Review of ocular drug delivery

Successful treatment of eye diseases requires effective concentration of drug at the eye for sufficient period of time. Conventional ocular drug delivery including eye drops, systemic administration, ophthalmic ointments, is no longer sufficient to combat ocular diseases. This article reviews the constraints with conventional ocular therapy, and explores various novel approaches, to improve the ocular bioavailability of drugs to the anterior chamber of the eye.     

Flavonoid glycosides from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus armeniaca</Emphasis> and the antibacterial activity of a crude extract

Investigations on the chemical constituents of the fruits of Prunus armeniaca have led to the isolation of two new flavonoid glycosides, 4',5,7-trihydroxy flavone-7-O-[beta-D-mannopyranosyl (1'-->2")]-beta-D-allopyranoside (1) and 3,4',5,7-tetrahydroxy-3',5'-di-methoxy flavone 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1'-->6")]-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2), from the butanolic fraction of the fruits. The butanolic extract exhibited antibacterial activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The structures of these compounds were elucidated through spectral studies, including 2D-NMR (COSY, NOESY, J-resolved), HMQC and HMBC experiments.     

Status of terpenes as skin penetration enhancers

Since its introduction, transdermal drug delivery has promised much but, in some respects has still to deliver on that initial promise, due to inherent limitations imposed by the percutaneous route. The greatest obstacle for transdermal delivery is the barrier property of the stratum corneum. Many approaches have been employed to breach the skin barrier, of which, the most widely used one is that of chemical penetration enhancers. Of the penetration enhancers, terpenes are arguably the most highly advanced and proven category and are classified as generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration. This paper presents an overview of the investigations on the feasibility and application of terpenes as sorption promoters for improved delivery of drugs through skin.     

Disparities in the Management of Patients With Stage I Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC): A Surveillance,Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Analysis

Introduction

Patients with stage I small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) are candidates for surgery; however, not much is known regarding the utilization of surgical resection in the management of stage I SCLC and the factors that determine the patient's ability to receive surgery.

Clinical trials in New Zealand: Progress,people, and policies

Competition for clinical trial projects outsourced by the global pharmaceutical industry is increasing with more countries bidding to provide these services. A comprehensive review of the clinical trial landscape in New Zealand was conducted by analysing clinical trial applications, and interviewing senior industry representatives on their expertise, capabilities, knowledge management, and innovative behaviours, as well as the policies and factors that had influenced the development of the industry. The number of clinical trial application approvals increased from 33 in 1989/1990 to 113 in 2008/2009 indicating continued confidence of the pharmaceutical industry in placing clinical research projects in New Zealand. Much of this growth has been due to an increasing number of phase I and II trials as a result of the availability of new purpose‐built facilities. The sponsors of clinical trials in New Zealand have changed from predominantly representatives of the pharmaceutical industry to mainly local and overseas CROs. The industry representatives are very experienced with the range of capabilities expected for clinical trials. They prefer informal sources of knowledge acquisition and display innovative behaviours such as solving problems that cause others difficulty, teamwork, and project planning. A large number of factors have encouraged the clinical trials industry in New Zealand including quality sites and data, the western healthcare system, the high incidence of some diseases, and seasonal opposition to Europe and the United States. Respondents suggested policies and strategies to address the increasing threat from global competition. New Zealand has developed significant expertise in clinical research but it should continue to monitor its industry to ensure continued growth. Drug Dev Res 72: 299–304, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Compaction Characteristics and Permeability of Expansive Shale Stabilized with Locally Produced Waste Materials

Waste is available in an abundant form and goes to landfill without any use, creating threats to the environment. Recent and past studies have used different types of waste to stabilize soil and reduce environmental impacts. However, there is a lack of studies on the combined use of marble dust, rice-husk ash, and saw dust in expansive shale soil. The current study tries to overcome such a gap in the literature, studying the effect of marble dust, rice-husk ash, and saw dust on expansive shale’s compaction characteristics and permeability properties. According to unified soil classification and the AAHTO classification system, the geotechnical properties of natural soil are classified as clay of high plasticity (CH) and A-7-5. Several tests are performed in the laboratory to investigate the compaction characteristics and permeability properties of expansive shale. Moreover, permeability apparatus is used to investigate the permeability properties of soil. In addition, due to the accuracy of the apparatus, the conventional apparatus has been partly modified. The experimental results show that the addition of waste to the soil has significantly improved soil stabilization, increasing permeability and decreasing plasticity indexes. In addition, there is a gradual decrease in the dry density of soil and an increase in the permeability of stabilized soil. Based on the outcomes of the current study, it claims and concludes that these waste materials can be used as soil stabilizers or modifiers, instead of being dumped in landfill, which will provide a green, friendly, and sustainable environment. The current study recommends that future researchers use various wastes in the concrete and soil to improve their compaction and mechanical properties.     

Use of Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT to confirm portal vein tumor thrombosis in a patient with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

A 37-year-old man complained of increasing severity and frequency of abdominal pain over a 2-year period. Initial contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated diffuse enlargement of the pancreas associated with a filling defect in the portal vein, splenomegaly with wedge-shaped peripheral splenic hypodensities and multiple hepatic hypodensities. Findings were suggestive of a pancreatic malignancy complicated by hepatic metastases, splenic infarcts, and portal vein thrombosis. We describe the use of gallium-68 DOTA-DPhe1, Tyr3-octreotate positron emission tomography/computed tomography (Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT) in confirming the diagnosis of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with portal vein tumor thrombosis.