jpans

Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences

A 0.123% Stevia/Aspartame 91/9 Aqueous Solution Balances the Effects of the Two Substances, and may thus be a Safer and Tastier Sweetener to be Used
Pages 236-248
Marie-Claire Cammaerts, Roger Cammaerts and Axel Dero
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2015.05.04.4
Published: 08 January 2016


Abstract: Sweeteners are presently largely consumed all over the world, essentially aspartame (North America, Europe) and stevia (South America, Asia). Aspartame has a pleasant taste but present some adverse effects; stevia has very few adverse effects but has not the sweetest taste. Using ants as biological models, we here examined if a 0.123% solution of stevia/aspartame 91/9 might have both a pleasant taste and nearly no adverse effects. We found that it did not change the ants’ food consumption while aspartame increased it and stevia slightly decreased it. It did not affect their locomotion, precision of reaction and response to pheromones as aspartame did. It did not increase their audacity as aspartame largely and stevia somewhat did. It did not affect the ants’ brood caring behavior and cognition as aspartame did, and it did not impact the conditioning ability and memory as aspartame drastically and stevia slightly did. Confronted to sugar water and a stevia/aspartame 91/9 solution, the ants equally drunk the two solutions, while having the choice between aspartame and sugar, they soon nearly exclusively chose the sugar, and while in presence of stevia and sugar, the ants progressively chose the sugar. Very probably aspartame enhanced the taste of stevia, and as the latter contains a true glycoside, a stevia/aspartame 91/9 solution did not affect the ants’ physiology and ethology as pure aspartame did. In front of sugar and a stevia/aspartame ca 96/4 solution, the ants chose the sugar. Thus, a 0.123% solution in which 9% aspartame (and no less) is mixed to 91% stevia (and no more) appears to constitute a safe and tasty sweetener which could be used instead of solutions containing only aspartame or stevia.

Keywords:
Ant, cognition, food additive, locomotion, memory.

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Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences

A Comparative Study on Serum Level Concentration of Micronutrients Like Zinc, Copper and Chromium Status in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Diabetes & Endocrinology Unit, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
Pages 95-102
Mathewos Geneto, Melaku Umeta, Tedla Kebede, Aklilu Azazh, Ravi Nagphaul and Salahuddin Farooq Mohammed
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2015.05.02.1
Published: 12 May 2015


Abstract: Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder, characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin and insulin resistance. Many studies have reported an association between diabetes and alterations in the metabolism of several micronutrients. In Ethiopia the study in the relationship between micronutrients (Zn, Cu and Cr) status and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is scanty. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the concentration of the fasting serum zinc, copper and chromium status in T2DM and control subjects.

Method: A cross-sectional comparative study, conducted on 108 human subjects divided in to two groups: 54 subjects with the diagnosis of T2DM and the other 54 subjects were grouped as the control. After demographic and anthropometric information gathered, the blood sample was collected for the biochemical analysis. Fasting serum glucose was measured by glucose oxidase methods. The serum concentration of micronutrients namely zinc, copper and chromium were determined by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software.

Results: Compared with control groups, T2DM patients had greater BMI (p<0.001); higher WHR (p<0.001); elevated SBP (p<0.001); and higher diastolic DBP (p<0.001). Fasting serum glucose level of T2DM (196.4 ± 86.77mg/dl) was significantly higher than control (90 ± 14.39mg/dl). Mean serum levels of zinc in T2DM (0.744 ± 0.211mg/l) was significantly (p<0.003) lower than control (1.099 ± 0.502mg/l), chromium (0.679 ± 0.413 mg/l) was also significantly (p<0.0001) lower than control (1.064±0.483mg/l) and Cu (0.502±0.148mg/l) had significantly (p<0.0001) higher than control (0.340±0.137mg/l). In this study, the fasting serum glucose were found negatively correlated with serum levels of Zn (r= -0.290, p=0.033), and Cr (r=-0.012, p<0.0001) of diabetic subjects. Non-significant positive relationship was observed between concentrations of serum glucose and Cu(r = 0.438, p =0.113).

