Analytical Test Research Articles

Effectiveness of the flipped classroom method using clinical scenarios and Educational Technology versus Subject-Based Lectures in a gastrointestinal physiology course for medical students

BackgroundMedical education is evolving towards more practical, active, effective, and student-centered approaches that address the limitations of traditional lecture methods. Recently, the flipped classroom method has been considered to support these reforms. However, research on the use of flipped classroom methods in medical education, particularly related to clinical scenarios and educational technology, is still in its early stages. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the flipped classroom method using clinical scenarios and educational technology versus subject-based lectures in the course of gastrointestinal physiology for medical students.MethodsA total of 60 medical students participated in this study. The control group (n = 30) received traditional subject-based lectures and participated in question-and-answer sessions. The intervention group (n = 30) received non-attendance educational content and participated in small group discussions based on clinical scenarios. Course satisfaction was measured using an 18-item questionnaire, and learning outcomes were assessed with a 20-question multiple-choice test, corresponding to levels 1 and 2 of Kirkpatrick’s model. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical tests with SPSS software version 24.ResultsThe findings indicated that the post-test scores in the intervention group were significantly higher compared to the control group. However, according to the student satisfaction questionnaire, satisfaction was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the flipped classroom method, compared to traditional lectures, improved the learning and performance of medical students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in the course of gastrointestinal physiology.

Development of a Fit-For-Purpose Multi-Marker Panel for Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) suffers from a lack of an effective diagnostic method, which hampers improvement in patient survival. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is the only FDA-approved blood biomarker for PDAC, yet its clinical utility is limited due to suboptimal performance. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has emerged as a burgeoning technology in clinical proteomics for the discovery, verification, and validation of novel biomarkers. A plethora of protein biomarker candidates for PDAC have been identified using LC-MS, yet few has successfully transitioned into clinical practice. This translational standstill is owed partly to insufficient considerations of practical needs and perspectives of clinical implementation during biomarker development pipelines, such as demonstrating the analytical robustness of proposed biomarkers which is critical for transitioning from research-grade to clinical-grade assays. Moreover, the throughput and cost-effectiveness of proposed assays ought to be considered concomitantly from the early phases of the biomarker pipelines for enhancing widespread adoption in clinical settings. Here, we developed a fit-for-purpose multi-marker panel for PDAC diagnosis by consolidating analytically robust biomarkers as well as employing a relatively simple LC-MS protocol. In the discovery phase, we comprehensively surveyed putative PDAC biomarkers from both in-house data and prior studies. In the verification phase, we developed a multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM)-MS-based proteomic assay using surrogate peptides that passed stringent analytical validation tests. We adopted a high-throughput protocol including a short gradient (<10min) and simple sample preparation (no depletion or enrichment steps). Additionally, we developed our assay using serum samples, which are usually the preferred biospecimen in clinical settings. We developed predictive models based on our final panel of 12 protein biomarkers combined with CA19-9, which showed improved diagnostic performance compared to using CA19-9 alone in discriminating PDAC from non-PDAC controls including healthy individuals and patients with benign pancreatic diseases. A large-scale clinical validation is underway to demonstrate the clinical validity of our novel panel.

