Physicochemical equivalence of some brands of Nifedipine retard tablets available in Nigeria

This research evaluated the physicochemical equivalence of some samples of Nifedipine 20 mg Retard Tablets available in Nigeria. Seven samples were randomly procured from various zones of the country and standard protocols applied to evaluate their tablet weight uniformity, dimensions, hardness, disintegration time, content of active Ingredient and in vitro drug release profile. Results showed that all the samples tested were chemically, but not physically equivalent. Although within each sample,compendial requirement for tablet weight uniformity was met, there were significant differences in the mean tablet weights, diameters and thickness of the samples studied (p < 0.05). Furthermore, tablet hardness and disintegration time varied much among the samples, but not within each sample. All the samples met the compendial requirement for content of active ingredient and released more than 80% of the drug within 4 h. It is therefore pertinent that manufacturers of this product be advised toformulate tablets that are equivalent in size, as different tablet sizes may impart negative psychological effects on clinicians and their patients when the need arises for switch over from one product to another, since the availability of particular products is never guaranteed at all times in Nigeria, a largely import dependent nation

An Empirical Investigation of Value-Chain Analysis and Competitive Advantage in the Nigerian Manufacturing Industry

This research work was designed to examine the impact of the Value-ChainAnalysis on Competitive Advantage of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Toachieve this purpose, hypothesis was formulated and a review of relatedliterature was made. The population of this study consists of thosemanufacturing companies quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange Factbookof 2009. A total of One hundred (100) of such companies was identified. Thedata for this study were collected through the secondary sources such as thecompanies’ Annual Reports of various years and CBN Statistical Bulletin of2009. The hypothesis stated in this study was statistically tested with theMultiple Regression Analysis. Our findings revealed that the Value-ChainAnalysis has a positive but insignificant impact on Competitive Advantage ofa manufacturing firm in Nigeria. Based on the above, it was recommendedthat –manufacturing firms in Nigeria should welcome a change from the Functional-Based Costing to an Activity-Based Costing for the effectiveValue-Chain Analysis and accountants in Nigerian manufacturing firmsshould be adequately equipped through seminars, workshops andconferences for the transformation of Value-Chain Analysis to strive

The Adoption of Strategic Management Accounting in Nigerian Manufacturing Firms

This study investigated Strategic Management Accounting (SMA) with a view to determining the extent to which it influences Competitive Advantage in the manufacturing industry in Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, some research questions were raised, and a review of related literature was made. The population of this study consists of Chief Executives, Chief Accountants and Marketing Directors of those manufacturing companies quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange Factbook of 2009. A total of one hundred (100) of such companies and three hundred (300) respondents were identified. The questionnaire, which was administered on the Chief Executives, Chief Accountants and Marketing Directors of the selected companies, was the instrument used for data collection in this study and it was subjected to a face and content validity. Its reliability was tested through a pilot survey of twenty-four (24) respondents with thirty-two (32) test items. A reliability co-efficient of 0.96 was computed using the Kendall Co-efficient of Concordance. The data generated for this study were analysed using tables, frequencies, bar charts, and mean scores. Our findings revealed that Strategic Management Accounting enhances Competitive Advantage although several factors bedevil its adoption in Nigerian manufacturing firms. Based on the above, it was recommended that – a course on Marketing Accounting should be introduced into accounting curriculum in Nigerian tertiary institutions to adequately equip future accountants with good knowledge of Strategic Management Accounting; a consensus should be reached among business executives, academics, and accounting practitioners on the components of SMA to enhance its adoption in the Nigerian manufacturing industry; manufacturing firms in Nigeria should welcome a change from Functional- Based Costing to an Activity-Based Costing for the effectiveness of Strategic Management Accounting; and accountants in Nigerian manufacturing firms should be adequately equipped through seminars, workshops and conferences for the transformation of Strategic Management Accounting to strive.Key words: Strategic management accounting, competitive advantage, competition, marketing accounting, functional-based costing, activity-based costin

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Risk of Survival in Acute Stroke

