Incorporation of carbopol to palm olein based analgesic cream: effect on formulation characteristics

The purpose of the investigation was to incorporate carbopol gel with palm olein based emulsion and to investigate the effect of such incorporation on formulation characteristics. A palm olein based emulsion was formulated followed by addition of carbopol 940 to it. The critical parameters of incorporating carbopol in bench scale level were checked. The developed palm olein-carbopol based analgesic cream was analyzed for pH, zeta potential, viscosity, rheological property and forced centrifugation.Incorporation of 0.3% of carbopol gel (1% w/w) helps to maintain the viscosity and stability. pH and zeta potential of palm olein-carbopol combined cream was within range of 6.90 to 7.20 and -23.1 to -74.9, respectively. Combination of palm olein based emulsion and carbopol would be a suitable option for topical cream formulation. The pH of carbopol gel and method of mixing with the palm olein based emulsion had crucial effects on phase separation of the product

Palm olein emulsion: a novel vehicle for topical drug delivery of betamethasone 17-valerate

This study aims to investigate the use of palm olein as the oil phase for betamethasone 17-valerate (BV) emulsions. The physicochemical properties of the formulations were characterized. In vitro drug release study was performed with the Hanson Vertical Diffusion Cell System; the samples were quantified with HPLC and the results were compared with commercial products. Optimized emulsion formulations were subjected to stability studies for 3 months at temperatures of 4, 25, and 40°C; the betamethasone 17- valerate content was analyzed using HPLC. The formulations produced mean particle size of 2–4 μm, viscosities of 50–250 mPa.s, and zeta potential between −45 and −68 mV. The rheological analyses showed that the emulsions exhibited pseudoplastic and viscoelastic behavior. The in vitro release of BV from palm olein emulsion through cellulose acetate was 4.5 times higher than that of commercial products and more BV molecules deposited in rat skin. Less than 4% of the drug was degraded in the formulations during the 3-month period when they were subjected to the three different temperatures. These findings indicate that palm olein-in-water emulsion can be an alternative vehicle for topical drug delivery system with superior permeability

Enhanced melioidosis surveillance in patients attending four tertiary hospitals in Yangon, Myanmar.

Abstract To investigate the current epidemiology of melioidosis in Yangon, Myanmar, between June 2017 and May 2019 we conducted enhanced surveillance for melioidosis in four tertiary hospitals in Yangon, where the disease was first discovered in 1911. Oxidase-positive Gram-negative rods were obtained from the microbiology laboratories and further analysed at the Department of Medical Research. Analysis included culture on Ashdown agar, the three disc sensitivity test (gentamicin, colistin and co-amoxiclav), latex agglutination, API 20 NE, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and a subset underwent molecular confirmation with a Burkholderia pseudomallei specific assay. Twenty one of 364 isolates (5.7%) were confirmed as B. pseudomallei and were mostly susceptible to the antibiotics used in standard therapy for melioidosis. Ten patients were from Yangon Region, nine were from Ayeyarwaddy region, and one each was from Kayin and Rakhine States. A history of soil contact was given by seven patients, five had diabetes mellitus and one had renal insufficiency. The patients presented with septicaemia (12 cases), pneumonia (three cases), urinary tract infection (two cases) and wound infection (four cases). Eighteen patients survived to hospital discharge. This study highlights the likelihood that melioidosis may be far more common, but underdiagnosed, in more rural parts of Myanmar as in other countries in SE Asia.</jats:p

Epidemiology of Uveitis in a Tertiary Eye Center in Myanmar

To identify the characteristics of uveitis in a tertiary eye center in Myanmar. A retrospective study was undertaken to obtain the characteristics of uveitis in a tertiary eye center in Myanmar from September 2013 to September 2014, using a standard clinical protocol and tailored laboratory investigations

Spinning Process of Chitosan Fiber with Low Concentration of Formic Acid Solution and its Characteristics

The wet spinning of chitosan fiber was carried out using 7% chitosan concentration, 4% aqueous formic acid as a solvent for chitosan and 6M of aqueous CaCl2.2H2O as a coagulation system. A better method for preparation of chitosan spinning solution was investigated by studying the effect of reaction time on incubation of spinning solution in open air. The shear viscosity of chitosan solution (22.63 ~ 23.09 Pa.s) was found to be stabilize the spinning of chitosan fiber in this study. The characteristics of different chitosan fibers were determined by FT-IR and 1HNMR spectroscopies, XRD diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and mechanical properties. All the fibers were observed with high tenacity (dTex). The strength of fiber and water retention of chitosan fiber (%) was significantly increased with increasing the incubation time of spinning solution in open air

Diffusion of betamethasone 17-Valerate from palm olein-based vehicle

The current study aims to produce pharmaceutical formulation using palm olein as the oil phase with betamethasone 17-valerate as the active ingredient and to compare efficacy with that of commercial products. Creams were prepared using Span® 20 and Tween® 20 as surfactants, Carbopol® 940 as thickener, methyl paraben, propyl paraben and chlorocresol as preservatives, propylene glycol as solubilizer and distilled water as aqueous phase. The formulations were characterized, subjected to stability studies for 3 months and degradation of betamethasone 17-valerate in the formulations was analysed using HPLC. Evaluation on drug release with three different viscosities was further performed with Hanson Verticle Diffusion Cell System using cellulose acetate and rat skin as membranes and the samples were quantified with HPLC. The results were compared to that of three commmercially available products. The optimized formulation showed particle size ranging from 3 to 14 µm, viscosity 68.2±1.43 mPa.s, yield stress 36.5± 0.2 Pa, thixotropy 647± 58, pH 5.8± 0.1 and zeta potential -51 ± 11 mV. The creams exhibited pseudoplastic behaviour and found to be thixotropic. Less than 5 % of drug is degraded during the 3-month period when subjected to 3 different temperatures. The drug release rates from palm-olein-in-water emulsions were 4.5 times higher than that of commercial products. In conclusion, these findings proved that the creams produced from palm-olein-in-water emulsion could be a superior alternative vehicle for topical drug delivery system

Formulation and characterization of palm oil ester-based betamethasone 17-valerate creams and comparison with marketed products

This study aimed to formulate and characterize betamethasone 17-valerate creams produced from palm olein-based oil-in-water emulsions and compare the data to that of commercial products. Test creams with three different viscosities were prepared using varying concentrations (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% w/w) of Carbopol®940 as thickener, palm olein as oil phase, Span®20/Tween®20 as surfactants, parabens and chlorocresol as preservatives, propylene glycol as solubilizer, betamethasone 17-valerate as active ingredient and distilled water as aqueous phase. Control creams were prepared without drug to investigate the effect of the drug on vehicle. Three marketed creams containing same active ingredient were purchased from local pharmacy for comparison purpose. All formulations were characterized for particle size, viscosity, rheology, phase separation, pH and zeta-potential for one year. Statistical analysis was performed with MINITAB® (version 16.1) software. The optimized formulations showed particle size range 2 to 14 μm, viscosity 100 ± 0.57 mPa.s, yield stress 35.6 ± 4.6 Pa, thixotropy 789 ± 1.15, pH 5.0 ± 0.2 and zeta potential -68.36 ± 1.06 mV. In comparison, the commercial creams had larger particle sizes and slightly higher viscosities. However, test creams had greater electrophoretic stabilities than marketed creams as the latter had lower zeta potential values (13.02 ± 0.78 mV). Moreover, betamethasone 17-valerate did not affect the properties of vehicle as the results of control creams were not greatly different from that of test creams. From these results, it was concluded that palm-olein-in-water emulsion could be alternative vehicle for topical drug delivery of lipophilic drugs