The Effects of Surfactant and Storage Conditions on the In-Vitro Release of Quinine Suppository Made from Witepsol Base

Background: The need to develop quinine suppository formulation as an alternative to the intravenous parenteral dosage form in severe cases of malaria necessitates this study. The aim is to demonstrate the effect of surfactant, polysorbate (Tween® 20), and storage conditions on the in-vitro release rate of quinine suppositories made from Witepsol H15 base.Methods: Different batches of quinine bisulphate suppositories were made from Witepsol HI5 base by fusion method incorporating Tween® 20, as a surfactant at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 % w/w concentrations. Some of these suppositories were stored at room temperature (30 ± 2 ˚C) while the rest were stored in the refrigerator (10 + 2˚C) for a period of 21 days and were then analyzed. The physicochemical properties of the suppositories were determined by several tests which include content uniformity, melting range test, hardness and in- vitro drug release rate.Results: The melting ranged from 20 – 30 min for suppositories without surfactant while those with the surfactant were from 3 – 12 min. Suppositories with surfactant had the same trend in hardness. For preparation containing 4% w/w of surfactant, (3800 - 4000 g pressure at room temperature and 3800 – 2600 g pressure in a refrigerator), respectively for days 1 and 12. The active constituent for 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0% w/w concentrations of incorporated Tween 20℗ were 98.00, 82.30, 77.60, 81.90 and 76.73 % respectively while the in-vitro release on day 1 after 60 min were 78.32 ± 0.34, 75.69 ± 0.66, 84.34 ± 0.35, 90.50 ± 0.10 and 98.10 ± 0.30 %.Conclusion: This study on day 1 reveals an enhanced effect of the surfactant on the in-vitro release of quinine bisulphate from the suppositories with the highest effect being at the concentration of 4.0 % w/w of Tween 20. Storage of the suppositories at room temperature and refrigeration had a surprising effect of increasing hardness and softening the suppositories, respectively with time.Keywords: Antimalarial; Quinine; Suppositories; Surfactant; Witepso

Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research: Workshop Report

The Center for Population and Reproductive Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria , with support from its NIH Planning Grant organized a two Day workshop on “Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research” at the University of Ibadan Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV). There were 8 facilitators and 78 participants. The workshop concluded that responsible conduct of research (RCR) is the practice of scientific investigation or research with integrity involving but not limited to the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research

Quinine pharmacokinetics and toxicity in African subjects

No Abstrac

Plasmodium falciparum hyperparasitaemia in children

The risk factors associated with hyperparasitemia at presentation and after treatment with different antimalarial drug regimens were evaluated in 1,048 children enrolled prospectively in seven antimalarial drug trials between July 1996 and September 2003 in a hyperendemic area of southwestern Nigeria. The outcomes of treatment of hyperparasitaemia, and gametocyte carriage following treatment were also evaluated. The children were assigned to one of seven treatment groups : chloroquine (CQ) only ; pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine (PS) only; amodiaquine (AQ) only; CQ plus chlorpheniramine (CQCP); PS combined with CQ or AQ (COM); PS combined with probenecid (PPS); and halofantrine (HF). Hyperparasitaemia was found in 100 (9,5 %) of the 1,048 children at enrolment (day 0). Following oral therapy, 1.2 % of all patients (i.e. 13 patients) became hypeparasitaemic, which developed in all patients by day 1 of follow-up. In a multiple regression model, age ≤ 5 years, and a core temperature (oral or rectal) ≥ 39.5°C were found to be independent risk factors for hyperparasitaemia at enrolment. Following therapy, the cure rate on day 14 was significantly lower in those treated with CQ compared to other treatment groups. Severe resistance (RIII) response to treatment occurred significantly more frequently in those with hyperparasitaemia at enrolment than in those without, and was seen in five and one child with hyperparasitaemia who were treated with CQ and CQCP, respectively. Gametocyte carriage was insignificantly lower at enrolment and at all times following treatment in children with hyperparasitaemia than in age- and gender- matched children without hyperparasitaemia who received the same treatment. The results are discussed in the light of management of uncomplicated hyperparasitaemia in children in endemic settings

hyperparasitaemia in children

The risk factors associated with hyperparasitemia at presentation and after treatment with different antimalarial drug regimens were evaluated in 1,048 children enrolled prospectively in seven antimalarial drug trials between July 1996 and September 2003 in a hyperendemic area of southwestern Nigeria. The outcomes of treatment of hyperparasitaemia, and gametocyte carriage following treatment were also evaluated. The children were assigned to one of seven treatment groups : chloroquine (CQ) only ; pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine (PS) only; amodiaquine (AQ) only; CQ plus chlorpheniramine (CQCP); PS combined with CQ or AQ (COM); PS combined with probenecid (PPS); and halofantrine (HF). Hyperparasitaemia was found in 100 (9,5 %) of the 1,048 children at enrolment (day 0). Following oral therapy, 1.2 % of all patients (i.e. 13 patients) became hypeparasitaemic, which developed in all patients by day 1 of follow-up. In a multiple regression model, age ≤ 5 years, and a core temperature (oral or rectal) ≥ 39.5°C were found to be independent risk factors for hyperparasitaemia at enrolment. Following therapy, the cure rate on day 14 was significantly lower in those treated with CQ compared to other treatment groups. Severe resistance (RIII) response to treatment occurred significantly more frequently in those with hyperparasitaemia at enrolment than in those without, and was seen in five and one child with hyperparasitaemia who were treated with CQ and CQCP, respectively. Gametocyte carriage was insignificantly lower at enrolment and at all times following treatment in children with hyperparasitaemia than in age- and gender- matched children without hyperparasitaemia who received the same treatment. The results are discussed in the light of management of uncomplicated hyperparasitaemia in children in endemic settings