Contraceptive behaviors and awareness in an urban slum community of south India

Objective: To assess the factors associated with knowledge, attitude and behavior of contraception use among urban slum population in Chennai. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban slum of Anakaputhur, Chennai. Married couples between ages of 19-49 years and living in slum areas were taken up for the study by simple random sampling. Pregnant women, postnatal and postmenopausal women were excluded from the study. Data collection was done using a pretested structured questionnaire focusing on details regarding contraception knowledge, attitude, and practices. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 22. Analytical test like Chi square and odds ratio (OR) were used to identify association between knowledge, attitude, and behavior of contraception with the associated variables and enter method of logistic regression analysis was done. Results: Out of the 360 respondents, 228 were females, with a mean age of (34±5) years. Approximately 43% demonstrated adequate knowledge of contraception use, and 91% were aware of at least one contraceptive method. Notably, 72% exhibited a positive attitude towards contraceptive use. Nevertheless, 43% (155 individuals) did not utilize any contraceptive method. Among contraceptive users, intrauterine devices were the most commonly adopted, followed by barrier methods and female sterilization. There was significant association between knowledge of contraception and education (aOR 7.29, 95% CI 2.93-18.10, P&lt;0.05), age (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.193.50, P&lt;0.05) and socioeconomic class (aOR 3.66, 95% CI 1.71-7.85, P&lt;0.05; aOR 3.97, 95% CI 2.12-7.49, P&lt;0.05). Regarding attitude towards contraception use, education (aOR 8.54, 95% CI 2.35-31.03, P&lt;0.05), sex (aOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.06-0.37, P&lt;0.05), age (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28-0.99, P&lt;0.05), socio-economic class (aOR 4.42, 95% CI 1.97-9.92, P&lt;0.05; aOR 9.83, 95% CI 3.63-26.58, P&lt;0.05) and number of children (aOR 10.04, 95% CI 4.26-23.66, P&lt;0.05) were the variables that had a significant association. Conclusions: These findings underscore the imperative for enhanced dissemination of health education pertaining to contraception use within the slum population. The health sectors of the area and other stakeholders need to make sure to extend penetration of family planning related services to the urban slum population.

A parallel variable-fidelity algorithm for efficient constrained multi-objective aerodynamic design optimization

Modern aerodynamic design optimization aims to discover optimal configurations using computational fluid dynamics under complex flow conditions, which is a typical expensive multi-objective optimization problem. The multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D) combined with efficient global optimization is a promising method but requires enhanced efficiency and faces limitations in its application to multi-objective aerodynamic design optimization (MOADO). To address the issues, an efficient parallel MOEA/D assisted with variable-fidelity optimization (VFO) is proposed for solving MOADO, called the MOEA/D-VFO algorithm. Variable-fidelity surrogates are built for objectives and constraints, achieving higher accuracy using fewer high-fidelity samples and a great number of low-fidelity samples. By retaining more good candidates, the sub-optimization problems defined by decomposing original objectives are capable of discovering more favorable samples using MOEA/D, which prompts optimization convergence. A constraint-handling strategy is developed by incorporating the probability of feasibility functions in the sub-optimizations. The selection of new samples for parallel evaluation is improved by filtering out poor candidates and selecting effective promising samples, which improves the feasibility and diversity of solved Pareto solutions. A Pareto front (PF) can be efficiently found in a single optimization run. The proposed approach is demonstrated by four analytical test functions and verified by two aerodynamic design optimizations of airfoils with and without constraints, respectively. The results indicate that the MOEA/D-VFO approach can greatly improve optimization efficiency and obtain the PF satisfying constraints within an affordable computational budget.

The Relationship of Bullying Behavior and Social Interaction in School-Age Children at SDN 22 Jambi City

The problem that is currently widespread in education circles is bullying. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated that Indonesia is ranked first in the position of bullying cases in ASEAN with 84% confirmed in 2023, and according to data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Bullying cases are quite a worrying issue in the school environment. Data records that there will be at least 1,478 cases of bullying reported in 2023. Bullying makes it difficult for children to interact well in their social environment and this can hinder the child's development process. This research was conducted to identify the relationship between bullying behavior and social interactions in school-age children at SDN 22, Jambi City. The research method used was quantitative research using a cross sectional approach. The research population was students of SDN 22 Jambi City grades IV, V, VI, totaling 103 samples taken using total sampling techniques. This research uses a questionnaire instrument. The analytical test used is Spearman Rho. The results of the research show that generally the bullying behavior data is in the low category of 96 respondents (93.2%) and most social interactions are in the good category of 80 respondents (77.7%). The test results obtained were (p 0.01&lt;0.05). The conclusion is that there is a relationship between bullying behavior and social interaction in school-age children at SDN 22 Jambi City. It is hoped that the results of the research will be used as material for consideration by schools in providing guidance and counseling support services, so that students can understand the limits of social interaction.

Towards Sustainable Packaging Using Microbial Cellulose and Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Bagasse.

