Liposomes: An Emerging Strategy for the Effective Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

BACKGROUND

A Liposomal delivery system is a novel and distinguishing way of organized medicine administration. The advancements in liposomal technology allow for controlled drug distribution to treat rheumatoid arthritis effectively. Liposomes are microscopic lipid-based vesicles that have shown promise in transporting substances, such as superoxide dismutase, hemoglobin, erythrocyte interleukin-2, gamma interferon, and smaller compounds.

OBJECTIVE

Liposomes are biocompatible, nontoxic, biodegradable, non-immunogenic, and flexible, with sizes ranging from 0.025 to 2.5 micrometers. LDS is normally employed to distribute drugs through topical conduits, but fresh investigation has shown that it offers promise for oral, ocular, and parenteral administration. Our major objective is to gather information about liposomes, focusing on their applicability in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

METHODS

In the current review, we have tried to cover the preparation techniques, clinical trials, patents, marketed formulations, vesicle types, formulations used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments, and layered liposomal formulations with improved characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Research has established LDS as a biocompatible, sustainable, non-toxic, adaptable material. Researchers working on LDS technology in rheumatoid arthritis will find this review particularly useful as it may unclutter novel ways for therapeutic intercessions in treating the disease.

Therapeutic Potential and Clinical Effectiveness of Quercetin: A Dietary Supplement

Fruits and vegetables (like apples, citrus, grapes, onions, parsley, etc.) are the primary dietary sources of quercetin. In addition, isolated quercetin is also available on the market as a dietary supplement with a daily dose of up to 1000 mg/d. The objective of the present study is to explore the therapeutic potential and clinical efficacy of quercetin as a dietary supplement. The present paper highlights the safety parameters and clinical trial studies with several targets reviewed from the data available on PubMed, Science Direct, ClinicalTrails. gov, and from many reputed foundations. The results of the studies prove the unique position of quercetin in the treatment of various disorders and the possibility of using phytochemicals such as quercetin for an efficient cure. As evidenced by the numerous published reports on human interventions, it has been concluded that quercetin intake significantly improves disease conditions with minimal adverse effects.

Hemorrhoid Disease: A Review on Treatment, Clinical Research and Patent Data

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoid disease (HD) is an anal-rectal ailment that is commonly painful or may be painless and causes rectal bleeding with or without prolapsing anal tissue. It is generally associated with bleeding, prolapse, pruritus, and discomfort, which results in a diminished quality of life and well-being.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the recent developments in terms of safety, clinical efficacy, and marketed formulation for the effective management of hemorrhoids.

METHOD

Reported literature available on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Clinicaltrails.gov, and from many reputed foundations has been studied to summarize the recent development and clinical studies for the management of hemorrhoids.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The high incidence of hemorrhoids obliges the development of new molecules; therefore, safe and efficient drugs to confer protection against hemorrhoids are urgently needed. This review article mainly focuses on the newer molecules to overcome hemorrhoids and also emphasizes various studies carried out in the past.

An Update on Herbal Products for the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD), is a continuously increasing healthcare problem mainly characterized by chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation. The common symptoms of UC and CD include inflammation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and weight loss. IBD is generally caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental or microbial factors that influence the body's immune response and is responsible for digestive disorders and inflammation of the intestinal tract. However, a complete understanding of the pathophysiology and work-up of IBD is necessary to ensure appropriate treatment for the management of this complex disease. This review enlightens herbal therapeutics and drug delivery systems for the management of IBD, and thus provides new insights into this field and facilitates access to new treatments.

Formulation Development and in-vitro Evaluation of Escitalopram Fast Dissolving Tablets

BACKGROUND

Escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), acts by increasing the serotonin level in the brain and is used widely for the management of depression and anxiety disorders. However, the poor dissolution rate of escitalopram due to less water solubility is a consequential problem confronting the pharmaceutical industry in developing pharmaceutical dosage forms for oral delivery systems.

OBJECTIVE

The present work aims to deliver a novel formulation for improving the dissolution profile and, thus, the bioavailability of escitalopram.

METHODS

Fast Dissolving Tablets (FDT) are expected to enable quick drug release, which will improve the drug's dissolving profile, allowing for the initial increase in plasma concentration mandatory in an acute depression attack. The use of co-processed excipients in tablets has been shown to increase the compressibility and disintegration properties of the tablets, resulting in improved in-vitro drug release and bioavailability. As co-processed excipients, a mixture of banana powder (a natural super disintegrant with nutritional value) and microcrystalline cellulose (a highly compressible substance with good wicking and absorption capacity) was used.

RESULTS

The tablets were made using a response surface, randomised central composite design and a direct compression technique. The manufactured tablets were found to be released more than 95% of the drug within 10 minutes and showed an improved drug release profile than the available marketed formulation.

CONCLUSION

As a result, after confirming in-vivo potential, the created fast release formulation exhibited impressive in-vitro findings and may prove to be a boon in treating acute depression attacks.

