A balance testing methodology was developed, based on a posture control model which defines relative stability by the degree to which a transient postural perturbation would cause the centre-of-pressure on the feet to approach the limits of the base-of-support. To minimize anticipatory adaptations and to ensure subject safety, the balance test used a small-amplitude continuous random or pseudorandom perturbation. The data were used to identify an input-output model, which was then used to predict large-amplitude transient response. The test perturbation was an anterior-posterior acceleration of a platform on which the subject stood. Pilot experiments were performed to determine appropriate perturbation parameters. Testing of sixty-four normal subjects demonstrated highly significant ageing-related decreases in predicted stability. No significant sex-related differences were found. Predicted stability increased when the subjects were blindfolded. In using the balance test to identify balance-impaired individuals, the blindfolded results and the eyes-open/blindfolded ratio provided higher success rates than the eyes-open results. Depending on the modelling method used, the balance test was able to identify up to three of five vestibular patients and five of five elderly fallers, at a false positive rate of 25% in the normal subjects. Correlations between the balance test results and measures of spontaneous postural sway were weak, except in the normal young adult subjects. Comparison with transient tests showed the balance test to yield reasonably accurate predictions of small-amplitude transient response, but to overestimate the large-amplitude response; however, the transient test results may have been confounded by adaptive effects. It was concluded that the balance test provides a sensitive functional measure of the changes in postural control that are known to occur in ageing. Although it shows promise as a tool for identifying balance impairments, larger numbers of balance-impaired subjects must be tested.

Slope stability analyses are commonly performed using computer programs hich perform safety factor calculations using limit equilibrium solutions and search for the critical, or most probable failure surface. These searches are always performed using "direct search" techniques, which are the simplest but least efficient optimization methods. In the future, more advanced optimization algorithms will be incorporated into existing slope stability programs, which will greatly increase the speed with which the search converges to the critical slip surface. The relative efficiency and reliability of these new search strategies must be established by comparative testing on a variety of slope problems. This paper presents a set of problems that will serve as a basis for future comparative testing of different optimization procedures. These problems span the range of slope problems encountered by geotechnical engineers. Baseline measures of efficiency are obtained using an existing slope stability program with grid and pattern search capabilities.

Acne is an extremely common condition, affecting almost 80% of adolescents and young adults. It is an inflammatory disease, characterised by comedones, papules, pustules and sometimes cysts. Factors causing acne include enhanced sebum excretion, hypercornification of the sebaceous duct, ductal coloniazation with Propionibacterium acnes and production of inflammation (Gollnick & Cunliffe, 2003:1). Because of the widespread use of topically applied antimicrobial agents in the treatment of inflammatory acne, resistance of disease-related micro-organisms developed. Therefore new strategies for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne are necessary. Nicotinamide is a new approach to topical treatment of moderate inflammatory acne without the development of resistant micro-organisms (Otte et al., 2005:257). Using the skin as an alternative route for the administration of nicotinamide for the treatment of acne, may be beneficial. When nicotinamide permeates through the skin, it is directly delivered to the dermis, the place where action is needed and better results can thus be expected after the treatment has started. Another benefit is that smaller amounts of the drug are absorbed systemically with decreased adverse reactions. Unfortunately, using the skin as an alternative route for administering drugs (transdermal drug delivery), has numerous limitations. One of these limitations is the barrier function of the skin (Naik et al., 2000:319). Because of the skin's outstanding ability to protect the body against unwanted substances from its surroundings, it is necessary to use methods to enhance drug penetration through the skin. A new technology, named Pheroid™ technology, was used in this study to enhance penetration through the skin. This technology is based on the use of vesicular structures with no phospholipids or cholesterol to enhance penetration (Grobler et al., 2008:283). The aim of this study was to formulate four different semi-solid formulations with nicotinamide as the active ingredient, and to determine which of the formulations deliver nicotinamide best to the target site. Stability tests over a six months period were also performed on the different formulations. A 3% nicotinamide cream, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, and a 3% nicotinamide gel, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, were formulated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Acne is an extremely common condition, affecting almost 80% of adolescents and young adults. It