The Distribution of Liposomal-Methylprednisolone Palmitate (L-MPLP) in Several Organs in Mice After Intra-Peritoneal Injection

This study was to analyze the distribution of liposomal-methylprednisolone palmitate (L-MPLP) as a new drug formulation, in several organs of mice after intra-peritoneal injection. In a previous study, in vitro, the stability and the incorporation of methylprednisolone palmitate into liposome membranes were increased, from 70% to approximately 95% using tetra-ether lipid as a stabilizer of the liposome membrane. Based on this result, the stability of L-MPLP should also be proved, in vivo, that the drug, methylprednisolone palmitate, could be distributed into several organs more effective than in a control group (methylprednisolone palmitate and methylprednisolone as a standard of drug and liposome). Forty-two mice of C3H were divided into 5 study groups. Each group of animals was divided into 6 sub-groups of time from 10 minutes to 48 hours. Each drug was injected intra-peritoneal, blood was drawn from the vein of the tail and the organs i.e. liver, kidneys, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow were extirpated after sacrificing the mice using ether. The distribution of the drug or their metabolites was higher at the minute of 180 and tended to decrease at the time of 48 hours after injection. The higher distribution was shown in the liver and rather high in the spleen, thymus, kidney, and bone-marrow respectively

HBsAg in Cord Blood Qf Newborns of HBsAg-Positive Mothers

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B infection that may occur during pregnancy at delivery-, in infancy, and early childhood has an important role in the development of chronic hepatitis B. Intrauterine infection is suspected to occur when hepatitis B viruses cross the placenta into fetal circulation due to failure of placental tissue function. In Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, 98 (6.4%) of 1536 pregnant mothers obseiVed during 3 years (1987 -1990) showed positive HBsAg. Six (8.3%) of 60 babies of born to HBsAg positive mothers showed positive HBsAg in their cord blood, but this disappeared after one month. All babies born to HBsAg positive mothers were vaccinated on months 0, 1, 2, and 12. HBsAg in cord blood might not play an important role in vertical transmission