Use of lipophilic and hydrophilic polymers in production of sustained release zinc sulfate tablets

Background and aims: Zinc sulfate administered to correct zinc deficiency. Its oral administration has shown serious digestive side effects and sometimes it has led to the lack of use it. The main aim of the present study was to use lipophilic and hydrophilic polymers in production of sustained release zinc sulfate tabletsover an extended period of time. Methods: Sustained release (SR) zinc sulfate tablets were prepared using either lipophilic-based matrix or hydrophilic matrix system or natural polymers by either hot-fusion (HF) granulation or direct compression (DC) method. Physical and chemical features of provided SR tablets including hardness, friability, and weight variation, disintegration time, swelling index, content uniformity and drug release behavior were evaluated. The drug concentration was assayed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer at 213.8 nm. Results: Most of the prepared formulations showed acceptable physicochemical properties. Among 30 formulations, SR tablets with lipophilic matrix-based showed more predictable release profiles compared to tablets prepared based on hydrophilic or natural matrixes. Tablets containing carnauba wax showed slower release while tablets with hydrogenated castor oil represented faster release profile. A few lipophilic matrix tablets containing zinc sulfate (110 mg), beeswax (or carnauba wax) and Avicel (or Emcompress) were selected as the optimum formulations showing release profiles based on USP criteria for lipophilic-based SR tablets. The mean dissolution time (MDT) and dissolution efficiency (DE8%) of selected formulations were 1.69-1.95 hr and 69.3-71.8%, respectively. Tablet hardness and granule size had no effects on release rate. The drug release kinetic followed Higuchi model. Conclusion: Lipophilic based SR tablets of zinc sulfate is suggested as an alternative for capsule or syrup of the drug whichhave digestive side effects

Correlation between serum concentration of lead, mercury and cadmium with coronary artery disease

زمینه و هدف: بیماری های عروق کرونر یکی از دلایل مهم مرگ و میر در جهان به شمار می آیند و امروزه تلاش های بسیاری برای شناسایی ریسک فاکتورهای جدید صورت می گیرد. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی ارتباط بین غلظت سرمی سرب، جیوه و کادمیوم و بیماری عروق کرونر انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی تحلیلی، غلظت سرمی سرب، جیوه و کادمیوم در 65 بیمار (35 زن و 30 مرد) مبتلا به تنگی عروق کرونر و 65 شاهد (43 زن و 22 مرد) با استفاده از دستگاه جذب اتمی بدون شعله اندازه گیری و به کمک آزمون های تی مستقل، کای دو و آنالیز کواریانس مقایسه شدند. یافته ها: نتایج حاصل از اندازه گیری نشان داد میانگین غلظت فلزات در بیماران به طور معنی داری نسبت به گروه کنترل بالاتر است (05/0>P). بعد از تعدیل سایر ریسک فاکتورهای قلبی، باز هم اختلاف بین دو گروه معنی دار بود (05/0>P). نتیجه گیری: نتایج حاصل از مطالعه ما نشان می دهد سطح سرمی فلزات سنگین می تواند با بیماری عروق کرونر ارتباط داشته باشند

The role of central mechanisms in the anti-inflammatory effect of amitriptyline on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to further investigate the effect of amitriptyline, a classical tricyclic antidepressant, on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. METHODS: First, amitriptyline was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) at doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg kg-1, 30 min before subplantar injection of carrageenan. Second, amitriptyline was given intracerebroventriculary or intrathecally at doses of 25, 50 and 100 &#956;g/rat, 30 min prior to carrageenan challenge. Third, the effect of adrenergic receptor antagonists such as propranolol (10 mg kg-1, i.p.), prazosin (4 mg kg-1, i.p.) and yohimbine (10 mg kg-1, i.p.) and an opioid receptor antagonist (naloxone, 4 mg kg-1, i.p.) on the anti-inflammatory effect of amitriptyline (40 mg kg-1, i.p.) was investigated. RESULTS: Our data confirm that intraperitoneally administered amitriptyline exhibits a marked anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats 4 h postcarrageenan challenge (P < 0.001). Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of amitriptyline also reduced the development of paw edema at 4 h postcarrageenan (P < 0.001), but intrathecal (i.t.) application of amitriptyline failed to alter the degree of paw swelling. Furthermore, the applied antagonists did not modify the anti-inflammatory effect of amitriptyline. CONCLUSION: These results support the view that amitriptyline has a considerable anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and suggest that at least a part of this property could be mediated through supraspinal sites. Moreover, it seems unlikely that the investigated adrenergic and opioid receptors have a significant role in this effect of amitriptyline

Reduced plasma adiponectin levels relative to oxidized low density lipoprotein and nitric oxide in coronary artery disease patients

