Effects of various penetration enhancers on percutaneous absorption of piroxicam from emulgels

A suitable emulgel formulation of piroxicam was prepared and its percutaneous permeation was investigated using Wistar rat skin and diffusion cell technique. The concentrations of the drug in receptor phase of diffusion cells were measured using HPLC method. The effect of three types of penetration enhancers (Myrj 52, cineol and Transcutol P) with different concentrations on transdermal permeation of the drug was also evaluated. Flux, Kp and enhancement ratios (ERs) of piroxicam in the presence of enhancers was measured and compared with emulgel base alone and simple commercial gel. The results showed a significant enhancement in the flux from emulgel base compared to hydroalcoholic gel formulation (9.91 folds over simple gel). The highest enhancement ratio (ER=3.11) was observed for Myrj 52 at the concentration of 0.25%. Higher concentrations of Myrj 52did not show any enhancement in the drug flux due to micelle formation and solubilization of the drug by micelles. The increase in solubility, in turn, increases the saturated concentration and reduces the thermodynamic activity of the drug. Transcutol® P with concentrations higher than 0.25% w/w showed burst transportation of the drug through the skin. All concentrations of cineol and Transcutol did not show any enhancing effects over emulgel base alone (ER <1)

Application of magnetically induced hyperthermia on the model protozoan Crithidia fasciculata as a potential therapy against parasitic infections

Magnetic hyperthermia is currently an EU-approved clinical therapy against tumor cells that uses magnetic nanoparticles under a time varying magnetic field (TVMF). The same basic principle seems promising against trypanosomatids causing Chagas disease and sleeping sickness, since therapeutic drugs available display severe side effects and drug-resistant strains. However, no applications of this strategy against protozoan-induced diseases have been reported so far. In the present study, Crithidia fasciculata, a widely used model for therapeutic strategies against pathogenic trypanosomatids, was targeted with Fe_{3}O_{4} magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in order to remotely provoke cell death using TVMFs. The MNPs with average sizes of d approx. 30 nm were synthesized using a precipitation of FeSO_{4}4 in basic medium. The MNPs were added to Crithidia fasciculata choanomastigotes in exponential phase and incubated overnight. The amount of uploaded MNPs per cell was determined by magnetic measurements. Cell viability using the MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry showed that the MNPs were incorporated by the cells with no noticeable cell-toxicity effects. When a TVMF (f = 249 kHz, H = 13 kA/m) was applied to MNP-bearing cells, massive cell death was induced via a non-apoptotic mechanism. No effects were observed by applying a TVMF on control (without loaded MNPs) cells. No macroscopic rise in temperature was observed in the extracellular medium during the experiments. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed morphological changes after TVMF experiments. These data indicate (as a proof of principle) that intracellular hyperthermia is a suitable technology to induce the specific death of protozoan parasites bearing MNPs. These findings expand the possibilities for new therapeutic strategies that combat parasitic infections.Comment: 9 pages, four supplementary video file

On the constant roll complex scalar field inflationary models

In this paper we wish to point out the possibility of using a complex scalar field in a constant roll inflationary model, as needed for observational viability. We extend the idea of real field inflaton with constant rate of roll to a complex field, showing the feasibility of solving Einstein Klein-Gordon equations constrained by an \emph{appropriate} form of constant roll definition. As compared to the well known (two-parametric class of) real field models, there is one more degree of flexibility in constant roll inflationary solutions which is represented by an arbitrary function of time, $\gamma(t)$. We work with an arbitrary but constant function $\gamma$ (where $\gamma=0$ refers to the corresponding real field model) and find new inflationary class of potentials. In this class of models, the behavior of real and complex field models are similar in some aspects, for example the solutions with large constant roll parameter are not stable and should be considered as early time transients. These field solutions relax at late time on a dual attractor trajectory. However, complex fields phase space trajectories reach this stable regime after real fields.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figure

Prevalence of Dental Anomalies in an Adult Dentate Najaf /Iraqi Population by Using Digital Panoramic Radiographs

