowledge of principles or methods which can contribute to these purposes their free utilization becomes a public necessity"; and, from this, he argued that "there is no valid argument in favor of the patenting of a useful method of preserving health, private or public, unless we admit [which Zinsser did not] that medical discoveries in no ethical sense differ from the purely commercial ones" (p.161). In addition to the question of whether it was ethical to patent medical inventions (pharmaceuticals, devices, apparatus, procedures, etc.), or not — in particular, whether "products of scientific research that affect public and individual health, particularly discoveries and inventions of a medical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, or hygienic nature ...
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Skeletal advancement to physically increase the pharyngeal airspace is often an option for craniofacial patients with upper airway obstruction and small lower jaws (mandibles). These syndromes include Treacher Collins syndrome and Pierre Robin sequence. Mandibular advancement surgery is one of the modifications needed to improve the airway; others may include reduction of the tongue, tonsillectomy, or modified uvulopalatoplasty.
== Research == Soft-tissue sarcoma research requires significant effort due to its rarity; successful research requires substantial collaboration. Year by year, the medical field is learning that the various types cannot be lumped together and each sarcoma needs to be considered a different type of cancer. As a novel form of treatment used in other cancers, immunotherapy may have a role in treating soft-tissue sarcomas like alveolar soft part sarcoma and pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma. However, as of 2023, only alveolar soft part sarcoma has a regulatory approval for such an agent, in this case atezolizumab.
=== Cellular biophysics === By rectifying the motion of individual swimming bacteria, microfluidic structures can be used to extract mechanical motion from a population of motile bacterial cells. This way, bacteria-powered rotors can be built.
AaH I exerts its hemorrhagic and tissue-destructive effects primarily through its function as a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase specialized for degrading structural components of the extracellular matrix. The toxin targets the basement membrane of capillaries, which is composed largely of collagen type IV, laminin, nidogen, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. These proteins form a scaffold that maintains capillary integrity. AaH I cleaves these ECM proteins with high efficiency, and because the toxin shows optimal activity near physiological pH, it functions extremely effectively in blood and tissue microenvironment. The active site of AaH I contains the conserved metalloproteinase motif HELGHNLGLH, where three histidine residues coordinate a catalytic zinc ion. The zinc ion polarizes a bound water molecule, allowing it to act as a potent nucleophile that attacks peptide bonds in substrate proteins. This hydrolytic attack directly destroys the structural proteins that hold endothelial cells in place, leading to rapid disruption of capillary walls. Within minutes of exposure, endothelial cells detach from their underlying basement membrane, causing vascular leakage, red blood cell extravasation, and local hemorrhage. In addition to basement membrane breakdown, AaH I induces endothelial cell apoptosis. This is not due to direct cytotoxicity but is a secondary effect of losing the cell’s structural anchoring to the ECM, a process known as anoikis. Once endothelial cells detach, capillaries become fragile and prone to rupture under normal blood pressure.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Originally planned for the second revolution, the astronauts postponed the EVA until the third after McDivitt decided that White, following the stress of the launch and the failed rendezvous, looked tired and hot. After a rest, the pair finished performing the checklist for the EVA. Flying over Carnarvon, Australia, they began to depressurize the cabin. Over Hawaii, White pulled the handle to open his hatch, but the latches failed to move. Fortunately, McDivitt knew what the problem was, because the hatch had failed to close in a vacuum chamber test on the ground, after which McDivitt worked with a technician to see what the cause was. A spring, which forced gears to engage in the mechanism, had failed to compress, and McDivitt got to see how the mechanism worked. In flight, he was able to help White get it open and thought that he could get it to latch again. There were communication problems during the spacewalk. Gemini spacecraft were the first to use a voice-operated switch (known as VOX) on the astronaut's microphones, but McDivitt soon realized that his VOX circuit was not working properly; he could only hear the Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in the push-to-talk setting, but not on VOX (though both astronauts could be heard by each other and the ground). Plus, while outside the spacecraft, White was unable to receive transmissions from the ground and had to have all messages relayed through McDivitt.
