Preparation and evaluation of diclofenac sodium-cellulose acetate microcapsules using solvent evaporation technique

The aim of this study was the preparation of diclofenac sodium microcapsules using cellulose acetate as a polymer and polyvinyl acohol as an emulsifying agent by solvent evaporation technique. Preliminary experiments were carried out to determine practically the volume range of both the external phase, the internal organic phase, the concentration range of emulsifier and the drug to polymer ratio. The prepared microcapsules were evaluated for their morphology and surface structure, average particle size, yield, drug loading efficiency, and their release pattern. The results of these trials revealed that diclofenac sodium-cellulose acetate microcapsules were successfully prepared applying the solvent evaporation technique. The characteristics of the produced microcapsules were highly affected by the different formulation parameters. Changing the polymer content didn't affect the morphology of the produced microcapsules. The microcapsules were discrete, spherical and freely flowing. The increase in the polymer amount increased the mean particle size and decreased the yield of the microcapsules due to the increase in the internal phase viscosity. The drug loading efficiency was significantly increased with the increase in methylene chloride-acetone volume. The condensed monolayer of polyvinyl alcohol was not achieved at concentrations below 0.5%. Above this concentration] the increase in polyvinyl alcohol content decreased both the mean particle diameter end the percentage yield of the microcapsules. The release of diclofenac sodium from cellulose acetate microcapsules was pH dependent. The drug was released faster in the alkaline medium compared to acidic medium

Post-hysterectomy vesico-vaginal fistula: outcomes of vaginal cuff excision in transabdominal repair

To evaluate the outcome and effectiveness of vaginal cuff excision in transabdominal repair of vesico-vaginal fistulas [VVFs]. Uncontrolled prospective study. Al-Salam Hospital, Sadaah, Republic of Yemen [A tertiary Hospital funded by KSA]. Eleven women suffering from post-hysterectomy VVFs were operated upon during the period from April 2000 to April 2005, at Al-Salam Hospital in Sadaah, Republic of Yemen, using vaginal cuff excision in primary trans-abdominal vesicovaginal fistula repair. During this period, eleven women suffering from posthystrectomy VVFs [non-complex fistulas] for benign conditions [5 after hysterectomy, 3 after supravaginal hysterectomy for ruptured uterus and 3 after vaginal hysterectomy]. Preoperative demographic data and fistula characteristics [size, number and location of the fistula] were gathered. Postoperative review included successful repair and postoperative urinary and sexual dysfunction. The subjects were evaluated at 3 weeks and at 3 months. The outcome was assessed using subjective estimation, gynecologic examination and objectively by instillation of diluted methylene blue dye into the bladder. Five patients [45.5%] suffered VVFs after abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions, three patients [27.3%] were after supravaginal hysterectomy [for ruptured uterus] and three patients [27.3%] were after vaginal hysterectomy. Seven fistulas [63.6%] measured 1 cm or more but less than 3cm in diameter and were located supra-trigonal, and the remaining four fistulas [36.4%] measured 5 mm or less and were located in the trigonal area without bladder neck involvement. Multiple fistulas were found in two cases [18.1%]. The fistula tract was excised totally and closure of the bladder and vaginal cuff scar excision were achieved in all patients. All patients were cured of their fistulas at their last follow-up. There were no major postoperative complications and no significant or symptomatic vaginal shortening. Mild self-limited gross hematuria occurred in 8 cases [72.7%], superficial wound infection in 1 case [9.1%] and paralytic ileus in 1 case [9.1%]. At 3 months postoperatively, one patient [9.1%] reported urinary urgency and increased frequency, the remaining denied any urinary dysfunction and one out of eleven sexually active patient [9.1%] reported mild deep dyspareunia. vaginal cuff excision in primary transabdominal repair of post-hysterectomy vesicovaginal fistulas is a safe and feasible procedure with excellent outcome and does not appear to cause postoperative irritative voiding symptoms or dyspareunia. Excision of the fistulus tract and vaginal cuff scar enable the surgeon to suture viable tissues in every layer, thereby providing conditions optimal for wound healing

study on using a local clay in treatment of aqueous oil spill

Aswan clay which is used in ceramic and cement industries in Egypt, its untreated as well as its thermally and chemically treated forms were employed in studying the sorption of petroleum oil from oil contaminated water at different conditions, such as pH, temperature, loading weight and some anions and cations concentrations. Thermal and chemical treatments were studied to demonstrate the role of non-crystalline and crystalline oxide contaminants on the oil adsorption efficiency

Percutaneous core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of mediastinal tumors

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of percutaneous core cutting needle biopsy [PCNB] in the diagnosis of mediastinal tumors. Thirty patients [25 men and 5 women] between the ages of 10-70 years underwent CT guided PCNB. The results showed that of these 30 patients, 27 were diagnosed correctly by PCNB; whereas, 3 were misdiagnosed as nonspecific inflammation providing an overall sensitivity of 90%. Most of the patients had various types of lymphomas including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. Nine patients had bronchogenic carcinoma. Two patients had metastatic carcinoma. Two patients had neurofibroma. Two patients had thymoma and one patient had plasma cell tumor. Pneumothorax was the most commonly encountered complication

