Journal articles on the topic 'Sodium glycerate'

Gold nanoparticles supported on various oxides (CeO2, CeO2/TiO2, MgO, MgO/TiO2, La2O3, La2O3/TiO2) (with 4 wt.% Au loading) were investigated in the liquid (aqueous) phase oxidation of glycerol by molecular oxygen under mild conditions, in the presence of alkaline earth (CaO, SrO and MgO) or alkaline (NaOH) bases. Full conversion and selectivity between 38 and 68% to sodium glycerate were observed on different Au supported catalysts (Au/MgO/TiO2, Au/La2O3/TiO2, Au/CeO2 and Au/CeO2/TiO2). The combined effect of Au particle size and basicity of the support was suggested as the determining factor of the activity. Agglomeration of gold nanoparticles, found after the reaction, led to the deactivation of the catalysts, which prevents the further oxidation of sodium glycerate into sodium tartronate. Promising results were obtained with the use of alkaline earth bases (CaO, SrO, MgO), leading to the formation of free carboxylic acids instead of salts, which are formed in the presence of the more usual base, NaOH.

Studies have been conducted to assess the possibility of refining a lead collector containing precious metals, with the aim of obtaining lead using an economically viable technology. Studied the patterns of anodic oxidation of lead and impurities in alkaline-water-glycerate electrolytes, depending on the concentration of sodium hydroxide and glycerol in the electrolyte, the potential sweep rate.

Oysters and clams are important for food security and of commercial value worldwide. They are affected by anthropogenic changes and opportunistic pathogens and can be indicators of changes in ocean environments. Therefore, studies into biomarker discovery are of considerable value. This study aimed at assessing extracellular vesicle (EV) signatures and post-translational protein deimination profiles of hemolymph from four commercially valuable Mollusca species, the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), soft shell clam (Mya arenaria), Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), and Atlantic jacknife clam (Ensis leei). EVs form part of cellular communication by transporting protein and genetic cargo and play roles in immunity and host–pathogen interactions. Protein deimination is a post-translational modification caused by peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), and can facilitate protein moonlighting in health and disease. The current study identified hemolymph-EV profiles in the four Mollusca species, revealing some species differences. Deiminated protein candidates differed in hemolymph between the species, with some common targets between all four species (e.g., histone H3 and H4, actin, and GAPDH), while other hits were species-specific; in blue mussel these included heavy metal binding protein, heat shock proteins 60 and 90, 2-phospho-D-glycerate hydrolyase, GTP cyclohydrolase feedback regulatory protein, sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase, and fibrinogen domain containing protein. In soft shell clam specific deimination hits included dynein, MCM3-associated protein, and SCRN. In Eastern oyster specific deimination hits included muscle LIM protein, beta-1,3-glucan-binding protein, myosin heavy chain, thaumatin-like protein, vWFA domain-containing protein, BTB domain-containing protein, amylase, and beta-catenin. Deiminated proteins specific to Atlantic jackknife clam included nacre c1q domain-containing protein and PDZ domain-containing protein In addition, some proteins were common as deiminated targets between two or three of the Bivalvia species under study (e.g., EP protein, C1q domain containing protein, histone H2B, tubulin, elongation factor 1-alpha, dominin, extracellular superoxide dismutase). Protein interaction network analysis for the deiminated protein hits revealed major pathways relevant for immunity and metabolism, providing novel insights into post-translational regulation via deimination. The study contributes to EV characterization in diverse taxa and understanding of roles for PAD-mediated regulation of immune and metabolic pathways throughout phylogeny.

The production of glycerol and ester by alcoholysis of vegetable oils has been widely studied. Various catalysts, such as sodium and potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid have been used to increase the rate of reaction. This preliminary research studied the possibility of using potassium carbonate catalyst. The experiment was conducted in an autoclave. A certain amount of nyamplung seed oil was poured into the autoclave and then the heater was switched on to heat up the oil to the required temperature of reaction. Besides, a mixture of ethanol and potassium carbonate was heated in a flask equipped with condenser to form ethanolate. As soon as the required temperature was reached, the ethanolate was quickly put into the autoclave containing the nyamplung seed oil. The temperature of the reaction was kept constant for a period of time. At the end of each process, a sample was withdrawn and analyzed for its glycerine content by acetin method. The variables studied were reaction time and catalyst concentration. The experimental data were evaluated by applying pseudo homogeneous approach. It was found that data were in good agreement with first order reaction with respect to nyamplung seed oil. Using an equivalent ratio of 5.1 ethanol to nyamplung seed oil, a temperature of lOQoC,and an agitation speed of 150 rpm, the favorable catalyst concentration was found to be at 0.008 gram of potassium carbonate per gram of nyamplung seed oil. Under this condition, the glyceride conversion was 0.5159 in 75 min.

