Judit Balogh

Comparison of the physicochemical properties of MCT-containing fat emulsions in total nutrient admixtures

The physical stability of two types of MCT-emulsions made by different technologies - physical mixture vs. structured lipids - was studied as a function of storage time and temperature. Particle size analysis, zeta potential and dynamic surface tension measurements were carried out to evaluate the possible changes in the kinetic stability of the emulsions. Our results indicate that the physical mixture technology of MCT-emulsions resulted in impaired physicochemical stability compared to the ones containing structured triglycerides. In the case of structured lipids, both medium and long chain fatty acids can be found in one triglyceride molecule, leading to a favorable interfacial location of structured triglycerides. Besides the advantageous metabolic effects of structured triglycerides, their application is recommended to improve the physical stability of TPN admixtures.

Medicating outside the consulting room

INTRODUCTION Self-medication is a means, besides changing ones lifestyle, of buying and taking non-prescription medicaments. This practice has several advantages. People save time and energy by not sitting for hours in the consulting room of the doctor with a simple ailment, and the doctors also have more time to deal with those requiring more serious treatment. Moreover, the expenditures of the state also decrease, as patients do not visit the doctor but buy non-prescription, i.e. non-supported, medicaments. AIMS The authors surveyed the habits and demands of a survey population concerning non-prescription medicaments, primarily in the pharmacies of Fejér county. A marketing research programme was completed in order to establish better co-operation between patients and pharmacists, within the framework of which 1450 questionnaires were distributed from March to June in 2005, 743 of which were completed and evaluated. METHOD The authors examined, whether there were differences within the answers given to professional questions (questions 1-25 of the questionnaire) through sex, age, qualifications and earning power. Answers were analyzed by statistical methods. Statistical analyses were carried out with the SPSS 13.0 program group. Those results were published, where significant differences were found. RESULTS Half of the respondents take medicaments regularly, 65% of them watch advertisements about medicaments several times a day. 40% of those surveyed consult a professionally-qualified person about their decision before buying non-prescription medicaments. The population obtains much information from the brochures enclosed with medicaments, and almost 70% of them read these brochures. According to their opinions, when buying non-prescription products, pharmacists always recommend other possibilities as well, and they give details about the information concerning the application of the medicaments. CONCLUSIONS In order for people to use non-prescription products properly, it would be definitely necessary to elaborate a successful national education strategy. The population expects information concerning medicaments to be communicated in the pharmacies in an understandable way. It should be in the pharmacy where patients learn about the medicaments they take, where the pharmacist knows what other medicines have been prescribed by a doctor, and whether patients have any illnesses whereby they should not take other products.

Stability assessment of o/w parenteral nutrition emulsions in the presence of high glucose and calcium concentrations

The purpose of the present study was to examine how the colloid stability features of o/w parenteral nutrition emulsions made with SMOFlipid (lipid emulsion based on soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil and fish oil) will change in the presence of high concentration of calcium and glucose if usual micronutrients are also present, according to the needs of the clinical nutrition patient. Particle size analysis, zeta potential, dynamic surface tension measurements and light microscopic screening were carried out to evaluate the possible changes in the kinetic stability of the emulsions. Our results indicate that the higher glucose concentration of 15 or 20% could not compensate the emulsion-destabilizing effect of higher (5 mM) calcium concentration even in the presence of a modern fat emulsion. Therefore calcium demand of undernourished patient requiring 5 mM or higher final Ca²⁺ content in nutrient solution should be supplemented in another way.

Tracking of the kinetic stability of 2 types of total nutrient admixtures containing different lipid emulsions

The physical stability of 2 types of total nutrient admixtures was studied as a function of storage time and temperature. One of them contained only structured triglycerides and the other exclusively long-chain triglycerides as lipid components. To evaluate the possible changes in the kinetic stability of the emulsions and in the surface characteristics of the droplets during storage, particle size analysis, zeta potential, and dynamic surface tension measurements were performed. To follow any chemical decomposition processes that occurred during storage, the pH of the emulsions was also monitored. The mean droplet size of emulsions prepared with lipids containing exclusively long-chain triglycerides showed a remarkable increase after 4 days of storage, in contrast with that of the mixtures containing structured lipids. A combination of size distribution, zeta potential, and dynamic surface tension measurements proved to be useful for an adequate tracking of the kinetic stability of total nutrient admixtures. Structured triglycerides not only provide advantageous metabolic effects but improve the physical stability of total parenteral nutrition admixtures.