Impact of the Preparation Method on the Formulation Properties of Allantoin Hydrogels: Evaluation Using Semi-Solid Control Diagram (SSCD) Principles.

Allantoin possesses numerous beneficial properties for the skin, like anti-irritant effects, wound healing, skin hydration, and epithelization. In this paper, we investigated a suitable preparation method for an allantoin hydrogel using the Semi-Solid Control Diagram (SSCD) method and characterized its rheological and consistency behavior. To accomplish this, xanthan gum (XG) was selected as a model gelling agent. Briefly, four hydrogels were prepared, two without allantoin (coded M01 and M02) and two with allantoin (M1 and M2). Similarly, the formulations were either prepared through magnetic stirring (M01 and M1) or homogenization in a mortar (M02 and M2). The prepared hydrogels were evaluated using the SSCD for specific parameters and indexes. The Good Quality Index (GQI) shows a higher value for the formulation, M1 = 6.27, compared to M2 = 5.45. This result is also underlined by the value of M01 = 6.45, which is higher than M02 = 6.38. Considering the consistency, the formulation M01 possessed the highest spreadability, followed by M02 and then the allantoin hydrogels M1 and M2. The rheological behavior had a thixotropic pseudoplastic flow for all the formulations. The use of SSCD pictographs outlined the rheological properties that need improvement, the method that is suitable to prepare the allantoin hydrogels, and the influence of the allantoin suspended in the XG hydrogel.

Healthcare Service Quality Evaluated Using the Degree of Satisfaction of Patients in Romanian Community Pharmacies.

Community pharmacy has evolved a lot in recent years in terms of pharmaceutical services and marketing policies applied in Romania. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of patient satisfaction in community pharmacies in Iași, Romania correlated with the frequency of returning to the pharmacy, level of education, gender, and stress level at the time when the pharmacist dispenses the medication. A total of 30 community pharmacies were involved, and in a period of three months, they issued questionnaires to patients. 722 patients responded, and to verify the first research hypothesis, the Pearson correlation was applied. Statistical analysis revealed that there is a negative, medium-level, and significant correlation between the level of satisfaction with pharmaceutical services and the frequency of visits to the pharmacy, r = -0.342, p < 0.0001. There is also a significant, negative correlation of low intensity between the level of satisfaction with pharmaceutical services and patient status, r = -0.202, p < 0.0001. The degree of patient satisfaction is influenced by the quality of the basic pharmaceutical service offered, by the frequency of visits to the pharmacy, by the level of stress, and by social class.

The Influence of the Intergranular Superdisintegrant Performance on New Drotaverine Orodispersible Tablet Formulations.

The main objective of this study consists in establishing the influence of the intergranular superdisintegrant on the specific properties of drotaverine hydrochloride fast-dissolving granules (DROT-FDGs) and orodispersible tablets (DROT-ODTs). The orodispersible tablets were obtained by the compression of the FDGs and excipient mixture with an eccentric tableting machine. To develop DROT-ODTs, two types of superdisintegrant excipients in different concentrations (water-soluble soy polysaccharides (SSP) (1%, 5%) and water-insoluble soy polysaccharides-Emcosoy® STS IP (EMCS) (1%, 3%, 5%)) were used, resulting in five formulations (D1-D5). The DROT-FDGs and the DROT-ODTs were subjected to pharmacotechnical and analytical evaluation. All the orodispersible tablets obtained respect the quality requirements in terms of friability (less than 1%), crushing strength (ranging between 52 N for D2 and 125.5 N for D3), and disintegration time (<180 s). The in vitro release of drotaverine from ODTs showed that all formulations presented amounts of active substance released greater than 85% at 10 min. The main objective, developing 30 mg DROT-ODTs for children aged between 6 and 12 years by incorporating the API in FDGs, was successfully achieved.

Oxytocin: Narrative Expert Review of Current Perspectives on the Relationship with Other Neurotransmitters and the Impact on the Main Psychiatric Disorders.

Is a cyclic neuropeptide produced primarily in the hypothalamus and plays an important neuromodulatory role for other neurotransmitter systems, with an impact on behavior, response to danger, stress, and complex social interactions, such as pair bonding and child care. This narrative expert review examines the literature on oxytocin as a brain hormone. We focused on oxytocin structure, distribution, genetics, and the oxytocin receptor system, as well as the relationship of oxytocin with other neurotransmitters and the resulting impacts on the main psychiatric disorders. Oxytocin levels have been correlated over time with mental illness, with numerous studies focusing on oxytocin and the pathophysiology of the main psychiatric disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, personality disorders, mood, and eating disorders. We highlight the role oxytocin plays in improving symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and social behavior, as the literature suggests. Risk factors and causes for psychiatric disorders range from genetic to environmental and social factors. Oxytocin could impact the latter, being linked with other neurotransmitter systems that are responsible for integrating different situations during the development phases of individuals. Also, these systems have an important role in how the body responds to stressors or bonding with others, helping with the creation of social support groups that could speed up recovery in many situations. Oxytocin has the potential to become a key therapeutic agent for future treatment and prevention strategies concerning the main psychiatric disorders.

