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Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) show promising abilities for the delamination of multilayer packaging films that are used in food packaging and in pharmaceutical blister packs. Due to the complexity of their structure, the recycling of such materials is a challenging task, leading to the easiest or cheapest disposal option of either landfill or incineration. Towards the development of 'green' solvents for efficient waste management and recycling, this research focuses on the preparation of a range of hydrophobic and hydrophilic DESs based on carboxylic acids in combination with various naturally derived aliphatic and aromatic organic compounds as well as amino acids. Chemical and physical characterization of the solvents was undertaken using differential scanning calorimetry, rheometry, and density measurements for the determination of their properties. Subsequently, batches of solvent were tested against different types of consumer packaging to evaluate the ability of the DES to delaminate these structures into their component materials. The laminate packaging waste products tested were Al/PE, PE/Al/PET, Al/PE/paper, and PVC/PE/Al. Separated films were collected and studied to further examine the effect of solvent delamination on the materials. Depending on the DES formulation, the results showed either partial or full delamination of one or more of the packaging materials, albeit there were challenges for certain solvent systems in the context of delivering a broad delamination efficiency. Variables including temperature, agitation rate, mixing time, and solvent ratios were investigated via a Design of Experiments process to assess the effects of these parameters on the delamination outcome. The results showed that the DESs presented in this research can offer an efficient, low-energy, affordable, and green option for the delamination of laminate packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) show promising abilities for the delamination of multilayer packaging films that are used in food packaging and in pharmaceutical blister packs. Due to the complexity of their structure, the recycling of such materials is a challenging task, leading to the easiest or cheapest disposal option of either landfill or incineration. Towards the development of ‘green’ solvents for efficient waste management and recycling, this research focuses on the preparation of a range of hydrophobic and hydrophilic DESs based on carboxylic acids in combination with various naturally derived aliphatic and aromatic organic compounds as well as amino acids. Chemical and physical characterization of the solvents was undertaken using differential scanning calorimetry, rheometry, and density measurements for the determination of their properties. Subsequently, batches of solvent were tested against different types of consumer packaging to evaluate the ability of the DES to delaminate these structures into their component materials. The laminate packaging waste products tested were Al/PE, PE/Al/PET, Al/PE/paper, and PVC/PE/Al. Separated films were collected and studied to further examine the effect of solvent delamination on the materials. Depending on the DES formulation, the results showed either partial or full delamination of one or more of the packaging materials, albeit there were challenges for certain solvent systems in the context of delivering a broad delamination efficiency. Variables including temperature, agitation rate, mixing time, and solvent ratios were investigated via a Design of Experiments process to assess the effects of these parameters on the delamination outcome. The results showed that the DESs presented in this research can offer an efficient, low-energy, affordable, and green option for the delamination of laminate packaging materials.

This article explores the development of a new heat-sealing lacquer for aluminum/PET blister packaging that addresses ink migration issues and allows for direct food contact. The packaging industry is actively seeking sustainable solutions for flexible packaging, and this study focuses on selecting the right ingredients for the lacquer to improve migration barrier properties and prevent ink migration. The ultimate goal is to enable the recycling of PET film used in blister packaging by separating it from the ink-contaminated layer. The research findings contribute to the sustainability of PET recycling and reduce the carbon footprint of packaging materials. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Anemia in pregnancy is an important global public health problem. It is estimated that 38% of pregnant women worldwide are anemic. In Africa, literature from observational studies show 20% of maternal deaths are attributed to anemia. In Uganda, 50% of pregnant women have iron deficiency anaemia. The proportion of pregnant women receiving Iron-Folic acid (IFA) supplementation has improved. However, the number of IFA pills consumed is still low. We carried out a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of dispensing blister and loose packaged IFA pills on adherence measured by count on next return visit and hemoglobin levels among pregnant women at two National Referral Hospitals in Kampala, Uganda.Methods: This trial was conducted between April and October 2016. Nine hundred fifty pregnant women at ≤28 weeks were randomized to either the blister (intervention arm) or loose (control arm) packaged IFA. The