Design And Evaluation Of Mul Tip Articulate. Systems Prepared Using Sieving-Spheronisation And Extrusionspheronisation

Pelletised dosage forms can be prepared by different methods which, in general, are time consuming and labor intensive. The current study was carried out to assess the feasibility of preparing spherical pellets by sieving the wet powder mass followed by spheronisation. This method was compared with extrusion-spheronisation process in terms of physical characteristics and in-vitro dissolution profile of the developed fommlations. Dosej berbentuk pelet boleh disediakan melalui pelbagai kaedah yang biasanya memakan masa serta memerlukan tenaga kerja yang banyak. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menilai kebolehlaksanaan penyediaan pelet bulat melalui tapisan jisim serbuk basah dan dikuti dengan proses sferonisasi. Kaedah ini dibandingkan dengan proses sferonisasi ekstrusi dari segi ciri-ciri fizikal and profil pelarutan in-vitro daripada rumusan yang dibangunkan

Evaluation of prescription behavior of tuberculosis patients in comparison with WHO guidelines

The present study was designed to evaluate the prescribing trend among the tuberculosis (TB) patients in different hospitals of Pakistan. In this study under directly observed therapy (DOT) programme, 38 patients including adults and children of both sexs who admitted suffering with either pulmonary or extra pulmonary TB, were selected. The majority of the patients were from rural areas (64 %) and the rest of patients from urban cities. The selected patients included both of initial phase (39 %) and continuation phase (61 %) and were receiving once daily dosing of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol combination (RHZE), and ethambutol and isoniazid (EH), respectively. Two patients (5 %) were of category 2 (relapsed patients) while thirty six patients (95 %) were of category 1 (new cases). Family history, medication errors, and prescribing trends were observed and compared the treatment plan with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pakistan Chest Society (PCS) guidelines. It was observed that WHO and PCS guidelines were followed in the hospitals and all the prescription trend was found rationale with no drug-drug interaction but yet the treatment period was more than 6 months due to poor patient compliance to the anti tuberculosis medication and ineffective DOT program in Pakistan.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Assessment of the knowledge, behavior and practice of self-medication amongst female students in a pakistani university

This study set sights at the issue of predominance of the attitude and behavior of self medication, medication storage and self treatment among female students of a Pakistani university. Random sampling and cross sectional surveys were conducted after collecting the data with the help of a questionnaire that was circulated amongst students. Of the 450 participants, 78.74 % of students admitted that they store medicines with them while other 50.95 % of students replied that they stop taking medicine prescribed by their doctors with the doctor’s intimation. The 78.74 % females were involved in self-medication. The 21.98 % were of the opinion that they did it to save their time and the 12.57 % claimed that the medicine given by the doctor did not have any effect. The medicines which are used to treat symptoms as self-medication are analgesics and antipyretics (22.57 %), ear, nose and throat drugs (14.34 %), vitamins and minerals (12.17 %), gastro-intestinal tract drugs (10.30 %), anti-infections (8.05 %) and herbal medicines (5.44 %). Female students should be educated to be sure to acquire safe practice by increasing their knowledge. Such strong policies should be instigated that the availability of unprescribed medicines should be restricted to avoid hazards due to self-medication.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

NMDA receptor dysfunction contributes to impaired brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced facilitation of hippocampal synaptic transmission in a Tau transgenic model.

While the spatiotemporal development of Tau pathology has been correlated with occurrence of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's patients, mechanisms underlying these deficits remain unclear. Both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor TrkB play a critical role in hippocampus-dependent synaptic plasticity and memory. When applied on hippocampal slices, BDNF is able to enhance AMPA receptor-dependent hippocampal basal synaptic transmission through a mechanism involving TrkB and N-methyl-d-Aspartate receptors (NMDAR). Using THY-Tau22 transgenic mice, we demonstrated that hippocampal Tau pathology is associated with loss of synaptic enhancement normally induced by exogenous BDNF. This defective response was concomitant to significant memory impairments. We show here that loss of BDNF response was due to impaired NMDAR function. Indeed, we observed a significant reduction of NMDA-induced field excitatory postsynaptic potential depression in the hippocampus of Tau mice together with a reduced phosphorylation of NR2B at the Y1472, known to be critical for NMDAR function. Interestingly, we found that both NR2B and Src, one of the NR2B main kinases, interact with Tau and are mislocalized to the insoluble protein fraction rich in pathological Tau species. Defective response to BDNF was thus likely related to abnormal interaction of Src and NR2B with Tau in THY-Tau22 animals. These are the first data demonstrating a relationship between Tau pathology and synaptic effects of BDNF and supporting a contribution of defective BDNF response and impaired NMDAR function to the cognitive deficits associated with Tauopathies

Evaluation of seeds of phoenix sylvestris as novel candidate adsorbent in paracetamol poisoning

