Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in ocular drug delivery

Amongst the various routes of drug delivery, the field of ocular drug delivery is one of the most interesting and challenging endeavors facing the pharmaceutical scientist. Recent research has focused on the characteristic advantages and limitations of the various drug delivery systems, and further research will be required before the ideal system can be developed. Administration of drugs to the ocular region with conventional delivery systems leads to short contact time of the formulations on the epithelium and fast elimination of drugs. This transient residence time involves poor bioavailability of drugs which can be explained by the tear production, non-productive absorption and impermeability of corneal epithelium. Anatomy of the eye is shortly presented and is connected with ophthalmic delivery and bioavailability of drugs. In the present update on ocular dosage forms, chemical delivery systems such as prodrugs, the use of cyclodextrins to increase solubility of various drugs, the concept of penetration enhancers and other ocular drug delivery systems such as polymeric gels, bioadhesive hydrogels, in-situ forming gels with temperature-, pH-, or osmotically induced gelation, combination of polymers and colloidal systems such as liposomes, niosomes, cubosomes, microemulsions, nanoemulsions and nanoparticles are discussed. Novel ophthalmic delivery systems propose the use of many excipients to increase the viscosity or the bioadhesion of the product. New formulations like gels or colloidal systems have been tested with numerous active substances by in vitro and in vivo studies. Sustained drug release and increase in drug bioavailability have been obtained, offering the promise of innovation in drug delivery systems for ocular administration. Combining different properties of pharmaceutical formulations appears to offer a genuine synergy in bioavailability and sustained release. Promising results are obtained with colloidal systems which present very comfortable conditions of use and prolonged action.
Formulation development and in-vitro/in-vivo correlation for a novel sterculia gum-based oral colon-targeted drug delivery system of azathioprine

The present study was aimed at designing a microflora triggered colon-targeted drug delivery system (MCDDS) based on swellable polysaccharide, sterculia gum in combination with biodegradable polymers with a view to target azathioprine (AZA) in the colon for the treatment of IBD with reduced systemic toxicity. The microflora degradation study of gum was investigated in rat cecal medium. The polysaccharide tablet was coated to different film thicknesses with blends of chitosan/Eudragit RLPO and over coated with Eudragit L00 to provide acid and intestinal resistance. Swelling and drug release studies were carried out in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) (pH 1.2), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) (pH 6.8) and simulated colonic fluid (SCF) (pH 7.4 under anaerobic environment), respectively. Drug release study in SCF revealed that swelling force of the gum could concurrently drive the drug out of the polysaccharide core due to the rupture of the chitosan/Eudragit coating in microflora-activated environment. Chitosan in the mixed film coat was found to be degraded by enzymatic action of the microflora in the colon. Release kinetic data revealed that, the optimized MCDDS was fitted well into first order model and apparent lag time was found to be 6 h, followed by Higuchi spherical matrix release. The degradation of chitosan was the rate-limiting factor for drug release in the colon. In-vivo study in rabbit shows delayed Tmax, prolonged absorption time, decreased Cmax and absorption rate constant (Ka) indicating reduced systemic toxicity of the drug as compared to other dosage forms.
Hirschsprung’s disease: Role of rectal suction biopsy - data on 216 specimens

Background: The diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is dependent on the histological study of rectal ganglion cells, and an open rectal biopsy was the mainstay that required general anaesthesia (GA) and carried risk of postoperative rectal bleeding. Suction rectal biopsy later gained wide acceptance and became the choice as there is no requirement of GA and virtual absence of any complications. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of the histological findings of 216 rectal suction biopsies studied from 2005 to 2009. Results: There were 143 male and 73 female children. 196 (90.7%) children were within 1 year of age. Among 216 rectal suction biopsies 181 (83.80%) were aganglionic, 27 (12.5%) were ganglionic and 8 (3.7%) were inadequate. Majority of patients were of less than 1 year of age (94.47%). Conclusions: The rectal suction biopsy is a bed side procedure, safe, cheap and time saving. There is high degree of accuracy, simplicity and absence of complications.
Electropherotypes and G-Types of Group A Rotaviruses Detected in Children with Diarrhea in Lagos, Nigeria

