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Objective: Retrospective evaluation of diagnosis and outcome in 20 dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism., Material and Methods: In 20 dogs primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed and 19 patients were treated via parathyroidectomy, 10 additionally with partial thyroidectomy. Medical records of the dogs were reviewed for signalment, clinical features, laboratory findings and results of histopathologic examination. In some cases postsurgical rehabilitation of calcium metabolism required substitution with calcium and vitamin D preparations., Results: Mean age of the dogs was 11.5 years. The most common clinical signs comprised polydipsia, polyuria, reduced activity, and stiff gait. Laboratory findings were moderate to extensive hypercalcaemia, low or low-normal serum phosphorus concentrations and normal or increased serum parathyroid hormone concentrations. None of the dogs had an elevated parathyroid hormone-related polypeptide level. Histological examination revealed 11 adenomas, six carcinomas and two glandular hyperplasias. Postsurgical management of calcium homeostasis was challenging in some cases., Conclusion: Tumours of the parathyroid gland can be easily treated by parathyroidectomy and usually have a good prognosis., Clinical Relevance: With careful interpretation of laboratory findings of a patient presenting with hypercalcaemia and ruling out other causes of hypercalcaemia diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism can be easily achieved and successfully treated byparathyroidectomy.

Purpose: Recently, colloidal dispersions made of mixtures from solid and liquid lipids have been described to overcome the poor drug loading capacity of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). It has been proposed that these nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are composed of oily droplets, which are embedded in a solid lipid matrix. High loading capacities and controlled release characteristics have been claimed. It is the objective of the present paper to investigate these new NLC particles in more detail to obtain insights into their structure., Methods: Colloidal lipid dispersions were produced by high-pressure homogenization. Particle sizes were estimated by laser diffraction and photon correlation spectroscopy. The hydrophobic fluorescent marker nile red (NR) was used as model drug, and by fluorometric spectroscopy, the molecular environment (polarity) was elucidated because of solvatochromism of NR. The packaging of the lipid nanoparticles was investigated by Raman spectroscopy and by densimetry. The light propagation in lipid nanodispersions was examined by refractometry to obtain further insights into the nanostructural compositions of the carriers., Results: Fluorometric spectroscopy clearly demonstrates that NLC nanoparticles offer two nanocompartments of different polarity to accommodate NR. Nevertheless, in both compartments, NR experiences less protection from the outer water phase than in a nanoemulsion. In conventional SLN, lipid crystallization leads to the expulsion of the lipophilic NR from the solid lipid. Measurements performed by densimetry and Raman spectroscopy confirm the idea of intact glyceryl behenate lattices in spite of oil loading. The lipid crystals are not disturbed in their structure as it could be suggested in case of oil incorporation. Refractometric data reveal the idea of light protection because of incorporation of sensitive drug molecules in NLC., Conclusion: Neither SLN nor NLC lipid nanoparticles did show any advantage with respect to incorporation rate compared to conventional nanoemulsions. The experimental data let us conclude that NLC lipid nanoparticles are not spherical solid lipid particles with embedded liquid droplets, but they are rather solid platelets with oil present between the solid platelet and the surfactant layer.

Acne and androgenetic alopecia are linked to androgen effects and therefore should improve following topical application of antiandrogens. We present a new antiandrogen prodrug, RU 58841-myristate (RUM) for topical therapy. Almost devoid of affinity to the androgen receptor, as derived from investigations in the mouse fibroblast cell line 29 +/GR +, RUM is rapidly metabolised to the potent antiandrogen RU 58841 by cultured human foreskin fibroblasts and keratinocytes, male occipital scalp skin dermal papilla cells, and by cells of the sebaceous gland cell line SZ95. In order to improve a specific targeting of the hair follicle, RUM was loaded on solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), which are already known to support dermal targeting effects. Physically stable RUM loaded SLN were produced by hot homogenization. Penetration/permeation studies carried out using the Franz diffusion cell proved only negligible permeation of reconstructed epidermis and excised porcine skin within 6 h, implying a more topical action of the drug. Targeting to the hair follicle using SLN was visualised by fluorescence microscopy, following the application of Nile Red labelled SLN to human scalp skin. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allowed to detect intact silver labelled SLN in porcine hair follicles of preparations applied to the skin for 24 h. RUM loaded SLN should be considered for topical antiandrogen therapy of acne and androgenetic alopecia.

