Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2004. / Adviser: Keith Oatley.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.

In conclusion, SED is a predictor of stroke mortality. Both childhood and adulthood SED were related to the risk of stroke. Stroke mortality increased with improving SED at a lower stage of development, while it decreased with SED improvement at a higher stage of development. The analysis was conducted among middle- or high-income countries/regions as data only available there. Investigation for low-income countries is warranted as data become available. / Keywords. Socioeconomic development; stroke; mortality / Socioeconomic development (SED) relates to the prevalence of risk factors of stroke and influence health policy. We aim to explore the association of (SED) in childhood and adulthood with stroke mortality among countries/regions, and to examine its impact on time trend of stroke mortality. / The ecological study used data on stroke mortality in five-year age group among countries/regions with death registry covering > 70% population provided by the World Health Organization. SED was measured by Human Development Index (HDI), a composite indicator with longevity, education and standard of living, obtained from the United Nations. Mortality rates (1950-2003) were averaged over three years and in logarithmical scale. HDI from 1960 to 2003 were available for this analysis. The effect of HDI on stroke mortality was analyzed and the major confounders, such as prevalence of hypertension, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and the level of dietary fat and alcohol consumption were adjusted for using regression model. / The results revealed that stroke mortality was inversely associated with HDI in childhood and adulthood respectively. Childhood HDI explained 36% of variance of stroke mortality among countries/regions in men and 35% in women; while adulthood HDI interpreted 34% in men and 52% in women (P < 0.01); annual change of stroke mortality was inversely associated with that of HDI. The peak of stroke mortality was exhibited at HDI = 0.79-0.83 for men and 0.80-0.83 for women. Stroke mortality increased with HDI where HDI < 0.79 for men and 0.80 for women, while it decreased with HDI improvement where HDI > 0.83 for men and women. Controlling for confounders did not materially change the results. / Wu, Shenghui. / Adviser: Xin-Hua Zhang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3468. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-218). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis ((M. Pharm. (Pharmaceutics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease and it affects about fifty million people worldwide. Careful consideration should be taken when deciding to initiate treatment in epilepsy as it should consider the balance between the possibility of further seizures and their associated risks, including the possible risk of sudden expected death, inconvenience and the risks of taking regular medication for each individual. In the early 1980’s, the first-line treatment for epilepsy was polytherapy. This was due to findings that smaller doses of two drugs rather than larger doses of one drug can achieve synergistic effects or less drug toxicity. However, following more trials on the treatment of epilepsy, this was later changed to monotherapy as first-line treatment. Despite the change, patients remain uncontrolled on a single anti-epileptic drug, thus they are initiated on polytherapy, one such combination being carbamazepine in combination with sodium valproate. The use of these in combination has pharmacological threats such as compliance, the control of side effects and the achievement of synergistic effects. The development of a Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) has often been used to resolve pharmacological threats, and this study aims to develop a fixed dose combination tablet of carbamazepine and sodium valproate to resolve the pharmacological threats in epilepsy. Samples of carbamazepine and sodium valproate and a physical mixture (1:1 w/w) of both drugs and excipients were prepared for compatibility with thermal analysis and spectroscopy techniques. Data was analysed by comparing the DSC curves, FTIR spectra, XRPD peaks and TAM analysis of carbamazepine and sodium valproate alone and in their physical mixture (1:1 w/w) and with excipients. Both carbamazepine and sodium valproate were evaluated for flowability using angle of repose, tapped and bulk density, compressibility index and particle size distribution. To formulate the proposed FDC tablet of carbamazepine and sodium valproate, direct compression and wet granulation methods were employed. The tablets were then evaluated for official and non-official post formulation parameters (weight variation, crushing strength, friability, diameter and thickness, and disintegration) according to BP and USP standards. A standardised HPLC method was developed and validated for analytical procedures. Dissolution studies were conducted xiii according to USP methods to verify and quantify the release of the APIs from the FDC tablet. Carbamazepine and sodium valproate were tested for compatibility with excipients using DSC, FTIR, XRPD and TAM analysis. The overall results confirmed that carbamazepine and sodium valproate are compatible, with each other and the excipients used in the study. Powder flow of carbamazepine and sodium valproate was poor, hence they were subjected to granulation prior to compression to improve flowability. The specifications of the fixed-dose combination were developed in accordance with the FDA’s quality by design concept and WHO recommendations. The tablets were subjected to non-official and official pharmacopoeial tests, and passed all the tests. Dissolution studies according to a USP method were conducted to verify and quantify the release of the APIs in the fixed-dose combination. The initial dissolution rate (DRi) of carbamazepine and sodium valproate in the SLS dissolution medium was rapid as required for an immediate release formulation. The study aimed at developing a fixed dose combination of carbamazepine and sodium valproate to try to reduce the burden of taking more than one tablet for epilepsy. Based on the results obtained from preformulation studies to assay of the final product, the study was successful. / Chieta bursary and HWseta