Injection Route Research Articles

A Review on Genotoxic and Genoprotective Effects of Biologically Active Compounds of Animal Origin.

Envenomation by animal venoms remains a serious medical and social problem, especially in tropical countries. On the other hand, animal venoms are widely used as a source of biologically active compounds for the development of novel drugs. Numerous derivatives of animal venoms are already used in clinical practice. When analysing the mechanisms of action of animal venoms, attention is usually focused on the main target of the venom's enzymes and peptides such as neurotoxic, cytotoxic or haemorrhagic effects. In the present review, we would like to draw attention to the "hidden" effects of animal venoms and their derivatives in regard to DNA damage and/or protection against DNA damage. Alkaloids and terpenoids isolated from sponges such as avarol, ingenamine G or variolin B manifest the capability to bind DNA in vitro and produce DNA breaks. Trabectidin, isolated from a sea squirt, also binds and damages DNA. A similar action is possible for peptides isolated from bee and wasp venoms such as mastoparan, melectin and melittin. However, DNA lesions produced by the crude venoms of jellyfish, scorpions, spiders and snakes arise as a consequence of cell membrane damage and the subsequent oxidative stress, whereas certain animal venoms or their components produce a genoprotective effect. Current research data point to the possibility of using animal venoms and their components in the development of various potential therapeutic agents; however, before their possible clinical use the route of injection, molecular target, mechanism of action, exact dosage, possible side effects and other fundamental parameters should be further investigated.

Pharmacokinetics of tenvermectin in swine, a novel antiparasitic drug candidate-comparison with ivermectin.

Tenvermectin (TVM) is a novel 16-membered macrolide compound isolated and purified from the fermentation broth of genetically engineered Streptomyces avermitilis strain MHJ1011. TVM and ivermectin were administered at the dose of 0.3mg/kg body weight through a single subcutaneous injection route followed by plasma collectiom and analysis at different time intervals.Plasma concentrations of TVM and IVM were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. Pharmacokinetic analysis was completed using the non-compartmental method with WinNonlin™ 6.4 software. TVM is rapidly absorbed after administration with peak plasma concentrations (Cmax , 9.78 ± 2.34ng/ml) obtained within 6-22h. AUC0-last was 586.86 h·ng/ml ± 121.24 h·ng/ml. The mean elimination half-life of TVM (T1/2λz ) was 97.99h ± 46.41h. The T1/2λz of IVM was 146.59h ± 22.26h in the study. The present study showed that subcutaneous administration of TVM at 0.3mg/kg body weight (BW) in swine is absorbed more rapidly than IVM in swine. Compared to the pharmacokinetic characteristics of IVM, there was little difference in the half-life of TVM among different individuals. The data will contribute to refining the formulation and dosage regime for TVM administration.

Canfieldite Ag8SnS6 nanoparticles with high light absorption coefficient and quantum yield

Canfieldite Ag8SnS6 (STS) nanocubes were prepared by the solution decomposition of precursors using heat-up and hot injection protocols employing coordinating solvents (oleylamine - OLA and dodecanethiol - DT) to afford monodispersed silver tin sulfide (STS) nanoparticles. The phase and shape of nanoparticles were tuned by varying reactants' temperature and mole ratios. The powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis indicate phase pure orthorhombic Ag8SnS6 nanocrystals with nearly monodispersed particles ranging between 12 and 50 nm. The p-XRD patterns for the STS nanoparticles obtained by the heat-up method exhibited enhanced peak broadening than the hot injection route, accounting for the corresponding quantum confinement effects. Likewise, the (124), (227) and (266) planes of the reflections in OLA/DT capped STS crystals appeared well resolved, indicating that seed growth of a transitional Ag2S might be involved in the formation of the ternary chalcogenides. The values of the energy bandgap (Eg) were found in the range of 1.16–2.60 eV. At the same time, the STS nanoparticles exhibited high photon absorption and low quantum yield potentials, making them a possible candidate for photovoltaic cells and enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.

