Prediction and Staging of Hepatic Fibrosis in Children with Hepatitis C Virus: A Machine Learning Approach.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to develop an intelligent diagnostic system utilizing machine learning for data cleansing, then build an intelligent model and obtain new cutoff values for APRI (aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio) and FIB-4 (fibrosis score) for the prediction and staging of fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Methods: Random forest (RF) was utilized in this study for data cleansing; then, prediction and staging of fibrosis, APRI and FIB-4 scores and their areas under the ROC curve (AUC) have been obtained on the cleaned dataset. A cohort of 166 Egyptian children with CHC was studied.

Cytokine profiles at birth and the risk of developing severe respiratory distress and chronic lung disease.

Background: Neonates with the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were studied to investigate possible associations between cytokine levels at birth and developing severe RDS or chronic lung disease (CLD).

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples collected within hours of birth from infants with moderate and severe RDS. Twenty infants with moderate RDS and 20 infants with severe RDS were studied.

Bifidobacterium lactis in Treatment of Children with Acute Diarrhea. A Randomized Double Blind Controlled Trial.

Background: Probiotics are becoming increasingly popular treatment for children diarrhea. Although there are several probiotic strains potentially useful, researches were often limited to certain strains.

Aim: To test Bifidobacterium lactis on morbidity of acute diarrhea in children less than 2 years.

Formulation and in vivo evaluation of diclofenac sodium sustained release matrix tablet: effect of compression force.

In the present study, Diclofenac Sodium (DS) matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression method under different compression forces (5, 10, 15 and 20 KN), using ethylcellulose as matrix forming material. The produced tablets were characterized on the foundation of satisfactory tablet properties such as hardness, friability, drug content, weight variations and in vitro drug release rate. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction have been used to investigate any incompatibilities of the tablet's ingredients.

Serum cystatin C is a poor biomarker for diagnosing acute kidney injury in critically-ill children.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is problematic especially in critically-ill patients in whom renal function is in an unsteady state.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the role of serum (S.) cystatin C as an early biomarker of AKI in critically-ill children.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of theophylline matrix tablets prepared by direct compression: Effect of polymer blends.

The deformation mechanism of pharmaceutical powders, used in formulating directly compressed matrix tablets, affects the characteristics of the formed tablets. Three polymers of different deformation mechanisms were tested for their impact on theophylline directly compressed tablets namely Kollidon SR (KL SR, plastic deformation), Ethylcellulose (EC, elastic deformation) and Carnauba wax (CW, brittle deformation) at different compression forces. However, tablets based mainly on KL SR, the plastically deformed polymer (TN1) exhibited the highest hardness values compared to the other formulae which are based on either blends of KL SR with CW, the very brittle deformed polymer.

Influence of polymer blends on the characterization of gliclazide--encapsulated into poly (ε-caprolactone) microparticles.

Gliclazide (GLZ)-loaded microparticles made with a polymeric blend were prepared by a solvent evaporation technique. Organic solutions of two polymers, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and Eudragit RS (E RS) or ethyl cellulose (EC), in different weight ratios, and 33.3% of GLZ were prepared and dropped into aqueous solution of poly vinyl alcohol, in different experimental conditions, achieving drug-loaded microparticles.

Design and development of gliclazide-loaded chitosan microparticles for oral sustained drug delivery: in-vitro/in-vivo evaluation.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to prepare gliclazide-chitosan microparticles with tripolyphosphate by ionic crosslinking.

Methods: Chitosan microparticles were produced by emulsification and ionotropic gelation. The effects of process variables including chitosan concentration, pH of tripolyphosphate solution, glutaraldehyde volume and release modifier agent such as pectin added to the tripolyphosphate crosslinking solution were evaluated.

Design and development of gliclazide-loaded chitosan for oral sustained drug delivery: in vitro/in vivo evaluation.

Gliclazide (GLZ)/Chitosan microparticles were prepared with tripolyphosphate (TPP) by ionic cross-linking. The particle sizes of TPP-chitosan microparticles were in the range 675-887 µm and the loading efficiencies of drug was more than 94.0%.

A new pressure-controlled colon delivery capsule for chronotherapeutic treatment of nocturnal asthma.

The purpose of this study was to prepare a pressure-controlled colon delivery capsule (PCDC) containing theophylline (TPH) dispersion in a lipid matrix as a chronotherapeutic drug delivery system for the treatment of nocturnal asthma. The system was made by film coating using Eudragit S100- based formula over the sealed-hard gelatin capsules containing the drug-lipid dispersion. The lipid formula was composed mainly of Gelucire 33/01 (G33) with different ratios of surfactants (1-10%).

Evaluation of glycofurol-based gel as a new vehicle for topical application of naproxen.

In view of the good skin tolerability, glycofurol was used as a vehicle-based gel, and its effect in the topical penetration of Naproxen (NAP) was investigated. The aims of this study were to develop a suitable gel with bioadhesive property, spreadability, and viscosity for topical anti-inflammatory effect. Three gelling and adhesive agents were examined: Carbopol 974P, Gantrez AN 119, and polyvinylpyrollidone K30.

