We develop a suitable delivery system for niaouli essential oil (NEO) using a nanoemulsification method for acne vulgaris. Prepared nanoemulsions (NEs) were characterized for droplet dimension, ...rheology, surface charge, and stability. The ability of NEO formulations against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis was investigated and all formulations showed antiacne potential in vitro. Ex vivo permeation studies indicated significant improvement in drug permeations and steady state flux of all NEO-NEs compared to the neat NEO (p < 0.05). On the basis of the studied pharmaceutical parameters, enhanced ex vivo skin permeation, and marked effect on acne pathogens, formulation NEO-NE4 was found to be the best (oil (NEO; 10% v/v); Kolliphor EL (9.25% v/v), Carbitol (27.75% v/v), and water (53% v/v)). Concisely, the in vitro and ex vivo results revealed that nanoemulsification improved the delivery as well as bioactivities of NEO significantly.
Lung Cancer in Saudi Arabia Jazieh, Abdul Rahman; Algwaiz, Ghada; Alshehri, Salem M. ...
Journal of thoracic oncology,
June 2019, 2019-June, 2019-06-00, 20190601, Letnik:
14, Številka:
6
Journal Article
This review tries to summarize the purpose of steadily developing surface-functionalized nanoparticles for various bio-applications and represents a fascinating and rapidly growing field of research. ...Due to their unique properties-such as novel optical, biodegradable, low-toxicity, biocompatibility, size, and highly catalytic features-these materials are considered superior, and it is thus vital to study these systems in a realistic and meaningful way. However, rapid aggregation, oxidation, and other problems are encountered with functionalized nanoparticles, inhibiting their subsequent utilization. Adequate surface modification of nanoparticles with organic and inorganic compounds results in improved physicochemical properties which can overcome these barriers. This review investigates and discusses the iron oxide nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, platinum nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, and silica-coated nanoparticles and how their unique properties after fabrication allow for their potential use in a wide range of bio-applications such as nano-based imaging, gene delivery, drug loading, and immunoassays. The different groups of nanoparticles and the advantages of surface functionalization and their applications are highlighted here. In recent years, surface-functionalized nanoparticles have become important materials for a broad range of bio-applications.
Treatment of patients with lung cancer during the current COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. Lung cancer is a heterogenous disease with a wide variety of therapeutic options. Oncologists have to ...determine the risks and benefits of modifying the treatment plans of patients especially in situation where the disease biology and treatment are complex. Health care visits carry a risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the similarities of COVID-19 symptoms and lung cancer manifestations represent a dominant problem. Efforts to modify treatment of lung cancer during the current pandemic have been adapted by many healthcare institutes to reduce exposure of lung cancer patients to SARS-CoV-2. We summarized the implications of COVID-19 pandemic on the management of lung cancer from the perspective of different specialties of thoracic oncology multidisciplinary team.
This review aims to assess the application of hypofractionated proton therapy in breast cancer reconstruction, analyzing its advantages, challenges, and broader implications for patient care. The ...goal is to comprehensively understand how this innovative approach can be integrated into breast cancer treatment. Proton therapy exhibits superior target coverage and safety, reducing radiation-induced complications and sparing critical organs, but skin toxicity outcomes differ from photon therapy. Tissue expanders are vital in breast reconstruction, employing innovative planning for positive long-term outcomes and highlighting the importance of balancing cancer treatment effectiveness with cosmetic outcomes. Hypofractionated proton therapy and breast cancer reconstruction present promising innovations with notable advantages in target coverage and organ sparing. However, variations in skin toxicity outcomes and the need for a careful balance between treatment effectiveness and cosmetic outcomes underscore ongoing challenges. Future directions should focus on refining treatment protocols, optimizing patient selection criteria, and integrating emerging technologies to enhance therapeutic outcomes while minimizing adverse effects.
This case report describes the treatment of a recurrent T2 vertebral hemangioma in a 46-year-old man who had prior decompression and fusion surgery. Despite initial stability, the patient developed ...worsening symptoms, leading to a comprehensive approach involving embolization, microscopic excision, and posterior fixation. Recurrence prompted the choice of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) over redo surgery. Administered with 30 Gy in five fractions, SBRT significantly reduced hemangioma size and resolved neurological symptoms. The case highlights the effectiveness of hypofractionated SBRT as a promising intervention for aggressive vertebral hemangiomas.
