Functionalized (poly(ɛ-caprolactone))₂-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles with grafting nicotinic acid as drug carriers

Nicotinic acid was grafted on (poly(?-caprolactone))₂-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers that were used for the preparation of nanoparticles with the objectives to monitor particle size and to optimize the drug loading capacity as well as the release profile of the particles. Increasing amounts of grafting nicotinic acid increased the particle size as a result of an enhanced hydrophobicity of the copolymer. Ibuprofen and indomethacin with two different molecular characteristics were selected as model drugs to be bound to the nanoparticles. The presence of grafting nicotinic acid enhanced the loading capacity for both drugs compared to the nanoparticles without nicotinic acid. However, no correlation between amount of grafting nicotinic acid and loading capacity was observed. The release characteristic of both drugs was fitted to the Higuchi model indicating Fickian diffusion. The release characteristic of indomethacin mainly depended on the crystalline property of the copolymer whereas that of ibuprofen was additionally influenced by the hydrogen bonding between drug and grafted copolymer.     

Risk factors for acute pulmonary edema after adenotonsillectomy in children

Objective

Adenotonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure in children. Acute pulmonary edema after this procedure is a rare complication but may be fatal. The factors associated with pulmonary edema after adenotonsillectomy were studied.

Methods

All consecutive patients with an age of less than 15 years who underwent adenotonsillectomy at Chiang Mai University Hospital were enrolled. The study period was from January 2004 to December 2008. Clinical factors were retrospectively retrieved from medical records. Factors associated with acute pulmonary edema after adenotonsillectomy were computed using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

There were 216 patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy due to airway obstruction during the study period. Five patients were excluded due to incomplete data. Of those included, 129 patients (61.1%) were male with mean age of 6.6 (SD 3.2) years. Four significant factors associated with the development of post-operative pulmonary edema after the adenotonsillectomy were procedure, age, obesity, and pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusion

Factors associated with acute pulmonary edema after adenotonsillectomy in children were adenotonsillectomy procedure, young age, obesity, or having pulmonary hypertension. Clinicians should be aware of these risk factors while performing adenotonsillectomy in children.     

Low-dose hormone therapy and carbohydrate metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence by two low doses of oral continuous-combined formulations of 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) and norethisterone acetate (NETA) on carbohydrate metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women. DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Volunteers at a university hospital. SUBJECT: One hundred twenty healthy postmenopausal women. INTERVENTION(S): One hundred twenty women were randomized to three treatment arms: (1) E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.25 mg group (n = 40); (2) E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.5 mg group (n = 40); (3) placebo group (n = 40). A total of 102 women completed 12 months of treatment. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, total area under the curve (AUC) and insulin/glucose index during OGTT. RESULT(S): Fasting levels of glucose and insulin declined significantly in the E(2)/NETA 0.5 mg group. At OGTT, the total AUC for insulin declined in both active arms. The curve for glucose increased significantly in the E(2)/NETA 0.25 mg group. A lower insulin/glucose index was observed during OGTT in both active regimens when compared with placebo. In the active treatment groups, a significant reduction of fasting glucose and/or fasting insulin was encountered in women with higher basal fasting levels (fasting glucose >4.2 mmol/L or log-fasting insulin >0.87). CONCLUSION(S): Oral low-dose E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.5 mg regimen did not impair carbohydrate metabolism, but seemed to improve insulin sensitivity in healthy postmenopausal women.     

Treatment of eosinophilic meningitis with a combination of albendazole and corticosteroid

To study the efficacy of the combination of albendazole and prednisolone for the treatment of eosinophilic meningitis, we conducted a pilot study among Thai patients with eosinophilic meningitis. Patients were given a 2-week course of prednisolone, 60 mg/day and albendazole, 15 mg/kg/ day. The primary observation parameter was the number of patients who still had headache after the 2-week course of treatment. Twenty-six patients were enrolled in the study. There were 3 (11.5%) patients who still had headache after the 2-week course of treatment and the median length of time until complete disappearance of headache was 4 days. Serious side effects were not detected. Treatment for 2 weeks with the combination regimen of albendazole and prednisolone is safe and effective for the treatment of eosinophilic meningitis.     

Case report: Dengue hemorrhagic fever with encephalopathy in an adult

Encephalopathy in dengue hemorrhagic fever is a very rare condition and usually occurrs in the febrile stage. We report a 29-year-old woman, who presented with acute fever, thrombocytopenia and positive IgM antibodies for dengue virus. On the fourth hospital day, the fever subsided and she developed a confusional stage. CT scan and MRI of the brain were within normal limits. Electroencephalography (EEG) revealed generalized theta waves. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal. She was treated with supportive treatment. Five days later, she was fully recovered without any neurological deficits. This is a first case of encephalopathy in dengue hemorrhagic fever that developed after the fever subsided.     

Chemical constituents of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyalthia parviflora</Emphasis> stem

From the stem of Polyalthia parviflora, four compounds were isolated, including p-hydroxyphenylethyl p-coumarate (1), p-hydroxyphenylethyl ferulate (2), dehydrodiscretamine (3) and (−)-discretamine (4). Complete ¹H and ¹³C NMR assignments were obtained for 1, 3 and 4 for the first time.     

Novel biflavonoids from the stem bark of Ochna integerrima

Two new biflavonoids, namely, 6'"-hydroxylophirone B (1) and 6'"-hydroxylophirone B 4"'-O-beta-glucoside (2), were isolated from the stem bark of Ochna integerrima, together with five known compounds. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectral data interpretation.