Objective: To assess the risk of survival in acute stroke using the MDRD equation derived estimated glomerular filtration rate.Design: A prospective observational cross-sectional study.Setting: Medical wards of a tertiary care hospital.Subjects: Eighty three acute stroke patients had GFR calculated within 48 hours of admission after basic data were captured.Outcome measures: Stroke outcome was defined as either discharged or still-in-care (survived) or all cause in-hospital death. GFR was estimated by the MDRD equation, stroke severity was assessed by the Canadian Neurological Scale (CNS). Data were compared between the GFR groups of < 60ml/min and . 60ml/min. Relative risks (RR) and odds ratios (OR) for stroke outcomes (survival and death) were estimated between the GFR groups and the homogeneity of the odds ratios among the different layers of stroke severity (CNS < 6.5 and . 6.5) was determined by Breslow-Day and Taronefs test. Matanel Hazensel and Cochranfs tests were used to determine conditional independence and the common odds ratio with stroke severity as a layering variable.Results: No significant differences were found between the age and sex distribution of the two GFR groups. Serum urea and creatinine and CNS were significantly different between the GFR groups (p<0.001, <0.001, <0.001). RR of survival and death for the GFR groups-less than 60ml/min and above or equal to 60ml/min were (0.425 and 1.204) and (2.360 and 0.830). The OR of survival for GFR below 60ml/min compared to GFRabove or equal to 60ml/min was 0.353. There was homogeneity across the two layers of stroke severity (CNS score less than 6.5 and above or equal to 6.5), p=0.612 and 0.612.Conclusion: Independent of stroke severity, GFR is a surrogate in the assessment of the risk of survival in acute strok

Improvement of the Crystal Stability and Dissolution Profile of Metronidazole by Composite Formation with Microcrystalline Cellulose and Cashew Gum

This study was undertaken to improve the solubility of metronidazole by modifying its crystal characteristics using pharmaceutical excipients. Metronidazole granules were formulated with cashew gum (2 – 8% w/w) and microcrystalline cellulose (10% w/w) via kneading, solid dispersion, or physical mixing. Resulting products were characterized: micromeritics, moisture sorption, thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dissolution test. The products exhibited passable/poor flow characteristics; and moisture sorbed was least for granules from kneading process. Melting point and heat of fusion for metronidazole were 163.0oC and 757.8 J/g respectively. Composites’ thermograms revealed that melting point and heat of fusion of metronidazole increased with increase in cashew gum concentration, which indicated higher crystal stability. FTIR spectrum of metronidazole showed peaks of various intensities between 740 and 3415 cm-1.The spectra of the composites were similar to that of the drug, in that every peak present in the drug’s spectrum was observed in the composites’ spectra with minor shifts. Amount of drug released over 60 min was > 80% for composites and < 65% for pure drug. Among the composites, drug release was highest from those containing 8% w/w cashew gum especially from solid dispersion products. The values of the similarity factor showed that while composites from physical mixing displayed similar dissolution profiles with the pure drug, those from kneading and solid dispersion showed dissimilar profiles. The results of this study suggest that cashew gum unlike other polymers improved the solubility of metronidazole by causing the formation of anhydrous instead of amorphous state.Keywords: Cashew gum, improved metronidazole solubility, anhydrous state, particle engineerin

Plasma Lipid Levels in Relation to Disease Severity in Sickle Cell Anaemia in Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria

Background: Dyslipidaemia has been implicated in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease (SCD) complications; hence its role requires further elucidation. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between disease severity and plasma lipid levels of patients with sickle cell anaemia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used for the survey. A total of 50 patients with sickle cell anaemia and 50 controls without SCD were recruited for the study. The clinical data and plasma lipid levels of lipids and haemoglobin parameters were analysed. Results: The majority of the participants were aged 18-25 years. Total plasma cholesterol and HDL-C were significantly lower in individuals with SCA compared with the controls (3.3±1.2 vs 4.2±1.2; p<0.001) and (1.3±0.5 vs 1.5±0.4; p = 0.038) respectively. Most patients with SCA had moderate disease severity (24; 48%). There was no statistically significant difference in the plasma levels of total cholesterol and HDL-C across the disease severity groups of SCA (p = 0.694 and 0.262). There was also no significant correlation between total cholesterol, HDL-C, and markers of haemolysis, haemoglobin F, and haemoglobin S levels. Conclusion: SCA is characterised by lower mean plasma TC and HDL than controls. However, no relationship was found between TC, HDL levels and SCD disease severity, markers of haemolysis, HbF and HbS levels. Further studies are required to ascertain the implications of plasma lipid levels in SCD