Intestinal epithelium penetration of liraglutide via cholic acid pre-complexation and zein/rhamnolipids nanocomposite delivery

BackgroundOral administration offered a painless way and improved compliance for diabetics. However, the emerging GLP-1 analog peptide drugs for diabetes primarily rely on the injection route, and the development of oral dosage forms was hampered by the low oral bioavailability due to the structural vulnerability to digestive enzymes and molecule impermeability in the gastrointestinal tract.ResultsIn this study, the non-covalent interaction between cholic acid (CA) and liraglutide (LIRA) was found and theoretically explained by molecular docking simulation. Formation of this physical complex of liraglutide and cholic acid (LIRA/CA Complex) reduced the self-aggregation of LIRA and accelerated intestinal epithelium penetration. By the anti-solvent method, LIRA/CA Complex was loaded into zein/rhamnolipids nanoparticles (LIRA/CA@Zein/RLs) with a loading efficiency of 76.8%. LIRA was protected from fast enzymatic degradation by the hydrophobic zein component. Meanwhile, Rhamnolipids, a glycolipid with surface activity, promoted endocytosis while also stabilizing the nanoparticles. The two components worked synergistically to ensure the delivery of LIRA/CA Complex to intestinal villi and improved oral absorption without disrupting tight junctions. LIRA/CA@Zein/RLs demonstrated a considerable intestinal epithelium absorption in mouse gastrointestinal section and a retention in vivo over 24 h, resulting in a significant and long-lasting hypoglycemic effect in Type 2 diabetes mice.ConclusionThis study provided a promising oral delivery approach for LIRA and exhibited the potential for further translation into clinical application.

Role of CsMnCl3 Nanocrystal Structure on Its Luminescence Properties

Cesium manganese chloride (CsMnCl3) nanocrystals (NCs) have recently been recognized as potential lead-free perovskite candidates for red emission. To ascertain how the luminescence properties depend on the NC structures formed under different synthesis conditions, we synthesized CsMnCl3 NCs in two polymorphic structures, namely, cubic (c-CsMnCl3) and rhombohedral (r-CsMnCl3), by tuning the reaction temperature of a hot injection route. c-CsMnCl3 NCs are found to be nonemissive, whereas r-CsMnCl3 NCs exhibit red emission at 670 nm with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 40%. Density functional theory calculations reveal an indirect band gap for c-CsMnCl3─the electronic transitions between valence and conduction band edges are prohibited by orbital symmetry and spin. Conversely, r-CsMnCl3 NCs possess a direct band gap. Further, transient absorption measurements suggest self-trapped exciton formation in r-CsMnCl3 NCs, which contributes to their emission characteristics. Our proof-of-concept demonstration of photocurrent generated from the emitting r-CsMnCl3 NCs indicates their suitability for luminescent solar concentrator applications. The findings of this work highlight the importance of understanding structure-luminescence relationship of emerging lead-free perovskites providing design criteria for red-emitting materials.

Intraperitoneal Injection of Neonatal Mice.

Administration of substances into neonatal mice is required for early treatment with pre-clinical therapeutics, delivery of recombination-inducing substances, and dosing with viruses or toxins, amongst other things. Several injection routes into mouse pups are possible, including intravenous and intracerebroventricular, each with their own advantages and limitations. Here, we describe a simple and rapid protocol for the intraperitoneal injection of neonatal mice for systemic dosing. By detaching a 30-gauge needle from its plastic hub and inserting it into polyethylene tubing attached to a Hamilton syringe, small volumes (1-10 μL) can be accurately injected into the peritoneal cavity of pups aged 1-5 days old. The procedure can be completed within a few minutes, is generally safe and well tolerated by both pups and parents, and can be used in combination with alternative administration routes. Key features • This protocol provides a simple description to rapidly and efficiently inject mouse pups aged 1-5 days for systemic dosing. • Allows treatment of neonatal mice with substances such as viruses and compounds for research across disciplines.