The high consumption of packaging has led to a massive production of waste, especially in the form of nonbiodegradable polymers that are difficult to recycle. Microbial cellulose is considered a biodegradable, low-cost, useful, ecologically correct polymer that may be joined with other biomaterials to obtain novel characteristics and can, therefore, be used as a raw material to produce packaging. Bagasse, a waste rich in plant cellulose, can be reprocessed and used to produce and reinforce other materials. Based on these concepts, the aim of the current research was to design sustainable packaging material composed of bacterial cellulose (BC) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB), employing an innovative shredding and reconstitution method able to avoid biomass waste. This method enabled creating a uniform structure with a 0.10-cm constant thickness, classified as having high grammage. The developed materials, particularly the 0.7 BC/0.3 SCB [70% (w/w) BC plus 30% (w/w) SCB] composite, had considerable tensile strength (up to 46.22 MPa), which was nearly thrice that of SCB alone (17.43 MPa). Additionally, the sorption index of the 0.7 BC/0.3 SCB composite (235.85 ± 31.29 s) was approximately 300-times higher than that of SCB (0.78 ± 0.09 s). The packaging material was also submitted to other analytical tests to determine its physical and chemical characteristics, which indicated that it has excellent flexibility and can be folded 100 times without tearing. Its surface was explored via scanning electron microscopy, which revealed the presence of fibers measuring 83.18 nm in diameter (BC). Greater adherence after the reconstitution process and even a uniform distribution of SCB fibers in the BC matrix were observed, resulting in greater tear resistance than SCB in its pure form. The results demonstrated that the composite formed by BC and SCB is promising as a raw material for sustainable packaging, due to its resistance and uniformity.

The Correlation between Dental Health Status and Educational Level, Age, and Gender as Demographic Attributes of the Children of Migrant Workers

Introduction Migrant workers and their families appear to have greater health issues, given their need to adjust to new environments and restricted access to healthcare services. One obstacle to receiving healthcare is culture. This study aims to analyze the correlation between dental health status and the level of class, age, and gender as demographic attributes in the children of migrant workers. Methods This cross-sectional study involved the children of Indonesian migrant workers who resided in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The population of the study consisted of children who met the inclusion criteria. Their ages varied between six and twelve. In this study, we used the purposive sampling method. There are 93 samples that met the inclusion criteria. We obtained the data on dental health status using the RedCap online form, which is used in the WHO oral health survey. The researchers performed data analysis, the def-t and DMF-T measurement index and prevalence analyses, and the Spearman-Rho correlation tests to examine the data and determine the appropriate analytical tests. Results The characteristics of the children of Indonesian migrant workers are as follows: based on the class level, 1, 5, and 6; based on age, 6-8 and 9-11; and based on gender, nearly equal between the male and female respondents. The DMF-T index score was 1.22, and the def-t index was 3.77 among the migrant children. The prevalence of caries in permanent adult crowns was lower (53.76%) than that in primary children crowns (64.52%.). Root caries is present in less than 1% of the adult population; however, its prevalence among the children of migrant workers is indeterminable. The majority of the negative correlation occurs between the level of grade and age of the children of Indonesian migrant workers and their dental and oral health status; however, there is no significant correlation between gender and oral health status. Conclusion The DMF-T index of migrant children is low, while their def-t index is high. The prevalence of crown and root caries among the children of migrant workers is significantly higher. There are many negative correlations between the educational level and age of the migrant children and their oral health status.

A practical approach to estimate analytical method variability from routine testing

The performance of analytical test methods is critical to ensure decisions that affect efficacy and quality of pharmaceutical products are based on accurate and reliable results. As described in USP <1220> and advocated for in ICH Q14, continued verification of critical method attributes linked to bias and precision is essential to ensure method performance throughout the lifecycle of an analytical test method. As continued verification programs for analytical methods within the pharmaceutical industry mature, additional monitoring tools are required to deliver robust and cost-effective verification programs. Herein, a novel methodology is presented to evaluated analytical method variability directly from results generated during routine method execution. The implementation of the methodology is demonstrated for a small molecule liquid chromatographic assay method utilizing a single-point external reference calibration. Approaches to reduce the required data to be collected and broaden the applicability of the methodology to a wide range of analytical methods is described. Finally, the application of the methodology to method development activities is discussed to aid in the identification of variability sources and effectively select replication strategies, thus allowing a holistic understanding of method variability throughout the entirety of the method lifecycle.

