Determinants of quality of life among pregnant women in the city centre of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the quality of life in pregnancy is very important because of the changes in the female body during pregnancy. Quality of life should be evaluated in terms of health protection during pregnancy, prevention of health problems and treatment. AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the quality of life and the affecting factors by trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of pregnant women in a city center of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. The study included 12 districts across a range of socioeconomic structures. Every district was selected by a simple random sampling method. The study was conducted by the researchers in the home of pregnant women by face to face interview method. The data were collected using "Personal Information Form" and "Quality of Life Scale". The total sample consisted of 1010 pregnant women, 192 of which were in first trimester, 277 of which were in second trimester and 541 of which were in third trimester. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between trimesters in physical domain (P = 0.96), mental domain (P = 0.94) and social domain (P = 0.47) of quality of life scale and there was a difference only in environmental domain (P = 0.02). The lowest quality of life in all three trimesters was found to be in physical domain. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference between trimesters in physical, mental and social domains of quality of life scale and there was a difference only in environmental domain. The lowest quality of life scores in all three trimesters were in the physical domain. The quality of life of pregnant women differed according to the trimesters and some sub-dimensions of quality of life of pregnant women were negatively affected in all three timester.

The effect of maternal fatigue on breastfeeding.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum fatigue means tiredness, sense of suffocation, and decreased physical and mental capacity. Fatigue reduces postpartum women's ability of concentrate, which may increase the frequency of postpartum depression, and their babies and cause babies' weaning off breastmilk earlier. AIM: Postpartum fatigue reduces the ability of mothers to concentrate and has a negative effect on communication between mothers and their babies. This study was performed to determine the effect of fatigue on breastfeeding and breastfeeding behaviors in postpartum women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study had a descriptive desing and was carreid out in a postpartum clinic of a maternal, obstetric, and pediatric diseases hospital. It included 374 women giving normal vaginal birth. Data were gathered with a socio-demographic features form and Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue. RESULTS: The mean score was 6,91 ± 2,25 for the subscale fatigue and 2,38 ± 0,91 for the subscale energy. The women reporting that it was not difficult to give birth and that they had little or some fatigue had significantly higher scores for energy (P = 0.001). The women starting to breastfeed in the hour of giving birth (P = 0.003) and the women breastfeeding at 1-hour intervals (P = 0.100) had a lower score for fatigue. The women not needing help while breastfeeding had a significantly lower score for fatigue (P = 0.001), while those reporting to give additional food had a significantly higher score for fatigue (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Women feel tired in the early postpartum period due to giving birth and their tiredness is increased by breastfeeding and infant care.

Adaptive support ventilation for faster weaning in COPD: a randomised controlled trial.

Adaptive support ventilation (ASV) is a closed-loop ventilation mode that can act both as pressure support ventilation (PSV) and pressure-controlled ventilation. Weaning with ASV shows promising results, mainly in post-cardiac surgery patients. The aim of the present randomised controlled study was to test the hypothesis that weaning with ASV could reduce the weaning duration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) when compared with PSV. From among 435 COPD patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during a 20-month period, 97 were enrolled. Patients were assigned at random to either ASV or PSV as a weaning mode. Compared with PSV, ASV provided shorter weaning times (median 24 (interquartile range 20-62) h versus 72 (24-144) h, p=0.041) with similar weaning success rates (35 out of 49 for ASV and 33 out of 48 for PSV). Length of stay in the ICU was also shorter with ASV but the difference was not statistically significant. This study suggests that ASV may be used in the weaning of COPD patients with the advantage of shorter weaning times. Further studies are needed to investigate the role and potential advantages of ASV in the weaning period of different patient groups.

Highly sensitive carbon-based nanohybrid sensor platform for determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonist (Eletriptan).

Highly sensitive nanosensors such as graphene oxide/ platinum-iridium nanohybrid, carboxylic acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (GO/Pt-Ir/MWCNT-COOH) and amine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (GO/Pt-Ir/MWCNT-NH2) modified glassy carbon electrode were developed for the determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonist, Eletriptan. Graphene oxide/platinum-iridium nanohybrid was synthesized using sonication method and then characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic methods such as Raman, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, and XRD. The prepared nanohybrids modified on glassy carbon electrodes were well characterized and applied for electrochemical determination of Eletriptan. The significant enhancement of the oxidation peak current of Eletriptan was observed in GO/Pt-Ir/MWCNT-COOH as a best nanosensor in all prepared ones. The pH, scan rate and the amount of GO/Pt-Ir/MWCNT-COOH were also optimized for Eletriptan analysis. After obtaining of the optimum conditions, the identification of Eletriptan was performed between the linear range of 1 × 10-7 M and 4 × 10-6 M with a detection limit of 6.1 × 10-9 M. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of the drug in tablets with acceptable recoveries. Moreover, it can be elicited that, in electrochemical studies, electroactive interferences from the tablet excipients did not interfere with the results.