is an inflammatory disease, characterised by comedones, papules, pustules and sometimes cysts. Factors causing acne include enhanced sebum excretion, hypercornification of the sebaceous duct, ductal coloniazation with Propionibacterium acnes and production of inflammation (Gollnick & Cunliffe, 2003:1). Because of the widespread use of topically applied antimicrobial agents in the treatment of inflammatory acne, resistance of disease-related micro-organisms developed. Therefore new strategies for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne are necessary. Nicotinamide is a new approach to topical treatment of moderate inflammatory acne without the development of resistant micro-organisms (Otte et al., 2005:257). Using the skin as an alternative route for the administration of nicotinamide for the treatment of acne, may be beneficial. When nicotinamide permeates through the skin, it is directly delivered to the dermis, the place where action is needed and better results can thus be expected after the treatment has started. Another benefit is that smaller amounts of the drug are absorbed systemically with decreased adverse reactions. Unfortunately, using the skin as an alternative route for administering drugs (transdermal drug delivery), has numerous limitations. One of these limitations is the barrier function of the skin (Naik et al., 2000:319). Because of the skin's outstanding ability to protect the body against unwanted substances from its surroundings, it is necessary to use methods to enhance drug penetration through the skin. A new technology, named Pheroid™ technology, was used in this study to enhance penetration through the skin. This technology is based on the use of vesicular structures with no phospholipids or cholesterol to enhance penetration (Grobler et al., 2008:283). The aim of this study was to formulate four different semi-solid formulations with nicotinamide as the active ingredient, and to determine which of the formulations deliver nicotinamide best to the target site. Stability tests over a six months period were also performed on the different formulations. A 3% nicotinamide cream, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, and a 3% nicotinamide gel, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, were formulated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

No description available.

No description available.

Most individuals are influenced by pain at some stage in their lives. It can either be of acute or chronic nature. An acute pain condition initiates and is treated within a time span of 12 weeks. Chronic pain can, however, take substantially longer to treat. Chronic pain may last up to 6 months after the original injury was sustained. The after effects of chronic pain can, however, take years to heal, but physical and emotional scars may even last much longer than the initial chronic ailment. In this study the skin was chosen as an area for delivery of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of pain at the joint and muscle tissue regions. The stratum corneum (the topmost horny layer of the skin), however bars the effective movement of chemical substances across the skin as it forms part of the skin's function to protect the superficial tissue of the body against the external environment. It furthermore plays an important role in regulation of the movement of chemicals across the skin. Sweat pores and hair follicles can be utilised as pathways for the movement of chemical substances through the stratum corneum. Physical deformation ie, hydration of the top layer of the skin, may also enhance the movement of chemicals The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac, has been evaluated for transdermal diffusion. Three different diclofenac salts were evaluated, namely diclofenac diethylamine, diclofenac hydroxyethyl pyrrolidine and diclofenac sodium. These salts have the potential to relieve systemic pain conditions. Diclofenac salts, however, possess physicochemical characteristics that are unfavourable for transdermal diffusion. Pheroid™ delivery technology, as patented by the Northwest-University, was implemented as a method to enhance transdermal delivery of the diclofenac salts. During the study each of the diclofenac salts was formulated in a Pheroid™ and non-Pheroid™ formulation. All the formulations as well as corresponding retail products containing similar diclofenac salts were evaluated in order to determine which preparation had the most effective transdermal diffusion. High performance liquid chromatograhphy was implemented in order to determine the concentration of each salt in their various preparations. The Pheroid™ and non-Pheroid™ formulations were also compared to retail products currently available. An active ingredient flux was determined by means of Franz cell diffusion studies. Membrane diffusion studies were utilised in order to determine whether the active ingredients were effectively released from the formulated preparations and market products. Membrane diffusion studies determined that Arthruderm (the retail product containing diclofenac sodium) had the most potential to effectively release the active ingredient from the formulation (median flux 28.36 ± 0.26 ug/cm2.h"1). Franz cell diffusion studies showed no flux values for any of the evaluated preparations, including the retail products. Concentrations obtained within the epidermis and dermis were determined through tape stripping of these areas. The largest concentration of active ingredient within the epidermis was obtained from the studies done on Voltaren® (the retail product containing diclofenac diethylamine) which was 7.27 |ig/cm2.h"1 the largest value in the dermis was obtained from a non-Pheroid™ formulation containing diclofenac sodium (4.47 ug/ml). Confocal laser scanning microscopy was utilised and the micrographs where evaluated to ensure that the diclofenac salts were effectively entrapped in the Pheroid™ delivery system. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Acne affects as many as 80% of young adults and adolescents all over the world. This detrimental condition can be classified into four stages: (a) open comedo (blackhead), (b) closed comedo (whitehead), (c) papule and (d) pustule (Russell, 2000:357-366). There are various factors that can lead to acne outbreaks which include: (a) hormone level changes during the menstrual cycle in women, (b) certain drugs (i.e. lithium), (c) certain cosmetics and (d) environmental conditions such as humidity (University of Maryland, 2009:1). The skin performs a variety of functions which include the two major functions: (a) the containment and (b) the protection of the internal organs of the body. The containment function relates specifically to the ability of the skin to confine the underlying tissues and restrain their movement from place to place. The protective function, on the other hand, relates to the ability of the skin to act as a microbiological barrier to most micro-organisms; a chemical barrier to exogenous chemical compounds; barrier to radiation and electrical shock; and mechanical barrier to impact (Danckwerts, 1991:315). Niacinamide and salicylic acid were chosen in combination, due to the beneficial effects that they have on acne. Niacinamide has an anti-inflammatory action on acne; which reduces redness, dryness and irritation caused by Propioni-bacterium acnes that live in the clogged pores of pimples (Acnetreatmentlab, 2008:1). Salicylic acid is a keratolytic and keratoplastic agent. It is used in combination with other ingredients to enhance the shedding of corneocytes. This causes penetration into the skin to be very difficult (SAMF, 2005:177). The solubility of niacinamide and salicylic acid in PBS (pH 7.4 at 32°C) were 212.95 mg/ml and 4.07 mg/ml, respectively. The log D values of niacinamide and salicylic acid were determined to be -0.32 and 0.33, respectively. According to the solubility of niacinamide and salicylic acid it was expected that both of the active ingredients would permeate through the skin. However, it is expected that niacinamide will depict enhanced permeation with respect to salicylic acid. The results of the log D for both of the active ingredients indicate that there would not be optimal permeation. This study involved the formulation of four different acne preparations (Pheroid™cream, Pheroid™gel, cream and gel), combining niacinamide and salicylic acid. The evaluation of stability parameters for the different formulations indicated that none of the formulations was stable under the different storage conditions determined by the Medicines Control Council. Nevertheless, the cream and gel were the most stable of the four formulations. Visual assessment of the Pheroid™ formulations with the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLMS) was conducted and inconclusive evidence to whether the active substances were entrapped within the Pheroids™, was obtained. Franz cell diffusion studies indicated that the cream (in the case of niacinamide) and gel (in the case of salicylic acid) depicted the highest average and median flux from hours 6 to 12. Results of the tape stripping studies showed that with the gel formulation, concentrations of 2.060 ug/ml and 44.749 ug/ml niacinamide were obtained in the epidermis and dermis respectively. After the Pheroid™ gel was applied, tape stripping depicted only 1.587 ug/ml niacinamide in the epidermis with respect to 22.764 ug/ml niacinamide in the dermis. The cream formulation, on the other hand, showed niacinamide concentrations of 2.001 ug/ml in the epidermis and 13.363 ug/ml in the dermis, whereas with the Pheroid™ cream formulation, concentrations of 1.097 ug/ml and 18.061 ug/ml were obtained in the epidermis and dermis respectively. Tape stripping results depicted that with the gel formulation, concentrations of 2.113 ug/ml and 49.519 ug/ml salicylic acid were obtained in the epidermis and dermis respectively, whereas the Pheroid™ gel formulation showed salicylic acid, concentrations of 1.114 ug/ml in the epidermis and 95.360 ug/ml in the dermis. The cream formulation, however, depicted salicylic acid concentrations of 0.758 ug/ml in the epidermis and 44.729 ug/ml in the dermis. Lastly, after the Pheroid™ cream was applied, salicylic acid concentrations of 0.411 ug/ml and 48.424 ug/ml in the epidermis and dermis respectively, were measured. It could, therefore, be concluded that both niacinamide and salicylic acid tend to concentrate more in the dermis, irrespective of the formulation. This may be an advantage since acne is usually targeted in the dermis and epidermis. