Biomedical subjects

Edina Vranić

Publications and source records attributed to Edina Vranić.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Intraosseous injection of clindamycin phosphate into the chronic apical lesion of lower molar--a case report.

Periapical disease is the result of bacteria, their product, and the host response to them. Early histological studies of diseased periapical tissue have not been able to demonstrate viable bacteria in the lesions studied. Recent reports indicate that many of periapical lesions are indeed infected before and after endodontic treatment. The validity and applicability of the microbial delivery overcome many disadvantages that we see with systemic drugs. In this case report we presented a novel approach of managing chronic diffuse periapical lesion of lower molar based on specific selection of intracanal medicament in combination with direct periapical injection. We used bacterial culturing and antibiotic sensitivity test to select specific intracanal medicament, in addition we presented an intraosseous injection technique to locally deliver the selected medicament directly into the periapical lesion. Our findings are encouraging and promising. The validity and applicability of the technique needs to be tested in a well controlled clinical trial.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Formulation ingredients for toothpastes and mouthwashes.

In order to achieve the multi-claim products required for the dental care category, it is necessary for the formulator to use a variety of different ingredients. This places a number of demands on the development process. Innovations in the areas of pharmaceutical technology have contributed to the formulation of the products having superior efficacy as well as other attributes that may contribute to clinical response and patient acceptability. Improved clinical efficacy and tolerability, along with conditioning signals, should encourage patient compliance with oral hygiene further complementing professional efforts directed at disease prevention. The most effective way of preventing the development of dental disease is in controlling the production of dental plaque. It is formed by microbial action. The removal of plaque from the teeth and related areas is essential for the maintenance of a healthy mouth. In this paper we have presented the main components of toothpastes and mouthwashes. For the active ingredients, their supposed effect as therapeutic agents is also explained.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

PubMed2004

Amorphous pharmaceutical solids.

Amorphous forms are, by definition, non-crystalline materials which possess no long-range order. Their structure can be thought of as being similar to that of a frozen liquid with the thermal fluctuations present in a liquid frozen out, leaving only "static" structural disorder. The amorphous solids have always been an essential part of pharmaceutical research, but the current interest has been raised by two developments: a growing attention to pharmaceutical solids in general, especially polymorphs and solvates and a revived interest in the science of glasses and the glass transition. Amorphous substances may be formed both intentionally and unintentionally during normal pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. The properties of amorphous materials can be exploited to improve the performance of pharmaceutical dosage forms, but these properties can also give rise to unwanted effects that need to be understood and managed in order for the systems to perform as required.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

PubMed2004

Sonophoresis-mechanisms and application.

There are numerous methods of administering drugs to the body, both passive and active. Active methods include the use of penetration enhancers and assisted drug delivery. One of them is sonophoresis (phonophoresis). This term is used to describe the effects of ultrasound on the movement of drugs through intact living skin and into the soft tissues. Although the exact mechanism of sonophoresis is not known, drug absorption may involve a disruption of the stratum corneum lipids allowing the drug to pass through the skin. In the future, drug release systems aided by ultrasound may be able to provide slow release of vaccines. Researchers are currently exploring the applications in various areas like cutaneous vaccination, transdermal heparin delivery, transdermal glucose monitoring, delivery of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, treatment of bone diseases and Peyronie's disease and dermal exposure assessment. The possibilities seem endless. Drug administration through skin patches, with the advent and development of ultrasound-mediated transdermal transport, may soon become the name of the game. Besides, taking into account the varied possible applications of sonophoretic transdermal drug transport in the fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering, we can envision a whole gamut of newer technologies and products in the foreseeable future.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed2004

Different digital imaging techniques in dental practice.

Different imaging techniques are used to pick up the signal of interest in digital sensors, including charge-coupled devices (CCD), complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS), photostimulable phosphors plates (PSP) and tuned-aperture computed tomography (TACT) Digital radiography sensors are divided into: storage phosphor plates (SPP) called photostimulable phosphor plates (PSP), silicon devices such as charge-coupled devices (CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS). Relatively new type of imaging that may hold advantage over current radiographic modalities is tuned-aperture computed tomography (TACT).

