Impact of Ocular Compatible Lipoids and Castor Oil in Fabrication of Brimonidine Tartrate Nanoemulsions by 33 Full Factorial Design

BACKGROUND

Brimonidine Tartrate (BRT) is used in the treatment of glaucoma. Brimonidine tartrate nanoemulsion was fabricated in this research work to enhance the permeability through barriers and faster onset of action and therapeutic effect.

OBJECTIVE

To fabricate an ocular compatible nanoemulsion of brimonidine tartrate by using surfactant and co-surfactants.

METHODS

The experimental work involved compatibility studies by using FTIR, DSC and crystallinity study by XRD. The prepared nanoemulsion was studied by photon correlation spectroscopy by Malvern S90 for the particle size analysis and characterized for Z average value (d.nm.) and PDI. Further studies were conducted by laser light scattering technique by delsanano common and TEM.

RESULTS

The study demonstrated that the formulations BN2, BN3, BN10 demonstrated the z average value of 19.48, 22.14,26.50 d.nm. With 0.337, 0.270, 0.289 PDI respectively, the formulae BN2, BN3, BN10 demonstrated the distribution average diameter (nm) of 376.8 + 258.4, 542.8 + 494.4, 398.8 + 263.9 with the diameter of 267.5, 298.5, 272.7, respectively. The zeta potential of BN10 was -21.26 mV and other parameters such as TEM and drug release studies were also reported.

CONCLUSION

The nanoemulsion of brimonidine tartrate was prepared successfully by using castor oil, Lipoid S75 (Fat free soybean phospholipids with 70% phosphatidylcholine), Lipoid E80 (Egg phospholipids with 80% phosphatidylcholine) and PF- 68. The optimised formula demonstrated the lower droplet size, satisfactory zeta potential, and high drug loading and reproducible drug release profile. Brimonididne taratarate is reported in various recent patents for various applications and is the potential candidate for future therapy. Nanoemulsion is widely explored as potential alternatives for conventional ophthalmic formulation based approaches. It enhances the ocular bioavailability by reducing the drug protein binding, increasing the corneal resident time, enhancing the drug permeability and providing a sustained drug release.It reported a significant increase in therapeutic efficacy for various chronic ocular disease states of both the anterior and posterior ocular segments.

Impact of Pluronic F-68 vs Tween 80 on Fabrication and Evaluation of Acyclovir SLNs for Skin Delivery

INTRODUCTION

The solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of Acyclovir (ACV) were fabricated with Soya lecithin and Fractionated Coconut oil (medium chain glyceride) as a first time combination.

METHODS

The research was focused on developing ACV-SLN by using high pressure hot-homogenization technique. The ingredients were used in different concentrations and ratios to identify the best formulation design. The tween 80 and Pluronic F-68 were used in various concentrations in formulation design to assess the impact on the fabrication and evaluation of SLNs. The impact of nanotechnology gain to play a vital role in the topical pharmaceutical products and the related patents will play a significant role in related industries.

RESULTS

The SLNs were subjected to various characterization techniques such as XRD, FTIR, Master sizer analysis and zeta potential. The mean particle size was determined by master sizer and zeta sizer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used as a tool to analyze the morphology and other features. The zeta potential and drug entrapment efficiency (EE%) were also determined for the prepared ACV-SLNs. The efficiency of drug release from prepared formulations was studied by using in vitro study with the utilization of dialysis membrane technique. SLN dispersions exhibited the average size in nano range.

CONCLUSION

SLNs with small particle size found to have predetermined encapsulation efficiency, and relatively high loading capacity and predetermined in vitro drug release profile.

Fabrication, Characterization, In vitro Evaluation of Solid Lipid Nanoemulsion of Flunarizine dihydrochloride for Nasal Delivery

BACKGROUND

Flunarizine dihydrochloride (FHC) is used for the prophylaxis to migraine. Flunarizine has solubility problems which is practically insoluble in water and alcohol. Nanoemulsion is the approach to increase the solubility of the insoluble drugs. Nanoemulsions of FHC was prepared which can be given through the alternate route such as nasal drug delivery for migraine.

