Erbium-doped (Pb0.9-Er0.01-Zr0.09) and (Pb0.9-Er0.01-Zr0.045-Ti0.045) nano-crystalline films and nano-rods ceramic synthesis by sol-gel technique for energy-storage application.

The development of dielectric constant materials for energy storage applications is in high demand. Lead zirconate and lead zirconate titanate doping with erbium thin films and bulk-based devices with variant dielectric constant were created in this work. Pb(0.9)-Er0.01Zr(0.09) (PEZ) and Pb0.9-Er0.01-Zr0.045-Ti0.045 (PEZT) thin films were produced on a glass substrate using a sol-gel doctor blade technique at low temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electron diffraction (ED) were used to examine the structure of the produced nanocrystals. PEZ and PEZT films had nanocrystals that were 9.5 nm and 15 nm in size, respectively, whereas PEZ and PEZT bulk nano-rods had 455 ± 5 nm in length and 45 ± 1 nm in diameter. The TEM and XRD results were found to be completely consistent in terms of particle size. Ferroelectric properties and dielectric characteristics were found to be frequency dependent. Dielectric experiments revealed that the dielectric constant was decreasing for bulk samples compared to film samples. The energy-storage efficiency of PEZ films was roughly 66.01%, and 67.8% for PEZT. The residual polarization of the Er-doped PEZ and PEZT films was the highest, reaching 36.25 µC/cm2 and 69.79 µC/cm2, respectively, and the coercive fields were 43 kV/cm and 45.43 kV/cm, respectively. On the other hand, PEZ and PEZT bulk samples had residual polarizations of 27.15 µC/cm2 and 37.29 µC/cm2, respectively, while having coercive fields of 32.3 kV/cm and 39.3 kV/cm, respectively. It was found that (PEZ) and (PEZT) samples may have potential use in energy storage applications.

Analysis of two mixtures containing racetams in their pharmaceuticals using simple spectrophotometric methodologies.

BACKGROUND: Green spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for determination of some CNS active drugs as antiepileptics and brain stimulants. OBJECTIVE: Piracetam (PIR), Levetiracetam (LEV) and Brivaracetam (BRV) were assayed as a ternary mixture using double divisor-ratio spectra derivative (DDRSD) (method I). One more binary co-formulated mixture of Piracetam (PIR) and Vincamine (VIN) was assayed using difference spectrophotometric procedures (method II). METHOD: I was applied to determine PIR at 302nm in the first derivative of the ratio spectra in the selected spectral region. The content of LEV was determined by measuring the spectra at 215nm in the first derivative of the ratio spectra in the selected spectral region. The concentration of BRV was estimated by measuring the first derivative of the ratio spectra in the chosen spectral region and detecting the signals at 229.7nm. The application of method (II) procedures resulted in measuring the absorbance of PIR at 220nm which is the zero crossing point on the difference spectra of VIN in 0.1M NaOH vs. 0.1M HCl. Similarly, the absorbance of VIN was measured at 245.0nm, which is the zero crossing point on the difference spectra of PIR. RESULTS: The suggested methods were fully validated adopting ICH guidelines. The linearity ranged from 10-100µg/mL for the three racetams and from 2-20 for VIN. The recovery percentages were ranged from 98.72% to 101.8% for method I and from 98.13% to 101.06% for method II. Moreover, the proposed methods were proved environmentally benign using the most recent assessment tool named AGREE. CONCLUSION: Both procedures were successfully applied for the determination of each drug in bulk powder, checked using laboratory prepared mixtures, and directly applied on commercially available pharmaceutical products without interference. The obtained results revealed a good agreement with those obtained by the reported methods.

A versatile HPLC method with an isocratic single mobile phase system for simultaneous determination of anti-glaucoma formulations containing timolol.

