Optimizing microneedle arrays to increase skin permeability for transdermal drug delivery.

Improving drug permeability in the skin is one of the most important issues for designing new methods of transdermal drug delivery. Consequently, many techniques have been proposed to effectively deliver drugs across the stratum corneum. The microneedle is a new technology to enhance transdermal delivery of high-molecular-weight drugs.

Optimizing microneedle arrays for transdermal drug delivery: extension to non-square distribution of microneedles.

The technology of fabricating microneedle arrays to deliver high molecular weight drugs across skin in a minimally invasive manner is receiving increasing attention. Microneedle arrays with different geometries have been manufactured using materials such as glass, polymer, metal, etc. However, a framework that can identify the optimum designs of these arrays seems to be lacking.

Modelling transdermal delivery of high molecular weight drugs from microneedle systems.

In the past few years, a number of microneedle designs have been proposed for transdermal drug delivery of high molecular weight drugs. However, most of them do not increase the drug permeability in skin significantly. In other cases, designs developed based on certain criteria (e.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among hypertensive patients attending a primary care clinic in Kuwait.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among hypertensive patients using the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III in a primary care health center in Kuwait.

Subjects And Methods: A population of 250 Kuwaiti hypertensive patients (129 males and 121 females) over the age of 40 were screened for metabolic syndrome by determining body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, levels of fasting plasma glucose and fasting plasma lipids (serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The study was carried out in the Mishref Family Practice Health Center, Kuwait, from January to July 2001.