participants completed the baseline measurements and received 30 pills of IFA at enrolment to swallow one pill per day. We assessed adherence by pill count and measured hemoglobin at four and 8 weeks. The results were presented using both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis.Results: There were 474 participants in the control and 478 in the intervention arms. Adherence to IFA intake was similar in the two groups at 4th week (40.6 and 39.0%, p = 0.624) and 8th week (51.9 and 46.8%, p = 0.119). The mean hemoglobin level at 4 weeks was higher in the blister than in the loose packaging arms (11.9 + 1.1 g/dl and 11.8 + 1.3 g/dl, respectively; p = 0.02), however, similar at week 8 (12.1 + 1.2 and 12.0 + 1.3, respectively; p = 0.23). However, over the 8-week period blister packaging arm had a higher change in hemoglobin level compared to loose package (blister package 0.6 ± 1.0; loose packaging 0.2 ± 1.1; difference: 0.4 g/dL (95% CI: 0.24-0.51 g/dL); p = 0.001. There were no serious adverse events.Conclusions: Our results showed no effect of blister packaging on IFA adherence among pregnant women. However, our findings showed that blister packaged group had a higher hemoglobin increase compared to loose iron group.Trial Registration: No. PACTR201707002436264 (20 /07/ 2017). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automotive painted components confront an almost limitless variety of environments and environmental assaults. The appearance (color, gloss, and texture) of the surface significantly affects a customer's perception of product quality. During the paint application process however, and later during car operation, numerous kinds of failures and/or paint damages can occur. A defective part from a car in warranty period with paint blisters was brought for investigations. Samples from defective part were taken, and then they were examined using optical microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A section of the part away from the blisters was excised and used as a reference. The black coating was analyzed in the reference area, on the rim of the part away from the blisters and on top of the coating covering the blisters. The result of the spectral subtraction revealed that benzyl benzoate was used inside of the car. Benzyl benzoate is used in topical medications, insect repellents, perfumes and cosmetics. As a proof of benzyl benzoate utilization inside of the car, a paint attack with benzyl benzoate was performed. The test revealed that, the part's failure was similar to that seen in the returned part from the car in warranty period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the stability of lamotrigine dispersible/chewable tablets (DCTs) when stored in blister punch cards (BPCs).Methods: Lamotrigine 100 mg DCTs were randomly repackaged into a US Pharmacopeia Class A 1 week cold-sealed BPC. Chemical and physical stability were evaluated over a 60 day period, in controlled conditions corresponding to Climatic Zones I/II (25 °C ± 2 °C; 60% ± 5% relative humidity). At scheduled times, various tests were performed on tablets in their primary packaging (reference samples) and on tablets repackaged (BPC samples). A validated high-performance liquid chromatography method adapted from the US Pharmacopeia was used to quantify lamotrigine.Results: Lamotrigine content remained within the US Pharmacopeia acceptance range of 90%-110% during the 60 day study period and there were no significant changes compared with reference samples (p = .386). The increase of weight and the reduction of hardness of the repackaged tablets did not affect their dissolution profiles, and no change in appearance was observed. All tests complied with the compendial requirements of the pharmaceutical physical tests.Conclusions: Although changes in hardness after 14 days have not impacted on outcomes in terms of compliance with compendial requirements, a cautious recommendation would probably be a BPC storage of lamotrigine DCT of up to 14 days after repackaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Clyk™ digital pill dispenser helps ensure correct and consistent administration of a flexible extended regimen of the combined oral contraceptive, ethinylestradiol (EE) 20 μg/drospirenone 3 mg (EE/drospirenoneFlex; YAZ® Flex), guiding users through the intake cycle and 4-day pill break and providing visible and acoustic daily reminders when pill intake is due. A study showed that the audible alarm function of the dispenser could help reduce the number of missed pills, but it lacked an appropriate "non-dispenser" group for a meaningful assessment of the impact of the dispenser on adherence. This study indirectly assessed the overall effect of the digital dispenser on adherence by comparing data from a treatment with standard blister packaging. Materials and methods: One-year adherence data were compared from two similarly designed, Phase III, open-label, randomized trials of EE/drospirenoneFlex. In study 1, women used diary cards to record adherence with EE/drospirenoneFlex dispensed in blister packs (n=640), and in study 2 the dispenser was used with the alarm activated (n=250) or deactivated (n=248) in addition to using diary cards. Results: A mean (±SD) of 4.3 (±4.24) missed pills over 1 year were recorded in diary cards among women who dispensed their pills from the blister packages (study 1) compared with 1.0 (±2.4) recorded by the alarm-activated dispenser (study 2). In study 2, a mean of 1.9 (±4.2) missed pills