Conclusion: Findings of this study indicated a lower serum zinc and chromium concentrations and higher copper status were found in type 2 diabetics of Ethiopian subjects. The study suggests that another research should be conducted in the effect of the supplementation of micronutrients on controlling of type 2 diabetic mellitus.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetic, zinc, copper, chromium, atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

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v2n2-jpans 1351844258

Accuracy Assessment of Classical Isothermal Experiment in Drug Storage Period Studies
Pages 88-91
Jiafu Feng, Zhigui Zhang and Dixiao Yang
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2014.04.02.3
Published: 30 April 2014


Abstract: The purpose of this research was to assessment the effect of change of dissolved oxygen concentration on accuracy of classical isothermal experiment in ascorbic acid solution storage period studies. The experiments were performed at temperatures 35 ˚C, 40 ˚C, 45 ˚C and 50 ˚C, the apparent rate constant (kA) and the adjusted apparent rate constant (kA,A) were determined, respectively. By plotting lnkA and lnkA,A against 1/T resulted two lines, respectively. Then the apparent rate constant at 25 ˚C, kA,25˚C=5.168×10-4(mol×L-1×h-1) and the adjusted apparent rate constant at 25 ˚C, kA,A,25˚C=5.157×10-4(mol×L-1×h-1), was extrapolated, respectively. Both the calculated storage period of the experimented ascorbic acid solution were all 55h by kA,25˚C and kA,A,25˚Crespectively. The results suggested that the change of dissolved oxygen concentration has no effect on the accuracy of classical isothermal experiment in ascorbic acid solution storage period studies.

Keywords: Classical isothermal experiment, accuracy, ascorbic acid, dissolved oxygen, storage period.
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Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences

A Diabetes and Obesity Crisis: Preliminary Study of Lifestyle, Diet, Knowledge and Attitude of Malaysian Pharmacy Undergraduates Towards Type-2 Diabetes
Pages 172-182
Shariza Sahudin, Mumtaz Hussain, Nor Farhah Abdul Ghaffar and Azyyati Mohd Suhaimi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2017.07.04.4
Published: 06 November 2017


Abstract: BackgroundPatient education and self-care are important not only for diabetes prevention but also chronic disease management. Community pharmacists are an ideal position to play a role in providing medicines management, lifestyle and preventative advice specific to type-2 diabetes care, Malaysian pharmacists must be ready and willing to firmly establish such clear roles and as such, undergraduate pharmacy students need to be equipped with the skills and mind-set to accept such a challenge

ObjectiveTo explore knowledge and awareness of pharmacy undergraduate students at Universiti Technology MARA (UiTM) towards diabetes risk factors. To identify potential diabetes risk factors by evaluating dietary intake and to determine students’ attitude towards their future roles as health care providers.

Method159 Malaysian third-year undergraduate pharmacy students were provided a questionnaire and a two-day food diary. The questionnaire consisted of four sections to examine demographics, lifestyle and diet, together with knowledge of diabetes and the perception of pharmacists’ role.

Results: A total of 113 completed questionnaires were received. 20% of the respondents were overweight or obese and 21% had elevated blood pressure. 95% of students consumed only 50% of the recommend daily calorie intake for adults. Students however possessed good knowledge of diabetes with a positive attitude towards pharmacist roles in healthcare.

Conclusion: Overall, the health status of Malaysian pharmacy students is very similar to the general population, displaying similar risk factors and dietary habits despite their status as future healthcare professionals. Students do however display a good knowledge of diabetes and appear positive towards their roles as future pharmacists.

Keywords: Diabetes, Obesity, Community Pharmacy.

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Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences

Adalimumab and Etanercept in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthropathies: Budget Impact Model of Dose Reduction
Pages 170-176
Alejandro González Álvarez, Manuel Gómez Barrera, Joaquín Borrás Blasco and Emilio José Giner Serret
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2014.04.03.1
Published: 12 August 2014


Abstract: Objective:To assess the financial impact ofspacing out the administration intervals of adalimumab (ADA) and etanercept (ETN) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathies (SAP) in our work setting.

Materials and method:A budget impact model (BIM) was developed to estimate the financial impact ofspacing out the usual administration intervals of ADA 40 mg every 2 weeks and ETN 50 mg weekly (scenario A) to ADA 40 mg every 3 weeks and ETN 50 mg every 2 weeks (scenario B), according to the guidelines and recommendations applied to these studies, specifying the target population, the study perspective, the time frame, and analysing the robustness of the study with a threshold univariate sensitivity analysis.

Results:A total of 71 patients were included in the study.The application of a BIM showed annual savings for ADA and ETN of €19,784 and €38,271, respectively.The net cost, that is, the savings this entailed for the time frame considered (2 years), amounted to €116,110.The sensitivity analysis performed shows that the BIM estimated for the study period was very robust, as the net result in the different scenarios varied very little, remaining negative in the new scenarios.

Conclusions:The BIM developed in the study shows the importance of the role of healthcare professionals in the context of sustainability of the healthcare system, where the model could generate large annual net savings for the different regional healthcare systems.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Spondyloarthropathies, Budget impact analysis, Adalimumab, Etanercept, Tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitors.
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