Curcumin-loaded cationic solid lipid nanoparticles as a potential platform for the treatment of skin disorders.

Curcumin (CUM) possesses therapeutic activity against diverse skin disorders (SD); however, its clinical use faces many challenges related to physicochemical and bioavailability characteristics, that can be solve designing a new drug delivery system for CUM to treat SD. Cationic solid lipid nanoparticles (CSLN) were developed and physicochemically analyzed. The ingredients and methods adopted in this study promoted the successful preparation of CSLN with a monodispersed particle size of 218.4-238.6 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.156-0.350. A differential scanning calorimetric assay demonstrated that CUM was incorporated. The atomic force microscopy images showed uniform spherical particles, and light scattering technique confirmed the size of the particles. The zeta potential of the CSLN was +23.1 to +30.1 mV, which is important in targeting the drug to the diseased tissue that presents unregulated apoptosis. All formulations behaved as controlled drug delivery systems of CUM, as demonstrated by an in vitro drug release study, which delayed the start of drug release from formulations. At the end of the experiment, the formulations had released 14.74-21.23% of the incorporated CUM. In conclusion, the results suggest the potential of this CSLN as a controlled CUM delivery system for the treatment of SD.

Structural characterization and in vivo evaluation of retinyl palmitate in non-ionic lamellar liquid crystalline system.

Carrier systems for lipophilic drugs, such as the liquid crystalline systems (LCS) have been extensively studied to improve effect and selectivity. Retinyl palmitate (RP) is widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetics products to improve the skin elasticity. The aim of this study was the development, characterization and the in vivo effectiveness of RP in non-ionic LCS structures. LCS containing polyether functional siloxane as oil phase, silicon glycol copolymer as surfactant and water in the ratio 30:10:60, with and without RP were studied. The results of the polarized light microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and rheology analysis indicated the presence of typical LCS structures with lamellar arrangement. Regardless of the presence of RP, the rheological studies showed the pseudo plastic behavior of the systems. However, highest hysteresis area was verified when comparing the system in the presence and in the absence of RP. Stability study SAXS monitored, carried out up to 30 days in various storage temperature conditions (25±2 °C, 37±2 °C and 5±2 °C) demonstrated the great structural stability of the LCS systems. The in vivo effectiveness analysis suggests that the RP-loaded LCS provided a significant reduction of the orbicular wrinkles in human volunteers (P=0.048).

Avaliação da estabilidade físico-química de emulsão acrescida de uréia dispersada, ou não, em propilenoglicol / Evaluation of the physicochemical stability of emulsion containing urea, added directly or premixed in propylene glycol

Normalmente uma formulação pode ser manipulada de diversas maneiras, devendo-se sempre optar pela técnica que forneça o produto mais estável e homogêneo. Alguns farmacêuticos a fim de facilitar e acelerar a manipulação dispersam a uréia em propilenoglicol antes de proceder a homogeneização da mesma no veículo, enquanto outros profissionais acreditam que essa técnica pode ocasionar instabilidade física no produto final e por isso acrescentam o veículo diretamente na uréia. Logo, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o comportamento reológico e a estabilidade física de formulações acrescidas de 10% de uréia manipuladas com, ou sem, a adição de propilenoglicol. Foi realizado o estudo de Estabilidade acelerada, com duração de 180 dias. As formulações foram armazenadas em temperatura ambiente (25ºC±2), geladeira (5ºC±2) e estufa (37ºC±2) e as leituras foram feitas nos tempos 24 horas (T1), 15 dias (T15) e 180 dias (T180), onde foram analisadas as características organolépticas, teste de centrífuga, determinação do pH, viscosidade e comportamento reológico. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo mostraram que a presença do propilenoglicol melhorou a estabilidade física da emulsão acrescida de uréia, a longo prazo.

