: The aim of the present study was to develop lactose-free formulations of rivaroxaban, a novel oral anticoagulant used for the treatment and prevention of blood clotting. As a BCS Class II drug, rivaroxaban is characterized by poor solubility in aqueous media, posing a significant formulation challenge. : To address this, phosphate-based excipients were employed to prepare both traditional single-unit dosage forms (tablets) and modern multiple-unit pellet systems (MUPS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnkle sprains are the most frequently occurring musculoskeletal injuries among recreational athletes. Ankle support through bandages following the initial orthotic treatment might be beneficial for rehabilitation purposes. However, the literature is sparse regarding the use of an ankle support directly after the acute phase of an ankle sprain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate whether impaired plantar cutaneous vibration perception contributes to axial motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and whether anti-parkinsonian medication and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) show different effects.
Methods: Three groups were evaluated: PD patients in the medication "on" state (PD-MED), PD patients in the medication "on" state and additionally "on" STN-DBS (PD-MED-DBS), as well as healthy subjects (HS) as reference. Motor performance was analyzed using a pressure distribution platform.
Tableting of biomolecules is a challenging formulation phase due to their sensitivity to various process parameters, such as compression pressure, process dynamics, or the temperature generated. In the present study, pancreatin was employed as a model enzyme mixture, which was formulated in tablet form utilizing the synergistic effects of brittle and plastic excipients (dibasic calcium phosphate and microcrystalline cellulose, respectively). The effect of varying compaction pressure and lubricant concentration on the generated temperature and enzymatic activity was evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSprinkle formulations represent an interesting concept of medicinal products aimed at the steadily growing population of patients suffering from swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). In the present work, immediate-release sprinkle MUPS (multiple-unit pellet system) containing rosuvastatin calcium as a model drug substance was successfully developed. The formulation was prepared by drug layering technique using novel calcium phosphate-based starting pellets (PharSQ Spheres CM) of three different particle sizes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContinuous manufacturing is becoming the new technological standard in the pharmaceutical industry. In this work, a twin-screw processor was employed for the continuous production of liquisolid tablets containing either simethicone or a combination of simethicone with loperamide hydrochloride. Both active ingredients present major technological challenges, as simethicone is a liquid, oily substance, and loperamide hydrochloride was used in a very small amount (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Postural instability is one of the most restricting motor symptoms for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). While medication therapy only shows minor effects, it is still unclear whether medication in conjunction with deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) improves postural stability. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate whether PD patients treated with medication in conjunction with STN-DBS have superior postural control compared to patients treated with medication alone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDirect compression (DC) is the simplest and most economical way to produce pharmaceutical tablets. Ideally, it consists of only two steps: dry blending of a drug substance(s) with excipients followed by compressing the powder mixture into tablets. In this study, immediate-release film-coated tablets containing either Sitagliptin phosphate or Sitagliptin hydrochloride were developed using DC technique.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReliable and stable tablet formulations for rosuvastatin calcium (RSC) in four strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg have been developed. Rosuvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering statin drug and is known to be unstable during storage. The possibility of its stabilization with inorganic salts of multivalent metals has already been reported in the literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCalcium phosphate-based pharmaceutical excipients, including calcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous and dihydrate, calcium hydroxide phosphate have been well established in pharmaceutical technology for a very long time. Nowadays, they are of increasing interest to the pharmaceutical industry because, in addition to their advanced functional properties, they offer beneficial biocompatible and biodegradable properties. Yet, there is limited availability of embracing information regarding the solubility of these popular excipients, especially in variable pH conditions, reflecting those of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel calcium phosphate-based starter pellets were used to develop a biphasic-release multiple-unit pellet system (MUPS) with diclofenac sodium as a model drug in the form of hard gelatin capsules. For comparative purposes, corresponding formulations based on the inert cores made of microcrystalline cellulose, sucrose and isomalt were prepared. The developed system consisted of two types of drug-layered pellets attaining different release patterns: delayed-release (enteric-coated) and extended-release.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate whether impaired plantar cutaneous vibration perception contributes to postural disturbance in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).
Methods: Three different groups were tested: iNPH-patients (iNPH), iNPH-patients after surgical shunt therapy (iNPH shunt), and healthy subjects (HS). Postural performance was quantified during quiescent stance on a pressure distribution platform.
Inducing hypothermia to examine its effects on balance is performed with various approaches. However, data interpretations of underlying postural mechanisms often do not consider the applied hypothermic protocol. In this context, the effects of diminished plantar mechanoreceptor activity on quasi-static balance performance were investigated, examining the applicability of a continuously cooling thermal platform in comparison with conventional ice pads.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the improvements in cancer therapy during the past years, high-grade gliomas and many other types of cancer are still extremely resistant to current forms of therapy. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) provides a promising way to destroy cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue. However, BNCT in practice is still limited due to the lack of boron-containing compounds that selectively deliver boron to cancer cells.
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