Introduction: Methadone hydrochloride (MDN) is an effective pharmacological substitution treatment for opioids dependence, adopted in different countries as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programmes. However, MDN can exacerbate the addiction problem if it is abused and injected intravenously, and the frequent visits to the MMT centres can reduce patient compliance. The overall aim of this study is to develop a novel extended-release capsule of MDN using the sol-gel silica (SGS) technique that has the potential to counteract medication-tampering techniques and associated health risks and reduce the frequent visits to MMT centres. Methods: For MDN recrystallisation, a closed container method (CCM) and hot-stage method (HSM) were conducted, and MDN crystals were characterised using the polarised light microscope (PLM). MDN crystal thickness was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy (CM) to establish a relationship between MDN crystals thickness and their birefringence colours using the Michel-Levy Birefringence Colour Chart. The experimental series was continued to produce novel silica-based MDN formulations A and B capsules by adding MDN powder at the end and beginning of the SGS process, respectively. The silica-based MDN formulations were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), SEM, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), PLM and mean grey value (MGV) analyses. The in vitro release studies (n=3) for the silica-based MDN formulations and pure MDN capsules were conducted in a phosphate buffer solution (pH= 7.2) for 7 days. Stability studies were conducted for 1 month by keeping the silica-based MDN capsules under 25°C and 57% RH. Results: The optimal method to produce large numbers of MDN crystals was the CCM, and MDN crystals were characterised as diamond shaped with an intrinsic angle of 62o. The SEM surpassed the CM in measuring MDN crystal thickness, and Mann-Whitney U Test showed statistically significant differences between SEM and confocal thickness measurements (U= 1283, p < 0.05) as the SEM exhibited thinner diamond crystals (6.62 ± 2.9 µm) than the CM measurements (9.6 ± 4.6µm). According to the Michel-Levey birefringence colour chart (using the SEM mean thickness of MDN crystals and their retardation value of 428 nm), most of MDN crystals demonstrated a yellow colour. The FT-IR, SEM, DSC, MGV and PLM analyses of both silica-based MDN formulations revealed that MDN was successfully incorporated inside the silica network producing amorphous material (with no appearance of the melting peak of pure MDN at 233.4°C) with evidence of no physical or chemical interaction between sol-gel silica and MDN. However, the TGA analysis revealed a significantly greater amount of MDN was loaded inside the silica-based MDN formulation B compared to A (t = 2.80, p = 0.009, n=6), as 28.3 ± 0.6 mg of MDN was loaded in the former while 25.6 ± 0.7 mg in the latter. In addition, the silica-based MDN formulation B released 10% more MDN after 7 days than formulation A, and both formulations were stable when stored for 1 month under 57% RH and 25°C. Conclusion: The novel combined use of SEM and PLM techniques shows a potential for the identification of MDN in forensic science as it established a range of birefringence colours of MDN crystals. Moreover, the new silica-based MDN formulation B can help to deter MDN abuse and increase patient adherence to MMT due to its potential to sustain MDN release and reduce the frequent visits to MDN treatment centres.
The research aims to statement the main obstacles that prevent the application of total quality management (TQM) in a number of Iraqi service organizations, and by one organization in each of the sectors (health, finance, education, higher education, tourism), which are, (Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Rafidain Bank/ Branch of Hay Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, Al-Karkh/1 Directorate of Education, College of administration and Economics/ Baghdad University, International Palestine Hotel). The research also, tries to classify the priority of the obstacles depending on the type of service organization surveyed. And diagnoses the extent to which or the difference of the research sample members views on the order of obstacles of TQM, and also proposes a
... Show MoreThis work was influenced the separation and preconcentration steps were carried out to determination of metformin (MET) in pharmaceutical preparations and human serum samples. Complex formation method and cloud-point extraction (CPE) coupling with UV-Visible spectrophotometry were used to investigated of study target.The results has showed the best optical characteristic for calibration curve and statistical data which were obtained under optimum conditions. The first method is based on the reaction of MET with nickel (II) in alkaline medium an absorption maximum ?)max) at 434nm. ''Beer's low'' is obeyed in the concentration range (10-100µg.ml-1) with molar absorptivity of 3.9x103 L.mol-1.cm-1.The limit of detection and quantitation valu
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This study designed to prepare ultrafine apixaban (APX) o/w nanoemulsion (NE) based gel with droplet size below 50 nm as a good method for transdermal APX delivery without using permeation enhancer, alternatively, the formulation components itself act as permeation enhancer. APX, a potent oral anticoagulant drug that selectively and directly inhibit coagulation factor Xa, was selected as a good candidate for transdermal delivery as it displays poor water solubility (0.028 mg/mL) and low bioavailability (50%). APX-NE gel was prepared using triacetin, triton-x-100 and carbitol as oil phase, surfactant and cosurfactant respectively, while Carbopol 940 used as a gelling agent. Ex vivo permeation of APX-NE gel through human stratum c
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Abstract A descriptive study was carried out on nurses who were working at burn. Units in Baghdad city hospitals, Al-Kindy , Al-Yarmook, Al-Qadisiya, Al-karkh, and Al-Karama hospital, in the period from 20th july 2003 to 20th November 2003. The study aimed to identify the nurses performance about pain management for burned patients at burn units and find out the relationship between the demographic characteristics and performance . A purposive (non-probability) sample of (40) nurses, (24) male nurses and (16) female. The data were collected through the use of observational checklist, which comprised (
Excess heat significantly reduces the efficiency and lifespan of electrical and optoelectronic devices. While passive radiative cooling is becoming more common, achieving active thermal control without physical reconfiguration remains challenging. Unlike conventional static absorbers, we propose a broadband plasmonic solar absorber designed to regulate energy absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region without modifying the geometrical parameters. The design utilizes a coaxial cylindrical metal-insulator-metal (MIM) configuration, combining refractory copper (Cu), silicon dioxide (SiO2), and a trilayer graphene (Gr) that allows electrical tuning in a broadband solar absorber. Simulation results show a maximum broadband absorption efficienc
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ABSTRACT
This research aim to measure the critical success factors for total quality management applications, in order to know the key and important role played by these factors at applying the total quality management through a comparative study conducted in a number of a private colleges.
The research problem posed a set of questions, the most important ones are: Are the colleges (sample of research) aware of the critical success factors at applying the total quality management? What is the availability of the critical success factors at the work of the colleges (sample of research)?
What are the critical success factors in the work of the researc
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Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (SD) are common skin disorders affecting the scalp and extending to other body sites in the case of SD. They are associated with pruritus and scaling, causing an esthetical disturbance in the population affected. Treatment of such conditions involves using a variety of drugs for long terms, thus optimizing drug formulation is essential to improve therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. Conventional topical formulations like shampoos and creams have been widely used but their use is associated with disadvantages. To overcome such effects, novel topical nanotechnology-based formulations are currently under investigation. In the following article, we highlight recently published formulatio
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In the present study a series of some four-,five-and seven-membered heterocyclic compounds have been synthesized by the reaetion of Schiff bases (1a,b) with chloroacetyl chloride, sodium azide, thioglycolic acid or various anhydrides to give azetidinone (2a,b), tetrazole (3a,b), thiazolidinone (4a,b) and 1,3-oxazepine derivatives (5-8a,b) respectively. Schiff bases (1a,b)were prepared from the reaction of p-toluidine with aromatic aldehydes. All synthesized compounds were characterized by physical properties and spectral data.
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