FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ION-SENSITIVE IN-SITU NASAL GEL OF ZOLMITRIPTAN

In situ gel system is novel drug delivery system in which there is transition of sol to gel on external stimuli like change in pH, temperature or change in ion concentration (sol-gel transition). In the present study various formulations were prepared by using gellan gum as gelling agent and HPMC K100 as controlled or sustained release polymer. All the formulations were evaluated for various parameters like pH, viscosity, drug content, gel strength, mucoadhesive strength and drug release. At minimum concentration of polymer lose their integrity and at maximum concentration stiff gel were formed. At optimized concentration of gelling agent and HPMC K100 showed in situ gelling with all parameter in range. In Vitro release data revealed that the optimized formulation showed controlled and sustained drug release pattern. The optimized formulation also obeyed korsmer Peppas model equation and which showed the release exponent n value 0.765. Thus the ex vivo higher bioavailability can be expected from the optimized formulation.Â

Drosophila modifier screens to identify novel neuropsychiatric drugs including aminergic agents for the possible treatment of Parkinson's disease and depression.

Small molecules that increase the presynaptic function of aminergic cells may provide neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease (PD) as well as treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. Model genetic organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster may enhance the detection of new drugs via modifier or 'enhancer/suppressor' screens, but this technique has not been applied to processes relevant to psychiatry. To identify new aminergic drugs in vivo, we used a mutation in the Drosophila vesicular monoamine transporter (dVMAT) as a sensitized genetic background and performed a suppressor screen. We fed dVMAT mutant larvae ∼ 1000 known drugs and quantitated rescue (suppression) of an amine-dependent locomotor deficit in the larva. To determine which drugs might specifically potentiate neurotransmitter release, we performed an additional secondary screen for drugs that require presynaptic amine storage to rescue larval locomotion. Using additional larval locomotion and adult fertility assays, we validated that at least one compound previously used clinically as an antineoplastic agent potentiates the presynaptic function of aminergic circuits. We suggest that structurally similar agents might be used to development treatments for PD, depression and ADHD, and that modifier screens in Drosophila provide a new strategy to screen for neuropsychiatric drugs. More generally, our findings demonstrate the power of physiologically based screens for identifying bioactive agents for select neurotransmitter systems

Removal of hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) using activated carbon prepared from mango kernel activated with H3PO4

The present work reported the adsorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions on activated carbon prepared from mango kernel, a seasonal waste from mango fruits. Kernels from dried mango fruit shells were taken out and pulverized in a micro-pulverizing mill. The powder thus obtained was activated with 40% H3PO4 and carbonized at 600 °C for 1 hour in an inert atmosphere. Physico-chemical characteristics such as elemental composition, surface area, functional groups and surface morphology of the activated carbon were analyzed using elemental analyzer, BET surface area analyzer, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis respectively. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the effects of Cr (VI) concentration, carbon dose, pH, rate of agitation, time and temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) was found to be 7.8 mg g−1 at pH 2 and temperature 35 °C. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm best represented the equilibrium data and a pseudo-second order relation represented the adsorption kinetics

Decoupling of a Neutron Interferometer from Temperature Gradients

Neutron interferometry enables precision measurements that are typically operated within elaborate, multi-layered facilities which provide substantial shielding from environmental noise. These facilities are necessary to maintain the coherence requirements in a perfect crystal neutron interferometer which is extremely sensitive to local environmental conditions such as temperature gradients across the interferometer, external vibrations, and acoustic waves. The ease of operation and breadth of applications of perfect crystal neutron interferometry would greatly benefit from a mode of operation which relaxes these stringent isolation requirements. Here, the INDEX Collaboration and National Institute of Standards and Technology demonstrates the functionality of a neutron interferometer in vacuum and characterize the use of a compact vacuum chamber enclosure as a means to isolate the interferometer from spatial temperature gradients and time-dependent temperature fluctuations. The vacuum chamber is found to have no depreciable effect on the performance of the interferometer (contrast) while improving system stability, thereby showing that it is feasible to replace large temperature isolation and control systems with a compact vacuum enclosure for perfect crystal neutron interferometry

Examining barriers to healthcare providers’ adoption of a hospital-wide electronic patient journey board

Background: The dynamic environment that characterizes patient care in hospitals requires extensive communication between staff. Electronic status board applications are used to improve the flow of communication in hospitals. To date there has been limited work exploring the adoption of these applications in general acute ward settings. Aim: This study aimed to identify barriers to the adoption of an electronic patient journey board (EPJB)1 application in acute wards of a hospital. Method: Data were collected at a large public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia. The EPJB was implemented across all hospital wards with the aim of improving multidisciplinary communication in wards. Observations (29.5 h) and contextual interviews (n = 33) with hospital staff were conducted in two acute wards of the hospital. Results: Two manual whiteboards were used on wards, in addition to the EPJB, to compensate for information not being available or accessible on the EPJB. Despite the stated purpose of the EPJB, the tool did not appear to support team communication on wards. Barriers to adoption and optimal use of the EPJB included inappropriate location and configuration of the system, limitations in information timeliness, quality and lack of customisation (for different user groups), inconsistent information updates and the absence of a shared understanding of the purpose of the EPJB among the various user groups. Conclusion: Multiple socio-technical barriers influenced uptake and optimal use of the EPJB by healthcare providers. Engaging users early in the design and implementation of electronic status board applications is required to ensure effective use of these complex interventions on general wards

Patient and public involvement in reducing health and care research waste

Background Eighty five per cent of health research expenditure is potentially wasted due to failure to publish research, unclear reporting of research that is published, and the failure of new research studies to systematically review previous research in the same topic area, poor study design and conduct. A great deal of progress has been made to address this issue but the role of patients and the public has not been considered. Main A small survey was undertaken, as part of a larger programme of work on reducing health and care waste, to understand the role of patients in reducing research waste. The study showed that patients are interested in this issue particularly in relation to the prioritisation of research and patient and public involvement. Conclusions Patients undertake key roles in the research process including co-applicancy, project management, or as co-researchers. This brings responsibility for ensuring high quality research and value for money. Responsibility for recognition of the potential for wasteful practices is part of the conduct and operation of research studies