Chitosan-Carboxymethyl-5-Fluorouracil-Folate Conjugate Particles: Microwave Modulated Uptake by Skin and Melanoma Cells.

5-Fluorouracil delivery profiles in the form of chitosan-folate submicron particles through skin and melanoma cells in vitro were examined using microwaves as the penetration enhancer. The in vivo pharmacokinetic profile of 5-fluorouracil was also determined. Chitosan-carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil-folate conjugate was synthesized and processed into submicron particles by spray-drying technique.

In vitro evaluation of the inhalable quercetin loaded nanoemulsion for pulmonary delivery.

Bioavailability of quercetin, a flavonoid potentially known to combat cancer, is challenging due to hydrophobic nature. Oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion system could be used as nanocarrier for quercertin to be delivered to lung via pulmonary delivery. The novelty of this nanoformulation was introduced by using palm oil ester/ricinoleic acid as oil phase which formed spherical shape nanoemulsion as measured by transmission electron microscopy and Zetasizer analyses.

5-Fluorouracil ethosomes - skin deposition and melanoma permeation synergism with microwave.

This study focuses on the use of ethosome and microwave technologies to facilitate skin penetration and/or deposition of 5-fluorouracil in vitro and in vivo. Low ethanol ethosomes were designed and processed by mechanical dispersion technique and had their size, zeta potential, morphology, drug content and encapsulation efficiency characterized. The skin was pre-treated with microwave at 2450 MHz for 2.

Content Analysis of Mobile Health Applications on Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes self-management offers an opportunity to patients to be actively involved in managing their conditions and modifying lifestyle behaviors to attain positive health outcomes. With the unprecedented growth of mobile technology, smartphone plays a role in supporting diabetes self-management. Nonetheless, selecting appropriate mobile applications (apps) is challenging for patients.

Critical physicochemical and biological attributes of nanoemulsions for pulmonary delivery of rifampicin by nebulization technique in tuberculosis treatment.

The study investigated aerosolization, pulmonary inhalation, intracellular trafficking potential in macrophages and pharmacokinetics profiles of rifampicin-oleic acid first-generation nanoemulsion and its respective chitosan- and chitosan-folate conjugate-decorated second and third-generation nanoemulsions, delivered via nebulization technique. The nanoemulsions were prepared by conjugate synthesis and spontaneous emulsification techniques. They were subjected to physicochemical, drug release, aerosolization, inhalation, cell culture and pharmacokinetics analysis.

Enhancement of the production of L-glutaminase, an anticancer enzyme, from Aeromonas veronii by adaptive and induced mutation techniques.

Microbial anti-cancer enzymes have been proven to be effective and economical agents for cancer treatment. Aeromonas veronii has been identified as a microorganism with the potential to produce L-glutaminase, an anticancer agent effective against acute lymphocytic leukaemia. In this study, a selective medium of Aeromonas veronii was used to culture the microorganism.

Perspectives on reflexology: A qualitative approach.

Introduction: Reflexology is the systematic practice of applying some pressure to particular points on the feet and hands to impact on health of related parts of the body.

Objective: To explore the practitioners' perspectives of reflexology in Malaysia.

Methods: Data was collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with practitioners in Malaysia.

Mobile Health Applications for Pediatric Care: Review and Comparison.

Background: Despite the surge in mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) about pediatric care in commercial app stores, to our knowledge, reviews of the quality of such apps are lacking. Consequently, it is a great challenge for health care professionals (HCPs) to identify appropriate and reliable mHealth apps for delivering health care services. Thus, we performed a structured review of the extant literature about mHealth apps in pediatric care and quality assessment of selected apps found in commercial app stores.

Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison.

Background: Mobile devices and applications (apps) that act as access tools for health care management aid in the improvement of clinical decision making and patient outcomes. However, the tremendous amount of mobile health (mHealth) apps available in commercial app stores makes it hard for the lay users as well as health care professionals to choose the right one for their individual needs. The contents and features of these apps have not been systematically reviewed and compared.

Microwave as skin permeation enhancer for transdermal drug delivery of chitosan-5-fluorouracil nanoparticles.

This study investigated transdermal drug delivery mechanisms of chitosan nanoparticles with the synergistic action of microwave in skin modification. Chitosan nanoparticles, with free or conjugated 5-fluorouracil, were prepared by nanospray-drying technique. Their transdermal drug delivery profiles across untreated and microwave-treated skins (2450MHz 5min, 5+5min; 3985MHz 5min) were examined.

