Evaluation of customized peripheral sealing device acceptance for surgical/medical masks among dental professionals during early COVID-19 pandemic / Evaluación de la aceptación de dispositivos de sellado periférico personalizados para máscaras quirúrgicas/médicas entre dentistas durante la pandemia temprana de COVID-19

Abstract A 3-dimensional (3D) printed custom-frame can improve the peripheral seal of readily available surgical/medical masks. This study aimed to assess the acceptance of a 3D-printed custom-frame with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) surgical/medical masks and the use of a face shield. A total of 206 subjects from a dental school participated, who answered a multiple-choice questionnaire. Participants received an invitation through the institutional email of the school via Qualtrics platform. 3D printed custom-frames were fabricated for each participant. According to their response, participants were divided into 4 groups: mask only (M), mask and frame (MF), mask and face shield (MFS), and all 3 personal protective equipment (MFFS). Data was analyzed in absolute and relative frequency. The acceptance of a 3D-printed custom-frame in the group MFFS varied between ''poor''/''very poor'' (44.7%). It allowed ''good'' performance of routine procedures (40.3%), but ''poor'' visual quality (48.1%). Musculoskeletal tolerance and ease to perform movements were adequate. There was no interference in olfactory sensitivity (44.7%) or in the ability to breathe (34.5%). Finally, it showed "moderate pain" (48.1%) on the ear and "no pain" (38.9%) on the head. The 3D-printed custom-frame adapted to ASTM surgical/medical face masks showed reasonable tolerance. Side effects of ear pain ranging in degrees were noted. Further research is indicated to evaluate safety, comfort, compliance, side effects, and occupational hazards of long-term use of enhanced PPE recommendations.Avoiding the recurrent outbreaks of COVID-19, the use of PPE by the public is necessary. Improper PPE use is a major source of concern for human and environmental health. Preventing such activities can be done by following steps involved in PPE disposals or by getting a new way to re-use such as improving peripherical sealing. Our work highlights that a custom-frame can improve protection, without adverse effects.

Resumen El sellado periférico de las máscaras médicas/quirúrgicas puede ser mejorado fácilmente mediante un marco personalizado impreso en 3 dimensiones (3D). Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la aceptación de un marco personalizado impreso en 3D cuando usado en combinacion con máscaras médicas/quirúrgicas de la Sociedad Estadounidense para Pruebas y Materiales (ASTM) asi como con el uso de protector facial. Participaron un total de 206 sujetos de una facultad de odontología, quienes respondieron un cuestionario de opción múltiple. Los participantes recibieron una invitación a través del correo institucional de la escuela a través de la plataforma Qualtrics. Se fabricaron marcos personalizados impresos en 3D para cada participante. Según su respuesta, los participantes se dividieron en 4 grupos: solo máscara (M), máscara y marco (MF), máscara y protector facial (MFS) y los 3 equipos de protección personal (MFFS). Los datos se analizaron en frecuencia absoluta y relativa. La aceptación de un marco personalizado impreso en 3D en el grupo MFFS varió entre ''pobre''/''muy pobre'' (44,7%). Permitió un ''buen'' desempeño de los procedimientos de rutina (40,3%), pero una ''mala'' calidad visual (48,1%). La tolerancia musculoesquelética y la facilidad para realizar movimientos fueron adecuadas. No hubo interferencia en la sensibilidad olfativa (44,7%) ni en la capacidad de respirar (34,5%). Finalmente, mostró "dolor moderado" (48,1%) en el oído y "sin dolor" (38,9%) en la cabeza. El marco personalizado impreso en 3D adaptado a las máscaras faciales quirúrgicas/ médicas de ASTM mostró una tolerancia razonable. Se observaron efectos secundarios de dolor de oído que variaron en grados. Estudios futuros deben evaluar la seguridad, la comodidad, efectos secundarios y los riesgos laborales del uso a largo plazo para este tipo de combinación. Para evitar los brotes recurrentes de COVID-19, es necesario el uso de equipamento personal de protección (EPP) por parte del público. El uso inadecuado de EPP es una fuente importante de preocupación para la salud humana y ambiental. La prevención de tales actividades se puede hacer siguiendo los pasos involucrados en la eliminación de EPP o obteniendo una nueva forma de reutilización, como mejorar el sellado periférico. Nuestro trabajo resalta que un marco personalizado puede mejorar la proteccion, sin afectos adversos.

