PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF MARAVIROC MUCOADHESIVE MICROSPHERES FOR GASTRO RETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY

Objective: The objective of this research was to formulate and evaluate pectin and HPMC different grades mucoadhesive microspheres in combination with sodium alginate for controlled release of maraviroc.Methods: The maraviroc mucoadhesive microspheres was successfully developed by Ionotropic gelation technique, using sodium alginate, pectin, HPMC K4, K15, and K100 as mucoadhesive polymer in various proportions in combination. Further, the prepared maraviroc mucoadhesive microspheres were characterized for particle size, morphology, micrometric studies, entrapment efficiency, mucoadhesion, in vitro drug release, release kinetics, compatibility studies (FTIR) and stability studies.Results: The maraviroc Microspheres was discrete and free-flowing. The mean particle size ranged from 646.3±10.2 μm to 910.0±6.56 μm and the entrapment efficiency ranged from 50.80% to 91.43%. Entrapment efficiency of maraviroc microspheres was increased by increasing drug to mucoadhesive polymer ratio. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the rough surface morphology and no visible cracks of best formulation F16. The FTIR study confirmed the stable nature of maraviroc in the drug-loaded mucoadhesive microspheres. All the maraviroc microspheres showed good mucoadhesive property ranging from 04-73 % in the in-vitro wash off test after 8 hours. The Crystallinity of maraviroc was found to be reduced in prepared mucoadhesive microspheres, which were confirmed by XRD studies. The mechanism of maraviroc release from the mucoadhesive microsphere was found to be anomalous and super case-II transport type. Stability studies were carried out for the best formulation F16 indicates that there is no change in entrapment efficiency and percentage mucoadhesion of the formulation.Conclusion: The results obtained in this research work clearly indicated a promising potential of control release maraviroc mucoadhesive microspheres containing HPMC K100 as a rate controlling polymer for the effective treatment of AIDS/HIV patients.Â

Primary intra medullary inter locking nailing for open tibia fractures a prospective analysis of functional and radiological outcome

Background: Tibia is the most commonly fractured long bone in the body encountered in today’s practice. The use of non-operative treatment of tibial fractures is associated with a high prevalence of malunion, joint stiffness and poor functional outcome. This study was conducted to analyze the functional and radiological outcome of patients treated for open fractures of tibia with primary intramedullary interlocking nailing within 24 hours of injury.Methods: From October 2013 to May 2015, a prospective and descriptive study was done where 30 consecutive patients with open tibial fractures was treated with primary intramedullary interlocking nailing within 24 hours of injury, at Pondicherry institute of medical sciences, Pondicherry. Functional outcome was assessed using Karlstrom and Olerud scores and radiological outcome was assessed by radiographic union scale of tibial fractures (RUST) scores at 6 weeks, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month post-operatively. Intra-operative and post-operative complications were noted and documented. The results were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: The most common age group who presented was between 18-30 years and the average age was 36.7 years. 36.67% had grade I injury, 40% had grade II injury, meanwhile, grade IIIA injuries constituted 20% and grade IIIB injuries constituted 3.33%. The average functional score was 33.33 which showed overall good result. The average RUST score was found to be 11.33 denoting union.Conclusions:Hence, we observed that intramedullary interlocking nailing is a good procedure in terms of functional and radiological outcome if done within 24 hours of injury.

Routine Margin Shaving Of Lumpectomy Cavity During Breast Conserving Surgery Detects Occult Multifocal Cancer, A Prospective Study

Background: Cavity shaving (CS) entails circumferential tissue removal from residual lumpectomy cavity following tumor resection during breast conserving surgery (BCS). It could allow detection of occult multifocal breast cancer (OMFBC).Objectives: This study aimed to highlight the impact of unidentified OMFBC as essential risk factor for local recurrence after BCS. Patients and Methods: Eligible breast cancer patients for BCS and CS were prospectively enrolled. Patients with negative margins of “resected tumor specimens” were designated as group A whereas group B comprised those with positive margins. OMFBC, diagnosed in the additionally shaved margins of the “residual lumpectomy cavity” as malignant breast tissues with intervening normal areas, was investigated in both groups. The study was conducted through the period from November, 2017 to March, 2021.Results: Forty-two patients with median age of 43 years were studied. Group A included 32 patients (76.2%)compared with 10 (23.8%) in group B. Overall, OMFBC was confirmed in the additionally shaved margins in 6 (14.3%) patients. OMFBC rate was less in group A (4/32 patients, 12.5%) compared to B (2/10 patient, 20%), however the difference did not reach statistical significance. In group B, another 1 patient showed persistent positive margins without evidence of OMFBC. All 7 patients with positive CS margins (6 with OMFBC and 1 with persistent positive margin without evidence of OMFBC) had their treatment strategy switched to modified radical mastectomy. Local recurrence occurred in only one among the remaing 35 patients (2.9%) who were treated by BCS with CS. Conclusions: CS improves outcome of BCS by reducing the rate of positive margins, enabling diagnosis of occult multifocal breast cancer and reducing local recurrence

Stability and takeoff ground roll issues of hybrid buoyant aircraft

Abstract. In the field of aviation, it is well known that a vehicle’s stability and takeoff flight segment are critical issues for a flight vehicle design. These problems become more critical for a hybrid buoyant aircraft which is concealed as an airship with huge volume of hull as compared with fuselage of a conventional aircraft. In the present work, these issues are discussed for a case of generic model of hybrid airship and of a prototype model of a hybrid aircraft. Special emphasis is given for future sizing of empennages of IWHA-14, a hybrid buoyant aircraft concept proposed for Malaysian inter-island transportation. Effect of gondola position on rotation angle for takeoff ground roll was analyzed and it was found that such configurations can meet the laid down requirement of minimum roll angle

