Formulation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of novel edible dosage form containing nebivolol HCl

ABSTRACT The objective of this investigation was to develop a novel oral edible gel dosage form for nebivolol hydrochloride, with suitable rheological characteristics that can provide a means of administering the drug to dysphagic and geriatric patients. Edible gels were prepared using low acetylated gellan gum and sodium citrate in different concentrations. The effect of concentration of the solution on gelation time, viscosity, and drug release was studied. Optimized formulation had "spoon thick" consistency that is considered suitable for dysphagic patients as suggested by National Dysphagia Diet Task Force. The optimized formulation containing gellan gum (0.4 % w/v) and sodium citrate (0.3 % w/v) showed more than 95% drug release in 20 minutes. This formulation also showed significantly better pharmacokinetic profile when compared to marketed conventional tablets in New Zealand white rabbits (n = 3). Optimized formulation was found stable for 6 months when stored at 25 °C ± 0.2 °C/60 ± 5% RH. From this study, it can be concluded that the novel edible gel dosage form containing nebivolol hydrochloride may prove to be more efficacious in the treatment of hypertension in dysphagic patients

Alterações nas reservas de sementes de Dalbergia nigra ((Vell.) Fr. All. ex Benth.) durante a hidratação

Seed imbibitions is the first stage of the germination process and is characterized by the hydration of tissues and cells and the activation and/or induction of the enzymes responsible for mobilizing reserves for respiration and the construction of new cell structures. The objective of this study was to investigate the alterations in reserve substances during slow hydration of Bahia Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) seeds in water. Seeds from two different lots (Lot I and II) were placed in saturated desiccators (95-99% RH) to hydrate at 15 and 25 °C until water contents of 10, 15, 20 and 25% were reached. At each level of hydration, changes in lipid reserves, soluble carbohydrates, starch and soluble proteins were evaluated. The mobilization of reserves was similarly assessed in both lots, with no differences being observed between the two hydration temperatures. Lipid contents showed little variation during hydration, while the contents of soluble carbohydrates and starch decreased after the 15% water content level. Soluble proteins showed a gradual tendency to decrease between the control (dry seeds) up to 25% water content

Abdômen agudo em equídeos no semiárido da região nordeste do Brasil

Foram revisados os casos de abdômen agudo de origem gastrintestinal em equídeos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, em Patos, Paraíba. No período de janeiro de 2001 a dezembro de 2010. Setenta (4,5%) do total de 1542 equídeos atendidos no período apresentaram quadro clínico de cólica, sendo 60 equinos, cinco muares e cinco asininos. A compactação de cólon maior foi a causa mais frequente de cólica, diagnosticada em 37,14% dos casos, seguida por compactação de cólon menor (10%) e corpo estranho de cólon menor (7,14%). Em quatro casos as cólicas foram causadas pela presença de fitobezoares no intestino grosso, sendo dois deles associados ao consumo de vagens de Prosopis juliflora. Em cinco casos foi observada a presença de corpos estranhos no cólon menor e em um caso os corposestranhos foram encontrados no cólon maior, sendo principalmente sacos plásticos. As lesões estrangulantes do intestino delgado foram observadas em quatro casos. Outras causas foram cólica espasmódica (dois casos por parasitose e dois por ingestão de resíduos domiciliares), sobrecarga gástrica (três casos) e deslocamento de cólon maior que foi diagnosticado em dois animais. Laceração de cólon menor, torção de ceco, compactação de ceco e timpanismo por consumo de Manihot esculenta foram diagnosticados em uma única ocasião. O principal fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de cólicas foi o consumo de Pennisetum purpureum, Brachiaria decumbens, Sorghum spp. ou Echinochloa polystachya picados manualmente ou em picotadeira ou triturados em forrageira (OR=4,03; P=0,007). Como resultado da baixa qualidade dos alimentos ingeridos, a frequência dos atendimentos de equídeos portadores de cólica foi significativamente maior no segundo semestre (época da seca na região estudada) (OR=2,61; P<0,01). Concluiu-se que a oferta de volumoso de baixa qualidade na seca contribui para a alta frequência de casos de cólica e que o manejo alimentar tem um papel importante na ocorrência da doença e, por isso, a sua melhoria pode influenciar positivamente na redução do número de casos de cólica em equídeos no semiárido nordestino

Team dynamics in emergency surgery teams: results from a first international survey

Background: Emergency surgery represents a unique context. Trauma teams are often multidisciplinary and need to operate under extreme stress and time constraints, sometimes with no awareness of the trauma\u2019s causes or the patient\u2019s personal and clinical information. In this perspective, the dynamics of how trauma teams function is fundamental to ensuring the best performance and outcomes. Methods: An online survey was conducted among the World Society of Emergency Surgery members in early 2021. 402 fully filled questionnaires on the topics of knowledge translation dynamics and tools, non-technical skills, and difficulties in teamwork were collected. Data were analyzed using the software R, and reported following the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). Results: Findings highlight how several surgeons are still unsure about the meaning and potential of knowledge translation and its mechanisms. Tools like training, clinical guidelines, and non-technical skills are recognized and used in clinical practice. Others, like patients\u2019 and stakeholders\u2019 engagement, are hardly implemented, despite their increasing importance in the modern healthcare scenario. Several difficulties in working as a team are described, including the lack of time, communication, training, trust, and ego. Discussion: Scientific societies should take the lead in offering training and support about the abovementioned topics. Dedicated educational initiatives, practical cases and experiences, workshops and symposia may allow mitigating the difficulties highlighted by the survey\u2019s participants, boosting the performance of emergency teams. Additional investigation of the survey results and its characteristics may lead to more further specific suggestions and potential solutions

Ferulic acid and derivatives: molecules with potential application in the pharmaceutical field

Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid widely distributed in the plant kingdom. It presents a wide range of potential therapeutic effects useful in the treatments of cancer, diabetes, lung and cardiovascular diseases, as well as hepatic, neuro and photoprotective effects and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Overall, the pharmaceutical potential of ferulic acid can be attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals. However, recent studies have revealed that ferulic acid presents pharmacological properties beyond those related to its antioxidant activity, such as the ability to competitively inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and activate glucokinase, contributing to reduce hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia, respectively. The present review addresses ferulic acid dietary sources, the pharmacokinetic profile, antioxidant action mechanisms and therapeutic effects in the treatment and prevention of various diseases, in order to provide a basis for understanding its mechanisms of action as well as its pharmaceutical potential

O papel da educação no hospital: uma reflexão com base nos estudos de Wallon e Vigotski

A educação no hospital ainda é um tema novo para a academia e possui poucos estudos nesta área. Com o objetivo de contribuir para o debate, o texto apresenta, através da análise de cenas de um atendimento pedagógico em hospital, possibilidades de interlocução entre a educação e a saúde. Com base nos estudos de Wallon e Vigotski, o artigo discute cenas de interação entre quatro crianças, os diferentes papéis que a educação pode desempenhar no contexto hospitalar. A aprendizagem como elemento propulsor do desenvolvimento ganha novos contornos numa enfermaria pediátrica. Além de resgatar a auto-estima da criança, o ato de aprender gera conhecimentos que contribuem para refletir sobre sua doença e compreender as causas que lhe trazem desconforto emocional, diminuindo a tensão de uma hospitalização. Assim, ao proporcionar momentos de construção, expressão e reelaboração de pensamentos, a educação tem um importante papel a desempenhar no resgate da saúde da criança hospitalizada