In the present investigation, mixed-solvency approach has been applied for the enhancement of aqueous solubility of a poorly water- soluble drug, zaltoprofen (selected as a model drug), by making blends (keeping total concentrations 40% w/v, constant) of selected water-soluble substances from among the hydrotropes (urea, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, nicotinamide); water-soluble solids (PEG-4000, PEG-6000); and co-solvents (propylene glycol, glycerine, PEG-200, PEG-400, PEG-600). Aqueous solubility of drug in case of selected blends (12 blends) ranged from 9.091 ± 0.011 mg/ml–43.055 ± 0.14 mg/ml (as compared to the solubility in distilled water 0.072 ± 0.012 mg/ml). The enhancement in the solubility of drug in a mixed solvent containing 10% sodium citrate, 5% sodium benzoate and 25 % S cosolvent (25% S cosolvent contains PEG200, PEG 400, PEG600, Glycerine and Propylene glycol) was more than 600 fold. This proved a synergistic enhancement in solubility of a poorly water-soluble drug due to mixed cosolvent effect. Each solubilized product was characterized by ultraviolet and infrared techniques. Various properties of solution such as pH, viscosity, specific gravity and surface tension were studied. The developed formulation was studied for physical and chemical stability. This mixed solvency shall prove definitely a boon for pharmaceutical industries for the development of dosage form of poorly water soluble drugs.

Calamine lotion is a shake lotion composed of calamine (zinc oxide/carbonate and ferric oxide), zinc oxide, bentonite, glycerine, sodium citrate, and liquified phenol. It is used widely in dermatology as a soothing agent. It is a preferred topical therapeutic agent for children including infants and is considered safe in pregnancy and lactation.

Objective: Topical cepae extract-heparin sodium-allantoin gel is one of the many non-invasive scar treatments available to improve the appearance and physical attributes of scars. This paper aims to compare the effectiveness of topical cepae extract-heparin sodium-allantoin gel versus placebo based on appearance and physical attributes of hypertrophic thyroidectomy scars. Methods: Design: Randomized, double-blinded, split-scar controlled trial Setting: Out-Patient Department of a Tertiary Government Hospital Participants: 20 patients with hypertrophic thyroidectomy scars had each side of the scar randomly assigned treatment with topical extract.-cepae-heparin sodium-allantoin gel or placebo (glycerine gel). Each product was applied two times daily for 6 weeks, and scars were evaluated prior to initiation of treatment and after 6 weeks by patients and one observer. Pre- and post-treatment photo documentation and scar evaluation using a local language translation of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) were completed for each side of the scar. Results: There was no significant difference in effectiveness of topical cepae extract-heparin sodium-allantoin gel versus placebo for both the patient scale (p = 0.91) and observer scale (p = 0.87) in appearance and physical attributes of a thyroidectomy scar. Conclusions: Topical cepae extract-heparin sodium-allantoin gel was not proven to be superior to the placebo as scar therapy in all parameters assessed by the Filipino translation of POSAS. The small sample size, duration of hypertrophic scar, duration of treatment, and validity and reliability of the Filipino translation of POSAS may have affected our results; and periodic subjective and objective assessments with multi-observer evaluation of scars and pre- and post- treatment photographs may be considered for further studies. Keywords: Topical Cepae Extract-Heparin Sodium-Allantoin Gel, Glycerine, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, thyroidectomy scar, scar

This article presents the influence of the anodizing parameters and thermo-chemical treatment of Al2O3 coatings made on aluminum alloy EN AW-5251 on the surface free energy. The oxide coating was produced by DC (Direct Current) anodizing in a ternary electrolyte. The thermo-chemical treatment of the oxide coatings was carried out using distilled water, sodium dichromate and sodium sulphate. Micrographs of the surface of the Al2O3 coatings were characterized using a scanning microscope (SEM). The chemical composition of the oxide coatings was identified using EDS (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) microanalysis. Surface free energy (SFE) calculations were performed by the Owens–Wendt method, based on wetting angle measurements made using the sessile drop technique. The highest value of surface free energy for the only anodized coatings was 46.57 mJ/m2, and the lowest was 37.66 mJ/m2. The contact angle measurement with glycerine was 98.06° ± 2.62°, suggesting a hydrophobic surface. The thermo-chemical treatment of the oxide coatings for most samples contributed to a significant increase in SFE, while reducing the contact angle with water. The highest value of surface free energy for the coatings after thermo-chemical treatment was 77.94 mJ/m2, while the lowest was 34.98 mJ/m2. Taking into account the contact angle measurement with glycerine, it was possible to obtain hydrophobic layers with the highest angle of 109.82° ± 4.79° for the sample after thermal treatment in sodium sulphate.