Electroanalytical determination of donepezil HCl in tablets and human serum by differential pulse and osteryoung square wave voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode.

Donepezil hydrochloride (DNP) is used for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type. The voltammetric behavior of DNP was studied at a glassy carbon electrode using cyclic, linear sweep, differential pulse (DPV) and square-wave (OSWV) voltammetric techniques. DNP exhibited irreversible anodic waves within the pH range 1.80 and 9.00 in different supporting electrolytes. The peak was characterized as being irreversible and diffusion-controlled. The possible mechanism of the oxidation process is discussed. The current-concentration plot was rectilinear over the range from 1 x 10(-6) to 1 x 10(-4) M in Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 7.0 with a correlation coefficient between 0.997 and 0.999 in supporting electrolyte and human serum samples using the DPV and SWV techniques. The repeatability and reproducibility of the methods for both media (supporting electrolyte and serum sample) were determined. Precision and accuracy of the developed methods were demonstrated by recovery studies. The standard addition method was used for the recovery studies. No electroactive interferences were found in biological fluids from endogenous substances or additives present in tablets. The methods developed were successfully applied to the determination of DNP in tablets and in spiked human serum.

Determination of the antihyperlipidemic simvastatin by various voltammetric techniques in tablets and serum samples.

The electrochemical behavior and determination of simvastatin (SMV), a lipid-lowering drug, were studied in aqueous alcohol medium at a stationary glassy carbon electrode. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed one main, well-defined, sharp oxidation peak between pH 2 and 8. The oxidation was irreversible and exhibited a diffusion controlled mechanism. Differential pulse and square wave voltammetric methods for the quantitative determination of SMV in pharmaceutical dosage forms and spiked serum samples were developed based on the linear relationship between the peak current and the concentration. Differential pulse and square wave voltammetric techniques for the determination of SMV in 0.1 M H2SO4 and a constant amount of methanol (20%), which allow quantitation over the 2 x 10(-6)-1 x 10(-4) M range in supporting electrolyte with a detection limit of 2.71 x 10(-7) M and 5.50 x 10(-7) M for differential pulse and square wave voltammetric methods, respectively, are proposed. The repeatability and reproducibility of the methods were determined. Precision and accuracy were also checked. These methods were used for the determination of SMV in tablets. The standard addition method was used in biological media. No electroactive interferences from endogenous substances and excipients were found in biological fluids and pharmaceutical dosage forms, respectively.

Electrochemical methods for determination of the protease inhibitor indinavir sulfate in pharmaceuticals and human serum.

Indinavir sulfate is an inhibitor of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease. The aim of this study was to determine indinavir levels in serum and pharmaceuticals, by means of electrochemical methods using the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Indinavir exhibited irreversible cathodic waves over the pH range 2.00-12.00 in different supporting electrolytes. The current-concentration plot was rectilinear over the range from 8 x 10(-7) M to 8 x 10(-6) M with a correlation coefficient of 0.996 for differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and 8 x 10(-7) M to 1 x 10(-5) M with correlation of 0.999 M for osteryoung square ware voltammetry (OSWV) in Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 10.00. The wave was characterized as being irreversible and diffusion-controlled. The proposed methods were fully validated and successfully applied to the determination of indinavir in capsules and spiked human serum samples with good recoveries. The repeatability and reproducibility of the methods as well as precision and accuracy (such as supporting electrolyte, serum samples) were determined. No electroactive interferences from the endogenous substances were found in serum samples.

Voltammetric determination of droperidol and benperidol.

In this study two butyrophenones, droperidol and benperidol were voltammetrically investigated using platinum and specially activated glass carbon electrodes. The behaviours of the substance were investigated in various electrolyte solutions having different pH values and by different scan rates. As a result of the studies it was shown that the quantitative determinations of the substances from their pharmaceutical preparations could be made rapidly and simply without any separation from the excipients.

