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Segregation or demixing of particle systems is a phenomenon where one component of a homogeneous powder mixture tends to separate from the other components. The segregation tendency of powder depends on the characteristics of particles, environmental conditions and interactions between particles. A huge number of segregation mechanisms are presented in literature and even small differences between the properties of particles and particle interactions can lead to a completely different segregation mechanism. The segregation phenomenon is very essential from the perspective of pharmaceutical industry. However, the phenomenon is not yet sufficiently well known in order for segregation to be systematically avoided. Current research on segregation is largely based on learning through trial and error. Therefore, innovative research methods are needed to understand the true segregation phenomenon. The purpose of the experimental part was to develop and basic test the method of testing the segregation behavior of different particle systems and use this method to examine the segregation behavior of pharmaceutical mixtures of granules and pellets. The aim was to prove that the operating principle of the developed Babel-device is suitable for examining the segregation behavior of particle systems, but the trials carried out mainly consisted of method and device testing. The problems were composed of the limitations imposed by the Babel-device, particle electrification and particle interactions. Linear approaches used were insufficient for creating segregation by the Babel-device. Convection resulting from vertical shaking prevented the generation of segregation. In conclusion, we can say that the Babel-device measures well and reproducibly, and it is able to distinguish different particle sizes and different particle size distributions from each other. The development aim of the device would be to obtain a more visible segregation in the powder mixture as a result of shaking. Thus, we would be able to draw conclusions from the segregation behavior of the powder mixture and the prevailing segregation mechanisms in the system. Further development of the device and the method could provide useful additional information which would contribute to better understanding of the phenomenon of segregation.

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are ligand-gated ion channel receptors that consist of five transmembral receptor subunits. They can form a functional receptor subtype solely out of alfa-subunits or out of a combination of alfa- and beta-subunits. The number of potential assembly of nicotinic receptor subunits is high because at least nine alfa-subunits (α2-α10) and three beta-subunits (β2-β4) have been recognized. The composition, location and pharmacological properties of different subtypes have not yet been fully characterized. However, it has been shown that the neuronal nicotinic receptors are involved in a wide range of physiological and pathofysiological processes especially in the central nervous system. Toxins from snakes and Conus -sea snails have proved to be important tools in neuropharmacological research, from which considerable information on structure and subunit combinations of the nicotinic receptors have been received. Receptors binding assays or autoradiographic experiments exploiting toxins have also been useful methods to locate the neuronal nicotinic receptors in mammalian brain. The aim of the experimental part of the Pro gradu was to characterize in vitro binding affinities of α-contoxin MII, α-conotoxin Vc1.1, neurotoxin II, α-cobratoxin and weak-toxin synthetized in Moscow and of well-known receptor ligands cytisine and methyllycaconitine to neuronal nicotinic receptors in SH-SY5Y- and SH-EP1-hα7-cell membrane preparations. SH-SY5Y-cells are known to express various neuronal receptor subtypes (α3* or α7) endogenously. For the SH-EP1-hα7-cells part, the cell line has been transfected with α7 nAChR-genes and it expresses only α7 receptor subtypes. Receptor competition studies were performed with [3H]-epibatidine (400 pM SH-SY5Y, 2000 pM SH-EP1-hα7) and the radioactivity was measured with a Microbeta- scintillation counter. [3H]-epibatidine was perceived to be displaced almost completely by cytisine and methyllycaconitine in both cell lines. In addition to this, the toxins were shown to bind to two distinct receptor-binding sites in SH-SY5Y-cells. Also α-contoxin MII and α-conotoxin Vc1.1 inhibited [3H]-epibatidine binding by biphasic manner, but the maximal displacement failed to be complete. From α-conotoxins only MII had affinity to α7 receptors in SH-EP1-hα7-cells. Neurotoxin II, α-cobratoxin and weak-toxin were not found to compete with [3H]-epibatidine for the same binding sites in SH-SY5Y-cells. The results confirm the assumption that cytisine and methyllycaconitine label various nAChR-subtypes. Instead, based on SH-SY5Y-cell assays α-conotoxins used in this study would seem to label spesifically only particular nAChR-subtypes. The receptor competition studies also confirm the prevalent conception that neurotoxin II, α-cobratoxin and weak-toxin do not bind to neuronal nicotinic receptor subtypes containing α3-subunits.

