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Autoinjectors are self-injectable devices; they are important class of medical devices which can deliver drugs through subcutaneous or intramuscular route. They enclose prefilled syringes or cartridges which are driven by a spring system. The major benefits of this device are easy self-administration, improved patient compliance, reduced anxiety, and dosage accuracy. Immediate treatment during emergency conditions such as anaphylaxis, migraine, and status epilepticus or for chronic conditions like psoriasis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, Reformulation of first-generation biologics, technical advancements, innovative designs, patient compliance, overwhelming interest for self-administration all these made entry of more and more autoinjectors into use. In this review, intensive efforts have been made for exploring the different types of currently available autoinjectors for the management of emergency and chronic diseases.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of autoinjector devices (AIDs) in rabbits by intramuscular (i.m.) administration, using haematological and biochemical markers. Introduction: Emergency and mass casualty situations require immediate drug delivery for which AIDs are preferred. The tolerability of amikacin as antibacterial and buprenorphine as analgesic AID has been studied in rats by intraperitoneal administration. In the present study, it was evaluated in rabbits by i.m. administration. Methods: Water-filled glass cartridges (2.3–2.4 mL) were converted to amikacin (106 mg/mL) and buprenorphine (0.128 mg/mL) cartridges. Dual dose AID was used for i.m. administration (1.2 mL). The study was done as a crossover design on 12 rabbits. Initially, three rabbits each were given manually or AID, 57 mg/kg amikacin, and three rabbits each by manual or by AID, 0.07 mg/kg buprenorphine for 7 days. After 1 month, the injections were changed in the rabbits. In the place of manual injection, AID and in the place of amikacin, buprenorphine injection was given. This ensured that all rabbits received 14 injections, 7 manual and 7 AID consisting of 7 amikacin and 7 buprenorphine. 24 h before and 24 h after last drug administrations, blood was withdrawn from ear vein for haematological and biochemical estimations. Results: The rabbits were healthy, active and no sign of any injection-related changes were observed after administration of amikacin and buprenorphine by manually or by AID. The haematological and biochemical parameters showed similar changes in manual and AID administration of amikacin and buprenorphine. Conclusion: The present study of amikacin and buprenorphine by AID shows the safety of the device and is recommended for further experimentation. These AIDs are intended for self-administration during emergency and mass causality situation and are suitable for adults and children, as well as farm and pet animals.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a type of peripheral sympathetic nervous system cancer that most commonly affects children. It is caused by the improper differentiation of primitive neural crest cells during embryonic development. Although NB occurs for 8% of paediatric cancers, it accounts for 15% of cancer-related deaths. Despite a considerable increase in cytotoxic chemo- and radiotherapy, patients in advanced stages remain virtually incurable. Therefore, there is a desperate necessity for new treatment strategies to be investigated. Accumulating evidence suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with 19–25 nucleotides lengths and play a central role in the development of NB carcinogenesis. Fascinatingly, miRNA inhibitors have an antisense property that can inhibit miRNA function and suppress the activity of mature miRNA. However, many studies have addressed miRNA inhibition in the treatment of NB, but their molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways are yet to be analysed. In this study, we impart the current state of knowledge about the role of miRNA inhibition in the aetiology of NB.

Background: Vector repellents are used globally to avoid insect bites and control transmission of diseases. It is important to ensure safety levels of these compounds, although they are noxious to insects. Vector repellents when used in combination are known to bring additional benefits in getting rid of the harmful insects. Unfortunately, the safety levels of various vector repellents such as Deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), Depa (N,N-diethyl phenylacetamide), and Deb (N,N-diethylbenzamide) are not studied in combination with the widely used pyrethroid deltamethrin (Del). Materials and Methods: In this study, safety evaluation of various vector repellents by oral route in combination with Del was studied by assessing body weight and organ weight changes, hematological parameters, and biochemical parameters in Wistar rats. Results: The results revealed significant changes in liver marker enzymes in Del, Deb, Del + Depa, and Del + Deet groups. Urea levels were significantly altered after treatment with various repellents and in combination with Del, except Deb-alone group. Hematological and rest of the biochemical parameters were found to be unaltered in all the treatment groups. Significant changes in the liver weight were found in Deb, Depa, Deet, Del + Deb, and Del + Deet groups. Conclusions: Taken together, the overall results of this study indicate that single, high oral dose of various insect repellents did not show any additive toxicity.