Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Volume:7 Issue: 3, Summer 2011

Topical and transdermal drug delivery systems are noninvasive and can be self-administered with the minimization of side-effects, have received increased attention during the past few years. Nanoemulsions, emulsions sized between 20-200 nm with narrow distributions, offer several advantages for topical and transdermal delivery of pharmaceutical agents including controlled droplet size, the ability to efficiently dissolve lipophilic drugs, enhanced skin permeation and extended release of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs. Moreover, they exert good sensorial and physical properties such as complete dispersion on skin and skin hydration in cosmetic products. The review deals with nanoemulsion applications in topical and transdermal drug and gene delivery.

Many premature neonates suffer from apnea, and aminophylline is administrated for them. The objective of this study was to reveal pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of theophylline in Iranian premature neonates. Premature neonates (68) who were admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Namazi, Hafez, and Zeinabieh Hospitals were included in the study. All of them received 5 mg/kg aminophylline. One group received 1 mg/kg/8 h and the other group received 2 mg/kg/8 h as maintenance dose. One blood sample was taken in steady-state on just before eleventh dose. Theophylline level was determined with immunoassay kit. There was a significant difference in average serum concentration (Cavess ) between two dosing levels (7.69±2.92 µg/ml vs. 11.44±3.80 µg/ml). Furthermore, the total clearance and volume of distribution were significantly different in two groups. No significant correlation could be found between the gender and Cavess in different dosing levels. Postnatal age and postconceptional age have significant relationship with Cavess just in the second group. According to theophylline serum concentrations, these two dosages produce therapeutically safe and effective blood levels. Pharma-cokinetic parameters in these patients – in two dosing groups – approximately are correlated with other reported and recommended amounts.

Statins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that are not directly related to their cholesterol-lowering activity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of simvastatin on the extent of tissue damage in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Simvastatin was orally given to rats in different doses (1, 2 and 4 mg/kg), 1 h prior to cisplatin injection (5 mg/kg, i.p.). All animals were decapitated 5 days after cisplatin administration. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, K and Na levels were measured. The kidney samples used for the measurement of malondialdehyde and glutathione levels or were processed for histopathological studies. Simvastatin at 1 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in serum Na and a significant increase in serum K. Simvastatin at 2 mg/kg significantly increased serum Na, and at 4 mg/kg significantly prevented decrease of GSH levels by cisplatin and significantly decreased serum Na levels. The morphological changes induced by cisplatin treatment were prevented only by 4 mg/kg dose of simvastatin. Thus, simvastatin at 4 mg/kg dose is beneficial in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via prevention of lipid peroxidation, inflammation and endothelial function impairment.

Screening and identification of moderately halophilic protease producing bacteria from different regions of Maharloo, a hypersaline lake in the southern area of Iran, were the objectives of this study. In the preliminary screening, 16 isolates exhibited proteolytic activity on saline skim milk agar. All isolates were able to grow comfortably in the media containing 7-15% of salt. Protease activity was assessed through in vitro colorimetric assays for general proteases and the strains were identified by 16S rDNA molecular marker. In comparison to Gram-negative bacteria, the Gram-positive rods, displayed higher proteolytic activities, and Bacillus sp. BCCS 041 was found as the highest protease producing strain with 0.43 U/ml of supernatant activity.

Giardia is a flagellate protozoan with worldwide distribution that causes significant gastrointestinal diseases. The life cycle of the organism alternates between the active, proliferating trophozoite and the dormant cyst. 5-Nitroimida-zoles have been used extensively in the treatment of amoebiasis, giardiasis, and trichomoniasis. We have previously synthesized some new analogues of metronidazole containing a phenyl or cyclohexanol ring in the side chain of the imidazole ring, and evaluated their antigiardiasis activity on giardia cyst. In the present study, we evaluated their activity against trophozoites of the parasite. For this purpose TYI- S-33 media was used and their MIC were compared with metronidazole and DMSO as positive and negative controls, respectively. The results showed that the new compounds had desirable antigiardiasis activities. Analogues which contain phenyl group in their structure are more active than those which contain cyclohexanol moiety. Although all the new compounds had higher MIC than metronidazole but their anti giardiasis activity were comparable to metronidazole and they may prove good alternatives for metronidazole.

Cholera toxin B subunit (CtxB) is a homopantameric, nontoxic subunit of cholera toxin that is responsible for its binding to the cell and has been known as a mucosal adjuvant for vaccines that could increase homoral and mocusal immunity response. In this work, the CtxB gene was fused to the StxB gene from Shigella dysenteriae type I a vaccine antigen candidate against this pathogen, by a nonfurin linker then ligated with pGEM vector and subcloned in the pET28a(+) as an expression vector . The CtxB-StxB fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified by a Ni-NTA resin column, then detected molecular weight and immunogenicity by SDS-PAGE and Western-blot. StxB has low molecular weight, so immune response against it is low, while CtxB is a potent mucosal adjuvant. In this method, the CtxB-StxB fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli in order to use its natural adjuvanticity of the CtxB which will enhance immune response against StxB, as well as, it will produce immune response against both shiga and cholera toxins.

This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Hg) in two commercial fish species of the Persian Gulf (coast of Bushehr Province in Iran), as well as in the sea waters. The concentrations of metals were determined by using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Two selected species were narrow-barred Spanish mackerel and tiger tooth croaker. The same fish were also used to determine the ratios of fatty acids including saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsat-urated fatty acids (PUFA). Fish and water samples were collected from three different areas, namely Bushehr (station 1), Tangestan (station 2) and Dayyer (station 3). Results showed that all metals contents had lower concentration of the mean values than the permissible limits set by FAO/WHO. It can be concluded that both fish species studied are safe to be consumed. In the present study, for the first time correlation of metals concentrations with fatty acids ratios in both species was statistically analyzed and showed no correlation except for Pb mean value which had negative correlation with PUFA% in tiger tooth croaker species.

In this study, 60 composite samples of dill and onion from two different cultivated areas in Khozestan province, Iran, were collected and analyzed for the presence and determination of lead and cadmium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples were burned according to AOAC at 450 °C, and the residue was dissolved in nitric acid. Lead and Cadmium contents were determined using calibration curves at wavelength 217 and 283.8 nm, for Cd and Pb, respectively. In order to evaluate reliability of the results obtained by external calibration curve, standard addition data for a number of randomly selected samples were compared with those of calibration. The results were in good agreements. Two Samples of each vegetable were also spiked with a certain amount of Pb and Cd. The recoveries of standards were in the range of 90-110%. Reproducibility was also good. Mean Cd and Pb concentrations were 0.208, and 1.972 mg.kg-1 dill, respectively. In the case of onion, no lead was detected, but its cadmium content was 0.0475 mg.kg-1. Pb and Cd content of dill were higher than permitted limits reported in Codex.