Psyllium ( Forsk) Husk Powder as a Natural Superdisintegrant for Orodispersible Formulations: A Study on Meloxicam Tablets.

(1) Background: In this work, we investigated the application of a natural superdisintegrant, psyllium ( Forsk) husk powder, for the manufacture of orodispersible meloxicam tablets. Meloxicam was chosen as a model compound for the study. (2) Methods: The tablets were prepared using different concentrations of psyllium husk by direct compression.

Heterogeneity and Delayed Activation as Hallmarks of Self-Organization and Criticality in Excitable Tissue.

Self-organized critical dynamics is assumed to be an attractive mode of functioning for several real-life systems and entails an emergent activity in which the extent of observables follows a power-law distribution. The hallmarks of criticality have recently been observed in a plethora of biological systems, including beta cell populations within pancreatic islets of Langerhans. In the present study, we systematically explored the mechanisms that drive the critical and supercritical behavior in networks of coupled beta cells under different circumstances by means of experimental and computational approaches.

A retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes of drug-susceptible TB in Kazakhstan, 2013-2016.

Kazakhstan has a high burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). The patient-centered National Program for the treatment and prevention of TB has been implemented in Kazakhstan. The program is aimed at meeting the needs of patients and expansion of the outpatient treatment of TB in the country.

Does intraperitoneal ropivacaine reduce postoperative inflammation? A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Background: Postoperative inflammation is a common consequence of surgery and the ensuing stress response. Local anesthetics have anti-inflammatory properties. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate if LA administrated intraperitoneally perioperatively might inhibit expression of inflammatory cytokines.

Osteochondral Repair and Electromechanical Evaluation of Custom 3D Scaffold Microstructured by Direct Laser Writing Lithography.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess a novel 3D microstructured scaffold seeded with allogeneic chondrocytes (cells) in a rabbit osteochondral defect model.

Design: Direct laser writing lithography in pre-polymers was employed to fabricate custom silicon-zirconium containing hybrid organic-inorganic (HOI) polymer SZ2080 scaffolds of a predefined morphology. Hexagon-pored HOI scaffolds were seeded with chondrocytes (cells), and tissue-engineered cartilage biocompatibility, potency, efficacy, and shelf-life was assessed by morphological, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis.

GC-MS Analysis of the Composition of the Extracts and Essential Oil from Seeds Using Magnesium Aluminometasilicate as Excipient.

(f. Myristicaceae) seeds are better known as a spice, but their chemical compounds may have a pharmacological effect. The yield of their composition of extracts and essential oils differs due to different methodologies.

A case report and literature review: previously excluded tuberculosis masked by amiodarone induced lung injury.

Background: Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug which is used to treat and prevent several dysrhythmias. This includes ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, wide complex tachycardia, as well as atrial fibrillation (AF) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Amiodarone may prove to be the agent of choice where the patient is hemodynamically unstable and unsuitable for direct current (DC) cardioversion.

Impact of the World Health Organization Pain Treatment Guidelines and the European Medicines Agency Safety Recommendations on Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use in Lithuania: An Observational Study.

Irrational use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is the main cause of adverse effects-associated hospitalizations among all medication groups leading to extremely increased costs for health care. Pharmacoepidemiological studies can partly reveal such issues and encourage further decisions. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the utilization of non-opioid analgesics (ATC classification N02B and M01A) in Lithuania, and to compare it with that of other Baltic and Scandinavian countries in terms of compliance to the WHO pain treatment guidelines and the EMA safety recommendations on NSAID use.

The Patello-Femoral Joint Degeneration and the Shape of the Patella in the Population Needing an Arthroscopic Procedure.

: the main goal of the study was to investigate the prevalence of the articular cartilage defects (ACD) in the patellofemoral (PF) region of the knee joint based on the anatomical shapes of patella and its impact on the level of physical activity in the population needing arthroscopic procedures for all types of pathologies in the knee. : The articular cartilage status of the PF region was obtained from 1098 arthroscopic procedures of the knee joint. The ACD were correlated to Wiberg's shape of the patella and classified according to the degree, size and depth of the ACD in the PF region using the ICRS (International Cartilage Repair Society) system: group I consisting of patients with Wiberg type I shape (W1), group II-patients with Wiberg type II shape (W2) and group III-patients with Wiberg type III shape (W3).

Alterations in enteric calcitonin gene-related peptide in patients with colonic diverticular disease: CGRP in diverticular disease.

Diverticular disease (DD) is one of the most prevalent diseases of the large bowel. Lately, imbalance of neuro-muscular transmission has been recognized as a major etiological factor for DD. Neuronal calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a potent gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxant shown to have a widespread effect within the alimentary tract.

Off-Label Use of Antipsychotic Agents in Dementia: Evidence for the Revision of the Reimbursement Policy.

Background: Harmonized requirements apply for the marketing authorization of medicinal products in the EU Member States. On the contrary, the national legislations on the drug reimbursement are not harmonized. The aim of this study was to find out if they are robust enough to ensure high standards of public health protection with focus on the symptomatic treatment of dementia in the elderly.

