Effect of Indion Complexation on the Stability and Bioavailability of some Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Ion exchange resins are commonly used for masking of drug objectionable taste. Our work aimed to study the effect of this complexation on the drug stability and bioavailability in rabbits. In this work, paracetamol and ibuprofen complexes with indion 204 were prepared; drug stability and bioavailability from the prepared complexes were studied and compared with that of the commonly used commercial tablets Tylenol and Motrin respectively. The clinical protocol and information about drugs were discussed with a group of healthy albino rabbits. The results showed that tmax of both drugs were kept constant at 1.5hrs and 2hrs without any change from the reference standards Tylenol and Motrin respectively. The calculated pharmacokinetic parameters Cpmax, AUC(0-24) and AUC(0-∞) respectively for paracetamol were 0.431µg/ml, 3.535µg.hr/ml and 3.756µg.hr/ml from the prepared complexes in comparison to 0.494µg/ml, 4.083µg.hr/ml, 4.198µg.hr/ml from Tylenol, and 0.743µg/ml, 5.380µg.hr/ml, 5.559µg.hr/ml from the prepared ibuprofen complexes in comparison to 0.803µg/ml, 6.272 µg.hr/ml, 6.432 µg.hr/ml from Motrin. The relative bioavailability of both drugs from the prepared complexes were calculated using Tylenol and Motrin as reference standards and the 90 % confidence intervals of the geometric mean values for the test/reference ratios for Cpmax, AUC (0-24) and AUC (0-∞) were within the bioequivalence acceptance range of 80–125 % according to the European Guideline. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicated a significance difference between the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters for both drugs. From these results we can conclude that indion complexation of drugs significantly affects their pharmacokinetics and retards their bioavailability

Hiring above the m-th best candidate: a generalization of records in permutations

The hiring problem is a simple model of on-line decision- making under uncertainty. As in many other such models, the input is a sequence of instances and a decision must be taken for each instance depending on the subsequence examined so far, while nothing is known about the future. One famous example of on-line decision-making the secretary problem, formally introduced in the early sixties. Broder et al. (2008) introduced the hiring problem as an extension of the secretary problem. Instead of selecting only one candidate, we are looking for selecting (hiring) many candidates to grow up a small company. In this context, a hiring strategy should meet two demands: to hire candidates at some reasonable rate and to improve the average quality of the hired staff. Soon afterwards, Archibald and Martinez (2009) introduced a discrete model of the hiring problem where candidates seen so far could be ranked from best to worst without the need to know their absolute quality scores. Hence the sequence of candidates could be modeled as a random permutation. Two general families of hiring strategies were introduced: hiring above the m-th best candidate and hiring in the top P % quantile (for instance, P = 50 is hiring above the median). In this paper we consider only hiring above the m-th best candidate. We introduce new hiring parameters that describe the dynamics of the hiring process, like the distance between the last two hirings, and the quality of the hired staff;, like the score of the best discarded candidate. While Archibald and Martínez made systematic use of analytic combinatorics techniques (Flajolet, Sedgewick, 2008) in their analysis, we use here a different approach to study the various hiring parameters related associated to the hiring process. We are able to obtain explicit formulas for the probability dis- tribution or the probability generating function of the random variables of interest in a rather direct way. The explicit nature of our results also allows a very detailed study of their asymptotic behaviour. Adding our new results to those of Archibald and Martínez leads to a very precise quantitative characterization of the hiring above the m-th best candi- date strategy. This might prove very useful in applications of the hiring process, e.g., in data stream algorithms.Postprint (published version

Updates in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of ectopic varices

Ectopic varices (EcV) comprise large portosystemic venous collaterals located anywhere other than the gastro-oesophageal region. No large series or randomized-controlled trials address this subject, and therefore its management is based on available expertise and facilities, and may require a multidisciplinary team approach. EcV are common findings during endoscopy in portal hypertensive patients and their bleeding accounts for only 1–5% of all variceal bleeding. EcV develop secondary to portal hypertension (PHT), surgical procedures, anomalies in venous outflow, or abdominal vascular thrombosis and may be familial in origin. Bleeding EcV may present with anaemia, shock, haematemesis, melaena or haematochezia and should be considered in patients with PHT and gastrointestinal bleeding or anaemia of obscure origin. EcV may be discovered during panendoscopy, enteroscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, wireless capsule endoscopy, diagnostic angiography, multislice helical computed tomography, magnetic resonance angiography, colour Doppler-flow imaging, laparotomy, laparoscopy and occasionally during autopsy. Patients with suspected EcV bleeding need immediate assessment, resuscitation, haemodynamic stabilization and referral to specialist centres. Management of EcV involves medical, endoscopic, interventional radiological and surgical modalities depending on patients’ condition, site of varices, available expertise and patients’ subsequent management plan

Green methodologies in organic synthesis: Microwave assisted solvent- and catalyst-free synthesis of enaminones and their conversion into 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzenes as well as 3-aroyl-6-substituted pyridines

Enaminones were obtained in good yields via condensing methyl ketones with (N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal) DMF-DMA under microwave irradiation in absence of solvent. These enaminones were readily converted into 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzenes. Reacting enaminones in presence of ammonium acetate has afforded pyridine derivatives