Timolol is a non-cardioselective beta blocker and has different combined ophthalmic dosage forms for treatment of glaucoma. This research introduce an HPLC method for the separation of three drugs used in combination with timolol simultaneously by applying isocratic mobile phase system in a single run and the same detection wavelength with short time. The drugs included in the separation procedures are; dorzolamide, brinzolamide, and brimonidine. The HPLC method was carried out through a single mobile phase system, which contains acetonitrile: 0.05M phosphate buffer at the ratio of 30:70, respectively at pH 3.5 and wavelength of 220nm. The method, regarding its simplicity allows determination of the studied drugs simultaneously using single run in about 8minutes. The method was rectilinear in the ranges of concentration: 1.25-25µg/mL for timolol, 4-80µg/mL for dorzolamide, 5-50µg/mL for brinzolamide and 2-20µg/mL for brimonidine. Different factors affecting the separation are thoroughly studied. The developed method was validated based on the official guidelines and the results were compared statistically with previously published methods and showed non-significant difference.

Highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for rapid determination of orciprenaline in biological fluids and pharmaceuticals.

Orciprenaline sulphate (ORP) is a direct-acting sympathomimetic with mainly beta-adrenoceptor stimulant activity. It is used as a bronchodilator in the management of reversible airway obstruction. For the first time, a rapid highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric method is described that is relied on measuring the fluorescence spectra of ORP at acidic pH and without addition of any chemical reagents. The relative fluorescence intensity was measured at 310 nm and after excitation at 224 nm. ORP native fluorescence was calibrated in both water and acetonitrile as diluting solvents. The method was designed to estimate the drug in miscellaneous matrices with high accuracy and precision. Linear ranges of calibration curves were 30.0-400.0 ng/ml and 10.0-240.0 ng/ml in water and acetonitrile, respectively. The detection limits were calculated and reached as low as 3.3 and 3.1 ng/ml, respectively, representing the ultra-sensitivity of the proposed method. This result permitted application of this method for spiked human plasma and urine and was used as a preliminary investigation with good percentage recovery (89.4-106.8%). The application was further extended to analyse ORP in its pharmaceutical formulations. The method was validated in compliance with International Council of Harmonization (ICH) Guidelines.

Sensitive inexpensive spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric analysis of ezogabine, levetiracetam and topiramate in tablet formulations using Hantzsch condensation reaction.

Two highly sensitive, simple and selective spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric assays have been investigated for the analysis of ezogabine, levetiracetam and topiramate in their pure and in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The suggested methods depend on the condensation of the primary amino-groups in the three drugs with acetylacetone and formaldehyde according to Hantzsch reaction yielding highly fluorescent yellow colored dihydropyridine derivatives. The reaction products of ezogabine, levetiracetam and topiramate were measured spectrophotometrically at 418, 390 and 380nm or spectrofluorimetrically at λem/ex of 495/425nm, 490/415nm and 488/410nm, respectively. Various experimental conditions have been carefully studied to maximize the reaction yield. At the optimum reaction conditions, the calibration curves were rectilinear over the concentration ranges of 8-25, 60-180 and 80-200µg/mL spectrophotometrically and 0.02-0.2, 0.2-1.2 and 0.2-1.5µg/mL spectrofluorimetrically for ezogabine, levetiracetam and topiramate, respectively with good correlation coefficients. The suggested methods were applied successfully for the analysis of ezogabine, levetiracetam and topiramate in their commercial tablets with high percentage recoveries and negligible interference from various excipients in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The results were statistically analyzed and showed the absence of any significant difference between both developed and published methods. The procedures were validated and evaluated by the ICH guidelines revealing good reproducibility and accuracy. Therefore, the two proposed methods may be considered of high interest for practical and reliable analysis of ezogabine, levetiracetam and topiramate in pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Improving medication adherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a pilot study.

The aim of this exploratory pilot study was to adapt a psychological intervention to improve adherence to medication for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The approach draws on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques, including motivational interviewing . The current study aimed to (i) adapt the intervention for patients with RA, (ii) assess its effectiveness in improving adherence to medication and (iii) evaluate patients' experience of the intervention. Participants were randomly allocated to either the 'intervention group' (N = 10), receiving up to six weekly sessions of 'Compliance Therapy', or to the 'wait-list control' group (N = 8), who received standard care. Data was collected pre intervention (baseline), post intervention and at six weeks post intervention (follow-up). Eighteen female participants with a mean age of 48.78 years (SD 15.12) took part in the study. Comparisons across the two time points for each group found that only those in the 'intervention' group demonstrated significant improvement in mean scores on adherence measures. Between-group comparisons were not significant. The pilot study suggests that an intervention based on CBT may improve adherence in patients with RA, but further research is required.

