Egebergsalling2862
The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical stability and drug-release profile of gabapentin from different compounded formulations of Pluronic lecithin organogel containing gabapentin, thus confirming the stability of the preparations. Eight different formulations of compounded Pluronic lecithin organogel containing gabapentin alone or gabapentin in combination with other drugs were prepared using the cold incorporation method. Organoleptic properties, pH values, rheology, and gelation temperature were studied at 1, 7, and 14 days after preparation. The release of gabapentin out of Pluronic lecithin organogel was measured by diffusion across cellulose membranes (0.45 um) in the Franz diffusion cell system. The organoleptic properties were constant during the stability study in all formulations. The values of pH varied depending on the formulation, with slight increases after the the 7th day of the study. Gelation temperature, rheology, and drug release of gabapentin out of Pluronic lecithin organogel were remarkably dependent on the nature of combination in formulations during the time of assay. Formulations of Pluronic lecithin organogel containing only gabapentin or gabapentin with another drug were physically stable for 14 days. However, 3- and 4-combined drug formulations demonstrated an altered pseudoplastic behavior and instability during the study period.Instrumentation has become an integral function for any compounding operation, particularly for hard-gelatin capsules. This study examined the use of a capsule machine in a simulated compounding operation. It is an instrument that is reasonably priced and can deliver 24 capsules within ten minutes of operation. Capsule Connection LLC suggests the use of this machine for filling capsules with herbal or vitamin preparations. Moreover, this instrument may be used for training pharmacy students in a pharmaceutics/compounding laboratory. The main objective of the research was to calibrate and validate a capsule formulation for acetaminophen using the Capsule Machine from Capsule Connection LLC. Twenty Capsule Machines were purchased from Capsule Connection LLC. The machines were first calibrated and then validated using spray-dried lactose monohydrate powder. Based on the results obtained from the calibration and validation process, a powder mixture containing acetaminophen was prepared by mixing acetaminophen wit filling operation of lactose in capsules and none lost with the acetaminophen capsules. The Capsule Machine from Capsule Connection LLC produced capsules containing acetaminophen with high reproducibility and accuracy.Complexation is a powerful therapeutic as well as a pharmaceutical tool. Many categories of medications contain complexes which aid in the solubilization and stabilization of the drugs they contain. Some also contain complexes which are useful for treating poisonings, increasing pharmacological activity, improving drug distribution, and enhancing bioavailability. In this article, we limit our discussion to organic molecular complexes.Suppositories are unique dosage forms and provide pharmacists with an opportunity for a detailed discussion when counseling a patient. In addition to explaining an appropriate method of administration, there are several other factors that should be explained to the patient to enhance compliance, which includes various physiological factors; physicochemical properties; and other characteristics of the active drug and suppository base to enhance convenience, understanding, and compliance. Applicable background information is provided to enable a knowledgeable consultation by the pharmacist.Compounding pharmacists have the ability and creativity to formulate and meet patient-specific preparations. As compounding pharmacy continues to grow, it will provide an opportunity for more and more pharmacists to use their innovative skills to solve problems related to patients' medications. However, should all pharmacists compound? Only properly educated and trained pharmacists should be involved in pharmaceutical compounding. If pharmacists wish to compound but do not possess the required education, techniques, and skills, they should participate in continuing education programs that have been designed to provide the proper training, including the scientific basis and practical skills necessary for accurate contemporary compounding.The lipophilic hormone melatonin is widely known as a sleep-inducing agent, but its dermal-healing effects remain underappreciated. Although numerous commercially manufactured products are prescribed to heal and protect the human skin, not all are effective, and not all patients can tolerate the combinations of drugs and excipients in those treatments (some of which, such as corticosteroids, produce adverse effects). In addition, required active ingredients may not be available in the doses or dosage forms needed. In such cases, a compounded preparation may provide an effective alternative, but finding formulations and information about which pharmaceuticals to compound as a sole treatment or in combination with other ingredients can require extensive research. To assist that effort, this series provides - in a quick-reference format - profiles of agents that can be effectively used in compounding and formulations that contain them. In this article, information about the healing and prophylactic effects of melatonin in various forms is presented, and 2 formulations for melatonin-containing compounds are provided.Sterile compounding education is an essential curricular component across pharmacy schools. A virtual sterile intravenous