Female ; Humans ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

Two different salts of diclofenac, diclofenac sodium and dielofenae potassium, in tablet dosage form were tested for their bioavailability and disposition kinetics in a group of eighteen rabbits in normal and experimentally induced dehydrated conditions with a wash out period of 7 days between both stages of study. Biochemical and physiological parameters were also measured in both normal and dehydrated states. Diclofenac levels in plasma were determined using a validated reversed phase HPLC method. Primary kinetic parameters i.e. AUC0-∞, Cmax, Tmax and other disposition kinetics were obtained with non-compartmental procedure. Biochemical parameters i.e. packed cell volume, plasma glucose and total lipid concentration in dehydrated rabbits increased significantly. Plasma concentration of diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium decreased significantly in water deprived rabbits. In comparison, diclofenac potassium in normal and dehydrated state of the same group of rabbits showed a significantly increased plasma concentration when compared with diclofenac sodium.

Skeletal examination is an important aspect of forensic pathology practice, requiring effective bone cleaning with minimal artefact. This study was conducted to compare between chemical and entomology methods of bone cleaning. Ten subjects between 20 and 40 years old who underwent uncomplicated medico-legal autopsies at the Institute of Forensic Medicine Malaysia were randomly chosen for this descriptive cross sectional study. The sternum bone was divided into 4 parts, each part subjected to a different cleaning method, being two chemical approaches i.e. laundry detergent and a combination of 6% hydrogen peroxide and powder sodium bicarbonate and two entomology approaches using 2nd instar maggots of Chrysomyia rufifacies and Ophyra spinigera. A scoring system for grading the outcome of cleaning was used. The effectiveness of the methods was evaluated based on average weight reduction per day and median number of days to achieve the average score of less than 1.5 within 12 days of the bone cleaning process. Using maggots was the most time-effective and costeffective method, achieving an average weight reduction of 1.4 gm per day, a median of 11.3 days to achieve the desired score and an average cost of MYR 4.10 per case to reach the desired score within 12 days. This conclusion was supported by blind validation by forensic specialists achieving a 77.8% preference for maggots. Emission scanning electron microscopy evaluation also revealed that maggots especially Chrysomyia rufifacies preserved the original condition of the bones better allowing improved elucidation of bone injuries in future real cases.

Introduction: Elderly patients with diabetes are at a high risk of contracting diabetic foot problems. Self-efficacy is essential to help improve foot care behaviour. Aim: To identify levels of self-efficacy and foot care behaviour and their relationship with demographic characteristics in elderly patients with diabetes Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two general hospitals in Malaysia from May to June 2015. Diabetes patients aged 60 years with specific inclusion criteria were invited to participate in this study. The respondents were interviewed using a set of validated questionnaires. Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression) using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. Results: Levels of foot self-efficacy (mean+31.39; standard deviation=7.76) and foot care behaviour (mean=25.37; SD=5.88) were high. There was a positive significant relationship between foot selfefficacy (β = 0.41, p < 0.001) and gender (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) with foot care behaviour. Conclusion: Self-efficacy can be incorporated in diabetes education to improve foot care behaviour. High-risk patients should be taught proper foot inspection and protection as well as the merits of skin care to prevent the occurrence of diabetic foot problems.

Two different salts of diclofenac, diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium, in tablet dosage form were tested for their bioavailability and disposition kinetics in a group of eighteen rabbits in normal and experimentally induced dehydrated conditions with a wash out period of 7 days between both stages of study. Biochemical and physiological parameters were also measured in both normal and dehydrated states. Diclofenac levels in plasma were determined using a validated reversed phase HPLC method. Primary kinetic parameters i.e. AUC(0-infinity), Cmax, Tmax and other disposition kinetics were obtained with non-compartmental procedure. Biochemical parameters i.e. packed cell volume, plasma glucose and total lipid concentration in dehydrated rabbits increased significantly. Plasma concentration of diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium decreased significantly in water deprived rabbits. In comparison, diclofenac potassium in normal and dehydrated state of the same group of rabbits showed a significantly increased plasma concentration when compared with diclofenac sodium.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Dehydration ; metabolism ; Diclofenac ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rabbits ; Tablets

This study involves mathematical simulation model such as in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) development for various extended release formulations of nimesulide loaded hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) microparticles (M1, M2 and M3 containing 1, 2, and 3 g HPMC, respectively and 1 g drug in each) having variable release characteristics. In vitro dissolution data of these formulations were correlated to their relevant in vivo absorption profiles followed by predictability worth analysis of these Level A IVIVC. Nimaran was used as control formulation to validate developed formulations and their respective models. The regression coefficients of IVIVC plots for M1, M2, M3 and Nimaran were 0.834 9, 0.831 2, 0.927 2 and 0.898 1, respectively. The internal prediction error for all formulations was within limits, i.e., < 10%. A good IVIVC was found for controlled release nimesulide loaded HPMC floating M3 microparticles. In other words, this mathematical simulation model is best fit for biowaiver studies which involves study parameters as those adopted for M3 because the value of its IVIVC regression coefficient is the closest to 1 as compared to M1 and M2.