were reported in the diaries over 1 year compared with 4.4 (±9.1) from automatic recording by the dispenser (both arms of study 2), indicating underreporting of missed pills in diary cards vs the digital dispenser. Adjusting for this rate of underreporting, an estimated mean of ten pills were missed over 1 year by women using EE/drospirenoneFlex in blister packs, or ten times more than with the digital dispenser with activated acoustic alarm. Conclusion: The digital dispenser helps reduce the number of missed pills and increases adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of drug plans can critically depend on patient’s adherence to a prescribed intake schedule. Detection of the rupture of blisters in drug packages through circuits printed on the package allows medical practitioners to monitor patient’s compliance. In the current state of the art, each blister is overprinted with a conductive track and their rupture is detected by a dedicated pin in a reusable integrated circuit (IC) that records and communicates the results. In this paper, we are reporting on the development of a smart drug package based on the multiplexed detection of printed resistive tracks monitored by an IC with a reduced number of pins, which lowers the cost and the complexity of components and assembly. Using a generalized formalism, it is shown how manufacturing tolerances limit the achievable multiplexing factor. Tests with our chosen screen printing technique allow us to conclude that a factor of 3 is achievable. This was verified by the design and the fabrication of a multiplexed 28-blister package and corresponding interrogation system. A detailed analysis reveals the limits of the technique and points to factors that may reduce variability, and the robustness of the technique is demonstrated by environmental and mechanical tests. This technique is shown to be a viable way of reducing the complexity of integration of printed and conventional electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the microbiological quality of blister-packed tablets manufactured and marketed in Jordan in order to assess Good Manufacturing Practice by pharmaceutical industries in the country. Methods: A total of 66 items of 22 registered blister-packed tablet brands were purchased from community pharmacies in Amman. All the items were investigated for total bacterial count and the presence of specified microorganisms using compendial procedures. Results: Out of 66 items purchased, forty eight (72.7 %) products were free from microbial contamination, while 11 (16.7 %) harbored bacteria in counts < 102 cfu/g. The remaining 7 (10.6 %) items contained counts between 102 and < 103 cfu/g. The most commonly encountered contaminant was Bacillus species but specified objectionable bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aereus were not detected. Aspergillus and Penicillium species were isolated in low numbers from few products. Six of the products with the highest stratified bacterial count were manufactured by one company and were also found to be contaminated with Aeromonas species. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that blister-packed tablets produced by Jordanian pharmaceutical companies are within acceptable microbiological quality but the detection of microbial load in some brands close to the maximum allowable limit suggests the need for better adherence to GMP in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental Research, Engineering & Management / Aplinkos Tyrimai, Inžinerija ir Vadyba is the property of Institute of Environmental Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Raman spectroscopy has potential for non-invasive detection and quantification of chemical solids concealed within packages e.g. plastic bottles, bags or blister packs. In this study we demonstrate how paracetamol as part of ternary mixtures can be quantified inside blister packages using the combination of Raman spectroscopy and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). An MCR-ALS model with correlation constraint could predict paracetamol concentrations in a test set with an error of 0.8% w/w in the concentration range 0–20% w/w. Additionally, a new multivariate approach to overcome sample matrix effects is proposed to handle variation in the blister packing material between different production batches. These variations interfere with the Raman signal and therefore make quantification challenging with conventional regression methods. By a novel modification of the correlation constraint in MCR-ALS, quantification despite matrix effects is made possible. Calibration models with low prediction errors of paracetamol could be obtained if a simple calibration set of unshielded samples (samples measured directly, hence without blister package) was combined with a very small set of samples measured through blister. Models with prediction errors of 1.3, 1.4 and 1.9% w/w were obtained for samples measured through three distinct blister packages. The novelty in the modification allows working with a multiset structure, making local regression models that can handle both signal interferences and matrix effects (e.g. packing material, temperature, instrumental variations). