Peripheral Neuropathy among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Use of Douleur Neuropathic Questionnaire

Objective: To find out the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methodology: It was an observational study conducted on a sample of 150 subjects who were enrolled by a convenient random sampling technique. Patients with a history of diabetes for more than 5 years and of 30-85 years of age from both genders were included. Patients with a history of surgery, frozen shoulder psychological issues, and kidney problems were excluded. Data were collected from Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital & Islam Central hospital, Sialkot using Douleur neuropathic DN 4 questionnaire, and questions about age, lifestyle, glucose level, hypoesthesia, and gender were added. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20. Results: Out of 150 patients with DM, 49 were males and 101 were females. Active lifestyle was found in 53.33% and 46.67% were physically inactive. Higher glucose levels were found in 53.33% of males and 46.67% of females. In 38 (25.3%) individual's upper limb was involved and in 112 (74.7%) lower limb was involved. Out of 150 subjects, 138 (92%) had a score above 4.0 and thus had peripheral neuropathy. A positive correlation between lifestyle and peripheral neuropathy was found by applying Pearson chi-square and the p-value was 0.000

Chitosan-Linseed mucilage polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles of Methotrexate: In vitro cytotoxic efficacy and toxicological studies

The goal of this research was to develop, fabricate and analyze polymeric nanoparticles for the administration of methotrexate (MTX). Linseed mucilage and chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using a slightly modified polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) method. The size, shape, and encapsulation effectiveness of the resultant nanoparticles were measured. MTX release profiles at gastrointestinal pH (1.2 and 7.4) and tumor pH (5.5) were examined to determine the targeted potential of NPs as pH-responsive nanocarriers. Zeta analysis showed that nanoparticles prepared by PEC have a size range of 192.1 nm to 246 nm, and PDI was 0.3 of the optimized formulation, which showed homogenous nature of prepared nanoparticles formulation. The findings demonstrated that NPs have a low polydispersity index and a positive zeta potential (PDI). The in-vitro release of the drug indicated a pH-dependent, sustained drug release up to 24 h. Blank LSMCSNPs had almost no in-vivo cytotoxicity for 14 days, while optimum MTX loaded NPs had strong antitumor effects on HepG2 and MCF-7 cells as measured by the MTT assay. Cell apoptosis induction was also checked and MCF-7 cells treated with MTX-LSMCSNPs had a significantly greater rate of apoptosis (21.2 %) than those treated with MTX alone (14.14 %). The findings show that LSMCSNPs could be a potential delivery mechanism for methotrexate to cancer cells in a secure, steady, and ideally controlled manner to improve therapeutic outcomes

In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation of Clomipramine Orodispersible Tablets for the Treatment of Depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The first and only antidepressant drug on the market with solid proof of clinically significant serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibition is clomipramine (CLP). However, significant first-pass metabolism reduces its absorption to less than 62%. It is heavily protein-bound and broadly dispersed across the body (9–25 L/kg volume of distribution). The purpose of this research was to formulate CLP orodispersible tablets that immediately enable the drug to enter the bloodstream and bypass systemic portal circulation to improve its bioavailability. A factorial design was employed using varied amounts of Plantago ovata mucilage (POM) as a natural superdisintegrant, as well as croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone as synthetic disintegrants. Their physiochemical compatibility was evaluated by FTIR, DSC/TGA, and PXRD analysis. The blend of all formulations was assessed for pre- and post-compaction parameters. The study found that tablets comprising Plantago ovata mucilage as a superdisintegrant showed a rapid in vitro disintegration time, i.e., around 8.39 s, and had an excellent dissolution profile. The anti-depressant efficacy was evaluated by an open-field test (OFT) and the forced swimming test (FST) was applied to create hopelessness and despair behavior as a model of depression in animals (Albino rats). The in vivo study revealed that the efficiency of the optimized formulation (F9) in the treatment of depression is more than the marketed available clomfranil tablet, and may be linked to its rapid disintegration and bypassing of systemic portal circulation