DETERMINATION OF CYCLODEXTRINS BY CAPILLARY LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH INDIRECT CONDUCTIMETRIC DETECTION

   ABSTRACT Cyclodextrins (CDs) contained in a bottled Japanese tea and a wasabi (Japanese horseradish) paste were determined by capillary liquid chromatography (LC) with indirect conductimetric detection based on dilution of the mobile phase due to the analytes. High electrical conductivity background was maintained by addition of 5 mM sodium nitrate in the mobile phase, and the analytes were visualized by decreases in the background when they eluted. The dynamic reserve, defined as the ratio of the background to its noise level, achieved under the present conditions was 1.7×105, which was much larger than that achieved by UV absorption detection. This means that indirect conductimetric detection gave better sensitivity than indirect UV absorption detection. A capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector was convenient to monitor the effluents from capillary columns with minimum extra-column band broadening. The signals as negative peaks were linear to the concentration of the analytes, and the concentration detection limits achieved at S/N=3 were 0.02, 0.05 and 0.02% (w/v) for α-, β- and γ-CD, respectively, corresponding to the mass detection limits of 30-75 ng for 0.15 μL injection. The present detection method is not selective but universal, and it is useful in capillary LC when analytes have neither chromophore nor fluorophore groups. Keywords: Capillary liquid chromatography, Indirect conductimetric detection, Capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector, Cyclodextrin

Pembuatan Kolom Monolit Mixed-Mode untuk Pemisahan Fenol dalam Kromatografi Cair Sistem Kapiler

A Mixed-Mode monolithic column prepared from Pentaeritrytol Tetraacrylate (PETRA) and Ethylene dimathacrylate (EDMA) was investigated and used in capillary liquid chromatography. The polymer composition was optimized by varying percentage ratio of monomer and porogens. Column A with rasio 35/65 (monomer/porogen) showed the optimum ratio. The polymerization of acrylic groups were conducted by in-situ preparation in capillary fused silica. Three phenol compounds were separated using this monolithic column using acetonitrile 100% as eluent. Monolith PETRA-EDMA also could work to separate polar and non-polar compound simultaneously by HILIC mode using acetonitrile 90% as eluent. The morphology surface of monolith was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mechanical stability in term of pressure drop was observed as well

OPTIMATION STUDY OF CARRAGEENAN EXTRACTION FROM RED ALGAE (Eucheuma cottonii)

 ABSTRACT Carrageenan is a general name for polysacharides, it is made up of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium sulphat esters of galactose and 3.6-anhydrogalactose units. Research about parameters influencing extraction process of carrageenan from red algae (Eucheuma cottonii) has been studied. The parameters were particle size of red algae, pH of NaOH solution, heating time and heating temperature. About 64.30% of carrageenan was extracted from red algae (Eucheuma cottonii) under optimum condition, 425 µm particle size of red algae, solution pH 8.5, heating time 18 h, and heating temperature 95°C. The FTIR spectra of extracted carrageenan showed the same spectra as the pure carrageenan. Keywords : carrageenan, red algae (Eucheuma cottonii), and extraction   

What are the barriers faced by patients using insulin? a qualitative study of Malaysian health care professionals' views

BACKGROUND: Patients with type 2 diabetes often require insulin as the disease progresses. However, health care professionals frequently encounter challenges when managing patients who require insulin therapy. Understanding how health care professionals perceive the barriers faced by patients on insulin will facilitate care and treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the views of Malaysian health care professionals on the barriers faced by patients using insulin. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with health care professionals involved in diabetes care using insulin. Forty-one health care professionals participated in the study, consisting of primary care doctors (n = 20), family medicine specialists (n = 10), government policymakers (n = 5), diabetes educators (n = 3), endocrinologists (n = 2), and one pharmacist. We used a topic guide to facilitate the interviews, which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic approach. RESULTS: FIVE THEMES WERE IDENTIFIED AS BARRIERS: side effects, patient education, negative perceptions, blood glucose monitoring, and patient adherence to treatment and follow-up. Patients perceive that insulin therapy causes numerous negative side effects. There is a lack of patient education on proper glucose monitoring and how to optimize insulin therapy. Cost of treatment and patient ignorance are highlighted when discussing patient self-monitoring of blood glucose. Finally, health care professionals identified a lack of a follow-up system, especially for patients who do not keep to regular appointments. CONCLUSION: This study identifies five substantial barriers to optimizing insulin therapy. Health care professionals who successfully identify and address these issues will empower patients to achieve effective self-management. System barriers require government agency in establishing insulin follow-up programs, multidisciplinary diabetes care teams, and subsidies for glucometers and test strips

