Al Mustansiriyah Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Nebivolol hydrochloride (NEB) is a 3rd generation highly selective β1-blocker with
antihypertensive properties, the elimination half-life is about 10 hrs and the oral
bioavailability is about 12%.
The study was aimed to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for transdermal
delivery of NEB.
The study involves two separate parts, part 1 (current) involves preparation and
characterization of NEB loaded NLCs (NEB-NLCs). Part 2 of the study, NEB-NLCs based
gel was formulated using gelling agent carbapol 934 as transdermal delivery system using rat
skin. Part 2 of the study will be presented separately in the forthcoming issue.
The current investigation describes the effect of type and concentration of different
solid lipids, liquid lipids, and surfactant/co-surfactant on the characteristics of NLC such as
particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, and drug release
profile. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope and atomic force
microscope revealed nearly spherical shape NLC with negligible effect of liquid lipid (oleic
acid) content on the particle morphology. The differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated
depression in the melting point and crystallinity index of the NLCs with increasing the
amount of liquid lipid. The in vitro drug release studies demonstrated that 93% of the drug
was released over 24hrs. The NEB-NLCs possessed a biphasic release pattern characterized
by a rapid initial release followed by a sustained release.
Keywords: Nebivolol hydrochloride; Nanostructured lipid carriers; Transdermal delivery.

Suicide is defined as intentional taking of one\'s own life. Until the end of the twentieth
century approximately, suicide was considered a criminal act; legal terminology is used, in the
Latin phrase felo-de-se, which means \"a crime against the self\".
Descriptive study of 100 fatal recorded suicidal cases brought for postmortem
examination at the Medico-legal institute of Baghdad within four years period from first of
September 2011 to first of September 2015 (males 49 and females 51 cases). The study excludes
the firearm deaths. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain data by direct interview with the
visitors of the victim, family members, witnesses and information available on police records.
Death on spot was recorded in 47% of the cases while 41% of victims died within 24
hours of incidence whereas 12% victims survived for 7 days. About 56% of Suicidal victims
were discovered dead not hospitalized. Low socioeconomic conditions were most frequent (45%)
cause for committing suicide followed by psychosocial causes (43%) and chronic diseases (12%).
Poisoning (53%) and hanging (45%) were the two exclusive methods employed for committing
suicide. Most of the victims (males 87.76% and females78.43%) have had a successful attempt to
commit suicide in their first attempt while history of previous suicidal attempts was available in
17% of victims.
The aim of this study is to identify the intensity and frequency of suicide in relation to the
Medico-legal aspect of the incidence such as method, duration of survival, causes of committing
suicide and previous attempts to commit suicide.
From the results of the study we can conclude that most of the victims incorporated such
suicidal attempts and methods were successful in accomplishing suicide in the first attempt
(males 87.76% and females 78.43%) and the commonest cause of committing suicide is mostly
their low socioeconomic condition and psychosocial reasons.
Key words: Suicide, Medico-legal, Poisoning, Hanging, Socioeconomic.

The prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and Candida albicans (CA) has been
determined in 182 symptomatic married women (70 pregnant and 112 non pregnant) randomly
selected from private gynecology clinics in Baghdad city. The relationship between infection and
some risk factors was assessed.
Data were collected by questionnaire and vaginal swabs were examined microscopically.
Of the 182 women the pregnant 4 infected with TV and19 with CA while non-pregnant 2 infected
with TV and 14 with CA.
The age group between (20-29years) represents the highest frequency of infection with
the two microorganisms. Abortion number and monthly family income were statistically non
significant with high infection rates.
Key words: Sexually transmitted infections, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, Vaginal
smears, Pregnancy, abortion.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of pomegranate mouth wash in
comparison with chlorhexidine mouth wash on post-operative complications result from surgical
removal of wisdom teeth.
Forty Iraqi patients who underwent surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth were
divided into two equal groups, patients in first group were instructed to use pomegranate mouth
wash while those in the second group used chlorhexidine mouth wash. Post operative
complications as pain, swelling, trismus and oozing were examinated for both groups at second,
fourth and seven days after operation. The data were statistically analyzes and compared between
the groups.
A significant difference was shown between the two groups of pomegranate and
chlorhexidine mouth wash according to each parameters (first = pain, second= swelling, third=
trismus, forth= oozing) depends on the days of post-surgical assessment (second days, forth days
and seven days).
In Conclusions the effectiveness of pomegranated mouth wash was better than
chlorhexidine mouth wash on post operative complications following the surgical removal of
third molars (wisdom).
Key words: Pomegranates extract, chlorhexidine, mouthwash, wisdom,