Simultaneous determination of desloratadine and montelukast sodium using second-derivative synchronous fluorescence spectrometry enhanced by an organized medium with applications to tablets and human plasma.

A rapid, simple, and sensitive second-derivative synchronous fluorimetric method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of a binary mixture of desloratadine (DSL) and montelukast sodium (MKT) in their co-formulated tablets. The method is based on measurement of the synchronous fluorescence intensities of the two drugs in McIlvaine's buffer, pH 2.3, in the presence of carboxy methyl cellulose sodium (CMC) as a fluorescence enhancer at a constant wavelength difference (Δλ) of 160 nm. The presence of CMC enhanced the synchronous fluorescence intensity of DSL by 216% and that of MKT by 28%. A linear dependence of the concentration on the amplitude of the second derivative synchronous fluorescence spectra was achieved over the ranges of 0.10-2.00 and 0.20-2.00 µg/mL with limits of detection of 0.02 and 0.03, and limits of quantification of 0.05 and 0.10 µg/mL for DSL and MKT, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the studied compounds in laboratory-prepared mixtures and tablets. The results were in good agreement with those obtained with the comparison method. The high sensitivity attained by the proposed method allowed the determination of MKT in spiked human plasma with average % recovery of 100.11 ± 2.44 (n = 3).

Intracranial haemorrhage is linked to late onset vitamin K deficiency in infants aged 2-24 weeks.

AIM: Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) can be serious and manifest as early onset intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). This study aimed to determine the frequency of ICH in relation to vitamin K deficiency and the outcome in infants aged two to 24 weeks. METHOD: A hospital-based study was conducted in two main tertiary hospitals in Cairo, Egypt, from May 2011 to May 2012 with 40 patients with ICH and 50 age-matched controls without ICH. RESULTS: Forty patients with ICH were recruited, 19 were excluded for clinical reasons and the remaining 21 had a significantly low vitamin K level. Exclusive breast feeding (81% of patients), diarrhoea lasting more than 1 week (38.1%) and antibiotic consumption within a week before the development of ICH (57.1%) were more common in the patients than in the control group (p value>0.05, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: A high frequency of ICH due to late VKDB was reported in Egyptian infants aged two to 24 weeks, with poorer outcomes than international studies. A national survey is required to evaluate the timing and protective value of a second booster vitamin K dose to reduce ICH, especially in high-risk patients in this age group.

Effect of chronic diseases of lifestyle knowledge on readiness for change among long-distance microbus drivers in Giza, Egypt.

Commercial drivers suffer from sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition and numerous stressors that can impact their health. This study aimed to assess the health lifestyle risk level of microbus drivers in Giza, Egypt, and to compare their level of readiness for change with their knowledge about chronic diseases of lifestyle, before and after an educational intervention. Data were collected from 235 long-distance microbus drivers via a health lifestyle assessment questionnaire, pre-post-tests of a health education module, and the readiness for change questionnaire. The majority of drivers had high risk scores in the eating habits, exercises/fitness and safety sections. A highly significant difference was found in chronic diseases of lifestyle knowledge scores and in readiness for change scores before and after the intervention. A positive correlation was found between readiness for change and knowledge pre- and post-intervention. Further studies are needed of barriers for drivers to change their health lifestyles.

Clinico-pathological profile of acute promyelocytic leukaemia at Al-Amal Oncology-Haematology Centre, Qatar.