Assessment of the frequency of types and causes of infertility in infertile couples referring to the Bojnurd infertility treatment center during the years 2018 to 2023

Introduction: Infertility is defined as failure to conceive a pregnancy despite a year or more of regular sexual activity without contraception55. Infertility is divided into primary and secondary, and its etiologies include male, female, male and female causes, as well as unexplained. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the types and causes of infertility in couples referring to an infertility treatment center in Bojnurd during 2018-2023. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a checklist made by the researcher on all couples who were referred to the infertility clinic in the Bent-Alhoda Hospital, Bojnurd, in North Khorasan, from 2018 to 2023. The information was extracted from the files or contact with the patients in cases of non-registration. Thereafter, data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (version 25). Following that, analysis was performed using descriptive indicators, frequency distribution, and analytical statistical tests, namely Chi-Square, independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance, at a confidence level of 95%. Results: The mean age scores of women and men were 30.04±6.65 and 34.28±7.14 years, respectively. The mean body mass index of women was 26.10±4.87 Kg/m2. Moreover, 87.3% of women were unemployed, and most men were freelancers. The majority of women (76%) had no underlying disease. The most common types and etiology of infertility were related to primary infertility (55.9%) and unexplained causes (38.5%), retrospectively. Conclusion: Training classes to inform couples about the controllable risk factors of infertility is an essential step towards reducing the incidence of these factors.

Efficient degradation of p-nitrophenol from water by enhancing dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma through ozone circulation: Optimization, kinetics and mechanism

Non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma has received great attention for degradation of persistent organic pollutants such as p-nitrophenol (PNP). However, the feasibility of the DBD implementation is not clear due to its high energy consumption and relatively low degradation efficiency. In this research, a novel strategy was suggested based on re-circulation of the generated O3 in the DBD system to enhance the PNP degradation efficiency and energy yield. The potential mechanism and possible pathway of PNP degradation were studied by EPR, ESR, DFT and GS-MS analytical tests. According to the results, the PNP degradation efficiency and energy yield increased from 57.4% to 94.4% and from 0.52 to 1.18 g kW−1h−1, respectively through ozone circulation into the DBD reactor. This was due to the more release of long-lived and short-lived reactive species (ROS) in the DBD-O3 system by the O3 circulation. The variations in pH (4–10), initial concentration (50–90 mg L−1), and the presence of co-existing substances in the water matrix had minimal impact on the DBD-O3 system, in comparison to the conventional system. The biological toxicity evaluation revealed that the hybrid DBD-O3 system transform PNP to less toxic intermediates. This study proposes a promising strategy to improve the utilization of DBD for the degradation of PNP.

Quality-by-design driven approach in the formulation of an anti-ulcer and gastro-protective oral suspension

Objective This work aims to present a Quality-by-Design (QbD) step-by-step methodology to formulate anti-ulcer and gastro-protective oral suspensions. Methods Sucralfate was used as a drug model. The Quality Target Product Profile was established early during preformulation. Viscosity, resuspendability, pH, and density were assessed through the screening of several suspension platforms based on different prototype compositions. A compatibility study between the active pharmaceutical ingredient and the excipients was performed by thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. An Ishikawa fishbone diagram and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis were employed to identify the Critical Material Attributes (CMAs), Critical Process Parameters (CPPs), and Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs). CMAs’ and CPPs’ impact on identified CQAs was further assessed through a 22 full factorial experimental design at normal conditions after manufacture and one month at super-accelerated stress conditions. Results: The lead prototype exhibited no physicochemical incompatibilities. The risk assessment tools revealed that the concentration of the wetting agent and the total concentration of thickening agents represented critical factors for the quality profile of the preparation in terms of viscosity. The optimized formulation comprising 1.125 w/v% total concentration of Natrosol 250 HX and Avicel RC 591 exhibited an enhanced performance according to the established profile. Conclusions The analytical and physicochemical tests showed the robustness and compliance of the final preparation with the quality profile. The proposed step-by-step methodology based on QbD, Design of Experiments, and Quality Risk Management presented in our research holds practical implications for local industries and formulation scientists involved in the development of oral suspensions.