Retroperitoneal approach for elective aortic reconstructive procedures

In order to evaluate extraperitoneal approach, it was used in 21 patients underwent elective reconstructive surgery. The used operative procedure was described. Although the extraperitoneal approach had the disadvantage of long preparation of the patients and being unsuitable for abdominal organs exploration, it had the advantage of good exposure of operative field, low incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications and problems of intestinal transit. It also helped in shortening the postoperative hospital stay

Color duplex sonography in evaluating ovarian masses

Color duplex was used to evaluate 16 cases of clinically or ultrasonographically diagnosed ovarian masses. Flow pattern and resistance index [RI] and pulsatility index [PI] were calculated in every case. Results have shown that all benign ovarian masses had PI >1 and RI >0.5. On the other hand, 75% of malignant lesions had PI <1 and RI <0.5. These results show that color doppler can be useful in excluding malignant tumors but not in confirming its presence

Role of colposcopy in patients with clinical cervicitis

116 patients aged between 24 and 56 years with the diagnosis of "clinical cervicitis" were selected for this study. All patients were examined by cytology, colposcopy and cervical biopsy to evaluate the role of colposcopy in such high risk group. Atypical tansformation zone was found in 23.7% and flat condyloma in 5.1% of the cases. Histologically demonstrated CIN lesion was present in 19.82% [13.79 CIN1, 3.44 CIN2, 1.72 CIN3]. Invasive cancer was demonstrated in 2 cases. Histologic findings suggestive of HPV infection were seen in 24.1% of the cases. Results have shown that colposcopy is more sensitive in detective cervical neoplasia or signs of HPV than cytology alone [76% and 58.8% as compared to 56% and 29.4% respectively]. It is recommended that routine colposcopy is advisable in such patients with cervicitis [high risk for cervical neoplasia] to increase the sensitivity of cervical cytology

Doppler study of the uterine artery in patients using IUD

Doppler flow study of the uterine artery using transvaginal sonography was done on 68 patients including 44 using IUD and 24 normal females not using any method of contraception. Both the pulsatility [PI] and resistance [RI] indices were significantly lower in patients with IUD induced bleeding as compared to those without abnormal vaginal bleeding complaint or in women not using any method of contraception. On the other hand, no significant variations in PI and RI levels were found with the duration of IUD induced bleeding or with the duration of IUD application in patients using the device. Also, no significant changes in blood flow indices were demonstrated between patients using the device and without abnormal vaginal bleeding and the control group. These preliminary results suggest that some women are more prone to develop IUD induced bleeding than others. Transvaginal Doppler study of the uterine artery may be a helpful technique to identify such group of patients

need for routine cytologic screening in Egyptian females

The results of a five-year study during the period of 1981-1985 in the cytology division of the OB./GYN., Cairo University hospitals were reviewed. A total number of 4458 smears were studied. Forty-eight shears showed abnormal cytology, with a general incidence of 1.07%. There were 43 smears showing various grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN] and five smears were positive for invasive cancer. Although this is a remarkably how incidence, if compared to other reports in Europe and USA, yet, the fact than 19 smears of those positive for CIN were collected from clinically free patients may raise the question of the need for routine screening for Egyptian females. The particular age group of patients to be screened is defined in the present study. The prevalence incidence of CIN [cervical intraepithehial neoplasia] a mong Egyptian females has been recently mentioned to be 7.03/1000 [5]. Since this is a rather low incidence when compared to other reports [1, 2, 4, 8, 11] the following question may he raised. Do we really need to establish routine cytology screening programs in Egypt for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer procursors ? This work is an attempt to answer this important question, and to define a particular high-risk age group for CIN in Egyptian women

Redox properties of cobalt 3 heterochelates 1: Behaviour towards iodide

Aqueous solutions of trivalent cobalt heterochelates are found to be indefinitely stable in comparison with cobalt [III] salt solutions, which are almost always unstable. Their yellow coloured solutions exhibit constant extinction in the temperature range of 28 to 60 degree. They are found to behave as oxidimetric reagents towards iodide. The redox reaction is found to be quantitative under optimal conditions of acidity, iodide and heterochelate concentrations. The quantitative manner was proved by determining the standard redox potential or the [cobalt [III] complex-cobalt[II] complex] system and using it together with that of the [iodine-iodide] system for computing the equilibrium formation constant [K] of the redox reaction by aid of the relation E degree = 0.0591/n log K at 25 degree. In analysis, such a reaction is applied for the potentiometric determination of each of the cobalt chelate and iodide. Such cobalt heterochelates hold good promise as oxidant for a variety of reductians and hence as analytical reagents for their determination

kinetics of oxidation of hydroquinone by [Co3-Salen] 2 O2 complex in acetic acid media

The keaotiox of C[o] [III]-salen[2]O[2] with hydroquinone [H[2]O[2], has been studied spectrophotometrically. Spectrophotometric measurements show that an intermediate [Co[III] - salen[+], [H[2]O[2], complex is formed, and the rate of oxidation of H[2]O is of fraction order [n = 1.5] at various equal concentrations of oxidant and reductant, and depends on both acidity, in the range of 1-8 M acetic acid, and temperature in the range of 35-60 degree. The energy of activation E = 26 Kcal mole[-1] and the entropy of activation Delta S=-16.65 cal-deg.[-1] mole[-1]. This reaction is found to be first order at various concentration of Co [III] - salen [2]O[2] complex and excess H[2]O as given by the linear relation of log [At -A infinity], vs. time