Design and evaluation of floating drug delivery system of an antihypertensive drug using different natural polymers

In the present study, an attempt was made to formulate individually the floating tablet of Eprosartan mesilate and Acebutolol hydrochloride by effervesecent approach comparing various synthetic and natural polymers by direct compression method to increase the gastric retention of the drug and thus increases the bioavailability of the drug. The principle of gastro-retentive dosage form is to reduce the density of the dosage form less than the density of gastric fluid to increase the gastric residence time by means of effervescent approach using sodium bicarbonate and citric acid as effervescent agent with different natural and synthetic polymers in this research. Intiallly, the procured drugs were identified by FTIR. Then, formulation of floating tablets of Eprosartan mesilate was done in three different stages with Eprosartan mesilate like to study the effect of different polymer on swelling index of the floating tablet, effect of effervescent agent on in vitro buoyancy studies. The results of above two stages were used to eliminate each one polymer from natural and synthetic sources and also to determine the concentration of effervescent agent in terms of ratio used to formulate floating tablets of Eprosartan mesilate in the third stage of formulation development. The result of third stage was used to formulate floating tablets of Acebutolol hydrochloride. From the results of the first stage of formulation development of floating tablets of Eprosartan mesilate, based on swelling index, ethyl cellulose in synthetic source and sodium alginate in natural source were omitted for further screening due to its low swelling index than formulations containing other polymers which may be due to no water absorption capacity of hydrophobic polymer, ethyl cellulose to swell and less water absorption capacity of hydrophillic polymer, sodium alginate to hydrate and swell because of less viscosity of polymer. From the results of the second stage of formulation development of floating tablets of Eprosartan mesilate, based on in vitro buoyancy studies, the highest ratio of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid was used for further formulation devolpment. From the results of the first and second stage of formulation development of floating tablets of Eprosartan mesilate, shortlisted polymers and highest ratio of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were used to formulate floating tablets of Eprosartan mesilate. From these formulations based on in vitro buoyancy (floating lag time and total floating time), uniformity of drug content and in vitro dissolution studies, formulation containing karaya gum (E7) was selected as best formulation in terms of least floating lag time of 1 sec, total floating time of 580 min, 98.47% released at the end of 600min. It was then subjected to release kinetics analysis and confirmed from the highest correlation coefficient that it follows zero-order nonfickian diffusion controlled system. The best formulation was subjected to drug–excipient compatibility studies and compared with FTIR of pure drug found that there was no interaction with drug and excipients. It was then subjected to stability studies and found that there was no drastic changes in analysed post-compression parameters. It was then analyzed for in vivo experiments like in vivo X-ray studies and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies for predicting its buoyancy and drug release and comparing with in vitro parameters. From the results it was found that buoyancy and was maintained for 10 h in vivo similar to in vitro results and sustained drug release was noticed in vivo similar to in vitro results concluded sustained drug delivery system was achieved. From the above discussed results it was concluded that floating tablet of Eprosartan mesilate containing karaya gum (E7) prolongs the retention of dosage form in gastric area for longer time and thus minimizes the fluctuation in plasma concentration of the drug by frequent dosing of conventional immediate release dosage form. From the results of formulation development of floating tablets of Eprosartan mesilate, shortlisted polymers and highest ratio of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were used to formulate floating tablets of Acebutolol hydrochloride. From these formulations based on in vitro buoyancy (floating lag time and total floating time), uniformity of drug content and in vitro dissolution studies, formulation containing karaya gum (A 7) was selected as best formulation in terms of least floating lag time of 1 sec, total floating time of 590 min, 98.91% released at the end of 600 min. It 139 was then subjected to release kinetics analysis and confirmed from the highest correlation coefficient that it follows zero-order non-fickian diffusion controlled system. The best formulation was subjected to drug–excipient compatibility studies and compared with FTIR of pure drug found that there was no interaction with drug and excipients. It was then subjected to stability studies and found that there was no drastic change in analysed post-compression parameters. It was then analyzed for in vivo experiments like in vivo X-ray studies and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies for predicting its buoyancy and drug release and comparing with in vitro parameters. From the results it was found that buoyancy and was maintained for 10 h in vivo similar to in vitro results and sustained drug release was noticed in vivo similar to in vitro results concluded sustained drug delivery system was achieved. From the above discussed results it was concluded that floating tablet of Acebutolol hydrochloride containing karaya gum (A7) prolongs the retention of dosage form in gastric area for longer time and thus minimizes the fluctuation in plasma concentration of the drug by frequent dosing of conventional immediate release dosage form. IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Floating drug delivery system offers various future potential like reducing fluctuations in the plasma level of drug resulted from delayed gastric emptying and also by reducing frequent administration of the drug. This delivery system is a beneficial strategy for the local treatment of gastric and duodenal cancers. The buoyancy concept can be utilized in the development of various anti-reflux formulations and these are potential to treat the Parkinson’s disease. In the present research an attempt was made to solve a common critical issue related to the rational development of FDDS include the correlation between prolonged GRT and sustained release and pharmacokinetic characteristics. This created a path of transition from developmental level to the manufacturing and commercial level of gastro-retentive drug delivery system. Further trials could be attempted in future on clinical studies for these best formulations of floating tablet of Acebutolol hydrochloride and Eprosartan mesilate separately