PT. Eterindo Nusa Graha is a company engaged in basic chemical industry that produces synthetic resins and glycerine. One of the raw material for production of synthetic resins is DOP produced 45,000 tons/year. One adjuvant DOP is sodium hydroxide liquid. The raw material is supplied by several companies so that in choosing a major supplier to supply sodium hidroxide is important. Sodium hydroxide liquid supplied by Manunggal indah, Toya indo, and Surya Makmur. In reality the quality of raw materials are sometimes less suitable and delays in delivery have an impact on the production process. So that needs to be measured to determine the supplier's performance. Supplier selection is expected to suit the needs of PT. Eterindo Nusa Graha. This study aims to determine the criteria and sub-criteria supplier selection according to the needs of companies and provides the results of decision-making for the selection of the supplier company. The method used in this study is used AHP weighting of the criteria and sub-criteria and TOPSIS. The results of the research produced 6 criteria and 14 sub-criteria. Of AHP, the weight of the biggest criteria is Quality (0.38651) and Delivery (0.17208), while from TOPSIS method produces major supplier PT. Manunggal indah with positive ideal distance value 0.008558653 and negative ideal distance value 0.04522.

Mouthwashes are a very popular additional oral hygiene element and there are plenty of individual products, whose compositions are in a state of flux. The aim of our study was to investigate the compositions of mouthwashes and their functions, as well as to discuss their effectiveness in preventing and curing oral diseases and side effects. We searched for mouthwashes available on the market in Poland. We identified 241 individual mouthwash products. The extraction of compositions was performed and functions of the ingredients were assessed. Then, analysis was performed. The evaluation revealed that there are plenty of ingredients, but a typical mouthwash is a water–glycerine mixture and consists of additional sweetener, surfactant, preservative, and some colourant and flavouring agent, as well as usually having two oral health substances, anticaries sodium fluoride and antimicrobial essential oils. The effectiveness or side effects of several substances of mouthwashes were thoroughly discussed. We recommend not multiplying individual mouthwash products and their ingredients beyond medical or pharmaceutical necessity, especially without scientific proof.

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The current work was attempted to formulate and evaluate a controlled-release matrix-type ocular inserts containing a combination of brimonidine tartrate and timolol maleate, with a view to sustain the drug release in the cul-de-sac of the eye.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Initially, the infrared studies were done to determine the drug–polymer interactions. Sodium alginate-loaded ocuserts were prepared by solvent casting technique. Varying the concentrations of polymer—sodium alginate, plasticizer—glycerine, and cross-linking agent—calcium chloride by keeping the drug concentration constant, made a total of nine formulations. These formulations were evaluated for its appearance, drug content, weight uniformity, thickness uniformity, percentage moisture loss, percentage moisture absorption, and <em>in vitro </em>release profile of the ocuserts. Finally, accelerated stability studies and the release kinetics were performed on the optimised formulation.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It was perceived that polymer, plasticizer, and calcium chloride had a significant influence on the drug release. The data obtained from the formulations showed that formulation—F9 was the optimised formulation, which exhibited better drug release. The release data of the optimised formulation tested on the kinetic models revealed that it exhibited first-order release kinetics. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It can be concluded that a natural bioadhesive hydrophilic polymer such as sodium alginate can be used as a film former to load water soluble and hydrophilic drugs like brimonidine tartrate and timolol maleate. Among all formulations, F9 with 400 mg sodium alginate, 2% calcium chloride and 60 mg glycerin were found to be the most suitable insert in terms of appearance, ease of handling, thickness, <em>in vitro</em> drug release and stability.</p>

Transdermal patch is a drug delivery system using a polymer for controlling the drug release. In this study, polysaccharides from aloe vera gel were used as polymer in transdermal patches because they are compatible, biodegradable, and safe to apply on skin without any side effect. Pentacyclic triterpenoids rich (asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside and madecassoside) Centella asiatica extracts were added as active ingredients. Both polymer and active ingredients show pharmacological effects as wound healing. It was found that the optimized formulation contained polysaccharides from aloe vera gel blended with 20% glycerine and 15% sodium alginate calculated based on aloe vera mass could produce the good films. These films could be controlled with respect to physical properties thickness (0.509±0.015 mm), tensile strength (1.391±0.131 MPa), elongation at break (116.2±13.15%), peel strength (0.116±0.044 N), the highest swelling times (20 minutes), and the percentage of degradation at 30 minutes (51.57±5.96%). About 0.34 % centella extracts (57% pentacyclic triterpenoids) could be found in these films. After stability studies at 4, 25 and 45 °C for 10 weeks, films stored at 45 °C were loss of flexibility and brittleness that could not be further evaluated. While films stored at 4 and 25 °C were good physiochemical properties and stable as same as films base.