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Acne is a common skin disease that affects the follicular unit of the skin. Inflammatory- and noninflammatory forms of acne exist. The most affected areas on the body include the face, upper part of the chest and the back. These are the areas with the most sebaceous follicles. Acne occurs when hyperkeratinisation causes the cells of the hair follicle to shed too fast. These cells then block the follicle opening. Thus, sebum cannot pass through the hair follicle onto the skin. The human skin is composed of three layers, namely the epidermis, which acts as a waterproof layer and a barrier to infections; the dermis, which contains the skin appendages; and the subcutaneous fat layer. Skin acts as a protective layer against pathogens and damage to the body. It also provides a semi-impermeable barrier to prevent water loss. Azelaic acid and niacinamide are both currently used in the treatment of acne. Azelaic acid is a saturated dicarboxylic acid which is used to treat mild to moderate acne. It has antibacterial, keratolytic and comedolytic properties. Niacinamide, on the other hand, is the amide of nicotinic acid and is beneficial in the treatment of both papular and pustular acne. It has a demonstrated anti-inflammatory action and causes dose-dependent inhibition of sebocyte secretions. The Pheroid™ delivery system is a colloidal system that consists of even lipid-based submicron-and micron-sized structures that are very unique in nature. This technology is able to improve the absorption and/or efficacy of various active ingredients, as well as other compounds. In this study, a cream, Pheroid™ cream, a gel and a Pheroid™ gel were formulated, containing both azelaic acid and niacinamide. Stability tests were conducted on these formulations for six months, and it was established that none of the formulations were stable under the different storage conditions. Tests that were conducted during stability testing, as determined by the Medicines Control Council, included: assay, mass variation, appearance, viscosity, pH determination and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Diffusion studies (12 hours long in total) with vertical Franz cells were conducted with Caucasian female skin obtained after abdominoplastic surgery. Tape-stripping followed in order to establish the epidermis and dermis concentrations of azelaic acid and niacinamide. Significant concentrations of both active ingredients were found in the epidermis and the dermis after 12 hours. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Most individuals are influenced by pain at some stage in their lives. It can either be of acute or chronic nature. An acute pain condition initiates and is treated within a time span of 12 weeks. Chronic pain can, however, take substantially longer to treat. Chronic pain may last up to 6 months after the original injury was sustained. The after effects of chronic pain can, however, take years to heal, but physical and emotional scars may even last much longer than the initial chronic ailment. In this study the skin was chosen as an area for delivery of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of pain at the joint and muscle tissue regions. The stratum corneum (the topmost horny layer of the skin), however bars the effective movement of chemical substances across the skin as it forms part of the skin's function to protect the superficial tissue of the body against the external environment. It furthermore plays an important role in regulation of the movement of chemicals across the skin. Sweat pores and hair follicles can be utilised as pathways for the movement of chemical substances through the stratum corneum. Physical deformation ie, hydration of the top layer of the skin, may also enhance the movement of chemicals The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac, has been evaluated for transdermal diffusion. Three different diclofenac salts were evaluated, namely diclofenac diethylamine, diclofenac hydroxyethyl pyrrolidine and diclofenac sodium. These salts have the potential to relieve systemic pain conditions. Diclofenac salts, however, possess physicochemical characteristics that are unfavourable for transdermal diffusion. Pheroid™ delivery technology, as patented by the Northwest-University, was implemented as a method to enhance transdermal delivery of the diclofenac salts. During the study each of the diclofenac salts was formulated in a Pheroid™ and non-Pheroid™ formulation. All the formulations as well as corresponding retail products containing similar diclofenac salts were evaluated in order to determine which preparation had the most effective transdermal diffusion. High performance liquid chromatograhphy was implemented in order to determine the concentration of each salt in their various preparations. The Pheroid™ and non-Pheroid™ formulations were also compared to retail products currently available. An active ingredient flux was determined by means of Franz cell diffusion studies. Membrane diffusion studies were utilised in order to determine whether the active ingredients were effectively released from the formulated preparations and market products. Membrane diffusion studies determined that Arthruderm (the retail product containing diclofenac sodium) had the most potential to effectively release the active ingredient from the formulation (median flux 28.36 ± 0.26 ug/cm2.h"1). Franz cell diffusion studies showed no flux values for any of the evaluated preparations, including the retail products. Concentrations obtained within the epidermis and dermis were determined through tape stripping of these areas. The largest concentration of active ingredient within the epidermis was obtained from the studies done on Voltaren® (the retail product containing diclofenac diethylamine) which was 7.27 |ig/cm2.h"1 the largest value in the dermis was obtained from a non-Pheroid™ formulation containing diclofenac sodium (4.47 ug/ml). Confocal laser scanning microscopy was utilised and the micrographs where evaluated to ensure that the diclofenac salts were effectively entrapped in the Pheroid™ delivery system. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.