Postmarketing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic equivalence of generic and brand atenolol in Egypt

Concerns have raised regarding the postmarketing quality of generic drugs. This study assessed the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic equivalence of generic and brand atenolol tablets in 24 healthy male volunteers in a single-dose, open, randomized, two-period crossover study under fasting conditions. Blood samples were collected for 24 h post dosing and assayed for atenolol using HPLC. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at baseline and throughout blood sampling. The mean plasma concentration-time curves for both products were similar. Pharmacokinetic and statistical analysis indicated bioequivalence based on the mean ratios of log-transformed Cmax and AUC values. Both products had similar time courses of pharmacodynamic activity with a significant fall in blood pressure and heart rate [maximum after 5 h] followed by a gradual increase towards baseline. Both products were well tolerated. Both atenolol products were bioequivalent in the postmarketing setting and can be used interchangeably in clinical practice

Epidemiology and hazards of student labour in Mansoura, Egypt

To determine the prevalence of student labour, underlying causes and impacts, we carried out a cross - sectional study on 1293 students enrolled in government secondary schools in Mansoura. Year - round work was reported by 8.6% of students and summer work by 27.5%. The majority worked for > / = 6 hours/ day. Lower social status, attending vocational school, male sex, large family size and rural residence were significant predictors of student labour. Hazards at the workplace, injuries and corporal punishment were prevalent among working students. Work adversely affected education and social life. Contribution to family income was the main reason for working

Effect of different hysterectomy techniques on tzhe bladder function

This prospective study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different hysterectomy techniques on the bladder function as a reservoir. This study was carried out in the period from May 1999 and August 2000. Fifty attendants were included in the study. The age range of the patients was 43-70 years with a mean of 48 +/- 8.5 years. Preoperative routine investigations and cystometry were done for all patients. The patients were classified into three groups according to the operative procedure done: Group 1: 20 patients were included for whom simple total abdominal hysterectomy was done. Group I116 patients were included for whom subtotal abdominal hysterectomy was done. Group III 14 patients were included for whom vaginal hysterectomy was done. 40% of all patients presented with pelviabdominal mass, cystometry was done for all patients before and after the operation, it showed increase in the bladder compliance to a significant level at first desire in group I. In Group II, there was insignificant increase in bladder compliance. In Group III, there was a significant decrease in the postoperative bladder compliance so we conclude that simple total abdominal hysterectomy is the procedure of choice for all women presenting with an indication for abdominal hysterectomy and it should not be replaced by subtotal hysterectomy because it has no negative effect on bladder function

critical approach to the quality control testing of herbal medicine

In the past few decades synthetic drugs have been condemned for causing many adverse reactions. This was the reason for the call back to nature for medication and the revival of the use of herbal medicines. Plant materials are used throughout developed and developing countries as home remedies, over the counter drug products, and as raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Today about eighty% of the world population relies on herbal medicines. Literature survey survey suggests that herbal remedies are not without problems. This caused a growing concern in the scientific community about potential hazards of herbal products in view of the lack of or inadequate quality assurance testing available for such products prior to their use by the consumer. Internationally recognized guidelines for the assessment of the quality of such products were suggested by a number of international health authorities. The present review is aimed at providing a summary of our present knowledge of the problem. The quality parameters of a dosage from [namely safety, efficacy and maintenance of stability during the shelf life of the product] as relevant to the quality assurance of a herbal product are critically discussed. Strategies for registration of herbal medicines to safeguard the consumer are presented

Factors affecting the emulsification capacity of some legume flours

The ability of peas, beans and faba bean flours to emulsify corn oil was studied under various experimental conditions. The emulsification capacity of these legume flours was the highest at 1% protein concentration. The emulsification capacity vs pH profile resembled a typical protein solubility curve. Also, the emulsification capacity of bean flour was higher than those of faba bean and peas flours. Emulsification capacity increased by the addition of sucrose [up to 15%] and low concentration of sodium chloride [0 - 0.4 M]. Less amount of oil was emulsified at higher mixing speed. Olive oil had the lowest emulsification capacity. The oil addition rates did not affect the emulsification capacity

Microleakage around cemented full crowns and its relationship to the dental pulp

Fifteen sound or with small restoration recently extracted mandibular first molar were collected and kept in 0.9% physiologic saline solution changed every 12 hours. All teeth were prepared with shoulder finishing line to receive full cast metal crowns. Direct wax pattern, investing, casting of these crowns with non precious alloy were prepared after investment, crowns sand blasted and cemented with glass ionomers cement according to the manufacturer's direction. The metal crown cemented on extracted tooth and put under static load of 5 kg for 20 minutes

Interfacial bonding of CO-CR cast on 18/8 stainless steel rod

Trails were carried out to cast cobalt chromium base alloys containing 60-65% Co and 25-27% Cr around 18/8 stainless steel rods. The microstructure of the as-cast alloys was studied to investigate grain size, morphology and distribution of the phases present. The as-cast specimens were annealed at 1400C, 1200C and 1000C. Three different times [10, 24 and 48 hours] were used at each annealing temperature. The interfaces between the Co-Cr/st. steel were examined after each step during the annealing process. Diffusion was occurred along the interfaces especially at high temperatures and this lead to a better adhesion between the two alloys along the interface

Effect of light versus chemically cured resin cements on fitness of HI-ceram crowns

In this research a comparison of fitness of Hi-ceram crowns on metal dies with using two types of composite resin cement one activated by light and the other was chemically cured and then the fitness of the crowns was remeasured to get the difference. The use of light cure composite resin cement give better results as regard fitness of Hi- ceram crowns

Effect of cast metal post configuration and tooth preparation design on fracture resistance of endodontically treated single rooted teeth with intact or mutilated coronal portion

