Chemically cross-linked poly(acrylic-co-vinylsulfonic) acid hydrogel for the delivery of isosorbide mononitrate.

We report synthesis, characterization, and drug release attributes of a series of novel pH-sensitive poly(acrylic-co-vinylsulfonic) acid hydrogels. These hydrogels were prepared by employing free radical polymerization using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and benzyl peroxide (BPO) as cross-linker and initiator, respectively. Effect of acrylic acid (AA), polyvinylsulfonic acid (PVSA), and EGDMA on prepared hydrogels was investigated. All formulations showed higher swelling at high pHs and vice versa. Formulations containing higher content of AA and EGDMA show reduced swelling, but one with higher content of PVSA showed increased swelling. Hydrogel network was characterized by determining structural parameters and loaded with isosorbide mononitrate. FTIR confirmed absence of drug polymer interaction while DSC and TGA demonstrated molecular dispersion of drug in a thermally stable polymeric network. All the hydrogel formulations exhibited a pH dependent release of isosorbide mononitrate which was found to be directly proportional to pH of the medium and PVSA content and inversely proportional to the AA contents. Drug release data were fitted to various kinetics models. Results indicated that release of isosorbide mononitrate from poly(AA-co-VSA) hydrogels was non-Fickian and that the mechanism was diffusion-controlled

pH-sensitive polyvinylpyrrolidone-acrylic acid hydrogels: Impact of material parameters on swelling and drug release

In this study, we fabricated pH-sensitive polyvinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid (PVP/AA) hydrogels by a free-radical polymerisation method with variation in the content of monomer, polymer and cross-linking agent. Swelling was performed in USP phosphate buffer solutions of pH 1.2, 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 with constant ionic strength. Network structure was evaluated by different parameters and FTIR confirmed the formation of cross-linked hydrogels. X-ray crystallography showed molecular dispersion of tramadol HCl. A drug release study was carried out in phosphate buffer solutions of pH 1.2, 5.5 and 7.5 for selected samples. It was observed that swelling and drug release from hydrogels can be modified by changing composition and degree of cross-linking of the hydrogels under investigation. Swelling coefficient was high at higher pH values except for the one containing high PVP content. Drug release increased by increasing the pH of the medium and AA contents in hydrogels while increasing the concentration of cross-linking agent had the opposite effect. Analysis of the drug release mechanism revealed non-Fickian transport of tramadol from the hydrogels.Nesse estudo, preparamos hidrogéis de polivinilpirrolidona/ácido acrílico(PVP/AA), sensíveis ao pH, por meio de método de polimerização de radical livre, com variações no conteúdo de monômero, de polímero e de agente de ligação cruzada. O inchamento foi realizado em soluções tampão fosfato USP pH 1,2, 5,5, 6,5 e 7,5, com força iônica constante. A estrutura reticular foi avaliada por diferentes parâmetros e o FTIR confirmou a formação de hidrogéis de ligação cruzada. A cristalografia de raios X mostrou dispersão molecular do cloridrato de tramadol. Realizou-se estudo de liberação do fármaco em soluções tampão fosfato pH 1,2, 5,5 e 7,5 para amostras selecionadas. Observou-se que o inchamento e a liberação do fármaco dos hidrogéis podem ser modificados mudando-se a composição e o grau de ligação cruzada dos hidrogéis em estudo. O coeficiente de inchamento foi alto em pH mais altos, exceto para um deles com alto conteúdo de PVP. A liberação do fármaco aumentou com o aumento do pH do meio e do conteúdo em AA nos hidrogéis, enquanto que o aumento na concentração do agente de ligação cruzada apresentou efeito oposto. A análise do mecanismo de liberação do fármaco revelou transporte não Fickiano do tramadol dos hidrogéis

Adherence to drug therapy in psychiatric patients in Nishtar Hospital, Multan (Pakistan)

Adherence is very important issue in any drug therapy especially in psychiatric illnesses. Medicines do not work if not taken and if taken in accordance with advice, provide maximum benefit in terms of positive clinical outcomes. Adherence is defined as the extent to which a patient's behavior coincides with medical or prescribed health advice. The term adherence is preferred over compliance. Non-adherence is a major risk factor for unfavorable clinical outcomes in psychiatry patients. Observational study was carried out at Nishtar Hospital, Multan; locate in Southern Punjab (Pakistan). A questionnaire was designed for this study “Adherence to drug therapy”. Results had shown that relapses occur because of non-adherence. Major reasons for non- adherence include inappropriate information given to patient (30%), worries about addiction to medicines (20%), worries about continuous long term use (10%) and others (40%), poor financial resources and non-availability of pharmacist etc. In conclusion adherence to medication regimen among patients with psychiatric disorders is poor. These findings suggest the need for new approaches for increasing patient compliance

