PREPARATION, RELEASE, RHEOLOGY AND STABILITY OF PIROXICAM EMULGEL

Objective: The purpose of this work was to develop and optimize the emulgel formulation of piroxicam with two types of gelling agent chitosan and xanthan gum. The release profiles of prepared formulas were investigated. In addition, the rheology and stability of the best formula were investigated.Methods: Emulsified piroxicam was prepared to use oleic acid, tween 80 and PG with a ratio (3:10:10). In xanthan based emulgel, the xanthan gum (1% and 1.5%) was spread as powder on emulsified piroxicam with stirring until emulgel was formed. In chitosan-based emgels, Chitosan gel was added to emulsified piroxicam and stirring until the Emulgel was constructed. Chitosan gels were prepared by incorporating different concentration, 2%, 3%, 6% w/v of chitosan in 1% v/v of glacial acetic acid in distilled water. In vitro release of piroxicam from different formulas was conducted in 300 ml phosphate buffer pH 7.4, at a speed of 120 rpm at 37±2°C. The amount of the drug released from the bases was determined spectrophotometrically at 504 nm. Viscometer Myr. Vr 3000 was used to measure the viscosity of the prepared formulas. The prepared formulas were stored in well-stoppered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic containers in the dark for 6 mo at room temperature. They were checked for drug content, viscosity, and pH change bimonthly throughout the period.Results: The results showed that the dissolution increases significantly with increasing the concentration of xanthan. Chitosan has significant synergized the enhancements of xanthan gum in the release. Rheological behaviour of the selected formula containing chitosan (2%) and xanthan gum (1.5) had shear thinning in nature showing a decrease in viscosity at the increasing shear rates. The selected formula was stable 6 mo at 40˚C/75% RH and 4˚C. The formula found was yellow viscous creamy preparation with the smooth homogenous appearance. The pH and the drug release was also found to be stable under storage conditions.Conclusion: Piroxicam release can be improved by preparing emulgel which stable and have good rheologic properties

The effects of ginger on fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I and malondialdehyde in type 2 diabetic patients

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder, causes many complications such as micro- and macro-vascular diseases. Anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic and anti-oxidative properties of ginger have been noticed in several researches. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of ginger on fasting blood sugar, Hemoglobin A1c, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I, and malondialdehyde in type 2 diabetic patients. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial, a total of 41 type 2 diabetic patients randomly were assigned to ginger or placebo groups (22 in ginger group and 19 in control group), received 2 g/day of ginger powder supplement or lactose as placebo for 12 weeks. The serum concentrations of fasting blood sugar, Hemoglobin A1c, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I and malondialdehyde were analyzed before and after the intervention. Ginger supplementation significantly reduced the levels of fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I and malondialdehyde in ginger group in comparison to baseline, as well as control group, while it increased the level of apolipoprotein A-I (p<0.05). It seems that oral administration of ginger powder supplement can improves fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I and malondialdehyde in type 2 diabetic patients. So it may have a role in alleviating the risk of some chronic complications of diabetes. © 2015 by School of Pharmacy Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

Synthesis of New Heterocyclic Compound Used as Corrosion Inhibitor for Crude Oil Pipelines

This study comprises synthesis of new heterocyclic compound  through  one of the most powerful  methods in organic synthesis  and which comprises formation of several bonds in a single transformation and all interaction materials have been combined in one pot since beginning of interaction. This compound contains  on nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur atoms and is 3,5,12-trithia-1,7,14-triaza-tricycle [5.3.3.27,10] tetradeca-6(14),9-dien-8-one, and its structure has been  determined  by using several techniques such as, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrophotometer for proton 1H-NMR and carbon13C- NMR, Infra-red spectroscopy FT-IR, and Mass spectroscopy MS. The last part  is the study and application of  compound as a inhibitor for  corrosion crude oil pipelines (N-80 type)  in saline water  as a corrosive medium and has been evaluated by using weight loss method, as well as has been evaluated through electrochemical techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy EIS, and scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy SEM/EDX. The effect of time and concentration on the corrosion rate  have been  studied and was observed that efficiency of inhibition  increased with increase  inhibitor concentration to attain a maximum values of 90.12%, 90.62%, 79.70%,  90.05%  to weight loss method, polarization technique, impedance technique and  energy dispersive X-ray technique respectively. Finally the prepared inhibitor was compared with some of disincentives commercial used in the south oil company such as, AS-101, WFT-9368, COIL GARD, HQI-85M and AL-600

Practice and Prevalence of Antibiotic Self-Medication among Undergraduate Students at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania

Background: Antibiotic self-medication has been on the rise in different parts of the world. Antibiotic self-medication causes excessive antibiotic exposure to humans which is associated with many health risks including antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study was to assess practice and determine the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students.Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the practice and knowledge of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students. A total of 300 undergraduate students were purposively sampled. The association between categorical predictors and antibiotic self-medication waspresented as Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CIs) using logistic regression.Result: The prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students is 191(63.7%) with amoxicillin 103(53.9%) being the most used antibiotic for treatment of respiratory disorders 109(57.1%) and gastrointestinal disorders 50(26.2%). Pharmacy is the major source of antibiotics used for self-medication 165(86.4%). Delayed/queue in seeking hospitals services was the main reason for practicing antibiotic self-medication 74(38.7%).Conclusion: The study observed a high prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students. This calls for immediate implementation of public health programs aimed at increasing awareness of consequences that may results from antibiotic self-medication. At the policy-making level, there is an urgent need to legislate and enforce laws restricting access to antibiotics in Tanzania

