Pharmacokinetics of cefquinome in goats after intramuscular administration alone and with meloxicam

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are commonly prescribed together. We aimed to study the kinetic profile of cefquinome (2 mg/kg b.wt.) following intramuscular administration of it alone and co-administered with meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg b.wt.) in goats.Methods: Five Egyptian Baladi goats, each goat was injected intramuscularly at the dose rate of 2 mg/kg b.wt. Cefquinome into the deep gluteal muscle of hindquarter alone and then after fifteen days washout period, these animals also injected intramuscularly at the dose rate of 2 mg/kg b.wt. Cefquinome preceded with meloxicam at the dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg b.wt. The serum concentrations of cefquinome were detected by high performance liquid chromatography, two compartment model.Results: Following a single dose intramuscular administration of cefquinome alone, peak plasma concentration (1.71±0.0189 μg/ml) was obtained at 1.59±0.0038 h. The absorption half-life (t1/2ab), total body clearance (Cltot), elimination half-life (t1/2el) and area under curve (area under concentration (AUC(0-inf)) of cefquinome were 0.4±0.0028 h, 0.068±0.78 l/h/kg, 9.21±0.178h and 29.36±0.78 µg.h.ml-1, respectively. Following a single dose intramuscular co-administration of cefquinome and meloxicam, peak plasma concentration (1.60±0.0124 μg/ml) was obtained at 1.49±0.0092 h. The absorption half-life (t1/2ab), total body clearance (Cltot), elimination half-life (t1/2el) and area under curve (AUC(0-inf)) of cefquinome were 0.396±0.006 h, 0.094±0.25 l/h/kg, 6.5±0.221 h and 21.38±0.696 µg/h/ml, respectively. Non significant alters were reported in the parameters following co-administration of Cefquinome with meloxicam.Conclusions: From our results, may be concluded that intramuscular administration of meloxicam may be successfully co-administrated with cefquinome for combating bacterial infections with an inflammatory condition in goats without any antagonistic effect

Transfusion of red blood cells as risk predictor for nosocomial infections in pediatric intensive care units

Background: Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) is a common intervention in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) due to anemia occurring in over one-third of children hospitalized there. Objectives: To establish the relation between transfusion of RBCs and nosocomial infections in PICU and evaluate its impact on absolute lymphocytic count. Patients and methods: A case-control study carried out on 200 critically ill children admitted to PICU, of which one hundred received blood transfusion and one hundred did not. All patients underwent history taking and clinical examination. Results: A statistically significant higher prevalence of mechanical ventilation, central venous catheterization, PRISM score and longer PICU length of stay were observed in the transfused group compared with the non-transfused group (P < 0.001). Nosocomial infections were present in 62% patients in the transfused group and in 32% patients in the non-transfused group (P < 0.05), including nosocomial pneumonia, bacteremia, and urinary tract infection. Mechanical ventilation, presence of central venous catheter, number and age of transfused RBCs were risk predictors for nosocomial infections. Lymphopenia was evident in the transfused group. Conclusion: Nosocomial infections are related with red blood cells transfusion in patients hospitalized in PICU. Mechanical ventilation, presence of central venous catheter, number and age of transfused RBCs, and lymphopenia were risk predictors for nosocomial infections

Stability-indicating HPLC and PLS chemometric methods for the determination of acemetacin in presence of its degradation products and impurities

Two stability-indicating methods were developed and validated for the quantitative determination of acemetacin (ACM) in presence of its degradation products and impurities. The first method was based on separation of ACM from its degradation products and impurities by RP-HPLC on Inertsil C8 column (150 × 4.6 mm i.d) using a mobile phase composed of 0.02 M phosphate buffer: methanol (35:65, v:v, pH = 6.5). The flow rate was adjusted at 1 mL/min and quantification was achieved with UV detection at 245 nm using meloxicam as internal standard. The second method was based on multivariate spectrophotometric analysis using partial least square regression model. The drug was subjected to acid, base, oxidative and thermal stress conditions and the degradation products were identified. The developed methods have the requisite accuracy, selectivity, sensitivity and precision to assay ACM in presence of its degradation products and impurities either in bulk powder or in pharmaceutical dosage form. The results obtained for the analysis of ACM in its pure form by the proposed methods were statistically compared to those obtained by applying a reported HPLC method. The statistical comparison showed that there is no significant difference between the proposed methods and the reported one with respect to accuracy and precision

Carbon-coated Nanomagnets : Synthesis, Characterization And Feasibility For Magnetic Hyperthermia