compounding experience was implemented in place of traditional in-person delivery within the patient care lab course at one college of pharmacy. The objective of this manuscript is to describe student perceptions regarding student preparedness, satisfaction, and preferences after the virtual intravenous sterile compounding experience. Students reviewed a pre-recorded lecture and readings which covered sterile compounding fundamentals. Prior to the class session, students were provided with a kit that included simulated intravenous products. Each class session included approximately 33 students and three instructors via online video conferencing. The class session began with a large-group discussion to clarify questions following review of the videos and readings. Then, the class was divided into three breakout rooms with up to 11 students and one instructor. The instructor led the small group through stepwise sterile compounding procedures and provided feedback to the students. Students then completed an online multiple-choice quiz. A survey assessing student perceptions including preparedness, satisfaction, and preferences regarding the virtual experience was disseminated to students. A Mann-Whitney U analysis was performed to compare the ordinal data. A P-value of 0.05 was used to determine significance. Seventy-two (75%) second-year students and 32 (33.3%) third-year students completed the survey yielding an overall response rate of 54%. The majority of students (66%) reported satisfaction with the virtual compounding experience compared with in-person compounding experience. Fifty-seven percent of students felt the virtual experience prepared them for clinical rotation sterile compounding experiences. Overall, students indicated satisfaction with a virtual intravenous compounding experience.Radiation-induced dermatitis is a common complication of radiotherapy. In Spain, the manufactured products used to prevent and treat that condition consist of emollient creams (which are often ineffective) or corticosteroids (which can cause dermal atrophy and other adverse effects). Rolipram purchase However, we have found that topically applied melatonin, a product that to our knowledge is not commercially available in Spain, is safe and effective in the prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis and a viable substitute for corticosteroid therapy. In this report, we describe the use of compounded melatonin in Beeler cream (the formulation for which is provided) in a 46-year-old woman who underwent surgery and radiotherapy for early stage adenocarcinoma of the breast. The patient applied that cream as directed throughout the prescribed course of radiotherapy and continued its use for 3 weeks after she last underwent irradiation. She experienced no adverse effects from the use of the compounded formulation and tolerated that treatment well. Radiation dermatitis did not develop at the irradiated site until approximately 1 week after the final radiotherapy session, at which time mild erythema of the treated skin emerged. That condition, which was successfully treated by application of the melatonin-containing cream as previously prescribed, resolved after 3 weeks of its use. We suggest that when manufactured products designed to prevent or treat the adverse dermal effects of radiotherapy are unavailable, fail to be effective, or prove objectionable to patients, a melatonin-containing topical compound can provide a successful alternative.
Electronic medical records (EMRs) offer the promise of computationally identifying sarcoidosis cases. However, the accuracy of identifying these cases in the EMR is unknown.
The aim of this study is to determine the statistical performance of using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnostic codes to identify patients with sarcoidosis in the EMR.
We used the ICD diagnostic codes to identify sarcoidosis cases by searching the EMRs of the San Francisco and Palo Alto Veterans Affairs medical centers and randomly selecting 200 patients. To improve the diagnostic accuracy of the computational algorithm in cases where histopathological data are unavailable, we developed an index of suspicion to identify cases with a high index of suspicion for sarcoidosis (confirmed and probable) based on clinical and radiographic features alone using the American Thoracic Society practice guideline. Through medical record review, we determined the positive predictive value (PPV) of diagnosing sarcoidosis byiers for identifying sarcoidosis cases within EMRs with a PPV of 79%. Using a computational algorithm to capture index of suspicion data elements could significantly improve the case-identification accuracy.The distributed formation tracking control problem with multiple leaders under actuator faults and constraints is investigated in this article. All followers in the multiagent system should achieve a desired time-varying formation and track the convex combination of multiple leaders. To accomplish the control task, an active reconfigurable control scheme is proposed using the local information between agents, as well as the fault values of individuals provided by fault estimation observers. Combining with the Lyapunov stability theorem and the property of the Laplacian matrix, the control gains are calculated using the adaptive technique with a formation tracking feasibility condition. The original reconfigurable protocol is modified by utilizing anti-windup compensators to against saturation phenomenons (both magnitude and rate) in actuators. The simulation results validate that the presented scheme can address the faults as well as the actuator saturation.