Normally, an emulsion can be prepared in several ways, the method of choice invariably being the one that provides the most stable and homogeneous product. Some pharmamacists, in order to facilitate and accelerate the manipulation, disperse the urea in propylene glycol before proceeding to its homogenization in the vehicle, while others believe that this method can lead to physical instability in the final product and for that reason they add the vehicle directly to the urea. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the rheological behavior and the physical stability of formulations containing 10% urea, prepared with, or without, the prior addition of propylene glycol to the urea. An accelerated stability test was carried out over a period of 180 days. The formulations were stored at room temperature (25±2ºC), refrigerated (5±2ºC) and incubated at blood temperature (37±2ºC) and assessed after 24 hours (T1), 15 days (T15) and 180 days (T180), when the organoleptical characteristics, pH, viscosity and rheological behavior were recorded, along with data from the centrifuge test. The results showed that premixing the urea in propylene glycol improved the physical stability of the emulsion plus urea, in the long run.

[Pancreatic trauma: a rare but severe event]. / Traumi del pancreas: evenienza rara ma temibile.

INTRODUCTION: High-speed motor vehicle accidents have contributed to an increasing incidence of pancreatic trauma. Early mortality is generally due to associated vascular and other intra-abdominal injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors report their experience on pancreatic trauma. Six cases were treated during the last five years. Isolated pancreatic injury was observed only in one case. Two patients received simple external drainage. Two patients required distal pancreatectomy. One patient was mistreated with ligature of distal pancreatic duct and, postoperatively, developed pseudocyst. One patient, with associated duodenal injury, died. COMMENTS: Serum amylase is often unreliable, whereas abdominal CT scans have the best sensitivity and specificity in detecting pancreatic injury. Abdominal exploration is always recommended in retroperitoneal trauma evaluation; complete pancreas mobilisation is needed to determine the integrity of the major pancreatic duct. Treatment protocols are based on severity of injury: they range from simple drainage to distal pancreatectomy (in presence of distal transection or parenchymal injury with duct injury) and to pancreaticoduodenectomy (in presence of massive injury, devascularisation, destruction of ampulla). Complications are seen in 20 to 35% of patients and the overall mortality secondary to complications ranges from 10 to 20%. Fistulas and pseudocysts are the most common complications.

[Pseudoaneurysm of the peroneal artery caused by a non-penetrating injury]. / Pseudo aneurisma dell'arteria peronea da trauma non penetrante.

The rareness of false arterial aneurysm, a consequence of a non-penetrating injury of a limb, induced the Authors, on the basis of the most recent literature, to review its physiopathologic, clinical and therapeutical aspects, with the purpose to hasten its diagnosis and prevent its complications through the adoption of the most suitable surgical treatment.

[Importance of combined surgical and heparin treatment of peripheral embolism]. / Importanza del trattamento chirurgico ed eparinico combinato nell'embolia periferica.

The authors dwell upon the physiopathologic and diagnostical aspects of the peripheral embolism, and emphasize the effectiveness of the surgical treatment if associated to the anticoagulative one: the valid results obtained should be ascribed to a prompt diagnosis, a stronger surgical aggressiveness and a constant combination of heparinic and surgical therapy.

[Cystic dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts (Caroli's disease)]. / Dilatazione cistica delle vie biliari intraepatiche (morbo di Caroli).

The AA, report two cases of congenital cystic dilation of intrahepatic biliary ducts. They consider the difficulties in diagnosis and show the ways to follow to demonstrate the pathology. They discuss the therapy and point out that resections are necessary, whereas bilio-digestive bypasses are ineffective.

[Epidermoid cyst of the spleen with a picture of acute abdomen]. / Cisti epidermoide della milza con quadro di addome acuto.

A case of epidermoid cyst of the spleen in an 8-yr-old boy presented as acute abdomen secondary to rupture of the cyst. The lesion is classified and the relevant literature surveyed. Particular reference is made to the pathogenetic mechanism responsible for the picture of acute abdomen.