Approximately over 500,000 children die annually due to severe dehydrating diarrhea caused by rotaviruses. This work investigated rotavirus infection among children less than 5 years with diarrhea in Lagos and determined the circulating electropherotypes and genotypes of the virus isolates. Three hundred and two () stool samples from children below 60 months were collected from different hospitals and health care centers in Lagos and subjected to enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to determine the presence of Group A rotavirus, RT-PCR to determine the G-types, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to determine the electropherotypes. The results show that 60.3% of the samples showed distinct rotavirus RNA migration pattern, having long electropherotypes (55.3%) of seven variations dominating over the short electropherotypes (44.5%). Six different G-types were detected (G1, G2, G3, G4, G9, and G12). Serotypes G1 and G12 showed long electropherotypic pattern while G2, G3, and G9 exhibited either short or long electropherotype. All G4 detected show short electropherotypic pattern. In conclusion, information on the genomic diversity and RNA electropherotypes of rotaviruses detected in children with diarrhea in Lagos is reported in this study.
Calculating osmotic pressure according to nonelectrolyte Wilson nonrandom factor model

Abstract The osmotic pressure of NaCl solutions was determined by the air humidity in equilibrium (AHE) method. The relationship between the osmotic pressure and the concentration was explored theoretically, and the osmotic pressure was calculated according to the nonelectrolyte Wilson nonrandom factor (N-Wilson-NRF) model from the concentration. The results indicate that the calculated osmotic pressure is comparable to the measured one.
Recent advancements in mechanical reduction methods: particulate systems

Abstract The screening of new active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has become more streamlined and as a result the number of new drugs in the pipeline is steadily increasing. However, a major limiting factor of new API approval and market introduction is the low solubility associated with a large percentage of these new drugs. While many modification strategies have been studied to improve solubility such as salt formation and addition of cosolvents, most provide only marginal success and have severe disadvantages. One of the most successful methods to date is the mechanical reduction of drug particle size, inherently increasing the surface area of the particles and, as described by the Noyes-Whitney equation, the dissolution rate. Drug micronization has been the gold standard to achieve these improvements; however, the extremely low solubility of some new chemical entities is not significantly affected by size reduction in this range. A reduction in size to the nanometric scale is necessary. Bottom-up and top-down techniques are utilized to produce drug crystals in this size range; however, as discussed in this review, top-down approaches have provided greater enhancements in drug usability on the industrial scale. The six FDA approved products that all exploit top-down approaches confirm this. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches will be discussed in addition to specific top-down techniques and the improvements they contribute to the pharmaceutical field.
Nonvolatile SRAM - The Next Generation

The successful introduction of the first fast high density nonvolatile static RAM (nvSRAM) into both commercial and military arenas is now being followed by the development of the next generation: 256K nvSRAMs. At the time of Simtek’s initial commercialization of 64K nvSRAMs, other single chip nonvolatile RAMS had a maximum density of 4K and were over four times slower. This paper quickly reviews the current product offering which changed the market for nonvolatile RAMS. It then describes the similarities between the 64K and 256K product families and highlights their differences.
30-day mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery has greatly improved over the last decade, but the 1-year mortality remains constant

Introduction: European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE) is a valuable tool in control of the quality of cardiac surgery. However, the validity of the risk score for the individual patient may be questioned. The present study was carried out to investigate whether the continued fall in short-term mortality reflects an actual improvement in late mortality, and subsequently, to investigate EuroSCORE as predictor of 1-year mortality. Methods: A population-based cohort study of 25,602 patients from a 12-year period from three public university hospitals undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or valve surgery. Analysis was carried out based on EuroSCORE, age and co-morbidity factors (residual EuroSCORE). Results: During the period the average age increased from 65.1 ± 10.0 years to 68.9 ± 10.7 years (P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA), and the number of females increased from 26.0% to 28.2% (P = 0.0012, Chi-square test). The total EuroSCORE increased from 4.67 to 5.68 while the residual EuroSCORE decreased from 2.64 to 1.83. Thirty-day mortality decreased from 4.07% in 1999–2000 to 2.44% in 2011–2012 (P = 0.0056; Chi-square test), while 1-year mortality was unchanged (6.50% in 1999–2000 vs. 6.25% in 2011–2012 [P = 0.8086; Chi-square test]). Discussion: The study demonstrates that both co-morbidity and age has a great impact on 30-day mortality. However, with time the impact of co-morbidity seems less. Thus, age is more important than co-morbidity in late mortality. The various developments in short and long-term mortality are not readily explained. Conclusion: Although 30-day mortality of CABG and valve surgery patients has decreased during the 12-year period, the 1-year mortality remains the same.
Economic Evaluation of Home Care Versus Hospital Care for Patients With Terminal-Stage Malignant Neoplasms