Detoxification is one of the main vital tasks performed by the liver. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether mustard in its normal or nanoparticles could confer a protective/therapeutic effect against TAA-induced acute liver failure in experimental animal models. Mustard ethanolic extract was analyzed by HPLC/MS. To induce liver failure, male rats were injected with 350 mg/kg bw TAA IP, then treated orally with a dose of 100 mg/kg for 15 d of mustard extract and its nanoform before and following induction. The levels of serum liver functions, total cholesterol (TCHo), total glyceride (TG), total bilirubin (TBIL), hepatic malonaldhyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO),glutathione (GSH), sodium oxide dismutase (SOD), as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α,) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), were estimated. DNA genotoxicity and hepatic pathology, and immunohistologic (IHC) changes were assayed. The antioxidant content of Phenolic acids, flavonoids in mustard ethanolic extract substantially decreased the levels of ALT, AST, ALP and rehabilitated the histopathological alterations. In addition, nanoforms of mustard ethanol extract have notably increased the levels of GSH, SOD and significantly reduced the levels of MDA. The expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and tissue were markedly downregulated. DNA genotoxicity was significantly reversed. Mustard introduced a protective and medicinal effect against TAA in both its forms.

Today aluminium obtained from ores (primary) and from scrap (secondary) need to be refined. During this process harmful impurities such as hydrogen, sodium, lithium, oxides, borides or carbides can be removed. There are many different ways of aluminium refining process. The most popular seem to be barbotage that means blowing through aluminium many tiny gas bubbles of refining gas. Reactors applying this methods have been working all over the word. They are of different types: bath and continuous, using ceramic porous plugs, special kinds of nozzles or rotary impeller for generating small gas bubbles. At present reactors for continuous refining have become the most popular. In Poland typical representative of such reactors is URC-7000 reactor. The phenomena occurring during this process are rather complicated. Therefore to know them better the modelling research is applied, especially physical modelling. The paper presents the results of such a research. The tests were carried out in the test stand for modelling the babotage process in the URC-7000 reactor. The different modelling agents were tested (water, glycerin and mixture of water and glycerine). The density and viscosity of water and glycerin mixture were determined. Modelling tests were conducted for four different flow rates of refining gas: 6, 10, 15 and 20 dm3/min. Results were registered by digital camera. Pictures for different modelling agents were juxtaposed and discussed.

Engineers have worked greatly on measuring the strength of soils but relatively little on the fundamental geologic causes of strength. Strength depends principally upon the content of (1) water, (2) clastic materials and (3) plastic materials. Soils are primarily of two types (1) cohesionless soils in which the strength is produced mainly by the friction of clastic particles against one another, and (2) cohesive soils in which the strength, among other things, is influenced by forces between clay particles. The present investigation is a study of the effect of clay content upon the strength of cohesive soils. The strength was measured by a shear vane device working upon synthetic mixtures of clays of known composition. In each mixture strength varies inversely with water content in a straight line relationship when strength is plotted logarithmically and water arithmetically. Mixtures of glycerine with vol-clay (a montmorillonite) give a curvilinear relationship. For given water content the strength increases with respect to type of clay from kaolin through illite, ball clay to montmorillonite. Strength also increases progressively with increasing clay-sand ratio for all types of clay. In clay-sand mixtures of given clay composition strength increases with increasing fineness of grain of the sand mixed with clay. The liquid limit likewise increases regularly with increasing clay concentration and varies with clay type fci the same way as does strength. Strength varies inversely with temperature to a slight extent, changingjess than one percent per degree Centrigrade. Hydrogen kaolin clay, for given water content is several times stronger than sodium clay.