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Blisters packs are commonly used as packaging for oral drug products. Utilization problems among older adults with pharmaceutical packaging are well known from investigations of multi-unit dose containers, but there is a lack of studies focusing on blister packaging. This study was performed to identify design parameters that should be considered when developing blister packaging for drug products intended to be used by older adults. Objectives To investigate the relationship between blister pack design and utilization problems among older adults. Setting Community-based study including 141 volunteers (age 80+) living at home and in assisted-living facilities. Method In random order 5 blister packs of uniform shape but with different opening characteristics (variation of the force required to open the blisters and different mechanisms of opening) were tested by each participant. Main outcome measure Opening was evaluated (difficulty, pain perception and overall assessment) by questioning of the participants. Additionally, data were collected as to whether participants managed to take out 4 tablets within 4 min test duration and whether they gave up opening. Reasons for utilization problems were examined by subgroup analysis, frequently made observations, and technological characterization of blisters. Results Blisters with thicker push-through foils were assessed as being inferior. Anyhow, most of participants (>84 %) were capable of opening each type of push-through blister within 4 min. By contrast, many of the participants were unable to open peel (30 %) and child-resistant peel-off push-through blisters (44 %) or gave up trying before the end of the test. In addition to medical conditions, vision and age of participants correlated with utilization problems. Conclusion Blister pack design, including opening force and opening mechanism, can have significant impact on the usability of blister packs by older adults. The study identified several parameters that should be considered with respect to older adults when developing blister packaging for drug products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of a 40 mg furosemide tablet drug product repackaged in a unit-dose USP class A blister pack and the identical product in its original container made of HDPE material was studied under ICH long-term conditions of 25°°C and relative humidity (RH) of 60% and accelerated stressed conditions of 40°°C and 75% RH. Samples from original and repackaged drug products were periodically removed from storage conditions and subjected to pharmaceutical and spectroscopic analysis. Results indicate the potency 91.5 ±± 0.9% of the tablet strength for the original packaging drug product vs 91.6 ±± 4.0% for the repackaged product are statistically similar for long-term and accelerated stress conditions. Tablet hardness (6.0 ±± 0.3 KP) and loss on drying (3.2%) was the same for original and repackaged drug products under both stressed conditions indicating similar moisture sorption behavior. Non-invasive spectroscopic techniques did not show any differences in moisture content. Dissolution and TGA results were similar for all study samples. In conclusion, contrary to a previous FDA repackaging study for tablets with hygroscopic excipients, the product quality attributes of furosemide tablets formulated with low sorption excipients were not affected by repackaging, under the specific stress conditions of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transverse shear effect has been frequently ignored in determining the debonding-related energy release rate and the phase angle in the blister test, resulting in underestimated values. This study aims to study the effect of shear force on the energy release rate and phase angle prediction in the blister test. A generalized approach is proposed to predict them under the effect of shear force. The predictions show that when the ratio of the film thickness to the debonded film window radius is large (such as 0.05), the transverse shear effect cannot be ignored in determining the energy release rate and the phase angle. The study also further illustrates the importance of including the shear force contribution in estimation and how this importance depends on the film thickness to debonded radius ratio, as well as the elastic mismatch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial paracetamol drugs (normal and sinus) are analyzed using Raman and SERS spectroscopies. The active compound present in commercially tablets could be accurately identified and monitored even through the blister pack. Raman spectra show that the normal paracetamol contains a mixture between the monoclinic and orthorhombic forms, while the sinus paracetamol contains just the monoclinic form. The SERS spectra of paracetamol on Ag island films of different roughnesses have been obtained and discussed. From the SERS spectra it was concluded that the paracetamol molecules are chemisorbed on the Ag-surface in a flat orientation through the lone pair electrons of the nitrogen atom and the p electrons of the aromatic ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the serious health risks and high costs to the health-care system of misuse and abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, this article describes a rationale and prototype for new safety or compliance packaging for OTC drug products that are sold in pill form (e.g., tablets, caplets and gelcaps) inside blister packs. The proposed packaging is not simply promoting the use of blister packs for pills; that utility is already well known. It is an integrated system in which blister packs of pills can, themselves, be packaged, labeled and sold, offering a