Patients' attitudes towards using a question prompt list in community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' usage rate and perceived usefulness and benefits of a question prompt list (QPL) when collecting prescribed medication in community pharmacies. METHODS: Data were collected in Swedish pharmacies using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with patients. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used, and the outcomes were usage rate, factors impacting on use, and perceived ease of use, usefulness, and benefits of self-reported question-asking and self-perceived medication knowledge. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons were performed, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically with the TAM. RESULTS: Out of 145 patients filling out the questionnaire, 72 (50.0%) reported they had used the QPL. Patients with new prescriptions and non-native Swedish speakers used the QPL more often (p = 0.03; p = 0.009, respectively). The QPL was quick to read (86.3%) and easy to understand (91.4%). Forty percent stated that they asked more questions, and self-reported users scored higher on self-perceived medication knowledge. In the interviews (n = 14), the QPL was described as an eye-opener as to what one could ask the pharmacist. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were willing to use a QPL in community pharmacies. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A QPL in pharmacies might improve patients' engagement medication knowledge, as well as showcase the expertise of pharmacists.

Bio-based thermosetting epoxy foam: Tannic acid valorization toward dye-decontaminating and thermo-protecting applications.

Bio-resourced thermosetting epoxy foam was synthesized from tannic acid toward two different applications e.g., dye-decontaminating and thermo-insulating. Epoxidized tannic acid (ETA) foam was produced without using of organic volatile compounds or flammable foaming gases. The foam density, thermal conductivity and closed-cell content were studied. Besides, TGA showed high char yield (49% in N2 and 48.3% in air) at 600 °C accompanied by high LOI (37.1 in N2 and 36.8 in air). The high thermo-stability and intumescent char yield along with low thermal conductivity recommends the foam suitability for being used as an insulating material. Additionally, sorption of methylene blue onto ETA foam was kinetically investigated. The study of contact time, ionic strength, solution pH, initial sorbate concentration and desorption revealed the dependency of the sorption process to pH and initial sorbate concentration. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.997), yielding maximum sorption capacity of 36.25 mg/g (ETA foam = 0.05 g, pH = 7, MB concentration = 50 ppm, Volume = 25 mL). The kinetic data verified that MB sorption could be represented by the pseudo second-order model. Overall, the ETA foam can be introduced as a candidate for removing cationic pollutants, thermal insulator, and self-extinguishing/intumescent materials.

Comparative life history and fecundity of Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on leaves and tubers of different potato cultivars.

The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a noxious pest of the potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.) in both field and storage in tropical and subtropical regions. Survival, development and reproduction of the potato tuberworm was compared on leaves and tubers of 10 common cultivated potato cultivars including Agria, Agata, Almera, Arinda, Baneba, Fiana, Marfona, Ramus, Satina, and Volvox at 25 +/- 1 degree C, 65 +/- 5% RH and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the larval, pupal, and total developmental periods on the various potato cultivars. The total developmental periods varied from 26.6 (on Baneba) to 29.5 d (on Marfona),and ranged from 27.9 (on Marfona) to 30.5 d (on Agria) in the experiments on potato leaves and tubers, respectively. Immature survival rates were lowest on Agria (44.1%) and Marfona (40.6%) on potato leaves and tubers, respectively. The highest total fecundity was observed on Arinda (78.3 eggs) and Ramus (154.8 egg) on potato leaves and tubers, respectively. Significantly fewer eggs were laid on Marfona cultivar's leaves (44.6 eggs) and tubers (72.9 eggs) than any of the other tested potato cultivars. The female reproduction potential on potato leaves was significantly lower than on potato tubers. Cluster analysis of the biological parameters of P. operculella on different potato cultivars demonstrated that Marfona is partially resistant to potato tuberworm. The findings on the susceptibility or resistance of potato cultivars could be a fundamental component of integrated pest management programs for potato tuberworm.

Determination of some phenolic compounds in Crocus sativus L. corms and its antioxidant activities study.