Conjunctivitis and endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis mostly occurred after ophthalmic surgery. Therefore, the present study aimed to maximize the ocular delivery of ciprofloxacin (CPX) using ...colloidal lipid-based carrier to control the post-surgical infection. In this study, CPX was formulated as ophthalmic liposomal drops. Two different phospholipids in different ratios were utilized, including phosphatidylcholine (PC) and dimyrestoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC). The physiochemical properties of the prepared ophthalmic liposomes were evaluated in terms of particle size, entrapment efficiency, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and cumulative CPX in-vitro release. In addition, the effect of sonication time on particle size and entrapment efficiency of CPX ophthalmic drops was also evaluated. The results revealed that most of the prepared formulations showed particle size in nanometer size range (460-1047 nm) and entrapment efficiency ranging from 36.4-44.7%. The antibacterial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were investigated. Ex vivo antimicrobial effect of promising formulations was carried out against the most common causes of endophthalmitis microorganisms. The pharmacokinetics of the prepared ophthalmic drops were tested in rabbit aqueous humor and compared with commercial CPX ophthalmic drops (Ciloxan
). Observed bacterial suppression was detected in rabbit's eyes conjunctivitis with an optimized formulation A3 compared with the commercial ophthalmic drops. CPX concentration in the aqueous humor was above MIC against tested bacterial strains. The in vivo data revealed that the tested CPX drops showed superiority over the commercial ones with respect to peak aqueous humor concentration, time to reach peak aqueous humor concentration, elimination rate constant, half-life, and relative bioavailability. Based on these results, it was concluded that the prepared ophthalmic formulations significantly enhanced CPX bioavailability compared with the commercial one.
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Malaria is a disease caused by protozoan species of the genus Plasmodium. It is widespread and becoming a challenge in several African countries in the tropical and subtropical ...regions. In 2010, a report was published showing that over 1.2 million death cases were occurred globally due to malaria in just one year. The transmission of the disease from one person to another occurs via the bite of the Anopheles female. It is known that Plasmodium ovale, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. falciparum, and P. knowlesi are the highly infective malaria species. The problem of this disease is the absence of any effective medical treatment or vaccine, making the mosquito control is the only feasible way for disease prevention. Pesticides are currently the most widely used method for mosquito control, despite its well-known negative effects, including health hazards on human, the increasing insecticidal resistance, and the negative impact on the environment and beneficial organisms. Biological control (also called: biocontrol) of insects has been a promising method to overcome the negative effects of using chemical insecticides, as it depends on just using the natural enemies of pests to either minimize their populations or eradicate them. This article provides an overview of the recent and effective biological means to control malaria, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, larvivorous fish, toxorhynchites larva and nematodes. In addition, the importance, advantages, and disadvantages of the biocontrol methods will be discussed in comparison with the traditionally used chemical methods of malaria control with special reference to nanotechnology as a novel method for insects’ control.
STEMI and COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia Daoulah, Amin; Hersi, Ahmad S.; Al-Faifi, Salem M. ...
Current problems in cardiology,
03/2021, Letnik:
46, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impact on health care worldwide which has led to a reduction in all elective admissions and management of patients through virtual care. The purpose of this ...study is to assess changes in STEMI volumes, door to reperfusion, and the time from the onset of symptoms until reperfusion therapy, and in-hospital events between the pre-COVID-19 (PC) and after COVID-19 (AC) period. All acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cases were retrospectively identified from 16 centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 period from January 01 to April 30, 2020. These cases were compared to a pre-COVID period from January 01 to April 30, 2018 and 2019. One thousand seven hundred and eighty-five patients with a mean age 56.3 (SD ± 12.4) years, 88.3% were male. During COVID-19 Pandemic the total STEMI volumes was reduced (28%, n = 500), STEMI volumes for those treated with reperfusion therapy was reduced too (27.6%, n= 450). Door to balloon time < 90 minutes was achieved in (73.1%, no = 307) during 2020. Timing from the onset of symptoms to the balloon of more than 12 hours was higher during 2020 comparing to pre-COVID 19 years (17.2% vs <3%, respectively). There were no differences between the AC and PC period with respect to in-hospital events and the length of hospital stay. There was a reduction in the STEMI volumes during 2020. Our data reflected the standard of care for STEMI patients continued during the COVID-19 pandemic while demonstrating patients delayed presenting to the hospital.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic autoimmune disease that causes disability due to progressive inflammation and destruction of the tissues around the joints. Methotrexate is mainly ...used to prevent the progression of joint destruction and reduce the deformity. The major challenge in treating RA with methotrexate is the systemic side effects that limit dose escalation. Hence, a novel formulation of a methotrexate-loaded nanoemulsion for subcutaneous administration was developed that aims to deliver methotrexate into the system via the lymph. The methotrexate-loaded nanoemulsion was prepared by using the aqueous-titration method. The prepared nanoemulsion was investigated for particle size, surface charge, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, DSC (differential scanning colorimetry), drug release, hemocompatibility assay, and cytotoxicity, as well as anti-arthritic and stability studies. The vesicle size, zeta potential, PDI (polydispersity index), and entrapment efficiency of the optimized nanoemulsion were 87.89 ± 2.86 nm, 35.9 ± 0.73 mV, 0.27, and 87 ± 0.25%, respectively. The DSC study showed that the crystalline methotrexate was converted to an amorphous form and the drug was fully incorporated into the vesicles. After 72 h, the optimized nanoemulsion showed a drug release of 96.77 ± 0.63%, indicating a sustained-release dosage form. Cytocompatibility testing by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay on macrophage cell lines showed that the nanoemulsion was non-toxic. The formulation showed significant anti-arthritic activity compared to the marketed drug solution. In addition, the nanoemulsion containing methotrexate remained stable for three months when stored at a low temperature. Since the nanoemulsion containing methotrexate has excellent physicochemical properties and lowers systemic side effects by targeted delivery, it is a desirable technology for subcutaneous drug delivery.
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