A review on the performance testing for transport packages of pharmaceutical products / 中国药科大学学报

The transport packages are primarily developed for transportation and storage,whose capabilities directly affect the product qualities during the circulation.During pharmaceutical development,the domestic pharmacy enterprises tend to put emphasis on the inner packing,but neglect the potential hazard elements in the distribution cycles and performance tests for transport packages of pharmaceutical products,which ultimately result in the disregard of hidden quality peril.This paper analyzes the necessity and significance ofthe performance tests for pharmaceuticals,follow by its domestic and overseas status.And then several testing standards for transport packages,especially ASTM D4169 (Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems),are introduced in order to provide some suggestions of the performance testing for transport packages of pharmaceutical products.

Development of a new ferulic acid certified reference material for use in clinical chemistry and pharmaceutical analysis

This study compares the results of three certified methods, namely differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the mass balance (MB) method and coulometric titrimetry (CT), in the purity assessment of ferulic acid certified reference material (CRM). Purity and expanded uncertainty as determined by the three methods were respectively 99.81%, 0.16%; 99.79%, 0.16%; and 99.81%, 0.26% with, in all cases, a coverage factor (k) of 2 (P=95%). The purity results are consistent indicating that the combination of DSC, the MB method and CT provides a confident assessment of the purity of suitable CRMs like ferulic acid.

Determinación rppida y precisa del contenido dehidrógeno en mezclas de hidrocaarburos por rmn ¹h / Fast and precis determination of the hydrogen content in hydrocarbon mixtures by ¹h nmr / Determiaçâo rápiida e pecisa do conteúdo de hidrogênio em misturas de hidrocarbonetos por rmn de ¹h

Se presentan y discuten resultados de la determinación de hidrógeno en mezclas de hidrocarburos y de fracciones pesadas de petróleo por integración de las señales en sus espectros RMN ¹H de alta resolución. Los resultados muestran la posibilidad de cuantificar de manera rápida y precisa el hidrógeno en 37 fragmentos estructurales, además del hidrógeno total en la muestra, mediante aplicación de intervalos de integración unificados. A diferencia de los métodos publicados en la literatura, la determinación de hidrógeno es posible con menor cantidad de muestra en disolución, con corto tiempo de reciclado, d1, sin ajustes estrictos de temperatura ni adición de agente de relajación o uso de algún estándar de cuantificación externo.

The results from the quantification of hydrogen content in hydrocarbon mixtures and heavy petroleum fractions by integration of the signals in their high resolution ¹H NMR spectra are presented and discussed. The results show the possibility of fast and precise quantification of hydrogen in 37 structural fragments, in addition to the total hydrogen in the sample by application of unified integration intervals. In contrast to the literature procedures, the hydrogen measurement is possible with less amount of sample in solution, with low pre-scan times, d1, with no strict temperature control, without the addition of any relaxation agent, and avoiding the need of an external reference.

São apresentados e discutidos os resultados da determinação de hidrogênio em misturas de hidrocarbonetos e de frações pesadas de petróleo por integração dos sinais nos seus espectros de RMN de ¹H de alta resolução. Os resultados mostram a possibilidade de quantificar com rapidez e precisão o hidrogênio em 37 fragmentos estruturais, além do hidrogênio total na amostra, aplicando intervalos de integração unificados. Ao contrário dos métodos publicados na literatura, a determinação de hidrogênio é possível com uma quantidade menor de amostra em solução, com tempo de espera para reciclagem, d1, curto, sem ajustamento rigoroso da temperatura nem adição de agente de relaxação ou uso de algum padrão de quantificação externo.