High flow arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are infiltrative, invading tissue planes and structures and may be life threatening when they bleed.1 They have a feeding artery and an anomalous capillary bed shunting blood from the arterial system to the venous system.1 The present trend of management of small AVMs is surgical excision with a high success rate. The problematic cases are diffuse AVMs infiltrating structures that render them impossible to totally extirpate surgically without causing much blood loss and tissue damage. The mainstay of management is embolization, surgical resection and reconstruction.2 Ligation or proximal embolization (alone) of feeding vessels should never be done because such maneuvers result in rapid recruitment of new vessels from adjacent arteries to supply the AVM nidus.2 Incomplete surgical excision definitely leads to recurrences, making this type of AVM very difficult to manage. What is the point of this paper? The complete destruction of the “nidus” of the AVM, from the artery to the capillary to the venous component, is the only potential cure.3 Well and good if there could be a way of doing this by sclerosing the entire vascular malformation. But since sclerosis only works well in low flow vascular malformations and tumors like hemangiomas, and poorly or not at all in high flow lesions,4 we have to convert this high flow AVM into a “no-flow” or “low flow” AVM by ligating the feeding and draining vessel and injecting the sclerosant intra-arterially thereafter at a dose sufficient enough to blanch out the AVM even up to its peripheral branches. This paper aims to demonstrate how we do this. Definition of Terms Vascular malformation: They are a result of abnormal development of vascular elements during embryonic or fetal stages of life.2 They originate from mesenchymal cells at an early stage of embryogenesis.3 and most are present at birth but there are several case reports of these lesions presenting after trauma in adults.1 Some AVMs appear as part of a familial genetic disorder called angiomatous syndrome i.e. Rendu-Osler-Weber Syndrome presenting with telangiectasia of the skin and mucous membranes.3 Some propose that a defect in vascular stabilization like TGF-beta signaling could be a cause of AVM development.5,6 Still, progesterone receptors have been isolated in AVMs explaining their expansion during puberty.7 Hemangioma: These are vascular tumors that exhibit endothelial proliferation.2 A hemangioma of infancy usually undergoes 3 stages: a proliferative phase of rapid growth up to 10 to 12 months of age; an involuting phase where growth slows down and signs of regression appear usually at 1 to 7 years; and an involuted phase.2 Sclerosants: Agents used in sclerotherapy that induce a toxic effect on the vascular endothelium and results in fibrosis. There are 3 types: Detergents that disrupt cell membranes by protein theft desaturation ie: ethanolamine oleate, sodium morrhuate, polidocanol, sodium tetradecyl sulfate; Osmotic agents ie: sclerodex; and Chemical irritants that damage cell walls by direct contact ie: chromatin glycerine, polyiodinated iodine.8 Sclerodex: an osmotic sclerosant that is a combination of dextrose monohydrate 250mg/ml and sodium chloride 100mg/ml. It shifts water balance through cellular gradient (osmotic) dehydration that leads to endothelial destruction. Since component materials are naturally occurring bodily, it has no molecular toxicity in calibrated dosages. If extravasated, it could cause tissue necrosis.8 It is manufactured by OMEGA Laboratories, Ltd. Montreal, QC, Canada. REVIEW OF PRESENT PRACTICE AND LITERATURE The first task of the physician is to establish a diagnosis, whether the lesion is a vascular malformation or a vascular tumor. Taking the history of the patient could point to a diagnosis as vascular tumors like hemangiomas usually proliferate and involute from the time of infancy to about the age of 10. Vascular malformations grow as the child grows and do not involute. Vascular malformations have an arterial supply and a venous drainage and are classified into high or low flow. Capillary, venous and lymphatic types are low flow while arteriovenous malformations are usually high flow. A high flow AVM has an arterial blood supply and a venous drainage. In rare instances, a vascular malformation could co-exist with a hemangioma forming a mass effect.2 On physical examination, a bruit and a strong pulsation (thrill) is appreciated. The head and neck is the most common location of AVMs at 70%. When fully developed, they are deeper in color with increasing erythema, local warmth, palpable mass and a bruit.9 These malformations are composed of vascular channels lined by flat mature epithelium and are not hypercellular and not proliferative.10 Schobinger proposed a staging system for Head and Neck AVM. Stage 1 are AVMs that are quiescent and remain stable for long periods of time. Stage 2 is a time for expansion followed by pain and bleeding. Stage 3 is heralded by destruction of adjacent tissues and ulceration. Stage 4 is presented by decompensation where symptoms of cardiac failure are present.11 Ultrasound with color Doppler imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Phlebography (arteriography/venography) contribute to diagnosis, classification and management.3 In our setting were we do not have the facilities, we use CT- angiography. These imaging modalities should be used to evaluate the characteristics of the lesion, such as size, flow velocity, flow direction, relation to surrounding structures and lesion content.3 Ultrasound demonstrates flow rates, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows presence or absence of a mass, and CT angiography reveals the arborization (the blood supply and drainage) of the vascular anomaly. Vascular tumors like hemangioma, if located in non-strategic areas where function is not impaired can be observed over its developmental phases until involution at about 10 years old.2 For hemangiomas that impair function or are possibly life threatening because of potential hemorrhage, these tumors are treated with the following modalities: 1. Intralesional corticosteroids ie: triamcinolone; 2.Systemic corticosteroids in a tapered dose like prednisolone and some second choice pharmacotherapeutics like interferon, vincristine; and 3. Propranolol. Surgery is indicated in ulcerating, bleeding, and life threatening lesions like airway obstruction.2 Over 90% demonstrate dramatic reduction in size of hemangioma in one to two weeks from the above medical therapeutic modalities. Propranolol has been successfully used as hemangioma treatment since 2008 and is believed to have an antiproliferative effect on the vascular endothelium. The mechanism of action may involve the regulation of growth factors.1 Low flow vascular malformations are treated with sclerotherapy or surgical excision for accessible tumors. These malformations do not regress like hemangioma but grow in time. High flow AVMs are treated with surgical excision if they have limited extent and are surgically accessible. Embolization before surgery decreases bleeding and is the standard. Embolization followed by repeated sclerotherapy is recommended for surgically inaccessible areas.4 There is a 64 to 96% response rate , defined as improvement in symptoms or a reduction in the lesion size after ethanol sclerotherapy of venous low flow malformations.3 Partial surgical excision leads to only temporary improvement followed by re-expansion of tumor overtime.9 Sometimes, complete resection is not possible in diffuse or infiltrating AVMs and surgery can result in severe disfigurement and impairment of function of involved structures.9 METHODS After establishing the diagnosis of a high flow AVM with identification of an arterial feeding vessel and a venous draining vessel, surgery is commenced away from the malformation to expose the arterial and venous supplies. The procedure is done under general anesthesia because sclerotherapy of large malformations and vascular tumors is very painful. We do this because we have no interventional radiology services in our hospital. We ligate the feeding artery and if possible, the draining vein to convert the AVM into a “ low or no flow” and to allow ample contact time between the sclerosant (sclerogen) and the vessel endothelium. The sclerosant is then injected intravascularly distal to the ligation until all visible malformation blanches out. Aspirating the blood content of the ligated (arterial supply and venous drainage) malformation before introduction of the sclerosant will further potentiate the action of the sclerosant. While injecting the sclerosant slowly, the patient’s vital signs are monitored. A drop in the pulse rate is a signal to stop or slow down the injection of the sclerosant because it may be a sign that some sclerosant is escaping the venous drainage and reaching the general circulation in a concentration picked up by the sensors of the vascular system. Injections resume in a slower manner as the vital signs revert to normal. Our sclerosing agent sclerogen is an osmotic agent composed of sodium chloride and dextrose which are naturally present in our body so they are not toxic in manageable concentrations. Other sclerosants can be nephrotoxic so we must be very careful in injecting not to overload the vascular system. The objective is to push the sclerosant to all branches of the malformation to eliminate all possible nidus. The end point of injection is when all cutaneous or mucosal components of the malformation blanch