The ABCG2-protein is an ATP-dependent half transporter. It is found on apical membranes in intestine, liver, kidney, blood-brain barrier and placenta where it regulates absorption, distribution and elimination of many drugs, but also natural compounds and endogenous metabolites. Natural variation found on the ABCG2-gene can alter protein expression and transport activity. The altered function has been linked to pharmacokinetic changes and developing of diseases like gout. Studying natural ABCG2-variants and their effect gathers knowledge not only on their effect on pharmacokinetics but also on the ABCG2- transporters’ mechanism of function. The aim of this study was to combine an activating (I456V or H457R) and an inactivating (Q141K, F431L or T542A) non-synonymous single nucleotide variant in the same gene to study their combined effect on the ABCG2-transporter expression and active transport. Mutations were incorporated into the ABCG2- gene by site directed mutagenesis and the protein was expressed on HEK293-cells. The transport activity for Lucifer-Yellow and estrone sulfate was measured using HEK293-ABCG2-vesicles produced from cell membranes. The protein expression was measured with Western blot and mass spectrometry proteomics. Based on this study, different mutations together can alter each other’s effects, but the combined result is not always equal to the sum of variations. T542A-mutation did not show significant increase on the protein expression on any of the T542A-combinations, even though it has had such an effect in earlier studies. I456V, earlier expressed like wild type ABCG2, seemed to increase protein expression in all combinations. Q141K, F431L and T542A -mutations had lowering not expression dependent effect on the transport activity. F431L-mutation being so dominant that either of the two activating mutations could not restore the active transport in combinations. As seen before, H457R-variant seemed to cause a significant substrate specific activating effect on transport activity also in this study when combined with other mutations. However, H457R had a strong lowering effect on the protein expression and two of the combinations did not produce enough protein for active transport. As seen in this study, the ABCG2-doublemutations can cause altered ABCG2-function and lead to pharmacokinetic changes. These types of in vitro studies are important in studying these less common genetic variants which in lack of study subjects can be hard to study on clinical trials.

The status of herbal products has changed over time and due to changes in medicines legislation in Finland. The study period starts from 1964, when marketing authorisation procedure became obligatory for medicinal products. In 1994 medicines regulation introduced the term "herbal remedy" and in 2005 the terms "herbal medicinal product" and "traditional herbal medicinal product". In recent years there has been an increasing interest in medicines information regarding children. For example in 2007 a new paediatric medicines regulation was given by the EU. In Finland a new medicines information strategy was published in 2012 by the Finnish Medicines Agency. The aim of this study was to find out how the medicines information of herbal products regarding children has changed over time and changes in legislation. The material of this study were the documents of herbal products under medicines regulation in Finland 1964 - 2012. The information was gathered from summary of product characteristics, package leaflets, labellings and their predecessors. In total there were 195 products of which 189 had relevant documents for this study. The method of this study was content analysis. The information was collected from the documents to data sheets. The analysis was based on the legislative periods. Medicines information has become more accurate during the study period 1964 - 2012. Information was less accurate between years 1988 and 1995. The amount of medicines information has increased after the term "herbal remedy" and terms "herbal medicinal product" and "traditional herbal medicinal product" were introduced. Some of the changes in medicines information could be tracked to specific regulatory changes. The study gives historical perspective on the changes in medicines information of herbal products in Finland. It is clear that the legislative changes have limited effect on medicines information, if the amount of paediatric scientific studies is not increased. In the future there is a need to study the prevalence of the use of herbal medicinal products and traditional herbal medicinal products in children and in other population groups. There is also a need to study how the medicine information differs in herbal medicinal products and traditional herbal medicinal products and what are the differences compared to the information on dietary supplements.

Medication-related events are a significant cause of in-hospital adverse events. Intravenous medication errors occur more frequently and are more likely to result in serious harm than other medication therapies. Closed loop medication management which seamlessly integrates automated and intelligent systems barriers, is used for reducing medication errors. The aim of this systematic review was to identify what kind of scientific studies exist regarding closed loop medication in intravenous medication therapy and barriers related to it. This study is part of a larger systematic review. The literature search indentified 2292 scientific papers. Of these, only 57 were included in the larger review since most of the references were excluded based on titles, abstracts or full-texts. Of these, 21 studies regarding closed loop medication management in intravenous medication therapy were included in this thesis. The studies conserned intelligent infusion devices, computerized physician order entries, clinical decision support systems, automated workflow management systems reducing compounding errors and bar-code confirmation of drugs and patients. According to this review, closed loop medication management potentially reduces medication errors related to intravenous medication therapy. It seems to be more effective to seamlessly integrate the closed loop medication management barriers to each other and to the medication management process than to implement the barriers separately. It’s important to plan the implementation carefully by a multidisciplinary team. In addition, the latest care guidelines need to be taken in to account. Significant resources must be allocated to training and engaging employees and to systematically maintaining and developing the process to manage the successful implementation of the process. This review provides valuable information for Finnish hospitals implementing the closed loop medication management since the concept is not yet well-known in Finland.

