Transdermal drug delivery is important to maintain plasma drug concentrations for therapeutic efficacy. The current study reports the design, formulation, and evaluation of tizanidine transdermal patches formulated using chitosan and thiolated chitosan, ethyl cellulose (EC), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and Eudragit RL100 in different ratios. The tizanidine patches were formulated using flaxseed oil and coriander oil in the concentrations of 1% v/w, 2% v/w, 3% v/w, 4% v/w, 5% v/w, and 10% v/w. The patches were subjected to characterization of physicochemical property (thickness, weight uniformity, drug content, efficiency, percentage moisture uptake/loss), in vitro drug release and drug permeation, skin irritation, in vivo application, pharmacokinetics analysis, and stability studies. The results indicate that the interaction of thiolated chitosan with the negative charges of the skin opens the tight junctions of the skin, whereas flaxseed and coriander oils change the conformational domain of the skin. The novelty of this study is in the use of flaxseed and coriander oils as skin permeation enhancers for the formulation of tizanidine transdermal patches. The formulations follow non-Fickian drug release kinetics. The FTZNE23, FTZNE36 and FTZNE54, with 5% v/w flaxseed oil loaded formulations, exhibited higher flux through rabbit skin compared with FTZNE30, FTZNE35, FTZNE42, and FTZNE47, formulations loaded with 10% v/w coriander oil. The study concludes that flaxseed oil is a better choice for formulating tizanidine patches, offering optimal plasma concentration and therapeutic efficacy, and recommends the use of flaxseed and coriander oil based patches as a novel transdermal delivery system for tizanidine and related classes of drugs.

Background: Hypertension is one of the most common medical disorders associated with pregnancy. It is the second leading cause of maternal mortality during pregnancy and affects one pregnancy in every ten cases. Maternal and fetal complications associated with hypertension can be highly destructive and can lead for example stroke, seizures, placental abruption, fetal death, and maternal death etc. In the current study, we tend to provide a comprehensive but short review of literature relevant to pregnancy induced hypertension. Importantly, its prevalence and distribution in Pakistan in general and in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in particular is discussed. In first section, however, a brief introduction and classification of pregnancy induced hypertension is addressed. Results: Total number of individuals are 125. Of these minimum ages of patients was 18 years and maximum were 45. Frequency of Pregnancy induced hypertension individuals were 57(45.60%) out of 125 patients and 68(54.40%) patients were without Pregnancy induced hypertension. 35(28%) patients were with history of pregnancy induced hypertension in previous pregnancy while 90(72%) did not have any history of PIH in previous pregnancy.33 (26.40%) of were doing regular exercise while 92(73.60%) had a sedentary lifestyle. 25(20%) had history of chronic hypertension while 100(80%) did not have any history of chronic hypertension. Conclusion: Effective operation of channel like improvement in general health of reproductive age females, health awareness of public, necessary antenatal care, prenatal diagnosis, optimal peripartum care, essential new born care program implementation and improving contraceptive prevalence are needed to lower perinatal mortality. This can be achieved through improving literacy rate, socioeconomic status and provision of free health facilities. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Concrete steps should be taken so as to diagnose and manage hypertensive disorders during pregnancy to avoid the lethal morbidities.

This study focused on the development and evaluation of etoricoxib-loaded transdermal patches for sustained drug delivery to enhance bioavailability and patient compliance. The patches were formulated using polymeric matrices to achieve controlled drug release and improved skin permeability. Various physicochemical characterizations, including surface morphology, thickness, weight uniformity, folding endurance, tensile strength, and moisture content, were conducted to ensure uniformity and mechanical stability. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated a sustained release profile over 24 hours, preventing burst release while maintaining therapeutic drug levels. Ex vivo permeation studies using Wistar rat skin confirmed efficient drug penetration, enhanced by penetration enhancers. A six-month accelerated stability study (40°C ± 2°C, 75% ± 5% RH) showed no significant changes in drug content or release profile. The optimized formulation (F6) exhibited superior mechanical properties, enhanced skin permeation, and controlled drug release, making it a promising alternative to oral etoricoxib for long-term pain management and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Background: Dengue fever is a rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral infection that presents with severe symptoms, including thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction. Due to the absence of a definitive antiviral treatment or widely available vaccine, supportive therapies are critical in managing the disease. Medicinal plants such as Carica papaya have shown therapeutic promise in restoring platelet counts due to their bioactive compounds like papain. However, traditional dosage forms of papaya extract have limitations in stability and patient compliance. Objective: To develop and evaluate stable effervescent granules from Carica papaya leaf extract with improved patient acceptability and optimized pharmaceutical properties. Methods: Fresh leaves of Carica papaya were collected, dried, and powdered. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts were prepared using maceration methods. Effervescent granules were formulated using citric acid, tartaric acid, and sodium bicarbonate, incorporating various doses: 2g/15mL and 3g/20mL (alcoholic extract), 5g powdered drug, and water extract. Granules were evaluated for pH, effervescence time, particle size distribution, angle of repose, compressibility index, and moisture content. Stability testing was conducted for up to six months. Results: The 3g/20mL alcoholic extract granules demonstrated the best performance, with effervescence onset within 1–2 seconds and pH of 5.0, falling within pharmacopeial range. These granules showed good flow properties with an angle of repose <30° and compressibility index of 13%. Moisture content was 2.7%, and particle size distribution revealed 85.3% retention on sieve no. 40. In contrast, water-based granules lost stability within 24 hours and failed to produce effervescence after storage. Conclusion: Effervescent granules formulated with 3g/20mL alcoholic extract of Carica papaya exhibited optimal pharmaceutical characteristics and stability, making them a promising candidate for supportive dengue therapy.

