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
This work has been carried out to develop national drug product contains 2.5mg/ml clonazepam as oral drop; it is used for the treatment of epilepsy in infants and children.
Several formulations were prepared using oral drop base, flavor, buffer, sweeteners and preservatives. Selection of best formula relied solely on physic-chemical testing of samples.
Stability study was conducted on the product for six months at different temperatures to determine the expiration date and the best storage conditions.
From the study we obtained an oral drop of good clear solution. The expiry date calculated to be not less than 2 years.
Oral jelly is a semisolid preparation that could resolve problem associated withdosage form’s swallowing, especially in pediatric and elderly ones. This work aimedto prepare oral flurbiprofen (FBP) jelly to improve patient compliance. Heating andcongealing method was used to prepare FBP jelly using three different polymers (pectin,sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). The effect ofdifferent concentrations of pectin and sucrose on jelly properties was studied. Theresults revealed that both pectin and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose polymers gaveacceptable jelly appearance and consistency. It was also observed that the increase ofpectin or sucrose concentration had a significant impact on jelly viscosity. All pe
... Show MorePyogenic granuloma is one of the inflammatory hyperplasia seen in the oral cavity. The
present study included 10 patients with pyogenic granuloma, involving 4 males and 6 females with 1:1.5
male to female ratio. Patient ages ranged from 5 to 85 years (mean, 30 years) and half of the lesions had
pedunculated base, with surface ulceration in 10% of cases. Treatment consisted of resection, using 810
nm diode lasers. Eight patients were anesthetized during the surgical operation by local infiltration of
anesthesia. Only three patients reported mild post-operative pain within the first 24 hours of the healing
period. During the surgical operation there was no significant bleeding so clear surgical field. There was
no blee
Pyogenic granuloma is one of the inflammatory hyperplasia seen in the oral cavity. The
present study included 10 patients with pyogenic granuloma, involving 4 males and 6 females with 1:1.5
male to female ratio. Patient ages ranged from 5 to 85 years (mean, 30 years) and half of the lesions had
pedunculated base, with surface ulceration in 10% of cases. Treatment consisted of resection, using 810
nm diode lasers. Eight patients were anesthetized during the surgical operation by local infiltration of
anesthesia. Only three patients reported mild post-operative pain within the first 24 hours of the healing
period. During the surgical operation there was no significant bleeding so clear surgical field. There was
no blee
Oral carcinoma is the 6th most common cancer in the world. MicroRNAs are small non-coding single stranded RNAs. They have been shown to be capable of altering mRNA expression; thus some are oncogenic or tumor suppressive in nature. The salivary microRNA-31 has been proposed as a sensitive marker for oral malignancy since it was abundant in saliva more than in plasma. A total of 55 whole saliva samples were collected from 35 cases diagnosed with OC their ages and gender matched with 20 healthy subjects. TaqManq RT-PCR was performed for RNA samples. Mean age was 52.23+13.73 years in cases (range:17-70 years) with male predominance represented 69%. Risk of smoking and alcoholism was highly significant. The median fold change of miR-31 was sign
... Show MoreProchloperazine maleate (PCM) is one of the most prescribed phenothiazine. The purpose of the present research was to develop fast dissolving tablets of PCM with β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex. Tablets prepared by wet granulation with sublimation and by using different superdisintegrants type [ low-hydroxypropylcellulose LH21 (L-HPC LH21), carboxymethylcellulose calcium (ECG505), crospovidone (CP)], and different type of subliming agents (urea and ammonium bicarbonate (AB)). Tablets evaluated for its % friability, disintegration time, wetting time, hardness, content uniformity, weight variation, in vitro dissolution studies. For further enhancement of disintegration and dissolution, PCM orodispersible tablet were formula
... Show MoreBackground: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder of incidence rate 1-2%. Genetic, congenital, developmental, tumors, head trauma and central nervous system infections maybe the cause of epilepsy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stomatitis, xerostomia and taste disorder among patients taking carbamazepine or sodium valproate and to make salivary analysis for IgA, cystatin c and salivary flow rate. Material and method:This study performed in al- Yarmuk teaching hospital in Baghdad, Samples consist of (70) epileptics half of them treated with carbamazepine and other half treated with sodium valproate, and (18) healthy control group of both genders and with different ages to detect the prevalence of oral manifestations, s
... Show MorePatients with renal failure in the final stages undergo the treatment by hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is used to reinstate the intracellular and extracellular fluid environment, by propagation of molecules in solution through a semipermeable membrane along an electrochemical concentration gradient. Blood catching in the dialysis machine and the recurrent phlebotomy may lead to losing about 1-3 g of iron per year. Prohepcidin hormone is an acute phase protein (type II) that plays a major role in the systemic iron irregularities as it is a mediator of anemia in inflammation and regulator of iron metabolism. This study aims to evaluate the effect of hemodialysis on iron hemostasis and its relationship with prohepcidin as an inflammatory mark
... Show MoreBackground: The prevalence of both obesity & diabetes are increasing all over the world & more in women. They have a negative impact not only on morbidity & mortality but also on quality of life.
Objectives: To assess the HRQoL with a specific comparison between obese & normal weight among wo
... Show MoreThe bit record is a part from the daily drilling report which is contain information about the type and the number of the bit that is used to drill the well, also contain data about the used weight on bit WOB ,revolution per minute RPM , rate of penetration ROP, pump pressure ,footage drilled and bit dull grade. Generally we can say that the bit record is a rich brief about the bit life in the hole. The main purpose of this research is to select the suitable bit to drill the next oil wells because the right bit selection avoid us more than one problems, on the other hand, the wrong bit selection cause more than one problem. Many methods are related to bit selection, this research is familiar with four of thos
... Show More