Electrochemical reduction of metronidazole at activated glassy carbon electrode and its determination in pharmaceutical dosage forms.

A voltammetric method has been developed for the determination of metronidazole in dosage forms. The method is based on the electrochemical reduction of the drug at a glassy carbon electrode activated by applying a new pretreatment. The influence of pH, concentration, scan rate and presence of organic solvent and surfactant has been studied. The current is proportional to the concentration and permits the drug to be determined in the concentration range 2 x 10(-6)-6 x 10(-4) M in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 10). Furthermore, results obtained by the proposed method have been compared with USP XXIII procedure which involves a HPLC method.

Electroanalytical study of nifedipine using activated glassy carbon electrode.

The electrochemical properties of nifedipine have been investigated in aqueous solution by linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry. The method is based both on the reduction and on the oxidation of the drug at a glassy carbon electrode activated by applying a new pre-treatment. The voltammograms of nifedipine on pH, concentration and scan rate have been carefully examined. Both the electroreduction and electrooxidation of nifedipine allow its determination at pH 1.5 in the concentration range of 2 x 10(-5)-6 x 10(-4) M and 8 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-3) M, respectively. The method has been applied to commercial samples (tablets and capsules).

Voltammetric investigation of oxidation of zuclopenthixol and application to its determination in dosage forms and in drug dissolution studies.

The oxidative voltammetric behaviour of zuclopenthixol (ZPT) at a glassy carbon has been studied using cyclic, linear sweep and differential pulse voltammetry. Oxidation of the drug produced three pH dependent anodic steps (representing an irreversible oxidation). Using differential pulse voltammetry, the drug yielded a well-defined voltammetric response in phosphate buffer, pH 5.2 at + 0.82 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). This process could be used to determine ZPT concentrations in the range 8 x 10(-7)-2 x 10(-4) M. The method was applied, without any interferences from the excipients, to the determination of the drug in tablets and oral drops, and in drug dissolution studies.

Determination of terbutaline based on oxidation by voltammetry.

A voltammetric study of the oxidation of terbutaline has been carried out at an activated glassy carbon electrode. The compound was oxidized irreversibly at high positive potential. The response was evaluated with respect to pH, scan rate, nature of the buffer and other variables. The peak current, at about 0.8 V (versus a saturated calomel electrode), was proportional to the terbutaline concentration in the range of 8 x 10(-6)-8 x 10(-4) M in phosphate buffer pH 6.0. This method was applied, without any interferences from the excipients, to determine the drug in a tablet dosage form.

Anodic voltammetry of fluphenazine at different solid electrodes.

The electrochemical behaviour of fluphenazine based on its oxidation at platinum and glassy carbon electrodes was investigated by linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry. The influence of pH, concentration, nature of the buffer and scan rate was carefully examined. At both electrodes, three anodic steps (representing an irreversible oxidation) were obtained. The method was applied to the determination of fluphenazine in sugar-coated tablets.

Simultaneous determination of paracetamol and methocarbamol in tablets by ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry and LC.

The application of the ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to the simultaneous determination of paracetamol (PAR) and methocarbamol (MET) in combined pharmaceutical tablets is presented. The spectrophotometric procedure is based on the use of the first derivative of the ratio spectra obtained by dividing the absorbtion spectrum of the binary mixtures by a standard spectrum of one of the compounds. The first derivative amplitudes were measured at 243.0 and 230.3 nm for the assay of PAR and MET, respectively. Calibration graphs were established for 2-30 microg ml for PAR and 2-36 microg/ml for MET in binary mixture. The detection limits for PAR and MET were found 0.097 and 0.079 microg/ml, respectively; while the quantification limits were 0.573 microg/ml for PAR and 1.717 microg/ml for MET. For the HPLC procedure, a reversed-phase column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (60:40, v/v), was used to separate both compounds with a detection of 274.0 nm. Linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 2 300 and 1.5-375 microg/ml for PAR and MET, respectively. The detection and quantification limits were found to be 0.42 and 1.4 microg/ml for PAR and 0.36 and 1.2 microg/ml for MET, respectively. The relative standard deviations were found to be less than 0.52%, indicating reasonable repeatibility of both methods. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in commercial tablets.

Study on electrooxidation of cefadroxil monohydrate and its determination by differential pulse voltammetry.