It is well known that phenolic compounds are constituents of many plants. In this study, the total phenolics content in Crocus sativus L. corms in dormancy and waking stages were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after silylation by N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl trifluroacetamide (MSTFA) + %1 trimethyl iodosilane (TMIS). Numerous compounds were detected and 11 compounds were identified. The highest phenolics content in waking corms was observed for gentisic acid (5.693 ± 0.057 µg/g) and the lowest for gallic acid (0.416 ± 0.006 µg/g); also these two phenolic compounds are the highest (0.929 ± 0.015 µg/g) and lowest (0.017 ± 0.001 µg/g) phenolics in dormant corms, respectively. The results from quantization and GC-MS analysis showed a high concentration of phenolic compounds in waking corms than the dormant stage. Furthermore, the radical scavenging activities of saffron corms were studied by 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test and EC (50)values were determined about 2055 ppm and 8274 ppm for waking and dormant corms, respectively.

Establishment of a cell line expressing recombinant factor VII and its subsequent conversion to active form FVIIa through hepsin by genetic engineering method.

BACKGROUND: Factor VII (FVII) is a plasma glycoprotein that participates in the coagulation process leading to generation of fibrin. It is converted to factor VIIa that plays an important role in the coagulation cascade. The aim of this study was isolating and cloning the genes of human factor VII and hepsin and subsequent co-transfection of the constructs to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line to obtain rFVIIa. METHODS: Factor VII and hepsin cDNAs were isolated from HepG2 cell line and cloned into pcDNA3.1 (+) vector. The constructs were co-transfected to CHO cell line. A cell line that permanently expressed recombinant factor VII (rFVII) and hepsin was established. The expression of rFVII was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. Biological activity of rFVII was evaluated by prothrombin time assay. RESULTS: The results showed that the genes of FVII and hepsin were successfully cloned and expressed. Stable CHO cells co-transfected with pcNDA3.1-FVII and pcNDA3.1-hepsin expressed FVII and hepsin mRNA, but there was no expression in the CHO cells transfected with insert free pcDNA3.1. FVIIa protein was secreted to medium of CHO cells co-transfected with pcNDA3.1-FVII and pcNDA3.1-hepsin. The expected band of rFVII was detected in Western blot analysis. A three- to fourfold decrease in clotting time was observed when human FVII-depleted plasma was used in combination with human thromboplastin in the presence of rFVII, confirming the biological activity of rFVII. CONCLUSION: As we are aware, this is the first report of establishing a cell line expressing FVIIa using genetic engineering methods.

Denaturation of jack-bean urease by sodium n-dodecyl sulphate: a kinetic study below the critical micelle concentration.

Kinetics of urease denaturation by anionic surfactant (sodium n-dodecyl sulphate, SDS) at concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is investigated spectrophotometrically at neutral pH and the corresponding two-phase kinetic parameters of the process are estimated from a three-state reversible process using a binomial exponential relation based on the relaxation time method as: Using a prepared computer program, the experimental data are properly fitted into a binomial exponential relation, considering a two-phase denaturation pathway including a kinetically stable folded intermediate formed at SDS concentration of 1.1 mM. Forward and backward rate constants are estimated as: k(1)=0.2141+/-4.5 x 10(-3), k(2)=5.173 x 10(-3)+/-8.3 x 10(-5), k(-1)=0.09432+/-3.6 x 10(-4) and k(-2)=2.079 x 10(-3)+/-5.6 x 10(-5)s(-1) for the proposed mechanism. The rate-limiting step as well as the reaction coordinates in the denaturation mechanism are established. The mechanism involves formation of a kinetically stable folded native like intermediate through the electrostatic interactions. The intermediate was found to be more stable even than the native form (by about 9 kJmol(-1)) and still hexamer, because no loss of amplitude was observed. Electrophoresis experiments on the native and surfactant/urease complexes indicated a higher mobility for the kinetically folded native like intermediate.