SYNTHESIS OF SILICA-PEG BY PHYSICALLY COATING WITH PEG 4000 FOR ABSORPTION OF ION NITRATE

All production activities will eventually produce waste, especially liquid waste. The nitrate ion (NO3 - ) is one of the substances in liquid waste that can have a significant impact on water systems and human health. Several methods can be used to treat the nitrate contained in the water, such as adsorption, phytoremediation, and wetland treatment. One of its methods was adsorption. The silica was modified with polymer due to its huge carbon chain. This research was focused on optimizing the ability of silica-based materials using PEG by physically coating them since PEG has a long carbon chain that could be transformed into a helix. In this research, the adsorbent will be prepared from modified silica gel with PEG 4000 by physical coating. Several parameters will be observed, including the effect of coating time, silica-PEG ratio, and PEG concentration. The capacity of silica-PEG to absorb NO3 - is being studied. The characterization of functional group content in silica-PEG was carried out by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The study results show that the coating time was 10 minutes with the ratio of silica to PEG of 1:5, and the concentration of PEG used was 15%, indicating the optimum performance of silica-PEG when used as an absorbent, which achieved 84.44 % nitrate removal. An increase in the absorption capacity of silica-PEG demonstrates the ability of silica-PEG as a porous material. It was compared to silica gel without the PEG coating process, which was 9.09% to 84.44%

CELLULOSE EXTRACTION FROM COCONUT COIR WITH ALKALINE DELIGNIFICATION PROCESS

Coconut has been known for its benefits in human life. Coconut coir, as part of coconut which is considered as waste, contains useful components. It contains high cellulose which is could be used in fiber industries. Meanwhile, coconut coir also contains lignin which needs to be separated. In this study, a delignification process was used to remove the brown color on the fiber caused by the lignin content. The delignification process was a pretreatment before the cellulose extraction was carried out. It had been done in the various NaOH concentration (0.5; 1; and 1.5 M), reaction time (1; 1.5; and 2 hours) and the reaction temperature (60,70, and 80 oC). This study aims to determine the cellulose content and the factor that affected the cellulose extraction and the characteristics of the cellulose extracted from the coconut coir. The Chesson Data method and SEM analysis have been used for the characterization of the cellulose. The delignification method known has the potential as a simple and effective method for extracting cellulose from natural materials. The result shows that the optimum cellulose content obtained at 100 mesh coir particle size, 1.5 M NaOH concentration, at 80°C for 1.5 hours was 69.82 %

CELLULOSE EXTRACTION FROM COCONUT COIR WITH ALKALINE DELIGNIFICATION PROCESS

Coconut has been known for its benefits in human life. Coconut coir, as part of coconut which is considered as waste, contains useful components. It contains high cellulose which is could be used in fiber industries. Meanwhile, coconut coir also contains lignin which needs to be separated. In this study, a delignification process was used to remove the brown color on the fiber caused by the lignin content. The delignification process was a pretreatment before the cellulose extraction was carried out. It had been done in the various NaOH concentration (0.5; 1; and 1.5 M), reaction time (1; 1.5; and 2 hours) and the reaction temperature (60,70, and 80 oC). This study aims to determine the cellulose content and the factor that affected the cellulose extraction and the characteristics of the cellulose extracted from the coconut coir. The Chesson Data method and SEM analysis have been used for the characterization of the cellulose. The delignification method known has the potential as a simple and effective method for extracting cellulose from natural materials. The result shows that the optimum cellulose content obtained at 100 mesh coir particle size, 1.5 M NaOH concentration, at 80°C for 1.5 hours was 69.82 %

Mismatch between health-care professionals' and patients' views on a diabetes patient decision aid: a qualitative study

Background: Malaysia is an Asian country with population of diverse culture and health perceptions. Patient decision aid (PDA) is a new tool in Malaysia. Patients' and health-care professionals' (HCPs) expectation of a PDA is unknown. Aim: We aimed to explore patients' and health-care professionals'(HCPs) views on the information needed in a patient decision aid (PDA) on insulin initiation developed for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design: We used a qualitative design and thematic approach. Setting: Three main primary health-care settings in Malaysia: public university-based primary care clinics, public health-care clinics and private general practices. Method: We conducted focus groups and one-to-one interviews with a purposive sample of health professionals and patients with type 2 diabetes. Results: We interviewed 18 patients and 13 HCPs. Patients viewed the content of the PDA as simple and clear. However, HCPs felt the PDA might be difficult for patients with low literacy to understand. HCPs thought the PDA was too lengthy. Nevertheless, patients would prefer more information. HCPs tended to focus on benefits of insulin, while patients wanted to know the impact of insulin on their quality of life and practical issues regarding insulin and its side-effects. Patients preferred numbers to weigh the risks and benefits of treatment options. HCPs' views that presenting numbers in a PDA would be too complex for patients to understand. Conclusion: It is important to consider including issues related to psycho-social impact of treatment to patients when developing a patient decision aid