OBJECTIVE

In this research work the solubility of the poorly soluble FHC was successfully improved by preparing it as a nano emulsion. Nanoemulsions can pass through the biological membrane easily so it can be delivered through nasal mucosa by which it may provide a quicker onset of action. The currently available dosage forms are in the form of tablet.

METHODS

The formulations were prepared by using Glycerl Monostearate (GMS), Tween 80 as surfactant and PEG 400: Ethanol as co-surfactant in the distilled water. Nanoemulsions were prepared by step by step procedure. The prepared nanoemulsions were analyzed preliminarily by Master Sizer followed by Zeta Sizer by using the technique Dynamic Photon Correlation Spectroscopy. The best nanoemulsion was subjected to Zeta Potential study. The TEM analysis was carried out on the best formulation to gain the detailed information about the formulation.

RESULTS

The best formulation was selected based on the physical appearance, homogenecity of the preparation, Preliminary Master Sizer analysis report, Secondary Zeta Sizer analysis report with Zeta Potential and TEM. The best formulation demonstrated the size in nano range with improved solubility.

CONCLUSION

The FHC nano emulsion was prepared successfully which improved the solubility of the drug. The drug release study on simulated nasal fluid revealed that the preparation is suitable to be delivered through the nasal route.

Is there a relationship between the total volume of load lifted in bench press exercise and the rating of perceived exertion?

AIM

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the total volume of load lifted (TVLL) and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) measures during different resistance training (RT) schemes using the bench press exercise.

METHODS

The present study was divided into two experiments. In the first experiment, 18 healthy men performed three different RT schemes: a strength oriented scheme (SS), a muscular endurance oriented scheme (ES) and a hypertrophy oriented scheme (HS). TVLL was calculated for each scheme. Mean-RPE and session-RPE were assessed. In the second experiment, 23 men performed two resistance exercise bouts at different intensities (50%-1RM and 75%-1RM) with matched TVLL. Mean-RPE and session-RPE were also assessed.

RESULTS

SS and HS showed higher TVLL and greater RPE scores as compared to ES (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between SS and HS. It was verified significant positive correlations between TVLL and session-RPE (SS r=0.63, HS r=0.64, ES r=0.56; P<0.05), and between mean-RPE and TVLL (SS r=0.55, HS r=0.52, ES r=0.47; P<0.05) for all schemes. No differences were observed for mean-RPE, session-RPE and TVLL between the 50%-1RM and 75%-1RM. Significant positive relationships between TVLL and session-RPE (50%-1RM r=0.61, 75%-1RM r=0.66; p<0.05) and between TVLL and mean-RPE (50%-1RM r=0.51, 75%-1RM r=0.49; P<0.05) were observed.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study have shown that the TVLL in RT influences RPE measures. These findings corroborates the existence of a relationship between total work performed (external training load) and perception of effort (internal training load).

Work and peak torque during eccentric exercise do not predict changes in markers of muscle damage

OBJECTIVES

Large inter-subject variability in responses to eccentric exercise has been reported. This study investigated the hypothesis that the variability of changes in indirect markers of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) would be explained by work performed and/or torque generated during eccentric exercise.

METHODS

Subjects (n = 53) performed 60 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors on an isokinetic dynamometer that forcibly extended the elbow joint from 60 degrees to 180 degrees at a constant velocity (90 degrees s(-1)). Markers of EIMD included maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque at 90 degrees elbow flexion (MVC), range of motion, plasma creatine kinase activity and muscle soreness. Measurements were taken 2 days before, immediately after and 1-4 days post-exercise. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships between exercise parameters (total work, change in total work, torque produced during exercise, change in peak torque) and markers of EIMD.

