Introduction: Although it is discouraged, community pharmacy customers can obtain oral corticosteroids (OCSs) without prescriptions from some community pharmacies in Iraq. Medication abuse is defined as the use of medication for non-medical reasons. Objectives: The study aimed to determine demographics, beliefs, and perceptions associated with the abuse of oral corticosteroids for non-illness reasons among community pharmacy customers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in fall 2018 in four provinces in Iraq. Customers of 19 community pharmacies asking for OCSs for themselves without a prescription were administered a paper survey. This study used the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to measure the relationship between the motivational factors and the abuse of OCSs. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the use of OCSs for non-illness and six TRA factors: Normative belief, behavioral belief, evaluation of the behavior, motivation to comply, subjective norms and attitude toward behavior. Results: The study enrolled 141 participants (98 women and 43 men) taking asking for OCSs without prescription. Dexamethasone was the most commonly used OCSs (59.6%). Friends were the primary recommenders for corticosteroids abuse (28.4%). The main reasons for using OCSs were to increase appetite and gain weight (53.9 %). Approximately one-third (36.2 %) of the participants gained weight after using OCSs. The regression analysis of the TRA variables showed two factors were significantly related to the abuse of OCSs. Age had a significant inverse relationship with the abuse of OCSs and the "good appearance" belief had a significant positive association with OCS abuse. Conclusion: Some Iraqi community pharmacy customers use non-prescribed oral corticosteroids to increase appetite and gain weight. Improve body appearance represents the dominant incentive that urges people to use OCSs without prescription. Health officials and healthcare practitioners need to promote people's awareness about the risks of misusing OCSs through education programs and advertisements in public health settings, media, and social media. Article Type: Original Research
A new Schiff base (HL2) ligand (4‐{2‐[(2‐hydroxy‐benzylidene)‐amino]‐ethyl}‐benzene‐1,2‐diol) has been synthesized by condensing of 4‐(2‐amino‐ethyl)‐benzene‐1,2‐diol and 2‐hydroxy‐benzaldehyde. In turn, its transition metal complexes were prepared, having the following general formulas: Ni(L2)2, Pd(L2)2, and Pt(L2)22Cl. The prepared ligand and its metal complexes Ni(II), Pd(II), and Pt(IV) have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR
Background: Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function with diabetes and hypertension as the leading cause. Chronic kidney disease is one of these systemic diseases that can affect salivary contents. Aims: This study aimed to assess salivary immunoglobulin A, interleukin-6 and C- reactive protein in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis and those on conservative treatment in comparison with control subjects. Materials and methods: Ninety subjects were included in this study divided into three groups: 30 patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis for at least 6 months ago; 30 patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative treatment and 30 healthy control subjects. Secretory immunoglobulin A, inte
... Show MoreThis study depicts the removal of Manganese ions (Mn2+) from simulated wastewater by combined electrocoagulation/ electroflotation technologies. The effects of initial Mn concentration, current density (C.D.), electrolysis time, and different mesh numbers of stainless steel screen electrodes were investigated in a batch cell by adopting Taguchi experimental design to explore the optimum conditions for maximum removal efficiency of Mn. The results of multiple regression and signal to noise ratio (S/N) showed that the optimum conditions were Mn initial concentration of 100 ppm, C.D. of 4 mA/cm2, time of 120 min, and mesh no. of 30 (wire/inch). Also, the relative significance of each factor was attained by the analysis of variance (ANO
... Show MoreThis study depicts the removal of Manganese ions (Mn2+) from simulated wastewater by combined electrocoagulation/ electroflotation technologies. The effects of initial Mn concentration, current density (C.D.), electrolysis time, and different mesh numbers of stainless steel screen electrodes were investigated in a batch cell by adopting Taguchi experimental design to explore the optimum conditions for maximum removal efficiency of Mn. The results of multiple regression and signal to noise ratio (S/N) showed that the optimum conditions were Mn initial concentration of 100 ppm, C.D. of 4 mA/cm2, time of 120 min, and mesh no. of 30 (wire/inch). Also, the relative significance of each factor was attained by the analysis
... Show More2-benzamide benzothiazole complexes of Pd(II) , Pt(IV) and Au(III) ions were prepared by microwave assisted radiation. The ligand and the complexes were isolated and characterized in solid state by using FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, flame atomic absorption, elemental analysis CHNS , magnetic susceptibility measurements , melting points and conductivity measurements. The nature of complexes in liquid state was studied by following the molar ratio method which gave results approximately identical to those obtained from isolated solid state; also, stability constant of the prepared complexes were studied and found that they were stable in molar ratio 1:1.The complexes have a sequar planner geometry except Pt(IV) complex has octahedral .
... Show MoreBackground/aim: The rising challenge of microbial resistance necessitates the development of novel therapeutic agents. This study aims to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the antimicrobial potential of a new series of mixed-ligand metal complexes (ZnII, CuII, NiII, and MnII) derived from a p-hydroxybenzaldehyde-4-aminoantipyrine Schiff base and 2,2′-bipyridine, in addition to assessing the binding affinity and pharmacokinetic properties of the synthesized free Schiff base ligand through molecular docking and ADME profiling. Methods: The Schiff base ligand and its transition metal complexes were synthesized and subsequently characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, NMR, mag
... Show MoreAnew Schiff base (NaHL) has been prepared from the reaction between the salt of amino acid glycine with 2-hydroxy naphthaldehyde. By tridentate Schiff base of (ONO), donors were characterized by using U.V and spectrophotometer techniques. Complexes of Co(II) Ni(II) Cu(II) and Zn(II) ion with the ligand have been prepared, these complexes were identified by infrared, electronic spectral data, elemental analysis, magnetic moments, and molar conductivity measurements. It is concluded from the elemental analysis that all the complexes have (1:2) [metal:ligand] molar ratios, octahedral, with the exception to Zn(II) complex which have (1:1)[metal:ligand] molar ratio.
... Show MoreA new Schiff base ligand [L] [3-methyl-9,10 phenyl -6,7 dihydro-5,8 –dioxo-1,2 diazo –cyclo dodecu 2,11-diene ,4-one ] and its complexes with (Co(II), Ni(II), Cu (II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)) were synthesis.This ligand was prepared in three steps, in the first step a solution of salicyladehyed in methanol reacted under refluxed with hydrazine monohydrate to give an (intermediate compound 1) which reacted in the second step with sodium pyruvate to give an (intermediate compound 2) which gave the ligand [L] in the three step when it reacted with 1,2- dichloro ethane.The complexes were synthesized by direct reaction of the corresponding metal chloride with the ligand. The ligand and complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods [IR, UV-
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