Histamine is a monoamine structured signal molecule, which takes part in many functions of living organisms. It was first found in brain approximately 70 years ago. Neuronal histamine regulates for example biological rhythms, energy metabolism and thermoregulation. In the 1980's, H3-receptor was recognized in the brain. Neuronal histamine regulates functions of other transmitters for example gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and dopamine. Currently, the interactions of histamine and dopamine are not well characterized. Though, it is known that histaminergic fibers innerviate almost every dopaminergic area of the brain. There are also several H3-receptors in the striatum and in the limbic system. These brain areas are important for the rewarding effect of dopamine. The aim of the experimental part of this Master's thesis was to examine the location of histaminergic and dopaminergic nervous systems in mouse brain by using immunohistochemistry. Primary antibodies that were produced in rabbit (anti-histamine (HA)) and in mouse (anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)), and secondary anti-rabbit and anti-mouse anti-bodies, that were produced in goat and conjugated with fluorophores, were used in the study. The samples were imaged with a confocal microscope. The primary aim was to find out, in which addiction related brain areas, histamine and dopamine cells and fibers are located and how they are situated in relation to each other. H3-receptor antagonists have been shown to decrease the consumption and rewarding effect of alcohol in animal models. Therefore, it was examined if non-imidazole structured H3-receptor antagonist also inhibits the rewarding effect of amphetamine, and if it decreases the locomotor activity induced by amphetamine. JNJ-39220675, a neutral antagonist of H3-receptor, and behavioral paradigm of conditioned place preference (CPP) were used in the experiment. CPP was also used to find out if D2-receptor agonist quinpirole cause reward or aversion. The effect of JNJ-39220675 on quinpirole's place preference and change in locomotor activity was also investigated. The interactions of these two pharmacological ligands were also examined in a separate locomotor activity experiment. C57BL/6J mice were used in all experiments. The results show that there are possible synaptic connections of histaminergic and dopaminergic system in substantia nigra, supramammillary nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic area and ventral periaqueductal grey area. Also, histaminergic nerve fibers innerviate to the dorsal striatum, which regulates motor functions, and to the ventral striatum, which is a part of the rewarding system of the brain. Hence, it is possible that histamine regulates the actions of dopa-mine in these brain areas. The behavioral experiments showed that JNJ-39220675 inhibits acutely increased locomotor activity caused by amphetamine, and decreases desensitation of decreased locomotor action caused by repeated dose of quinpirole. However, JNJ-39220675 did not have any effect on the rewarding effect of amphetamine, which causes strong sensitization. Also, JNJ-39220675 did not have an effect on quinpirole's aversive action. It remains to be seen, if H3-receptor is a potential target for new medicines in the treatment of different brain diseases and addiction in the future.

Ketoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely used for the treatment of pain in sheep and swine. Information of correct ketoprofen doses in different animal species is limited. The correct dose cannot be reliably extrapolated based on other species or human. The problem in cases of suspected overdose is knowing whether the given dose was toxic. The objective of the study with sheep was to figure out if the kinetics of ketoprofen is altered by a tenfold overdose, study the effect of the overdose to kidneys and find out a way to diagnose overdose by a simple urine test. The objective of the study with swine was to figure out the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen after oral, intramuscular and intravenous administration. The most important variables were AUC0-_, Cmax and Tmax. Bioavailability was calculated based on intravascular administration. 30 mg/kg ketoprofen was administered intravenously to six sheep. The concentration of ketoprofen in sheep plasma was followed for 24 hours. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated afterwards. Blood and urine samples were analysed to detect enzyme markers indicating possible renal failure. The sheep were finished off 24 hours after the administration and the possible damage to kidneys was evaluated from histological samples. Ketoprofen was also administered to eight swine. The doses were 3 mg/kg of oral, intramuscular and intravascular, and 6 mg/kg of oral ketoprofen. The study was performed as a randomized, cross-over study. The concentration of ketoprofen in swine plasma was followed for 48 hours after administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and bioequivalence evaluated afterwards. The in vivo -studies of both of the studies as well as the histological study of the kidneys, and the urine and blood analysis except for the analysis of ketoprofen concentration, were carried out by the researchers of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Plasma ketoprofen concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Drug concentration and pharmacokinetic analysis were carried out in the Faculty of Pharmacy. The tenfold dose of ketoprofen was toxic in sheep. Serum concentrations of urea and creatinine increased. Histological samples revealed acute tubular damage. Many urine enzyme concentrations increased. The rise of urine lactate dehydrogenase (LD) concentration was most significant and earliest. LD appears to be a potential marker of a toxic ketoprofen dose. Compared with the therapeutic dose, overdose did not affect ketoprofen elimination rate from plasma, so the kinetics of ketoprofen was not altered. AUC- and Cmax -values were over tenfold compared to the therapeutic dose, so the values did not rise linearly as the dose reached a toxic level. Bioequivalence of ketoprofen in swine was not observed between different routes of administration. The bioavailability was excellent in all routes of administration. Tmax was slightly over one hour after administration. Cmax and AUC were 5,1 mg/l and 32 mg l-1 h after oral 3 mg/kg dose and 7,6 mg/l and 37 mg l-1 h after intramuscular dose. The increases in AUC and Cmax were linear between the different dosages of oral ketoprofen. The difference of the elimination rates between oral and intravascular administration was statistically significant. Ketoprofen distribution volume and clearance did not differ significantly between different routes of administration.