Home care is implemented internationally on a large scale. However, in Greece, home care services are underdeveloped, especially in public sector. The economic evaluation of home care for patients with terminal-stage malignant neoplasms and the comparison with the cost of hospital care. A socioeconomic evaluation was conducted comparing the cost of home care with the cost of hospital care for patients with terminal-stage malignant neoplasms. The study population included 66 patients in home care group and 64 patients in hospital care group. Both medical cost of care and carers’ lost productivity were evaluated. The 3-month medical cost of home care was estimated at €2424.3 per patient, while the corresponding cost in hospital care group was €6665.4. The monthly carers’ lost productivity in home care group was estimated at €523.9 per patient (6.7 days out of work), while in hospital care group it was €1071.3 (13.7 days out of work). Home care provides services at lower cost compared to hospital care and contributes in cost containment of public health expenditure.
Enhanced colonic delivery of ciclosporin A self-emulsifying drug delivery system encapsulated in coated minispheres

Abstract Objectives: Investigate the potential of coated minispheres (SmPill®) to enhance localized Ciclosporin A (CsA) delivery to the colon. Methods: CsA self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) were encapsulated into SmPill® minispheres. Varying degrees of coating thickness (low, medium and high) were applied using ethylcellulose and pectin (E:P) polymers. In vitro CsA release was evaluated in simulated gastric and intestinal media. Bioavailability of CsA in vivo following oral administration to pigs of SmPill® minispheres was compared to Neoral® po and Sandimmun® iv in a pig model. CsA concentrations in blood and intestinal tissue were determined by HPLC-UV. Results: In vitro CsA release from coated minispheres decreased with increasing coating thickness. A linear relationship was observed between in vitro CsA release and in vivo bioavailability (r2 = 0.98). CsA concentrations in the proximal, transverse and distal colon were significantly higher following administration of SmPill®, compared to Neoral® po and Sandimmun® iv (p < 0.05). Analysis of transverse colon tissue subsections also revealed significantly higher CsA concentrations in the mucosa and submucosa using SmPill® minispheres (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Modulating E:P coating thickness controls release of CsA from SmPill® minispheres. Coated minispheres limited CsA release in the small intestine and enhanced delivery and uptake in the colon. These findings demonstrate clinical advantages of an oral coated minisphere-enabled CsA formulation in the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine.
In vitro testing of thiolated poly(aspartic acid) from ophthalmic formulation aspects

Abstract Ocular drug delivery formulations must meet anatomical, biopharmaceutical, patient-driven and regulatory requirements. Mucoadhesive polymers can serve as a better alternative to currently available ophthalmic formulations by providing improved bioavailability. If all requirements are addressed, a polymeric formulation resembling the tear film of the eye might be the best solution. The optimum formulation must not have high osmotic activity, should provide appropriate surface tension, pH and refractive index, must be non-toxic and should be transparent and mucoadhesive. We would like to highlight the importance of in vitro polymer testing from a pharmaceutical aspect. We, therefore, carried out physical–chemical investigations to verify the suitability of certain systems for ophthalmic formulations. In this work, in situ gelling, mucoadhesive thiolated poly(aspartic acid)s were tested from ophthalmic formulation aspects. The results of preformulation measurements indicate that these polymers can be used as potential carriers in ophthalmic drug delivery.
Efficacy of terbutaline in familial limb girdle myasthenia: Case report and review of literature

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are frequently misdiagnosed due to their wide clinical heterogeneity. Molecular defects in various end-plate associated proteins are being identified. Better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and genotype-phenotype correlations can help evolve newer therapeutic targets. We present a report of two siblings with familial limb girdle myasthenia who showed significant objective clinical improvement after initiation of terbutaline. The possible mechanism of action and utility of terbutaline in the setting of CMS are described. Terbutaline is a potential treatment option in certain subtypes of CMS refractory to conventional medicines. However, long-term follow-up is required to determine the overall efficacy and safety profile.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of stroke in India versus other developed and developing countries

Rising stroke and higher mortality among Indian population needs focused attention for prevention and early management of stroke. In India, very few studies have been carried out to determine the causes of deficiencies in knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of stroke among Indians. Study on KAP is essential to improve the awareness about stroke, early diagnosis and institution of appropriate management. In this article, we have reviewed the existing literature on this issue and tried to compare it with those of developed countries and suggested the measures we need to adopt in India to improve awareness and knowledge base.
Differentiated Perceived Exertion during Submaximal Exercise in Children and Adults

This study examined overall, leg, and chest ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in 16 children (10.7 ± 0.8 yr) and 16 adults (24.2 ± 1.8 yr) during 16 min of exercise performed at an intensity equal to ventilatory threshold (~64% of VO2max for the children and 61% of VO2max for the adults). Physiological and perceptual responses were measured at 8 and 16 min. RPE in the children ranged from 11.6 ± 2.3 (chest) to 12.6 ± 2.6 (leg) at 8 min, and from 13.3 ± 2.8 (chest) to 15.1 ± 2.9 (leg) at 16 min. In adults, RPE ranged from 10.9 ± 1.9 (chest) to 12.0 ± 1.8 (leg) at 8 min, and from 11.8 ± 2.1 (chest) to 13.3 ± 1.6 (leg) at 16 min. Between groups, RPE tended to be higher and increased more over time in the children compared to the adults (P < .08). RPE at 8 min was less than RPE at 16 min, and overall and leg RPE were greater than chest RPE. Children were able to discriminate sensory information arising from different physiological variables; however, the specific physiological cues underlying the percepti.
Interrelationships between chronic tension-type headache, musculoskeletal pain, and vitamin D deficiency: Is osteomalacia responsible for both headache and musculoskeletal pain?

