Enhanced blend uniformity and flowability of low drug loaded fine API blends via dry coating: The effect of mixing time and excipient size

Although previous research demonstrated improved flowability, packing, fluidization, etc. of individual powders via nanoparticle dry coating, none considered its impact on very low drug loaded blends. Here, fine ibuprofen at 1, 3, and 5 wt% drug loadings (DL) was used in multi-component blends to examine the impact of the excipients size, dry coating with hydrophilic or hydrophobic silica, and mixing times on the blend uniformity, flowability and drug release rates. For uncoated active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), the blend uniformity (BU) was poor for all blends regardless of the excipient size and mixing time. In contrast, for dry coated API having low agglomerate ratio (AR), BU was dramatically improved, more so for the fine excipient blends, at lesser mixing times. For dry coated API, the fine excipient blends mixed for 30 min had enhanced flowability and lower AR; better for the lowest DL having lesser silica, likely due to mixing induced synergy of silica redistribution. For the fine excipient tablets, dry coating led to fast API release rates even with hydrophobic silica coating. Remarkably, the low AR of the dry coated API even at very low DL and amounts of silica in the blend led to the enhanced blend uniformity, flow, and API release rate.

Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENAS) in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: correlations with clinical manifestations and disease activity

The aim was to explore possible correlations of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) with clinical manifestations and disease activity indices in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. A total of 70 consecutive SLE patients (64 females) were included. Disease activity was assessed by SLE activity index (SLEDAI), and British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG). Anti-Ro/SSA correlated positively with, headache (r=0.24, p=0.04), blurring of vision (r=0.25, p=0.03) and SLEDAI (r=0.25, p=0.04) and negatively with C3 (r=-0.35, p=0.003). Anti-Ro/SSA correlated with anti La/SSB antibodies (r=0.69, p<0.001), but not with anti-DNA, anti-RNP and anti-Sm antibodies. Anti-La/SSB antibodies correlated with headache (r=0.26, p=0.03), SLEDAI (r=0.25, p=0.03) and negatively with C3 (r=-0.34, p=0.004). Anti-La/SSB did not correlate with anti-RNP or anti-Sm antibodies. Anti-Sm antibodies correlated with disease duration (r=0.34, p=0.003), 24 hours urinary proteins (r=0.31, p=0.008), SLEDAI (r=0.31, p=0.009), BILAG renal score (r=0.29, p=0.02) and negatively with age at onset (r=-0.27, p=0.02), WBCs (r=-0.29, p=0.014) and C4 (r=-0.25, p=0.049). In multivariate analyses, anti-Ro/SSA antibodies remained associated with headache, blurring of vision and C3 and anti-La/SSB antibodies remained associated with C3 and with headache. Anti-Sm antibodies were independently associated with disease duration and total SLEDAI scores, while anti-RNP antibodies remained significantly associated with BILAG mucocutaneous scores only. Antibodies to ENAs are associated with clinical aspects of SLE and may play a role in the assessment of disease activity. Insight into these ENAs may lead to new approaches to diagnostic testing, accurate evaluation of disease activity and lead to target approach for SLE.

Matrix metalloproteinase-3, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, and occupational risk factors in lumbar disc degeneration

BACKGROUND

Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is a process that begins early in life, contributing to the development of low back pain. LDD is a consequence of a variety of factors, and its etiology remains poorly understood. Objectives to investigate occupational and genetic risk factors inducing lumbar disc degeneration, and to evaluate the possible association of genetic polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) with the severity of LDD in an Egyptian population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A case control study involving 84 LDD and 60 controls was carried out. Five types of work related factors were investigated by questionnaire, complete neurological examination for all subjects and MRI for the cases. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods were applied to detect polymorphisms in MMP-3 Promoter (-1,171 6A/5A) (rs 731236) and VDR-Apa (rs 35068180).

RESULTS

We found that family history, back injury, smoking, high level of sitting, bending/twisting, physical workload, lifting, whole body vibration, mutant allele 5A of MMP-3 and mutant allele T of VDR were significantly associated with LDD (OR = 2.9, 3.1, 2.1, 11.1, 15.9, 11.7, 8.2, 12.6, 2.5 and 3.1 respectively, p < 0.05). Cases that carry allele 5A and/or allele T were associated with LDD severity.

CONCLUSION

LDD is closely associated in occurrence and severity with occupational, environmental risk factors and susceptibility genes namely MMP-3, and VDR (ApaI). This study throws light on the importance of screening for early detection of susceptible individuals and disease prevention.