The effect of 1-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl) isoquinoline on monoamine release and turnover in the rat frontal cortex

Imidazoline-(2) binding sites (I(2)-BS) are widely distributed in rat brain and our studies have shown that drugs selective for these sites regulate central extrasynaptic monoamine concentrations. Radioligand binding studies have recently shown that BU98008 (1-[4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl] isoquinoline) displays high affinity at I(2)-binding sites. The aim of this study was set to assess the pharmacological actions of BU98008 in a functional in vivo model using the technique of in vivo brain microdialysis. Systemic injection of 20 mg/kg BU98008 produced an 85% rise in extracellular noradrenaline levels compared with basal values in the rat frontal cortex. Further experiments demonstrated that peripheral administration of 10 and 20 mg/kg BU98008 elicited a transient 25% elevation in dopamine overflow compared with basal values and simultaneously produced an 18% decrease in extracellular DOPAC (3-4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) levels compared to basal values. In addition, BU98008 did not appear to affect serotonergic neurotransmission in the frontal cortex. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that BU98008 shares some functional similarities with known selective I(2)-BS ligands.     

Making All Medications Gluten Free

Gluten is found in food containing wheat, rye, and barley, and it may be introduced into medicines through the use of starch or any modified form of starch derived from these grains. The ingestion of gluten poses serious health hazards to people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and they must avoid the oral ingestion of gluten. In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration solicited information and public comments on ‘gluten in drug products.’ However, the ‘final rule’ that the Agency issued in 2013 involved only the voluntary ‘gluten-free’ labeling of food, and it did not include drug products. In this commentary, we are proposing that all drug products can and should be made gluten free. This is especially important since there is currently a global trade in medicines, and patients and health care providers do not know whether a product is gluten free or not unless they are labeled as such. All drug products can be made gluten free as there are many alternatives to gluten-containing starch that can be used as excipients during their formulation. Global collaborative efforts of regulatory agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and excipient manufacturers will be needed to implement a gluten-free medication policy and new regulatory guidelines.     

Formulation of 3D Printed Tablet for Rapid Drug Release by Fused Deposition Modeling: Screening Polymers for Drug Release,Drug-Polymer Miscibility and Printability

The primary aim of this study was to identify pharmaceutically acceptable amorphous polymers for producing 3D printed tablets of a model drug, haloperidol, for rapid release by fused deposition modeling. Filaments for 3D printing were prepared by hot melt extrusion at 150°C with 10% and 20% w/w of haloperidol using Kollidon^® VA64, Kollicoat^® IR, Affinsiol^?15 cP, and HPMCAS either individually or as binary blends (Kollidon^® VA64 + Affinisol^? 15 cP, 1:1; Kollidon^® VA64 + HPMCAS, 1:1). Dissolution of crushed extrudates was studied at pH 2 and 6.8, and formulations demonstrating rapid dissolution rates were then analyzed for drug-polymer, polymer-polymer and drug-polymer-polymer miscibility by film casting. Polymer-polymer (1:1) and drug-polymer-polymer (1:5:5 and 2:5:5) mixtures were found to be miscible. Tablets with 100% and 60% infill were printed using MakerBot printer at 210°C, and dissolution tests of tablets were conducted at pH 2 and 6.8. Extruded filaments of Kollidon^® VA64-Affinisol^? 15 cP mixtures were flexible and had optimum mechanical strength for 3D printing. Tablets containing 10% drug with 60% and 100% infill showed complete drug release at pH 2 in 45 and 120 min, respectively. Relatively high dissolution rates were also observed at pH 6.8. The 1:1-mixture of Kollidon^® VA64 and Affinisol^?15 cP was thus identified as a suitable polymer system for 3D printing and rapid drug release.     

Globale und nationale Strategien gegen Antibiotikaresistenzen

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Die Ausbreitung von Antibiotikaresistenzen wurde in den letzten Jahren zunehmend als Problem im Bereich globale Gesundheit...     

An exploration of parents’ knowledge,attitudes and practices towards the use of antibiotics in childhood upper respiratory tract infections in a tertiary Jordanian Hospital

Objectives

The present study aimed to evaluate the parents' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards the use of antibiotics for childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), at the Jordanian University Hospital.

Congenital massive hiatus hernia type IV; initial experience with laparoscopic repair in young infant

Congenital massive hiatus hernia (CMHH) is an uncommon disorder during childhood. It can be associated with grave complications especially if presented in the highest grade; type IV, when the hernia contains other intra-peritoneal organ beside the stomach through a large hiatus defect. The insidious form of clinical presentation can be deceptive in diagnosis and may mimic congenital diaphragmatic hernia or other chest pathologies. The basic principle of surgical repair is to reduce the herniated organs, excise the hernia sac, and repair the crural defect and to add anti-reflux procedure with or without gastropexy. Traditionally, this has been done by open approach. Nowadays, the minimally invasive approach is the preferred method of treatment. A sixteen-month-old boy with history of recurrent respiratory symptoms was diagnosed with CMHH type IV for which laparoscopic repair was performed. Few reports in using minimally invasive technique in the management of CMHH in the pediatric age group are present in the literature, to the best of our knowledge type IV had never been described in young infants. We present a new case repaired by laparoscope in a young infant with CMHH type IV from the Middle East.