Equisetum arvense L, Family: Equisetaceae, common name hoarse tails. The plant is used
traditionally to stop bleeding, heal ulcers and wounds, and treat tuberculosis and kidney
problems.
The new approach is the investigation of cytotoxic and anti HIV activities of this plant.
The aerial part of the plant was extracted to investigate the presence of alkaloids in it. Powdered
plant was macerated with 2N HCl overnight.
The alkaloids were detected with Dragendorrf reagent and were found to be one spot.
Investigation of the extracted alkaloids using GC/MS reveal the presence of nicotine as the single
alkaloids found in the plant.
Key words: Equisetum arvense, alkaloids, Nicotine.

The measurement of salivary cortisol level has become a reliable method for studying the
adrenal cortical function and it is response to different intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as
medications and stressful factors.
The aims of this study is to investigate if there is difference between sex and the effect of
time of testing on salivary cortisol level, pre and post was scanning, data for cortisol, Salivary
Flow Rate (SFR) and PH of saliva were analyzed.
Non-stimulated salivary samples from 24 subjects (8 males, 16 females) pre and post
scanning with Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was collected and the diurnal variation was
taken into consideration for that all the pre and post scanning samples collected at the morning.
Salivary cortisol was measured by ELISA technique, PH of saliva was measured by PH meter
and salivary flow rate by specific equation.
The results shows there was significant difference in the level of salivary cortisol, SFR
and PH of saliva pre and post examination and there was positive correlation with regard to
cortisol level and PH of saliva pre and post scanning, just the salivary flow rate showed negative
correlation, in addition the results revealed significant difference with regards to the sex of the
participant as well as positive correlation between salivary PH and SFR in pretest phase and
positive correlation between salivary cortisol level, SFR in post scanning phase.
From the results of this study we can conclude that the exposure to MRI scanning have an
effect on Hypothalamic pituitary –adrenal axes and predispose to significant changes in cortisol
level post scanning and this difference must be taken into consideration in concern to effect of
raising the level of cortisone on other variables.
Key words: Salivary coprtisol, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Colorectal cancer is a major global health problem. The aim of the current study is to
determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix
metalloproteinase -1 (MMP-1), in colorectal cancer patients using in situ hybridization technique,
formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissue sections.
Thirty colorectal cancer patients were obtained from the archive of the pathology
laboratory of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital from January 2013 to July 2014. In addition to,
formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections of twenty normal colon tissues were collected
and used as a control group. Each tissue block was subjected to cut as serial thin sections of
(4μm) thickness and then fixed on positive charged slides, to be used for In situ hybridization for
the evaluation of MMP-1 and VEGF expression.
A highly significant difference (p<0.01) was noted in the mean percentage of MMP-1 and
VEGF mRNA in situ expression respectively between the colorectal cancer group and control
group. The study revealed a highly significant positive correlation (P<0.01) between MMP-1 and
VEGF expression in colorectal cancer group. In conclusion, abnormal high expressions of VEGF
and MMP-1 may represent the early molecular changes in the development of colorectal cancer.
Key words: Colorectal cancer, in situ hybridization, vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix
metalloproteinase -1.

The process of molecular domestication that occurred on DNA transposons and gives
what is called neogenes that may play an important role in the human genetic instability. One of
these Neogene is piggyBac 3 (PGBD3) which is associated with human Cockayne syndrome and
Premature ovarian failure.
The aim of this work is to study the expression of Neogene PGBD3 in colorectal cancer
cell lines.
The protein expression of PGBD3 gene have been studied by western blot method in
twelve colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT116, SW48, LOVO, DLD1) which are microsatellite
instable MSI, (SW480, SW620, HT29, LS123, COLO205, T84, SW403, SW1463) which are
microsatellite stable MSS and in healthy tissue of colon as a control.
The result of this study showed that the protein expression of PGBD3 gene in all 12
colorectal cancer cell lines were obtained with variable degree of expression which was not seen
in healthy colon tissue.
From the results of this work, it can be concluded that PGBD3 may have a role in
colorectal cancer either in initiation, promotion or progression which need further research and
confirmation.
Key words: DNA transposons, Domestication, Neogene, PGBD3, microsatellite instable,
microsatellite stable, colorectal cancer cell lines.