Development and Evaluation of Cannabidiol Orodispersible Tablets Using a 23-Factorial Design.

Orodispersible tablets (ODTs) are pharmaceutical formulations used to obtain fast therapeutic effects, usually recommended for geriatric and pediatric patients due to their improved compliance, bioavailability, ease of administration, and good palatability. This study aimed to develop ODTs with cannabidiol (CBD) phytocannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa used in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. The tablets were obtained using an eccentric tableting machine and 9 mm punches. To develop CBD ODTs, the following parameters were varied: the Poloxamer 407 concentration (0 and 10%), the type of co-processed excipient (Prosolv® ODT G2-PODTG2 and Prosolv® EasyTab sp-PETsp), and the type of superdisintegrant (Croscarmellose-CCS, and Soy Polysaccharides-Emcosoy®-EMCS), resulting in eleven formulations (O1-O11). The following dependent parameters were evaluated: friability, disintegration time, crushing strength, and the CBD dissolution at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min. The dependent parameters were verified according to European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) requirements. All the tablets obtained were in accordance with quality requirements in terms of friability (less than 1%), and disintegration time (less than 180 s). The crushing strength was between 19 N and 80 N. Regarding the dissolution test, only four formulations exhibited an amount of CBD released higher than 80% at 30 min. Taking into consideration the results obtained and using the Modde 13.1 software, an optimal formulation was developed (O12), which respected the quality criteria chosen (friability 0.23%, crushing strength of 37 N, a disintegration time of 27 s, and the target amount of CBD released in 30 min of 99.3 ± 6%).

Pharmacotechnical and analytical preformulation studies for cannabidiol orodispersible tablets.

Obtaining orodispersible tablets (ODT) containing substances from the second Biopharmaceutical Class has raised concerns as the dissolution test is challenging. This study aimed to select suitable excipients for developing orodispersible tablets containing cannabidiol (CBD) by direct compression method. No similar studies were found in the literature. Excipients from different classes were characterized using the SeDeM-ODT tool: fillers - lactose (LCT) and microcrystalline cellulose (CelMC), sweeteners - sorbitol (SRB) and mannitol (MNT), disintegrants - sodium starch glycolate (SSG), sodium croscarmellose (CCS), soy polysaccharides (Emcosoy® - EMCS) and two co-processed excipients (Prosolv®-ODT G2 - PODTG2 and Prosolv® EasyTab sp - PETsp). Drug compatibility with excipients in binary mixtures (1:1) was verified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Using the SeDeM-ODT expert system, the fillers and the co-processed excipients showed good properties regarding compressibility and disintegration behavior. Also, the DSC and FTIR results showed that small or no interactions between the CBD and the excipients took place.

Development of Dermal Films Containing Miconazole Nitrate.

This study aims to develop new antifungal dermal films based on their mechanical properties (elongation, adhesion, behaviour towards vapour moisture) and the in vitro availability of miconazole nitrate, used as a pharmaceutical active ingredient in various concentrations. The three polymeric films prepared were translucent or shiny, with the surface of 63.585 cm², 0.20⁻0.30 mm thickness, and content of miconazole nitrate of 3.931 or 15.726 mg·cm². The mechanical resistance and elongation tests demonstrated that the two films based on hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) polymer were more elastic than the one prepared with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The vapour water absorption and vapour water loss capacity of the films revealed that the HPMC film did not dry very well in the process of preparation by the evaporation of the solvent technique, unlike the HEC films that jellified more evenly in water and had higher drying capacity at 40 °C. The in vitro availability of miconazole nitrate from dermal films was evaluated using the Franz diffusion cell method, through a synthetic membrane (Ø 25 mm × 0.45 µm) and acceptor media with pH 7.4 (phosphate buffer and sodium lauryl sulphate 0.045%), resulting a release rate of up to 70%.

INFLUENCE OF CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE SODIUM AND LUTROL ON THE SWELLING INDEX AND DISINTEGRATION TIME OF BIOMUCOADHESIVE TABLETS WITH MICONAZOLE NITRATE.

