M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第20002号 / 工博第4246号 / 新制||工||1657(附属図書館) / 33098 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科合成・生物化学専攻 / (主査)教授 濵地 格, 教授 森 泰生, 教授 跡見 晴幸 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

M.P.H., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011

MS, Pharmaceutical Affairs, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / PEO (Polyethylene Oxide) is one of the most important biodegradable polymers used in pharmaceutical formulations, mainly because of its non-toxicity, high water-solubility and swellability, insensitivity to the pH of the biological medium and flexibility during dosage form production (Kim, 1995; Picker-Freyer, 2006; Kiss et al., 2008). The lack of studies attempting to achieve controlled drug delivery of hydrophilic drugs has provided us with motivation to use a drug of this nature but we have combined it with a PEO-electrolyte combination in order to control drug delivery. This study was aimed at modifying the physicochemical and physicomechanical properties of PEO in order to influence the hydrodynamic diffusion of its three-dimensional network. Hence, through such alteration, it was envisaged that if drug is loaded into its PEO matrix, its solubility and dissolution can be regulated in order to achieve zero-order influx of dissolution medium. The interaction between PEO and electrolytes may allow for precipitation of ions on the polymer backbone. This would lead to the attraction of water molecules to the ions. As a result, this would cause dehydration of the polymer matrix, hence minimising its mobility and relaxation. In this study, 36 PEO-electrolyte combinations were prepared by combining a high molecular weight PEO with different statistically planned combinations of electrolytes. The 36 formulations were microscopically analyzed and subjected to textural analysis. The salted-out PEO-electrolyte combinations were then further selected and analyzed. Assessment of the molecular structural transition and thermal compatibility analysis indicated minimal interaction between the electrolytes and PEO indicating that the polymer-electrolyte combination was stable enough to be employed as a medium for controlled drug release. The polymer-electrolyte combination was combined with a model drug, diphenhydramine HCl to form a tablet matrix and then subjected to dissolution. In vitro drug release varied depending on the different electrolytes and their combinations. The type of polymer, molecular weight of the polymer, concentration of the polymer, different electrolyte combinations and solubility of the drug played a significant role in controlling drug release. After optimization of the fracture force, resilience and work performed values, results have established that equal concentrations of Na2CO3 and K2HPO4 are desirable for achieving controlled release of drug from the salted-out PEO combination in a zero-order manner. Furthermore, Na2CO3 and K2HPO4 had a significant influence on controlling the release of drug from the salted-out PEO combination due to crosslinking between PEO and the electrolytes ultimately leading to zero-order release kinetics. The salting-out of PEO notably modified the physicochemical and micromechanical properties of basic PEO, which demonstrably enhanced the ability of the sample to achieve controlled drug release. The formulation strategy employed in this study where in our sample drug, diphenhydramine HCl was combined with a PEO-electrolyte combination has shown promising results in regulating drug release.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the policies and practices of school districts with random drug testing policies in Pennsylvania. Specifically, this study intended to help administrators understand the phenomenon of drug testing as one available means of substance use prevention. In response to the rising drug use in our schools, random drug testing has increasingly become one of the many possible solutions being used to prevent student drug use. Currently, drug testing programs have been examined in the workplace and in intercollegiate athletics. However, very little evaluative research has been conducted on whether school districts are satisfied with their random drug testing policies and practices. The researcher anticipates making a significant contribution for school administrators as they strive to generate drug-free schools. The literature review presented in this research study examined the historical perspective of drug use in our nation and the events and perceptions that led up to the job-related drug testing that began in the military and workplace. The role values play in the policymaking process is discussed as well as any conflicts that arise due to diversity in those values. The costs and benefits of a random drug testing policy are also presented. For this study, random drug testing was examined in the context of a range of school districts within Pennsylvania that have implemented similar policies. Statistical data was utilized in order to collect and analyze superintendents' perspectives and satisfaction with random drug testing programs in order to increase the overall understanding of drug testing as a strategy for prevention. Parents, teachers, coaches, administrators and communities may benefit from this detailed study by way of the recommendations that will be provided for future school leaders and various stakeholders considering the adoption of a random drug testing policy. / Educational Administration

No / Discussions between the children's services manager at an National Health Service trust, and a children's nursing lecturer from the trust's partnering university clarified that there was a need to establish a greater understanding of the local circumstances surrounding adverse events in drug administration - particularly when those events involved nurses. Indeed it is claimed that nurses spend up to 40% of their time administering drugs. It was agreed that a collaborative research study, specifically designed to explore the nature of drug administration errors, could inform future trust policies and procedures around both drug administration and error, as well as the various university curricula concerning drug administration. This study, supported by senior management in the trust, and the chair of the local research ethics committee, has commenced. The first part of this study -- an introductory literature review, is presented here. The work of O'Shea [J Clin Nurs (1999)8:496-504] is significant in structuring the review that bears a number of recurring themes. It is not the intention of this literature review to reappraise O'Shea's original critique but to expand on her work, offer a contemporaneous perspective in the light of studies and reports published since 1999, and reset the topic in the context of clinical governance. This literature review has already provided an underpinning framework for a pilot questionnaire to staff who have been involved in drug administration errors and is also the basis for curricular input to preregistration students on the subject of risk management and drug administration. In conclusion, several recommendations about the shape of future research are offered.

The use of illicit drugs continues to be a problem around the world, particularly in the United States. Many individuals relapse following treatment for substance abuse; however, the role that drug attitude plays in the amount of time between treatment and relapse is not known. Research regarding the relationship between attitude and behavior change, drug use and relapse, gender differences in relapse, ways to measure drug attitude, and the relationship between drug attitude and drug use are discussed. The present study utilized a data set that consisted of one hundred subjects who participated in residential treatment for addiction. All subjects were dually diagnosed with major mental illness and a substance use or abuse disorder. The overall purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between drug attitude at intake and time to relapse following completion of residential treatment. Results indicated that there was no significant relationship between drug attitude and time to relapse following treatment. Results further indicated that there were no differences in scores on Campbell's Drug Attitude Scale for males and females and no difference in time to relapse for males and females. Finally, results demonstrated that scores on the Attitude subscale and the Clinical subscale of Campbell's Drug Attitude Scale did not significantly predict time to relapse.