Characterisation of hydraulic properties of commercial gas diffusion layers: Toray, SGL, MGL, woven carbon cloth.

This study utilises computational fluid dynamics simulations with the OpenFOAM computational framework to investigate and compare the in-plane and through-plane permeability properties of four different gas diffusion layers (GDLs). Also the through-plane water and air relative permeability values and water saturations at different rates were simulated. Permeability analysis enhances our understanding of fluid flow, ways to decrease pressure loss in the GDL, and methods to enhance oxygen concentration at the catalyst layer interface through convection.

Laser-mediated Solutions: Breaking Barriers in Transdermal Drug Delivery.

Skin diseases pose challenges in treatment due to the skin's complex structure and protective functions. Topical drug delivery has emerged as a preferred method for treating these conditions, offering localized therapy with minimal systemic side effects. However, the skin's barrier properties frequently limit topical treatments' efficacy by preventing drug penetration into deeper skin layers.

Exploring Carbonate Rock Dissolution Dynamics and the Influence of Rock Mineralogy in CO Injection.

Understanding geochemical dissolution in porous materials is crucial, especially in applications such as geological CO storage. Accurate estimation of reaction rates enhances predictive modeling in geochemical-flow simulations. Fractured porous media, with distinct transport time scales in fractures and the matrix, raise questions about fracture-matrix interface dissolution rates compared to bulk dissolution rate and the scale-dependency of reaction rate averaging.

Mode of binding, kinetic and thermodynamic properties of a lipid-like drug (Fingolimod) interacting with Human Serum Albumin.

Fingolimod is a drug that is used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It has pH-dependent solubility and low solubility when buffering agents are present. Multi-spectroscopic and molecular modeling methods were used to investigate the molecular mechanism of Fingolimod interaction with human serum albumin (HSA), and the resulting data were fitted to the appropriate models to investigate the molecular mechanism of interaction, binding constant, and thermodynamic properties.

Argan oil as a pretreatment of human hair before exposure to oxidative damage: Attenuated total reflectance and protein loss studies.

Introduction: In recent years, argan oil has gained increasing interest in hair care products. In this study, attenuated total reflectance technique was utilized as a fast method and the results were compared to protein loss measurements in order to show the preventive effect of argan oil pre-treatment on excised human hair after oxidative hair damage.

Methods: Hair tresses were divided into three groups: in group-1; they were damaged using oxidant agent solely, in group-2 and 3; hair were pre-treated with argan oil before undergoing the oxidative damage.

Efficacy and safety of a novel herbal solution for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and comparison with 5% minoxidil: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial study.

FDA-approved drugs for the most common type of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia (AGA), present many side effects and disadvantages. However, herbal compounds are characterized by patient compliance, fewer side effects, and several mechanisms of action. The present study set to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the topical herbal solution and to compare it with 5% minoxidil in men with AGA.

Treatment of oral lichen planus with mucoadhesive mycophenolate mofetil patch: A randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which is known as a premalignant disease. A complete cure has not been found for this condition. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a new drug that seems to be effective in improving OLP lesions.

Comparative physicochemical stability and clinical anti-wrinkle efficacy of transdermal emulgel preparations of 5% sodium ascorbyl phosphate and or ascorbic acid on human volunteers.

Objectives: Antioxidant containing cosmeceuticals are commonly prescribed products in treating wrinkles and revitalizing the skin. The aim of this study was the comparative evaluation of physicochemical stability and clinical anti-wrinkle efficacy of transdermal emulgel preparations of sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) and ascorbic acid (AA) on human volunteers.

Methods: Emulgel preparations containing 5% of (SAP) and or (AA) were prepared.

Design and formulation of nano-porous controlled porosity osmotic pumps (CPOPs) containing a poorly water soluble drug, glibenclamide.

The aim of this study was to design and develop controlled porosity osmotic pumps containing glibenclamide (as an insoluble agent) coated with nano-scale pore formers. Solubility enhancement methods including co-grinding with an anionic surfactant and pH adjustment in core formulation were employed and the prepared cores were coated with nano-suspension coating method. The prepared nano-porous osmotic pump (CPOP) system assessed by comparative parameters including D (cumulative release percentage after 24h), tL (lag time of the drug release from device), drug release rate from device and RSQ.

Enhancement of ketoconazole dissolution rate by the liquisolid technique.

The study was conducted to enhance the dissolution rate of ketoconazole (KCZ) (a poorly water-soluble drug) using the liquisolid technique. Microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silica, PEG400 and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were employed as a carrier, coating substance, nonvolatile solvent and additive in the KCZ liquisolid compact formulation, respectively. The drug-to-PEG400 and carrier-to-coating ratio variations, PVP concentration and aging effects on the in vitro release behavior were assessed.

The efficacy of a Persian herbal formulation on functional bloating: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Bloating is a common gastrointestinal complaint which is difficult to treat.

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy and compliance of a formulation called KAASER comprised of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague seed, Zingiber officinale Roscoe.

Nanocosmetics: benefits and risks.

Various nanomaterials/nanoparticles (NPs) have been used for the development of cosmetic products - a field so-called nanocosmetic formulations. These advanced materials offer some benefits, while their utilization in the cosmetic formulations may be associated with some risks. The main aim of this editorial is to highlight the benefits and risks of the nanomaterials used in the cosmetic products.