RESULTS

Large inter-subject variability was evident for both work and torque during exercise, and changes in all markers of EIMD. Contrary to the hypothesis, total work (normalised for individual pre-exercise MVC) did not correlate significantly with any markers of EIMD, with the exception of MVC (r = 0.3). Total work performed and changes in total work showed higher correlations with some markers, but no r-values exceeded 0.4. Normalised exercise torque and the changes in peak torque during exercise were not correlated with changes in MVC, or other markers.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest the large inter-subject variability in responses to eccentric exercise is not associated with work performed or torque generated during eccentric exercise.

Precedent autonomy: life-sustaining intervention and the demented patient

How aggressively should we pursue life-sustaining treatment of the demented patient? This question becomes increasingly important as our population ages and medical technology offers ever more life-prolongation. In Life's Dominion, Ronald Dworkin addresses the issue in the context of an Alzheimer patient who had previously declared the desire to avoid life-sustaining intervention. Dworkin argues for the primacy of what he calls precedent autonomy: “A competent person's right to autonomy requires that his past decisions about how he is to be treated if he becomes demented be respected even if they contradict the desires he has at a later point.” In 1995, the Hastings Center Report carried thoughtful rebuttals by Daniel Callahan and Rebecca Dresser. Much of Callahan's article is devoted to patients who never executed an advance directive, but he states unequivocally that such directives can be overridden, basing much of his argument on the writings of Sanford Kadish. Together, Dresser, Callahan, and Kadish define a clear position opposed to precedent autonomy.

Moral dilemmas in surgical training: intent and the case for ethical ambiguity

It is often assumed that the central problem in a medical ethics issue is determining which course of action is morally correct. There are some aspects of ethical issues that will yield to such analysis. However, at the core of important medical moral problems is an irreducible dilemma in which all possible courses of action, including inaction, seem ethically unsatisfactory. When facing these issues ethical behaviour depends upon an individual's understanding and acceptance of this painful dilemma without recourse to external moral authority.

New issues in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmia neonatorum

We have recently seen two cases of ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) that illustrate a changing picture of this disease and raise a number of questions concerning optimal prophylaxis and treatment. Silver nitrate, which is the most widely used method for prevention of gonococcal ON, fails to prevent neonatal eye disease due to chlamydia. In addition, strains of gonococci which produce a penicillinase and are resistant to penicillin are becoming common in parts of the United States and Europe. Thus all gonococcal isolates must be tested for penicillinase production. The emergence of Chlamydia trachomatis as the most frequent cause of ON and the appearance of penicillin-resistant gonococci has led to new regimens for prophylaxis and therapy of neonatal ophthalmia. At our institution, we now use intramuscular penicillin and topical tetracycline ointment (1%) for eye prophylaxis. For initial therapy of gonococcal ON we recommend penicillin (systemic and topical) plus another antimicrobial with greater stability against the penicillinase of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Lack of hydrophilic lens discoloration in patients using dipivalyl epinephrine for glaucoma

Five glaucoma patients used topical dipivalyl epinephrine for periods of up to 84 weeks without discoloration of their soft contact lenses. Thus, patients who need both soft contact lenses and antiglaucoma therapy with topical epinephrine may use the dipivalyl analogue without lens spoilage.

Evaluation of a packaged kit assay of serum ferritin and application to clinical diagnosis of selected anemias

The reliability of a radioimmunometric assay of serum ferritin concentration by a packaged kit was evaluated. In addition, application of the serum ferritin assay to the clinical evaluation of selected anemias was assessed. When appropriate serum dilutions were utilized, this method was sufficiently reproducible and reliable for application to the clinical laboratory. Serum ferritin was found to be a valuable tool in the differential diagnosis of anemia accompanied by hypoferremia, although iron depletion coexisting with either the anemia of chronic disease or active hepatocellular disease may not be clearly appreciated. The primary advantage of the determination was to help characterize the iron status of the patient with a hypochromic microcytic anemia or hypoferremia who would ordinarly require a bone-marrow examination for iron stores.