dose-directed unit-of-use design with enhanced warnings and directions to help prevent consumers from taking more than the instructed dose of pill-form medicines. Literature and information searches were conducted in publicly available databases and websites to (1) assess safety problems (serious adverse events and fatalities) associated with OTC analgesics and (2) determine public perceptions and knowledge about their use. Each year in the US, there are an estimated 100,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths due to NSAID overdosing, and 26,000 hospitalizations and 1,600 acute liver failure cases due to acetaminophen poisoning. Many adults take more than the recommended dose and in some cases use multiple products containing acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Risk factors, such as alcohol use or pre-existing liver disease, exacerbate problems associated with acetaminophen misuse and abuse. In pediatric cases, dosing errors are often related to confusion over different product formulations, dosing strengths, and the use of inappropriate dosing devices. Consumers are often unaware of the active ingredients in, and correct doses of, drugs they are taking; they underestimate the risks associated with misuse of OTC medicines, and they frequently discard the packaging on which the drug’s directions, warnings and dosing instructions are located. Optimal compliance packaging should (1) keep the instructions, warnings and dosing directions attached to the blister card of pills at all times, thus avoiding the problem of cartons and package inserts being thrown away once the package is opened; (2) increase the surface area of the packaging, without adding bulk, to provide space for the use of larger font sizes and enhanced directions and warnings that are more conspicuous, explicit and memorable; (3) organize the pills into logical, unit-of-use (per-dose maximum and per-day maximum) sets or rows; (4) limit the number of pills in a unit-of-use package to coincide with the instructed maximum dose and maximum days of use for a specific product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  This article reviews emerging Raman techniques (Spatially Offset and Transmission Raman Spectroscopy) for non-invasive, sub-surface probing in process control and forensic applications. New capabilities offered by these methods are discussed and several application examples are given including the non-invasive detection of counterfeit drugs through blister packs and opaque plastic bottles and the rapid quantitative analysis of the bulk content of pharmaceutical tablets and capsules without sub-sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an ongoing project to develop automated tools for cryosurgery planning, the current study focuses on the development of a 3D bubble packing method. A proof-of-concept for the new method is demonstrated on five prostate models, reconstructed from ultrasound images. The new method is a modification of an established method in 2D. Ellipsoidal bubbles are packed in the volume of the prostate in the current study; such bubbles can be viewed as a first-order approximation of a frozen region around a single cryoprobe. When all cryoprobes are inserted to the same depth, optimum planning was found to occur at about 60% of the length of the prostate (measured from its apex), which leads to cooling of approximately 75% of the prostate volume below a specific temperature threshold of - 22°C. Bubble packing has the potential to dramatically reduce the run time for automated planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate medication adherence and treatment outcomes in elderly outpatients using daily-dose blister packaging (Pill Calendar) compared with medications packaged in bottles of loose tablets. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Ambulatory care clinics at Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus; University of Arizona Health Science Center, Tucson; and Riverside Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Clinic, Columbus, Ohio, from July 1, 2002, to December 31, 2004. Patients: 85 individuals 65 years of age or older being treated with lisinopril for hypertension. Intervention: Patients were randomly assigned to receive lisinopril in either daily-dose blister packaging (Pill Calendar) or traditional bottles of loose tablets. Main outcome measures: Adherence was assessed by prescription refill regularity and medication possession ratio (MPR). Treatment outcome and use of medical services were assessed by medical record review of blood pressure and morbidity associated with poorly controlled hypertension. Results: Patients receiving lisinopril in the daily-dose blister packaging (Pill Calendar) refilled their prescriptions on time more often (P= 0.01), had higher MPRs (P= 0.04), and had lower diastolic blood pressure (P= 0.01) than patients who had their medications packaged in traditional bottles of loose tablets. Conclusion: Providing medications in a package that identifies the day each dose is intended to be taken and provides information on proper self-administration can improve treatment regimen adherence and treatment outcomes in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure was developed of fabricating a colored calibration scale for determining phosphate ions in aqueous solutions. The procedure is suitable for correcting hue steps depending on the analytical range of phosphate ions. A rapid procedure was proposed for