Background and objectives: To identify the relationship between neck circumference (NC) and cardiometabolic risk factors in children. Materials and Methods: Children and adolescents 6–18 years old (n = 548) from five counties of San Luis Potosí, México were included. Data was collected for biological markers (glucose and lipid profile) and anthropometric and clinical measurements—weight, height, NC, waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using Quetelet formula (kg/m2). Descriptive analysis, correlation tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed. Results: NC was highly correlated with BMI and WC in both genders (p <0.0001). The most frequent risk factor was high BMI (38.7%). Sensitivity and specificity analysis of NC and high BMI showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.887. Conclusions: According to our findings, NC is a simple, low-cost, and non-invasive measurement, which has a high association with high BMI and increased WC.

Chitosan is a polycatonic biopolymer that can form gel in acidic environment so that can be used as a hydrophilic matrix in controlled release drug delivery system. In this research, propranolol hydrochloride controlled release granule was made in chitosan matrix. Granules were made by wet granulation method with variety of matrices, i.e. chitosan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and ethyl cellulose (EC). HPMC and EC were used as a comparing matrix. The release rates of propranolol HCl from matrix were determined by using dissolution apparatus type I with 50 rpm stirring rotation in acidic media of pH 1,2 and base media of pH 7,5 for 8 hours. Sample was taken at certain time and the samples were analyzed by spectrophotometer. The result showed that the release of propranolol hydrochloride from chitosan matrix was the slowest compared to the other matrices.

Propranolol hydrochloride is antihypertension agent that has a short biological half life of 2-6 hours. Microcapsules of propranolol hydrochloride are prepared by solvent evaporation method using ethylcellulose as a wall material with the drugpolymer ratio 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 for sustained release oral delivery. The microcapsules were then evaluated by particle size distribution analysis, shape and morphology (SEM), drug content, and dissolution studies. In vitro dissolution was studied using the dissolution apparatus II (paddle) with chloride buffer (pH 1,2) dan phosphate buffer (pH 6,8) medium. The drug-polymer ratio have an important influence on drug release from microcapsules where the increase of polymer cause the higher drug release inhibition.

Objective: This study aimed to obtain sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) from α-cellulose of the hulls of kapok (Ceiba pentandra) anddetermining its identity and characteristics base on compendial requirements and compared to the reference (standard).Methods: α-Cellulose was isolated from kapok hulls and used to generate NaCMC powder through alkalization and carboxymethylation. Alkalizationwas performed using 25% NaOH (containing sodium tetraborate), whereas carboxymethylation was using sodium monochloroacetate. Identificationand characterization were performed through infrared spectrum analysis using Fourier transform infrared, qualitative analysis, organolepticexamination, morphologic examination, and topographical analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. Tests conductedwere pH determination, sulfated ash content, moisture content, loss on drying, particle density, and viscosity.Results: The obtained NaCMC powder was yellowish-white with a similar infrared spectrum as the NaCMC standard. The powder had a degreeof substitution of 0.57 and a pH of 8.5. According to SEM, the obtained powder had a similar morphology as the NaCMC standard, although thesynthesized NaCMC had a rougher surface. The obtained NaCMC also had a similar diffractogram as the NaCMC standard, which was characterizedby the presence of crystalline and amorphous structures. Besides, the NaCMC powder had a similar moisture content (8.50%), sulfated ash content(36.43%), and loss on drying (9.87%) as the standard, whereas its 1% viscosity value (20.6 cP) was substantially different.Conclusion: NaCMC generated from α-cellulose of kapok hulls fulfills compendial requirements and has similar characteristics to reference.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectivity of resveratrol-gold-PEG-folate (RSV-Au-PEG-FA) nanoparticles formulation in resveratrol (RSV) targeted delivery and cytotoxicity effect on HeLa human cervical cancer cell line. Methods: Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were used as carriers and folic acid (FA) was used as active targeting moiety, using polyethylene glycol-bis-amine (PEG-bis-amine) as linker. RSV-Au-PEG-FA nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, infrared spectroscopy, particle size analyzer (PSA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cellular uptake study was conducted by using fluorescence microscope. Cytotoxicity study was conducted by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: Cellular uptake study has shown that RSV-Au-PEG-FA nanoparticles are potential to be accumulated intracellularly in HeLa cells more than in Vero cells. Cytotoxicity study has shown RSV-Au-PEG-FA nanoparticles IC50 67.06±2.14 mM and RSV IC50 9.66±1.44 mM on HeLa cells Conclusion: RSV-Au-PEG-FA nanoparticles are potential to enhance RSV uptake by HeLa cells selectively.