A disaster is a natural or man-made (or technological) hazard resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment. It is a phenomenon that can cause damage to life and property and destroy the economic, social and cultural life of the people; and overwhelms the capacity of the community to cope with the event. The recent tragic aviation accidents in 2014 involving Malaysia Airlines flights MH370 and MH17 shocked the world in an unprecedented manner. This paper focuses on the Malaysian experience in the MH17 mission in Ukraine as well as the first ever international Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) operation for the Malaysian DVI team. The DVI operations in Hilversum, the Netherlands were well described in stages. The Netherlands’ Landelijk Team Forensische Opsporing as the lead DVI team in Hilversum operated systematically, ensuring the success of the whole mission. This paper discusses the lessons learned by the Malaysian team on proper DVI structure, inter- and intra-agency cooperation, facilities planning and set up, logistics and health and safety aspects, as well as effective communication and collaboration with other international delegates. Several issues and challenges faced by the Malaysian team were also documented. In addition, the authors shared views, opinions and recommendations for a more comprehensive DVI operation in the future.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder presenting with loss of pain sensation, thermal sensation defects, and self-mutilating behavior. In the present study, we recruited two consanguineous pedigree showing pain insensitivity symptoms from Pakistan for clinical and molecular investigations. In family A, one female patient displayed classical CIPA symptoms along with microcephaly and severe intellectual disability. During course of the disease, her right foot was amputated and had remarkable dental degeneration and teeth shedding. In family B, one boy presented with classical symptoms of congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. Blood was collected from both families for molecular studies. Sequencing with the Ilumina Trusight One Sequencing Panel covering 4813 OMIM genes revealed a known homozygous mutation c.2084C>T; p.P695L of NTRK1 in family A and a novel truncated mutation c.2025C>G; p.Y681X in family B. Protein modeling analysis of both mutations (p.P695L and p.Y681X) predicted loss of the rigidity in tyrosine kinase domain of NTRK1 that led to conformational changes as well as deleterious effect on protein function. The known mutation was reported more than a decade ago in a family from Northern Israel and other non-sense mutation is newly identified. It is interested that most of NTRK1 mutations are associated with this domain. This is first ever report of NTRK1 variants in congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis patients from Pakistan.
Pain Insensitivity, Congenital

OBJECTIVES: The usage of medicinal plants as natural antimicrobial agents has grown in many fields including dental medicine. The aim of this in vitro study was three-fold: (i) to determine the chemical compositions of the Ferula gummosa essential oil (FGEO), (ii) to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of the oil with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX), (iii) to assess the toxic behavior of FGEO in different concentrations compared to 5% NaOCl and 0.2% CHX. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to determine the chemical compositions of the oil. The disk diffusion method and a broth micro-dilution susceptibility assay were exploited to assess the antimicrobial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mitis, and Candida albicans. The cytocompatibility of the FGEO was assessed on L929 fibroblasts, and compared to that of NaOCl and CHX. RESULTS: Twenty-seven constituents were recognized in FGEO. The major component of the oil was beta-pinene (51.83%). All three irrigants significantly inhibited the growth of all examined microorganisms compared to the negative control group. FGEO at 50 microg/mL was effective in lower concentration against Enterococcus faecalis than 5% NaOCl and 0.2% CHX, and was also more potent than 0.2% CHX against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. FGEO was a cytocompatible solution, and had significantly lower toxicity compared to 5% NaOCl and 0.2% CHX. CONCLUSIONS: FGEO showed a promising biological potency as a root canal disinfectant. More investigations are required on the effectiveness of this oil on intracanal bacterial biofilms.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; Chlorhexidine ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Diffusion ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Ferula* ; Fibroblasts ; Plants* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Spectrum Analysis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus mitis

The aim of present study is to develop a pharmacokinetic model for microencapsulated metronidazole to predict drug absorption pattern in healthy human and validate this model internally. Metronidazole was microencapsulated into ethylcellulose shells followed by the conversion of these microcapsules into tablets. Dissolution study of tablets was conducted in 450 mL double distilled water, 0.1 mol L(-1) HCl and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) maintained at (37+/-0.5) degrees C using USP apparatus II at 50, 100 and 150 r min(-1). Three metronidazole tablets (T1: fast release, T2: moderate release, T3: slow release and reference) were administered to twenty four healthy human volunteers and serial blood samples were collected for 12 hours followed by their analysis using RP-HPLC. Drug release data were analyzed by various model dependent and independent approaches. Drug absorbed (%) was determined by Wagner-Nelson method from plasma concentration profile. Internal predictability was checked from Cmax and AUC. Optimum dissolution profile was observed in double distilled water and 50 r min(-1). A good level A correlation was observed between drug dissolution and absorption profiles (correlation coefficient, R2 = 0.9009, 0.9426, 0.9015 and 0.932 for T1, T2, T3 and reference, respectively). Internal predictability was found less than 10%. Good correlation coefficients and low prediction errors elaborate the validity of this mathematical in-vitro in-vivo correlation model as a predictive tool for the determination of pharmacokinetics from dissolution data.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Design ; Humans ; Male ; Metronidazole ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Young Adult