Background: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) remain among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These infections, including pneumonia, bronchitis, influenza, and bronchiolitis, are more prevalent in children due to their developing immune systems. They are commonly classified as upper or lower respiratory tract infections and occur more frequently in colder seasons and rural settings. Objective: The study aimed to determine the frequency and types of acute respiratory tract infections in children under five years of age and to identify the demographic and preventive factors associated with their occurrence. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over ten months at Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, involving 173 children aged ≤5 years. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire administered to parents, covering demographics, vaccination status, and infection history. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 16. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, while categorical variables were reported as frequencies and percentages. Results: Out of 173 participants, 63 (36.4%) had acute respiratory tract infections, while 110 (63.6%) were infection-free. Males constituted 110 (63.6%) and females 63 (36.4%). Most participants resided in rural areas (133, 76.9%), with only 40 (23.1%) from urban regions. Pneumonia was the most prevalent infection (31, 17.9%), followed by bronchiolitis (8, 4.6%) and pharyngitis (4, 2.3%). Regarding immunization, 103 (59.5%) were fully vaccinated, 36 (20.8%) partially vaccinated, and 34 (19.7%) unvaccinated. Conclusion: The study concludes that ARTIs are more common among male children and those living in rural areas. Pneumonia is the predominant form, and complete immunization significantly reduces the risk of infection. Targeted interventions focusing on vaccination, nutrition, and environmental hygiene can effectively lower the disease burden.

Arthritis is a persistent inflammatory condition that necessitates efficient and precise drug delivery systems to improve therapeutic results. The objective of this study was to create and assess a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-stabilized nanoemulsion containing methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) to enhance solubility, stability, and transdermal absorption. The novelty of this study lies in the innovative use of PVA-stabilized nanoemulsions for improving the bioavailability of MSM, a compound known for its anti-inflammatory properties but limited by poor solubility. The nanoemulsion was developed utilizing an oil-in-water (O/W) method and assessed for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, viscosity, and drug encapsulation efficiency. The optimized formulation (F5) demonstrated a nanoscale droplet size of 102.4 ± 2.6 nm, a low PDI of 0.290, a high encapsulation efficiency of 92.5%, and maintained stability for over 90 days under controlled storage conditions. The in vitro drug release studies revealed a sustained release profile, with F5 attaining a cumulative drug release of 97.8% over a 24-hour period. Ex-vivo skin permeation and deposition studies demonstrated improved transdermal delivery, with F5 exhibiting the highest permeation rate at 89.2% and notable skin deposition. The findings from the skin irritation study demonstrated outstanding biocompatibility, showing minimal irritation levels similar to those of normal saline. Additionally, in vivo assessments of anti-arthritic effects utilizing a Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis model revealed notable decreases in paw swelling and joint inflammation, similar to the effects observed with diclofenac treatment (p < 0.05). The results indicate that PVA-stabilized MSM nanoemulsion presents a viable, biocompatible, and sustained-release transdermal drug delivery system for the management of arthritis. Additional investigations, such as clinical trials, are suggested to confirm its therapeutic potential for human use. This study focuses on the development of a nanoemulsion system incorporating Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for the transdermal delivery of drugs aimed at treating arthritis. The formulation is designed to achieve sustained release, enhancing therapeutic efficacy.