Point of care ultrasound: a clinical decision support tool for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has overwhelmed health services with large numbers of patients presenting to hospital, requiring immediate triage and diagnosis. Complications include acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis, septic shock, and multiple organ failure. Point of care ultrasound is recommended for critical care triage and monitoring in COVID-19 by specialist critical care societies, however current guidance has mainly been published in webinar format, not a comprehensive review.

The effects of gel-based manicure on pulse oximetry.

Introduction: Pulse oximetry is the standard monitoring technique of functional oxygen saturation (SpO). As the use of fingernail polish has been described to alter SpO readings, its removal is commonly recommended prior to measurement. Gel-based manicures have gained popularity in recent years due to their attractiveness and longevity.

Lipid Vesicles for the Skin Delivery of Diclofenac: Cerosomes vs. Other Lipid Suspensions.

Purpose: Lipid suspensions as drug carriers, including conventional liposomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, proniosomes, niosomes, PEG-PPG-PEG niosomes and stratum corneum liposomes (cerosomes), were formulated and compared.

Methods: Lipid vesicles were formulated and assessed with regards to enhancement of skin permeation of diclofenac and stability profiles of the formulations. Formulation-induced changes of the biophysical structure of excised human skin were monitored using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Development and characterization of skin permeation retardants and enhancers: a comparative study of levothyroxine-loaded PNIPAM, PLA, PLGA and EC microparticles.

Polymeric microparticles suitable for topical and transdermal delivery systems were studied using poly D,L lactide (PLA), poly D,L lactide co glycoside (PLGA), poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and ethyl cellulose (EC). Drug encapsulation efficacy, microparticle stability and skin permeation studies of levothyroxine loaded microparticles were carried out using excised human skin, and the skin permeation pattern was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. It was found that ethyl cellulose microparticles had the highest drug encapsulation and minimal drug leakage during the 14 week storage period.

Smart polymeric nanofibers for topical delivery of levothyroxine.

Topical administration of levothyroxine (T₄) helps to reduces deposits of adipose tissue on skin. The question is whether topical application of T₄ could lead to systemic effects. In the present study a series of nanofibrous membranes were electrospun into blends of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) to develop a sustained topical delivery of T₄.

Novel vitamin and gold-loaded nanofiber facial mask for topical delivery.

L-ascorbic acid has been widely used in cosmetic and dermatological products because of its ability to scavenge free radicals and destroy oxidizing agents. However, it is chemically unstable and can easily be oxidized. The current cosmetic facial masks available in the market are pre-moistened, which means that the aqueous fluid content of the mask may oxidize some of the unstable active ingredients such as ascorbic acid.

Surface tension and wettability in transdermal delivery: a study on the in-vitro permeation of haloperidol with cyclodextrin across human epidermis.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the effect of surface tension and contact angle on the permeation of haloperidol across human skin using cyclodextrin derivatives.

Methods: Surface tension and contact angle of randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrin (RM beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta-CD) solutions were measured. Haloperidol solubility and molecular modelling were carried out using the two cyclodextrin derivatives.

Transdermal delivery of haloperidol by proniosomal formulations with non-ionic surfactants.

Proniosomal formulations with non-ionic surfactant were studied. The effect of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of one or two surfactants on drug solubility, proniosome surface structure and stability and skin permeation of haloperidol from different formulations were investigated. Haloperidol (HP) was entrapped in proniosomes with very high efficiency for all formulations.

Limonene GP1/PG organogel as a vehicle in transdermal delivery of haloperidol.

Penetration enhancers are a classical means for improving transdermal drug delivery (TDD). Enhancers permeate into the skin and reversibly decrease the barrier resistance. Basically, our aim is to formulate a transdermal gel containing an appropriate enhancer for a controlled drug release.

Overview on the analytical tools for quality control of natural product-based supplements: a case study of ginseng.

The quality of pharmaceutical products like ginseng is important for ensuring consumer safety and efficacy. Many ginseng products sold today are in various formulations such as powder, capsules, tablets, soft-gels, liquid extracts, and tea. This renders ginseng less identifiable by smell, taste, or physical appearance.

Oxide terpenes as human skin penetration enhancers of haloperidol from ethanol and propylene glycol and their modes of action on stratum corneum.

In this study, two terpenes with the same functional group; limonene oxide and pinene oxide were used at 5% w/v concentration in 50% v/v ethanol and 100% v/v propylene glycol (PG) to enhance the in vitro permeation of haloperidol (HP) through the human epidermis (or stratum corneum, SC). The enhancement mechanism of terpenes from both solvents was elucidated with HP-SC binding studies, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The enhancement activity of these terpenes was higher in 50% v/v ethanol than in 100% v/v PG.