In this work electrooxidation of cefadroxil monohydrate was investigated using a glassy carbon electrode depending on pH and supporting electrolyte. It was shown that the direct determination of the substance from capsules and in oral suspension could be made by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). UV and first derivative UV spectrophotometric methods are also proposed as comparative methods.

Simultaneous determination of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide in tablets by first-derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry and LC.

First-derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to determine valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide simultaneously in combined pharmaceutical dosage forms. The derivative procedure was based on the linear relationship between the drug concentration and the first derivative amplitudes at 270.6 and 335 nm for valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 12.0-36.1 microg x ml(-1) for valsartan and 4.0-12.1 microg x ml(-1) for hydrochlorothiazide. Furthermore, a high- performance liquid chromatographic procedure with ultraviolet detection at 225 nm was developed for a comparison method. For the HPLC procedure, a reversed phase column with a mobile phase of 0.02 M phosphate buffer (pH 3.2)-acetonitrile (55: 45; v/v), was used to separate for valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide. The plot of peak area ratio of each drug to the internal standard versus the respective concentrations of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide were found to be linear in the range of 0.06-1.8 and 0.07-0.5 microg x ml(-1), respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in laboratory-prepared mixtures and commercial tablets.

Synthesis and analytical evaluation by voltammetric studies of some new indole-3-propionamide derivatives.

Some biologically important and melatonin-related indole-3-propionamide derivatives were synthesized. The compounds synthesized were analyzed and characterized first by NMR and mass spectrometry and then investigated by analytical voltammetric techniques. Based on this study a simple, rapid and sensitive voltammetric method was developed for the determination of the indole derivatives that are readily oxidized at the carbon-based electrodes. The oxidative behavior of the indole derivatives was studied as a function of pH at a glassy carbon electrode. The characteristics of the corresponding electrode reaction were discussed.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of verapamil and its application to determination in tablet dosage forms and to drug dissolution studies.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure with two detectors is presented for the determination of verapamil in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The procedure is based on the use of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV and fluorimetric detectors. Each analysis required no longer than 6 min for both detection procedures. Quantification was achieved by measurement of the ratio of the peak area of the drug to the internal standard (fluoxetine) and the detection limit was 10 ng/ml for the UV detector and 750 pg/ml for the fluorimetric detector. There was no significant difference between inter- and intra-day studies for verapamil determined for two different concentrations (0.05 and 1.00 microgram/ml). This process could be used to determine verapamil concentrations in the range 0.025-50 and 0.0008-20 micrograms/ml for UV and fluorimetric detection, respectively. These methods were applied, without any interference from the excipients, for the determination of the drug in tablets and in drug dissolution studies. It is suggested that the proposed HPLC procedures could be used for routine quality control and dosage form assay of verapamil hydrochloride.

Anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry of the antihypertensive drug candesartan cilexetil at a glassy carbon electrode.

The electrochemical behaviour of candesartan cilexetil (CND) was investigated in an acetonitrile: supporting electrolyte mixture (30% acetonitrile) in the pH range 1.5-11.00 by cyclic, linear sweep, differential pulse (DPV), adsorptive stripping differential pulse (AdSDPV), square wave (SWV) and adsorptive stripping square wave (AdSSWV) voltammetric techniques. CND exhibited one wave and one peak to the anodic direction. The oxidation process was found to be irreversible and adsorption controlled. To obtain good sensitivity, the instrumental and accumulation variables were studied using DPV and SWV techniques. Two linear calibration plots were obtained for both techniques. The detection limits were 9.15 x 10(-7) M and 7.94 x 10(-6) M for AdSDPV and AdSSWV, respectively. The method was validated and successfully applied for the analysis of CND tablets.

Determination of olsalazine sodium in pharmaceuticals by differential pulse voltammetry.

The electrochemical oxidation of olsalazine sodium was investigated by cyclic, linear sweep, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry using glassy carbon disc electrode in different buffer systems. Best results were obtained for the determination of olsalazine using the differential pulse voltammetric technique in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. The electroactive species exhibits a diffusion-controlled voltammetric wave and its differential pulse peak current shows a linear dependence on olsalazine concentration in the range between 2 x 10(-6) M and 2 x 10(-4) M. This relationship has been applied to the determination of olsalazine in commercial capsule dosage forms. The recovery study shows good accuracy and precision for the assay developed. A UV spectrophotometric assay is also reported for comparison.