Silymarin-Laden PVP-Nanocontainers Prepared Via the Electrospraying Technique for Improved Aqueous Solubility and Dissolution Rate

Abstract The aim of the present research was to develop a silymarin-laden PVP-nanocontainer providing ameliorated aqueous solubility and dissolution of the drug. Several silymarin-laden formulations were formed with varying quantities of PVP and SDS via the solvent evaporation method using the electrospraying technique. The influence of the hydrophilic carriers on solubility and dissolution was explored. The solid-state characterization was carried out by particle-size analysis, PXRD, DSC, FTIR and SEM. All of the formulations demonstrated better solubility and dissolution than did silymarin plain powder. Both the SDS and PVP had positive effects on solubility and dissolution of silymarin in the aqueous media. An increased solubility was attained as the drug/PVP ratio was 1/4; however, further increase in PVP did not provide significant improvement. In particular, a nanocontainer formulation prepared with silymarin, PVP and SDS (1/4/0.5, w/w/w) exhibited the best solubility (26432.76 ± 1749.00 μg/mL) and an excellent dissolution (~92 % in 20 min) than did silymarin plain powder. Also, it demonstrated similar dissolution profiles compared to a commercial product; therefore, might be bioequivalent to the commercial product (f 1 = 3 and f 2 = 69). Moreover, cumulative undersize distribution values as represented by X10, X50 and X90 were 201 ± 21.01 nm, 488 ± 36.05 nm and 392 ± 48.10 nm, respectively. The drug existed in the amorphous state in the PVP-nanocontainers with no strong chemical bonding with other excipients. Thus, this formulation might be used for more effective administration of silymarin via the oral route.

Salivary urea: a marker for chronic renal disease

Background: Salivary urea, correlates well with serum urea, can be utilized as a low-cost, easily accessible and noninvasive diagnostic tool for screening patients in early stages of kidney disease, especially for developing countries with limited resources. Saliva for diagnostic purpose, is inexpensive, non-invasive, easy to collect, use, store and transport, contain high amount of disease biomarkers and shows efficient and reliable results

Objective: To asses and prove the salivary diagnostics as reliable alternate to serum in renal diseases.

Methods: A cross-sectional validation study of 1 year duration from June 2012 to June 2013 was conducted. Non-probability consecutive sampling technique was employed on the patients attending the Nephrology OPD or those who were admitted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi

Results: Significant correlation [.00] was found between the levels of serum and salivary urea and creatinine. A slight increase in the level of serum urea and creatinine results in a significant increase in the level of salivary urea and creatinine. Almost 63.2% and 64.6% of changes in serum urea and creatinine can be explained by the changes in salivary urea and creatinine levels respectively

Conclusion: Saliva can be developed as a diagnostic fluid that is an alternative to blood. It is non invasive, less expensive and collection procedure does not require technicians. The use of salivary assay for diagnostics of chronic renal failure [urea and creatinine] can be established as a cost effective test for developing countries

articular involvement in rheumatoid arthritis - a prospective study

This prospective study was carried out in fifty patients of arthritis fulfilling the inclusion criteria of rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. The study was conducted in the department of medicine, B. V. Hospital, Bahawalpur, during the period from February, 2000 to February 2001. Patients age 20 years were studied regardless of sex. They were admitted through emergency and out patients and diagnosed as cases of RA on the basis of history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. According to this study, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis was 1.05%, most common pattern at onset is insidious occurring in the third and fourth decades of life. Female to male ratio was 2.5:1. Small joints of hands were most commonly involved. Among the deformities, Boutonnier and Swan Neck deformity were found commonly. Most of the patients of RA presented insidiously and have symmetrical polyarticular involvement. This work was performed to study the mode of onset, pattern of joints involved and commonly encountered articular deformities in rheumatoid arthritis

Efficacy of various antiemetics in the control of nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy

To assess the potency and efficacy of various antiemetic agents in the prevention of nausea and vomiting observed in the patients taking various cytotoxic chemotherapy protocols. Prospective comparative study. Department of Surgery, Unit 2 BVH Bahawalpur. Hundred patients with various malignancies taking combined cytotoxic chemotherapy were evaluated for the efficacy and potency of three antiemetic agents, Metoclopramide, Ondansetron and Tropisetron with and without corticosteroids. Sixty-two patients were males and 38 females, aged ranging from 3 to 65 years. Patients received each antiemetic agent during one or more course of chemotherapy for a total of 600 courses administered intravenously exclusively. Each agent was administered as a single intravenous dose slowly before the start of chemotherapy on day 1 or by mouth on subsequent days [median treatment duration: 5 days]. The patients receiving cancer chemotherapy had a 40%, 65% and 70% complete response rate and 10%, 20% and 24% partial response rate respectively for metoclopramide, ondansetron and tropisetron during the first 24 hours period of the first course. We observed drowsiness [six cases], extrapyramidal signs [seven cases] and headache [seventeen cases] of metoclopramide while with ondansetron and tropisetron diarrhea was seen in 5 and 3 cases and headache in 7 and 5 cases respectively as side effects. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are safe, effective, easy to use, has no serious side effects and can be recommended for all age patients. The efficacy of all antiemetics may be enhanced by the addition of corticosteroids, with a more superior edge in 5-HT3 receptors antagonists especially in patients receiving highly emetogenic cytotoxic chemotherapy

Effect of amlodpine on lipid profile

Introduction: Now a days Calcium channel blockers and Beta blockers are widely used for the treatment of essential hypertension. Beta blockers have been observed to increase the serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum LDL cholesterol levels, calcium channel blockers have been noted to have a beneficial effect on lipid profile. Setting: In outpatient clinic of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur Period: From 1[st] Sep 2003 to 31 Mar 2004 [three months]

Material and Methods: Blood pressure, systolic and diastolic, and lipid profile [Serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and serum triglycerides] were investigated in patients receiving Amlodipine therapy. This was a 3 months follow-up study, which was carried on 90 patients. The effects of drugs were assessed at various time intervals. Second generation Calcium channel blocker, Amlodipine, which is widely used for treatment of Hypertension was selected to observe its effect on serum lipid profile in various patients

Results: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 158 mm Hg and 104.4 mm Hg to 122.26 mm Hg and 38.56 mm Hg respectively after 90 days of treatment with Amlodipine. The fall in serum cholesterol level [mg/dl] and LDL-cholesterol [mg/dl] was from 188.13 and 125.40 to 170.76 and 105.7 after respectively after 90 days

Conclusion: Amlodipine significantly reduced blood pressure, decreased the level of serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol but did not affect significantly the HDL cholesterol and serum triglycerides