The effect of cast metal post configuration and two different root face tooth preparation designs on fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth with either intact or mutilated coronal portion were investigated on this study. Ninety one extracted mandibular second premolars were carefully selected to be used in the study. Four post designs were compared: The serrated parallel sided, the smooth parallel sided, the tapered and the widely diverged posts. The posts and cores were cast from nickel chromium non precious alloy. Fixed length and diameter for all the root canal preparations were considered. Special drillers were used to standardize the root canal channels for every post design. Ready made plastic posts were used to standardize the post configuration for every design. Two different root face designs either beveled or non beveled were used for the mutilated teeth. All the samples were restored by full coverage cast metal crowns before testing. Specially designed copper cylindrical container were constructed to fix the samples roots in acrylic resin root block. A special rigid copper split matrix was constructed to help in construction of the core portions in a standardized manner. Compressive load was applied upon the samples using universal testing machine and the peak failure load and the mode of fracture was recorded for every sample. Statistical analysis of the results was done. All the tested designs except the widely diverged posts statically posses the same reinforcement effect upon intact or the mutilated endodontically treated single rooted teeth. The beveled root faced preparation increase the fracture resistance of the restored teeth compared with the non beveled tooth design. The widely diverged root canals was contraindicated as it produce weakening to the root portion

psychological study of young Egyptian women with primary dysmenorrhea

This work was designed to provide a psychological study of a group of patients with primary dysmenorrhea and to evaluate the efficacy of using prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor alone or with psychological treatment in managing such patients. Results revealed that personality make up is an important determinate of pain experience. Dysmenorrheic patients scored significantly higher than controls in hypochondriasis and hysteria scores of MMPI and neuroticism, extraversion scales of EPQ. Psychotherapy is proved to be significantly helpful in alleviating dysmenorrhea when used with antiprostaglandin drugs rather than alone

Psychological sequelae of wearing lower limb orthosis in children

In this work, we tried to know the extent of behavioral disorders among children with lower limb disability and whether it is higher among children aided by a lower limb orthosis or those unaided. We also tried to find out whether this difference was growing with increase of the severity of the disability or not. Two groups of children with chronic poliomyelitis of lower limbs were chosen, each consists of 30. In the first group they were aided by orthosis, while the other were unaided. Different psychological disturbances were studied and discussed in the study

Preliminary evaluation of laser trabeculoplasty as a treatment for primary open angle glaucoma

Twenty patients with bilateral long standing primary open angle glaucoma received treatment of argon laser trabeculoplasty, after unsuccessful medical treatment, inspite of using the maximum antiglaucoma measures. The procedure is easy, immediate rise of I.O.P. after it is 2-3 mm Hg, No iritis or pain in the eye is elicited. Eyes with I.O.P. less than 30 mm Hg respond better while those eyes with I.O.P. above 30 mm Hg the response is minimal

Trepanotrabeculectomy as a surgical management of primary open angle glaucoma

Thirty nine eyes out of 416 eyes which were diagnosed as primary open angle glaucoma were operated upon using the trepanetrabeculectomy technique. Assessment off intraocular pressure, visual field and fundus changes were done before and after

Aetiology, pathology and management of unilateral proptosis

Retrospective study of causes of unilateral proptosis over the last 8 years was done. Twenty four cases were found, 13 males and 11 females. Four cases were diagnosed as Graves disease two cases of orbital cellulites six case had benign tumours of the orbit five cases with intraocular tumours, one case of rhabdomyosarcoma, and six cases of benign and malignant paranasal sinus swellings Clinical, radiological, computed tomography and pathological studies after excision were done. Medical and surgical managements were performed

Parkinson's disease visuoperceptive disabilities and cognitive deficits

Visuoperceptive disabilities in twenty right-handed patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease [PD] were tested. No significant difference was found in the patients using the WAIS performance subtest. Although insignificant, yet individual scoring of patients with PD showed that there are difficulties in visual motor coordination and performance conceptualization. These difficulties might underline the mental rigidity and inflexibility of PD

Induction of physical dependence by ethanol intoxication in rats

The most dangerous characteristic of alcohol is the ease with which it induces dependence in the regular drinkers. The present study tested the hypothesis that a continuously sustained elevation of relatively high blood ethanol concentrations by forced intragastric administration for only a few days may prove adequate, and is an essential condition for rapid inducation of physical dependence upon ethanol in rats. It also describes the signs and reactions of ethanol detoxication phase and dependence phase of the withdrawal period. Rats were treated by intragastric intubation of a 20% ethanol solution in doses of 9-15 g/kg in 3-5 fractions for 16 days. Both tolerance and physical dependence were demonstrated after this treatment with the maximum tolerable doses to only a few days. Tolerance was assessed by signs of severity of intoxication. During withdrawal, as blood ethanol concentrations approached 100mg/dl the ethanol dependence phase was characterized by the onset of signs and responses of progressive severity. A significant degree of tolerance was demonstrated for all signs of intoxication after 4 days of treatment. The severity of the withdrawal reactions intensified progressively to a maximum intensity after 4 days of treatment. These different time courses suggest that tolerance and physical dependence are mediated through different mechanisms

Tear immunoglobulins in external eye diseases

The role of tear immunoglobulins [Ig's] in the normal physiology of the eye and pathogenisis of various eye diseases has been under investigation. Estimation of tear immunoglobulins in 7 normal cases and in 31 cases suffered from, mucopurulant conjunctivitis, phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers were performed using the "Single radial immunodiffusion technique]. Studies of tear Ig's have established the predominance of IgA class over the others. The average normal IgA was 30.8 mg%, lgG was absent and IgM was detected in one sample [less than 10.0 mg%]. In external eye diseases IgA was reduced, whereas IgA appeared to be less than 10.0 mg% and IgM was only high in phlyctenular dilsease [138.18 mg%]