3D Printed Tacrolimus Rectal Formulations Ameliorate Colitis in an Experimental Animal Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The aim of this study was to fabricate novel self-supporting tacrolimus suppositories using semisolid extrusion 3-dimensional printing (3DP) and to investigate their efficacy in an experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease. Blends of Gelucire 44/14 and coconut oil were employed as lipid excipients to obtain suppository formulations with self-emulsifying properties, which were then tested in a TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid) induced rat colitis model. Disease activity was monitored using PET/CT medical imaging; maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax), a measure of tissue radiotracer accumulation rate, together with body weight changes and histological assessments, were used as inflammatory indices to monitor treatment efficacy. Following tacrolimus treatment, a significant reduction in SUVmax was observed on days 7 and 10 in the rat colon sections compared to non-treated animals. Histological analysis using Nancy index confirmed disease remission. Moreover, statistical analysis showed a positive correlation (R2 = 71.48%) between SUVmax values and weight changes over time. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of 3D printed tacrolimus suppositories to ameliorate colitis and highlights the utility of non-invasive PET/CT imaging to evaluate new therapies in the preclinical area.

Conciliación de lamedicación en unaunidad de cortaestancia médica / Conciliation in medication in a short stay medical unit

Objetivo: identificar los posibles errores de conciliación y sus características,así como analizar la discrepancia consignada por profesionalesfarmacéuticos y enfermeros.Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en unaunidad de corta estancia médica del Complexo Hospitalario de Ourense,durante el primer trimestre de 2008. Variables estudiadas:características de los fármacos crónicos, discrepancias detectadas, historialde intolerancias y alergias y grado de concordancia de la valoraciónde farmacéutico-enfermera.Resultados: se estudiaron 151 pacientes y 859 fármacos. El consumomedio de fármacos por persona fue de 5,58 (DE: 3,65) fármacos. Elporcentaje global de errores de conciliación varía entre 49% (valoraciónenfermera) y el 28% (valoración farmacéutica). Grado deconcordancia a través del índice Kappa= 0,739. La discrepancia másfrecuente fue la omisión de fármacos con un 64%. La media de discrepanciaspor paciente fue de 1,73 (DE:1,9) de los que en un 44%presentan dos o más discrepancias a la vez.Conclusiones: la enfermera tiene un papel clave en la detecciónde errores de medicación derivados de discrepancias de conciliación.Conciliar la medicación es un instrumento fácil que permitedetectar los errores antes de que puedan producir daño (AU)

Objective: to identify the possible errors in conciliation and theircharacteristics as web as to analyse discrepancies detected by pharmacistsand nursesMaterial and methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive study conductedin a short stay medical unit at the Ourense medical centre duringthe first trimester of 2008. Studies variables: characteristics ofchronic drugs, identified discrepancies, medical history of intoleranceand allergies, and grade of concordance between the pharmacistand the nurse’s assessment.Results: 151 patients and 859 drugs were studied. Mean pharmaceuticaldrug consumption per person was 5.58 (SD: 3,65) drugs. Theoverall percentage of errors in conciliation varies between 49% (nursingassessment) and 28% (pharmacist assessment). Degree of concordanceobtained using Kappa’s index = 0.739. The strongest discrepancywas the omission of drugs with a 64%. Mean discrepancyper patient was 1.73 (SD:1.9) of which 44% present two or morediscrepancies simultaneously.Conclusions: the nurse plays a key role in detecting medicationerrors derived from conciliation discrepancies. Medication conciliationis an easy instrument that allows the nurse to identify errorsbefore any damage is caused (AU)