Humans↗

PubMed2004

Basic principles of drug--excipients interactions.

Excipients are generally considered inert additives included in drug formulation to help in the manufacturing, administration or absorption. Other reasons for inclusion concern product differentiation, appearance enhancement or retention of quality. Excipients can initiate, propagate or participate in chemical or physical interactions with an active substance, possibly leading to compromised quality or performance of the medication. Understanding the chemical and physical nature of excipients, the impurities or residues associated with them and how they may interact with other materials, or with each other, forewarns the pharmaceutical technologist of possibilities for undesirable developments.

Drug Contamination↗

PubMed2004

Etiological findings in endodontic-periodontal infections.

The endodontium and periodontium are closely related and disease of one may lead to secondary disease in the other. The differential diagnosis of endodontic and periodontal disease is of vital importance, so that the appropriate treatment can be done. Microorganisms play a primary role in endodontic and periodontal infections. The magnitude of the host response will be directly proportional to the virulence and the number of microbial cells present. Tissue damage caused by bacteria is mediated by either direct or indirect mechanisms. Direct harmful effects caused by bacteria involve their products, such as enzymes (collagenase, hyaluronidase, condroitinase, acid phosphatase), exotoxins and metabolites (bytrate, propionate, ammonium polyamines, sulphured compounds). In addition, bacterial components such as peptidoglycan, teichoic acid, fimbriae, outer membrane proteins, capsule, and lypopolysaccharide, stimulate the development of host immune reaction capable of causing severe tissue destruction.

Bacterial Infections↗

PubMed2004

Endodontic-periodontal locally delivered antibiotics.

Endodontic pathology is a bacterial disease. It is well established that periapical disease is the result of bacteria, their product, and the host response to them. Periradicular disease will occur after microorganisms and their metabolic products affect the periradicular tissue. Aim of using antibiotics as part of a treatment regimen is to achieve, within the periodontal environment, a concentration of the drug that is sufficient either to kill (bactericidal) or arrest the growth (bacteriostatic) of pathogenic microorganisms. There are two possible approaches to improve the drug action: sustained and controlled drug release to reduce or eliminate side effects by improving the therapeutic index and site-specific drug delivery to minimize systemic effects. These two strategies have been explored by the association of drugs with different vehicles, either naturals or synthetics. A wide variety of specialized local delivery systems (i.e.intrapocket devices) have been designed to maintain the antibiotic in the GCF (gingival crevicular fluid) at a concentration higher than the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration). Fibres, films, strips and microparticles made of biodegradable or non-biodegradable polymers have been reported as effective methods to administer antibacterial agents for periodontal therapy. Together with these solid devices, semisolid adhesive or non-adhesive formulations have also been proposed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2003

Clinical application of calcium hydroxide in dental pathology and endodontics.

Calcium hydroxide has a hard tissue inducing effect. It is a powder, that can be mixed with a physiological saline to a paste. The paste is highly alkaline with a pH 12.5 and its application to the pulp results in necrosis of the part of coronal pulp tissue shows no or only a milled inflammatory reaction. Analyzing the pH and the concentration of calcium ions in the periapical area, it is obvious that at least 2 weeks are necessary for calcium hydroxide bactericide activity. Calcium hydroxide retains its anti-bacterial properties for about two months when placed under a restoration, after which it degrades to calcium oxide and other less effective calcium salts. All calcium hydroxide preparations have a limited shelf life as they eventually turn into calcium oxide. Calcium hydroxide can be used as linings, for indirect and direct pulp cupping, root dressing, root canal sealant, apical closure. The vehicles play a supportive role, giving pastes chemical characteristics such as dissociation and diffusion as well as favoring the correct filling of the root canal which are decisive factors for antimicrobial potential and tissue healing. The mechanism of action of calcium hydroxide on tissues, inducing the deposition of mineralized tissue, is an extremely important aspect for the indication of calcium hydroxide, because it demonstrates biological compatibility of calcium hydroxide.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Recent advances in the identification and prediction of polymorphs.