Functionalized Carbon Nano-scale Drug Delivery Systems From Biowaste Sago Bark For Cancer Cell Imaging.

Background: Nano-scale carbon systems are emerging alternatives in drug delivery and bioimaging applications of which they gradually replace the quantum dots characterized by toxic heavy metal content in the latter application.

Objective: The work intended to use carbon nanospheres synthesized from biowaste Sago bark for cancer cell imaging applications.

Methods: This study synthesised carbon nanospheres from biowaste Sago bark using a catalyst-free pyrolysis technique.

Quercetin-Decorated Curcumin Liposome Design for Cancer Therapy: In-Vitro and In-Vivo Studies.

Background: Curcumin is a yellow polyphenolic chemopreventive agent isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. It is approved as Generally Regarded as Safe by US FDA. Nonetheless, its clinical success is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility, fast metabolism and short biological half-life attributes.

Coatless alginate pellets as sustained-release drug carrier for inflammatory bowel disease treatment.

Conventional alginate pellets underwent rapid drug dissolution and failed to exert colon targeting unless subjected to complex coating. This study designed coatless delayed-release oral colon-specific alginate pellets for ulcerative colitis treatment. Alginate pellets, formulated with water-insoluble ethylcellulose and various calcium salts, were prepared using solvent-free melt pelletization technique which prevented reaction between processing materials during agglomeration and allowed reaction to initiate only in dissolution.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor delivered to the brain using poly (lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles improves neurological and cognitive outcome in mice with traumatic brain injury.

Currently, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death or disabilities in young individuals worldwide. The multi-complexity of its pathogenesis as well as impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes the drug choice and delivery very challenging. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal plasticity, neuronal cell growth, proliferation, cell survival and long-term memory.

Microwave-aided skin drug penetration and retention of 5-fluorouracil-loaded ethosomes.

Objectives: Skin drug retention is required in local treatment of skin cancer. This study investigated the interplay effects of ethosomes and microwave in transdermal drug delivery. Skin pre-treatment by microwave and applied with liquified medicine is deemed to 'cement' the skin thereby raising skin drug deposition.

In Vitro Investigation of Influences of Chitosan Nanoparticles on Fluorescein Permeation into Alveolar Macrophages.

Purpose: Pulmonary infection namely tuberculosis is characterized by alveolar macrophages harboring a large microbe population. The chitosan nanoparticles exhibit fast extracellular drug release in aqueous biological milieu. This study investigated the matrix effects of chitosan nanoparticles on extracellular drug diffusion into macrophages.

Quantitative characterization of chitosan in the skin by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic imaging and ninhydrin assay: application in transdermal sciences.

The chitosan has been used as the primary excipient in transdermal particulate dosage form design. Its distribution pattern across the epidermis and dermis is not easily accessible through chemical assay and limited to radiolabelled molecules via quantitative autoradiography. This study explored Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy imaging technique with built-in microscope as the means to examine chitosan molecular distribution over epidermis and dermis with the aid of histology operation.

Revisiting reflexology: Concept, evidence, current practice, and practitioner training.

Reflexology is basically a study of how one part of the human body relates to another part of the body. Reflexology practitioners rely on the reflexes map of the feet and hands to all the internal organs and other human body parts. They believe that by applying the appropriate pressure and massage certain spots on the feet and hands, all other body parts could be energized and rejuvenated.

Medication Errors in the Southeast Asian Countries: A Systematic Review.

Background: Medication error (ME) is a worldwide issue, but most studies on ME have been undertaken in developed countries and very little is known about ME in Southeast Asian countries. This study aimed systematically to identify and review research done on ME in Southeast Asian countries in order to identify common types of ME and estimate its prevalence in this region.

Methods: The literature relating to MEs in Southeast Asian countries was systematically reviewed in December 2014 by using; Embase, Medline, Pubmed, ProQuest Central and the CINAHL.

Nanocarriers and their Actions to Improve Skin Permeability and Transdermal Drug Delivery.

Transdermal drug delivery is impeded by the natural barrier of epidermis namely stratum corneum. This limits the route to transport of drugs with a log octanol-water partition coefficient of 1 to 3, molecular weight of less than 500 Da and melting point of less than 200°C. Nanotechnology has received widespread investigation as nanocarriers are deemed to be able to fluidize the stratum corneum as a function of size, shape, surface charges, and hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity balance, while delivering drugs across the skin barrier.