UNLABELLED: PURPOSE. To develop original pharmaceutical formulation with miconazole nitrate, biomucoadhesive tablets, used in antifungal medication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The oral biomucoadhesive tablets with miconazole nitrate were developed by direct compression of the excipient mixture: carboxymethylcellulose sodium and lutrol 6000, excipients used for bioadhesivity, mannitol as a sugar substitute and aerosil as a lubricant. The main goal of the study is to determine the disintegration time and the swelling index of biomucoadhesive tablets with miconazole nitrate in order to estimate the time of contact with mucosa, respectively the prolongation of drug substance release. RESULTS: The swelling index was calculated depending on time in all the 5 formulations that included the carboxymethylcellulose sodium and Lutrol 6000 as matrix-forming, and the studied were time and association ratio between polymers. CONCLUSIONS: Analysing the results, we noticed that out of the four excipients we used, carboxymethylcellulose sodium had the higher influence on the swelling index and disintegration time.

Research studies on in vitro and ex vivo yield of the miconazole nitrate from oral biomucoadhesive tablets.

UNLABELLED: Among the various routes of drug administration, the oral mucosa is perhaps the most often preferred by patients and medical staff. However, oral administration of drugs has disadvantages, which may limit or prevent oral administration of some drugs, especially peptides and proteins, little when they are inserted in special administration systems for the colon. The disaggregation of some oral biomucoadhesive tablets and the in vitro yield of the miconazole nitrate was evaluated and in parallel with this, the evaluation of the in vivo yield of the antifungal from the pharmaceutical form. Thus, for a clear determination of the oral mucobioadhesive tablets' disintegration with miconazole nitrate, it was necessary to implement a method to simulate the conditions of the oral cavity at a flow of solution (artificial saliva) similar to that of the human one. MATERIALS: miconazole nitrate. METHODS: The determination of disintegration time according to method A (FRX); the disaggregation of oral biomucoadhesive tablets with miconazole nitrate by means of simulation methods of in vitro conditions; the quantitative determination of the miconazole nitrate by means of HPLC method, after the in vitro dissolution test; the study of miconazole nitrate's yield in dynamic condition from biomucoadhesive tablets in the presence of artificial saliva (AFNOR). RESULTS: The yield profile of the miconazole nitrate in the disintegration solutions by means of classical method from FR X, by HPLC dosage was researched. The release of miconazole nitrate from the oral mucobioadhesive tablets was determined, that varies in time, depending on the type and relation of matrix forming polymers; a low yield speed of the miconazole nitrate from the tablets was determined; the yield profile of miconazole nitrate in disintegration solutions by means of the new suggested method was researched. CONCLUSIONS: The release of miconazole nitrate from the formulated biomucoadhesive tablets is of swelling and erosion.

Research studies on the quality of bio-mucoadhesive tablets containing miconazole nitrate.

Biomucoadhesive tablets are widely used to formulate topical antifungal drugs for treating acute oral candidiasis. The research focuses on the pharmaco-technological control of certain bio-mucoadhesive tablets containing miconazole nitrate, formulas developed and prepared by the authors based on the original formulas. The analyzed parameters were: macroscopic aspect, physical-chemical (pH) and pharmacotechnical properties (hardness, friability, mass uniformity, in vitro disintegration).The used methods are described in literature, most of them included in the Romanian and European Pharmacopoeia. The obtained results allow us to conclude that of the five original formulas, two (formulas IV and V) meet the criteria for oral mucosa drug by their tolerance (pH 5.77 to 5.84) and retention time (65-90 min.), the intimate contact of the tablet with the oral mucosa determining a high concentration of active substance.

Research on the development of bioadhesive vaginal tablets containing 5-fluorouracil.

Biomucoadhesive vaginal tablets are modern formulations used in current therapy to achieve controlled release of the active substance at the application site by maintaining the pharmaceutical preparation at that level. This can be achieved by using mucoadhesive substances with different mechanical and physical-chemical properties. Two cellulose derivatives of different viscosity, Metolose 90 SH 4000 and Metolose 90 SH 100000, and two types of polyacrylates with different cross linking degrees, Carbopol 71, low degree of cross linking, and Carbopol 974, high degree of cross linking were used. In a previous study twelve original formulations of bioadhesive vaginal tablets containing 100 mg 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/tablet (F1-F12) were formulated, prepared and analyzed. The pharmacotechnical characterization of the bioadhesive vaginal tablets containing 5-FU was performed by determining their specific quality characteristics. For the optimization of formulations, the influence of formulation factors on some quality characteristics (mechanical strength, friability, disintegration time) which may be influenced by the nature and amount of auxiliary substances used was studied by SPSS statistical software and statistical analysis ANOVA tests. The results are in favor of formulations F1, F2 containing 20-30% Carbopol 71 and of 37-47% Microcelac.