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.
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
... Show More
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 (
Background:The document on hypertension in the elderly promoted by the American college of cardiology and the American heart association (ACCF/AHA) was written with the intent to be a complete reference at the time of publication on the topic of managing hypertension in the elderly. More recently, the European society of hypertension (ESH) and the European society of cardiology (ESC) issued the 2013 ESH/ESC Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension, followed by The 2014 Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHPE), and the Eighth Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC8), all of which has endorsed specific recommendations for the management of elderly hypertensive patients.
Diyala Governorate was recently exposed to high flood waves discharged from Hemrin Dam. Since the dam was at its full capacity during the flood period, these waves were discharged to the Diyala River. Because of the reduction in Diyala River capacity to 750m3/s, the cities and villages on both sides of the river banks were inundated. Thus, the study's objective is to design a flood escape out of the Diyala River, to discharge the flood wave through it. The flood escape simulation was done by using HEC- RAS software. Two hundred twenty-three cross sections for the escape and 30 cross-sections of the Diyala River were used as geometric data. Depending on the geological formation that the escape passed t
... Show More
(3)
This research aims were to evaluate management of broiler production projects in Baghdad province via using the criteria of management, included production index and economic figure (PI and EF) that specified to those projects. in addition to criteria of economic efficiency also applied (INME) index number of management efficiency, in order to the research requirements, data were obtained based on a questionnaire prepared for this purpose, which was collected by personal interview of (60) projects of the broiler production projects from (516) projects representing 11.6% of the research community in Baghdad province in 2016. The results show that mean of PI and EF was (338). The increase in these two criteria is generally due to co
... Show More
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
... Show More
(11)
(9)
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
... Show More
(17)
(10)
Background: Simvastatin (SIM) is a lipid-lowering agent to prevent disorders caused by clogged blood vessels. Because of its low solubility, it has low bioavailability. The adsorption technique is effective in improving drug solubility and dissolution rate. Objective: To use magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) as an adsorbent in combination with Soluplus® as a hydrophilic polymer to formulate SIM as immediate-release tablets (IRTs). Methods: We used the solvent evaporation method to make MAS-loaded SIM in the presence of Soluplus®, making sure that the ratio of SIM to MAS to SOLU was 1:6:3. We then used this mixture to make IRTs. Using the direct compression method, we made all of the SIM-IRT formulas. We used diluents like Avicel
... Show More
Ticagrelor (TCG) is an effective P2Y12 receptor antagonist used to prevent atherothrombotic cardiovascular events; however, its poor solubility and limited permeability (BCS Class IV) restrict its oral bioavailability. Spanlastic Nanovesicles (SNVs), composed of nonionic surfactants and edge activators, offer a promising strategy to enhance drug solubility and permeability. This study aimed to develop and optimize TCG-loaded SNVs using the ethanol injection method, validate a sensitive HPLC method for TCG quantification, and evaluate the pharmacokinetic and antiplatelet performance of the optimized formulation in rats.