Vesicular systems for delivering conventional small organic molecules and larger macromolecules to and through human skin

The history of using vesicular systems for drug delivery to and through skin started nearly three decades ago with a study utilizing phospholipid liposomes to improve skin deposition and reduce systemic effects of triamcinolone acetonide. Subsequently, many researchers evaluated liposomes with respect to skin delivery, with the majority of them recording localized effects and relatively few studies showing transdermal delivery effects. Shortly after this, Transfersomes were developed with claims about their ability to deliver their payload into and through the skin with efficiencies similar to subcutaneous administration. Since these vesicles are ultradeformable, they were thought to penetrate intact skin deep enough to reach the systemic circulation. Their mechanisms of action remain controversial with diverse processes being reported. Parallel to this development, other classes of vesicles were produced with ethanol being included into the vesicles to provide flexibility (as in ethosomes) and vesicles were constructed from surfactants and cholesterol (as in niosomes). Thee ultradeformable vesicles showed variable efficiency in delivering low molecular weight and macromolecular drugs. This article will critically evaluate vesicular systems for dermal and transdermal delivery of drugs considering both their efficacy and potential mechanisms of action

Modulation of BLT1 expression in human NK cells by selected cytokines

Leukotriene B[indice inférieur 4] (LTB[indice inférieur 4]) est un dihydroxy acide gras dérivé de l'acide arachidonique par la voie de la 5-lipoxigénase. Deux récepteurs de surface pour le LTB[indice inférieur 4] ont été identifiés : un récepteur de haute affinité, le BLT1, et un récepteur de basse affinité, le BLT2. L'expression du récepteur BLT1 par les diverses cellules immunitaires a été l'objet de beaucoup d'études depuis l'identification du récepteur. Dans le sang périphérique, le BLT1 est principalement exprimé sur les granulocytes, les monocytes et, à un moindre degré, sur des sous-population lymphocytaires. Cependant, l'expression sur les cellules natural killer (NK) est controversée. Bien qu'un rapport n'ait pas trouvé l'expression BLT1 sur des cellules de NK, plusieurs groupes ont également rapporté que celui les cellules de NK répondent au LTB[indice inférieur 4] par cytotoxicité augmentée. Nous avons donc décidé d'étudier l'expression du récepteur BLT1 sur les lymphocytes cytotoxiques et leurs sous-populations. En outre, nous avons cherché à déterminer l'effet de la modulation de l'expression de ce récepteur sur les différentes fonctions effectrices des cellules NK. Dans cette étude, nous montrons, pour la première fois, en utilisant l'analyse cytofluorimétrie des lymphocytes périphériques frais de sang, que la sous-population de CD56[indice supérieur +] (NK) exprime le BLT1. En outre, la stimulation avec des cytokines choisies comme l'IL-2, l'IL-15 et l'IFN-[gamma] pendant 18 heures modulent l'expression du BLT1 de surface dans les lymphocytes humains CD56[indice supérieur +]. La stimulation avec l'IL-2 et l'IL-15 a eu comme conséquence une augmentation significative de l'expression de surface du BLT1, alors que la stimulation avec l'IFN-[gamma] avait comme conséquence une diminution significative de l'expression du BLT1 sur les cellules NK. Nous nous sommes aussi intéressés à étudier le rôle du LTB[indice inférieur 4] et la modulation de son récepteur dans les différentes fonctions effectrices des cellules NK. Depuis sa découverte, le LTB[indice inférieur 4] est connu en tant que chimioattractant efficace pour des myélocytes, principalement les neutrophiles et à un moindre degré pour les éosinophiles, les monocytes et les macrophages. Récemment, le LTB[indice inférieur 4] s'est aussi avéré un chimioattractant efficace pour les cellules T effectrices. Nous prouvons que la sous-population lymphocytaire CD56[indice supérieur +] migre en réponse au LTB[indice inférieur 4]. La stimulation préalable des lymphocytes périphériques frais de sang avec l'IL-15 pendant 18 heures résulte en une migration augmentée des lymphocytes CD56[indice supérieur +] en réponse du LTB[indice inférieur 4] comparé aux cellules non-stimulées, suggérant que cette réponse accrue provient d'une augmentation de l'expression du BLT1. Une des fonctions effectrices principales cellules NK est la cytotoxicité. La lyse des cellules cibles est principalement accomplie par la voie d'exocytose de granules par le relâchement de certaines protéines principalement le perforine. Nos résultats ont démontré que l'incubation des lymphocytes frais avec le LTB[indice inférieur 4] a eu comme conséquence une diminution de l'expression de la protéine perforine dans des cellules NK. Cela est en accord avec l'effet du LTB[indice inférieur 4] sur le processus de dégranulation d'autres types de leucocytes et de son rôle dans l'augmentation de la cytotoxicité des cellules NK. Cependant, d'autres études devraient être faites pour confirmer ces observations

Studies of SmBa2Cu3O7-δ / ZnFe2O4 Superconducting Composites

SmBa2Cu3O7-δ /(ZnFe2O4)x superconducting composites with 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 wt% were prepared by the usual solid-state reaction method. The prepared samples were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) at room temperature and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements in the temperature range (100-295 K). It is found that EPR spectra are dominated by an anisotropic Cu2+ EPR pattern. Moreover, the EPR spectral intensity increases as the temperature decrease from room temperature down to 100 K. The number of spins (N) participating in EPR resonance, the activation energy (Ea), the paramagnetic susceptibility (c) and the effective magnetic moment (µeff) are calculated as a function of both nanosized ZnFe2O4 addition and temperature. The results are interpreted in terms of localized Cu2+ ions from non-superconducting impurity phases and confirmed by magnetization-field (M-H) hysteresis measurements