Verensiirtoja tarvitaan monissa erilaisissa tilanteissa, kuten akuutissa verenhukassa, leikkauksissa ja sairauksien hoidoissa. Verivalmisteiden laajan käytön takia, on tärkeää varmistaa veriturvatoiminnalla niiden laatu sekä turvallisuus. Olennainen osa verivalmisteiden laadunvalvontaa on seuloa veren välityksellä leviäviä taudinaiheuttajia. Suomessa veren välityksellä leviävien tautien leviämisen riski on lähes olematon tarkan laadunhallinnan ansioista. Verenluovutusajankohtana oireettomat taudit aiheuttavat kuitenkin riskin laadunhallinnalle. Koska krooninen Chlamydia pneumoniae -infektio voi olla oireeton, on tärkeää tutkia taudin kykyä levitä verivalmisteiden välityksellä. Tätä ennen on kuitenkin tutkittava, löytyykö verivalmisteista edes kyseistä bakteeria. C. pneumoniae on gram-negatiivinen solunsisäinen bakteeri, joka aiheuttaa ihmisillä erilaisia akuutteja hengitystieinfektioita, kuten keuhkokuumetta, nielutulehdusta ja sinuiittiä. Vaikka suurin osa tartunnoista on oireettomia tai lieväoireisia, voi infektio muuttua hoitamattomana krooniseksi. Akuutissa infektiossa C. pneumoniae infektoi pääasiassa keuhkojen epiteelisoluja sekä alveolaarisia makrofageja. Infektion pitkittyessä bakteeri voi levitä muihin elimistön soluihin valkosolujen välityksellä. Tämä bakteerin kyky aiheuttaa kroonista infektiota sen muuttuessa persistenttiin muotoon tekee bakteerista hyvin menestyvän. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää, kuinka paljon C. pneumoniae -bakteeria esiintyy suomalaisessa luovutusveressä. C. pneumoniae -bakteerin DNA:n tunnistamiseen kokoverestä käytettiin kolmea eri PCR-menetelmää: kvantitatiivista PCR:ää, sisäkkäistä PCR:ää ja digitaalista pisara PCR:ää. Työn ensimmäinen vaihe oli suunnitella ja optimoida nämä kolme PCR-menetelmää. Menetelmien pystyttämisen jälkeen 40 verinäytettä tutkittiin kyseisillä PCR-menetelmillä. Lisäksi samoista verinäytteistä määritettiin C. pneumoniae spesifisen vasta-aineen, immunoglobuliini G:n, määrät ELISA-immunomäärityksellä. Verinäytteitä tutkittaessa C. pneumoniae -bakteerin esiintyvyys suomalaisessa luovutusveressä oli hyvin pieni. Vain kahden näytteen (2/40) epäiltiin olevan mahdollisesti positiivisia, sillä nämä antoivat mahdollisia positiivisia tunnistuksia vähintään kahdessa PCR-ajossa. C. pneumoniae spesifisten IgG vasta-aineiden esiintyvyys oli suurempi; näytteistä 50 % oli igG positiivisia. IgG vasta-aineiden esiintyvyyden ei todettu korreloivan iän tai sukupuolen kanssa. Aiemmissa tutkimuksia C. pneumoniae -bakteerin esiintyvyys luovutusveressä on vaihdellut 7–46 %:n välillä. Bakteerin esiintyvyyden jäädessä hyvin alhaiseksi on mahdollista, että PCR-menetelmien detektioherkkyys ei riittänyt tässä tutkimuksessa tunnistamaan toistettavasti mahdollisia positiivisia näytteitä. Näin ollen PCR-menetelmien lisäoptimointi olisi tarpeen.

