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: White-spot lesion is one of the problems associated with the fixed orthodontic treatment. The aims of this in-vitro study were to investigate enamel damage depth on adhesive removal when the adhesive were surrounded by sound, demineralized or demineralized enamel that had been re-mineralized prior to adhesive removal using 10% Nano-Hydroxy apatite and to determine the effect of three different adhesive removal techniques. Materials and methods: Composite resin adhesive (3M Unitek) was bonded to 60 human upper premolars teeth which were randomly divided in to three groups each containing ten sound teeth and ten teeth with demineralized and re-mineralized lesions adjacent to the adhesive. A window of 2 mm was prepared on the bucca
... Show MoreThe study aims at knowing students’ academic assistance at the Department of Kindergarten. It further aims to know the difference of academic assistance among these students with respects to variables like (college of education for women, Baghdad, Thi-Qar). It also aims to know about the difference according to the academic level variable, in addition to its relation to some other variables. To achieve the objectives of the study, a number of university female students were selected from both Baghdad an Thi-Qar Universities in the academic year 2019-2020. The sample of the participants consisted of (400) students from the (second, third, and fourth) levels. To measure the study variable represented by the concept of academic assistance
... Show MoreA new mixed ligand complexes were prepared by reaction of quinoline -2-carboxylic acid (L1) and 4,4?dimethyl-2,2?-bipyridyl (L2) with V(IV),Cr(III), Rh(III), Cd(II) and Pt(IV) ions. These complexes were isolated and characterized by (FT-IR) and (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, flame atomic absorption technique, thermogravimetric analysis, in addition to magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. Most complexes were mononuclear and with octahedral geometry, except Cd (II) with tetrahedral geometry, and V (IV) with square pyramidal geometry. A theoretical treatment of the ligands and the prepared complexes in gas phase was done using two programs Hyperchem.8 and Gaussian program (GaussView Currently Available Versions (
... Show MoreNew binuclear Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Hg(II) Complexes of N2S2 tetradentate or N4S2 hexadentate symmetric Schiff base were prepared by the condensation of butane-1,4-diylbis(2-amino ethylcarbamodithioate) with 3-acetyl pyridine. The complexes having the general formula [M2LCl4] (where L=butane-1,4-diyl bis (2-(z)-1-(pyridine-3-ylethylidene amino))ethyl carbamodithioate, M= Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Hg(II)), were prepared by the reaction of the mentioned metal salts and the ligand. The resulting binuclear complexes were characterized by molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility ,infrared and electronic spectral measurements. This study indicated that Mn(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes have octahedral g
... Show MoreGlassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with carbon nanotubes CNT and C60 by attachment and solution evaporation techniques, respectively. CNT/Li+/GCE and C60/Li+/GCE were prepared by modifying CNT/GCE and C60/GCE in Li+ solution via cyclic voltammetry (CV) potential cycling. The sensing characteristics of the modified film electrodes, demonstrated in this study for interference of Mn2+ in different heavy metals ion esp. Hg2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+. The interfering effect was investigated that exert positive interference on the redox peaks of Mn2+. The modification of GCE with nano materials and Li+ act an enhancement for the redox current peaks to observe the effect of interference for Mn2+ in 1:1 ratio with different heavy metals ion.
Background: Oral SCC is a complex malignancy where environmental factors, viral infections and genetic alterations most likely interact, and thus give rise to the malignant condition. The HSP70 play a direct role in apoptosis inhibition by aligning the improved integrity of a cell’s proteins with the improved chances of that particular cell’s survival.P21 gene produces p21 protein which is a potent cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that plays a significant role in carcinogenesis. The aims of the study were to evaluate and compare the immun-histochemical expression of the HSP70 and cell cycle protein p21in NOM, OED, and OSCC. Correlate both marker expressions with each other. Materials and methods: Forty six formalin-fixed, par
... Show MoreObjectives: To determine the effectiveness of the instructional program on patients’ knowledge about home safety while receiving anti-cancer treatment at Al- Karama Teaching Hospital in Al-Kut City.
Methodology: A quasi-experimental design is conducted through the application of a pre-test and post-test approach for the study and control groups from February 5th, 2020 to April 25th, 2020. A non–probability (purposive) sample of (50) patients treated at the Blood Disease and Oncology Center is selected and divided into two groups. Each group contains (25) patients as control and study groups. An instrument is constructed that is comprised of two parts; t
... Show MoreNew Schiff base and their Mn(II),Co(II),Ni(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) complexes formed by the condensation of O-phathaldehyde and ethylene diamine (2:1) to give ligand (L1) in the first step ,then the ligand (L1) with 2- aminophenol (1:2) to give ligand (L2) were prepared by classic addition through microwave method . These compounds (Ligands and complexes) have been diagnosed electronic spectra, FT-IR,1H-&13C-NMR (only ligand), magnetic susceptibility, elemental microanalysis and molar conductance measurements. Analytical values displayed that all the complexes appeared (metal: ligand) (1:1) ratio with the six chelation. All the compounds appear a high activity versus four types of bacteria such as; (Escherichia coli), (Sta
... Show MoreThe aim of this work is the synthesis of new Schiff base derived from PVA and Erythro-ascorbic acid derivative (pentulosono-ɣ-lactone-2,3-enedianisoate) and its metal complexes of biological significance. All synthesized compounds were characterized by Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and FTIR spectra and aldehyde was also characterized by (U.V-Vis), 1HNMR, 13CNMR and mass spectra. The synthesized Schiff base & its metal complexes were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against five pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Shigella dysentery,Klebsiellapneumonae,Staphylococcusaureus, Staphylococcus Albus) and two fungal (Aspergillus Niger,Yeast).The biological activity ofall complexes is higher than free Schiff base ligand andf
... Show MoreThe clinical spectrum of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), an intracellular parasitic pathogen, ranges from a single sore healing to chronic crusty lesions with a manifestation of treatment resistance. The complicated interaction between Leishmania bodies and the early immune response, including innate and adaptive mechanisms, determines the evolution of nodules. This study examined the levels of the chemoattractant interleukin 8 (IL-8), pro-inflammatory nitric oxide (NO), and immunoregulatory macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) in the serum of subjects recently diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis, in parallel with patients being monitored during consecutive sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) treatment. A total of 161 serum samples of newly di
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