Influence of bone environment on ceramic osteointegration in spinal fusion: comparison of bone-poor and bone-rich sites.

Quantitative experimental data showed differences in bone quality and ceramic incorporation between bone-rich and bone-poor implantation sites. Bone in-growth was significantly lower for ceramic implanted at a lumbar intertransverse than a laminar site. Bone-marrow enrichment of the lumbar intertransverse site (regarded as bone-poor) greatly facilitated ceramic osteointegration. The vertebral interbody site, despite theoretical richness in osteogenic precursor cells, might be bone-poor at the time of grafting as compared to the reference iliac crest site. These data have important clinical implications concerning the potential benefit of enriching both bone-poor and bone-rich sites.

Paracetamol-propyphenazone interaction and formulation difficulties associated with eutectic formation in combination solid dosage forms.

Polymorphic behaviours of paracetamol and propyphenazone and interaction between these two compounds were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR)-spectroscopy. Binary mixtures containing various ratios of the compounds were prepared as physical and fused mixtures and analysed by DSC to study their thermal behaviours. Phase diagrams obtained from the melting endotherms of the binary mixtures demonstrated formation of an eutectic mixture at a paracetamol-propyphenazone combination of about 35:65 (w/w) with an eutectic temperature of 56 degrees C. The FT-IR spectroscopy revealed no chemical interaction due to eutectic formation, and a lower degree of crystallinity of the eutectic mixture than individual substances was observed by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The DSC and X-ray powder diffraction data demonstrated a polymorphic change in propyphenazone as a result of melting of the compound. Tablets, containing both paracetamol and propyphenazone in a combination formulation and prepared using standard wet granulation technology, were found to have physical instability when packed in either polyvinylchloride// aluminium or polyvinylchloride/polyvinyldienechloride// aluminium blisters and stored for one month at 40 degrees C with either 75% relative humidity or without any humidity control. The instability of the tablets was more apparent under the high humidity condition.