Index of the ability of nurses working in different departments of the hospital

Due to the nature of shift work, nurses are under high stress, which can ultimately affect the work ability (WA) of these people. Considering the importance of the nursing profession, in this study, the work ability index (WAI) of nurses was investigated in different departments in one of the hospitals covered by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and methods: The present study is descriptive and analytical. Work ability index questionnaire was used to evaluate work ability. First, 100 nurses were selected and SPSS version 23 software and descriptive and analytical statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Findings: In this study, 45%, 32%, 16%, and 7% of people had average, good, excellent, and poor work ability, respectively. The average work ability index was higher in single people than married people (P = 0.032). The work ability index of nurses was statistically significant according to their employment status (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the work ability index according to the type of department (P = 0.224). Likewise, the ability index Work was less in nurses who had a second job (P = 0.04). Day shift nurses had a higher work ability index (P=0.01) and the work ability index was higher in single people than married people.

How to Manufacture a Drug API? A Simple Scheme from synthesis to analysis

Simply, production of a drug needs two main steps; the first step is the chemical synthesis, and the second one is the pharmaceutical analysis. At the first step, the desired drug must be synthesized via the lowest possible production cost. The synthesis scheme must be designed to proceed the reaction with the highest yield, cheapest solvents, and mildest possible conditions. It should also be user friendly (for operators of the production unit), as fast as possible, with lower steps leading to a highly pure active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The pharmaceutical analysis step contains a series of the main analytical tests such as instrumental (HPLC, GC, XRD, and …), as well as physicochemical ones (like solubility, ash, heavy metals, …). These tests determine the quality of an API for being applied in the finish line formulation of a drug. In the present paper, we have simply described the two main steps for manufacturing a drug API which contains the synthesis step as well as the pharmaceutical analytical part. Also, some key notes for drug synthesis step will be presented.

THE EFFECTS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SELF-EFFICACY ON LEARNING INDEPENDENCE IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of emotional intelligence on learning independence in class XI students of SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya, examine the effect of self-efficacy on learning independence in class XI students of SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya, and examine the effect of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy on learning independence in class XI students. SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya, and examine the effect of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy on learning independence in class XI SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya. on learning independence in class XI students of SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya. All students of class XI group C SMA Negeri 20 as many as 72 students were determined as the population in this study. The technique sampling technique used is a simple random sampling technique and a sample of 33 students is determined. determined a sample of 33 students. The approach in this study is a quantitative approach. Method collection method used is a questionnaire method with a data measurement scale in the form of a Likert scale. Likert scale. The hypothesis test used is an analytical test conducted with two stages of testing, namely the individual (partial) stage using the simple linear regression test and the joint (simultaneous) stage using the simple linear regression test. simple linear regression and the joint stage (simultaneous) using multiple linear regression tests. multiple linear regression tests. The result of this study is that there is no effect of emotional intelligence on learning independence in class XI high school students. State 20 Surabaya. There is a very significant influence of self-efficacy on learning independence in class XI students of SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya. There is a very significant effect of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy on learning independence in class XI SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya. learning independence in class XI students of SMA Negeri 20 Surabaya.

Employing limestone and calcined clay for preserving the strain-hardening response of PET fiber-reinforced cementitious composites

The degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers in alkaline environments limits their use in strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC). Prolonged PET exposure to alkaline environments has a detrimental effect on its mechanical performance, mainly due to the physicochemical transformation caused by alkaline hydrolysis. This study presents a tailored cementitious matrix design containing high amounts of limestone and calcined clay, replacing 75 wt% of Portland cement, to attain and maintain the strain-hardening response of composites incorporating PET fibers as dispersed reinforcement. Analytical and mechanical tests were carried out at different curing ages, ranging from 7 to 60 days, to study the effects of aging on virgin PET fibers, both within the matrix and outside it (in the pore solution). The results showed a pronounced degradation of the PET fibers in the test pore solution at pH 12.5, manifested by a progressive reduction in the load-bearing capacity of the individual fibers with prolonged immersion. Conversely, when the PET fibers were aged in-matrix under laboratory conditions and tested under tension, the performance of the corresponding composites showed resilience to aging, exhibiting reasonable tensile strength and remarkable strain capacities that exceeded 4 %.

