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.
Background: A successful endodontic treatment is aimed at the sterilization of the entire pulp space. The use of extracts from Rhamnus prinoides as a novel irrigating material for root canal has not been studied . Hence, the antimicrobial efficacy of the alcoholic extract of Rhamnus prinoides as an irrigation material against E. faecalis was evaluated in comparison with the 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCL) solution used for root canals of permanent teeth. Methods: A total of 30 single-rooted human permanent teeth were thoroughly cleaned, shaped, and disinfected. Then, each tooth was subjected to a two-week infection with Enterococcus faecalis at 37 °C . Afterward, the samples were divided into three groups (10 teeth per group): 0.9
... Show More
(21)
(12)
Introduction: Knowledge management plays a crucial role in students’ ability to acquire, organize, retrieve, and apply information, impacting academic performance. In sports sciences, especially in combat sports like boxing, effective knowledge management supports both theoretical understanding and practical skill application. Despite exposure to boxing through training and media, students’ academic performance remains inconsistent. Objective: This study examines the relationship between knowledge management and cognitive achievement among second-year students in the College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the University of Basrah. It evaluates how students manage knowledge and its impact on their retention and application
... Show MoreThis study came for the reason that some project administrations still do not follow the appropriate scientific methods that enable them to perform their work in a manner that achieves the goals for which those projects arise, in addition to exceeding the planned times and costs, so this study aims to apply the methods of network diagrams in Planning, scheduling and monitoring the project of constructing an Alzeuot intersection bridge in the city of Ramadi, as the research sample, being one of the strategic projects that are being implemented in the city of Ramadi, as well as being one of the projects that faced during its implementation Several of problems, the project problem was studied according to scientific methods through the applica
... Show More
(1)
The research study of the possibility of the application of the quality management system under the international standard ISO ISO9001: 2008 in the station project Rustumiya wastewater treatment of the Department of SEWER BAGHDAD - Baghdad MOREALITY as the first step in the right direction towards the implementation of total quality management (TQM), and the research Find the gap between the international standard and the quality system used in the organization surveyed through the use of checklists to analyze the gap, the checklist have included (191) items distributed on five basic requirements, according to the appearance in the international standard, namely, (quality management system, management responsibility, resource man
... Show More
Organogel as a system was to estimate its capacity to delay and slow the drug release in the duodenum. The gelators, 12HSA (12-hydroxystearic acid), span 60. span 40 were used; the castor oil (CO) and anise oil (AO) also represented the liquid phase. To achieve the goal of this work was by using diclofenac sodium (DS). Organogels specifications were by estimating thermal attitude using tabletop rheology and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The organogel strength study was by applying oscillatory rheology tests the amplitude sweep and the frequency sweep. Realizing the morphology of the organogel was done utilizing an optical microscope. CO and AO binding capacity was also manifested. The transition temperatures for all organogels
... Show More
(5)
(3)
Background: Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) is a term refers to the overarching group of conditions to which autism spectrum disorder (ASD) belongs .
Objective: This study was designed to determine the existing behavior of children with autism in dental sitting, the behavior improvements in recall dental visits and evaluate the improvement in oral hygiene with using specific visual pedagogy chart.
Type of the study: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: Forty children of both genders, ages ranged from 4 – 6 years having primary teeth only were selected whose medical history included a diagnosis
... Show More
Background: A major difference between the treatment of the skin lesions and the odontogenic and non-odontogenic sinuses. We aimed to analyze a substantial number of consecutive causes in order to clinical suspicion in the differential diagnoses may be correctly weighted. Materials and methods: The material of this research consisted of 40 patients. A complete history is collected from the patients with the duration and the site of the sinus present, the patient was examined for factors of the fistulas and sinuses and its associations, and patient having any concomitant lesions, a medical consultation done for opinion and management. Clinical examination with facial fistulas and sinuses was mandatory to avoid any mistakes that may occur. A
... Show MoreDiode lasers are becoming popular in periodontal surgery due to their highly absorption by pigments such as melanin and hemoglobin their weak absorption by water and hydroxyapatite makes them safe to be used around dental hard tissues. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of diode laser in performing gingivectomy in comparison to conventional scalpel technique in patients with chronic inflammatory enlargement. Materials and methods: Thirty patients were selected for this study. All of them required surgical treatment of gingival enlargements and were randomly divided into two groups: Control group (treated by scalpel and include sixteen patients) and study group (treated with diode laser 940nm and includ
... Show MorePurpose: The purpose of the study is to compare and evaluate Earnings Management in Tunisia and Iraq. Theoretical framework: Earnings Management is an important topic that has been studied by a significant number of researchers, as well as those who are interested in the accounting profession. Earnings Management has gotten a lot of attention from academics, professionals, and other interested parties in recent years (e.g. Kliestik et al., 2020; Rahman et al., 2021; Gamra &Ellouze, 2021) Design/methodology/approach: The sample includes ten banks listed on the Bourse of Tunisia and Iraq Stock Exchanges for the year 2017. We have used a model of Kothari et al., (2005) as a tool to measure Earnings Management in both mark
... Show More
(24)
(3)