A study of drug utilization pattern, safety, and drug interactions in pediatric intensive care unit at tertiary care hospital

Background: Conducting drug utilization studies are crucial, particularly for pediatric patients, as it helps improve the prescribing patterns and usage of medications in the health-care system. However, there is a scarcity of research on the utilization of drugs in children, making this study an invaluable resource for understanding prescription patterns. Aims and Objectives: Main objectives behind our study were to examine and evaluate such prescription pattern in detail including antibiotics usage and prescription analysis using core drug prescribing indicators given by the World Health Organization (WHO), to evaluate adverse drug reactions that are observed during study and to evaluate drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Materials and Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study of 12-month duration started after intuitional ethical committee approval. Total 450 prescriptions were studied. The study included all patients, regardless of gender, who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Results: Our study found that the average number of drugs per prescription was 4.87. In addition, a high percentage of drugs, specifically 97.39%, were prescribed using their generic names, while 94.84% of drugs prescribed were from the WHO essential drug list for children. Moreover, we observed that in 88.88% of encounters, antibiotics were prescribed and percentage of prescriptions, in which drugs were prescribed through injectable route, was 98.22%. Very minimal amount of adverse drug reaction was seen in patients. In our study, in 75.77% of the prescriptions, DDIs were not found. Conclusion: The study found that generic names of drugs were frequently used, and a high percentage of drugs prescribed were from the WHO essential drug list. However, the study also revealed a high percentage of encounters with antibiotics and injections prescribed. The occurrence of adverse drug reactions was minimal in the study. Moreover, most prescriptions did not exhibit DDIs, indicating appropriate therapeutic management in the PICU.

Pleiotropic Benefits with Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: A Clinical Review

Abstract In the past few years, newer classes of drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus have been discovered and delivered with significant glucose-lowering effect and weight reduction. Among these are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP 1 RAs), a class with the most promising results. However, inconvenience with the use of these agents is being the injectable route of administration. To address the problem, a GLP-1 RA, semaglutide, has been developed that can be administered orally with similar effects to that of injectable (subcutaneous) preparation in terms of efficacy and safety. This article tends to focus on the pleiotropic benefits of GLP-1RAs, as a class, in the management of diabetes and beyond.

Review Artikel : Rute Pemberian Terbaik dari Sistem Penghantaran Obat Menuju Sistem Syaraf Pusat dari Berbagai Rute Pemberian

The development of methods to improve drug delivery for use in life-threatening diseases such as cancer and viral infections is urgently needed. Some drugs that have a drug delivery system to the central nervous system are mostly into active targeted delivery. The central nervous system is related to the human nervous system which is a complex, highly specialized and interconnected network of nerves. The functions of the nervous system include: coordinating, interpreting and controlling the interaction between the individual and the surrounding environment. The purpose of this review article is to find out the best route of drug administration from several routes of administration to get the best injection route, but the optimal route for delivery to the brain may depend on the underlying disease being treated.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ПО ПОЛУЧЕНИЮ И АНАЛИЗУ ДЕТСКОЙ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННОЙ ФОРМЫ С ХЛОРОПИРАМИНА ГИДРОХЛОРИДОМ

Modern tasks of medicine and pharmacy are focused on the search for effective remedies for the treatment of allergic diseases, often accompanied by inflammatory processes. Very often these conditions develop in children in the form allergic dermatoses, allergic rhinitis, etc. The main nomenclature of antiallergic drugs is represented by a group of antihistamines. The classic representative of this group of drugs is chloropyramine hydrochloride, which has good anti-allergic properties. But with oral and injectable routes of administration, it causes a number of undesirable side reactions: drowsiness, vertigo dizziness, increased fatigue and headache. For local therapy of allergic reactions, soft dosage forms are the most convenient both from a pharmacological point of view and from the point of view of ease of use. This is especially true in pediatric practice, since not all children can freely swallow pills, and the injection route of administration causes painful sensations. The compositional compositions of ointments, different in their dispersological characteristics, have been studied: ointment-solution and emulsion-based ointment. As a result of biopharmaceutical studies, it was found that the emulsion base releases chloropyramine hydrochloride most intensively. The composition of the ointment is proposed: chloropyramine hydrochloride 0.2 g; PEO-4000 1.4 g; PEO-400 4.9 g; castor oil 1.0 g; emulsifier No. 1 0.3 g; twin-80 0.1 g; water 2.1 ml. To determine authenticity and quantitative analysis, a spectrophotometric method in the ultraviolet region is recommended, since the chloropyramine hydrochloride solution has maxima at wavelengths of 222, 245 and 307 nm, which allows the absorption spectrum to be used for its qualitative identification. Quantitative analysis data indicate that 0.1 g of ointment contains an average of 0.02000 g of chloropyramine hydrochloride.

