Salicylic acid and some of its derivatives as antibacterial agents for viscose fabric.

Salicylic acid and three of its derivatives were used to provide antibacterial properties to viscose fabrics. The four bactericides used were bonded to the viscose fabrics using epichlorohydrin or polymer binders. Optimization of the salicylic acid and its derivatives as well as the concentration of polymers was reported. The ability of the polymer binders to attract and bind the four bactericides was observed. The overall results show that the antibacterial reactivity of salicylic acid and its derivatives are in the following order 5-bromosalicylic acid>salicylic acid>5-chlorosalicylic acid>4-chlorosalicylic acid. Using epichlorohydrin as a binding agent, unfortunately, inhibits the bactericidal activity of the four bactericides. The FTIR study concludes that the reaction between salicylic acid as well as its derivatives with epichlorohydrin takes place through the phenolic group of the acids. The unexpected deterioration in the bactericidal properties of salicylic acid and its derivatives as a result of the treatment with epichlorohydrin could be due to the nature of interaction between the epichlorohydrin molecule and the acids molecules. PVP and PU show superior ability to sustain the four bactericides used even after 10 washing cycles.

The eradication of poliomyelitis in Egypt: critical factors affecting progress to date.

Poliomyelitis eradication activities in Egypt were reviewed to identify the critical factors for the progress seen by 1995 and to highlight problems that could be avoided in other countries in which poliomyelitis is endemic. National immunization and surveillance data demonstrate that the combination of high routine immunization coverage (>85%) with oral polio vaccine combined with two properly conducted rounds of national immunization days (NIDs) resulted in a 75% reduction in reported polio cases between 1992 and 1993. Available data suggest that earlier control strategies, such as single-round NIDs in 1990 and 1991, the administration of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) at 2 months of age in 1992-1993, and the use of "mop-up" campaigns while wild poliovirus was still widespread, did not contribute substantially to the recent decline in cases. Proper implementation of the World Health Organization's recommended strategies can eliminate wild poliovirus circulation in the large, densely populated tropical countries in which poliomyelitis remains endemic.

The role of surveillance in a 'high risk' approach to the elimination of neonatal tetanus in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Despite an international resolution to eliminate neonatal tetanus (NT) as a public health problem by the year 1995, 490000 cases occurred worldwide in 1994. An analysis of the NT elimination programme in Egypt was conducted to determine the utility of a 'high risk' approach in controlling this disease. METHODS: Three of the indicators for identifying districts at high risk of NT were evaluated. NT rates, tetanus toxoid coverage (TT2+), and urban or rural status. The reduction in NT incidence from 1992 to 1994 was compared between those high risk districts (> or = 1 NT case/1000 live births in 1992) which did or did not conduct supplementary immunization (P = 0.035). RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, the strongest indicator of the NT risk in a district was the presence of > or = 1 case/1000 live births in the previous year (Rate ratios [RR] = 3.34 in 1993 and 3.07 in 1994, P < 0.001). The TT2+ coverage was not a reliable indicator of NT risk. Urban areas had a significantly lower risk than rural areas (RR = 0.62) in 1993 and 0.49 in 1994, P < 0.001). The decline in NT rates was greatest in the 'high risk' districts that conducted supplementary immunization in both 1993 and 1994. CONCLUSIONS: Although tetanus toxoid immunization of pregnant women will protect newborns from NT, TT2+ coverage calculated by the administrative method may not reflect a population's risk of NT. Surveillance data, however, can be used to identify areas where the ongoing risk NT is high. Conducting supplementary immunization in areas that are identified as 'high risk' on the basis of previous NT rates can significantly reduce the number of cases in subsequent years.

Utilization of charge-transfer complexation in the spectrophotometric determination of some monosaccharides through their osazone intermediates.

Monosaccharide osazones are utilized in the spectrophotometric determination of their parent compounds though charge-transfer complexation with two-electron acceptor reagents. The molar combining ratio and the optimum complexation conditions have been studied. The method has been used to analyse for glucose and fructose and in determining blood glucose.

Spectrophotometric analysis of mixtures of acetaminophen, salicylamide, and codeine phosphate in tablets.

A simple and accurate spectrophotometric procedure for the analysis of a mixture of acetaminophen, salicylamide, and codeine phosphate is described. Determination of the first 2 components depends on pH-induced differential spectral changes of their nitroso derivatives. The third component is assayed by the acid dye method. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to the analysis of laboratory-made and commercial tablets containing the ternary drug mixture.

Semimicro-titrimetric method for the determination of activity-concentration of heparin.

A semimicro-titrimetric method for the determination of heparin is developed. The method depends upon the determination of the sulphate content of the acid drolysate of heparin by adding an excess of barium chloride and back titration with standard sulphuric acid, using sodium rhodizonate as indicator. The method measures the biological activity of 10-50 mg of heparin, with a mean accuracy (p = 0.05) 99.73 +/-0.81%. Application of the proposed method for the determination of heparin in some pharmaceutical preparations is carried out by precipitation of the intact heparin molecule with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, ashing of the precipitate and determination of its sulphate content; alkaline and acid degradation products do not interfere with the proposed procedure.