Onychomycosis in qassim region of saudi arabia: a clinicoaetiologic correlation.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is mainly caused by dermatophytes, but yeasts and nondermatophyte molds have also been implicated, giving rise to diverse clinical presentations. The aetiological agents of the disease may show geographic variation. AIM: The aim of the present study was to isolate the causative pathogens and to correlate the various clinical patterns of onychomycosis with causative pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 170 patients with clinical suspicion of onychomycosis. Nail samples were collected for direct microscopic examination and culture. Clinical patterns were noted and correlated with causative pathogens. RESULTS: Out of total 170 cases included in the study, 140 (82.4%) were positive by microscopy and 77 (45.3%) showed positive mycological findings by both microscopy and culture. The male: female ratio was 1:2.5 and the mean age was 35.29 ± 16.47 years. Fingernails were involved in 51.9%, toenails in 28.6% and both fingernails and toenails in 19.5% of the 77 patients. The clinical types noted were distal lateral subungual onychomycosis (71.4%), proximal subungual onychomycosis (10.4%), total dystrophic onychomycosis (10.4%), superficial white onychomycosis (3.9%) and mixed pattern onychomycosis (3.9%). Yeasts were the most common pathogens isolated, being found in 36 patients (46.8%) followed by nondermatophyte molds which were isolated from 28 patients (36.4%) followed by dermatophytes which were isolated from 13 patients (16.9%). CONCLUSION: Distal lateral subungual onychomycosis was the most common clinical presentation. Candida albicans, Aspergillus species and Tricophyton rubrum were the major pathogens. A single pathogen can give rise to more than one clinical type.

Depression among a group of elders in Alexandria, Egypt.

Depression is projected to be the leading cause of disease burden in older populations by the year 2020. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence depression among a group of elders in Alexandria, Egypt and compare the characteristic of elders in 3 different settings. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 100 people aged 60+ years in a government elderly home, an internal medicine ward in Alexandria Main University Hospital and a slum area in Alexandria. Based on the Geriatric Depression Scale (short form) the highest prevalence of scores that were suggestive or indicative of depression was among elders who were hospitalized (79.0%), had ophthalmic diseases (85.7%) or tumours (80.0%), had 2+ chronic morbidities (64.9%), were taking 4+ medications daily (83,3%), were more physically dependent and had 2+ hospital admissions in the last 3 years (90.9%). Modifiable factors that impact on depression need to be considered in developing interventions for improving mood states in the elderly.

Depression among a group of elders in Alexandria, Egypt

Depression is projected to be the leading cause of disease burden in older populations by the year 2020. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence depression among a group of elders in Alexandria, Egypt and compare the characteristic of elders in 3 different settings. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 100 people aged 60+ years in a government elderly home, an internal medicine ward in Alexandria Main University Hospital and a slum area In Alexandria. Based on the Geriatric Depression Scale [short form] the highest prevalence of scores that were suggestive or indicative of depression was among elders who were hospitalized [79.0%], had ophthalmic diseases [85.7%] or tumours [80.0%], had 2+ chronic morbidities [64.9%], were taking 4+ medications daily [83/3%], were more physically dependent and had had 2+ hospital admissions in the last 3 years [90.9%]. Modifiable factors that impact on depression need to be considered in developing interventions for improving mood states in the elderly

Biopharmaceutical evaluation of formulated metformin/rosiglitazone tablets.

The study aimed to combine two antidiabetic agents with different mechanisms of action, namely, metformin HCl and rosiglitazone maleate, in a tablet to improve glycemic control in patients with type II diabetes. The preformulation study started with development and validation of an HPLC method for the determination of both drugs in the mixture. The results of visual inspection, TLC, DSC, and FT-IR verified the absence of any physical or chemical interaction between both compounds. Four compatible excipients were selected for the formulation of the tablets by wet granulation according to a 2(2) factorial design. The prepared tablet blends were acceptable in terms of the modal size of particle distribution, bulk density, Hausner's ratio, Carr's index, and flowability. All formulations fulfilled the pharmacopoeial specifications for weight variation, content uniformity, friability, and hardness. They released 100% of the drug during the first 45 min, displaying higher dissolution efficiency than commercially available Rosiplus tablets. The tablet formulation that passed the physical and chemical stability study for 24 months at ambient conditions was tested in vivo on healthy volunteers in a cross-over design. Statistical analysis proved that the prepared tablets were bioequivalent to the commercial ones in terms of both the rate and the extent of absorption.

A novel liquid effervescent floating delivery system for sustained drug delivery.

An effervescent floating liquid formulation with in situ gelling properties has been assessed for its potential for sustaining drug delivery and targeting. The formulation consisted of sodium alginate and glyceryl monooleate (GMO). The developed formulation met all pre-requisites to become an in situ gelling floating system and it gelled and floated instantaneously in the pH conditions of the stomach. Moreover, the gels formed in situ remained intact for more than 48 h to facilitate sustained release of drugs. Increasing the mannuronic acid ratio of sodium alginate and the GMO concentration significantly retarded the release rate and extent. The in vitro release of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs from the prepared formulations followed root-time kinetics during the sustained release period. Replacing the free drug with drug encapsulated microspheres enabled tailoring of the release profile and achieved zero-order release kinetics. The system retained its appearance and rheological properties for 12 months at ambient conditions. The values of the similarity factor Sd proved the absence of any significant difference in the release profile upon storage.