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Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Sustained delivery and efficacy of polymeric nanoparticles containing osteopontin and bone sialoprotein antisenses in rats with breast cancer bone metastasis

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 7 2010
Victoria Elazar
Abstract Poor prognosis in mammary carcinoma is associated with a certain expression profile of a defined set of genes including osteopontin and bone sialoprotein. Efficient and specific delivery of antisenses (AS) and a protection of the sequences from degradation are the crucial conditions for AS therapeutic efficiency. We hypothesized that effective and safe AS delivery direceted against these genes could be achieved by polymeric nanoparticles (NP) fabricated from a biocompatible polymer. Due to their nano-size range and small negative charge, AS-NP can overcome the absorption barrier offering increased resistance to nuclease degradation, sustained duration of AS administration, and consequently, prolonged antisense action. The ASs designed against OPN and BSP-II were successfully encapsulated in NP composed of the biodegradable and biocompatible polylactide- co -glycolide polymer (PLGA), exhibiting sustained release and stability of the ASs. The therapeutic efficacy of the AS-NP delivery system was examined in vitro, and in a breast cancer bone metastasis animal model of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in nude rats. Treatment with OPN-AS or BSP-AS loaded NP in comparison with osmotic mini-pumps (locoregional injection and SC implants, respectively) resulted in a significant decrease in both, tumor bone metastasis incidence and in the size of the lesions in rats with metastases. Despite its smaller dose, AS-NP exhibited a better therapeutic efficacy than osmotic mini-pumps in terms of lesion ratio at later time periods (8,12 weeks). It may be concluded that AS delivery by NP is a promising therapeutic modality providing stability of the encapsulated AS and a sustained release. [source]

Chitosan-coated antifungal formulations for nebulisation

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 7 2010
Yacoub Y. Albasarah
Abstract Objectives, The aim of this study was to produce and characterise amphotericin B (AmB) containing chitosan-coated liposomes, and to determine their delivery from an air-jet nebuliser. Methods, Soya phosphatidylcholine : AmB (100 : 1) multilamellar vesicles were generated by dispersing ethanol-based proliposomes with 0.9% sodium chloride or different concentrations of chitosan chloride. These liposomes were compared with vesicles produced by the film hydration method and micelles. AmB loading, particle size, zeta potential and antifungal activity were determined for formulations, which were delivered into a two-stage impinger using a jet nebuliser. Key findings, AmB incorporation was highest for liposomes produced from proliposomes and was greatest (approximately 80% loading) in chitosan-coated formulations. Following nebulisation, approximately 60% of the AmB was deposited in the lower stage of the two-stage impinger for liposomal formulations, for which the mean liposome size was reduced. Although AmB loading in deoxycholate micellar formulations was high (99%), a smaller dose of AmB was delivered to the lower stage of the two-stage impinger compared to chitosan-coated liposomes generated from proliposomes. Chitosan-coated and uncoated liposomes loaded with AmB had antifungal activities against Candida albicans and C. tropicalis similar to AmB deoxycholate micelles, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.5 µg/ml. Conclusions, This study has demonstrated that chitosan-coated liposomes, prepared by an ethanol-based proliposome method, are a promising carrier system for the delivery of AmB using an air-jet nebuliser, having a high drug-loading that is likely to be effectively delivered to the peripheral airways for the treatment of pulmonary fungal infections. [source]

Factor Xa or thrombin: is factor Xa a better target?

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 2007
J. ANSELL
Summary., Existing vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have drawbacks that limit their effectiveness, safety, and overall frequency of use. Oral anticoagulants in development with targeted action against individual coagulation factors, specifically direct factor (F) Xa and IIa inhibitors, appear to have pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties that overcome the limitations of the VKAs. Based on the theory of how coagulation factors interact, on the results of in vitro studies, and on clinical outcomes, there is accumulating evidence that FXa may represent a better target for inhibition than FIIa. This is based on an understanding of the amplified nature of coagulation factor interactions and fibrin formation, the need for smaller doses of an anticoagulant to block coagulation progression earlier in the sequence of reactions, the evidence for incomplete suppression of thrombin generation with direct thrombin inhibitors, evidence for rebound hypercoagulability with thrombin inhibitors, and clinical results with the indirect, parenteral, FXa inhibitor (fondaparinux), as well as early phase II results of new oral Xa and IIa inhibitors compared with enoxaparin. The latter studies, although not comparative, provide some evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Xa inhibitors at a range of doses not seen with the direct IIa inhibitors. [source]

Role of Policosanols in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

NUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 11 2003
Krista A. Varady BASc
Policosanols are a mixture of aliphatic alcohols derived from purified sugar cane. When administered at 5 to 20 mg/day, policosanols have been shown to decrease the risk of atheroma formation by reducing platelet aggregation, endothelial damage, and foam cell formation in animals. Additionally, policosanols have been shown to lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 13 to 23% and 19 to 31%, respectively, while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol from 8 to 29%. Policosanols are thought to improve lipid profiles by reducing hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis while enhancing LDL clearance. When compared with statins, policosanols exhibit comparable cholesterol-lowering effects at much smaller doses. The mixture is well tolerated when administered to animals; however, a more precise safety profile is needed for humans. In summary, policosanols are a promising resource in the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but these results need to be confirmed in independent laboratories. [source]