Effects of polyol and surfactant plasticisers on lyophilised rice starch wafers for buccal drug delivery.

Rice starch is a promising biopolymer for buccal formulations but typical oven drying may promote starch retrogradation that affects mechanical properties. Hence, lyophilisation was proposed here to improve starch product's stability. This study aims to investigate the effects of plasticisers (sorbitol and Tween® 80, T80) on the characteristics and drug release profiles of lyophilised rice starch wafers incorporated with propranolol hydrochloride.

Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-COV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART): findings from national representative sample.

Objectives: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea.

Methods: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics.

A Review of the Paravertebral Block: Benefits and Complications.

Purpose Of Review: Paravertebral nerve blocks (PVB) have experienced a surge over the past 2 decades as improved access to ultrasound has increased ease of performance. The purpose of this review is to identify recent findings with regard to PVB's uses, including benefits, risks, and recommendations.

Recent Findings: PVB is reported as an effective method of analgesia both in intraoperative and postoperative applications, with novel applications showing its potential to replace general anesthesia for certain procedures.

A Breast Cancer Survivor's Self-Controlled Case Report: Methylprednisolone Acetate Provided a Week Longer Analgesia Than Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate via Thoracic Paravertebral Blockade.

Proper perioperative pain control with opioid-sparing techniques that extend into post-discharge arena is desirable yet hard to accomplish in breast cancer patients. We here reported a case where we took advantage of long-acting local anesthetics in conjunction with glucocorticoids of different hydrophilic/lipophilic properties and achieved prolonged analgesia for days after single administration thoracic paravertebral blockade. Further exploration into the potential effects of long-acting glucocorticoids in breast cancer patients through peripheral nerve blockage is warranted.

Investigating detrusor muscle concentrations of oxybutynin after intravesical delivery in an ex vivo porcine model.

Intravesical oxybutynin is highly effective in the treatment of overactive bladder. Traditionally the mechanism of action was explained by antagonism of muscarinic receptors located in the detrusor, however evidence now suggests antimuscarinics may elicit their effect by modifying afferent pathways in the mucosal region. This study aimed to investigate the bladder wall distribution of oxybutynin in an ex vivo setting providing tissue - layer specific concentrations of drug achieved after intravesical delivery.

People with epilepsy are often perceived as violent.

This study explores the possibility that people with epilepsy are commonly and persistently perceived as potentially violent during and between seizures. In 1981 and again in 2006, we assessed responses to a questionnaire that includes vignettes and direct questions about violence in epilepsy. Groups sampled were medical and law students, physicians, child care workers, the general public, and people with epilepsy (n=271 in 1981 and n=388 in 2006).