An update on Anti-inflammatory Compounds: A Review

Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process. Also, it has been reported to be associated with the onset of various cancers. An effective anti-inflammatory drug should be able to inhibit the development of inflammation without interfering in normal homeostasis. Current approaches to overcome the inflammation include the use of immune selective anti-inflammatory derivatives, selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist, resolvins and protectins and TNF inhibitors. A number of herbal drugs have been identified in the past that can target inflammatory cytokines. This review mainly focuses on the newer molecules to combat the inflammation and also emphasise on various studies carried out in the past. Thus, the high prevalence of inflammation obliges the development of new drugs; therefore, a safe and efficient drug molecule to confer protection against inflammation is urgently needed.

6-Chloro-3-hydroxy-2-(5'-methylfuryl)-4H-chromene-4-one as an Analytical Reagent for Micro Determination of Molybdenum(VI)

6-Chloro-3-hydroxy-2-(5'-methylfuryl)-4H-chromene-4-one (CHMFC) has been used as an analytical reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum. Molybdenum(VI) in the presence of several cations, anions and complexing agents forms a yellow 1:2 complex with CHMFC. The complex is quantitatively extractable into 1,2-dichloroethane from 1 mol dm(-3) acetic acid medium and is stable for more than 6 h. The complex shows an absorption maximum at 438 nm with a molar absorptivity of 5.36 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) and Sandell's sensitivity equal to 0.0017 microg Mo cm(-2). The method obeys Beer's law up to 1.9 microg Mo ml(-1). The relative standard deviations are 0.2% for solutions and 0.5-1.5% for solid samples. The method is simple, selective, precise and rapid, and has been satisfactorily applied to the micro determination of molybdenum in various synthetic and standard samples.

In vitro effects of cAMP-elevating agents and glucocorticoid either alone or in combination on the production of nitric oxide, interleukin-12 and interleukin-10 in IFN-gamma- and LPS-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages

The effects of cAMP-elevating agents, N6-2'-O-dibutyryl cAMP (Bu2cAMP), and glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) on the production of inflammatory mediators--nitric oxide and interleukin-12 (IL-12) and anti-inflammatory mediator interleukin-10 (IL-10) were demonstrated in murine peritoneal macrophages. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and iNOS mRNA were detected by northern blot and western blot, respectively. The cAMP elevating agents Bu2cAMP and prostaglandin E2 each alone did not show any effect on NO production but along with IFN-gamma and lipolysaccharide (LPS) they slightly enhanced NO production. Dexamethasone inhibited NO production in IFN-gamma- and LPS-treated cells; cAMP elevating agents interfered with the NO production inhibited by dexamethasone. Inhibition was revealed at the mRNA level as well as at protein level. Bu2cAMP or dexamethasone either alone or synergistically inhibited IL-12 production; Bu2cAMP interfered with dexamethasone-mediated inhibition of IL-10 production in IFN-gamma- and LPS-treated macrophages. The use of glucocorticoids along with cAMP elevating agents was beneficial in lowering the level of inflammatory mediator IL-12 and producing high levels of the anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10 active in cell protection. On the other hand, interference of Bu2cAMP with dexamethasone-mediated NO inhibition may have adverse effect. Therefore, adverse effects due to cAMP-mediated interference (inhibition) with NO synthesis may occur in many inflammatory diseases during combined drug therapy by glucocorticoids and cAMP elevating agents.

Histopathological study of placental bed biopsy in placenta previa

BACKGROUND

To study placental bed biopsy changes in placenta previa and normally implanted placenta.

SUBJECT AND METHOD

Fifty placental bed biopsies from 50 patients with placenta previa and 50 placental bed biopsies from normally implanted placenta were taken at cesarean section. Placental bed biopsy was stained with hematoxyline and eosin for histological examination. Both the groups were compared for trophoblastic invasion and vascular changes of placental bed spiral arteries. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test.

RESULTS

Placenta bed biopsy was representative in 42/50 (84%) biopsy samples of the study group (placenta previa) and 35/50 (70%) of the control group (normally located placenta). Trophoblastic giant cell migration into decidua was present in 100% of representative samples of both the groups while migration into myometrium was seen in 66.67% and 51.14% of samples of study and control group. Average number of trophoblastic giant cells per sample was significantly higher in placenta previa (decidua 41.3%, myometrium 52%) than the control group (decidua 17.4%; myometrium 14.5%). Trophoblastic giant cell infiltration into myometrial spiral arterioles was higher in placenta previa (81.83 cells per vessel). Percentage of myometrial spiral arterioles showing physiological changes was significantly higher in the study group (50.39%) compared to the control group (21.14%). Incidence of inflammatory cell infiltration was higher in the study group (42.86%). Hemorrhage into decidua and myometrium were seen in biopsy samples of the placenta previa.

CONCLUSION

Placenta previa is associated with significantly higher trophoblastic giant cell infiltration and physiological changes of the myometrial spiral arterioles.