Formulation development and evaluation of Silybum marianum tablets

En medicina popular, Silybum marianum se usa como agente hepatoprotector. La silimarina es su componente principal. El presente trabajo trata de la formulación y evaluación de tabletas de S. marianum a partir de extracto etanólico por compresión directa. El extracto etanólico se obtuvo de las semillas mediante extracción con soxhlet. Se prepararon dos formulaciones farmacéuticas usando extracto fluido como principio activo y Aeroperl® 300 Pharma como vehículo. Para mejorar la capacidad de flujo y la compresibilidad, se emplearon excipientes coprocesados MicroceLac® 100 y FlowLac® 90. Los parámetros de precompresión y postcompresión se evaluaron de acuerdo con USP 34-NF 29. Además, la silimarina se determinó mediante datos espectrales de RMN. Ambas formulaciones mostraron excelentes propiedades reológicas y los mejores parámetros biofarmacéuticos se observaron en F2 (S. marianum ethanolic extract, aeroperl® 300 Pharma, flowLac® 90, glicolado de almidón y estearato de magnesio) en términos de friabilidad (0,82%) y el tiempo de desintegración (8,05 min).In popular medicine Silybum marianum is used as a hepatoprotective agent. Silymarin is the major constituent. The present work deals with the formulation and evaluation of S. marianum tablets from ethanolic extract by direct compression. The ethanolic extract was obtained from seeds by soxhlet extraction. Two pharmaceutical formulations were prepared using fluid extract as an active principle, and Aeroperl® 300 Pharma as a carrier. In order to improve flow ability and compressibility, co-processed excipients MicroceLac® 100 and FlowLac® 90 were employed. Pre-compression and post-compression parameters were evaluated according to USP 34-NF 29. Besides, silymarin was determined by NMR spectral data. Both formulations showed excellent rheological properties and the best biopharmaceutical parameters were observed in F2 (S. marianum ethanolic extract, aeroperl® 300 Pharma, flowLac® 90, glycolate starch and magnesium stearate) in terms of the friability (0.82 %) and the disintegration time (8.05 min).Fil: Cianchino, Valeria Andrea. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Favier, Laura Silvina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Claudia Alicia. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Peralta, Cecilia Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Química de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Cifuente, Diego Alberto. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentin

A new design of silybum marianum tablets by direct compression

In the present paper we described a new design of herbal medicine tablets by direct compression using the ethanolic extract of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. S. marianum extract is used in popular medicine as hepatoprotective herbal medicine. The alcoholic extract was obtained from seeds by soxhlet. Five pharmaceutical formulations were prepared using the extract as active principle, Aeroperl® 300 Pharma, as carrier and different diluents (CombiLac®, MicroceLac® 100, StarLac®, Cellactose® 80 and FlowLac® 90). The micromeritic properties were determined for all the physical mixtures. The results of angle of repose, compressibility and Hausner ratio indicated that the all powder mixtures had excellent flow properties and compressibility. In addition, the tablets properties and quality parameters were evaluated (weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration test, drug content and dissolution test). One formulation (F5: herbal ethanolic extract 20 %, Aeroperl® 20 %, FlowLac® 90 57 %, Glycolate starch 2 % and magnesium stearate 1 %) showed excellent rheological properties and the best biopharmaceutical parameters in concordance with the pharmacopoeial specifications. Thus, taking into account the poor solubility of silymarin in water, this novel design could be easily applied to others poorly soluble drugs or herbal extract in order to improve its bioavailability.Fil: Cianchino, Valeria Andrea. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Jofre, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Peralta, Cecilia Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Química de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Favier, Laura Silvina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Claudia Alicia. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Cifuente, Diego Alberto. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentin

Generando una cultura ambientalista a través de la implementación de un sistema de reciclaje para los pobladores del AA.HH. Torres de San Borja, Moche Trujillo – La Libertad