Role of diagnostic hysterolaparoscopy in evaluation of primary infertility

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION : This prospective study evaluated 200 patients of primary infertility by diagnostic hysterolaparoscopy, following the inclusion & exclusion criteria at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai. Complete information on the status of patients’ reproductive tract is obtained. Both intrauterine and pelvic pathology could be detected at the same sitting. It minimises hospital stay and decreases cost and also the surgical and anasthetic risks to the patients. In this prospective study of 200 patients of primary infertility diagnostic Hysterolaparoscopy was found to be extremely useful. 1. Presence of peritoneal factors, tubal factors and endometrial factors were diagnosed in the same sitting thereby improving the efficacy of infertility evaluation. 2. It avoids unnecessary radiological evaluation in a majority of cases. 3. It decreases hospital stay and decreases cost and inconveniences to the patients. 4. Patient is not exposed to anasthesia too often, as Hysteroscopy and Laparoscopy were combined in a single sitting. 5. It also decreases the time required to complete the initial infertility work up. 6. Among the infertile females attending KMCH, about 37.5% were found to have abnormalities in Diagnostic Hysterolaparoscopy. 7. The major abnormality was found to be in the ovaries.(58%) 8. The next major pathology was in the fallopian tubes as bilateral tubal block (16%) 9. The other fractions of pathology (26%) were variably dispersed among the uterine fibroids, peritoneal adhesions, intrauterine adhesions and endometriosis. 10. Majority of the patients diagnosed to have abnormalities were treated accordingly by medical (or) surgical management Hence Diagnostic Hysterolaparoscopy is a safe, time- saving and effective tool in the panoramic evaluation of the infertile female

A prospective, comparative study of effect of Roflumilast in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and its efficacy in reducing exacerbations

AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the efficacy of Roflumilast as an add on therapy and to reduce exacerbations in COPD. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Roflumilast improves lung function and decreases exacerbation frequency over a period of 6 months in patients with COPD. METHOD: Patients attending outpatient department of Thoracic medicine diagnosed with COPD with FEV1/FVC < 0.7 were taken and divided into 2 groups of 50 patients each. Group 1 was administered with standard treatment consisting of Salmeterol and steroid inhalation, while Group 2 patients were administered Roflumilast 500 microgm once daily as add on therapy. Patients were followed every week and enquired for exacerbations and adverse effects. Lung function tests were performed every month using spirometer. RESULTS: 24 participants were female and the rest 76 were male. There was improvement seen in lung function tests in Roflumilast group compared to control group. All patients in Roflumilast group reported improvement in symptoms such as cough, breathlessness and increase in sputum production. The patients in Roflumilast group reported that their breathing was easier than before and there was improvement in quality of life compared to control group. Exacerbation of COPD was seen in 3 patients in Roflumilast group compared to 9 patients in control group. The median time to exacerbation was 4.3 months in Roflumilast group compared to 2.8 months in control group. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that roflumilast reduces moderate to severe exacerbations with the benefit most well established in patients with severe disease

Agile Software Development: A Case Study of Web Application

Agile methodology is an approach used for the development of a project which helps to respond to the unpredictability of building software through incremental, iterative work cadences. These methodologies are used to deal with the situations where the waterfall model fails. The biggest drawback of waterfall model is that it assumes that every requirement of the project can be identified before any design or coding occurs [1]. In this paper we are specifying the differences in the development of a project by using the Agile Methods: Extreme Programming (XP) and Scrum through a case study on Women2019;s Era (WE- A State Level Women Development and Support)

Comparison of neuroimaging by CT and MRI and correlation with neurological presentation in eclampsia

Background: The objective of the study was to compare computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of eclampsia patients with respect to neurological signs and symptoms.Methods: This is a prospective observational study, 25 patients of eclampsia were studied, statistical analysis was done by Fishers’ exact and chi square test.Results: All patients in our study presented with antepartum or intrapartum eclampsia with neurological features ranging from headache, altered consciousness to coma. On neuroimaging by MR transiently high T2 signal intensity in the cerebral cortex and sub cortical white matter was seen, including edema. With MR angiography generalized vasospasm was also seen in 40% cases. MRI was found to be co-relating more than CT with the neurological presentation and had 90% sensitivity and 100% sensitivity.Conclusions: Symptoms like visual blurring, loss of vision and ophthalmological signs in eclampsia suggest occipital lobe involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in eclampsia correlate well with clinical findings as compared to CT and can be better imaging modality in eclampsia patients

COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR MODELLING OF 2-AMINOBENZIMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVES: STRONG SUCCESSOR OF HYPOGLYCAEMIC AGENT

Objective: The present study was aimed to design different analogues of 2-aminobenzimidazole and find the binding ability by Insilico method. Methods: Various soft wares like Chemsketch, Molinspiration, PASS, and Discovery studio were used to design the proposed derivatives. Evaluation of binding activity against different receptors was detected and checked their physicochemical properties for binding. Results: In this study, we designed different analogs of 2-aminobenzimidazole into a ligand having a binding affinity with alpha-glucosidase, Dipeptidyl–peptidase 4(DPP4), Peroximase proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) receptor. The designed ten derivatives showed a significant binding capacity to the concerned receptors. Conclusion: These results pointed that the designed proposed derivatives promising hypoglycaemic activity

Trips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Yang Berasosiasi Dengan Tanaman Hortikultura Di Jawa Barat Dan Kunci Identifikasi Jenis

Most of thrips from Thripidae family are pests on horticultural crops. To date, there are no records in the species richness of thrips in horticultural crops. The aim of the research is to conduct inventory on thrips spp diversity that are associated with horticultural crops in West Java. Sampling were done in several horticultural crops areas in Bogor, Cianjur, and Lembang (West Bandung). The identification process began with sample slide preparations along with the documentation of the character from each species. The identification was done mainly by using the identification program Oztrips and some other published identification keys. Identification key was built based on diagnosis characters of each species. The results found there were 15 species, that are Ceratothripoides brunneus, C. revelatus, Frankliniella intonsa, Megalurothrips typicus, M. usitatus, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Thrips aspinus, T. coloratus, T. hawaiiensis, T. javanicus, T. malloti, T. palmi, T. parvispinus, T. sumatrensis, and T. unispinus. T. aspinus and C. revelatus were new record for Indonesia

Methodology to estimate ionospheric scintillation risk maps and their contribution to position dilution of precision on the ground

Satellite-based communications, navigation systems and many scientific instruments rely on observations of trans-ionospheric signals. The quality of these signals can be deteriorated by ionospheric scintillation which can have detrimental effects on the mentioned applications. Therefore, monitoring of ionospheric scintillation and quantifying its effect on the ground are of significant interest. In this work, we develop a methodology which estimates the scintillation induced ionospheric uncertainties in the sky and translates their impact to the end-users on the ground. First, by using the risk concept from decision theory and by exploiting the intensity and duration of scintillation events (as measured by the S4 index), we estimate ionospheric risk maps that could readily give an initial impression on the effects of scintillation on the satellite-receiver communication. However, to better understand the influence of scintillation on the positioning accuracy on the ground, we formulate a new weighted dilution of precision (WPDOP) measure that incorporates the ionospheric scintillation risks as weighting factors for the given satellite-receiver constellations. These weights depend implicitly on scintillation intensity and duration thresholds which can be specified by the end-user based on the sensitivity of the application, for example. We demonstrate our methodology by using scintillation data from South America, and produce ionospheric risk maps which illustrate broad scintillation activity, especially at the equatorial anomaly. Moreover, we construct ground maps of WPDOP over a grid of hypothetical receivers which reveal that ionospheric scintillation can also affect such regions of the continent that are not exactly under the observed ionospheric scintillation structures. Particularly, this is evident in cases when only the Global Positioning System (GPS) is available.Comment: Keywords: Ionospheric scintillation risk, dilution of precision, statistics error covariances, weights, South America, S4 index, GNSS positioning uncertaint