This work addresses the development of novel synthesis procedures for carbon-coated magnetic nanoparticles and their detailed characterization regarding structure, morphology, and magnetic properties. To be specific, the high pressure chemical vapour deposition technique (HPCVD) has been applied to successfully produce carbon-coated nanoparticles with various magnetic core materials, such as Fe, Co, Ni, FeRu, CoRu, NiRu, NiPt, and CoPt. The morphological and structural characterization of the materials has been done by means of transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Particular emphasis has been given to the investigation of the magnetic properties and its dependence on, e.g., core size and stoichiometry of the core alloys, which can be tailored by adjusting the synthesis conditions. A particular advantage of carbon-coated nanomagnets is oxidation protection of the magnetic core material which implies feasibility for biomedical applications. Here, the feasibility for magnetic hyperthemia therapies is exploited by investigating induced heating under applied alternating magnetic fields

Impact of environmental conditions on cost management information systems in Egyptian organisations.

The Egyptian government pursued a privatisation policy that resulted in an increased role for the private sector in the national economy. Environment competition and unpredictability have affected the organisations and increased the requirement for them to work more effectively and creatively. Johnson and Kaplan (1987), Johnson (1992), Bromwich and Bhimani (1989), Ezzamel (1994), Dent (1990) and Scapens (1984) all recognised the gap between the theory and the practice of cost management practices, which has led to many of the approaches outlined in accounting literature not been widely used in practice according to many surveys (e.g. Drury et al., 1993; Ezzamel & Willmott, 1992). Scapens (1994), Kaplan (1998) and others encouraged researchers to focus on organisations' practices and this provided the motivation for this research. The research explains the practices of cost management information system (CMIS) through three hypotheses: linear, non-linear and existence of intervening variables (managers' education, level, location of authority, kinds of consultants, and size of organization) for the relationship between the practices of CMIS and managers' perceptions of competition intensity and unpredictability. Furthermore, the research considers four moderating variables (business sector, ownership category, transformation characteristic and strategic postures) in this relationship. The theoretical framework chosen is neo-contingency theory as it deals with the limitation of contingency theory. In order to test the hypotheses, inquires based on cross sectional data were carried out. Data was collected from twenty nine organisations in Egypt using an interview guide, structured questionnaire and documentary evidence. A variety of statistical tests (using SPSS) were used to test the hypotheses and to explain the major relationships. The thesis contributes to knowledge by providing empirical evidence of cost management information system, in terms of policies and practices, in twenty nine Egyptian organisations in different sectors. It also supports the relevance of neocontingency theory as a theoretical framework for undertaking such studies. Through the testing hypotheses, it is one of the few studies to have considered moderating and intervening variables in the cost management area

Monoliths Media: Stationary Phases and Nanoparticles

Monoliths media are gaining interest as excellent substitutes to conventional particle-packed columns. Monolithic columns show higher permeability and lower flow resistance than conventional liquid chromatography columns, providing high-throughput performance, resolution and separation in short run times. Monolithic columns with smaller inner diameter and specific selectivity to peptides or enantiomers have been played important role in hyphenated system. Monolithic stationary phases possess great efficiency, resolution, selectivity and sensitivity in the separation of complex biological samples, such as the complex mixtures of peptides for proteome analysis. The separation of complicated biological samples using columns is being revolutionized by new technologies for creating monolithic stationary phases. These techniques using porous monoliths offer several advantages, including miniaturization and on-line coupling with analytical instruments. Moreover, monoliths are the best support media for imprinting template-specific sites, resulting in the so-called molecularly-imprinted monoliths, which have an extremely high selectivity. In this chapter, the origin of the concept, the differences between their characteristics and those of traditional packings, their advantages and drawbacks, theory of separations, the methods for the monoliths preparation of different forms, nanoparticle monoliths and metal-organic framework are discussed. Two application areas of monolithic metal-organic framework and nanoparticle monoliths are provided

Numerical Evaluation and Analysis for Hydrogen Production Via Ethanol Steam Reforming

In the present study, two series of Ni/Ce/ZrO2 catalysts were prepared. The first one is n% Ni/Ce0.74Zr0.26O2 (n = 0, 2, 10 and 20 wt %). The second is 10%Ni / m (Ce/ZrO2) (m = 0, 4, 6 and 8). Catalysts have been investigated for ethanol steam reforming (ESR) to produce hydrogen. The reaction was studied in an atmospheric flow system, the temperature range was 200-600 ºC and water/ethanol (6, 8, 10 molar ratio). The effect of using H2O2 as an oxidant in auto-thermal reforming of ethanol has been also investigated (at 400 ºC, and H2O2/ethanol ratio = 8) to get highest hydrogen selectivity with lower CO ratio. Numerical evaluation and analysis have been performed for the above obtained results. It has been observed that the ethanol conversion, hydrogen production and some of the various investigated relations are functions of more than one independent variable. So, the response surface methodology (RSM) has been employed to evaluate these relations. Key Words: Numerical analysis, Response surface methodology, Ethanol steam reforming, Ni/Ce/ZrO2 catalysts

