Niosomes : A novel trend in drug delivery.

Niosomes are a novel drug delivery system, in which the medication is encapsulated in a vesicle. Niosomes are formations of vesicles by hydrating mixture of cholesterol and nonionic surfactants. Different novel approaches used for delivering these drugs include liposomes,microspheres, nanotechnology, micro emulsions, antibody loaded drug delivery, magnetic microcapsules, implantable pumps and niosomes. Niosomes and liposomes are equiactive in drug delivery potential and both increase drug efficacy as compared with that of free drug. Niosomes are now widely studied as an alternative to liposomes . They improve the therapeutic performance of the drug molecules by delayed clearance from the circulation, protecting the drug from biological environment and restricting effects to target cells. The application of niosomal technology is widely used to treat a number of diseases.

Colonic Strictures after Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Infants: Case Series.

The fate of neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis is variable, with colonic strictures being one rare phenomenon after the insult. We describe here two infants with colonic strictures, which developed secondary to neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Infants recovered or in the process of recovery after it should be investigated for possibility of development of colonic strictures.

Childhood Intussusception: A Prospective Institutional Study at BPKIHS.

Introduction: Intussusception is the commonest cause of bowel obstruction in infancy and childhood. The present study deals with the presentation, management and outcome of children presenting with intussusception at the Department of Surgery, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven children presenting at Department of Surgery, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences over a 5-year period were prospectively studied. Results: There were 27 (58.6%) males and 20 (41.4%) females, with male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. The ages ranged from 2 months to 13 years, with a median age of 30 months. The mean duration of presentation was 10.7 ± 30.66 days (range 1-180 days). The triad of abdominal pain, bloody mucoid stools and palpable abdominal mass was seen in 10 (21%) of the cases. Surgical exploration was done in 42 (89.3%) patients. The commonest lead point was non-specific hyperplastic lymph nodes, occurring in 22 (54.3%), followed by idiopathic variety (16.6%), Meckel’s diverticulum (9.5%), ileocaecal junction (7.1%), submucous lipoma (4.7%), Non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (4.7%), appendix (2.3%) and a mucosal polyp (2.3%). Overall mortality rate was 6.3%. Conclusion: The presenting age group and the time of presentation are higher than other studies. The mortality rate of 6.3% is comparable to other studies in the developing world. Earlier presentation could have avoided surgery, with a higher possibility of cases being managed conservatively.