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.
In this study, the stresses and displacement around a tunnel opening under water body in Baghdad city, middle of Iraq, during excavation and lining are discussed. For this purpose, the finite element method (FEM) was adopted as an effective approach to analyze the problem using (SIGMA/W) program. The research includes the study of the behavior of soil due to excavation of a tunnel by calculating the displacements and stresses in three positions of the tunnel (crown, wall, and invert) during the various stages of construction. The surface settlement is also studied. The finite element analyses were carried out Using (Elastic- plastic) and (linear elastic) models for the soil and the concrete liner respectively.
Abstract:
Objective: The study’s aim to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional program about healthy lifestyle on patients’ attitudes after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Methodology: Quasi-experimental design/ has been utilized for the current study starting from December 2018 to March 2020 to achieve the objectives of the study. Non-probability (purposive) sample of 60 patients was divided into intervention and control groups. Data were analyzed by the application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
Results: findings reported that before intervention both study and control groups demonstrated low total mean of score relat
... Show MoreThe Synthesis of yttrium oxide nanoparticles have been achieved via calcination
of yttrium hydroxide produced from the reaction of aqueous solutions of yttrium
nitrate and sodium hydroxide at pH = 13 using hydrothermal and hydrothermal
microwave methods. Effect of heat treatment of the resulted yttrium hydroxide
powder on the morphology and crystallinity of the resulting oxide was studied at
calcination 500, 700 and 1000°C to obtain. The resulted products were
characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope
(SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer
(FTIR) and thermal analyses (TG).
Background: Dental implants act as infrastructure for fixed restoration to look like as a natural tooth. Osseointegration is a biological events and considered as a base for success of dental implant. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bond strength between bone and Ti implant coated with mixture of nano hydroxyapatite-chitosan-collagen compared with Ti implants coated with nano hydroxyapatite implanted in rabbit tibia, after different period of implantation time (two and six weeks) by torque removal test. Material and methods: 36 screws of commercially pure titanium; 8mm in length and 3mm diameter , 18 screws coated with mixture of nano hydroxyapatite-chitosan-collagen and18 screws coated with nano hydroxyapatite by dip coating. St
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Cumulative lifetime lead (Pb) exposure has been associated with accelerated declines in cognition through the free radical generation and epigenetic effects. Several pieces of literature have identified a correlation between exposure to lead and neurodegenerative disorders. Harwich strain Drosophila melanogaster was exposed to lead acetate for two weeks, and changes in pulse transmission by acetylcholinesterase and systemic redox were evaluated. Besides, molecular docking studies of acetylcholinesterase against Quercetin and its most common derivatives contained in food have been performed. Pharmacokinetic studies on Quercetin and its derivatives have also been performed in silico toxicity. The data obtained showed alterations in antioxi
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In this work, the ligand was obtained from the reaction of diazonium salt of naphthyl amine with 1-amino-2-naphtol-4-sulfonic acid. The bidentate ligand type (NO) donar atoms was reacted with 1,10-phenanthroline and matel salt in a 1:1:1 mole ratio to give the complexes, using NaOH as a base. Physical-chemical teqnichas were used to characteriz the prepared compounds FT-IR,U.V-Vis, fluorescence and 1HNMR spectroscopy, atomic absorption , chloride content along with conductivity and melting point measurements .Finally, thermal analysis was used to confirm the presence of coordination H2O molecule in the complexes structure. According to memtioned characterization methods, the general formula proposed for CoII ZnII, CdII and Hg
... Show MoreAl-Qudis power plant was chosen, as one of the power stations of Baghdad, to investigate the effects of Cadmium that emitted from combustion of crude oil in that power plant on the workers' glutathione serum level. Air samples were taken seasonally during August 2011- July 2012 from four sites at Al- Qudis power plant which are oil treatment unit 1(site 1), oil treatment 2 (site2), pre –chimney 1(site 3) and pre-chimney 2 (site 4), to measure levels of heavy metal (cadmium) under study. Blood samples were collected from the workers to estimate the heavy metal Cadmium. Air cadmium levels during summer (August and September) were varied from 6.26 ± 0.6 μg/m3 at site 1 to 6.89 ± 0.67 μg/m3 at site 3, while in spring (end of March, and
... Show MoreThe inorganic phosphate content and antioxidant activity of fresh fruit juices and canned fruit juices commonly consumed in Bahrain were compared. The fruits considered in this study were kiwi, guava, black grape, strawberry, apple, and pineapple. The inorganic phosphate content of the juices was determined by a colorimetric method using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer. Among the fresh juices, the highest inorganic phosphate content was measured for black grape juice (17.330 ±0.068 mg/L), and among the canned juices, the highest inorganic phosphate was measured for black grape canned juice too (16.020 ±0.141 mg/L, brand 3). The antioxidant activity was determined in-vitro by measuring the percentage of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
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The current research aims at: - Identifying the role played by the leadership in empowerment and organizational learning abilities and their reflection on the knowledge capital, and the extent to which these concepts can be applied effectively at Wasit University. The problem of research .... In a series of questions: The most important is that the dimensions leadership empowerment and distance learning organizational capacity correlation relationship and impact and significant statistical significance with the capital knowledge.
To understand the nature of the relationship and the impact between the variables, leadership was adopted by empowerment as the fir
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Bank credit is extremely important, as the generated revenues by a main focus of any bank earnings no matter how many and varied sources of revenue other, and without losing the bank and the main role function as an intermediary in financial economics . But at the faltering customers in payment of loans . Therefore , uses a method of financial analysis using ratios as one of the important tools to measure the clients ability to pay , in spite of the need for the Bank analyzed the trend in this regard is focused on three main areas ( liquidity, profitability, and borrowing ) and can be to add another field is the possibility to cover fixed charges of the profits generated. Finally I would like to emphas