Ileal Neuroendocrine Tumor With Bilateral Breast and Ovarian Metastases: Findings on 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT Scan.

Metastasis to the breast is a rare occurrence and constitutes less than 2% of all breast tumors. Similarly, ovarian metastases from neuroendocrine tumors are also uncommon, and if the adnexal masses are bilateral, then the chances of it being metastatic rather than being primary range from 88% to 94%. We present a case of 61-year-old woman who in the course of workup for abdominal pain and diarrhea was eventually diagnosed as ileal neuroendocrine tumor with breast, ovarian, and lymph nodal metastases on Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT scan.

68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT in Medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma, also known as cerebellar primitive neuroectodermal tumor, is the most common brain tumor in children and arises in the posterior cranial fossa. We present the case of a patient with desmoplastic type of medulloblastoma, which showed recurrence more than once. When Ga-DOTANOC PET-CT was done, the lesions showed somatostatin receptor expression, opening another potential therapeutic option for this patient.

Bioavailability Enhancement of Rizatriptan Benzoate by Oral Disintegrating Strip: In vitro and In vivo Evaluation.

Oral disintegrating strips containing rizatriptan benzoate, a selective 5-hydroxy tryptamine receptor agonist with anti migraine property, was developed using polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate and hydroxyl propyl methylcellulose as the base materials. The analytical and bioanalytical methods were developed and validated using HPLC (PDA and flouroscence detectors). The dissolution study performed on the strips revealed that all the five formulations, release the drug within eight minutes. Under ICH accelerated stability conditions, strips were stable at 40°C and 75% humidity for eight weeks. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic properties of oral strip were compared with rizatriptan benzoate marketed tablet. Oral disintegrating strip and tablet showed significantly higher bioavailability. Oral strip exhibited better pharmacokinetic parameters than rizatriptan marketed tablet. The Tmax, Cmax, AUC and t1/2 for oral strip were found to be 1.00 h, 64.13±19.46 ng/mL, 352.00±71.57 ng/mL/h and 3.09±1.03 h respectively, whereas, tablet showed 1.5 h, 38.00±13.43 ng/mL, 210.38± 40.37ng/mL/h and 1.66±0.31 h respectively. These findings confirm that the rizatriptan benzoate oral disintegrating strip is potentially a useful tool for an effective treatment of migraine with improved bioavailability, rapid onset of action and with increased patient compliance.

Protective effects of Phyllanthus amarus aqueous extract against renal oxidative stress in Streptozotocin -induced diabetic rats.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we have evaluated the antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus (PAAEt) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PAAEt was administered at 200 mg/kg body weight/day to normal treated (NT-group) and STZ-induced diabetic treated rats (DT-group) by gavage for eight weeks. During the experimental period, blood was collected from fasted rats at 10 days intervals and plasma glucose level was estimated. The plasma lipid profile was estimated at the end of experimental period. After the treatment, period kidney lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein oxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH) were estimated and antioxidant enzymes viz., glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also assayed. RESULTS: The significant decrease in the body weight, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats (D-group) were rectified with PAAEt treatment in diabetic treated group (DT-group). D-group rats showed increased renal oxidative stress with increased LPO and protein oxidation. DT-group showed a significant decrease in renal LPO, protein oxidation and a significant increase in GSH content and GR, GPx and GST activities when compared with D-group. The activities of SOD and CAT decreased significantly in D-group, but were normalized in DT-group. Normal rats treated with PAAEt (NT-rats) showed a significant decrease in lipid profile, renal LPO and protein oxidation, with significant increase in renal GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes compared to normal rats (N-group). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that PAAEt with its antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties could be a potential herbal medicine in treating diabetes and renal problems.

Chronotherapeutic drug delivery for early morning surge in blood pressure: a programmable delivery system.

The purpose of the study was to develop pulsatile capsule dosage form of valsartan for controlled delivery. In the majority of individuals blood pressure rises in the early morning hours, which lead to serious cardiovascular complications. Formulations with constant/programmable delivery rates make it possible to deliver drug at definite time or controlled rate in chronopharmacokinetic studies. The prepared system contained swellable polymer (l-hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC), xanthan gum, polyethylene oxide or sodium alginate) together with drug tablet and erodible tablet (L-HPC or guar gum) in a pre-coated capsule. Various formulation factors were investigated through series of tests, in vitro dissolution and ex vivo continuous dissolution-absorption studies. We found that the type, amount of polymers and erodible tablet influenced the drug release. The formulation containing 200 mg sodium alginate and erodible tablet (150 mg) containing 50% guar gum and 46% lactose showed 5-6 h lag time and 10+/-2.1% drug release in initial 6 h following rapid release (99+/-1.7% release in 12 h) of drug was observed. The continuous dissolution-absorption study conducted using everted rat intestinal segment indicated delay in absorption of drug. Thus this approach can provide a useful means for timed release of valsartan and may be helpful for patients with morning surge.