=== Physiological ketosis === Physiological ketosis is the non-pathological (normal functioning) elevation of ketone bodies that can result from any state of increased fatty acid oxidation including fasting, prolonged exercise, or very low-carbohydrate diets such as the medical ketogenic diet or the lifestyle "keto" diet. In physiological ketosis, serum ketone levels generally remain below 3 mM.
Narratively, the game's setting was established early: an isolated British town in the 1960s where there were no children, and everyone else wore masks and took drugs. From that point, they worked backwards to create the history of the town, tying it to events from World War II, and recognizing that characters would have their own sins of the past as well as those of the entire town. In developing the title, Compulsion Games wanted the player to feel paranoia as they try to determine what actions they need to take in a moral gray area, and crafting "a simulation that provides an intelligent response and maintains [the player's] suspense of disbelief" based on how the player performs in the game. This in turn led to the use of light roguelike elements such as permadeath and procedurally generated worlds. Permadeath was added to try to implore a sense of danger to the player knowing that any action could lead to the end of the game, while the random generation would create tension as the player would need to relearn the layout of the town each time. Provost likened the concept to the survival game Don't Starve, though set in a 3D dystopian world. The procedural generation also fell out from Compulsion's previous experience in building Contrast, in that they recognized that as a five-person studio, they lacked the man-power to develop a lot of high-quality content. They opted to use random generation of the town both to address this, as well as a difficult challenge that had not been done before in video games.
== History == The first documented case of gutter oil in Taiwan was reported in 1985. In a subsequent investigation, 22 people were arrested for involvement in a recycling oil ring over 10 years based in Taipei. The worst offender was sentenced to 7 years in prison. The first documented case of gutter oil in mainland China was reported in 2000, when a street vendor was found to be selling oil obtained from restaurant garbage disposals. Some street vendors and restaurants in China are reported to have illegally used recycled oil unfit for human consumption to cook food. In 2010, it was estimated that gutter oil represented 10% of China's edible oil market (with 1 in every 10 restaurants using it) and that 3 million tonnes of gutter oil were consumed in China annually, with a network of distributors of gutter oil across central and eastern China. In 2011, the Chinese government began a major crackdown on the re-use of gutter oil for human consumption. In 2011, they arrested 32 people for producing the oil and seized 90 tonnes of it in 14 provinces. This amount is equivalent to around one-tenth of the oil typically used by restaurants. Feng Ping of the China Meat Research Center has said that "[t]he illegal oil shows no difference in appearance and indicators after refining and purification, because the law breakers are skillful at coping with the established standards." In September 2012, an ongoing investigation into the suspected use of gutter oil as a raw material in the Chinese pharmaceutical industry was revealed.
bioassay Any analytical method that measures or qualifies the presence, effect, or potency of a substance within or upon a biological system, either directly or indirectly, e.g. by quantifying the concentration of a particular chemical compound within a sample obtained from living organisms, cells, or tissues, and ideally under controlled conditions that compare a sample subjected to an experimental treatment with an unmanipulated sample, so as to permit inferences about the effect of the treatment upon some measured variable.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
The sequence is Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, a seven-residue peptide. The first four residues correspond to the ACTH(4-10) fragment, and Pro-Gly-Pro is added at the C-terminus. N-acetylated versions also appear in the literature and differ in mass.
Semax is a synthetic analog of the ACTH(4-10) fragment rather than a copy of the full hormone. Truncation plus the added tail removes the steroidogenic portion of ACTH. That distinction explains why it is studied for nervous-system effects instead of adrenal stimulation.
It is registered as a prescription product in Russia and has been used there clinically, chiefly by the intranasal route. No approval exists in the United States or the European Union. Availability elsewhere typically falls under research-chemical distribution, with varying purity documentation.
It is a synthetic peptide of seven amino acids. Its backbone corresponds to a fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone extended at the carboxyl end. The material is distributed as a lyophilized solid for laboratory use.