RESUMEN Se realizó un proyecto de Responsabilidad Social sobre reciclaje plasmado en un concurso llamado “Recicla para tu bicla”, en el Asentamiento Humano “Las Torres de San Borja”, que queda ubicado a 3.5 kms del distrito de Moche, en el cual viven cerca de 300 personas, entre hombres, mujeres y niños; con la finalidad de enseñarle a los niños de la zona de manera dinámica y activa que desde muy pequeños pueden generar sus propios ingresos a través del reciclaje y que de esa manera contribuyen con el cuidado del medio ambiente, con la participación de los estudiantes de la Universidad Privada del Norte. Debido a la falta de conocimiento y educación en el Asentamiento humano, es que afronta una realidad con condiciones de vida desfavorables que no les permite sobresalir y aprovechar las oportunidades de negocio de la zona. Como herramientas metodológicas se dispuso del diagnóstico y la ejecución del plan de acción para la realización del concurso. Para llevar a cabo este proyecto se realizaron las siguientes actividades: Primero, se realizó la correspondiente difusión del evento que consistía en la colocación del banner y la entrega de folletos a los niños de la zona. Segundo, se brindaron cuatro capacitaciones de medio ambiente, contaminación, reciclaje y buenas prácticas. Tercero se procedió al recojo de reciclaje tanto dentro como fuera de la universidad y del Asentamiento Humano, de manera colectiva e individual. Cuarto se realizó el juego de habilidades de yaxes y canicas y por último se procedió a premiar a los ganadores del concurso.ABSTRACT A social responsibility project on recycling was carried out in a contest called "Recycle for your bike", in the Squatter Settlement "Las Torres de San Borja", which is located 3.5 km from the district of Moche, where live near 300 people, including men, women and children; with the purpose of teaching children of the area in a dynamic and active way that from a very young age they can generate their own income through recycling and that way they contribute with the cleanliness of the environment, with the participation of the students of the Universidad Privada del Norte. Due to the lack of knowledge and education of said Human Settlement, it is that it faces a reality needed with unfavorable living conditions that do not allow them to excel and improve the business opportunities in the area. As methodological tools, the diagnosis and execution of the action plan for the contest was available. In order to carry out this project, the following activities carried out. First, the event was disseminated, consisting of the placement of the banner and the delivery of brochures to the children of the area. Second, four environmental, pollution, were recycling and good practices trainings were offered. Third, we proceeded to collect the recycling both inside and outside the university and the Human Settlement, collectively and individually. Fourth, the game of yaxes and marbles skills carried out and finally, the winners of the contest rewarded

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

SuperCam Calibration Targets: Design and Development

SuperCam is a highly integrated remote-sensing instrumental suite for NASA’s Mars 2020 mission. It consists of a co-aligned combination of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman and Luminescence (TRR/L), Visible and Infrared Spectroscopy (VISIR), together with sound recording (MIC) and high-magnification imaging techniques (RMI). They provide information on the mineralogy, geochemistry and mineral context around the Perseverance Rover. The calibration of this complex suite is a major challenge. Not only does each technique require its own standards or references, their combination also introduces new requirements to obtain optimal scientific output. Elemental composition, molecular vibrational features, fluorescence, morphology and texture provide a full picture of the sample with spectral information that needs to be co-aligned, correlated, and individually calibrated. The resulting hardware includes different kinds of targets, each one covering different needs of the instrument. Standards for imaging calibration, geological samples for mineral identification and chemometric calculations or spectral references to calibrate and evaluate the health of the instrument, are all included in the SuperCam Calibration Target (SCCT). The system also includes a specifically designed assembly in which the samples are mounted. This hardware allows the targets to survive the harsh environmental conditions of the launch, cruise, landing and operation on Mars during the whole mission. Here we summarize the design, development, integration, verification and functional testing of the SCCT. This work includes some key results obtained to verify the scientific outcome of the SuperCam system

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Search for stop and higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top-quark (stop) and the Higgs boson (higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets. In 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collision data at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded in the CMS experiment, no evidence of a signal is found and lower limits at the 95% confidence level are set, excluding the stop mass below 360 to 410 GeV, depending on the higgsino mass

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia