FORMULATION AND STABILITY EVALUATION OF KETOPROFEN LOADED VIRGIN COCONUT OIL BASED CREAMY EMULSION

Objective: To formulate and optimize a topical formulation; a virgin coconut oil (VCO) based Ketoprofen loaded creamy emulsion containing Tween 80® as the surfactant and to evaluate the stability of samples. Methods: In preformulatory studies optimization of the formulae was done using ternary phase diagrams with water titration method and emulsions were formulated using two methods; spontaneous emulsification and homogenization. Their stability was analyzed under visual observation to optimize the best formulae for Ketoprofen incorporated creamy emulsion. 2.5% w/w Ketoprofen topical formulations are available in the market. Results: Centrifugation provided more comparable data than visual observation. Phase separation was the main instability condition observed in unstable emulsions. Composition 23.60% VCO: 29.53% Tween 80®: 45.87% water was identified as the best optimized formulae in both with and without Ketoprofen formulations and all the samples with different Ketoprofen concentrations were stable for 14 days under centrifugation and visual observation stability studies. Conclusion: Homogenization was more effective in stable emulsion formation than spontaneous emulsification in VCO, Tween 80®,water emulsion. The best optimized formula was 23.60% VCO: 29.53% Tween 80®: 45.87% water

Nanomechanical probing of the layer/substrate interface of an exfoliated InSe sheet on sapphire

Van der Waals (vdW) layered crystals and heterostructures have attracted substantial interest for potential applications in a wide range of emerging technologies. An important, but often overlooked, consideration in the development of implementable devices is phonon transport through the structure interfaces. Here we report on the interface properties of exfoliated InSe on a sapphire substrate. We use a picosecond acoustic technique to probe the phonon resonances in the InSe vdW layered crystal. Analysis of the nanomechanics indicates that the InSe is mechanically decoupled from the substrate and thus presents an elastically imperfect interface. A high degree of phonon isolation at the interface points toward applications in thermoelectric devices, or the inclusion of an acoustic transition layer in device design. These findings demonstrate basic properties of layered structures and so illustrate the usefulness of nanomechanical probing in nanolayer/nanolayer or nanolayer/substrate interface tuning in vdW heterostructures

Genome-wide association for major depression through age at onset stratification:Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disabling mood disorder and, despite a known heritable component, a large meta-analysis of GWAS revealed no replicable genetic risk variants. Given prior evidence of heterogeneity by age-at-onset (AAO) in MDD, we tested whether genome-wide significant risk variants for MDD could be identified in cases subdivided by AAO. Method Discovery case-control GWASs were performed where cases were stratified using increasing/decreasing AAO-cutoffs; significant SNPs were tested in nine independent replication samples, giving a total sample of 22,158 cases and 133,749 controls for sub-setting. Polygenic score analysis was used to examine if differences in shared genetic risk exists between earlier and adult onset MDD with commonly co-morbid disorders of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and coronary artery disease. Results We identify one replicated genome-wide significant locus associated with adult-onset (>27 years) MDD (rs7647854, OR=1.16, 95%CI=1.11-1.21, p=5.2x10-11). Using polygenic score analyses, we show that earlier-onset MDD is genetically more similar to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder than adult-onset. Conclusions We demonstrate that using additional phenotype data previously collected by genetic studies to tackle phenotypic heterogeneity in MDD can successfully lead to the discovery of genetic risk factor despite reduced sample size. Furthermore, our results suggest that the genetic susceptibility to MDD differs between adult- and earlier-onset MDD, with earlier-onset cases having a greater genetic overlap with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Collaborating to develop clinical pharmacy teaching in Sri Lanka

Background: Bachelor of Pharmacy programs were introduced in 2006 into two Sri Lankan universities - University of Peradeniya and University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Due to minimal clinical pharmacy experience in the country, these universities invited international colleagues to develop and teach the clinical pharmacy course.Aims: To describe development, delivery and evaluation of both a clinical pharmacy undergraduate course and a "Train-the-trainer" program provided to local academics delivering undergraduate pharmacy programs.Method: In 2009, Australian pharmacist academics developed and piloted an undergraduate clinical pharmacy course at University of Peradeniya. In 2010, this was refined and delivered at University of Sri Jayewardenepura, along with a "train-the-trainer" program for local academics. These were evaluated using surveys.Results: Most students considered lecture delivery speed and use of audio visual aids appropriate, and lecture content relevant. Most academics found the "Train-the-Trainer" program increased their knowledge and improved their teaching skills.Conclusion: Experienced pharmacist academics can improve the quality of clinical pharmacy teaching in developing countries such as Sri Lanka

COMPARATIVE IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF METFORMIN HCl AND PARACETAMOL TABLETS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE IN KANDY DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Objective: Availability of numerous brands of tablets with price variations compared to their generic drugs in the current drug market places health practitioners, pharmacists and patients in a dilemma of generic substitution. In such background, this study was aimed to compare the in-vitro efficacy of some of the low priced generic tablets with their brands commonly available in Sri Lanka.Methods: A survey of the prices of commonly used tablets and capsules available at pharmacies in Kandy area in Sri Lanka was carried out. Based on the results of the survey, frequently used two tablets; Metformin HCl (one locally manufactured generic (M1) and 3 brands M2-M4) and Paracetamol (one locally manufactured generic (P1) and two brands P2-P3) were selected for the study. All the products were examined visually for their organoleptic properties and tested for uniformity of weight, disintegration time, assay value, dissolution rate, hardness or crushing strength and friability. Pertinent official guidelines were followed throughout all the tests.Results: The results of aesthetic assessment showed no sign of defects and all the tested tablets complied with the official standards for the above parameters. Despite some minor differences in tablet hardness and disintegration time profiles, other in-vitro characteristics of the tested brands; Paracetamol and Metformin HCl and their locally manufactured generics appears to be similar and not significantly different from each other.Conclusion: According to in-vitro official quality control tests, all the generics and brands of the respective drugs tested could be regarded as equally effective.Â

Is The Comorbidity Between Social Phobia And Panic Disorder Due To Familial Cotransmission Or Other Factors?

Background: We previously reported significantly elevated rates of social phobia in relatives of probands with panic disorder compared with relatives of other proband groups. This study further investigates the relationship between social phobia and panic disorder. Method: This sample is from a family study that included 193 probands from four mutually exclusive groups (patients with panic disorder, patients with panic disorder and major depression, patients with early-onset major depression, and normal controls) and 1047 of their adult first-degree relatives. Best-estimate diagnoses were completed using DSM-III-R criteria. Results: Social phobia and agoraphobia aggregate in the families of probands with panic disorder without major depression. Social phobia frequently co-occurs with panic disorder in relatives, but the risk for comorbidity does not vary across proband groups. Conclusions: The familial aggregation of social phobia with panic disorder may be explained by the aggregation of panic disorder in relatives of probands with panic disorder combined with the tendency for panic disorder to occur comorbidly with social phobia in individuals

A prospective cohort study on post COVID syndrome from a tertiary care centre in Sri Lanka

Abstract There is a scarcity of follow-up data on post-COVID syndrome and its physical, psychological, and quality of life attributes, particularly from South Asian populations. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence, associations, and impact of the post-COVID syndrome among patients treated at a dedicated COVID-19 treatment unit. A prospective cohort study was conducted to follow-up patients with moderate to severe disease or mild disease with co-morbidities at 2 and 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months and 1 year from discharge. Clinical notes, an interviewer-administered questionnaire and six-item cognitive impairment, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Fatigue (11-item Chalder) and EQ5D5L questionnaires were used for data collection. All patients had follow-up echocardiograms and symptomatic patients had biochemical and haematological investigations, chest x-rays, high-resolution computed tomography of chest and lung function tests. Among 153 patients {mean age 57.2 ± 16.3 years (83 (54.2% males)}, 92 (60.1%) got the severe disease. At least a single post-COVID symptom was reported by 119 (77.3%), 92 (60.1%), 54 (35.3%) and 25 (16.3%) at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year respectively. Post-COVID symptoms were significantly associated with disease severity (p = 0.004). Fatigue was found in 139 (90.3%), 97 (63.4%) and 66 (43.1%) patients at 2, 6 and 12 weeks respectively. Dyspnoea {OR 1.136 (CI 95% 0.525–2.455)}, arthralgia {OR 1.83(CI 95% 0.96–3.503)} and unsteadiness {OR 1.34 (CI 95% 0.607–2.957)}were strongly associated with age above 60 years. Both genders were equally affected. In multivariable logistic regression, fatigue and anxiety/depression were associated with poor quality of life (QoL) (p = 0.014, p ≤ 0.001) in 6 weeks. In cardiac assessments, diastolic dysfunction (DD) was detected in 110 (72%) patients at 2 weeks and this number reduced to 64 (41.8%) at 12 weeks. The decline in diastolic dysfunction in elderly patients was significantly higher compared to young patients (p = 0.012). Most post-COVID symptoms, QoL and cognition improve during the first few months. The severity of the disease and older age are associated with post-COVID symptoms. Transient DD may contribute to cardiac symptoms of post-COVID syndrome, especially in elderly patients