Recently, colloidal dispersions made from mixtures of solid and liquid lipids were described to combine controlled release characteristics with higher drug loading capacities than solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). It has been proposed that these nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are composed of oily droplets which solubilize the drug and which are embedded in a solid lipid matrix. The structures of SLN and NLC based on glyceryl behenate and medium chain triglycerides were characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and laser diffraction (LD), field-flow fractionation (FFF) with multi-angle light scattering detection (MALS), and cryo transmission electron microscopy (cryo TEM). PCS indicates that SLN and NLC differ from a nanoemulsion with respect to Brownian motion due to asymmetric particle shapes. Non-spherical particles, in case of SLN and NLC, lead to higher polydispersity indices compared to the nanoemulsion. In FFF, the nanodroplets elute much earlier than SLN- and NLC-platelets although their PCS and LD data show similar particle sizes. In TEM platelet (for SLN), oil loaded platelet ("nanospoons"; for NLC) and droplet (for nanoemulsion) structures were observed. In contrast to literature reports, the investigated SLN appear as thin platelets. NLC are found to be lipid platelets with oil spots sticking on the surface. Very short diffusion pathways in platelets, increased water-lipid interfaces and low drug incorporation in crystalline lipids are the drawback of SLN and NLC compared to conventional nanoemulsions.

Purpose: Recently, colloidal dispersions made of mixtures from solid and liquid lipids have been described to combine controlled-release characteristics with higher drug-loading capacities than solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). It has been proposed that these nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are composed of oily droplets that are embedded in a solid lipid matrix. The present work investigates the structure and performance of NLCs., Methods: Colloidal lipid dispersions were produced by high-pressure homogenization and characterized by laser diffraction, photon correlation spectroscopy, wide-angle x-ray scattering, and differential scanning calorimetry. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electron spin resonance experiments were performed to investigate the mobility of the components and the molecular environment of model drugs. Furthermore, a nitroxide reduction assay with ascorbic acid was conducted to explore the accessibility of the lipid model drug from the outer aqueous phase., Results: Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra clearly demonstrate that NLC nanoparticles differ from nanoemulsions and from SLNs by forming a liquid compartment that is in strong interaction to the solid lipid. The electron spin resonance model drug was found to be accommodated either on the particle surface with close water contact (SLN) or additionally in the oil (NLC). The oil compartment must be localized on the particle surface, because it can be easily reached by ascorbic acid., Conclusion: Neither SLN nor NLC lipid nanoparticles showed any advantage with respect to incorporation rate or retarded accessibility to the drug compared with conventional nanoemulsions. The experimental data let us conclude that NLCs are not spherical solid lipid particles with embedded liquid droplets, but they are rather solid platelets with oil present between the solid platelet and the surfactant layer.

To replace animal experiments for the risk assessment in cutaneous absorption European and Non-European regulatory authorities urge to develop in vitro test systems. A variety of methods have been established which, however, vary in several respects, such as the nature of the barrier and used media. Since both affect drug uptake we have compared the influence of albumin (BSA) in the acceptor medium on the permeation and metabolism of highly lipophilic steroidal drugs, testosterone and prednicarbate (PC). Surprisingly, the addition of BSA to the acceptor medium slightly reduced the steroid permeation, especially when formulations of poor PC uptake were tested. Moreover, with slow drug permeation the metabolite pattern changed as compared to PC metabolites to be found in albumin-free acceptor medium. This was clearly less the case with PC incorporated into newly developed solid lipid nanoparticles accelerating PC uptake about fourfold. The penetration of testosterone was not influenced by BSA in the acceptor medium. Summarising, these results contribute essentially to the development of appropriate in vitro methods for testing of the cutaneous absorption of drugs, ingredients of cosmetics and for the risk assessment of xenobiotics, pesticides and biozides.