PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTHRALIN BIODEGRADABLE NANOPARTICLES AS A POTENTIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF PSORIASIS

Objective: Anthralin is one of the most effective drugs in psoriasis management. However, its side effects and unfavourable physicochemical properties limit its clinical use. Therefore, the objective of this study was to prepare and evaluate poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly (ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) nanoparticles as a potential delivery system for anthralin.Methods: PEG-b-PCL nanoparticles were prepared by the co-solvent evaporation method and evaluated using a variety of techniques. The effect of drug/polymer weight feed ratio on the nanoparticle size, drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency were studied. Drug release kinetics were studied using the dialysis bag method. Nanoparticle size was measured using dynamic light scattering and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy measurements.Results: PEG-b-PCL formed spherical nanoparticles having a diameter of 40 to 80 nm based on the polymer and level of drug loading. The size observed by TEM measurements was slightly smaller than that obtained by DLS due nanoparticle dryness during measurement. Drug loading capacity increased with increasing the drug/polymer ratio and a maximum loading of ~25% was obtained. Anthralin encapsulation in the nano particles resulted in ~120-fold increase in its aqueous solubility. Anthralin was released from the nanoparticles over a prolonged period of time where ~ 45% was released in 48 h.Conclusion: These results confirm the utility of PEG-b-PCL nanoparticles in enhancing the aqueous solubility and sustaining the release of athralin. Therefore, they might be used as a potential delivery system for the treatment of psoriasis.Â

Detecting shielded explosives by coupling prompt gamma neutron activation analysis and deep neural networks

Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis is a nuclear-based technique that can be used in explosives detection. It relies on bombarding unknown samples with neutrons emitted from a neutron source. These neutrons interact with the sample nuclei emitting the gamma spectrum with peaks at specific energies, which are considered a fingerprint for the sample composition. Analyzing these peaks heights will give information about the unknown sample material composition. Shielding the sample from gamma rays or neutrons will affect the gamma spectrum obtained to be analyzed, providing a false indication about the sample constituents, especially when the shield is unknown. Here we show how using deep neural networks can solve the shielding drawback associated with the prompt gamma neutron activation analysis technique in explosives detection. We found that the introduced end-to-end framework was capable of differentiating between explosive and non-explosive hydrocarbons with accuracy of 95% for the previously included explosives in the model development data set. It was also, capable of generalizing with accuracy 80% over the explosives which were not included in the model development data set. Our results show that coupling prompt gamma neutron activation analysis with deep neural networks has a good potential for high accuracy explosives detection regardless of the shield presence

SELF-ASSEMBLING HYDROGELS BASED ON Î’-CYCLODEXTRIN POLYMER AND POLY (ETHYLENE GLYCOL) BEARING HYDROPHOBIC MOIETIES FOR PROTEIN DELIVERY

Objective: The development of injectable and stable hydrogels for protein delivery is a major challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of polymerized β-CD for the formulation of stable hydrogels suitable for loading and release of bioactive agents and to investigate the mechanism of hydrogel formation. Methods: Hydrogels based on the inclusion complexation of polymerized β-cyclodextrin and cholesterol terminated poly(ethylene glycol) polymers were formed by rehydration of a lyophilized mixture of both polymers. The mechanism of hydrogel formation was investigated via isothermal titration calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements. The release behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein from the modified gels was explored. Results: Rheological analysis demonstrated that the prepared hydrogels had a viscoelastic behavior even at elevated temperature (> 37 ˚C). There are two competing mechanisms for hydrogel formation. The first mechanism is the inclusion complexation between cholesterol moieties and β-CD cavities. The second one is the self association of cholesterol modified PEGs. β-CD had the ability to dissociate the PEG-cholesterol associations. The quantitative and complete release of BSA was observed within 4 weeks. Conclusion: The polymerized form of β-CD, rather than native β-CD is essential for the formation of stable hydrogels. These results were supported by the ability of the modified hydrogel system for loading and release of BSA, making such hydrogel systems promising devices in drug delivery applications

Studies on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Hatcheries and Chicken

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThe aim of this work was to spot light on the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) strains in hatcheries and dead in shell embryos. A total of 406 samples representing 200 and 206 swabs from hatcheries environment and yolk sacs of dead in shell embryos were collected from Damietta governorate, Egypt. P. aeruginosa was isolated and identified. Some virulent genes (toxA, psIA and fliC) of P. aeruginosa were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antimicrobial susceptibility of P. aeruginosa was tested in vitro. Day and 11 days old broiler chicks were challenged with P. aeruginosa to determine the pathogenicity of the isolated strains. The results showed that P. aeruginosa was recovered from 16 (8%) out of 200 hatcheries and from 17 (8.25%) out of 206 chicken embryos samples. Isolated strains of P. aeruginosa showed presence of toxA, psIA and fliC virulent genes. P. aeruginosa strains were sensitive (100%) to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and gentamycin but resistant (100%) to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, doxycycline and erythromycin. The pathogenicity test of day and 11 days old chicks revealed that P. aeruginosa was highly pathogenic induced mortality rates of 72 and 40%, respectively. Septicaemia of internal organs, unabsorbed yolk sacs, pneumonia, greenish exudates in the abdominal cavity, liver necrosis and enteritis were the predominant lesions. Histopathological changes supported the previous lesions. In conclusion, P. aeruginosa is of great importance pathogen of embryos and newly hatched chicks based on presence of virulent genes as well as in vivo pathogenicity study; respectively

The impact of mental health and psychosocial support programmes on children and young people's mental health in the context of humanitarian emergencies in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Humanitarian emergencies pose a significant global health challenge for children and young people's mental and psychological health. This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programmes delivered to children and young people affected by humanitarian emergencies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Twelve electronic databases, key websites and citation checking were undertaken. Forty-three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English between January 1980 and May 2023 were included in the review. Overall, the findings suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy may improve depression symptoms in children and young people affected by humanitarian emergencies. Narrative exposure therapy may reduce feelings of guilt. However, the impact of the other MHPSS modalities across outcomes is inconsistent. In some contexts, providing psychosocial programmes involving creative activities may increase the symptoms of depression in children and young people. These findings emphasise the need for the development of MHPSS programmes that can safely and effectively address the diverse needs of children and young people living in adversarial environments

2-(Morpholin-4-yl)-6-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)­pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile

In the title compound, C15H13N5O, the morpholine ring adopts a chair conformation. The dihedral angle between the pyrrole ring and the pyridine ring is 28.93 (14)°. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds occur, and aromatic weak π–π stacking [centroid–centroid separation = 4.178 (2) Å] and C—H⋯π inter­actions consolidate the packing