Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii, 1970. / Bibliography: leaves [144]-155. / ix, 155 l tables

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-100). / ix, 100 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

The primary aim of this work was to provide an alternative method of synthesis of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug copper indomethacin (Cu-Indo) and to produce alternative forms of the drug to increase its marketability. Dense gases as anti-solvents were used to achieve these aims. The study involved the synthesis, purification, micronisation and co-precipitation of Cu-Indo with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using dense carbon dioxide as an anti-solvent. Initially the volumetric and solubility behaviours of the solvent???anti-solvent systems were investigated to determine the optimum processing conditions. The solubility of Cu-Indo in an expanded solution was found to be a complex function of the solvent and other solutes. Copper indomethacin was successfully synthesised and purified in a single vessel using dense carbon dioxide as an anti-solvent. Drug yields of 98 % and purities near 100 % were achieved at optimum conditions with the advantages of less residual solvent in the drug, less solvent waste, reduced processing time and increased yields over the conventional synthesis process. Copper indomethacin was produced in a variety of morphologies and particle sizes using dense carbon dioxide as an anti-solvent. An investigation of the effect of process parameters on the particle characteristics showed that solute concentration was the dominant variable. Spherical particles with diameters less than 8 mm were obtained at optimum conditions. The immediate benefit of micronising Cu-Indo was demonstrated with an eight fold increase in dissolution rate when compared to the conventionally produced drug. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was successfully co-precipitated with Cu-Indo using dense carbon dioxide as an anti-solvent. The PVP???Cu-Indo co-precipitates were found to increase the solubility of the drug in ethanol with a 36 fold solubility enhancement at optimum conditions. The use of dense carbon dioxide as anti-solvent in this work demonstrates the potential of the GAS and ASES processes in the pharmaceutical industry. Copper indomethacin was synthesised, purified and micronised in a single vessel at a substantial saving in terms of time and solvent usage. The micronisation of Cu-Indo and the formation of the PVP???Cu-Indo co-precipitate provided alternative forms of the drug substantially increasing its marketability.

Screening pregnant women for substance use appears unworthy of debate given the harmful impacts on the fetus, pregnancy outcomes, the woman herself and her offspring to adulthood. However while screening is routine for conditions such as impaired glucose control, obstetric care providers are often reluctant to intervene with substance use, citing knowledge deficits and a lack of effective screening tools. General negativity about the value of intervention and stereotypical views of substance users have also been identified. This study examined existing screening tools and investigated the World Health Organization’s ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) Version 3.0, focussed on tobacco, alcohol and cannabis, the substances most used in the targetted public hospital clinics. The ASSIST Version 3.0’s performance in pregnancy was assessed using a two-pronged harm categorization: risk to the fetus and risk to the woman as an individual user. For the latter, levels of risk concordant with cut-offs for the general population were utilized. The ASSIST Version 3.0 performed only moderately well versus established self-report tools: the Revised Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (RTQ) for tobacco, the T-ACE for alcohol, and the Timeline FollowBack (TLFB) for cannabis. Most participants used tobacco (98 of 104); predominance of tobacco use was likely linked to the recognized difficulty in stopping, despite cessation of other substances. Kappa analyses of Specific Substance Involvement Scores (SSIS) on ASSIST Version 3.0 for tobacco did not support changing cut-offs for the woman as an individual user; however, ROC curves delineated an SSIS of 4 as indicative of fetal risk for both alcohol and cannabis. As all 98 tobacco users were ‘high risk’ users, a cut-off indicative of fetal risk for tobacco could not be determined but may be feasible by further research with first trimester women. Identifying tobacco use with an established tobacco-specific tool should be the first screening for pregnant women. If tobacco use is identified, screening for other substance use can be initiated and there may be a place for the ASSIST Version 3.0 in that context. Obstetric care providers need to then be willing and competent to address identified use, whilst avoiding unhelpful stereotyping. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Medical Sciences, 2010

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1968. / Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.L. Arch. - Landscape Architecture)--University of Arizona, 1982. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-68).

Thesis (M. S. - Renewable Natural Resources)--University of Arizona, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-114).

Thesis (M.A.) in History--University of Maine, 2007. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-120).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 8 uppsatser.