Background: Bilastine is a non-sedating, second-generation antihistamine used to treat urticaria and allergic conjunctivitis. Objective: to formulate and test bilastine as a mucoadhesive ophthalmic in situ gel in order to extend its presence at site for longer time and help treat conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Methods: We prepared formulations using different concentrations of poloxamers (Poloxamer 407 (P407) and Poloxamer 188 (P188)) in combination with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The prepared formulas were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, sol-gel transition temperature, viscosity, mucoadhesive strength, drug release, and kinetic modeling. Results: The prepared in situ gels were clear and transparent, having a pH ranging from 7.4 to 7.5 and a gelation temperature between 29.5 and 34.7 °C. Increasing the concentrations of P-407 and HPMC increased viscosity, gel strength, and mucoadhesion force, but caused a decrease in gelation temperature and drug release. Formula (F 14) containing P 407/P 188/HPMC as 19/4/0.75% w/v, respectively, exhibited favorable characteristics, including optimal gelation temperature (33°C), drug content (93%), gel strength (40 sec), mucoadhesive force (6125 dyne/cm2), and 91.4% in vitro drug release over 5 hours. Conclusions: The bilastine mucoadhesive in situ gel formulation is presented as a promising ophthalmic formulation for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
Bacteria strain H7, which produces flocculating substances, was isolated from the soil of corn field at the College of Agriculture in Abu-Ghrib/Iraq, and identified as Bacillus subtilis by its biochemical /physiological characteristics. The biochemical analysis of the partially purified bioflocculant revealed that it was a proteoglycan composed of 93.2 % carbohydrate and 6.1 % protein. The effects of bioflocculant dosage, temperature, pH, and different salts on the flocculation activity were evaluated. The maximum flocculation activity was observed at an optimum bioflocculant dosage of 0.2 mL /10 mL (49.6%). The bioflocculant had strong thermal stability within the range of 30-80 °C, and the flocculating activity was over 50 %. The biofloc
... Show MoreBackground: Recently epigenetic alterations have received increased attention because of theirimportant role in the process of tumerigenesis. It has been found that more than half of genetic changes were epigenetic. Epigenetic alterations are catalyzed by DNMTs enzymes. Increased knowledge about this molecular event may achieve progress in the war against cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the expression of DNMT3B among oral, laryngeal and skin SCC. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on (120) formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks, histopathologically diagnosed as oral, laryngeal and skin SCC). Immunohistochemical staining of DNMT3B antibody was performed on each case of this study. Results: The immunoh
... Show MoreObjective: To assess the nurses-midwives' knowledge and practices regarding the management of second stage
of labor and to find out the association between their knowledge and practices and socio-demographic
characteristics and working years and experience.
Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out from March 22nd
, 2008 through 30th June, 2008. A purposive
sample of (75) Nurse-Midwives which was selected from (6) hospitals. A questionnaire was comprised of two
parts: (socio-demographic characteristics and the assessment tool for Nurse-Midwives' knowledge and health
practices performed by them). The questionnaire validity was determined by experts and its reliability was
determined through a pilot study. Th
Objectives: Two derivatives of cephalexin were synthesized by reaction with isatin-glycine Schiff base and bromoisatin-glycine Schiff base separately. Methods: Cephalexin was linked through the amine group to isatin glycine and bromoisatin glycine Schiff bases by amide bond formation. Results: These derivatives were characterized by FT-IR, H-NMR, elemental CHN analysis and then tested for their antimicrobial activity compared to cephalexin against gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans fungi. Conclusion: The two compounds showed better activity against Staphylococcus aureus, compound 3b is more active against Escherichia coli, and compound 3a is more active against Klebsiella pneumonia.
Two grades of paving asphalt with penetration of 46 and 65 are studied for determining changes in their physical and chemical properties caused by ageing.
The ageing process has been conducted on two petroleum paving asphalt cement using thin film oven test at 150, 163 and 175 C, and ageing time 5, 10,15, 20, 25 and 30 hours. The effect of ageing time and temperature on penetration, kinematic viscosity, softening point, solubility in trichloroethylene, heat loss and changes in chemical composition are investigated. The results of thin film oven test process indicte that the asphaltenes concentration of all aged asphalt increases with increasing ageing time, while the opposite was observed for polar-aromatic and naphthene-aromatic. The
Lipase enzyme has attracted a lot of attention in recent years because of its diverse biotechnological applications. The present study was conducted to screen germinated seeds of four crops, namely sunflower (Helianthus annuus), flaxor linseed (Linum usitatissimum ), peanut (Arachis hypogaea ) and castor bean (Ricinus communis), for the activity of their lipases. to the study also included the extraction and purification of lipase from the seeds of the most promising crop using different solvents. The results indicated that the maximum enzymatic activity (0.669 U/ml) was obtained when 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer extract was used after 3 days of seed germination of all the tested species, as compared to the other test solvents
... Show MorePhotocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was studied using CdS and ZnS as catalyst. The photocatalytic activity of the specimen was studied by exposing to UV-radiation. The result shows that the degradation efficiency of the dye for CdS micro-particles was 92% after 7 hours and for ZnS micro-particles was 88.29% for the same time interval.
Recently the use of nanofluids represents very important materials. They are used in different branches like medicine, engineering, power, heat transfer, etc. The stability of nanofluids is an important factor to improve the performance of nanofluids with good results. In this research two types of nanoparticles, TiO2 (titanium oxide) and γ-Al2O3 (gamma aluminum oxide) were used with base fluid water. Two-step method were used to prepare the nanofluids. One concentration 0.003 vol. %, the nanoparticles were examined. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to accomplish these tests. The stability of the two types of nanofluids is measured by
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