out. Injection of the sclerosant intravascularly is done under direct visualization to prevent extravascular introduction. A review of literature has this to say about sclerotherapy. Extravascular injection of the sclerosant causes tissue necrosis.4 Ethanol injection to high flow fistulous lesions is contraindicated because of high risk of” early wash “ into the systemic circulation.4 Sclerosants could cause hemolysis, denaturation of blood proteins, thrombus formation and nephrotoxicity.3,4,12 Ethanolamine oleate, in comparison to ethanol, has less effect in the deep vascular layer and no penetrative effect. It is not associated with neuronal side effects despite of the proximity of the nervous system to the vascular system.3 CASES Our first case was a 62-year-old woman with a pinna and periauricular vascular malformation, noted since 5 years prior to consultation. The inferior concha was bulging and pulsating with a strong bruit. The periauricular area was elevated with microvascular malformations in reddish discoloration. The left posterior auricular artery was identified as the feeding artery and the diagnosis was a high flow AVM. She consulted a hospital in Sacramento, California where she worked and was advised to have a resection of her left ear. She got frightened and decided to come home to the Philippines for a second opinion. I suggested our procedure which she gladly accepted but warned her of possible pinna necrosis. At least, she said, it is just a possibility and not an outright pinna loss. I dissected 1 cm below the malformation avoiding any of its extensions below the pinna and mandibular angle and moved towards the external carotid. I immediately located the pulsating, abnormally dilated posterior auricular artery feeding vessel and ligated it. Further dissection deep towards the styloid process revealed the venous drainage that penetrated the mastoid bone toward the direction of the sigmoid sinus. I too did the venous drainage ligation. I injected sclerogen distal to the posterior artery ligation after aspiration of 8 cc of AVM blood until all the malformation main mass and the peripheral branches blanched out. Total volume of sclerosant was 10 cc. There was no change in the vital signs as I slowly introduced the sclerosant. I closed the surgical defect and observed the patient for three days in the hospital. There was post-operative pain and swelling in the sclerosed malformation, relieved by ice packs and celecoxib 200 mg every 12 hours. After three days, the swelling started to subside and the pain lessened so the patient was sent home. She followed up in a week and the malformation had shrunk. Sutures were removed. Two weeks post-operatively, the malformation was just a trace skin discoloration with no tissue necrosis, no more bulge and pulsations and no pain. She asked permission to go back to work the following week in California. Our second case was a 13-year-old girl with a right tonsillar and hypopharyngeal vascular malformation. She had recurrent bleeding episodes necessitating blood transfusions in their province. I suggested our procedure which the parents and the patient consented to. We did surgery, ligating the right external carotid artery and external jugular vein and introduced the sclerosant (sclerogen) slowly until the tonsillar and hypopharyngeal malformation blanched out. There was no abnormal fluctuation of the patient’s vital signs. After closing the surgical access wound, I did tonsillectomy of the right since the bulging tonsillar malformation was obstructing the airway. There was very minimal bleeding and I was able to cauterize the remaining sclerosed malformation not included in the tonsil with ease. Two weeks post-surgery, she followed up with healed tonsillectomy wound and a disappearing malformation. She however had gastritis because of her co-amoxiclav antibiotic and her inability to eat well because of pain in swallowing. She eventually recovered from her gastric problems. At one-month follow-up, there was no trace of the malformation on visual examination. Looking back, doing tonsillectomy in an AVM would have been very bloody without sclerotherapy. Our third case was a nasopharyngeal AV malformation in a 35-year-old woman. She had episodes of severe bleeding requiring emergency tracheostomy, oral packing and blood transfusions. CT-angiography revealed two feeding vessels, one from the left external carotid artery and a minor one from the internal carotid artery. We decided to sclerose the left external carotid artery and see what happened to the internal carotid artery branch that could not be accessed. Since CT angiography did not identify the venous drainage, we introduced the sclerosant (sclerogen) very slowly, stopping when the pulse rate started to drop below 60 beats per minute and resuming slow injection when the pulse rate was normal. Oxygen saturation was noted to be stable at 98 to 100 %. We stopped when the AVM blanched out, injecting 15 ml of sclerosant. In two weeks time the AVM shrank except for a 1 x 1 cm bulge at the left posterior nasopharynx that was supplied by the internal carotid artery branch that could not be sclerosed at the time of surgery. The patient was decannulated from tracheostomy and was able to resume normal diet and activity. She is on regular follow-up and is being maintained with propranolol 40 mg once a day hoping that it may work as it does in hemangioma. 1 year post operatively, the bulge has not grown nor disappeared. Looking back, had we done surgery as suggested by colleagues, we could have encountered massive bleeding, inability to take the AVM all out, and eventual recurrence. Pondering upon the case of a second arterial blood supply of the AVM, the malformation could have recruited this second blood supply. The forward force of introduction of the sclerosant was not able to overcome the arterial pressure of the internal carotid artery feeding branch so the sclerotherapy effect stopped where the flow forces where at equilibrium. Note that in this case, we did not ligate the specific venous drainage as the CT-angiography did not identify it. DISCUSSION Managing AVMs that are diffuse and infiltrative can be very difficult. Surgical extirpation of all the nidus may not be possible and will surely lead to recurrences. Besides, malformations located in functionally strategic areas may present with structural deformities and functional disturbances when they are damaged by surgery. Small AVMs can be resected with high rates of success and no recurrences. In one series, all 16 patients with surgically accessible, localized, non-infiltrating AVMs who underwent angio-embolization with subsequent surgical excision demonstrated no evidence of recurrence on angiography during follow-up averaging 3 months.9 In low flow venous malformations, sclerotherapy administered by trans-arterial, trans-venous or direct puncture injection without embolization or feeding vessel ligation has a 64 to 96% response rate, defined as improvement in symptoms or reduction of the lesion and not necessarily cure.3 The cure rate for small malformations was 69% with excision only and 62% for extensive lesions with combined embolization and resection. At 6 years average follow-up, cure rate was 75% for stage 1; 67% for stage 2; and 48% for stage 3 malformations. The outcomes were not significantly affected by age at treatment, Schobinger stage, or treatment method.11 Embolo-sclerotherapy is a new therapeutic modality for surgically inaccessible lesions like diffuse and infiltrating AVMs.4 This procedure is done repeatedly since the embolus recanalizes and the sclerosant is injected distal to the embolus. This method is reserved as an adjunct to subsequent surgical resection.4 Our immediate results for ligation of feeding artery or draining vein before sclerotherapy were dramatic without functional or anatomic compromise. With sclerogen, whose components exist in the body naturally, we found no significant complications in our 3 cases. This technique could be ideal for diffuse and infiltrating AVMs. It is more effective if the feeding artery and the draining vein are identified and ligated so that the sclerosant can be pushed to all branches of the AVM. With a “no-flow or a slow-flow” AVM, we are able to prolong the contact of the sclerosant with the vascular endothelium thereby increasing the success rate of totally eliminating the nidus of the vascular malformation. More studies and experience are needed to prove the durability of this technique. Are we able to eliminate all the nidus of the AVM if we are able to ligate all feeding arteries and draining veins before sclerotherapy? Our center is not so equipped so more technically advanced institutions dealing with vascular tumors and malformations can validate the efficacy of this technique. After all, it might not be bane to ligate AVM feeding and draining vessels if we are able to destroy the entire nidus of the AVM by whatever means like sclerotherapy in this case. Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge my anesthesiologist Dr. Julius Apostol who encouraged me to try new things and promised to research on management of possible egress of sclerosants in the systemic circulation as he puts my patients to sleep. My residents at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baguio General Hospital did the pre- and post-operative patient care while I was away, and the photography: Dr. Carlo Pagalilauan, Chief Resident and photographer, Dr. Sherwin Valdez, Dr. Beverly Carbonel, Dr. Jeff Peckley and Dr. Wingleaf Yu who are my assistants. Thank you.