Flowability of powders is in critical role when manufacturing the most popular dosage forms, tablets and capsules, of pharmaceutical industry. Re-formulation is expensive and time-consuming, so it is important to determine powder flow properties at the initial stage of drug development prior to tabletting and encapsulation processes. There are many different methods, like shear cell, flow through an orifice and bulk and tapped density, to examine powder flowability. Despite the methods, the most reliable means of examining powder flowability is often empirical. In early stages of drug development, it would be good to have faster, more reliable and cheaper methods to examine powder flowability. FT4 Powder Rheometer is a relatively new flowability characterization technique. The aim of this study is to find out whether the library created using the FT4 Powder Rheometer methods makes it possible to characterize the rheological properties of solids in the early stages of drug development. In addition, the aim is to investigate whether FT4 Powder Rheometer methods can predict the success of masses in tableting and encapsulation processes. The information gained from the research can be used in the future, for example, in continuous processes, because flowability plays an important role, especially in the supply of raw materials to the process, which is the most important division of continuous processes. To the library were selected for particle size and shape 15 different types of material. These materials were subjected to five different FT4 Powder Rheometer basic test methods. In addition, the particle size and shape of the materials and the flow through an orifice and the bulk and tapped density were determined to support the results of the powder rheometer. The principal component analysis was used to process the results. As the tablet and capsule masses examined, the masses of a previous study were utilized. Those masses were tableted and encapsulated in that previous study. These tablet and capsule masses contain a variable amount of cohesive drug substance. FT4 Powder Rheometer methods provide more complex information about materials and their behaviour than conventional flowability test methods. From the powder rheometer parameters pressure drop, compressibility and specific energy distinguish the cohesive and the non-cohesive materials, because the cohesive materials with these parameters obtain clearly higher values than non-cohesive materials. Additionally, the cohesion of FT4 Powder Rheometer shear cell test mainly distinguishes highly cohesive materials from other materials. The flow rate index makes it possible to separate the materials to which the change in flow rate particularly affects. Fluidizing materials, due to the air flow, are distinguished by the aeration test. Avicel PH-102 could be used as a rough limit value for well and poorly flowing materials in the created library (excluding the aeration and shear cell test). Stability index -, flow rate index -, specific energy -, pressure drop -, and compressibility-results of the FT4 Powder Rheometer correlated to the proportional proportion of the cohesive drug in the mixture. These parameters could possibly be used to distinguish mixtures containing the cohesive material. Additionally, specific energy, compressibility, pressure drop, basic flowability energy, stability index and flow rate index correlated with the weight variation of the tablets. With these parameters one could possibly assess the tabletability of the mixtures. A much larger library is needed to evaluate and predict the rheological properties of new materials. FT4 Powder Rheometer can possibly be used to predict the tableting success of tablet and capsule masses. This would be interesting to look more extensively, for example as part of a library. Additionally, it would be good to investigate whether the results of powder rheometer correlate to continuous production.

The purpose of this study was to describe cat owners' problems that relate to cat medication, especially from the drug formulation point of view. Oral, topical, eye and ear administration routes were included into study. There are few compliance and palatability studies made for cats and dogs in Finland and abroad, but this kind of descriptive study relating different drug formulation has never been done before. This study was carried out as Internet survey questionnaire study and it was addressed to cat owners who visited in academic veterinary hospital for small animals and those municipal and private veterinary offices that were randomized into the study. Additionally, the survey study was addressed to cat owners who had medicated their cats during January-March 2010. Those cat owners were contacted through Internet discussion sites. In the veterinary offices the office staff selected the proper candidates for the study and distributed invitations to participate. For distributing invitations the main criteria was that the cat owner received veterinary medication prescription or got directions for using some medication in cat. 59 answers were received in the study and 84 % of all formulation were administered via oral route. The products were antimicrobial and paracite medicines, cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory medicines. Based on the study results most of the problems were related to oral and ear administration routes. Cat showed low compliance and unwillingness to take pills and capsules because of the unpleasant smell, taste and mouth feel of the product. Tablet and capsule form medicines caused problems to the owners, because it was often necessary to adjust the dose by splitting and cutting half the tablet. This made it difficult for owners to follow given medication instructions. The consistency of liquid medicine forms was described sticky and package material thick and stiff. Because of these factors cat owners had difficulties to evaluate the amount of drops to administer to cats ear or eye and the amount remaining in the medicine bottle. According to the study results there is a need for palatable and easily administered medicines that will be taken readily by cats. It should also be possible to adjust to dose as described. The survey questionnaire is a convenient study method for descriptive purposes and it should be carefully considered what kind of sampling method to use and how to carry out the sampling in practice.