Heritability, heterosis and heterobeltiosis studies for morphological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings

Background: Maize is one of most important cereal crop in world after wheat and rice. It is grown in Pakistan as a major cash crop cultivation in the area of 1083 thousand hectares producing 3990 thousand tones. Maize is dual propose crop it is used as feed for livestock and food for human. It is also used as a raw material in textile, food and medicine industries. The present study was conducted to evaluate parents and F1 hybrids of maize for seedling traits including heritability, heterosis and heterobelteiosis.Methodology: The genetic material was comprises of twelve parents and including their 36 F1 hybrids. The parents and F1 hybrids were sown in the iron treys filled with sand in three replications following completely randomized design. The data was recorded for fresh root length, fresh shoot length, fresh root-to-shoot length ratio, fresh root weight, fresh shoot weight and fresh root-to-shoot weight ratio. The data was subjected for analysis genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variance. The genetic advance was calculated by using Falconer (1989) formula.Results: The average batter performance was given by B-336, EV-347, EV-1097Q and B-327. The F1 hybrids, EV-1097Q × EV-347, EV-1097Q × EV-340, Raka-poshi × EV-347, B-327 × B-316 and Sh-139 × EV-347 showed higher values of heterosis and heterobeltiosis for respected studied traits of maize seedlings.Conclusion: In this study, it is concluded that the F1 hybrids, EV-1097Q x EV-347, EV-1097Q x EV-340, Raka-poshi x EV-347, B-327 x B-316 and Sh-139 x EV-347 may be used as higher yield maize hybrids and parents EV-347, EV-1097Q, B-327 and B-316 may be used to develop higher yield maize hybrids following heterosis breeding scheme

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of carrot pomace: a review article

The Carrot pomace (Daucus carota) is a root vegetable known for its nutritional importance, health benefits, and a rich source of phytochemicals including carotenoids, ascorbic acid, phenolics, and polyacetylenes. These phenolic compounds exhibit different pharmacological properties. This review study aimed to evaluate the nutritional as well as medicinal importance of carrot pomace. This review is helpful for a researcher who conducts a study on carrot pomace. Electronic databases MEDLINE, Scopus, PMC, PubMed database, Web of science, whereas Google Scholar was used as a secondary search tool. The keywords used were carrot pomace, Chemopreventive, Antioxidant, Anticancer, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological potential, and nutritional potential. More than 200 researches were searched from 2008 to 2021 related to the Carrot pomace. The results of comparing the antioxidant activity of two Algerian orange carrot varieties showed that the Touchon variety was richer in phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids and presents higher antioxidant activity in comparison with the Super-muscade variety. The nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of three varieties of carrots, Kuroda, Pamela, and Amazonia showed that the antioxidant properties were high even at low concentrations of extract. The literature review concluded that carrot is a rich source of β-carotene, fiber, and many essential micronutrients and functional ingredients having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Carrot roots are used to prevent different cancers, free radical scavengers, anti-mutagenic and boost the immunity as it contains large amount of carotenoids specifically β-carotene

Potential of sewage irrigation for heavy metal contamination in soil–wheat grain system: ecological risk and environmental fate

Anthropogenic activities are major cause of environmental pollution with significant risks for human health that can lead to excessive pollutant entry into the terrestrial ecosystem. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of bioaccumulation of carcinogenic metals (Cd, Ni, Co, Cr), and mineral elements (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) in the wheat irrigated with sewage water and different environmental traits (bio-concentration factor, pollution load index, daily intake of metals, health risk index) were compared to understand the ultimate sink of these toxic metals. The Cd was in range of 2.89–3.04 mg/kg in soil. The Fe and Mn were in range of 2.87–4.16 and 1.54–1.66 mg/kg, while Zn varies from 0.18 to 1.21 mg/kg, respectively. Grain exhibit higher concentration (3.31 mg/kg) of Zn while lowest (1.02 mg/kg) of Ni. Bio-concentration factor (BCF) values of Cd, Ni, Fe and Mn being less than 1.0 indicates lower Ni, Cd, Fe and Mn concentration in grains. BCF varies from 0.46 to 0.80 mg/kg for Cd, 0.31 to 0.41 mg/kg for Ni, 0.29 to 0.44 mg/kg for Fe and 0.15 to 0.73 mg/kg for Mn. Pollution load index (PLI) of Zn and Cd was lowest and highest among the evaluated trace metals, respectively. Health risk index was highest for Zn and Cd while it was < 1 for all other metals that showed no danger to human health. Enrichment factor (EF) of Zn was highest followed by Cd while found lowest in Mn. To minimize the health risks in humans, regular monitoring of wheat crop irrigated with wastewater is highly recommended.Universidade de Vigo/CISU