visual testing in a blister cell with a bulk mixture of dry reagents. A test effect was observed immediately after the cell was opened and several drops of a test solution were added. Mixture compositions were developed for the visual determination of phosphate ions in a concentration range of 0.5–80 mg/L by the formation and reduction of phosphomolybdic acid using auxiliary reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To describe how changes in legislation to restrict paracetamol sales have affected overdose discharges and death associated with the drug in Scotland. Methods A descriptive analysis of routine death and hospital discharge data for the entire Scottish population between 1995 and 2004. Patients in Scotland participated who were discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of poisoning; deaths in Scotland from diagnosis of poisoning 1995–2003 were also analysed. Outcome measures were changes in mortality and overdose due to poisoning involving paracetamol. A comparison was made of in-hospital and out-of-hospital mortality in fatalities involving paracetamol. Results The majority of paracetamol-associated deaths were due to co-proxamol. Deaths associated with paracetamol alone or with ethanol occurred principally in hospital and were a minority of deaths overall. The proportion of in-hospital deaths attributed to paracetamol increased (post/pre ratio 1.347; 95% confidence interval 1.076, 1.639; P = 0.013). Overall numbers of cases discharged with poisoning fell. The proportion of these involving paracetamol in any form increased significantly in all groups except young men aged 10 to <20 years. Conclusions Legislation has not reduced mortality or proportional use of paracetamol in overdose, both of which appear to have increased in Scotland since pack-size limitations. Other approaches are necessary to reduce the death rate from overdoses involving paracetamol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to develop a ketoprofen tablet which dissolve-rapidly in the mouth, therefore, needing not be swallowed. The solubility and dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble ketoprofen was improved by preparing a lyophilized tablet (LT) of ketoprofen using freeze-drying technique. The LT was prepared by dispersing the drug in an aqueous solution of highly water-soluble carrier materials consisting of gelatin, glycine, and sorbitol. The mixture was dosed into the pockets of blister packs and then was subjected to freezing and lyophilization. The saturation solubility and dissolution characteristics of ketoprofen from the LT were investigated and compared to the plain drug and the physical mixture (PM). Results obtained showed that the increase in solubility of ketoprofen from LT matrix, nearly three times greater than the solubility of the plain drug, was due to supersaturation generated by amorphous form of the drug. Results obtained from dissolution studies showed that LT of ketoprofen significantly improved the dissolution rate of the drug compared with the PM and the plain drug. More than 95% of ketoprofen in LT dissolved within 5 min compared to only 45% of ketoprofen plain drug dissolved during 60 min. Initial dissolution rate of ketoprofen in LT was almost tenfold higher than that of ketoprofen powder alone. Crystalline state evaluation of ketoprofen in LT was conducted through differential scanning calorimetry (DCS) and x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) to denote eventual transformation to amorphous state during the process. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis was performed and results suggest reduction in ketoprofen particle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryosurgery is the destruction of undesired tissues by freezing, as in prostate cryosurgery, for example. Minimally invasive cryosurgery is currently performed by means of an array of cryoprobes, each in the shape of a long hypodermic needle. The optimal arrangement of the cryoprobes, which is known to have a dramatic effect on the quality of the cryoprocedure, remains an art held by the cryosurgeon, based on the cryosurgeon c experience and "rules of thumb." An automated computerized technique for cryosurgery planning is the subject matter of the current paper, in an effort to improve the quality of cryosurgery. Method of Approach: A two-phase optimization method is proposed for this purpose, based on two previous and independent developments by this research team. Phase I is based on a bubble-packing method, previously used as an efficient method for finite element meshing. Phase II is based on a force-field analogy method, which has proven to be robust at the expense of a typically long run time. Results: As a proof-of-concept, results are demonstrated on a two-dimensional case of a prostate cross section. The major contribution of this study is to affirm that in many instances cryosurgery planning can be performed without extremely expensive simulations of bioheat transfer, achieved in Phase I. Conclusions: This new method of planning has proven to reduce planning runtime from hours to minutes, making automated planning practical in a clinical time frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workplaces, e.g. hospital pharmacies and hospital departments, where antineoplastic drugs are handled might be contaminated with these drugs, and pharmacy personnel and health care workers may be exposed. In this study potential sources for exposure of antineoplastic