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Mehreen Bashir,1 Junaid Ahmad,1 Muhammad Asif,2 Salah-Ud-Din Khan,3 Muhammad Irfan,1 Asim Y Ibrahim,4 Sajid Asghar,1 Ikram Ullah Khan,1 Muhammad Shahid Iqbal,5 Abdul Haseeb,6 Syed Haroon Khalid,1 Mohammed AS Abourehab7,8 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 3Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Faculty of Pharmacy, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan; 5Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21955, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, EgyptCorrespondence: Syed Haroon KhalidDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, PakistanTel +92-3166752223Email syedharoonkhalid@gcuf.edu.pkPurpose: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that directly affects joints. However, other body organs including heart, eyes, skin, blood vessels and lungs may also be affected. The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate a nanoemulgel formulation of diflunisal (DIF) and solubility enhanced diflunisal (DIF-IC) for enhanced topical anti-inflammatory activity.Methodology: Nanoemulsion formulations of both DIF and DIF-IC were prepared and incorporated in three different gelling agents, namely carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na), sodium alginate (Na-ALG) and xanthan gum (XG). All the formulations were evaluated in term of particle size, pH, conductivity, viscosity, zeta potential and in vitro drug release. The formulation 2 (NE2) of both DIF and DIF-IC which expressed optimum release and satisfactory physicochemical properties was incorporated with gelling agents to produce final nanoemulgel formulations. The optimized nanoemulgel formulation was subjected to three different in vivo anti-inflammatory models including carrageenan-induced paw edema model, histamine-induced paw edema model and formalin-induced paw edema model.Results: DIF-IC-loaded nanoemulgel formulations yielded significantly enhanced in vitro skin permeation than DIF-loaded nanoemulgel. The nanoemulgel formulation of DIF-IC formulated with XG produced improved in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.Conclusion: It was recommended that DIF-IC-based nanoemulgel formulation prepared with XG could be a better option for effective topical treatment of inflammatory conditions.Keywords: diflunisal, nanoemulsion, pseudoternary phase diagram, in vitro skin permeation, anti-inflammatory activity, improved efficacy

The effects of three hydrophilic polymers, namely, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poloxamer-188 (PXM-188) on the solubility and dissolution of diflunisal (DIF) in complexation with &beta, cyclodextrin (&beta, CD) or hydroxypropyl &beta, cyclodextrin (HP&beta, CD), were investigated. The kneading method was used at different drug to cyclodextrin weight ratios. Increases in solubility and drug release were observed with the DIF/&beta, CD and DIF/HP&beta, CD complexes. The addition of hydrophilic polymers at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0% w/w markedly improved the complexation and solubilizing efficiency of &beta, CD and HP&beta, CD. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) showed that DIF was successfully included into the cyclodextrin cavity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) confirmed stronger drug amorphization and entrapment in the molecular cage of cyclodextrins. The addition of PVA, CMC-Na or PXM-188 reduced further the intensity of the DIF endothermic peak. Most of the sharp and intense peaks of DIF disappeared with the addition of hydrophilic polymers. In conclusion, PXM-188 at a weight ratio of 10.0% w/w was the best candidate in enhancing the solubility, stability and release of DIF.

Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-leishmanial and cytotoxic activities of extracts of different parts of Lawsonia Inermis , Morus nigra and Ziziphus mauritiana . Methods: The methanol extracts of all three plant materials at concentrations of 10 - 100 μg/mL were tested for their in vitro anti-leishmanial effects on L. tropica KWH23 promastigotes for 24 - 48 h, relative to negative control and amphotericin-B (standard drug). For in vivo anti-leishmanial activity, the extracts were tested against L. tropica -infected albino mice, while cytotoxicity was investigated against mammalian cells (lymphocytes). Results: For Lawsonia Inermis leaves, mean inhibition of extracellular promastigotes at 10, 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL after 48 h were 98.2 ± 0.06, 98.75 ± 1.09, 99.31 ± 0.00 and 100.00 ± 0.00 %, respectively. After 8 weeks, mean lesion size decreased from 0.8 ± 0.2 mm to 0.3 ± 0.1 mm (p < 0.01), and cure at 150 mg/kg against intracellular amastigotes in albino mice was 97.02 % (95 % CI = 96.14 - 98.10). IC 50 for Lawsonia inermis leaf extract was 12.22 μg/mL (95 % CI = 11.54 - 13.84) against lymphocytes. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study show that Lawsonia Inermis leaf is safe and possesses potent anti-leishmanial activity. Keywords: Leishmania tropica , Lawsonia inermis , Morus Nigra , Ziziphus Mauritiana , Anti-leishmania, Amastigotes, Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is a global problem and one of its types, Hepatitis B has remarkablemorbidity and mortality. WHO classifies countries as low, intermediate and high endemicity regions onthe basis of Hepatitis B carrier rate.OBJECTIVE: To find out any gaps in the recording of data on Hepatitis-B testsMATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from previous record of five years (2010-14) was collectedthrough structured proformas from the laboratory of a teaching hospital in the central districts of KhyberPakhtunkhwa and analyzed through MS Excell 2007.Descriptive measures were calculated. Name of thehospital is not disclosed for ethical reasons.RESULTS: Mean of tests performed was 3081 per month. A total of 1757 (0.95%) tests were positivefor Hepatitis B in five years data. Lowest number of tests was noted for 2010 and highest for 2014.CONCLUSION: Information on Hepatitis B suspected and confirmed cases is insufficient.KEY WORDS: Hepatitis B, Documentation, Teaching Hospital, Immunochromatography