Ovarian lavage method as an alternative route for hormonal administration and short-term sperm storage in Clarias gariepinus

Ovarian lavage is a term used to describe the injection of fish with a catheter through the oviduct into the ovary. In this study, the efficacy of this technique was evaluated as a route for hormone administration and sperm preservation in the African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Firstly, the effects of hormone injection routes (namely, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, and ovarian lavage) were evaluated on breeding and haematological parameters. In the second study, the fish's spermatozoa were stored in the ovaries for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days before stripping, sperm activation with freshwater, and fertilization. The breeding performance was then compared with eggs fertilized using spermatozoa refrigerated for the same duration. The study showed that the administration of synthetic hormone (ovaprim®) through the ovaries was comparable to the intramuscular route, while those injected intraperitoneally had the least values (P < 0.05) for breeding performance. The trend of the haematological parameters also suggests the intraperitoneal administration procedure elicited more stress compared to intramuscular or ovarian lavage routes (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, the use of sperm stored in the ovaries or refrigerated for 24hr didn't affect (P > 0.05) the fertilization (92–93%) and hatching (81–83%) of the eggs when compared to the control (91% and 82%). Beyond this 24hr threshold, breeding performances were significantly reduced in the ovarian lavage treatments compared to those fertilized with refrigerated sperm (P < 0.05). The loss of fertilizing capacity observed herein was justified by the reduction in sperm quality over time (P < 0.05). It was concluded that ovarian lavage is a viable route for hormonal administration and 24hr sperm storage in C. gariepinus.

Reinforcement Learning Based Vocal Fold Localization in Preoperative Neck CT for Injection Laryngoplasty

Transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty is a well-known procedure for treating a paralyzed vocal fold by injecting augmentation material to it. Hence, vocal fold localization plays a vital role in the preoperative planning, as the fold location is required to determine the optimal injection route. In this communication, we propose a mirror environment based reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm for localizing the right and left vocal folds in preoperative neck CT. RL-based methods commonly showed noteworthy outcomes in general anatomic landmark localization problems in recent years. However, such methods suggest training individual agents for localizing each fold, although the right and left vocal folds are located in close proximity and have high feature-similarity. Utilizing the lateral symmetry between the right and left vocal folds, the proposed mirror environment allows for a single agent for localizing both folds by treating the left fold as a flipped version of the right fold. Thus, localization of both folds can be trained using a single training session that utilizes the inter-fold correlation and avoids redundant feature learning. Experiments with 120 CT volumes showed improved localization performance and training efficiency of the proposed method compared with the standard RL method.

Study of The Use of Antibiotics in Meningoencephalitis Patients at Dr. Soetomo Hospital in 2019—2020