AbstractPhysical consequences of ionic diffusion processes play a major role on the outcome of electrophysiology experiments due to both their contribution to the ionic transmembrane transport and phenomena taking place at the measuring instruments interface. As most of the time heterogenities in biological media with respect to ionic diffusion constants are disregarded, we intended to look upon the general case of ionic diffusion at the interface of two liquids on which gradients of these diffusion constants no longer can be neglected. We developed a theoretical model for the diffusion potential which emerges at an aqueous interface under gradients of concentration and diffusion constants. The experimental validation of our model was achieved through potential difference measurements of the diffusion potential between two solutions containing sodium chloride (NaCl) and glycerine solutions of various concentrations. Within the studied domain of the electrical charge mobility ratio, we noticed that experimental results are in agreement with the theoretically inferred diffusion potential values. This demonstrates that the resulting relationship for the diffusion potential inferred from our model could be applied for other cases, as well. When the ionic solutions contains an indefinite quantity of glycerine or an unknown substance able to modify diffusion constants of sodium and chloride, it was shown that through measurements of the diffusion potential one can infer the unknown concentration of glycerine and the modified ionic mobility ratio. This, in turn, builds up the foundation for a novel yet simple and efficient analitycal sensing device for quantitative determination in the field.

Due to increased global warming and pollution, the use of biodiesel as alternative to biodiesel has become a widespread. The use of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) oil as a possible feedstock for biodiesel production was evaluated. The biodiesel was produced through transesterification with sodium hydroxide and gave a biodiesel yield of 94 wt.%. The fatty acid profile obtained by chromatography analyzer was mainly erucic acid 45.7 wt.%, linoleic acid 14.2 wt.% and linolenic acid 13.0 wt.% acids. The distillation characteristics show higher distillation temperature than diesel and the mineral elements in the oil and biodiesel are within the ASTM limits for biodiesel. The oil and biodiesel were characterized and they gave properties that are similar to those of fossil diesel and within the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 limits for biodiesel, which led to the conclusion that mustard seeds can be a viable source of feedstock for biodiesel production. The glycerin analysis shows the completeness of the transesterification process.