Bromelain powder (proteolytic enzyme) was formulated as a gel for topical medical
application by using two preparations method; Carbople 940 was used in the first formulation and
Lutrol F 127 in the second.
The physical and pharmaceutical properties of the gel formulations including the
diffusion rates through the skin in vitro were evaluated.
The best permeability of Bromelain was obtained with the 22% Lutrol F 127 gel
formulation. In addition, a simple and rapid reversed-phase HPLC method was developed to
monitor the quantitative analysis during the study. The used column was C18, 5µm (25 cm
length), the mobile phase consisted of 70% methanol in 0.1 M dibasic potassium phosphate. The
retention time of Bromelain was 7.3 minutes and the method proved precision as the straight line
relationship of peaks areas and concentrations was with a correlation coefficient 0.998, and the
RSD value for five successive determinations for same sample solution was 1.2%.
Key words: Bromelain Gel, HPLC Determination

Bacillus species are the predominant soil bacteria because of their resistant endospore
formation and can produce many different antimicrobial substances.
The main aim of this study was to isolate Bacillus species from soil and investigate their
antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi isolated from human.
48 soil samples were collected from different region of Baghdad city (Rashidiya,
Mahmudiyah, Alkraat and Aldora) during December 2015 and analyzed for the presence of
Bacillus species. Bacterial isolates were identified by using different microscopical examination,
cultural characteristics, biochemical tests and confirmed by VITEK 2 bacterial identification
system. The antimicrobial effects of Bacillus species extracts against some pathogenic bacteria
(Gram-positive, Gram-negative) and fungi were examined. The identified Bacillus species
included B. polymyxa, B. cereus, B. licheniformis, B. mycoides, B. firmus and B. subtilis.
The results indicate that the bacterial isolates showed antimicrobial activity against all
tested pathogenic bacteria and fungi. B. polymyxa showed best activity against most test
organisms compare to other Bacillus isolates, follow by B. subtilis, B. cereus, B. licheniformis, B.
firmus and B. mycoides.
This study reveals that some Bacillus species have the ability to produce antimicrobial
compounds that can be used to control microbial infections in future.
Keywords: Soil Bacteria, Bacillus species, Antimicrobial activity.

Phagocytosis has been recognized as an important mechanism of the human innate
immune response against infections .The aim of this experiment is to test the effect of biofilms
produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates as a cause agent of serious infections isolated
from children in some Iraqi patients on avoiding some innate immunity aspects in vivo.
Twenty five isolates obtained from sputum of children diagnosed with upper respiratory
infections. Two methods were used to detect the ability of biofilms formation, Congo red agar
and Tissue Culture Plate (CRA,TCP) on the other hand the capacity to resist some innate
immunity mechanisms was evaluated by testing the Percentage of killing, Opsonization factor
and phagocytic index.
The results revealed different ability of isolates to form biofilms. 18(72%) producer by
CRA, 16(64%) by TCP while 5(20%) weak by CRA and 9(36%) weak by TCP which reflected
the different ability to affect by innate immunity as showed in the statistical analysis findings (P
value 0.05) that some isolates appeared strong ability to produce biofilms resisted the innate
immunity mechanisms such as isolate numbered 22 showed 32% Bactericidal assay, 20%
opsonization and 28% phagocytic index, while some others was sensitive and killed by innate
immunity cells.
From the results of this study it can be concluded that the Streptococcus pneumoniae
isolates differed in their ability to form biofilms, the important factor in the avoiding some innate
immunity aspects and high resistant.
Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Biofilms, Innate immunity.

The study explored the effect of vitamin c and antacid on the pharmacokinetics of aspirin
in human subjects.
The study was conducted in 12 healthy adults volunteers who were asked to take in the
first study, two tablets of aspirin (300 mg) alone. In a second study, the same subjects were given
two tablets of aspirin (300 mg) together with one tablet of vitamin c 500 mg. Eventually, in the
third study, the subjects were administered two tablets of aspirin (300 mg) and one capsule
containing NaHCO3 (500 mg). The three studies were separated by one week wash out period.
In each study, urine was collected from each individual participated in the study at
specific time intervals for up to24 hours post dosing to calculate the cumulative amount of
salicylate excreted in urine. The excretion rate was plotted against the mid-time sampling time to
calculate the elimination rate constant (K), and the elimination half-life (T0.5).
It was found from the current investigation that administration of vitamin c tablet with
aspirin tablets reduce (K) values and elongate T0.5, whereas, NaHCO3 intake elevate K values and
reduce T0.5 in all subjects participated in the study.
It can be concluded from the current investigation that administration of weak acid drugs
like vitamin c, or weak base drugs like antacid have considerable effect on the residence of
aspirin in the body and consequently its intensity and duration of clinical effect.
Key words: Aspirin, vitamin c, antacid, elimination rate constant, elimination half-life.