Background: Encephalitic meningitis became the 17th ranked disease in Indonesia in 2007, with a mortality proportion of 0.8%. Every patient with suspected encephalitic meningitis needs to be given antibiotics as empiric therapy while waiting for the results of the culture from the lumbar puncture. In fact, the administration of these antibiotics cannot be separated from the risk of resistance, so monitoring and evaluation is needed in administering antibiotics to patients to prevent resistance. This study aims to determine patient profiles, patterns, and appropriateness of antibiotic use in meningitis and/or encephalitis patients at RSUD DR. SOETOMO in 2019— 2020. This is a retrospective observational descriptive study with a total of 82 medical records in patients diagnosed with meningitis and/or encephalitis who were given antibiotics as empiric therapy at RSUD DR. SOETOMO in 2019— 2020. The age of the patients from the 82 data obtained varies quite a bit, but the final elderly aged 56-65 years had the highest number, namely 16 of 82 patients (20%). Then, the sex of the most patients was found in male sex with a total of 49 of 82 with a ratio of men and women was 3:2. Most of the patients final conditions were found in the final condition of death with a total of 42 of 82 patients (51%). All of the antibiotics used were Ceftriaxone by injection route in 12-hour intervals. The most frequently used dose was 2 grams (89%), and the most frequently used duration was 7 days (21%). The results of the Gyssen method analysis showed that there were 78 (95%) I category, 1 (1%) IIIa, and 3 (4%) IIIb. DDD per 100 days of hospitalization in this study was 66.2 DDD/100 days of hospitalization. The majority of meningitis and/or encephalitis patients had a final elderly age of 56-65 years, were male, and died in the final condition. Empiric antibiotics were used entirely with Ceftriaxone intravenously at 12 hourly intervals. Most of the antibiotics are given within 7 days and the dose is 2 grams. The results of the analysis found that 95% of the use of antibiotics was already appropriate.

Injectable Nano Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer, with 2.26 million cases and 685,000 deaths recorded in 2020. If left untreated, this deadly disease can metastasize to distant organs, which is the reason behind its incurability and related deaths. Currently, conventional therapies are used to treat breast cancer, but they have numerous shortcomings such as low bioavailability, short circulation time, and off-target toxicity. To address these challenges, nanomedicines are preferred and are being extensively investigated for breast cancer treatment. Nanomedicines are novel drug delivery systems that can improve drug stability, aqueous solubility, blood circulation time, controlled release, and targeted delivery at the tumoral site and enhance therapeutic safety and effectiveness. Nanoparticles (NPs) can be administered through different routes. Although the injectable route is less preferred than the oral route for drug administration, it has its advantages: it helps tailor drugs with targeted moiety, boosts payload, avoids first-pass metabolism, and improves the pharmacokinetic parameters of the active pharmaceutical ingredients. Targeted delivery of nanomedicine, closer to organelles such as the mitochondria and nuclei in breast cancer, reduces the dosage requirements and the toxic effects of chemotherapeutics. This review aims to provide the current status of the recent advances in various injectable nanomedicines for targeted treatment of breast cancer.

Comparison of the Transdermal and Intravenous Administration of Buprenorphine in the Management of Intra- and Postoperative Pain in Dogs Undergoing a Unilateral Mastectomy.

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transdermal patches of buprenorphine as an alternative route for the management of perioperative pain in dogs undergoing a unilateral mastectomy. Our hypothesis was that the transdermal route would allow the obtainment of an analgesic plan comparable to that of the injectable administration. Twelve dogs were divided in two groups. In the BupreP group (six dogs), buprenorphine patches were applied 40 h before the start of the surgery, guaranteeing a dosage of 5-6 μg/kg/h. In the BupreI group (six dogs), 20 μg/kg of buprenorphine was administered intravenously 30 min before the induction of anesthesia, and this was repeated every 6 h for 24 h. The main physiological parameters, sedation scores (0 = no sedation; 11 = deep sedation), and pain scores were monitored from 30 min before the surgery to 24 h after the end of anesthesia. All p values &lt; 0.05 were defined as statistically significant. Thirty minutes before the surgery, the sedation scores were higher in BupreI (score = 10) compared to the BupreP group (score = 1). Moreover, during the mastectomy, the mean arterial pressure significantly increased in both groups even if nobody required additional analgesia. In the postoperative period, the pain scores did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups, maintaining values below the pain threshold at all times of the study. In conclusion, the transdermal administration of buprenorphine could guarantee an analgesic quality equal to that of the injectable route.