Development of a simultaneous LC–MS/MS analytical method for plasma: 16 antipsychotics approved in Japan and 4 drug metabolites

The increased risk of adverse drug reactions due to the concomitant use of antipsychotics is problematic in the treatment of schizophrenia. Therefore, the simultaneous analysis of their plasma concentrations is required. In this study, we developed a simultaneous liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for analyzing plasma antipsychotics approved in Japan for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) applications. First, we counted the prescriptions for 16 antipsychotics and concomitant drugs used at the Tohoku University Hospital. LC–MS/MS was used for the simultaneous analysis of 16 antipsychotics and four drug metabolites. This analysis was conducted using a combination of selected reaction monitoring mode and reversed-phase chromatography. Following the examination of the MS/MS and LC conditions, an analytical method validation test was conducted. The developed method was used to analyze plasma antipsychotic levels in patients with schizophrenia. One-third of the patients received treatment with multiple antipsychotics. Under LC–MS/MS conditions, LC separation was performed using a combination of a C18 column and ammonium formate-based mobile phases with a gradient flow. The calibration curves were optimized by adjusting the ion abundance, and 11 compounds met the criteria for intra- and inter-day reproducibility tests. Some stability test results did not meet these criteria; therefore, further investigation is required. The developed method permitted the measurement of all the plasma parameters, including concentrations above the therapeutic range. Therefore, this method may be useful in the daily TDM practice of antipsychotics.Graphical abstract

Comparative study of UV spectroscopy, RP-HPLC and HPTLC methods for quantification of antiviral drug lamivudine in tablet formulation

BackgroundIn the current study, estimation of lamivudine (LMU) by UV spectroscopy, reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) and HPTLC methods in tablet formulation was developed, and comparative studies between the methods were investigated by analytical results and statistical test analysis of variance (ANOVA) to find out best method. In the UV spectral method, LMU was quantified at 271 nm absorption maxima using methanol as the solvent. In the RP-HPLC method, the Shimadzu C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particle size) was employed for chromatographic separation. The mobile phase used consists of methanol: water (70:30 v/v) in an isocratic mode with a 1.0 mL/min flow rate. In the HPTLC method, the chromatogram was developed on a pre-coated plate of silica gel 60 F254 with a mobile phase composition of chloroform: methanol (8:2 v/v). The quantification was performed at an absorbance mode of 271 nm by densitometry. The methods were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guideline Q2 (R1). The degradation conditions were employed as per ICH guidelines Q1A(R2) and Q1B which include acid, alkaline, neutral, thermal and photostability to determine the intrinsic stability of the drug in varied environmental conditions.ResultsLMU absorption maxima was found to be 271 nm. The retention time of LMU was 3.125 min, and the total analysis time was 5 min. The Rf value of LMU was 0.49–0.62. The methods were linear within 2–12 μg/mL range. The correlation coefficient (r2) for UV, HPLC and HPTLC was 0.9980, 0.9993 and 0.9988, and percent recoveries were calculated as 98.40–100.52%, 99.27–101.18% and 98.01–100.30%, respectively, with percentage relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 2% showing that methods were precise and accurate.ConclusionDeveloped UV, RP-HPLC and HPTLC methods are free from intervention caused by excipients present in tablets and thus can be used for regular quantitative analysis of LMU in tablet formulation. Based on analytical results and statistical tests, ANOVA, it is inferred that the HPLC method is best for LMU quantification tablet formulation due to its high reproducibility, good retention time and sensitivity; it has a higher percent recovery and has less analysis time, i.e., 5 min. The degradation peaks were well separated from the LMU peak indicating stability of the HPLC method.

The effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on colorectal cancer screening behaviors

BackgroundColorectal cancer is the second most prevalent cause of death from malignancies globally. The present study was conducted targeting the influence of an educational intervention based on the health belief model (HBM) on colorectal cancer screening behaviors in people 50 years old and older.MethodsAll 134 samples were included in this quasi-experimental study from Fasa City Health Service Center, equal halves were random into experimental group and control group. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that contained questions on demographic variables, knowledge, and HBM constructs (perceived sensitivity, perceived intensity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and screening behaviors). Both groups answered the questionnaire before and two months following the intervention. There were six 90-minute instruction sessions for the intervention group. SPSS 22 and descriptive and analytical tests (independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test) were used for data analysis (P < 0.05).Results59 women and 75 men took part in this study. A majority of participants were married and had at least high school diploma. The findings indicated that the mean scores for knowledge, each of the HBM’s constructs, and cancer screening behaviors did not differ significantly from one another before the intervention between the test group and the control group. However, post the intervention, the intervention group exhibited a significant rise in all mentioned dimensions.ConclusionIn light of the outcomes, the application of the HBM on colorectal cancer screening behaviors in people 50 years and older was successful. This approach might serve as a helpful foundation for planning, carrying out, and overseeing colorectal cancer screening programs.

Lippia multiflora Leaves Extracts Enhance Cefotaxime Bactericidal Effects and Quench the Biofilm Formation in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300.

The emergence of the multidrug-resistant bacteria strain has become a global world crisis. This study was designed to evaluate the antibiofilm and synergistic effects of Lippia multiflora leaf extracts on the activity of cefotaxime against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The synergistic effect of methanol and dichloromethane extracts on the bactericidal activity of cefotaxime was determined by using the antibiotic susceptibility test on agar medium. The antibiofilm activity of the extracts was measured by using the crystal violet method. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was assessed by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric Reduction Activity Potential (FRAP) methods. The main secondary metabolites groups were analyzed by using different standard analytical tests. The total phenolics and total flavonoids were quantified spectrophotometrically. The methanol extract (final concentration of 100 μg/ml) inhibited the formation of bacterial biofilm more than salicylic acid (p<0.05). All extracts combined with cefotaxime (20 μg and 200 μg) showed good synergistic bactericidal effect on S. aureus with inhibitory diameters of up to 40 mm. The methanol extract showed higher total phenolics (462.20±10.90 mg EAG/g) and total flavonoids (26.20±0.20 mg EQ/g) contents than the dichloromethane extract (96.70±1.70 mg EAG/g and 8.00±1.20 mg EQ/g). Moreover, the methanol extract showed a higher FRAP reducing power (353.6±4.17 mmol EQ/g) than the dichloromethane extract (385.3±7.01 mmol EQ/g). Qualitative phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenes and sterols in both extracts. These data showed that L. multiflora leaves contain effective antibacterial phytomolecules for combating bacterial resistance.

Exploring the Impact of Various Wooden Barrels on the Aromatic Profile of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena by Means of Principal Component Analysis.

The study examines the unique production process of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena PDO (ABTM), emphasizing its complex phases and the impact of raw materials and artisanal skill on its flavor characteristics. Analytical tests focused on the volatile composition of vinegars from different wood barrels at different aging stages, using solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography, either with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or flame ionization detector (FID). Multivariate analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA), was employed to investigate the presence of peculiarities among the volatile profiles of samples of different barrel origin. The research focuses on characterizing the volatile composition of vinegars sourced from individual wood barrels, such as Cherry, Chestnut, Mulberry, Juniper, and Oak. Although it was not possible to identify molecules directly connected to the woody essence, some similarities emerged between vinegar samples from mulberry and cherry barrels and between those of juniper and oak. The former group is characterized by analytes with high molecular weights, such as furfural and esters, while the latter group shows more intense peaks for ethyl benzoate. Moreover, ethyl benzoate appears to predominantly influence samples from chestnut barrels. Due to the highly complex production process of ABTM, where each battery is influenced by several factors, this study's findings are specific to the current experimental conditions.