drugs were investigated. Unbroken drug vials and tablet blister packages, both containing cyclophosphamide (CP) and their outer packaging were wipe sampled. Analysis was performed by liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The result showed that almost every part of the primary packaging was contaminated with CP and ifosfamide (IF). However, the amounts of CP and IF were low, and most likely not harmful for the personnel handling these packaging in association with drug preparation. The contamination must originate from the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Different surfaces in the preparation unit of a Swedish hospital pharmacy were also investigated at two different occasions by wipe sampling. In the preparation unit CP and IF were found as contaminants on the majority of the investigated surfaces. After the first measurement the hospital pharmacy improved its routines. Lower amounts of CP and IF were detected at the second measurement. A low degree of contamination with CP and IF was also detected on the floor outside the preparation unit and this indicated a small distribution of antineoplastic drugs to the surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pharmaceutical blister packing, it is today part of the recommended security standard to inspect tablets in each blister before it is sealed. In this paper an automated visual inspection system is described, which detects missing and broken tablets, tablet fragments, as well as the color, size, and shape of individual tablets. The system operates either in “training” or “inspection” mode. In training mode, the image of defect-free blisters is used to extract the blister model, which is composed of the spatial color nonuniformity correction function, positions of blisters, positions of tablets in blisters, the color labeling function, and position, size, and shape of each tablet and corresponding pre-specified tolerances. The blister model allows effective and real-time analysis of blisters in inspection mode. The most important parts of the system are correction of the adverse effects of spatial color nonuniformity and color segmentation. A method recently proposed for spatial intensity nonuniformity correction has been extended to suppress spatial color nonuniformity in color images. A novel nonparametric clustering-based segmentation method is proposed, which finds the valleys between color clusters. The experimental results indicate that the segmentation method preceded by spatial color nonuniformity correction accurately extracts color clusters with complex shapes and therefore correctly segments the inspected images. The automated visual inspection system can thus be used in industrial environments where real-time inspection of color objects is required. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A potential material change for a pharmaceutical blister pack required costly and time-consuming re-validation. One of the major issues associated with this is the water vapour barrier of a formed blister needed to guarantee an acceptable shelf life of the packaged drugs. This study considered a non-isothermal FEM analysis of the forming process, using the new model incorporated into the POLYFLOW simulation software, and taking into account plug assist forming. This was validated on current materials before being used for the new material. A new post processor was used to calculate the moisture barrier of each blister, and to evaluate the potential benefit of using a new material for medical packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the inconvenience and longer time required to punch out the tablets, strip packaging may reduce the number of tablets that can be readily swallowed by adults with self-poisonings. In fact, hospital-based studies of paracetamol poisoning in the U.K. and Hong Kong have shown that blister packs were associated with fewer tablets being ingested and large overdoses were mostly from loose preparations. In Australia, following the change in packaging for carbamazepine from bottles of tablets to blister packs, a marked decrease in the reported number of tablets ingested by patients was seen. Reducing the maximum number of tablets that can be available in individual preparations or prescriptions may also reduce the likelihood of severe poisonings. In France, but not in the UK, the content of each pack of paracetamol has been legally limited to 8 g. This was thought to be one reason why severe liver damage and deaths after paracetamol poisonings are less common in France than in the UK. Medicated oils containing methyl salicylate pose the threat of rapid-onset, severe salicylate poisoning if swallowed. To reduce the amount of methyl salicylate that can be readily swallowed, the methyl salicylate content and the size of the bottle and its opening should be restricted. In adults with Dettol poisoning, serious complications such as pulmonary aspiration are more likely if a large amount is ingested. Similarly, the risk may be reduced by restricting the size of bottle and its opening. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2000) 19, 387–391. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the impact of calendar blister drug packaging on patient compliance undergoing sexually transmitted disease therapy in South Africa. Effect of literacy on patient compliance; Use of pill count method for measuring compliance; Acceptability of the Primary Pill Pak to patients and health care workers.

