Evaluation of Prunus domestica gum as a novel tablet binder

To evaluate binding potential of Prunus domestica gum in tablets formulations. Six tablet batches (F-1B to F-6B) were prepared by wet granulation method, containing Avicel pH 101 as diluent, sodium diclofenac as model drug using 10, 15 and 20 mg of Prunus domestica gum as binder and PVP K30 was used as standard binder. Magnesium stearate was used as lubricant. Flow properties of granules like bulk density, tapped density, Carr index, Hausner’s ratio, angle of repose as well as physical parameters of the compressed tablets including hardness, friability, thickness and disintegration time were determined and found to be satisfactory. The FTIR spectroscopic analysis showed that the formulation containing plant gum is compatible with the drug and other excipients used in tablets formulation. Hence the plant gum has role as a potential binder in tablets formulations. The dissolution profile showed that tablets formulations containing Prunus domestica gum 15 mg/200 mg of total weight of tablet as binder showed better results as compared to PVP K30.Para avaliar a propriedade aglutinante da goma Prunus domestica em formulações de comprimidos, seis lotes (F-1B para F-6B) foram preparados pelo método de granulação úmida, contendo Avicel pH 101 como diluente e diclofenaco de sódio como fármaco modelo, usando 10, 15 e 20 mg de goma de Prunus domestica como agente aglutinante e PVP K30 como aglutinante padrão. O estearato de magnésio foi utilizado como lubrificante. Propriedades de fluxo dos grânulos, como a densidade, índice de Carr, razão de Hausner, ângulo de repouso, bem como parâmetros físicos dos comprimidos, incluindo o tempo de dureza, friabilidade, espessura e desintegração foram determinados e se mostraram satisfatórios. A análise espectroscópica no FTIR mostrou que a formulação contendo goma vegetal é compatível com o fármaco e outros excipientes utilizados na formulação dos comprimidos. Assim, a goma vegetal tem papel potencial como aglutinante em formulações de comprimidos. O perfil de dissolução das formulações que contêm 15 mg/200 mg do peso total do comprimido em goma de Prunus domestica como aglutinante mostrou melhores resultados comparativamente ao PVP K30

Formulation and Evaluation of Sustained Release Tablets Using Prunus armeniaca (L.) and Prunus domestica (L.) Gums: Sastained Release Tablets From Prunus

The plant gums obtained from Prunus armeniaca and Prunus domestica (Familym Rosaceae) were studied for their sustained release potential in comparison with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), a semi-synthetic matrix polymer, using diclofenac sodium. Matrix tablets of diclofenac sodium were prepared using different ratios of gum alone and in combination (i.e. 1:1) with diclofenac sodium and other excipients. The formulated matrix tablets were evaluated for their thickness, hardness, weight variation, friability, drug content and in vitro release studies. These studies demonstrated that P. armeniaca and P. domestica gums used alone could not control drug release efficiently, however, extended drug release (up to 10 hours) was obtained when both gums were used in combination (1:1). The dissolution data was fitted into zero order, first order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer equation, which dictated that the release mechanism is diffusion as well as erosion controlled-drug release. FTIR studies showed that there was no interaction between drug and plant gums used. Among various formulated batches, F-5 did not significantly differ from F-7 and commercially available formulation (Voltral SR®, Novartis Pharma, Pakistan) with respect to drug release

Status of antithyroid antibodies in Bangladesh

To study autoimmunity among thyroid diseases, 397 thyroid patients (age 30 (13) years; M/F 75/322) from two referral centres in Bangladesh and 94 healthy controls (age 30 (13) years; M/F 24/70) were studied for antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies. Thyroid patients were clinically grouped as suspected autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), non-autoimmune, or indeterminate groups (where no decision could be reached). Antimicrosomal antibody was strongly positive in 19.4% and weakly positive in 7.3% of patients but only 4.3% and 2.1% respectively in the controls (χ(2) = 17.852; p = 0.000) whereas strong and weak positivity were 27.2% and 6.8% in patients compared with 8.5% and 4.3% respectively in the controls (χ(2) = 16.916; p = 0.000) for antithyroglobulin antibody. Antibodies were positive in 63.0% with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 36.4% with Graves' disease, and 44.7% with atrophic thyroiditis among the autoimmune group. In the non-autoimmune group antibodies were positive in 100% with multinodular hypothyroidism, 46.7% with subacute thyroiditis, 40.0% with suspected iodine deficiency goitre, 31.3% with toxic multinodular goitre, 30.8% with non-toxic solitary nodules, and 19.4% with simple diffuse goitre. None was positive for antimicrosomal antibody without being positive for antithyroglobulin antibody. The two antibodies strongly correlated in both patients (r = 0.977, p = 0.000) and controls (r = 0.986, p = 0.000). About 9% (36/397) of patients were mismatched with the final diagnosis on antibody measurement; most of them had Hashimoto's thyroiditis (33/36). Prevalence of AITD among thyroid patients was 48.36%. Specificity of antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies were 93% and 87%. It was concluded that AITD is not uncommon in Bangladesh; antimicrosomal antibody is a useful marker for AITD and unless antibodies are checked, an appreciable number of patients with AITDs will remain undetected.