Yawing force of electric trimmers of a hybrid buoyant aerial vehicle

All buoyant and hybrid buoyant aerial vehicles have directional stability issues at low speed. Electric trimmers are one of the potential solutions for controlling the yaw motion of such vehicles in which partial lift is obtained from the wings. However, available propeller disk area of such trimmers is limited due to small surface area of the vertical tail. In the present work, maximum input power required by thin electric propellers with different pitch values are compared to obtain an optimised value of pitch for propeller selection. Analytical as well as computational techniques are employed to evaluate the moment generated by tangential thrust produced by a ducted propeller. Motocalc® software under predicts the thrust value when compared with the computational results under the same flow conditions. The estimated yaw force produced by the propeller is quite significant and it can also be used for creating differential thrust using twin electric motors

Wind tunnel testing of hybrid buoyant aerial vehicle

Purpose – Realistic data bank of aerodynamic and stability derivatives is still missing for hybrid buoyant aerial vehicles. Such vehicles take-off and land similar to an aircraft with their partial weight balanced by the aerostatic lift. The purpose of this paper is to use wind tunnel testing for a better understanding of the aerodynamic and static stability behavior of such vehicles. Design/methodology/approach – The effect of wing on the aerodynamic and static stability characteristics of a clean configuration hybrid buoyant is analyzed. The free stream velocity is 20 m/s, and ranges of angle of attack and side slip angle are from 8° to 12° and 16°, respectively. Data are corrected to account for the effect of strut interference and zero load condition. The maximum blockage of the model with respect to the cross-section area of the test section is about 2.7 per cent. Findings – A hybrid model manufactured by using wood and metal is an optimum solution with less number of parts. The vehicle is statically, longitudinally and directionally stable. Wings designed to fulfill the partial requirement of lift contribute significantly to counter the huge moment generated by the voluminous hull for centre of gravity location ahead of the leading edge of the wing. Research limitations/implications – There are number of manufacturing constraints for scaling down a model of a hybrid buoyant aerial vehicle configuration. Specially, the thickness of the wing limits the testing envelop of angle of attack and free stream velocity. Practical implications – The data presented here are a preliminary guide for further work on larger size models. The data may also be used to build and perform flight tests on small full-scale instrumented models and to obtain flight dynamics data. Originality/value – The estimated aerodynamic and stability derivatives and slopes can be utilized in future for multidisciplinary design

Swelling Soil Stabilized with Sand

This paper presents the study of swelling soil and its recurrent volume changes with the variation of moisture content. This soil has a unique shrink-swell behavior which changes along with variation in soil water content reducing the strength that can damage a structure. Controlling the swelling potential of soil is one of the important criteria to the civil engineers. Several attempts are being made all over the world to improve the swell-shrink phenomenon of swelling soil. The present paper attempts to study the improvement of the swelling soil with EPS geofoam layer and with sand as a layer and as soil-sand mixture. Various tests have been performed such as sieve analysis, standard proctor test, Atterberg limits, one- dimensional oedometer, and free swell index. in the laboratory on both natural and treated soil. These tests were performed at the geotechnical engineering research laboratory, Tanta University. From the obtained results of the experimental testing program, it is observed that the engineering properties of the swelling soil are improved effectively and the swelling pressure is substantially reduced, as the percent of sand increased. From the obtained results, it was found that adding sand could considerably decrease the swelling pressure of the tested soil from 520 kN/m2 to nearly 320 kN/m2

Closure of emergency midline laparotomy over subcutaneous closed suction drain to mitigate incisional surgical site infection, dehiscence and hernia: A prospective comparative study

Background: The role of subcutaneous closed suction drainage (SCSD) during closure of emergency midline laparotomy (EML) for reduction of incisional surgical site infection (ISSI) remains debatable. Objective: The aim of the work was to investigate whether SCSD could minimize ISSI in the setting of emergency abdominal surgery. Patients and Methods: Adult patients with non-traumatic acute abdomen who underwent EML from June 2017 to January 2021 by single surgical team at Sohag University Hospital were prospectively enrolled. Patients were randomized according to EML incision closure technique into group A without SCSD and group B with closure of EML over SCSD. Both groups were compared regarding ISSI, wound dehiscence and incisional hernia. Results: Fifty-four patients were eligible (27 per group) with median age of 62 (range: 19-81) years. Both groups were comparable regarding gender and age. Group B exhibited significantly lower rates of ISSI (3 patients, 11%) and wound dehiscence (zero) compared with group A, (12 patients, 44%) and (5 patients, 15%), respectively. Likewise, the duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter among patients in group B versus those in group A. Relaparotomy was required in 2 cases due to disruption of small bowel anastomosis in group A and leaking repair of duodenal ulcer in group B. After a median follow-up of 26 (range: 7 - 44) months, the protective effect of SCSD against ISSI correlated with significantly lower incidence of incisional hernia in group B (1 patient, 3.7%) in comparison with group A (5 patients, 18.5%). Conclusion: It could be concluded that mitigation of ISSI, wound dehiscence and incisional hernia with subcutaneous closed suction drainage favors its routine application during closure of non-traumatic EML