INTRODUCTION: Adiponectin is a circulating hormone that is produced exclusively by adipocytes and has antiinflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. The hypothesis that there are differences in adiponectin levels between stable and unstable coronary-artery disease patients remains controversial. Furthermore, the potential relationships between the plasma adiponectin level and the inflammatory and non-inflammatory markers (oxidized low density lipoprotein and nitric oxide) in patients with stable and unstable coronary-artery disease relative to normal subjects have not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether plasma adiponectin levels differ among patients with stable and unstable coronary-artery disease and among control subjects, and to correlate plasma adiponectin level with inflammatory and clinical risk factors (such as oxidized-LDL and nitric oxide) in these patients. METHODS: This study included 50 control subjects, 50 stable angina patients and 50 unstable angina patients with angiographically documented coronary-artery disease. Plasma adiponectin and oxidized-LDL levels were determined using an enzyme immunoassay. Plasma nitric oxide, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipid profile levels were also measured. RESULTS: Plasma adiponectin levels were lower in the unstable angina patients (4.9 ± 1.30 µg/mL) than in the stable angina patients (6.34 ± 1.0 µg/mL) or in the controls (9.25 ± 1.8 µg/mL); these levels were also significantly lower in stable angina patients versus controls (p<0.001). Plasma adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with oxidized-LDL, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipid profile and other clinical risk factors but positively correlated with nitric oxide. CONCLUSION: Plasma adiponectin levels were found to be lower in both stable and unstable angina patients relative to control subjects, and the correlation between plasma adiponectin and cardiovascular markers is weakened in these patients

Coverage Estimation in Floorplan Visual Sensor Networks

The issue of Coverage in visual sensor networks (VSNs) has attracted considerable attention due to sensors unique directional sensing characteristic. It answers the question that how well the target field is monitored by a network of sensors with video/image capturing capability. In floorplan scenario the network is to monitor a plane parallel to the sensors' deployment plane. Coverage probability estimation based on both the sensors and the network related parameters is a fundamental issue in this field. For a large scale application in which the sensors' deployment is done by dropping sensors from an airplane, random sensors' placement and orientation according to their respective distribution is a practical assumption. Although some studies exist on the coverage problem of floorplan VSNs, none of them has derived a closed form solution for the coverage estimation, which is the main contribution of this paper. The Simulation results validated the proposed mathematical solution

Lithium ratio in bipolar patients in Isfahan, Iran

BACKGROUND: Lithium is transferred into the intracellular space mainly via sodium-lithium counter transport pathway. This pathway is under genetic control and acts variably in different ethnic groups. With respect to possible genetic differences in our target population compared to other populations, this study was designed to obtain knowledge on mean&#13; lithium ratio (LR) in this population so as to provide a benchmark for adjusting appropriate dosage of prescribed oral lithium and plasma concentration of lithium in clinical practice.&#13; METHODS: In this study, 47 (26 male and 21 female) patients with bipolar disorders treated by lithium alone or in combination with other drugs at least for 2 weeks were selected by simple random sampling. Venous blood samples of selected patients were obtained and plasma and RBC lithium concentrations were measured. Finally, LR was determined using the atomic absorption method.&#13; RESULTS: Mean value of LR in the entire target population and in the group treated with lithium alone was 44.4 ± 23.22% and 58.52 ± 14%, respectively. In patients concomitantly treated with lithium and neuroleptic drugs, LR was significantly lower than that in all patients. LR in females was higher than that in males. LR in the group treated with lithium alone was significantly higher than figures reported in Europeans and Americans patients.&#13; CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that bipolar patients in this geographical zone of Iran should probably be treated with smaller doses of lithium to achieve optimal intracellular therapeutic levels of lithium, compared to levels regarded as therapeutic for Europeans and Americans.&#13; KEY WORDS: Iranian race, lithium ratio, intracellular lithium level, plasma lithium level

Hypocholesterolemic effects of Balangu (Lallemantia royleana) seeds in the rabbits fed on a cholesterol-containing diet

Objectives: Lallemantia royleana (Benth. in Wall.) Benth. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant used in Iranian traditional and folklore medicine in the treatment of various nervous, hepatic, and renal diseases. In the present study, whole seeds of the herb were prepared and evaluated for hypolipidemic activities using an animal model. Materials and Methods: Animals were fed normal diets or diets supplemented with cholesterol (0.5%) for 12 weeks to evoke hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, hypercholesterolemic animals were treated with different doses of whole seeds of Balangu (0, 5, 10, and 20%) for 12 weeks. Results: Results showed that the serum total cholesterol and triglyceride decreased in all groups treated with Balangu seeds pConclusions: Our results showed that L. royleana seeds decreased the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hypercholesterolemic animals but led to the increase of atherogenic index in all treated groups

Evaluation of Potentially Harmful Substances in Dried Sludge of Isfahan Wastewater Treatment Plants

Wastewater sludge is categorized as hazardous waste material which must be stabilized and treated before disposal and reuse. Final disposal of sludge from treatment facilities usually involves some form of land disposal. However, sludge contains different type of pathogens and heavy metals which can causes pollution of surface and ground waters, soils and spread diseases if there is human exposure to the sludge. In this respect, U.S.EPA presented requirements for using and disposing of sludge. Thus, taking into account the potential risks caused by presence of heavy metals in sludge and for the control of processes of sludge treatment and disposal and also protect of environmental health and enhauncement of public health level, specially for farmers and consumers of raw crops, needs sampling and characterization of sludge. In the present research concentration of 11 heavy metals and potentially toxic elements in dried sludge of Isfahan South and North and Shahinshahr wastewater treatment plants were determined using standard methods. Samples have been taken from dried sludge of treatment plants, and been measured after being prepared through atomic absorption apparatus and were compared with EPA enacted standards in regulation 40 CFR part 503. As well, fertilizer value parameters of sludge were measured and were compared with standards and guidelines. The results showed that the average concentration of above elements in all three treatment plants, not exceeded from EPA standards, however, regarding the accumulative property of these elements and lack of necessary protective effects of EPA standards, in using these sludges in the agricultural soils, the necessary caution and care should be taken, in other uses of sludges, however, there is no limitation