Evaluation of Drug Release From Coated Pellets Based on Isomalt, Sugar, and Microcrystalline Cellulose Inert Cores

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the pellet core materials isomalt, sugar, and microcrystalline cellulose on the in vitro drug release kinetics of coated sustained-release pellets as well as to evaluate the influence of different ratios of polymethacrylate copolymers exhibiting different permeability characteristics on the drug release rate. For characterization of the drug release process of pellets, the effect of osmolality was studied using glucose as an osmotically active agent in the dissolution medium. The pellet cores were layered with diclofenac sodium as model drug and coated with different ratios of Eudragit® RS30D and Eudragit® RL30D (ERS and ERL; 0:1 and 0.5:0.5 and 1:0 ratio) in a fluid bed apparatus. Physical characteristics such as mechanical strength, shape, and size proved that the inert cores were adequate for further processing. The in vitro dissolution tests were performed using a USP Apparatus I (basket method). The results demonstrated that, besides the ratio of the coating polymers (ERS/ERL), the release mechanism was also influenced by the type of starter core used. Sugar- and isomalt-type pellet cores demonstrated similar drug release profiles

Enfermidades digitais em vacas de aptidão leiteira: associação com mastite clínica, metrites e aspectos epidemiológicos Foot diseases in dairy cows: association with clinical mastitis, metrites and predisposed factors

Utilizaram-se nesse estudo 5300 vacas de aptidão leiteira, provenientes de 80 propriedades rurais, que adotavam manejo intensivo ou semi-extensivo, com o objetivo de averiguar a existência de possível associação entre enfermidades digitais, mastite clínica e/ou metrite e identificar possíveis fatores de risco das enfermidades digitais. Em 325 (6,13%) vacas foram diagnosticados apenas enfermidades digitais, em 35 (0,66%) enfermidades digitais e mastite clínica, em 52 (0,98%) enfermidades digitais e metrite, em 28 (0,53%) enfermidades digitais, mastite clínica e metrite, em 128 (2,42%) apenas metrite, em 165 (3,11%) somente mastite clínica, e em 89 (1,68%) vacas metrite e mastite clínica. As mudanças bruscas na alimentação, o excesso de sujidades nas instalações, os pisos irregulares e abrasivos, a não utilização ou uso incorreto de pedilúvio, a falta de casqueamento preventivo, a ausência de quarentena, e a aquisição de animais sem a preocupação com o aspecto sanitário foram considerados os fatores de risco de maior ocorrência. Foi constatada diferença significativa entre a ocorrência de enfermidades digitais, mastite clínica e metrite, além de associação fraca entre tais enfermidades, concluindo-se que não houve relação expressiva entre enfermidades podais, mastite clínica e metrite em vacas lactantes.<br>With the objective to investigate a possible association between foot diseases, clinical mastitis and/or metritis and predisposing factors for foot diseases, 5300 dairy cows from 80 intensive and semi-intensive farms were used. In 325 (6.13%) cows only foot disease was diagnosed, in 35 (0.66%) foot disease and clinical mastitis, in 52 (0.98%) foot disease and metritis, in 28 (0.53%) foot disease, clinical mastitis and metritis, in 128 (2.42%) only metritis, in 165 (3.11%) only clinical mastitis, and in 89 (1.68%) cows metritis and clinical mastitis. Rapid changes in the diet, high exposure time of hoof horn to slurry and wet conditions, concrete floors, use of footbaths, low frequency of claw trimming, irregular quarantine, and no attention to health aspects during acquisition of the animals were considered as major risk factors for the occurrence of those diseases. The McNemar test for dependent samples showed significant statistical differences between the occurrence of foot disease, clinical mastitis and metritis, in spite of the poor association between those diseases. It was concluded that there was no expressive relationship between foot diseases, clinical mastitis and metritis in lactent cows