Investigation on the aerosol performance of dry powder inhalation hypromellose capsules with different lubricant levels

HPMC capsules are made by a dipping process and a surface lubricant for the mould pins is an essential processing aid for removing dried capsules shells. For the purpose of this study, the level was determined by quantifying methyloleate (MO) a component found in the lubricant but not in the hypromellose capsules. Here we investigated the influence of the lubricant, low (10.81 μg/capsule = 60 mg/kg MO), medium (15.97 μg/capsule = 90 mg/kg MO) and high (23.23 μg/capsule = 127 mg/kg MO) content on powder (binary mixture of salbutamol: lactose, 1:50 w/w) aerosolization properties was investigated. Results indicated significantly lower emitted dose from capsules with 60 mg/kg MO. Furthermore, the 90 and 127 mg/kg MO level of lubricant capsules produced almost double the Fine Particle Dose & Fine Particle Fraction compared with the low level of lubricant. The data indicates that lubricant level within capsules has an influence on deposition profiles and amount of drug remaining in capsule and inhaler device after actuation. It is suggested lubricant levels greater than 60 mg/kg MO per capsule are required to minimise powder retention within capsules and maximise deposition profiles. AFM (atomic force microscopy) data suggest that internal surface roughness may be related with this phenomena

Determinación de Rubidio y Estroncio con fines geocronológicos en rocas silicatadas mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica

RESUMEN: Se propone un método para la determinación de Rubidio y Estroncio con fines geocronológicos en rocas silicatadas mediante Espectrofotometria de Absorción Atómica. Las disoluciones analíticas son estables, lo que permite la construcción de calibradosfácilmente a partir de rocas standards, con lo que se evitan las interferencias inter elementales. Estroncio y Rubidio se pueden determinar satisfactoriamente a partir de estos calibrados. Las interferencias interelementales sobre el estroncio se pueden eliminar también usando un mechero de titanio

Effects of region of birth, educational level and age on late presentation among men who have sex with men newly diagnosed with HIV in a network of STI/HIV counselling and testing clinics in Spain

This paper analyses late presentation (LP) of HIV infection, and its determinants, among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Spain, newly diagnosed with HIV (2003-2011) in 15 sexually transmitted infection/HIV counselling and testing clinics. LP was defined as  12 months before diagnosis (12-24 months (aOR:1.4; 95% CI:1.0-2.0); > 24 months (aOR:2.2; 95% CI:1.7-3.0)). LP was less likely in MSM reporting a known HIV-infected partner as infection source or symptoms compatible with acute retroviral syndrome. 'Region of birth' interacted with 'educational level' and 'steady partner as infection source': only African and Latin-American MSM with low educational level were more likely to present late; Latin-American men attributing their infection to steady partner, but no other MSM, had LP more frequently. In Spain, HIV testing among MSM should be promoted, especially those > 34 years old and migrants with low educational level. The current recommendation that MSM be tested at least once a year is appropriate.This work has been supported with grants No. 36303/02, 36537/05 and 36794/08 from FIPSE (Fundación para la Investigación y la Prevención del Sida en España). The authors wish to thank Kathy Fitch for the English review.S