Quantitative Arthroscopic Assessment of Articular Cartilage Quality by Means of Cartilage Electromechanical Properties.

Arthroscopic surgery has grown rapidly in recent decades. Despite accurately diagnosed clinical cases, the previous pain is retained in some patients after the operation, even though no visible chondral lesions are found during the procedure. A minimally invasive arthroscopic method of measuring articular cartilage electromechanical properties enables rapid and reliable intraoperative articular cartilage quality evaluation.

Fatal outcome of late-onset angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor induced angioedema: A case report.

Rationale: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are one of the most used medication among patients with arterial hypertension. In most cases, ACE inhibitors caused side effects are mild; however, from 0.1% to 0.

Nondestructive Assessment of Articular Cartilage Electromechanical Properties after Osteochondral Autologous and Allogeneic Transplantation in a Goat Model.

Objective: To determine the applicability of a minimally invasive diagnostic device to evaluate the quality of articular cartilage following autologous (OAT) and allogeneic (OCA) osteochondral graft transplantation in goat model.

Design: OAT grafts were harvested from lateral femoral condyles (LFCs) and transplanted into osteochondral defects created in medial femoral condyles (MFCs) of contralateral knees. OCA grafts were transplanted into MFC condyles after storage.

Cell and Gene Therapies: European View on Challenges in Translation and How to Address Them.

Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), ., cell and gene therapy products, is a rapidly evolving field of therapeutic development. A significant proportion of the products are being developed by academia or small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Experimental investigation of the determination for the safe operating regime of ultrasound tube-shaped waveguide wire for internal blood vessel debulking.

Background: Majority of limb amputations are caused by circulatory disturbances such as vascular occlusions and strictures. Discovery of modern and more advanced ultrasonic interventional vascular debulking methodology would likely save limbs of CVD patients and their lives in an economical way. However, there is a lack of researches regarding the ultrasound's effect on physiological functions of human blood cells.

Luminal Polyethylene Glycol Alleviates Intestinal Preservation Injury Irrespective of Molecular Size.

Intestinal preservation injury (IPI) and the resulting mucosa injury raise several serious challenges early after intestinal transplantation. The current clinical approach using only vascular perfusion allows the shortest preservation period among the abdominal organs. The experimental addition of luminal polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions has been repeatedly suggested to alleviate preservation injury, improve graft quality, and prolong the preservation time.

Critical and Supercritical Spatiotemporal Calcium Dynamics in Beta Cells.

A coordinated functioning of beta cells within pancreatic islets is mediated by oscillatory membrane depolarization and subsequent changes in cytoplasmic calcium concentration. While gap junctions allow for intraislet information exchange, beta cells within islets form complex syncytia that are intrinsically nonlinear and highly heterogeneous. To study spatiotemporal calcium dynamics within these syncytia, we make use of computational modeling and confocal high-speed functional multicellular imaging.

Cisplatin-induced sudden cardiac death with hemodynamic collapse: a severe adverse drug reaction: Case report.

Rationale: Cisplatin is responsible for a significant percentage of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in oncology setting. A great proportion of cisplatin-induced severe adverse events are difficult to foresee, and giving premedication does not always prevent the occurrence of such events.

Patient Concerns: A 53-year-old woman with progressive T4 N0 M0 stage IV pleural mesothelioma experienced cardiac arrest with hemodynamic collapse after cisplatin and pemetrexed chemotherapy administration.

Gender differences in residual effect of prior drop jumps on oxygen uptake during heavy cycling exercise.

Background And Objective: Unaccustomed eccentric or eccentric-concentric exercise leaves us stiff and sore the next day and can cause muscle damage. The data about the residual effect of prior eccentric-concentric exercises on oxygen uptake (VO) during constant cycling exercise in women or the data about differences of such effect between genders are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess differences of the residual effect of PDJ on VO during HCE and indirect muscle damage parameters between women and men.

Key Learning Outcomes for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Education in Europe: A Modified Delphi Study.

Harmonizing clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (CPT) education in Europe is necessary to ensure that the prescribing competency of future doctors is of a uniform high standard. As there are currently no uniform requirements, our aim was to achieve consensus on key learning outcomes for undergraduate CPT education in Europe. We used a modified Delphi method consisting of three questionnaire rounds and a panel meeting.

Network science of biological systems at different scales: A review.

Network science is today established as a backbone for description of structure and function of various physical, chemical, biological, technological, and social systems. Here we review recent advances in the study of complex biological systems that were inspired and enabled by methods of network science. First, we present research highlights ranging from determination of the molecular interaction network within a cell to studies of architectural and functional properties of brain networks and biological transportation networks.

Primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori strains among adults and children in a tertiary referral centre in Lithuania.

The study evaluated primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori within the period 2013-2015 and trends of antibiotic consumption over the last decade in Lithuania; 242 adults and 55 children were included in the study. E-tests were performed for amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and tetracycline. The presence of H.