Guest-host Relationship of Cyclodextrin and its Pharmacological Benefits

Many methods, including solid dispersion, micellization, and inclusion complexes, have been employed to increase the solubility of potent drugs. Beta-cyclodextrin (βCD) is a cyclic oligosaccharide consisting of seven glucopyranoside molecules, and is a widely used polymer for formulating soluble inclusion complexes of hydrophobic drugs. The enzymatic activity of Glycosyltransferase or α-amylase converts starch or its derivatives into a mixture of cyclodextrins. The βCD units are characterized by α -(1-4) glucopyranose bonds. Cyclodextrins possess certain properties that make them very distinctive because of their toroidal or truncated cage-like supramolecular configurations with multiple hydroxyl groups at each end. This allowed them to encapsulate hydrophobic compounds by forming inclusion complexes without losing their solubility in water. Chemical modifications and newer derivatives, such as methylated βCD, more soluble hydroxyl propyl methyl βCD, and sodium salts of sulfobutylether-βCD, known as dexolve® or captisol®, have envisaged the use of CDs in various pharmaceutical, medical, and cosmetic industries. The successful inclusion of drug complexes has demonstrated improved solubility, bioavailability, drug resistance reduction, targeting, and penetration across skin and brain tissues. This review encompasses the current applications of β-CDs in improving the disease outcomes of antimicrobials and antifungals as well as anticancer and anti-tubercular drugs.

Every TURP Is not Just BPH

Introduction/Objective

Transurethral resection of prostate is a common specimen in surgical pathology practice. These specimens usually demonstrate benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, occasionally incidental prostate cancer is identified. Finding a true mesenchymal tumor in these specimens is exceedingly rare. We present a unique case of prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 3 + 4 =7 and concurrent solitary fibrous tumor identified on a TURP specimen. Solitary fibrous tumor in this anatomical location is rare with approximately 50 cases reported in the English language literature.

Methods/Case Report

An 86-year-old male presented with symptoms and signs of urinary retention. On clinical evaluation the prostatae was profoundly enlarged with a calculated volume of 283cc; firm in consistency. He was given trial of medical management including finasteride, tamsulosin and Foley catheter placement. Subsequently, the patient underwent transurethral resection of prostate. Complete morcellation was not possible at the initial surgery due to hard consistency of the gland. Pathologic evaluation showed prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason grade 3 + 4=Score 7 (Grade group 2) involving 10% of submitted tissue in addition to the changes of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Additionally, the background stroma demonstrated short plump oval to spindle cells with inconspicuous nucleoli and collagenous background, arranged in a haphazard (‘‘patternless’’) pattern. Immunohistochemical stains showed these lesional cells to be positive for STAT6 and CD34 and negative for desmin, S100, SOX-10, CD 117, DOG-1 and NKX 3.1. Morphology and immunohistochemical profile were compatible with solitary fibrous tumor involving the prostate. The patient is alive and symptom-free 9 months after the procedure.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

NA.

Conclusion

This case highlights the value of thorough evaluation of prostatic tissue in TURP specimens not only for prostate cancer but other tumors as well. It also reminds the practising pathologist to keep an eye out for the stromal lesions of the prostate gland. Also finding one lesion should not dissuade one from looking for additional concurrent lesions.

Nanotechnological Advances in the Treatment of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is known as one of the major challenges for medical science. The sudden appearance of a seizure has been a significant health emergency as it may lead to further complications. Although key advancement have been achieved in terms of pharmacological approaches for epilepsy, many issues remain uncertain. Lipid carriers have been at the forefront, especially in neurodegenerative diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's, dementia, etc. The blood-brain barrier still appears to be a major impediment in the successful treatment of epileptic seizures. This is mainly due to the limited bioavailability of most anti-convulsant drugs. The present review encompasses the issues underlying the current approach for epilepsy drug treatment and highlights the newer, novel, and more precise drug delivery system to manage seizures. The advantage of using a lipid-based delivery system is its superior absorption in the brain cells. Ample evidence shows that reducing the particle size also infuses the drug easily through the blood-brain barrier. The application of liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles for the treatment and management of epilepsy has been highlighted in the present review. This review will provide an overview of the current status of the treatment and recent advances in the treatment of epilepsy.

Knowledge, attitude, perception of Muslim parents towards vaccination in Malaysia

Malaysia is a predominant Muslim country and the recent surge in vaccine-preventable disease enticed us to conduct a survey to measure the Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Muslim parents toward vaccination process. The data were collected under four segments such as demography, Knowledge, Attitude and Perception. The questionnaire had high internal consistency (0.823) for Cronbach's alpha. The sociodemographic determinants such as marital status (OR = 1.12; 0.91-1.38;p < .05), education level (college OR = 1.35; 1.12-1.64;p < .05, secondary OR = 1.22; 1.01-1.47;p < .05) and the occupation of parents (OR = 1.25; 1.07-1.45;p < .05) were observed affecting the Knowledge score significantly. Majority of Malaysian Muslim parents believed that "vaccine is not prohibited in Islam" and most of them also rejected the belief that "all vaccines are non halal and hence should be avoided". None of the sociodemographic determinants significantly affected the Attitude and Perception score of the Muslim parents. It was observed that the Attitude and Perception score did not establish any association with any of the socio-demographic determinants and hence the null hypothesis that Malaysian Muslim parents had positive Attitude and good Perception toward vaccination process was accepted.

Lipid-based Nanocarriers for Cancer and Tumor Treatment

Cancer and tumor have been major reasons for numerous deaths in this century across the world. Many strategies have been designed to treat, diagnose, or prevent cancer. The success of chemotherapy largely depends on drug targeting. The advent of nanotechnology has vastly improved drug delivery for targeting and diagnosis. Nevertheless, the accuracy of drug targeting with polymeric nanoparticles has always been questionable. The polymeric nanoparticles synthesized from varieties of lipid-based compounds or combined with vectors, such as liposomes, ethosomes, and transfersomes, may allow the drug to overcome the issue of resistance to drug absorption in biological membranes. The combined effects of lipid-based nanocarriers are known to improve the efficacy and accuracy of polymeric nanoparticles. The present review explores the application of lipid based nanocarriers in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer A special focus is given to the use of lipid-based nanocarriers in the treatment, diagnosis, and mitigation of cancer located in blood, brain, lung, and colon. The treatment of these cancers has always been questionable as the chances of relapse are very high. The review encompasses the use of lipid-based nanocarriers in targeting tissue-specific cancer cells.

Knowledge, understanding, attitude, perception and views on HPV infection and vaccination among health care students and professionals in Malaysia

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is known to be a major causative agent of cervical cancers and warts, limited study has been conducted on its associated factors among health care students and professionals in Malaysia. The present study was carried to explore the knowledge, understanding, attitude, perception and views about HPV infection and vaccination. A total of 576 respondents were recruited to complete a self-administered questionnaire through convenience sampling across Malaysia. 80.% and of the females respondents exhibited a positive attitude towards knowledge and understanding and 60% exhibited a positive towards attitude, perception and views. Almost 65% of the population were in agreement that HPV can be transmitted sexually, and 56.7% felt strongly that sexually active persons should essentially be vaccinated. The corresponding values were somewhat lower among the male respondents. Regression analysis suggested that knowledge and understanding were strong associated with gender, age, and occupation. Attitude, perception and views were also evidently associated with gender and age. The Ministry of Health should take steps to improve awareness among the citizens. Efforts should be made to educate people on the risk of HPV as a sexually transmitted diseases associated with HPV, and on the availability of discounted and safe HPV vaccines in government hospitals to increase the uptake rate of HPV vaccines among the Malaysian population.