Background: Headache, musculoskeletal symptoms, and vitamin D deficiency are common in the general population. However, the interrelations between these three have not been delineated in the literature. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied a consecutive series of patients who were diagnosed as having chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and were subjected to the estimation of serum vitamin D levels. The subjects were divided into two groups according to serum 25(OH) D levels as normal (>20 ng/ml) or vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml). Results: We identified 71 such patients. Fifty-two patients (73%) had low serum 25(OH) D (<20 ng/dl). Eighty-three percent patients reported musculoskeletal pain. Fifty-two percent patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for chronic widespread pain. About 50% patients fulfilled the criteria for biochemical osteomalacia. Low serum 25(OH) D level (<20 ng/dl) was significantly associated with headache, musculoskeletal pain, and osteomalacia. Discussion: These suggest that both chronic musculoskeletal pain and chronic headache may be related to vitamin D deficiency. Musculoskeletal pain associated with vitamin D deficiency is usually explained by osteomalacia of bones. Therefore, we speculate a possibility of osteomalacia of the skull for the generation of headache (osteomalacic cephalalgia? ). It further suggests that both musculoskeletal pain and headaches may be the part of the same disease spectrum in a subset of patients with vitamin D deficiency (or osteomalacia), and vitamin D deficiency may be an important cause of secondary CTTH.
Medical curricula and students' attitudes towards general and family practice in Mexico

Summary. In an exploratory study of the influence of different undergraduate curricula on students' attitudes towards general and family medicine, a questionnaire including a Likert attitude scale was administered to a sample of 1217 first‐ and fourth‐year students at five medical schools with different curricula in Mexico City. The preliminary results suggest that the innovative educational programmes have not apparently had a significant impact on students' attitudes. It is hypothesized that students' perceptions of the job market are stronger in determining their attitudes than the orientation of the curriculum itself. It is also suggested that the differences found among the students of the five schools might have been due to differences in the populations entering them. The instrument developed during the study proved to be sufficiently reliable to warrant further use.
Leukemic Stem Cells: A Review

A small subset of cells in a patient with leukemia, termed leukemic stem cells (LSCs) have been shown to be responsible for the proliferation of disease. LSCs are thought to derive from normal hematopoietic stem cells, but are phenotypically distinguishable in that they are CD90–, CD117–, and CD123+. Research in mouse models provides several potential therapeutics to target these cells in human patients. Eliminating LSCs should provide an efficient, potentially curative treatment option for leukemia patients.
Assessments Used in Occupational Therapy Practice: An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore the assessments used in occupational therapy practice through identifying most commonly used assessments and the rationale for their use in different occupational therapy practice areas. The study utilized a nonprobability convenience sample of 260 occupational therapy practitioners attending the American Occupational Therapy Association's annual conference. A descriptive survey research design was used for conducting this study. The survey instrument addressed three major questions related to (a) the area of practice, (b) the specific assessments used, and (c) reasons for using the specific assessments. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the results. Results indicated most of the assessments used in occupational therapy clinics target body structure and function. Assessments were used due to their convenient availability in clinics, clinical utility and standardization, client-centeredness, development by occupational therapists, being taught in school/fieldwork, and being satisfying to insurance companies. Implications for occupational therapy education, practice, and research are presented.
Occupational Therapy Community Practice and Home Assessments: Use of the Home Safety Self-Assessment Tool (HSSAT) to Support Aging in Place

ABSTRACT More than 70 million Americans are expected to be 65 years or older by 2030, with 8.7 million 85 or older. Occupational therapists can provide client and population-centered interventions to promote home safety, functional abilities, and quality of life to support older adults’ desires for independence and to age in place. This includes the use of assistive technology, home modifications, and rehabilitation principles, to design real life solutions to support the needs of older adults. Using case study methodology this paper focuses on the development and pilot-testing of the Home Safety Self-Assessment Tool (HSSAT), a new home assessment, designed for use by older individuals to promote home safety and aging in place. The results suggest the tool may assist older adults in identifying environmental factors that are related to falls and facilitate their ability to age in place.