Enhanced oral bioavailability of etodolac by self-emulsifying systems: in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to prepare a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) for oral bioavailability enhancement of a poorly water-soluble drug, etodolac. The SEDDS formulations were optimized by evaluating their ability to self-emulsify when introduced to an aqueous medium under gentle agitation, and by determination of the particle size of the resulting emulsion.

Methods: An optimized formulation of SEDDS (composed of 20% etodolac, 30% oil Labrafac WL1349, 10% Lauroglycol 90 and 40% Labrasol) was selected for bioavailability assessment in rabbits.

Intelligible support vector machines for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and a major public health challenge worldwide. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently 246 million diabetic people worldwide, and this number is expected to rise to 380 million by 2025. Furthermore, 3.

Magnetically modulated nanosystems: a unique drug-delivery platform.

Magnetic nanoparticles are attractive targets owing to their unique characteristics that are not shared by bulk materials. Magnetic particles, ranging from nanometer-sized to 1 microm in size, are being used in an increasing number of medical applications. The important properties of magnetic particles for medical applications are nontoxicity, biocompatiblilty, injectability and high-level accumulation in the target tissue or organ.

Controlled-release carbamazepine matrix granules and tablets comprising lipophilic and hydrophilic components.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lipophilic (Compritol 888 ATO) and hydrophilic components (combination of HPMC and Avicel) on the release of carbamazepine from granules and corresponding tablet. Wet granulation followed by compression was employed for preparation of granules and tablets. The matrix swelling behavior was investigated.

In vitro and in vivo characteristics of a thermogelling rectal delivery system of etodolac.

Rectal etodolac-Poloxamer gel systems composed of Poloxamer and bioadhesive polymers were developed and evaluated. Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, poly)vinyl) pyrrolidone, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and carbopol were examined as mucoadhesive polymers. The characteristics of the rectal gels differed according to the properties of mucoadhesive polymers.

Controlled-release carbamazepine granules and tablets comprising lipophilic and hydrophilic matrix components.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lipophilic (Compritol 888 ATO) and hydrophilic components (combination of HPMC and Avicel) on the release of carbamazepine from granules and corresponding tablet. Wet granulation followed by compression was employed for preparation of granules and tablets. The matrix swelling behavior was investigated.

Preparation and characterization of spironolactone-loaded gelucire microparticles using spray-drying technique.

The basic objectives of this study were to prepare and characterize solid dispersions of poorly soluble drug spironolactone (SP) using gelucire carriers by spray-drying technique. The properties of the microparticles produced were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy, saturation solubility, encapsulation efficiency, and dissolution studies. The absence of SP peaks in DSC profiles of microparticles suggests the transformation of crystalline SP into an amorphous form.

The influence of various amphiphilic excipients on the physicochemical properties of carbamazepine-loaded microparticles.

The objective of the present study was to prepare multiple-unit formulations of carbamazepine (CBZ) using an emulsion congealing technique. CBZ-hydrogenated castor oil (HCO) (Cutina® HR) wax microparticles were prepared without organic solvents as an alternative to polymeric microparticles. The process involved emulsification and solidification of CBZ-HCO melt at a significantly low temperature (5°C).

Formulation, release characteristics and bioavailability study of oral monolithic matrix tablets containing carbamazepine.

This study examined the release of carbamazepine (CBZ) from hydrophobic (Compritol 888 ATO) and hydrophilic-hydrophobic matrix combination (Compritol 888 ATO-hydroxpropyl methylcellulose, HPMC). Hydrophobic matrix tablets were prepared by hot fusion technique, while hydrophilic-hydrophobic matrix tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique. The properties of the compressed matrix tablets were determined according to the US Pharmacopoeia.

Diclofenac sodium loaded-cellulose acetate butyrate: effect of processing variables on microparticles properties, drug release kinetics and ulcerogenic activity.

The aim of this study was to develop and characterize diclofenac sodium loaded-cellulose acetate butyrate microparticles in order to obtain a controlled-release system. The influence of the type of polymer, the volume and composition of the internal phase, drug loading, surfactant concentration and additive added on microparticles characteristics (particle size, encapsulation efficiency, surface morphology and in vitro release profiles) was studied to optimize the microparticles system. The resultant microparticles were evaluated for the recovery, average particle size, drug loading and incorporation efficiency.

In vitro characterization of carbamazepine-loaded precifac lipospheres.

Lipospheres of carbamazepine were prepared by melt dispersion technique using Precifac ATO 5 in the various drug-lipid ratios. The resulting free-flowing lipospheres were evaluated with respect to surface morphology, particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release behavior. The effect of druglipid ratio, the surfactant added, emulsion stabilizer, and stirring speed also were identified as the key variables affecting the formation of discrete spherical lipospheres and drug release rate.

In vitro performance of carbamazepine loaded to various molecular weights of poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide).

The purpose of this study was to develop and assess the in vitro characteristics of carbamazepine-loaded microspheres. A solvent evaporation method was used to incorporate carbamazepine (CBZ) into poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) with different molecular weights. The optimum conditions for CBZ-PLGA microspheres preparation were considered and the in vitro release of CBZ of PLGA microspheres were followed up to 24 hr in USP dissolution medium.