Search Results (7)

Background: Burns represent a serious health problem, associated with multiple-organ failure, prolonged hospitalization, septic complications, and increased rate of mortality. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the levels of various circulating molecules in children with severe burns (more than 25% TBSA), in three different moments: 48 h, day 10, and day 21 post-burn. Materials and Methods: This study included 32 children with burns produced by flame, hot liquid, and electric arc and 21 controls. Serum plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), α 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and platelet factor 4 (PF4) were detected using the Multiplex technique. Several parameters, such as fibrinogen, leucocyte count, thrombocyte count, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were also determined for each patient during hospitalization. Results: Significant statistical differences were obtained for CRP, AGP, and PF4 compared to the control group, in different moments of measurements. Negative correlations between CRP, AGP, and PF4 serum levels and burned body surface, and also the hospitalization period, were observed. Discussions: CRP levels increased in the first 10 days after burn trauma and then decreased after day 21. Serum PAI-1 levels were higher immediately after the burn and started decreasing only after day 10 post-burn. AGP had elevated levels 48 h after the burn, then decreased at 7–10 days afterwards, and once again increased levels after 21 days. PF4 serum levels increased after day 10 since the burning event. Conclusions: Serum CRP, AGP, PAI-1, and PF4 seem to be promising molecules in monitoring patients with a burn within the first 21 days. Full article

NDH-4338 is a highly lipophilic prodrug comprising indomethacin and an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. A design of experiments approach was used to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the wound healing efficacy of optimized NDH-4338 nanosuspensions against nitrogen mustard-induced skin injury. Nanosuspensions were prepared by sonoprecipitation in the presence of a Vitamin E TPGS aqueous stabilizer solution. Critical processing parameters and material attributes were optimized to reduce particle size and determine the effect on dissolution rate and burn healing efficacy. The antisolvent/solvent ratio (A/S), dose concentration (DC), and drug/stabilizer ratio (D/S) were the critical sonoprecipitation factors that control particle size. These factors were subjected to a Box–Behnken design and response surface analysis, and model quality was assessed. Maximize desirability and simulation experiment optimization approaches were used to determine nanosuspension parameters with the smallest size and the lowest defect rate within the 10–50 nm specification limits. Optimized and unoptimized nanosuspensions were prepared and characterized. An established depilatory double-disc mouse model was used to evaluate the healing of nitrogen mustard-induced dermal injuries. Optimized nanosuspensions (A/S = 6.2, DC = 2% w/v, D/S = 2.8) achieved a particle size of 31.46 nm with a narrow size range (PDI = 0.110) and a reduced defect rate (42.2 to 6.1%). The optimized nanosuspensions were stable and re-dispersible, and they showed a ~45% increase in cumulative drug release and significant edema reduction in mice. Optimized NDH-4338 nanosuspensions were smaller with more uniform sizes that led to improved physical stability, faster dissolution, and enhanced burn healing efficacy compared to unoptimized nanosuspensions. Full article

A simple, one-pot regioselective method for the synthesis of a high-nitrogen tricycle, 2,3,4а,6,7,8а,9,10-octaaza-4,8-dioxo-3,4,4a,7,8,8а,9,9a,10,10а-decahydroanthracene, with a yield of 27% was developed on a starting urea basis as a result of studies focused on finding new, more efficient approaches to the synthesis of high-energy derivatives of dinitramic acid (DNA). This tricycle was further treated to furnish 2,3,4а,6,7,8а,9,10-octaaza-4,8-dioxo-3,4,4a,7,8,8а,9a,10а-octohydroanthracene-9,10-ion-bis(dinitramide). The resultant salt of dinitramic acid exhibited inhibitory properties towards the burning rate of pyrotechnic compositions, reducing it by 30%, and possessed good thermal stability due to a high decomposition temperature above 260 °C and a low sensitivity to mechanical stimuli. The structural features of the new tricycle-based dinitramide salt were characterized via 2D NMR spectroscopy and double-focusing sector mass spectrometry (DFS). Full article

Intracavernosal injections of botulinum toxin A (BTX/A ic) may be effective for difficult-to-treat erectile dysfunction (ED). This is a retrospective case series study of the effectiveness of repeated off-label BTX/A ic (onabotulinumtoxinA 100U, incobotulinumtoxinA 100U or abobotulinumtoxinA 500U) in men with ED and insufficient response to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) or prostaglandinE1 intracavernosal injections (PGE1 ICIs), defined as an International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function domain score (IIEF-EF) < 26 on treatment. Further injections were performed on patients’ requests, and the files of men who underwent at least two injections were reviewed. The response to BTX/A ic was defined as the achievement of the minimally clinically important difference in IIEF-EF adjusted to the severity of ED on treatment at baseline. Out of 216 men treated with BTX/A ic and PDE5-Is or PGE1-ICIs, 92 (42.6%) requested at least a second injection. The median time since the preceding injection was 8.7 months. In total, 85, 44 and 23 men received, respectively, two, three and four BTX/A ic. The overall response rate was 77.5%: 85.7% in men with mild ED, 79% for moderate ED and 64.3% for severe ED on treatment. The response increased with repeated injections: 67.5%, 87.5% and 94.7%, respectively, after the second, third and fourth injections. Post-injection changes in IIEF-EF were similar across injections. The time from injection to request for a further injection varied little. Four men reported penile pain at the time of injection (1.5% of all injections), and one experienced a burn at the penile crus. Repeated BTX/A injections combined with PDE5-Is or PGE1-ICIs produced an effective and durable response, with acceptable safety. Full article

Herein, we describe the synthesis of coordination compounds starting from carbohydrazide ((H₂NHN)₂C=O (CHZ)) and the Zn²⁺ salt of dinitramic acid (HDN), which are high-nitrogen substances that exhibit properties similar to those of a burning-rate inhibitor of pyrotechnic compositions. This study demonstrates that these compounds react with glyoxal to furnish adducts of metal–organic macrocyclic cages bearing the elements of carbohydrazide, complexing metals and the HDN anion, depending on the ratio of the starting reactants. The assembled macrocyclic cage has “host–guest” properties and is a safe container for the storage of HDN salts. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the resultant coordination compound, [Zn(chz)₃(N(NO₂)₂)₂]), indicated that the metal–ligand association occurs via the N and O atoms of carbohydrazide. The zinc salt of dinitramic acid, which is enclosed into adducts with a macrocycle, is thermally stable and insensitive to mechanical impacts. The complex zinc salt of dinitramide was shown herein to exhibit inhibitory activity towards the burning rate of pyrotechnic compositions. Full article

Dinitramic acid salts are promising components as oxidizers and burning-rate modifiers of high-energy compositions. However, most of these salts are not free of drawbacks such as hygroscopicity. Therefore, their application under special conditions of use and storage is limited. The synthesis and storage of stable dinitramic acid salts is a topical issue. Here, we synthesized an adduct starting from the nickel salt of dinitramic acid with carbohydrazide and glyoxal to settle the problem of stability and storage of that salt. The chemical composition of the adduct was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The Ni content was determined by atomic emission spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric DSC and TGA analyses showed the adduct to have three decomposition stages. The adduct exhibits a good thermal stability and a low sensitivity to mechanical stimuli. Here, the adduct is demonstrated to be a promising burning-rate inhibitor of pyrotechnic compositions. Full article