The performance of rectangular radio frequency (RF) coils capable of being used to detect nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) signals from blister packs of medicines has been compared. The performance of a fixed-pitch RF coil was compared with that from two variable-pitch coils, one based on a design in the literature and the other optimized to obtain the most homogeneous RF field over the whole volume of the coil. It has been shown from 14N NQR measurements with two medicines, the antibiotic ampicillin (as trihydrate) and the analgesic medicine Paracetamol, that the latter design gives NQR signal intensities almost independent of the distribution of the capsules or pills within the RF coil and is therefore more suitable for quantitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses factors to be considered in choosing the appropriate blister packaging film for pharmaceutical products.

Deuterium (D) retention and surface modifications of hot-rolled polycrystalline tungsten (W) exposed to a low-energy (~40 eV D−1), high-flux (2–5  ×  1023 D m−2 s−1) D plasma at temperatures of ~380 K and ~1140 K to fluences up to 1.2  ×  1028 D m−2 have been examined by using nuclear reaction analysis, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The samples exposed at ~380 K exhibited various types of surface modifications: dome-shaped blister-like structures, stepped flat-topped protrusions, and various types of nanostructures. It was observed that a large fraction of the surface was covered with blisters and protrusions, but their average size and the number density showed almost no fluence dependence. The D depth distributions and total D inventories also barely changed with increasing fluence at ~380 K. A substantial amount of D was retained in the subsurface region, and thickness correlated with the depth where the cavities of blisters and protrusions were located. It is therefore suggested that defects appearing during creation of blisters and protrusions govern the D trapping in the investigated fluence range. In addition, a large number of small cracks was observed on the exposed surfaces, which can serve as fast D release channels towards the surface, resulting in a reduction of the effective D influx into the W bulk. On the samples exposed at ~1140 K no blisters and protrusions were found. However, wave-like and faceted terrace-like structures were formed instead. The concentrations of trapped D were very low (<10−5 at. fr.) after the exposure at ~1140 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor that clinically observes the culture of tropheryma whippelii from the vitreous fluid of a patient presenting with unilateral uveitis.

The article profiles the AndersonBrecon Clinical Services. It says that the company is the leading supplier of design-to-commercialization packaging solutions to the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. It states that the commitment to the customer satisfaction is the key reason for becoming the preferred supplier by the leading pharmaceutical firms. Furthermore, lists of the major services are presented, which include blister packaging, project management, and package design.

The article reports on the development of a spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) by scientists at the Central Laser Facility in Great Britain to overcome the limitations of conventional Raman spectroscopy. SORS has the capability to distinguish between different drug types through blister packaging with great sensitivity. Inorganic chemist Bill Griffith suggests that a handheld SORS would be useful to drug regulators. The correct formulation used in drugs can also be determined by SORS.

Presents a case in which a medication error was caused by confusing blister packs. Case of a 71-year-old woman with chronic renal failure who while under hospital treatment developed hypotension and bradycardia; Review of the medical charts which showed she was mistakenly given a generic acebutolol instead of generic amiodarone; Reasons that the blister packs of medications are often very similar; Underuse of generic drugs in France; Packaging improvements which could reduce the likelihood of serious adverse drug reactions; French agency request that companies producing generic medications modify the packaging and labeling on the blisters.