Keywords: thyroid autoimmunity; diagnostic dilemm

Finding potential drug targets against Shigella flexneri through druggable proteome exploration.

Abstract:Background: Shigella flexneri is a gram negative bacteria that causes the infectious disease ‘shigellosis’. Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri) is responsible for developing diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps in human. Antibiotics are mostly given to patients infected with shigella. Resistance to antibiotics can hinder its treatment significantly. Upon identification of essential therapeutic targets, vaccine and drug could be effective therapy for the treatment of shigellosis. Methods: The study was designed for the identification and qualitative characterization for potential drug targets from S. flexneri by using the subtractive genome analysis. A set of computational tools were used to identify essential proteins those are required for the survival of S. flexneri. Total proteome (13503 proteins) of S. flexneri was retrieved from NCBI and further analyzed by subtractive channel analysis. After identification of the metabolic proteins we have also performed its qualitative characterization to pave the way for the identification of promising drug targets. Results: Subtractive analysis revealed that a list of 53 targets of S. flexneri were human non-homologous essential metabolic proteins that might be used for potential drug targets. We have also found that 11 drug targets are involved in unique pathway. Most of these proteins are cytoplasmic, can be used as broad spectrum drug targets, can interact with other proteins and show the druggable properties. The functionality and drug binding site analysis suggest a promising effective way to design the new drugs against S. flexneri. Conclusion: We have identified 13 potential novel drug and one vaccine target(s) against S. flexneri. The outcome might also be used as module as well as circuit design in systems biology. Keywords: S. flexneri, drug target, therapeutics, metabolic proteins, proteom

Treating Diabetes Mellitus: Pharmacophore Based Designing of Potential Drugs from Gymnema sylvestre against Insulin Receptor Protein

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders which can affect the quality of life severely. Injectable insulin is currently being used to treat DM which is mainly associated with patient inconvenience. Small molecules that can act as insulin receptor (IR) agonist would be better alternatives to insulin injection. Herein, ten bioactive small compounds derived from Gymnema sylvestre (G. sylvestre) were chosen to determine their IR binding affinity and ADMET properties using a combined approach of molecular docking study and computational pharmacokinetic elucidation. Designing structural analogues were also performed for the compounds associated with toxicity and less IR affinity. Among the ten parent compounds, six were found to have significant pharmacokinetic properties with considerable binding affinity towards IR while four compounds were associated with toxicity and less IR affinity. Among the forty structural analogues, four compounds demonstrated considerably increased binding affinity towards IR and less toxicity compared with parent compounds. Finally, molecular interaction analysis revealed that six parent compounds and four analogues interact with the active site amino acids of IR. So this study would be a way to identify new therapeutics and alternatives to insulin for diabetic patients

Gifted and Talented Education: Organizational Foundations and Trends in International Cooperation

У статті подано характеристику діяльності міжнародних організацій у сфері освіти обдарованих і талановитих дітей, а також тенденцій її розвитку у регіональному та глобальному контексті. Досліджено чинники актуалізації проблеми, цільові пріоритети, змістові та організаційні засади міжнародної співпраці у сфері освіти обдарованих і талановитих. Окреслено актуальну тематику міжнародних конференцій та наукових розвідок у досліджуваній галузі. Зроблено висновки щодо тенденцій формування міжнародної професійної громади та розвитку міжнародного простору освіти обдарованих і талановитих.In the article the characteristics of the activities of international organizations in the field of gifted and talented education (GATE) and trends of international cooperation in GATE are revealed. The factors that actualize the problem (economic, socio-political, academic), the mission (to focus world attention on gifted and talented children and ensure the realization of their valuable potential to the benefit of humankind), the main activities of the leading international organizations, primarily European Council for High Ability and the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (conferences, professional education programs, research journals, newsletters, courses, summer schools, professional awards, international days/weeks/years etc.) are characterized. The topics discussed at international conferences and research in the sphere of GATE are analyzed (problems in the field GATE in the context of the knowledge society, networking of information space, IT-development, globalization and internationalization of education; theory, research, and practices of creativity development; curriculum and classroom practices; developing future leaders; guidance and counseling of gifted and talented; homeschooling, parenting, and parent matters; innovation education; moral education, values, and social conscience; social emotional needs of the gifted, creative, and talented; the influence of ethno-cultural factors on understanding of the giftedness and talent as a phenomenon and attitudes to it in different countries and regions of the world, etc.) . The multi-level , multi-disciplinary and multi-subject character of international cooperation in the field of study is presented. The major trends in the development of international GATE cooperation are revealed: the further differentiation of subjects of international cooperation, the growth of participation level of practitioners in the international cooperation; diversity of the activities of international organizations in the field of study ; increased emphasis on the formation of national networks in the field of GATE, the enhancement of international cooperation among all stakeholders of GATE in social networks; the development of the specific alternatives to the existing formal international associations in the form of informal networks