Modified DNA vaccine confers improved humoral immune response and effective virus protection against SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a global pandemic. New technologies have been utilized to develop several types of vaccines to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including mRNA vaccines. Our group previously developed an effective DNA-based vaccine. However, emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), such as the delta variant, have escaped mutations against vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies. This suggests that modified vaccines accommodating VOCs need to be developed promptly. Here, we first modified the current DNA vaccine to enhance antigenicity. Compared with the parental DNA vaccine, the modified version (GP∆-DNA vaccine) induced rapid antibody production. Next, we updated the GP∆-DNA vaccine to spike glycoprotein of the delta variant (GP∆-delta DNA vaccine) and compared the efficacy of different injection routes, namely intramuscular injection using a needle and syringe and intradermal injection using a pyro-drive jet injector (PJI). We found that the levels of neutralizing antibodies induced by the intradermal PJI injection were higher than intramuscular injection. Furthermore, the PJI-injected GP∆-delta DNA vaccine effectively protected human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) knock-in mice from delta-variant infection. These results indicate that the improved DNA vaccine was effective against emerging VOCs and was a potential DNA vaccine platform for future VOCs or global pandemics.

Subcutaneous injection of a bortezomib-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel for the treatment of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is incurable as one of the most common hematologic malignancies. Bortezomib (BTZ) is a first-in-class reversible proteasome inhibitor in the clinic for the treatment of MM. BTZ was initially approved for the administrator by only the intravenous injection route in 2003. Then, subcutaneous administration was approved in the US and EU in 2012 in addition to the intravenous injection route. The rates and severity of peripheral neuropathy were significantly lower than those of intravenous injection administration. Injectable thermosensitive hydrogels are a potential drug delivery system for controlled release. But it is difficult to achieve the aim of local therapy of MM. A subcutaneous delivery system for a long time may be a potential therapy method due to the subcutaneous administration of BTZ. Here, we designed a BTZ-loaded injectable hydrogel system to sustain drug release for a period of days. It could lower the side effects, enhance the therapeutic effect, and reduce the injection time.

Comparison between Weekly Intravenous Versus Daily Oral Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia [Courage-12]: A Randomized, Open Label, Single Centre Study