Novel RF/Microwave Circuits And Systems for Lab on-Chip/on-Board Chemical Sensors

Recent research focuses on expanding the use of RF/Microwave circuits and systems to include multi-disciplinary applications. One example is the detection of the dielectric properties of chemicals and bio-chemicals at microwave frequencies, which is useful for pharmaceutical applications, food and drug safety, medical diagnosis and material characterization. Dielectric spectroscopy is also quite relevant to detect the frequency dispersive characteristics of materials over a wide frequency range for more accurate detection. In this dissertation, on-chip and on-board solutions for microwave chemical sensing are proposed. An example of an on-chip dielectric detection technique for chemical sensing is presented. An on-chip sensing capacitor, whose capacitance changes when exposed to material under test (MUT), is a part of an LC voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The VCO is embedded inside a frequency synthesizer to convert the change in the free runing frequency frequency of the VCO into a change of its input voltage. The system is implemented using 90 nm CMOS technology and the permittivities of MUTs are evaluated using a unique detection procedure in the 7-9 GHz frequency range with an accuracy of 3.7% in an area of 2.5 × 2.5 mm^2 with a power consumption of 16.5 mW. The system is also used for binary mixture detection with a fractional volume accuracy of 1-2%. An on-board miniaturized dielectric spectroscopy system for permittivity detec- tion is also presented. The sensor is based on the detection of the phase difference be- tween the input and output signals of cascaded broadband True-Time-Delay (TTD) cells. The sensing capacitor exposed to MUTs is a part of the TTD cell. The change of the permittivity results in a change of the phase of the microwave signal passing through the TTD cell. The system is fabricated on Rogers Duroid substrates with a total area of 8 × 7.2 cm2. The permittivities of MUTs are detected in the 1-8 GHz frequency range with a detection accuracy of 2%. Also, the sensor is used to extract the fractional volumes of mixtures with accuracy down to 1%. Additionally, multi-band and multi-standard communication systems motivate the trend to develop broadband front-ends covering all the standards for low cost and reduced chip area. Broadband amplifiers are key building blocks in wideband front-ends. A broadband resistive feedback low-noise amplifier (LNA) is presented using a composite cross-coupled CMOS pair for a higher gain and reduced noise figure. The LNA is implemented using 90 nm CMOS technology consuming 18 mW in an area of 0.06 mm2. The LNA shows a gain of 21 dB in the 2-2300 MHz frequency range, a minimum noise figure of 1.4 dB with an IIP3 of -1.5 dBm. Also, a four-stage distributed amplifier is presented providing bandwidth extension with 1-dB flat gain response up to 16 GHz. The flat extended bandwidth is provided using coupled inductors in the gate line with series peaking inductors in the cascode gain stages. The amplifier is fabricated using 180 nm CMOS technology in an area of 1.19 mm2 achieving a power gain of 10 dB, return losses better than 16 dB, noise figure of 3.6-4.9 dB and IIP3 of 0 dBm with 21 mW power consumption. All the implemented circuits and systems in this dissertation are validated, demonstrated and published in several IEEE Journals and Conferences

Hydraulic performance of sluice gate with unloaded upstream rotor

This study presents video analysis of the hydraulic performance of a sluice gate with an unloaded upstream built-in rotor. A number of laboratory experiments were  conducted using two unloaded rotor shapes. The first was the cross-shaped rotor and the second was the Savonius-like rotor. A new video analysis technique was  introduced for measuring rotor angular speed and its perturbation. Swift speed  cameras and Tracker software were used to measure the upstream backwater depth and to estimate the instantaneous variation of the rotor speed. The study shows that adding a rotor upstream of the gate caused the upstream water level to increase  such that the averaged normalized afflux increased to 1.72 and 0.9 for the cross-shaped and the Savonius rotors, respectively. Lab experiments indicated that the water flow–structure interaction for the sluice-rotor is quite complex and nonlinear. Two main flow regimes were distinguished. The flow regimes are: the flow through a rotor with possible weir flow conditions and the orifice flow conditions. The  time-averaged angular speed of the tested Savonius-like rotor ranged between 0 and 300 r/min. As the upstream backwater depth increased, the angular speed  increased; however, the rate was significantly lower for the orifice flow condition compared to the flow under rotor and weir flow conditions. The video analysis also indicated that significant perturbation exists for the rotor angular speed. The  normalized perturbation intensity varied from a minimum of 8% to a maximum of 60%.Keywords: sluice gate, rotor, angular speed, video analysis, hydropowe

Relationship between Caregiver's Expressed Emotions and Patient's Symptoms Severity among Schizophrenic Patients: A Comparative Study

Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental disorders which is characterized by debilitating nature and recurrent relapse of its psychotic episodes that have been often misunderstood and lead to confusion among the family members, who play the role as primary caregivers. Although expressed emotion (EE) has been widely studied in the Western world, it is not well understood in Middle East communities. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the association between expressed emotion EE and patients’ symptoms severity among caregivers of schizophrenic patients in two Middle East countries (Egypt and Saudi Arabia).Methods: A convenient sample of 120 patients and their caregivers was selected; (60) patients and their caregivers from Saudi Arabia, and (60) caregivers and their patients from Egypt. Three tools were utilized in the current study including; (1) the Socio-demographic Data Sheet; (2) The Family Attitude Scale (FAS); and (3) Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).Results: The study result revealed that there were statistically significant relationships between FAS levels and Egyptian and Saudi patients' duration of illness as (X2=24.466, p=.000, and X2= 10.792, p=.001 respectively). However, Egyptians and Saudi patients did not differ in relation to the number of patients' admission and caregivers' FAS. Conclusion: The study concluded that, Egyptian patients' socio-demographic and medical characteristics differ with FAS levels; however, Saudi patients did not. On the other hand, PANSS scores differ by Saudi patients' socio-demographic and medical characteristics. Recommendations: The study recommended that there is a need to develop specialized nursing interventions program to raise awareness of family caregiver by schizophrenia and mange their psychological and emotional problems that result from caring for mentally ill patients. Keywords: Expressed emotions, Symptom intensity, Schizophrenic patient

Effect of Indion Complexation on the Stability and Bioavailability of some Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Ion exchange resins are commonly used for masking of drug objectionable taste. Our work aimed to study the effect of this complexation on the drug stability and bioavailability in rabbits. In this work, paracetamol and ibuprofen complexes with indion 204 were prepared; drug stability and bioavailability from the prepared complexes were studied and compared with that of the commonly used commercial tablets Tylenol and Motrin respectively. The clinical protocol and information about drugs were discussed with a group of healthy albino rabbits. The results showed that tmax of both drugs were kept constant at 1.5hrs and 2hrs without any change from the reference standards Tylenol and Motrin respectively. The calculated pharmacokinetic parameters Cpmax, AUC(0-24) and AUC(0-∞) respectively for paracetamol were 0.431µg/ml, 3.535µg.hr/ml and 3.756µg.hr/ml from the prepared complexes in comparison to 0.494µg/ml, 4.083µg.hr/ml, 4.198µg.hr/ml from Tylenol, and 0.743µg/ml, 5.380µg.hr/ml, 5.559µg.hr/ml from the prepared ibuprofen complexes in comparison to 0.803µg/ml, 6.272 µg.hr/ml, 6.432 µg.hr/ml from Motrin. The relative bioavailability of both drugs from the prepared complexes were calculated using Tylenol and Motrin as reference standards and the 90 % confidence intervals of the geometric mean values for the test/reference ratios for Cpmax, AUC (0-24) and AUC (0-∞) were within the bioequivalence acceptance range of 80–125 % according to the European Guideline. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicated a significance difference between the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters for both drugs. From these results we can conclude that indion complexation of drugs significantly affects their pharmacokinetics and retards their bioavailability

Role of Urinary Catheter in Post-Partum Urinary Retention and Genitourinary Infections in Caesarean Deliveries

Background: Urethral catheterization is done as a routine procedure in cesarean section. It is thought to be associated with high incidence of urinary tract infections, discomfort, delayed ambulation and longer hospital stay. The aim of our study were to determine the feasibility and safety of cesarean section without urethral catheterization. Subjects and Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was carried out in Beni-Suef General Hospital from April 1, 2014 to April 1, 2015April. Among 100 patients who had undergone cesarean section 50 were catheterized and 50 were uncatheterized. Results: The study showed that the catheterized group took longer time till first voiding 7.80+ 2.88 hours versus 6.72+ 2.27 hours for the uncatheterized group (p value = 0.04*) and also took longer time till first ambulation 8.64+ 2.62 hours versus 6.10+ 1.94 hours for the uncatheterized group (p value = 0.001*). Further ,the females who were catheterized stayed for much longer period at hospital 30.56+6.19 hours versus 20.46+2.92 hours for the uncatheterized group (p value = 0.001*). The catheterized group had much higher numbers of UTI among its females, 36 female compared to only 15 females of the uncatheterized group (p value= 0.001*). Fmales who were subjected to catheterization were more likely to show urinary retention (p value = 0.039*). Conclusion: Cesarean section can be done safely without urethral catheterization with reduced morbidities. Keywords: Cesarean section, Urethral catheterization, Urinary tract infection, Urinary retentio

Reactions of 5-(4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl)-2(3H)-furanone with some electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents

5-(4-Methoxy-3-methylphenyl)-2(3H)-furanone was prepared and reacted with some nucleophilic and electrophilic reagents. The condensation of furanone with aromatic aldehydes or phthalic anhydride yielded the corresponding 3-arylidenefuranone derivatives and phthalide, respectively. While the treatment of furanone with amines in refluxing ethanol led to the formation of amides. The reaction of the amides with thionyl chloride afforded the corresponding isothiazolones. The benzimidazole derivative was prepared via the reaction of the 2(3H)-furanone with o-phenylenediamine in boiling ethanol. However, hydrazine hydrate affected ring opening of furanone to give the corresponding acid hydrazide, which underwent in situ cyclization into the corresponding pyridazinone. The base catalyzed ethanolysis of furanone afforded the corresponding ethyl ester