Articles Archive
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Niosomes
Posted on December 26, 2010 | 2 CommentsNiosomes are a novel drug delivery system, in which the medication is encapsulated in a vesicle. The vesicle is composed of a bilayer of non-ionic surface active agents and hence the name niosomes. The niosomes are very small, and microscopic in size. Their size lies in the nanometric scale. Although structurally similar to liposomes, they offer several advantages over them. Niosomes have recently been shown to greatly increase transdermal drug delivery and also can be used in targeted drug delivery, and thus increased study in these structures can provide new methods for drug delivery. -
Medicinal Chemistry of the Peripheral Nervous System – Adrenergics and Cholinergic their Biosynthesis, Metabolism and Structure Activity Relationships
Posted on January 27, 2011 | No CommentsA summary of the medicinal chemistry of adrenergics and cholinergic drugs including biosynthesis of norepinephrine and biosynthesis of acetylcholine, metabolism of norepinephrine and metabolism of acetylcholine and the structure activity relationship of the adrenergic and cholinergic agents. -
Gene Therapy
Posted on January 28, 2011 | No CommentsGene Therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development -
c-MET
Posted on February 4, 2011 | No CommentsMET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor) is a proto-oncogene that encodes a protein MET, also known asc-Met or hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR). MET is a membrane receptor that is essential for embryonic development and wound healing. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is the only known ligand of the MET receptor. MET is normally expressed by cells of epithelial origin, while expression of HGF is restricted to cells of mesenchymal origin. Upon HGF stimulation, MET induces several biological responses that collectively give rise to a program known as invasive growth. Abnormal MET activation in cancer correlates with poor prognosis, where aberrantly active MET triggers tumor growth, formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) that supply the tumor with nutrients, and cancer spread to other organs (metastasis). MET is deregulated in many types of human malignancies, including cancers of kidney, liver, stomach, breast, and brain. Normally, only stem cells andprogenitor cells express MET, which allows these cells to grow invasively in order to generate new tissues in an embryo or regenerate damaged tissues in an adult. However, cancer stem cells are thought to hijack the ability of normal stem cells to express MET, and thus become the cause of cancer persistence and spread to other sites in the body. -
Determination of Absorption Rate Constant
Posted on February 19, 2011 | No CommentsAbsorption is characterized by evaluating the absorption rate constant ka from plasma concentration versus time data graphs. Most pharmacokinetic models assume first order kinetics for the oral absorption of the drug; however zero-order assumption can also occur -
A Primer on Measuring Concentrations – Molarity, Moles and Other Confusing Stuff
Posted on February 20, 2011 | No CommentsBeing pharmacy and pharmaceutical science students, we face concentrations all around us in some form or the other. This article is aimed to guide you better on how you can do the calculations and understand what is going on while calculating concentrations. We start off with the definition of Avagadro’s Number, cover gram molecular weight, moles, molarity etc. and will end with real life example problems with solutions which you can use to practice your calculations with. -
Chemistry of Enolates – C vs O Alkylation
Posted on February 25, 2011 | No CommentsEnolates can be very tricky to handle. Upon reaction with a base and in the presence of alkyl halide, the carbonyl compounds with ?-hydrogens can undergo a reaction to produce a mixture of c-alkylated product or o-alkylated product. -
Multiple Personality Disorder
Posted on February 25, 2011 | No CommentsMultiple personality disorder, or MPD, is a mental disturbance classified as one of the dissociative disorders in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). It has been renamed dissociative identity disorder (DID). MPD or DID is defined as a condition in which “two or more distinct identities or personality states” exist. -
Voltage Sensor in the Voltage Gated Sodium and Potassium Channels
Posted on February 26, 2011 | No CommentsVoltage gated Ion Channels are a class of Trans membrane ion channels that are sensitive to the change in the potential difference across the membrane. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 1 – Structure of Skin
Posted on March 3, 2011 | 3 CommentsThe skin is the most superficial part of the body. The signs of ageing are mostvisible in the skin. Although, ageing skin isnot a threat to a person, it can have a detrimental effect on the psychology of a person. A look into the causes of skin ageing, the available treatments and preventive measures for this inevitable change is important to help both the already aged, as well as, the youth. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 2 – Cutaneous Ageing and Causes of Ageing
Posted on March 5, 2011 | 1 CommentCutaneous ageing consists of 2 primary ageing processes- intrinsic ageing or natural ageing and, extrinsic ageing. Causes of ageing include telomere shortening, mitochondrial damage, endocrine dysfunction, photoaging, smoking, and lifestyle of the person. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 3 – Characteristics of the Ageing Skin
Posted on March 5, 2011 | No CommentsAging skin involves epidermal changes as well as dermal changes in which the overall elasticity of the skin is lost and the skin becomes dry. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 4a – Sunscreen Agents
Posted on March 9, 2011 | No CommentsSunscreen agents either act by scattering or by absorbing the sun's radient energy. Depending on the mechanism by which they block the radiation, they are classified as physical (scatter) and chemical (absorb) sunscreens. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 4b – Moisturizers
Posted on March 9, 2011 | No CommentsWater is the only material that would plasticize the outer dead layers of the epidermis, to give the much desired attribute called soft, smooth skin. In old age, dryness of skin is observed. To prevent this dryness, moisturizers are used. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 4c – Antioxidants
Posted on March 9, 2011 | No CommentsThe ageing process is believed to be due in part to free radicals, also known as reactive oxygen species. Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals by supplying another electron delivering an electron pair to an oxygen molecule and stabilizing it in the process. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 4e – Dermal Fillers
Posted on March 9, 2011 | 1 CommentDermal fillers have expanded and enhanced non?surgical option in facial rejuvenation. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 4f – Chemical Peels
Posted on March 9, 2011 | 2 CommentsChemical Peels is a skin treatment technique used to improve and smooth skin texture using chemical solution that would cause the skin to blister and eventually peel off. The new skin layer would be smoother. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 4g – Botulinum Toxin
Posted on March 9, 2011 | No CommentsToxin botulinum or Botox, is a sterile, vacuum dried purified form of botulinum toxin type A indicated for the treatment of strabismus, blepharospasm, and other related condition. It is used to treat ageing skin. -
The Ageing Skin – Part 4h – Estrogen and Hormonal Treatments
Posted on March 9, 2011 | No CommentsSkin ageing process increases rapidly after age of 50, especially in women. Skin ageing is influenced by genetic, environmental and hormonal factors. Estrogen affects several skin functions such as, elasticity, water holding capacity, pigmentation and vascularity.