Efficacy and safety of Syferol-IHP for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease: a pilot, double-blind randomized trial

George Uchenna Eleje,1,2 Henrietta Aritetsoma Ogbunugafor,1,3 Chiemelu Dickson Emegoakor,1,4 Ebere Innocent Okoye,1,5 Ogochukwu Ifeanyi Ezejiofor,6 Shirley Nneka Chukwurah,7 Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu,1,2 Godwin W Nchinda,8 Chidozie Godwin Ugochukwu,3 Lucy Ijeoma Nnaji-Ihedinmah,9 Festus Basden C Okoye,1,10 Frank Uchenna Eneh,3 Michael Emeka Onwukamuche,11 Charles Okechukwu Esimone1,12 1Biomedicine Research Group, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 2Effective Care Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 3Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 4Department of General Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 5Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 6Department of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 7Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria; 8Laboratory of Vaccinology/Biobanking, CIRCB BP 3077, Messa Yaounde, Cameroon; 9Department of Chemical Pathology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria; 10Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 11Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 12Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria Background: To our knowledge, there is no prior randomized study on the utility of Syferol-IHP (blend of virgin coconut oil and Ocimum sanctum oil) when coadministered with a triple therapy schedule.Aim: This study determined the efficacy and safety of Syferol-IHP as adjunct to conventional triple therapy for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD).Methods: A pilot double-blind randomized trial was conducted in patients with confirmed diagnosis (endoscopy-guided biopsy) of PUD. Eligible patients were randomized to Pylorest (a three-in-one tablet containing rabeprazole 20&nbsp;mg, amoxicillin 1&nbsp;g, and clarithromycin 500&nbsp;mg) and Syferol-IHP for 2&nbsp;weeks, followed by rabeprazole and Syferol-IHP for 2&nbsp;weeks or Pylorest and placebo for 2&nbsp;weeks, followed by rabeprazole and placebo for 2&nbsp;weeks. Repeat endoscopy-guided biopsy and histology were done 4&nbsp;weeks posttherapy. Primary outcome measures were the healing of ulcer and eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Secondary outcome measures were the disappearance of epigastric pain, gastritis, and duodenitis. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.Results: Of the 63 patients enrolled, 60 patients had complete evaluation, with 37 patients receiving Pylorest and Syferol-IHP and 23 patients receiving Pylorest and Placebo. Healing of the PUD in favor of Pylorest and Syferol-IHP was significantly higher for gastric ulcer (RR=0.000, 95% CI=undefined, P=0.048) but not for duodenal ulcer (RR=0.400, 95% CI=0.07&ndash;2.37, P=0.241). H. pylori eradication was 100% with Syferol-IHP vs 50% with placebo (P=0.066). Epigastric pain (reduction to 16.2% vs 43.5%; P=0.021), gastritis (reduction to 13.5% vs 39.1%; P=0.024), and duodenitis (reduction to 0% vs 8.7%; P=0.327) were observed in the Syferol-IHP and Pylorest vs placebo and Pylorest groups, respectively. Adverse events (RR=0.971, 95% CI=0.46&ndash;2.04, P=0.937) and laboratory parameters were not significantly different pre- and posttherapies (P&gt;0.05, for both groups).Conclusion: Although both treatment arms were equally safe, co-administration of Syferol-IHP and triple therapy is more efficacious than triple therapy alone for treating PUD. Pan African Clinical trial registry identifier number is PACTR201606001665364. Keywords: gastritis, duodenitis, virgin coconut oil, Ocimum sanctum oil, triple therapy, Pylorest, gastric ulce