Pharmacokinetic and Tissue Distribution of Orally Administered Cyclosporine A-Loaded poly(ethylene oxide)-block-Poly(ε-caprolactone) Micelles versus Sandimmune® in Rats

Pharmaceutical Research - We have previously reported on a polymeric micellar formulation of Cyclosporine A (CyA) based on poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO5K-b-PCL13K)...     

Comparative study of the elimination of copper,cadmium, and methylene blue from water by adsorption on the citrus Sinensis peel and its activated carbon

The accumulation of heavy metals and dyes in wastewater is a persistent environmental threat with serious hazards consequences affecting all living organisms. Their removal has become a challenging environmental requirement. Adsorption using agricultural waste is one of the cost-effective removal techniques in which the biomass can be valorized. In this study, two adsorbents were prepared and compared in removing copper, cadmium, and methylene blue from water: citrus Sinensis peel (CP) and its activated carbon (AC). Many physical and chemical properties of the prepared adsorbents were investigated using several techniques. Various operational parameters such as initial adsorbate concentration, contact time, pH, adsorbent mass, and temperature were examined. The optimum uptake of Cd, Cu, and MB was obtained after 2 h contact time by using 0.25 g of adsorbent and 400 mg L⁻¹ metal ions or 100 mg L⁻¹ MB initial concentration at pH 5 (for metal ions only) and temperature of 25 °C. Slight superiority for the CP was seen. Furthermore, isothermal models were resolved in all the studied cases. Unlike for MB, the Langmuir model is more applicable for the adsorption of the cations on both adsorbents with maximum adsorption of 80 mg g⁻¹ of Cd(ii) on CP. Finally, the adsorbents achieved good reuse performance, especially for CP which can be used up to 4 times to remove the metal ions, proving that they are low-cost and environmentally friendly materials able to remove inorganic and organic contaminants from water.

The accumulation of heavy metals and dyes in wastewater is a persistent environmental threat with serious hazards consequences affecting all living organisms. Citrus Sinensis peel and its activated carbon particles effectively remove Cu(ii), Cd(ii), and MB from water.     

The impact of obesity on seminal fluid in men with infertility

Background

Data on the effect of obesity on seminal fluid and men fertility are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on semen characteristics in infertile men.

Peer Reviewed: Addressing the Threat of Chronic Diseases in Oman

Introduction

The overall health status of the Omani population has evolved over the past 4 decades from one dominated by infectious disease to one in which chronic disease poses the main challenge. Along with a marked reduction in the incidence of infectious diseases, improvements in health care and socioeconomic status have resulted in sharp declines in infant and early childhood mortality and dramatic increases in life expectancy.

Methods

Focusing on the time period from 1990 through 2005, we reviewed relevant epidemiological studies and reports and examined socioeconomic indicators to assess the impact of the changing disease profile on Oman''s economy and its health care infrastructure.

Results

Over the next 25 years, the elderly population of Oman will increase 6-fold, and the urbanization rate is expected to reach 86%. Currently, more than 75% of the disease burden in Oman is attributable to noncommunicable diseases, with cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death. The distribution of chronic diseases and related risk factors among the general population is similar to that of industrialized nations: 12% of the population has diabetes, 30% is overweight, 20% is obese, 41% has high cholesterol, and 21% has the metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

Unless reforms are introduced to the current health care system, chronic diseases will constitute a major drain on Oman''s human and financial resources, threatening the advances in health and longevity achieved over the past 4 decades.     

Characterising HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes in the Middle East and North Africa: Systematic review and data synthesis

ABSTRACT

This article reviews HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes in various population groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and highlights their relevance to HIV epidemiology and the design and implementation of preventions and treatment efforts. PubMed and the MENA HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Synthesis Project database of grey/unpublished literature were searched. Levels of knowledge were categorised based on presence of basic knowledge, comprehensive knowledge, and misconceptions and misinformation. Attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) were classified into positive or negative. Basic knowledge was overall high among key populations at higher risk of infection (KPAR), and bridging and general population groups, but still a few population pockets had low basic knowledge. Level of comprehensive knowledge was overall low, and misinformation and misconceptions were prevalent. Some KPAR, including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and female sex workers, were unaware of some modes of HIV transmission. Perception of risk of infection was low even among KPAR. We found differentials in knowledge putting women, rural populations, refugees, and other marginalised minorities at a disadvantage. Attitudes towards PLHIV tended to be negative. These findings are of concern, particularly for KPAR currently experiencing emerging HIV epidemics.     

Role of red blood cells “annexin V” and platelets “P-selectin” in patients with thalassemia

Objective/Background

Certain hemostatic anomalies found in patients with thalassemia suggest the existence of a chronic hypercoagulable state. Several etiologic factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of the hypercoagulable state in those patients. One of these factors is abnormal thalassemic red blood cells (RBCs), which may provide a procoagulant. To substantiate these findings, we measured the ability of RBCs from thalassemia patients to bind annexin V with increased fraction of platelets carrying the activation marker CD62P (P-selectin). To study the expression of RBC annexin V and platelets P-selectin in study patients (those with thalassemia major, thalassemia intermedia, thalassemia minor) and control group, four-color flow cytometry was performed and the correlation between these two markers was evaluated.