Evaluation of non-viable biomass of Laurencia papillosa for decolorization of dye waste water

The uptake of fast orange dye by the red seaweed Laurencia papillosa has been demonstrated in order to explore its potential use as low-cost adsorbent. The adsorption kinetics of fast orange dye on the alga with respect to initial dye concentration, contact time, particle size and pH were investigated. The dye removal percentage increased from 25.92 to 67.08% and the equilibrium states were attained at almost 60 min within the experimental concentration range. The adsorption kinetic was analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The pseudo-second-order model was more appropriate to describe the sorption kinetics based on the relatively high values of the linear squared regression correlation coefficient. The nature of the possible adsorbent and fast orange interactions was examined by the Fourier transform infrared technique. This technique confirmed that hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, sulfonyl, carbonyl and alkyl groups are responsible for the dye binding process. Significant increase in dye adsorption was observed with the decrease in sorbent particle size coupled with its large surface area. Maximum removal efficiency was determined to be 65.7% at a solution pH of 5. However, Laurencia papillosa proved to be a promising material for removing fast orange dye from aqueous solutions.Keywords: Dye adsorption, Macroalga, Laurencia papillosa, kineticsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(17), pp. 2215-222

Cervical Length as a Predictor of Success of Induction of Labor in Term Pregnancy

Background: Vaginal delivery is the most important event occurring in women’s life. It carries many risks of significant concerns to the physicians. Predicting the chances of vaginal delivery is of paramount concern for the pregnant woman. Antenatal cervical length measurement has paramount importance in the prediction of labor.Objective: This study aimed to study the role of cervical length in prediction of success of induction of labor in term pregnancy.Patients and Methods: A prospective study where 140 pregnant women undergoing induction of labor for various indications were included, the cases were recruited from Obstetric Department of Shebin El-Kom Teaching Hospital in the period from October 2019 to December 2020.Results: Methods of induction was misoprostol in (75) females and amniotomy with oxytocin in (65) females. 97 Females were delivered by simple vaginal delivery, 79 females were delivered within 24 hours of induction, 18 females were delivered after 24 hours, and 43 females were delivered by caesarian section (C.S.). Indications of C.S. were mainly due to failed induction and fetal distress.Conclusions: We concluded that successful induction of labor was correlated significantly with detection of insulinlike growth factor-binding protein 1 (iGFBP-1) in cervical secretions and measurement of cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS), IGFBP-1 detection by Actim Partus test is simple, easy bed side test that can predict successful induction of labor and measurement of cervical length by TVUS is a good predictor factor for successful induction of labor

Laparoscopic salpingectomy or hysteroscopic tubal occlusion in patients with hydrosalpinx and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes

Background: Tubal factor of infertility resulting from various forms of tub peritoneal damage remains an extremely common cause of female infertility. Probably the most severe form of tubal pathology is hydrosalpinx. Objectives: To compare the efficacy of hysteroscopic tubal electrocoagulation versus laparoscopic salpingectomy for management of hydrosalpinx related infertility among patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at outpatient clinic in Private Infertility Unit, Menoufia, Egypt, from November 2018 to August 2019. This study included 120 infertile patients who were candidate for ICSI and fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria, half of the patients underwent hysteroscopic tubal electrocoagulation who have laparoscopic contraindications, while the other half underwent laparoscopic salpingectomy. After tubal occlusion was done, an ICSI cycle was started with assessment of chemical pregnancy rate. Results: The rate of positive chemical pregnancy was 56.16% in hysteroscopic group and 43.84% in laparoscopic group. Conclusion: Hysteroscopic tubal electrocoagulation was found to be a successful treatment for hydrosalpinges before ICSI when laparoscopy is contraindicated with chemical pregnancy rate comparable to laparoscopic tubal disconnection

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF RAPIDLY DISSOLVING TABLETS OF RALOXIFENE HYDROCHLORIDE BY TERNARY SYSTEM FORMATION

Objectives: Enhancing the dissolution rate of raloxifene hydrochloride for the preparation of rapidly disintegrating tablets with subsequent rapid dissolution.Methods: Binary and ternary solid dispersions (SDs) with different carriers were prepared at various drug: carrier ratios including cremophor RH 40, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30), poloxamer 407 and gelucire 44/14 as carriers and were evaluated by drug content, In-vitro dissolution studies, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis analysis. The most efficient solid dispersion was selected for preparation of rapidly dissolving tablets.Results: SDs showed enhanced dissolution rate compared to the unprocessed drug. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that enhancement in drug dissolution was mainly due to a change in its crystalline structure. FTIR studies revealed no interaction between the drug and excipients. The dissolution pattern of the drug from the prepared tablet depended on the components of the tablets with those containing a combination of super-disintegrants (crospovidone and croscarmellose) in the presence of citric acid as channeling agent and pH modifier being the best.Conclusion: The study presented a system capable of increasing the dissolution rate of raloxifene with successful incorporation in rapidly disintegrating tablets with subsequent fast dissolution. 3