An increased understanding of the phenomenon of polymorphism should enable pharmaceutical scientists to gain control over the crystallization process in order to selectively obtain the desired polymorph or suppress the growth of an undesired one. Phase changes during processing and scale-up are a problem, which may be avoided by carefully designed initial small-scale studies. The availability of detailed structural data, combined with strategic design of substrates and additives, has led to significant advances in the control over the polymorphs obtained in a particular crystallization. With all the information available from these initial studies, it should be possible to design and to select processing conditions which would give a desired polymorph and maintain the desired form throughout the various stages of drug processing and manufacture.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Iontophoresis: fundamentals, developments and application.

The skin is an excellent barrier to the transport of charged compounds and large molecules. Many substances of present and potential therapeutic utility carry charge at physiological pH, have high molecular weights and/or are hydrophilic and, consequently, do not transport well across the skin. Pathways for the transport of small ions do appear to exist through the skin and flow along these pathways can be substantially enhanced by iontophoresis.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Experimental design--basic considerations.

Experimental design is a critically important tool for improving the performance of a manufacturing process. It has also extensive application in the development of new processes. It is important to investigate all factors that may be of importance and to not be overly influenced by past experience, particularly when we are in the early stages of experimentation or when the process is not very mature.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Classification and evaluation of medical devices.

Medical devices and medical disposables contribute significantly to the quality and effectiveness of the health care system. It is necessary to commit scientifically sound regulatory environment that will provide consumers with the best medical care. This includes continued services to small manufacturers, readily available guidance on FDA requirements, predictable and reasonable response times on applications for marketing, and equitable enforcement. But in the public interest, this commitment to the industry must be coupled with a reciprocal commitment: that medical device firms will meet high standards in the design, manufacture, and evaluation of their products. The protections afforded our consumer, and the benefits provided the medical device industry, cannot be underestimated.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Mathematical methods for quantification and comparison of dissolution testing data.

In recent years, drug release/dissolution from solid dosage forms has been the subject of intense and profitable scientific developments. Whenever a new solid dosage form is developed or produced, it is necessary to ensure that drug dissolution occurs in an appropriate manner. The pharmaceutical industry and the registration authorities do focus, nowadays, on drug dissolution studies. The quantitative analysis of the values obtained in dissolution/release tests is easier when mathematical formulas that express the dissolution results as a function of some of the dosage forms characteristics are used. This work discusses the analysis of data obtained for dissolution profiles under different media pH conditions using mathematical methods of analysis described by Moore and Flanner. These authors have described difference factor (f1) and similarity factor (f2), which can be used to characterise drug dissolution/release profiles. In this work we have used these formulas for evaluation of dissolution profiles of the conventional tablets in different pH of dissolution medium (range of physiological variations).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

The new trends in theophylline therapy.

Sustained-release theophylline pellets formulation for once-daily evening administration significantly improved patients compliance and adjusted serum levels profile of the drug. The patients conversion from i.v. to p.o. therapy is one of the most critical steps in the treatment of asthma according to its chronopathophysiological character. In our study we have examined safety and efficiency of this conversion in twelve hospitalised asthmatic patients who were given the new sustained-release theophylline pellets formulation for once-daily evening administration. The lung function parameters (FEV1, VC, RV, and Rt) and serum theophylline concentrations were monitored. So, the values obtained for the last day of i.v. therapy and the fifth day of p.o. therapy were compared. We found that 75% of the patients had no change or improved lung function on the conversion. Our results indicate that this conversion from i.v. to p.o. theophylline therapy is safe and could be efficacious. Also, the maximum theophylline serum levels could safely be predicted by measuring only one serum concentration in p.o. therapy with sustained-release theophylline pellets formulation for once-daily evening administration.

Journal Article↗