The Preparation and Evaluation of Cyanocobalamin Mucoadhesive Sublingual Tablets.

Cobalamin (vitamin B12), an essential vitamin with low oral bioavailability, plays a vital role in cellular functions. This research aimed to enhance the absorption of vitamin B12 using sublingual mucoadhesive tablets by increasing the residence time of the drug at the administration site. This research involved the preparation of different 50 mg placebo formulas using different methods. Formulas with disintegration times less than one minute and appropriate physical characteristics were incorporated into 1 mg of cyanocobalamin (S1-S20) using the direct compression method. The tablets obtained were evaluated ex vivo for residence time, and only those remaining for >15 min were included. The final formulas (S5, S8, S11, and S20) were evaluated in several ways, including pre- and post-compression, drug content, mucoadhesive strength, dissolution, and Permeapad® permeation test employed in the Franz diffusion cell. After conducting the evaluation, formula S11 (Eudragit L100-55) emerged as the most favorable formulation. It exhibited a mucoadhesive residence time of 118.2 ± 2.89 min, required a detachment force of 26 ± 1 g, maintained a drug content of 99.124 ± 0.001699%, and achieved a 76.85% drug release over 22 h, fitting well with the Peppas-Sahlin kinetic model (R2: 0.9949). This suggests that the drug release process encompasses the Fickian and non-Fickian kinetic mechanisms. Furthermore, Eudragit L100-55 demonstrated the highest permeability, boasting a flux value of 6.387 ± 1.860 µg/h/cm2; over 6 h. These findings indicate that including this polymer in the formulation leads to an improved residence time, which positively impacts bioavailability.

Novel Fusidic Acid Cream Containing Metal Ions and Natural Products against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Drug design and development to overcome antimicrobial resistance continues to be an area of research due to the evolution of microbial resistance mechanisms and the necessity for new treatments. Natural products have been used since the dawn of medicine to heal skin infections. The antimicrobial properties of fusidic acid, zinc sulfate, and copper sulfate have been studied and are well known. Furthermore, these compounds have different mechanisms of action in targeting microorganisms, either by inhibiting protein synthesis or bacterial cell walls. Therefore, their combination is expected to have synergistic activity in killing bacteria. However, the synergistic antimicrobial activity has not been evaluated in a cream formulation. Therefore, the objectives of this in vitro study were to develop and evaluate the synergistic efficacy of fusidic acid in combinations with natural products, including oleuropein, thyme oil, zinc sulfate, and copper sulfate, as a cream to eradicate fusidic-acid-resistant microorganisms in skin infections. METHODS: Three different cream formulations were developed, compared, and labeled F1, F2, and F3. The compounds were studied for their antibacterial activity. In addition, the stability of the cream was investigated at 25 °C and 40 °C in plastic jars over three months. RESULTS: The F2 formula has adequate physicochemical properties. Furthermore, it displays stable and better results than the marketed trade product and has potential inhibition zones (ZOI). Interestingly, considerable numbers (9.5%) of fusidic-acid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (FRSA) isolates possessed a high resistance pattern with MIC ≥ 128 µg/mL. In contrast, most tested FRSA isolates (90.5%) had a low resistance pattern with MIC ≤ 8 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the F2 cream made with fusidic acid, oleuropein, thyme oil, zinc sulfate, and copper sulfate in the right amounts has stable physical and chemical properties and has potential against FRSA as an antimicrobial agent.

Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes 16 and 18 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Jordan

Background: Recently, associations of the human papillomavirus (HPV) with head and neck cancer have become well established. Of particular concern, the severity and pathological outcomes of squamous cell carcinomas are remarkably affected by the genotypes of HPV present in such lesions. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of HPV genotypes, particularly high risk 16 and 18, among oral and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas in Jordan. Methods: During the period of May 2015 to March 2016, we evaluated a total of 108 paraffin-embedded tissue samples, histologically confirmed as SCC, of both oral and laryngeal tumors for the presence of HPV DNA. DNA was extracted using a Zymogen commercial kit. HPV genotypes were detected by nested PCR using consensus primers followed by primer-specific PCR for HPV-16 and HPV-18 genotypes. The genotypes were confirmed by DNA sequencing methods. Results: Sixteen samples were positive for HPV DNA (14.8%) with higher rates in oral tumors compared to their laryngeal counterparts (20% and 6% respectively). The HPV-16 genotype predominated, being detected in 81.3% of the cases as a single infection and in 18.7% in combination with HPV-18. A significant association between the anatomical location and the HPV-16 genotype was observed (p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant associations could be established with tumor grade and gender or age. Conclusions: A relatively high rate of high-risk HPV genotypes, especially HPV 16, is evident in head and neck cancers SCCs in Jordan. Genotyping of HPV might be of considerable value for evaluation of progression.

Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in three different Arab world countries.

Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates in three different Arab world countries (West Bank of Palestine, Jordan, and Iraq) was the aim of the study presented here. This is done on the basis of spa sequencing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing. The majority (92%) of the spa-tested isolates belonged to spa type t932 and possessed the (SCCmec) type III. These data suggest that MRSA clone, which harbors the spa type t932 and (SCCmec) type III, had been transferred throughout the three studied countries.

Determination of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Genes in Gastric Biopsies by PCR.

Aim. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of H. pylori in biopsy specimens from symptomatic patients by PCR. In addition, the rate of cagA, vacA, iceA1, and iceA2 virulence genes was determined. Materials and Methods. One hundred antral gastric biopsy specimens were collected during endoscopy from patients suffering from gastroduodenal symptoms. The samples were collected by the gastroenterologists in their own clinics in Ramallah, Palestine. DNA was extracted from the biopsies and subsequently used for PCR identification of H. pylori and the virulence genes using specific primers. Results. The rate of positive H. pylori in the collected biopsies was 44%. The rates of the virulence genes in this sample: cagA, vacA, iceA1, and iceA2 were 65.9%, 40.9%, 63.6%, and 84.1%, respectively. Conclusion. The iceA2 gene was the most frequent in this study. Much research is necessary to determine the presence of an association of this gene with gastric pathology. Variation in the rates of the iceA gene in different countries is a strong indication of its geographical distribution. This study would provide important information regarding the prevalence of virulence genes (vacA, cagA, iceA1, and iceA2) in H. pylori strains in the sample tested in this country.