Background:Malignant pleural effusion is a major clinical problem associated with primary and metastatic pleural malignancies. Pleural effusions from an unknown primary are responsible for 7-15% of all malignant pleural effusions. Presence of malignant pleural effusion puts the patient in advanced stage and renders the prognosis as poor.Aim:In this study we intend to find out the incidence of malignant pleural effusion, its aetiology and clinical course in patients attending a tertiary care teaching hospital.Results:A total of 308 patients were included in this study. A majority of the patients were in age group 50- 70 years (median age = 58.8 years; range 32- 85 yrs). Male to female ratio was 2.5:1. The major primary cancers were lung cancer (135), lymphoma (40), breast cancer (36), female genital tract (30) gastrointestinal (21), and others (8). In 38 cases primary remained unknown. The yields of pleural fluid cytology, blind pleural biopsy, CT/USG guided pleural biopsy and thoracoscopy were 60%, 49%, 76% and 91% respectively. Chemical pleurodesis yielded complete response in 80%, incomplete response in another 13% patients. Only 136 (44%) cases could be followed up for minimum of 6 months. A majority of them (95, 69.85%) died.Conclusion:We conclude that malignant pleural effusion is a commonly misdiagnosed medical entity. Lung cancer is the commonest cause. Despite all efforts, in about 15% of the cases, primary remains undiagnosed. Thoracoscopy/pleuroscopy is a cost effective measure for diagnosis. Chemical pleurodesis provides expected results but mortality remains high.

Floating drug delivery system is the form of gastro-retentive drug delivery system. That controls kinetic release rate of drug to a specific site for its pharmacological action. These are achieved by use of various polymeric substances including natural polymer such as xanthan gum. This delivery system prolongs the retention time of the drug in the stomach as compared to conventional dosage form. The present article highlights the use of xanthan gum for the formulation of the gastro-retentive drug delivery system especially with natural polymer (xanthan gum). The main goal of any drug delivery system is to achieve desired concentration of the drug in blood or tissue, which is therapeutically effective and non toxic for a prolonged period. Oral delivery of drugs is by far the most preferable route of drug delivery due to the ease of administration, patient compliance and flexibility in formulation etc. From immediate release to cite specific delivery, oral dosage forms have really progressed.

Herbal products demand is growing exponentially throughout the world and various pharmaceutical sectors are currently conducting extensive research on plant materials for their potential medicinal value. Cyperus scariosus have been widely used as anti-inflammatory, astringent, antimicrobial, hypotensive, stimulant of central nervous system, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, analgesic. It contains essential oil, terpenoids, sesquiterpenes, hydrocarbons, steroidal saponins, ketones and flavonoids. It remained to be an important ingredient of several prescriptions used in indigenous system of medicine to treat a variety of diseases including diarrhea, epilepsy, gonorrhea, syphilis and liver damage. The essential oil obtained on steam distillation of rhizomes of the plant has its value in perfumary and is also known to possess antibacterial, antifungal, antidepressant and spasmolytic activities. The present review article provides an overview on potent pharmacological properties exhibited by this plant.

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) are an emerging trend in novel drug delivery system and have received ever-increasing demand during the last few decades. ODTs are solid unit dosage forms, which disintegrates or dissolves rapidly in the mouth without chewing and water. This type of property in dosage form can be attained by addition of different excipients, in which disintegrants are the key adjuvant. In recent years, several newer agents have been developed known as super-disintegrants. Super-disintegrants are used to improve the efficacy of solid dosage form and influence the release rate of dosage form. Diverse categories of super-disintegrants are such as synthetic, semi-synthetic, natural and co-processed blends etc. These have been employed to develop effectual ODTs and to overcome the limitations of conventional tablet dosage forms. The plant derived natural super disintegrants comply with many requirements of pharmaceutical excipients as they are non-toxic, stable, easily available, associated with less regulatory issues as compared to their synthetic counterpart and inexpensive; also these can be easily modified into more polar form. This review discuss about the development of various kind of natural super-disintegrating agents, along with their role in the tablet disintegration and as potent candidate to be used in ODTs, which are being used in the formulation to provide the safer, effective drug delivery with patient compliance.

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