مقدمه: أجريت دراسات مختلفة عبر مجموعات سكانية مختلفة وأظهرت درجات متفاوتة من انتشار تشوهات الأسنان. كان الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو تقييم انتشار تشوهات الأسنان بين سكان النجف / العراق. طرق العمل: &nbsp;&nbsp; تم إجراء دراسه للاشعات البانوراميه الاساسيه لـ 750 شخصًا تتراوح أعمارهم بين 18 و 40 عامًا ، وتم فحص أسنان وفكين المرضى بالأشعة من حيث العدد والحجم والتركيب والموقع وشكل الأسنان . بالإضافة إلى &nbsp;ذلك جود حجر فى اللب والتشوهات غير الشفافة في الفك تمت دراستها. تم تحليل النتائج باستعمال اختبار كاى سكوير &nbsp; النتائج: وأظهرت النتائج أن نسبة انتشار تشوهات الأسنان كانت (32.8٪). والتشوهات في عدد الأسنان كانت (4.19٪) ، الحجم (10٪) ، التركيب (0٪) ، الموقع (50.33٪) ، الشكل (27.74٪) ، حجر فى اللب (5.48٪) ، والتشوهات الفكيه غير الشفافة شكلت (2.26٪).&nbsp; كان أكثر أنواع التشوهات السنية شيوعًا هو تشوهات موقع الأسنان ، و 55.48٪ من الحالات الشاذة للأسنان كانت مرتبطة بأسنان الفك العلوي ، و 44.52٪ كانت مرتبطة بأسنان الفك السفلي. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; كانت الأسنان الزائدة ، والأسنان الخلقية المفقودة ، والتبديل بالموقع ، والتخدد الداخلى والخارجى&nbsp; كانت مرتبطة في الغالب بالقواطع العلوية ، بينما لوحظ الإزاحة بالموقع في الغالب مرتبطة بالأنياب العلوية. ارتبطت الأضراس العلوية في الغالب بحجر اللب والجذور المندمجة وصغر الحجم السنى ارتبطت الجذور الزائدة في الغالب مع الضواحك السفلية ، في حين أن الانقلاب ، والانحشار ، والتقوس ، وأسنان الثور ، ولآلئ المينا ترتبط في الغالب بالأضراس السفلية. شوهدت جميع التشوهات الفكيه غير الشفافة مصاحبة للفك السفلي فقط. الاستنتاجات: يعد التشخيص المبكر وتحديد مدى انتشار تشوهات الأسنان أمرًا مهمًا في تخطيط العلاج للمرضى.Background: &nbsp;&nbsp; Studies were done across different populations showed a varying degrees of prevalence of dental anomalies. The present study was aimed to evalu­ate the dental anomalies prevalence for Najaf/Iraq population. &nbsp;Methods: &nbsp;&nbsp; Analysis was done for the standard Orthopantomograph of 750 subjects with ages ranging between 18 and 40 years. The teeth and jaws were examined radiographically for number, size, structure, position, and shape of the teeth. In addition, the presence of pulp stone and radio-opaque dental anomalies in the jaw was also studied. Chi-squared test was carried for the data analysis. Results: &nbsp; The prevalence of dental anomalies was (32.8%).&nbsp; Anomalies in number of teeth was (4.19%), size (10%), structure (0%), position (50.33%), shape (27.74%), pulp stone (5.48%), and the jaws radio-opaque anomalies constitutes (2.26%). The most common type of dental anomalies was anomalies of tooth position, and 55.48% of dental anomalies were associated with the maxillary teeth, and 44.52% were associated with the mandibular teeth. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The supernumerary teeth, congenital missing teeth, transposition, dens evaginatus, and dens invaginatus were mostly associated with the upper incisors, while the displacement was mostly seen associated with the upper canines.&nbsp; Upper molars were mostly associated with pulp stone, fused roots and microdontia. &nbsp;&nbsp; The supernumerary roots were mostly associated with lower premolars, while inversion, impaction, dilaceration, taurodontism, and enamel pearls are mostly associated with lower molars. All radio-opaque jaws anomalies were seen associated with the lower jaw only. Conclusion: &nbsp; The determination of prevalence of dental anomalies is important for the early diagnosis and treatment planning of patients

Development of Chitosan/Gelatin/Keratin Composite Containing Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate as a Buccal Mucoadhesive Patch to Treat Desquamative Gingivitis

The aim of this research was to develop chitosan/gelatin/keratin composite containing hydrocortisone sodium succinate as a buccal mucoadhesive patch to treat desquamative gingivitis, which was fabricated through an environmental friendly process. Mucoadhesive films increase the advantage of higher efficiency and drug localization in the affected region. In this research, mucoadhesive films, for the release of hydrocortisone sodium succinate, were prepared using different ratios of chitosan, gelatin and keratin. In the first step, chitosan and gelatin proportions were optimized after evaluating the mechanical properties, swelling capacity, water uptake, stability, and biodegradation of the films. Then, keratin was added at different percentages to the optimum composite of chitosan and gelatin together with the drug. The results of surface pH showed that none of the samples were harmful to the buccal cavity. FTIR analysis confirmed the influence of keratin on the structure of the composite. The presence of a higher amount of keratin in the composite films resulted in high mechanical, mucoadhesive properties and stability, low water uptake and biodegradation in phosphate buffer saline (pH = 7.4) containing 104 U/ml lysozyme. The release profile of the films ascertained that keratin is a rate controller in the release of the hydrocortisone sodium succinate. Finally, chitosan/gelatin/keratin composite containing hydrocortisone sodium succinate can be employed in dental applications

ABAKA : a novel attribute-based k-anonymous collaborative solution for LBSs

The increasing use of mobile devices, along with advances in telecommunication systems, increased the popularity of Location-Based Services (LBSs). In LBSs, users share their exact location with a potentially untrusted Location-Based Service Provider (LBSP). In such a scenario, user privacy becomes a major con- cern: the knowledge about user location may lead to her identification as well as a continuous tracing of her position. Researchers proposed several approaches to preserve users’ location privacy. They also showed that hiding the location of an LBS user is not enough to guarantee her privacy, i.e., user’s pro- file attributes or background knowledge of an attacker may reveal the user’s identity. In this paper we propose ABAKA, a novel collaborative approach that provides identity privacy for LBS users considering users’ profile attributes. In particular, our solution guarantees p -sensitive k -anonymity for the user that sends an LBS request to the LBSP. ABAKA computes a cloaked area by collaborative multi-hop forwarding of the LBS query, and using Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-Based Encryption (CP-ABE). We ran a thorough set of experiments to evaluate our solution: the results confirm the feasibility and efficiency of our proposal