Examining polyquaternium polymers deposition on human excised hair fibers.

Background: Polyquaterniums (PQs) as important ingredients of hair products are synthetic cationic polymers and are used in commercial hair volumizers and conditioners.

Methods: Three different grades of polymers including PQ 87, 68, and 46 with various concentrations were used, and their hair deposition efficacy was measured at 5 different pH values using hair diameters measurements by digital micrometer. Deposition durability of polymer layer on the hair surface was tested by a defined washing test.

Liquigroud technique: a new concept for enhancing dissolution rate of glibenclamide by combination of liquisolid and co-grinding technologies.

The potential of combining liquisolid and co-grinding technologies (liquiground technique) was investigated to improve the dissolution rate of a water-insoluble agent (glibenclamide) with formulation-dependent bioavailability. To this end, different formulations of liquisolid tablets with a wide variety of non-volatile solvents contained varied ratios of drug: solvent and dissimilar carriers were prepared, and then their release profiles were evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of size reduction by ball milling on the dissolution behavior of glibenclamide from liquisolid tablets was investigated.

Nano-suspension coating as a technique to modulate the drug release from controlled porosity osmotic pumps for a soluble agent.

In controlled porosity osmotic pumps (CPOP), usually finding a single solvent with a capability to dissolve both film former (hydrophobic) and pore former (hydrophilic) is extremely challenging. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to tackle the issue associated with controlled porosity osmotic pump (CPOP) system using nano-suspension coating method. In the present study 4-Amino pyridine was used as a highly water soluble drug.

Sedative and Analgesic Effects of Propofol-Fentanyl Versus Propofol-Ketamine During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a painful procedure that requires analgesia and sedation.

Objectives: In this study, we compared the analgesic and sedative effects of propofol-ketamine versus propofol-fentanyl in patients undergoing ERCP.

Methods: In this clinical trial, 72 patients, aged 30 - 70 years old, who were candidates for ERCP were randomly divided into two groups.

A comparative histological study on the skin occlusion performance of a cream made of solid lipid nanoparticles and Vaseline.

The water content of the epidermis is a main factor in maintaining skin smoothness and elasticity and preventing skin dryness. Occlusive products can greatly affect skin hydration by forming a barrier on the skin following the topical administration of oil-based formulations. These products repair the skin barrier by restoring the skin lipids as well.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effects of Different Concentrations of Triple Antibiotic Paste on Mature Biofilm of Enterococcus faecalis.

Background and aims. Triple antibiotic paste (TAP) is widely used in endodontics for root canal disinfection, particularly in regenerative procedures. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of different concentrations of TAP at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-week intervals on mature Enterococcus faecalis biofilm.

Enhanced stability and dermal delivery of hydroquinone using solid lipid nanoparticles.

Hydroquinone (HQ), a well-known anti-hyperpigmentation agent suffers from (a) instability due to rapid oxidation, (b) insufficient skin penetration because of hydrophilic structure, and (c) severe side effects as a results of systemic absorption. This study aimed to load HQ into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to overcome the mentioned drawbacks for the efficient treatment of hyperpigmentation. The optimized SLN formulation was prepared by hot melt homogenization method and fully characterized by various techniques.

Liquisolid technology: What it can do for NSAIDs delivery?

Liquisolid technology is also known as powder solution technology and is the technique which deals with the solubility term. This technology has been used to modify the dissolution rate of many drugs. Using this technique, many drugs exhibited enhanced or retarded dissolution rate.

Comparison of the analgesic effect of intravenous paracetamol/midazolam and fentanyl in preparation of patients for colonoscopy: A double blind randomized clinical trial.

Background: Although some patients can tolerate colonoscopy procedure using fentanyl/ midazolam without any sedation and analgesic requirements but some patients may require additional sedation with benzodiazepines. We performed the present study to compare the effect of paracetamol/midazolam with fentanyl/ midazolam.

Methods: In a clinical trial, 96 patients aged 18 to 75 years old, who were candidate for elective colonoscopy assigned consecutively into two groups as paracetamol/midazolam and fentanyl/midazolam.

Histopathological evaluation of caffeine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles in efficient treatment of cellulite.

Context: Cellulite refers to dimpled appearance of the skin, usually located in the thighs and buttocks regions of most adult women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to formulate topically used caffeine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) for the treatment of cellulite.

Methods: SLNs were prepared by hot homogenization technique using Precirol® as lipid phase.

Standardization of Course Plan and Design of Objective Structured Field Examination (OSFE) for the Assessment of Pharm.D. Student's Community Pharmacy Clerkship Skills.

Purpose: This study was aimed to design Objective Structured Field Examination (OSFE) and also standardize the course plan of community pharmacy clerkship at Pharmacy Faculty of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Iran).

Methods: The study was composed of several stages including; evaluation of the old program, standardization and implementation of the new course plan, design and implementation of OSFE, and finally results evaluation.

Results: Lack of a fair final assessment protocol and proper organized educating system in various fields of community pharmacy clerkship skills were assigned as the main weaknesses of the old program.

Effect of solvent type on retardation properties of diltiazem HCl form liquisolid tablets.

Liquisolid technique is a new approach to formulate sustained release dosage forms. It seems that the solubility of an active ingredient in solvent plays an important role in drug release profile. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of solvent type on diltiazem hydrochloride release profile from liquisolid compacts.