Stability of Fagron's Phytobase Cream Compounded with Various Hormones.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of 5 common hormones used as active pharmaceutical ingredients in Fagron Phytobase cream. The active pharmaceutical ingredients were tested using a bracketed format, as well as individually, and in one combination: estrone 0.1%, estrone 1%, estradiol 0.05%, estradiol 2%, estriol 0.05%, estriol 2%, progesterone 0.1%, progesterone 20%, testosterone 0.1%, testosterone 20%; combination (estradiol 0.05%, estriol 0.05%, progesterone 0.5%), and combination (estradiol 2%, estriol 1%, progesterone 20%). All creams were stored at controlled room temperature (20ÆC to 25ÆC) in a Topi-CLICK container-closure. Stability was assessed by measuring the percent recovery at varying time points throughout a 180-day period. Active pharmaceutical ingredients' quantifications were performed by highperformance liquid chromatography via a stabilityindicating method. Antimicrobial effectiveness testing per United States Pharmacopeia Chapter <51> guidelines was carried out for each compounded formulation. Given the percent recovery of the active pharmaceutical ingredients within the cream base, the beyond-use date was determined to be 180 days in all samples except estrone, which was determined to be 150 days. This suggests that Phytobase cream is able to maintain the stability of various compounded hormones in the base over an extended time of storage.

Vitamins: therapy or hype.

Vitamins play various roles in the human body. They are necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and bone. With Americans eating less natural or unaltered food and more processed food, we are exposing ourselves to the likelihood of developing vitamin deficiencies. There are some instances where vitamins play an important role in medication management and help lessen the medication burden on the body. In this respect, there have been numerous studies looking at vitamin depletion from medication usage and the need for proper vitamin intake to process medications to their full potential. This article discusses this scenario and provides a case report and formulations.

Sleepless in america: compounding with melatonin.

Studies of Melatonin in the 1970s and 1980s revealed sedative and hypnotic properties of the compound, which have led to its use in treating sleep disorders. Commonly used for jet lag, melatonin is relatively inexpensive and associated with minimal side effects. Regulation of melatonin secretion appears to be abnormal in children and adults in which pervasive development disorders have been observed. Alteration in melatonin rhythm may be responsible for sleep-onset and maintenance difficulties in autism. A recent review concluded that melatonin primarily acts on the total length of time needed to fall asleep and on the total length of sleep. In addition, melatonin, which does not induce dependence or withdrawal syndromes, may have advantages compared to commonly prescribed benzodiazepines. While there is an enormous amount of anecdotal information available, additional studies are necessary involving melatonin for the treatment of sleep disorders. The condition of these well-controlled studies must be clearly defined, especially in regards to the melatonin formulation and pharmacology of the products used. Various areas remain unclear, such as how the effects of melatonin vary by age, gender, ethnicity, and comorbid conditions of the population, as well as formulation, timing, and duration of melatonin administration. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements, based on available studies and clinical use, melatonin is generally regarded as safe in recommended doses when used in the short term. The safety of melatonin when used in the long term remains unclear.

Compounding naltrexone for the treatment of autism.

Autism is a complex disorder that affects children. Children who present with symptoms of autism require a comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team including a psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, and other professionals who diagnose children with autism spectrum disorders. Following the diagnosis, a treatment plan is developed, which in most cases involve educational and behavioral interventions and medications. The multidisciplinary team then expands to a team of professionals to treat the disorder, the team of which includes a pharmacist. Anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral problems, seizures, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are the main symptoms of autism that have in many cases been successfully minimized and in some cases alleviated by proper medication.

Compounding with sucralfate for the treatment of external wounds.

Sucralfate was originally marketed for the prevention and accelerated healing of duodenal ulcers. Physicians also have used sucralfate in the treatment of ulcers and erosions in the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, although its effectiveness in these areas has never been clearly proven. This article discusses the use and effectiveness of sucralfate in the treatment of external wounds. The author provides case reports as support for sucralfate's success in treating wounds and provides formulations for the unconventional use of this drug. The author has found sucralfate to be relatively inexpensive and inert when compared to other ingredients, and has found sucralfate to be very versatile and capable of healing almost any wound.

Transdermal gel in the treatment of postoperative pain.

Postoperative pain can be difficult to control in the outpatient setting. Pain management is often a progressive process, involving adustment of the dosage, strength, and/or ingredients of pain medication to relieve a patient's pain. Counseling should be incorporated into the treatment program. While opioids can be effective in the relief of postoperative pain, their use is associated with debilitating side effects. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a popular class of nonopioid analgesics, but they are also associated frequently with adverse effects. Patients, physicians, and pharmacists should be educated in pharmacological alternatives to these analgesics. One option is the transdermal application of medications, which allows the patient to experience relief without unwanted systemic side effects that routinely occur with oral medications.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) counterregulates IL-4-dependent effector mechanisms in Murine Filariasis.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) was at first described as a Th2-associated cytokine, although more recent reports have shown that immunosuppression applies to both Th1 and Th2 cell responses, e.g., when produced by T regulatory cells. This concept when applied to human filariasis would argue that high parasite loads are associated with IL-10, while bona fide Th2 responses, mediated by IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, are associated with parasite containment. To prove this relationship in a causal manner, we investigated the roles of IL-4 and IL-10 in a helminth infection model in which mice genetically deficient for IL-4, IL-10, or IL-4 plus IL-10 were infected with the rodent filaria Litomosoides sigmodontis. Compared to C57BL/6 wild-type and IL-10 knockout (KO) mice, IL-4 KO mice remained susceptible, exhibiting a remarkable number of live adult worms. Interestingly however, when the IL-10 gene was knocked out simultaneously with the IL-4 gene, the susceptibility of IL-4 KO mice was reversed. Although production of IFN-gamma was increased in IL-4/IL-10 double-knockout mice, depletion of gamma interferon did not affect worm elimination, so it seems unlikely to be the major factor in mediating resistance in IL-4/IL-10 KO mice. Taken together, the results of this study add proof to the concept that has arisen for human filariasis that IL-10-dependent responses, which are associated with patency, are antagonistic to bona fide Th2 responses, which control parasite loads. The finding that knockout of IL-10 reversed a disease phenotype induced by knockout of IL-4 gives the first causal evidence of an antagonistic activity between IL-4 and IL-10 in an infection in vivo.