Introduction: The prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic Vitamin B12 deficiency is 47% in North India. The treatment for Vitamin B12 deficiency is either injectable or oral Vitamin B12 supplementation. Intramuscular VB12 is given as multiple doses of once daily or alternate day Vitamin B12 injections based on the general consensus. However, in hematology, we commonly use intravenous Vitamin B12 instead of intramuscular since most patients are thrombocytopenic. Many hematologists favor the oral route over injectable route. There are no definitive guidelines on the use of intravenous Vitamin B12 (VB12). Direct comparison of intravenous to oral VB12 has not been carried out till date. Hence, we decided to explore weekly dosing of intravenous VB12 in Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and compare it with oral VB12 supplementation. It would be essential to seek evidence for the most effective route for the treatment of Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate Vitamin B12 level at 5 weeks from the start of therapy and the delta change in Vitamin B12 level in both weekly intravenous and oral VB12 arms. Post-therapy improvement in signs and symptoms, Hemoglobin (Hb), MCV (in fl) response were the secondary objectives. Methodology: This was a prospective, randomized, open-label, interventional pilot study comparing daily oral versus weekly intravenous Vitamin B12 replacement at a tertiary care center between May 2020 to December 2021. Patients with anemia (for age and gender) and a pre-therapy vitamin B12 levels below 250 pg/ml were enrolled in the study. The participants were randomized using blocks of 2, 4 and 6 randomly generated by the software. The allocation concealment was done using sequentially numbered, opaque sealed envelopes (SNOSE) and monitored by the central coordinator. The participants in weekly intravenous arm received VB12 1000mcg intravenous (IV) once a week for 4 weeks whereas daily oral arm received oral VB12 1500mcg once a day for 4 weeks. All participants received 5mg Folic acid tablet orally once a day. The pre-specified baseline as well as post-therapy investigations were carried out. The statistical analysis was done as planned. Results: Overall, majority of the participants were females (64.8%) and the a median age was 32 years (Q1-Q3, 21 to 52). The most common presenting symptoms were easy fatiguability (48%), hairfall (37%), and parasthesia (19%). On comparing the two groups, the pre-therapy mean Vitamin B12 level in the oral VB12 and weekly IV VB12 group was 157 ± 66 pg/ml and 173 ± 55 pg/ml (p=0.59) respectively and post-therapy mean Vitamin B12 level was 870 ± 348 and 1273 ± 511 (p=0.02) respectively. The post therapy VB12 level was statistically significant in weekly IV VB12 group, though the delta change in vitamin B12 level was not significant among the groups. The baseline hemoglobin in oral VB12 and weekly IV VB12 groups was 10.9 ± 1.3 g/dl and 10.5 ± 2.1 g/dl (p=0.5) respectively and the post-therapy Hb was 12.1 ± 1.3 g/dl and 12.3 ± 1.1 g/dl (p=0.7) respectively. The mean change in Hb was not significant on comparison between the two groups (p=0.65). The pre-therapy MCV in the oral VB12 group and weekly IV VB12 group was 86.5 ± 9.5 fl and 88.1 ± 17.9 fl (p=0.5) whereas post-therapy MCV was 83.1 ± 9.5 fl and 83.2 ±10.7 fl (p=0.9) respectively. Conclusion: Normalization of vitamin B12 level was seen with both oral and intravenous vitamin B12, however, the weekly intravenous supplementation showed a statistically significant increase in vitamin B12 level than daily oral supplementation. Considering that the IV route provided a faster increase in vitamin B12 level, it could be a better option in patients with severe vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Intramuscular [18F]F-FDG Administration for Successful PET Imaging of Golden Hamsters in a Maximum Containment Laboratory Setting.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is becoming an important tool for the investigation of emerging infectious diseases in animal models. Usually, PET imaging is performed after intravenous (IV) radiotracer administration. However, IV injections are difficult to perform in some small animals, such as golden hamsters. This challenge is particularly evident in longitudinal imaging studies, and even more so in maximum containment settings used to study high-consequence pathogens. We propose the use of intramuscular (IM) administration of 2-deoxy-2[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]F-FDG) for PET imaging of hamsters in a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory setting. After [18F]F-FDG administration via IM or IV (through surgically implanted vascular access ports), eight hamsters underwent static or dynamic PET scans. Time-activity curves (TACs) and standardized uptake values (SUVs) in major regions of interest (ROIs) were used to compare the two injection routes. Immediately after injection, TACs differed between the two routes. At 60 min post-injection, [18F]F-FDG activity for both routes reached a plateau in most ROIs except the brain, with higher accumulation in the liver, lungs, brain, and nasal cavities observed in the IM group. IM delivery of [18F]F-FDG is an easy, safe, and reliable alternative for longitudinal PET imaging of hamsters in a BSL-4 laboratory setting.

Localized topical drug delivery systems for skin cancer: Current approaches and future prospects

Topical drug delivery presents a novel substitute to the conventional drug-distribution routes of oral delivery and injection. Apart from the simplicity and non-invasiveness, the skin also serves as a “reservoir” that sustains administration over a period of days. Nanocarriers provide new potential for the treatment of skin disease. The skin’s barrier function offers a considerable obstacle for the potential nanocarriers to infiltrate into the tissue. However, the barrier is partially weakened in case of damage or inflammation, as in the case of skin cancer. Nanoparticles may promote the penetration of the skin. Extensive research has been done into producing nanoparticles for topical distribution; nevertheless, relatively little progress has been achieved in transferring them to the clinic for treating skin malignancies. The prior art features the critical concepts of skin malignancies and techniques in current clinical care. The present review gives a complete viewpoint of the numerous nanoparticle technologies studied for the topical treatment of skin malignancies and outlines the hurdles that hamper its advancement from the bench to the bedside. The review also intends to give knowledge of the routes that control nanoparticle penetration into the skin and their interactions inside the tissue.