EXPERIMENTAL SHEAR RESISTANCE EVALUATION OF ORDINARY AND PERFOBOND Y-SHAPED SHEAR CONNECTORS

Composite structures refer to two load carrying structural members that are integrally connected and deforming as a single unique unit using shear connectors. The use of shear connectors enhances the development of longitudinal shear forces at the steel-concrete interface. The objective of this research is to study the structural behavior of a proposed separated Y-shaped shear connector. The suggested investigated Y-shaped shear connector is intended to be an improvement to the structural response of the conventional perfobond shear connector. Accordingly, this paper carries out six push-out tests on the separated Y-shaped shear connector according to EC4. The experimental work is performed in the Reinforced Concrete and Heavy Structures Laboratory at the Structural Engineering Department, Tanta University, Egypt. The key parameters affecting the behavior of the shear connector in the current investigation are the height, the thickness and the Y-shaping of the shear connector. Also, the effect of hole existence is investigated. Other parameters such as the length of the connector, the concrete strength and the slab geometry are kept the same for all specimens. Based on the performed tests, the results show that the proposed separated Y-shaped shear connector has higher shear resistance than that of the conventionalperfobond shear connector. Also, the proposed connector shows better ductile behavior than the conventional perfobond connector. Moreover, results proved that increasing the connector thickness has a significant effect on the connector behaviour by increasing its shear resistance. Furthermore, as the height of the connector increases, the shear capacity increases. Finally, from the presented results it is clarified that the proposed separated Y-shaped connector is better and more economical than the conventional perfobond connector

Camel Milk Modulates the Expression of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Regulated Genes, Cyp1a1, Nqo1, and Gsta1, in Murine hepatoma Hepa 1c1c7 Cells

There is a traditional belief in the Middle East that camel milk may aid in prevention and treatment of numerous cases of cancer yet, the exact mechanism was not investigated. Therefore, we examined the ability of camel milk to modulate the expression of a well-known cancer-activating gene, Cytochrome P450 1a1 (Cyp1a1), and cancer-protective genes, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) and glutathione S-transferase a1 (Gsta1), in murine hepatoma Hepa 1c1c7 cell line. Our results showed that camel milk significantly inhibited the induction of Cyp1a1 gene expression by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most potent Cyp1a1 inducer and known carcinogenic chemical, at mRNA, protein, and activity levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, camel milk significantly decreased the xenobiotic responsive element (XRE)-dependent luciferase activity, suggesting a transcriptional mechanism is involved. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect of camel milk was associated with a proportional increase in heme oxygenase 1. On the other hand, camel milk significantly induced Nqo1 and Gsta1 mRNA expression level in a concentration-dependent fashion. The RNA synthesis inhibitor, actinomycin D, completely blocked the induction of Nqo1 mRNA by camel milk suggesting the requirement of de novo RNA synthesis through a transcriptional mechanism. In conclusion, camel milk modulates the expression of Cyp1a1, Nqo1, and Gsta1 at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels

Application of energy management coupled with fuel switching on a hydrotreater unit

AbstractIn the last decades, saving energy and protecting environment became the most important topics for search and survey. The energy engineer for any chemical process is obliged by restrictions of “Kyoto Protocol” for limitation of carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion, so he does his best to reduce utility consumption and thus reduce gas emission. Proper designing of the heat exchanger network (HEN) for any process is an effective and successful method to minimize utility consumption and therefore minimize gas emission (mainly carbon gases (CO2) and sulfur gases (SOx)). Fuel switching coupled with energy targeting achieved the least gas emission. In this work we choose a hydrotreater unit of a petroleum refinery as a case study due to its effective role and its obvious consumption of utility. We applied the methodology of energy targeting through HEN design (using pinch technology) at several values of mean temperature difference (ΔTmin); where the maximum percentage of energy saving was 37% for hot and cold utility which directly leads to percentage reduction of gas emission by 29% for CO2 and 17% for SOx. Switching fuel oil to other types of fuel realized gas emission reduction percentage where the maximum reduction established was through natural gas fuel type and reached 54% for CO2 and 90% for SOx. Comparison between existing design and the optimum ΔTmin HEN led to few modifications with the least added capital cost for the hydrotreater existing design to revamp it through four scenarios; the first one depended on fuel switching to natural gas while the second one switched fuel to diesel oil, in the third scenario we applied heat integration only and the fourth one used both of heat integration and fuel switching in a parallel way