Posted by admin on Jan 1, 2013 in |
Transdermal drug delivery is highly advantageous method for drug administration, yet the compact structure of stratum corneum is an effective barrier which limited the use of this route to very few drug molecules. Ultrasound enhances the permeation through the skin by altering this barrier function in a phenomenon named sonophoresis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of variable ultrasonic conditions on the permeation of Metronidazole (ML). This involved validating the applicability of utilizing a three dimensional skin equivalent as human skin models for sonophoresis studies. A Franz diffusion cell was used to study the effect of therapeutic ultrasound at 1 MHz and power ultrasound at 20 KHz on the permeation of Metronidazole across the 3D skin equivalent EpiDerm™. HPLC methods were used for the determination of the concentration of Metronidazole in the receiving compartment. Utilizing therapeutic ultrasound at 1 MHz frequency has enhanced the permeation of Metronidazole through the EpiDerm™, as about double the permeation of the ML was obtained with no apparent damage to the membrane. The...
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Posted by admin on Jan 1, 2013 in |
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In USA three persons out of five will develop some type of cancer. Beyond these statistics of mortality, the morbidity due to cancer presents a real scary picture. Last 50 years of research has rendered some types of cancer curable, but still the major fear factor associated with this disease is unchanged. Animal models are classified according to the method of induction of cancer in the animal. Spontaneous tumor models are the most primitive models. Although these models show good resemblance to the natural disease in humans, they were not capable of keeping pace with developing experimental therapeutics programs. It has therefore been necessary to take a further step towards artificiality, away from the clinical problem in the search for satisfactory testing method. From this step, the journey of artificially induced tumor models started. It is possible to induce cancer reproducibly in animals by exposing them to various agents and now, by transplanting tumor cells or tissue. The development of...
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Posted by admin on Jan 1, 2013 in |
Mental illness constitutes the second-largest disease burden in the United States. Psychosis is one of the most common and severe mental illnesses. It is an extremely devastating condition characterised by delusions, hallucinations, distortion of thoughts and deteriorating social functioning experiences. Psychosis in all human societies has approximately same incidence of occurrence as in accordance to “anthropo-parity principle.” It has large economic impact on various aspects of cognition, health, and quality of life which has devastated effects on its sufferers and facing them large economic burden. Psychosis (Schizophrenia) is associated with an imbalance of the dopaminergic system, entailing hyper-stimulation of dopamine function in the brain, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway. Consequences of antipsychotic treatment are far reaching and expensive. Detrimental extrapyramidal side effects associated with conventional antipsychotics and non-compliance among patients limits long term treatment with conventional antipsychotics. It gives rise to a new class, atypical antipsychotics owning low propensity to cause EPS, efficacy against refractory cases and better control over negative symptoms, better tolerance and compliance along with lower...
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Posted by admin on Jan 1, 2013 in |
The treatment of cancer is limited by a number of factors including the low therapeutic index of most chemotherapeutic agents, the emergence of drug- and radiation-resistant tumor cells, tumor heterogeneity and the presence of metastatic disease. One of the means to improve the therapeutic index of drugs is by selective or ‘targeted’ delivery to tumor sites. Tumor-directed therapy has the potential to improve efficacy, by increasing the intratumoral concentration of the targeted agent, and to minimize toxicity by reducing systemic exposure. So far some degree of site-selective delivery has been achieved only with “targeting homing drugs” that specifically recognize their pharmacological target. The specificity of delivery using nanoparticles was initially a coincidental property, active targeting has now become a central concept in cancer therapeutic research. This concept has been developed into practical application using a variety of tumor targeting ligands. This review briefly summarizes the ever increasing evidence to the use of proteins such as monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), Affibody molecules, albumin, transferrin and peptides such as...
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Posted by admin on Jan 1, 2013 in |
After a laborious and extravagant procedure the drug finally enters the market for use. But who determines the new drug status as a prescription only or an OTC? There is a clear cut contrast between the US and India with respect to their assignment guidelines and the future prospect of a new drug. In the US the regulatory status of the approved drug is determined as per the FDA guidelines (FDCA of 1938) in accordance with the Durham-Humphrey act of 1951 which depicts the criteria required for a pharmaceutical product to be marketed as a prescription drug or an OTC product. CDSCO headed by the DCGI is the authority responsible for determining the regulatory status which acts as per the regulations listed in Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 in India. The US regulatory system stipulates the malleability for the inter conversion of the drugs regulatory status known as “Rx to OTC switch” which is deficient in India. Perfect implementation of regulations in India will promote effective use of...
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