This cases series describes the profile of adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APt) at a referral hospital in Qatar. Of 34 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases diagnosed, 11(32%) were classified as APt. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was common at presentation (91%). Severe thrombocytopenia was seen in 73%, leukocytosis in 55% and severe anaemia in 45%. Only 2 patients were of the classic hypergranular type. In the remaining 9 patients, 3 morphological subtypes were recognized: microgranular variant (6 patients), hyperbasophilic (2 patients) and regular nuclear outline M3r (1 patient). Translocation t(15;17) was detected in 63% of cases. APL constitutes a high proportion of AML cases in Qatar, with considerable morphological heterogeneity and a oredominance of APL variants with unfavourable oresenting features.

Clinico-pathological profile of acute promyelocytic leukaemia at Al-Amal oncology-haematology centre, Qatar

This cases series describes the profile of adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia [APL] at a referral hospital in Qatar of 34 acute myeloid leukaemia [AML] cases diagnosed, 11 [32%] were classified as APL. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was common at presentation [91%]. Severe thrombocytopenia was seen in 73%, leukocytosis in 55% and severe anaemia in 45%. Only 2 patients were of the classic hypergranular type. In the remaining 9 patients, 3 morphological subtypes were recognized: microgranular variant [6 patients], hyperbasophilic [2 patients] and regular nuclear outline M3r [1 patient]. Translocation t[15;17] was detected in 63% of cases. APL constitutes a high proportion of AML cases in Qatar, with considerable morphological heterogeneity and a predominance of APL variants with unfavourable presenting features

Kinetic determination of acarbose and miglitol in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations using alkaline potassium permanganate.

A simple and sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method was established for the determination of acarbose and miglitol in bulk and in their pharmaceutical preparations using alkaline potassium permanganate as an oxidizing agent. The method involves determination of acarbose and miglitol by kinetic studies of their oxidation at room temperature for a fixed time of 15 minutes for acarbose and 25 minutes for miglitol. The absorbance of the colored manganate ion was measured at 610 nm. Alternatively, the kinetic decrease in the absorbance of permanganate upon addition of the studied drugs at 525 nm was also used. The absorbance concentration plot was rectilinear over the concentration range of 4-20 and 1-10 µg/ml for acarbose and miglitol, respectively. The detection limits were 0.189 and 0.089 µg/ml at 610 nm and 0.081 and 0.179 µg/ml at 525 nm for acarbose and miglitol respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination of these drugs in their dosage forms. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained with the reference methods.

Character development in adolescents.

This study explored the effects of a program consisting of communication and counseling skills, assertiveness training and moral dilemmas on the character development, i.e., moral reasoning, ego development, and assertiveness of high school students. It was hypothesized that exposure to the experimental treatment would enhance the character development of high school students. Fifty-four high school seniors enrolled in three psychology classes were assigned randomly to two treatment groups and one control group. Assessment instruments were the Defining Issues Test, to measure moral reasoning, the Washington University Sentence Completion Test, to measure ego development, and the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, to measure assertiveness. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine significant differences between control and treatment posttest means with respect to the dependent variables--moral reasoning, ego development, and assertiveness. The results demonstrated that the character development of the students in the experimental treatment group was affected significantly over time by the program.

DC polarographic assay of piperazines.

Piperazine, piperazine salts, and piperazine-containing compounds, e.g., diethylcarbamazine and piperazine theophylline, are determined by direct current polarography of the corresponding nitroso-derivative. The nitroso-derivative exhibits a well defined cathodic wave at -0.8 V vs SCE. The plot of peak height vs concentration is rectilinear between 1.6 X 10(-5) and 19.2 X 10(-5) M. Recoveries from bulk drugs were 97.7-101.12% with a standard deviation of 2.14-3.44. The procedure was successfully applied to analysis of drug content in representative dosage forms with good accuracy.

Spectrophotometric determination of piperazine and its salts in pharmaceuticals.

A spectrophotometric determination of piperazine and some of its salts is described. The method depends on the UV measurement of the N-nitroso derivatives formed by the interaction of piperazine with nitrous acid. The chromophore is developed by heating the reaction mixture at 80 degrees C for 15 min, at pH 2.3--2.6. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 1--15 micrograms/mL.