The effects of carvacrol on oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver function indicators in a systemic inflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats.

The effect of carvacrol (CAR) on oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was explored. The rats (n=40) were daily injected (2 weeks) by saline as control, LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg CAR (i.p.) before LPS. LPS increased aspartate transaminase (AST: 162±13 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT: 74.6±2.15 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-P: 811±51 U/L), interlukine-1ß (IL-1ß: 1254±51 pg/g tissue), malondialdehyde (MDA: 32±1.09 nM/g tissue), and nitric oxide (NO: 224±13.5 nM/g tissue) (P<0.01-P<0.001) while, decreased total protein(4.08±0.38 g/dl), albumin(2.79±0.16 g/dl), thiol (5.16±0.19 µM/g tissue), superoxide dismutase (SOD: 10.57±0.13 U/g tissue), and catalase (CAT: 0.78±0.02 U/g tissue) compared to control (P<0.001). CAR reversed the effects of LPS (P<0.05-P<0.001). In the rats treated by 100 mg/kg CAR, the indicators were as follows: AST: 118±10.1 U/L, ALT: 42.5±4.13 U/L, ALK-P: 597±39.91 U/L, IL-1ß: 494±15 pg/g tissue, and NO: 141±5.35 nM/g tissue. Both 50 and 100 mg/kg CAR corrected oxidative stress indicators and in the group treated by 100 mg/kg CAR, they were: MDA: 23.4±0.91 nM/g tissue, thiol: 7.98±0.18 µM/g tissue, SOD: 21±0.8 U/g tissue, and CAT: 1.12±0.02 U/g tissue(P<0.05-P<0.001). In conclusion, CAR improved liver function, accompanied with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects.

Chitosan gel-embedded moxifloxacin niosomes: An efficient antimicrobial hybrid system for burn infection.

The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize a hybrid system of moxifloxacin loaded niosomes incorporated into chitosan gel as a potential carrier for topical antimicrobial delivery. The prepared system was characterized regarding entrapment efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, in vitro drug release kinetics, morphology, FTIR analysis, bioadhesive strength and rheological behavior. The effect of different formulation parameters (surfactant type, surfactant to drug ratio, cholesterol percentage and loading methodology) on moxifloxacin entrapment and drug release was evaluated. The antibacterial effectiveness of various formulations was also assessed by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentrations, minimal bactericidal concentrations and agar diffusion assay using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus as model pathogens. The optimized niosomal formulation showed 73% drug entrapment, 47% drug release in 8h and was ∼290 nm in particle diameter and negatively charged (ζ∼-23 mV). The gel-embedded niosomes exhibited pseudo-plastic flow behavior and more sustained drug release profile compared to niosomes. The niosomal formulation of moxifloxacin was the most efficient system against P. aeruginosa, while gel based formulations were superior against S. aureus. Taken together, moxifloxacin-in-niosomes-in-gels hold great promise for topical microbial infections.

Lidocaine-Prilocaine Cream as Analgesia for IUD Insertion: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Triple Blinded Study.

INTRODUCTION: Copper IUD is a long term and reversible contraception which equals tubal ligation in terms of sterilization. One of the barriers to using this contraception method is the fear and the pain associated with its insertion. Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) 5% is a local anesthetic that contains 25 mg lidocaine and 25 mg of prilocaine per gram. Application of topical analgesic cream to the cervix for laser surgery, hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingography is known Aims: this study aimed to determine the effect of EMLA on IUD insertion pain. METHODS: This triple blind clinical trial was conducted on 92 women in a clinic in Hamedan in 2012. After applying the cream on the cervix, pain in three steps, after using Tenaculum, after inserting hystrometr and after inserting IUD and removing IUD insertion tube were assessed with visual analog scale and were compared in EMLA group and placebo group Statistical analysis used to determine and compare the pain of independent t tests, Mann-Whitney U test and repeated measures analysis of variance and chi-square tests to determine the homogeneity of variables and Fisher's exact test was used. RESULTS: Insertion hystrometr was determined as the most painful IUD insertion. The mean pain at step 2 (inserting hystrometr) was (3.11±2.53) in EMLA group, (5.23±2.31) in placebo group. EMLA cream significantly reduced the pain after using tenaculum (P<0.001), pain inserting Hystrometr (P< 0.001) and pain at IUD insertion and removing insertion tube (P< 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Topical Application of EMLA 5% cream as a topical anesthetic on the cervix before insertion IUD reduced the pain during this procedure.

The analgesic effect of benzocaine mucoadhesive patches on orthodontic pain caused by elastomeric separators, a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of benzocaine mucoadhesive patches (20%) on orthodontic pain caused by elastomeric separators. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A split-mouth design was used in 30 patients (12 female, 18 male, aged 23 ± 3.75 years). They were instructed to apply benzocaine and placebo patches randomly for right or left first permanent molars of maxillary/mandibular arches for 20 min and repeat this procedure every 6 h with a similar type patch. A 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used for pain perception assessment in patients who were given benzocaine (benzocaine group) or placebo (placebo group) patches. Pain perception (VAS) was recorded immediately after separator placement and after 2, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48 and 72 h. RESULTS: The mean VAS (SD) for the placebo and benzocaine groups were 2.28 (1.08) and 1.63 (0.67), respectively. The pain peaked at 24 h. Significant pain perception differences were observed between groups at 2, 18, 24, 48 and 72 h. Pain perception was not different between genders or jaws investigated (p > 0.05). The Friedman test revealed significant differences in pain perception among various time intervals for benzocaine (χ (2) = 99.84, p = 0.000) and placebo (χ (2) = 102.361, p = 0.000) groups. Significant negative correlations (ρ) were found only between pain perception scores and patient's ages in the placebo group at 18 (-0.438), 24 (-0.526), 48 (-0.565) and 72 h (-0.458). CONCLUSION: The recorded mean VAS values were relatively low; however, the benzocaine 20% patches significantly reduced the post-separation orthodontic pain.

Analysis of oseltamivir in Tamiflu capsules using micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A simple and rapid micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method was developed for the analysis of an antiviral drug, oseltamivir, and its hydrolyzed product in Tamiflu capsules. Background electrolytes consisted of boric acid 10 mM, pH 10, and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) 40 mM. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of oseltamivir were 1.7 and 8.0 microg/ml, respectively. MEKC sweeping in a high electroosmotic flow environment for neutral analytes was also utilized to improve the sensitivity of the assay. In MEKC-sweeping mode, a buffer comprising boric acid 30 mM, pH 10, and SDS 50 mM was used. A 17-fold increase in detection sensitivity was achieved with the MEKC-sweeping method compared with the MEKC mode. Unlike in MEKC, the LOD and LOQ for oseltamivir were 0.1 and 0.3 microg/ml, respectively, using the MEKC-sweeping method. Both methods were successful in determining oseltamivir concentration in its capsule formulation, and the MEKC-sweeping method was capable of determination of the drug at lower concentrations. The hydrolyzed product of oseltamivir (oseltamivir carboxylate) was also detected using the MEKC method. Our observations revealed that the prodrug could be hydrolyzed to the active compound at alkaline pH within ca. 60 min.