Felodipine is a calcium-channel blocker with low aqueous solubility and bioavailability. Lipid dosage forms are attractive delivery systems for such hydrophobic drug molecules. Nanoemulsion (NE) is one of the popular methods that has been used to solve the dispersibility problems of many drugs. Felodipine was formulated as a NE utilizing oleic acid as an oil phase, tween 80 and tween 60 as surfactants and ethanol as a co-surfactant. Eight formulas were prepared, and different tests were performed to ensure the stability of the NEs, such as particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, dilution test, drug content, viscosity and in-vitro drug release. Results of characterization showed that felodipine nanoemulsion (F3) with (oleic acid 10%) ,(Smix 60% of tween80 :ethanol in a ratio of 3:1), (DDW 30%) was selected as the best formula, since it has a particle size of (17.01)nm, low PDI (0.392), zeta potential (-22.34mV), good dilution without drug precipitation , higher percent of drug content (99.098%) with acceptable viscosity , and complete release of the drug after (45 min.) with significantly higher (P<0.05) dissolution rate in comparison with the pure drug powder. The selected formula (F3) subjected to further investigations as drug and excipient compatibility study by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) The outcomes of the (FTIR) explain that the distinctive peaks for felodipine were not affected by other components and displayed the same functional group's band with very slight shifting. This indicates that there was no interaction between felodipine and other NE components. Therefore, these excipients were found to be compatible with felodipine. In conclusion, the NE was found to be an efficient method to enhance the dispersibility and permeatioins of drugs that have poor water solubility (lipophilic drugs).
Background: Acne vulgaris is one of the top three most commonly encountered dermatological problems worldwide in both primary and secondary care. Human keratinocytes express functional TLR2 heterodimers. An increased expression of TLR2 was detected in the epidermis of inflammatory acne lesions, as observed in normal skin; the expression level increased with the degree of differentiation of the keratinocytes. TLR2 expression is upregulated in inflammatory acne lesions and induced by C. acnes. The current study conducted to assess the oral isotretinion treatment effect on the acne vulgaris patients by evaluated the Toll Like Receptor 2 as a major immune system marker in Acne vulgaris immune re
... Show MoreBackground: While warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are used to manage thromboembolic events, they possess several features that impact adherence. Objective: To assess medication adherence and self-efficacy in patients receiving warfarin or DOAC treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at Ibn Al-Bitar Hospital in Baghdad from December 2022 to May 2023 on patients receiving either warfarin or DOACs. The Arabic version of the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) questionnaire and the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale (SES6C) questionnaire were used to assess adherence and self-efficacy. Results: 181 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 56.9% received warfarin an
... Show MoreBackground: Oral mucositis is regarded as one of the major complications of radiation therapy especially in patients with head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of glutamine in preventing or minimizing the development of mucositis of the oral cavity. Subjects and methods: Forty-six participants were randomly selected amongst those who were planned to receive radiation therapy for head and neck region cancers. They were randomly divided into two groups of 23 subjects, one group received glutamine and the second group received a placebo. Results: Glutamine had a statistically significant effect in reducing the occurrence and/or severity of oral mucositis in the treated patients compared to patients in the con
... Show MoreBackground: Oral pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a clinicopathological entity that could develop due to the reaction to a variety of stimuli, such as low-grade local irritation, traumatic damage, and hormonal stimulation. There are two histopathological types of pyogenic granuloma; lobular type -capillary hemangioma (LCH) and non-lobular type; with PG,LCH has highly vascular, diffuse capillary growth while non- lobular variant mimicking granulation tissue with heavily inflammated stroma. The study aims were to review the clinical and histopathological spectrum of an oral pyogenic granuloma from different intraoral sites in order to avoid diagnostic pitfalls associated with similar morphological lesions and to determine
... Show MoreBackground: Treatment of malocclusions using removable orthodontic appliances may prepare new stagnant areas susceptible for colonization and retention of Candida species, therefore; the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of upper removable orthodontic appliances on the mucosal Candidal count in group of apparently healthy orthodontic patients. Materials and Methods: Patients enrolled in this study were children aged 8-12 years having upper removable orthodontic appliances. Candidal counts at six mucosal sites were estimated using Imprint Culture method before, 14 and 28 days during orthodontic therapy. Results: Whole mouth and individual mucosal sites for Candidal counts increase significantly during treatment with upper remov
... Show MoreBackground:As arelationshipbetween gingivitis disease and the presence of the oral protozoa Trichomonastenax has been represented byconsiderable differences among various study population.The purpose of present study is determining the prevalence of T.tenax in patients with gingivitis and healthy subjects. Subjects,Materials and Methods:The presence of the parasite has been diagnosed with 58 patients withgingivitisand 58 healthy persons during the period of the study(April and May 2015) by taken two swabs for each one,microscopic examination was done using saline wet mount method and stained method. Age, sex and brushing teeth habit were in a count. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS program. Results:Gingivitis disease was observed in 5
... Show MorePsoriasis is a common chronic skin condition characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells into the epidermis and altered keratinocyte differentiation.
In this work, psoriasis was induced by an imiquimod 5% cream, an immune response modifier that can induce psoriasis-like skin inflammation when applied topically in mice. Guggulsterone prepared as a suspension and has been orally given to mice before imiquimod application. The results of the current study showed that guggulsterone suspension can significantly reduce psoriasis area and severity index in (guggul suspension+imiquimod group as compared with both control group and (vehicle suspension+imiquimod ) group.
This study investigates the surgical and thermal effects on oral soft tissues produced by CO2 laser emitting at 10.6 micrometers with three different fluences 490.79, 1226.99 and 1840.4 J/cm2. These effects are specifically; incision depth, incision width and the tissue damage width and depth. The results showed that increasing the fluence and /or the number of beam passes increase the average depths of ablation. Moreover, increasing the fluence and the number of beam passes increase the adjacent tissue damage in width and depth. Surgeons using CO2 laser should avoid multiple pulses of the laser beam over the same area, to avoid unintentional tissue damage.
Humanity is confronted with a growing array of environmental challenges that demand immediate attention and cannot be disregarded. One of the issues the world faces is air pollution, which presents a significant risk to both the environment and human well-being. The capitalist system has a great impact on the exacerbation of air pollution and environmental deterioration. This impact is reflected in Caryl Churchill’s post-apocalyptic play Not Not Not Not Not Enough Oxygen (1971). The play presents a futuristic scenario in which humanity faces grave consequences due to the polluting practices of capitalism and the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. It depicts a future in which environmental degradation drives people
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