Study on PD Properties of Palm Fatty Acids Esters Oil

Following the successful application of natural ester of triglyceride type as insulation liquid in transformer, natural ester of mono ester type with the benefit in higher fluidity [1], which was introduced for the same purpose.Since PD detection is an important method of early warning of deterioration of insulation, PD properties of the PFAE need to be investigated. Particular attention was paid on the effect of moisture content up to 188 ppm.International Symposium on EcoTopia Science(ISETS \u2715), November 27-29, 2015, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japa

Study on Static Electrification of Palm Fatty Acid Ester (PFAE) Oil Using Mini Static Tester (Archive)

Palm fatty acid ester (PFAE) oil is an alternative insulating liquid of power transformer that has good biodegradable properties. As a part of insulating system of power transformer, PFAE should also has a low risk in term of static electrification that may degrade electrical strength of solid insulation due to charge accumulation at its surface during oil circulating. Charge potential value could describe the possibility of insulating oil in involving on charge accumulation at the surface of solid insulation. This can be calculated from charge density through electrostatic charge tendency (ECT) and volume resistivity. This study using mini-static-tester to measure ECT since it is easy to reproduce the specimen and suitable for standardization. Since PFAE has higher polarity than mineral oil, PFAE has larger charges than mineral oil. Even though static charges are estimated to generate on the pressboard surface easily, generated charges are estimated to escape from pressboard surface because of its lower resistivity. Variation of charge density and volume resistivity of several types (i.e. PFAE and mineral) and conditions (i.e. with-additives, non-additives, unused, and aged) of oil will influence to its charge potentia

The extent to which education interventions have been studied and the range of effects typically observed.

!e EEF’s education database is comprised of thousands of education research studies from across the globe, all focused on measuring the impact of education interventions on students’ outcomes. !e studies in the database have been coded to enable analysis and searching across a range of factors, including country, pupil age and type of intervention. Rather than simply focusing on the impact of interventions, the database also records information about the delivery of interventions (such as the frequency and intensity of the intervention) and detailed quantitative impact data, such as variations in e#ects based on subject or delivery mechanism (such as whether an intervention is delivered by a quali"ed teacher or a classroom assistant). Impact is translated from standardised e#ect sizes to ‘months of learning’ for ease of communication and to aid discussion around the impact of interventions. Months of learning, communicated as a headline "gure for each approach, however, can hide important variation caused by duration of intervention, group size and the test measures used. Building the database containing all of this data allows researchers to examine which factors are driving the impact behind the overall average to "nd the signal amongst the noise. It is this detailed data which makes this education database unique. It will signi"cantly reduce the time and e#ort needed to review the impact of di#erent types of interventions, and to analyse the factors that increase or reduce e#ectivenes

Am J Hum Genet

Escobar syndrome is a form of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and features joint contractures, pterygia, and respiratory distress. Similar findings occur in newborns exposed to nicotinergic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies from myasthenic mothers. We performed linkage studies in families with Escobar syndrome and identified eight mutations within the γ-subunit gene (CHRNG) of the AChR. Our functional studies show that γ-subunit mutations prevent the correct localization of the fetal AChR in human embryonic kidney–cell membranes and that the expression pattern in prenatal mice corresponds to the human clinical phenotype. AChRs have five subunits. Two α, one β, and one δ subunit are always present. By switching γ to &epsiv; subunits in late fetal development, fetal AChRs are gradually replaced by adult AChRs. Fetal and adult AChRs are essential for neuromuscular signal transduction. In addition, the fetal AChRs seem to be the guide for the primary encounter of axon and muscle. Because of this important function in organogenesis, human mutations in the γ subunit were thought to be lethal, as they are in γ-knockout mice. In contrast, many mutations in other subunits have been found to be viable but cause postnatally persisting or beginning myasthenic syndromes. We conclude that Escobar syndrome is an inherited fetal myasthenic disease that also affects neuromuscular organogenesis. Because γ expression is restricted to early development, patients have no myasthenic symptoms later in life. This is the major difference from mutations in the other AChR subunits and the striking parallel to the symptoms found in neonates with arthrogryposis when maternal AChR auto-antibodies crossed the placenta and caused the transient inactivation of the AChR pathway

Unsupervised machine learning to investigate trajectory patterns of COVID-19 symptoms and physical activity measured via the MyHeart Counts App and smart devices

Previous studies have associated COVID-19 symptoms severity with levels of physical activity. We therefore investigated longitudinal trajectories of COVID-19 symptoms in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) with non-hospitalised COVID-19 and their real-world physical activity. 121 HCWs with a history of COVID-19 infection who had symptoms monitored through at least two research clinic visits, and via smartphone were examined. HCWs with a compatible smartphone were provided with an Apple Watch Series 4 and were asked to install the MyHeart Counts Study App to collect COVID-19 symptom data and multiple physical activity parameters. Unsupervised classification analysis of symptoms identified two trajectory patterns of long and short symptom duration. The prevalence for longitudinal persistence of any COVID-19 symptom was 36% with fatigue and loss of smell being the two most prevalent individual symptom trajectories (24.8% and 21.5%, respectively). 8 physical activity features obtained via the MyHeart Counts App identified two groups of trajectories for high and low activity. Of these 8 parameters only ‘distance moved walking or running’ was associated with COVID-19 symptom trajectories. We report a high prevalence of long-term symptoms of COVID-19 in a non-hospitalised cohort of HCWs, a method to identify physical activity trends, and investigate their association. These data highlight the importance of tracking symptoms from onset to recovery even in non-hospitalised COVID-19 individuals. The increasing ease in collecting real-world physical activity data non-invasively from wearable devices provides opportunity to investigate the association of physical activity to symptoms of COVID-19 and other cardio-respiratory diseases