Backgrounds: Sore throat is one of the most common reasons for visits to the hospital. While most patients with sore throat have an infectious cause (pharyngitis), either bacterial or viral infection, fewer than 20 per cent have a clear indication for antibiotic therapy. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the patient’s clinical outcome after using a salt solution (sodium chloride) and thymol glycerine mouth wash in the evaluation of sore throat patient with non bacterial pharyngitis. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial, in which 100 patients who had non-bacterial pharyngitis were divided into two groups: those who gargled a salt solution (sodium chloride 3%) and those who gargled a thymol solution. A sore throat questionnaire was filled out 1 week later. Results: Demographically, the results showed that there were significant differences between the two groups with regard to gender. However, there was no significant difference in age of the patients. A significant difference was observed between the two groups in term of sore throat pain scale, difficulty swallowing scale and swollen throat scale. All p-value are <0.001. Conclusion: Gargling a salt solution, a natural, and harmless substance, can reduce the pain and other symptom of sore throat in patients with non-bacterial pharyngitis.

Mucoadhesive buccal films of rivastigmine were prepared by the solvent casting technique using HPMC K15M, sodium alginate, glycerine, and Eudragit RL100. Arranged films assessed for weight variation, thickness, % drug substance, % moisture loss, % moisture take-up, folding endurance, in-vitro medicament release, and Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The films showed a controlled release (CR) over 8 h. The preparation observed to be a worthy candidate for the development of buccal patches for therapeutic purposes. Drug-polymer compatibility considers FTIR demonstrated no contradiction between the medicament and the polymers. The optimized formulation found F7 indicated drug release 85% at the end of 8 h. Thinking about the correlation coefficient (R2) values got from the kinetic equations, the drug release from the formulations F1-F8 has discovered zero-order release mechanism. It can be concluded that oral buccal patches of rivastigmine, for treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, can be formulated. The study suggests that rivastigmine can be conveniently administered orally in the form of buccal patches, with the lesser occurrence of its side effects and improved bioavailability.

Osteoporosis means "Porous bone” is a disease characterized by progressive bone thinning. The deterioration of bone tissue can lead to bone fragility and fracture, especially of the hip, spine, shoulder and wrist. Osteoporosis is caused generally due the decreasing bone mineral density (BMD). Osteoporosis affects 30-40% women after menopause all around the world. Bisphosphonates are the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis in the US and many other countries including India. Alendronate- sodium (AS) is a widely used anti-osteoporosis drug, exhibits strong inhibitory effect on bone resorption performed by osteoclast cells and acts as a potent, specific inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. AS was the first FDA approved bisphosphonate for treatment of osteoporosis in the US in 1995. The objective of the present study was to develop, optimize, and evaluate Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN) of Alendronate-sodium drug which improve the solubility, dissolution rate and enhance the bioavailability of the drug. AS loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles have been developed using Glyceral Monosterate (GMS) as lipid and poloxamer 407 as the emulsifier by Emulsion -Solvent evaporation method. Different process variables i.e. concentration of surfactant, homogenization speed and time have been optimized. Formulated SLNs with GMS showed low particle size and high entrapement efficiency. The SLNs were characterized using Zeta sizer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In-vitro drug release study was performed by dialysis bag diffusion method and different mathematical models were applied for the release study.