The adsorption of certain metal ions and dyes on powdered seeds (pits) of Phoenix sylvestris (Arecaceae) suggests the investigation of such material for the adsorption of oral poisoning substances from the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to prepare different types of adsorbents from date pits and explore their adsorption capacity for paracetamol at two physiological conditions, enzyme free simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. The activated charcoal was used as a control. The equilibrium contact time, determined by combining the three forms of date pits and activated charcoal separately with paracetamol in a ratio of 15:1 w/w in both the fluids, was found to be 60 min. The adsorption of all the adsorbents for paracetamol was investigated by increasing the amount of adsorbents while keeping the amount of adsorbate fix, and the data obtained was found to be fit in the Langmuir isotherm. The bonding constants of all the adsorbents were significantly different in SGF (p < 0.05), whereas not significantly different in SIF. The adsorption capacities of all the adsorbents were not significantly different in SGF, whereas, significantly different in SIF (p < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that date pits may be used to prepare activated carbon that may serve as an economical adsorbent for the management of paracetamol oral poisoning cases.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Comparative Clinical Study on the Effectiveness of Homeopathic Combination Remedy with Standard Maintenance Therapy for Dengue Fever

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of homeopathic combination remedy compared with standard maintenance therapy for the treatment of dengue fever. Method: A total of 50 patients with dengue fever were divided into two equal groups. Group 1 was treated with homeopathic combination remedy for consecutive 6 days while standard maintenance therapy was similarly given to Group 2 patients. Their full blood count (FBC) including platelet count (PLT), white blood cell count (WBC) and hematocrit level (HCT) were recorded The parameters were monitored daily in order to determine between the two groups. Results: Following the six-day homeopathic combination remedy, PLT count increased from (95.60 ± 0.04) x 103 to (311 ± 0.13) x 103/µL, and WBC from (79.5 ± 0.05) x 104 to (90.3 ± 0.02) x 104/µL. However, HCT decreased from 48.02 ± 6.70 to 42.32 ± 3.42 %. On the other hand, standard maintenance therapy increased PLT count from (73.44 ± 0.04) x 103 to (239.00 ± 0.04) x 103/µL and WBC from (53.50 ± 0.02) x 104 to (79.40 ± 0.02) x 104/µL, but decreased HCT from 42.30 ± 2.48 to 39.68 ± 4.35 %. A significant difference was seen in the PLT count, WBC and HCT level between the two therapies (p = 0.012, 0.003 and 0.021, respectively). Conclusion: The homeopathic combination appeared to be a more potent treatment against dengue fever; however, further studies are required to demonstrate this clearly

Floating tablets of minocycline hydrochloride: Formulation, in-vitro evaluation and optimization

Current study was aimed to formulate gastroretentive floating tablets of minocycline hydrochloride with desired floating properties, desired drug release rate, its local action in stomach for treatment of H. pylori infection and prevention of a side effect, pseudomembranous colitis. Simplex lattice mixture design was used to get experimental layout. Methocel K100LV (X1), Methocel K15M (X2) and Carbopol 934 (X3) were selected as independent variables. Ten formulations (F1 to F10) were developed by direct compression and were evaluated for physical parameters, swelling index, floating lag time, floating time and in-vitro drug release rate. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopic studies were performed to determine drug polymer interaction. Floating lag time (Y1), floating time (Y2), cumulative drug release at 3 h (Y3), 6 h (Y4) and 12 h (Y5) were selected as dependent variables. Results showed that floating lag time and floating time were decreased by presence of Carbopol 934 in formulation while increased by Methocel K100LV and Methocel K15M. Presence of Carbopol 934 also caused an increase in drug release rate while Methocel K100LV and Methocel K15M contributed in decreasing release rate. Except F1, all the other formulations showed floating time >12 h. On the basis of optimization criteria, composition of optimized formulation F0 (Methocel K100LV = 77.98 mg and Carbopol 934 = 82.02 mg) was determined by statistical analysis. FTIR spectroscopic studies showed that no interaction found between polymers and drug. Concisely, concluded that Carbopol 934 and Methocel 100LV can be used to fabricate gastroretentive floating tablets of minocycline hydrochloride with good buoyancy properties and sustained release action

Fabrication and Characterization of Gliclazide Loaded Microcapsules

This study aimed to formulate, characterize and evaluate the Gliclazide (GLZ) microcapsules prepared with sodium alginate, guar gum and pectin in different ratios by ionotropic-gelation method. The microcapsules were evaluated against different parameters such as particle size and shape, Carr's index, Hausner's ratio, rheological studies and drug release kinetics. Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) studies demonstrated the absence of any drug - polymers interaction. Promising characteristics were observed in rheological behavior and release kinetics. The size of microcapsules and percentage yield was in the range of 676 to 727 µm and 69 to 77%, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that microcapsules were discrete, spherical and free flowing. Entrapment efficiency and uniform drug release kinetics were some of the probable characteristics depicting the novel formulation design of Gliclazide microcapsules

Recent Developments in Sweat Analysis and Its Applications

Currently, the clinical use of sweat as biofluid is limited. The collection of sweat and its analysis for determining ethanol, drugs, ions, and metals have been encompassed in this review article to assess the merits of sweat compared to other biofluids, for example, blood or urine. Moreover, sweat comprises various biomarkers of different diseases including cystic fibrosis and diabetes. Additionally, the normalization of sampled volume of sweat is also necessary for getting efficient and useful results