Background: Nowadays, there is an accumulated data about the relation between hypomagnesemia (low Serum Mg level < 0.7 mmol/l) and diabetes. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in a carefully diagnosed diabetes patients and to show how some factors could contribute to the prevalence of low serum Mg level among the population under study. Methods: In short, 62 patients of both type 1 and 2, who attended AL-Sadir medical city/ diabetes and endocrinology centre during the period of the study were included in the study. A detailed history was taken and participants were informed verbally about the procedure of this study. Serum magnesium and creatinine were measured using standardized methods. Results: The overall prevalence of the hypomagnesemia, among diabetic population involved in this study, was 29.03 % and it was nearly similar in male (29.41 %) and female (28.57 %). The means(SD) of serum Mg level were similar in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Other difference in prevalence among other characteristics has been reported. Within all participants, gender (r = -0.02), fasting blood glucose (r = -0.514) and metformin use (r = -0.014) were negatively correlated with serum Mg level, in contrast to other variables, which were positively correlated. While among type 1 DM, age (r= 0.193), serum creatinine (r= 0.031) and insulin use (r= 0.217) were positively correlated with serum Mg level. In contrast, others were negatively correlated. In type 2 DM, age (r = -0.283) and fasting blood glucose (r = -0.496) were negatively correlated with serum Mg level. On the other hand, other variables were positively correlated with serum Mg level. Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia prevalence was detected in nearly one-third of the diabetic population, which is quite high prevalence. Some factors have shown to play an essential role in this prevalence. A large study is warranted to address this issue.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality control of marketed tablets containing propranolol hydrochloride available on the Iraqi market and manufactured by different companies. Methods: Different batches of propranolol hydrochloride 40 mg tablets were assessed using quality control tests. Weight variation, diameter, thickness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution study were carried out in this study. Results: Based on the data obtained in this study, all brands of PPL available on the Iraqi market showed weight variation within the acceptable limit of USP. Marketed products of Becardin and Propranolol lie within the acceptable limit of hardness and Inderal was observed to be slightly higher than the normal upper range of USP. Diameter and thickness for all brands were almost the same, except the diameter of Becardin was slightly higher and friability was zero for all brands. All brands demonstrated a time of disintegration of fewer than 30 min. The tested marketed propranolol products; Inderal, Procard, Becardin and Propranolol showed cumulative drug release of 90.08%, 94.46%, 92.4% and 79.51%, respectively at the end of the first 20 min. This variation in the release profile of marketed tablets of Propranolol HCl might be attributed to the excipients present in the marketed tablets where some of these excipients may behave as a disintegrant and enhance dissolution rate while others may act as dissolution retardants. Conclusion: All marketed tablets of Propranolol HCl employed in this study were produced within the standard criteria of tablet manufacturing. Evaluation of quality control of these selected tablets showed acceptable pharmaceutical properties that lie within the limits of USP.

No abstract

Objective: The present study was performed to compare the quality of conventional tablets loaded with candesartan cilexetil. The selected candesartan cilexetil tablets were commercialized in the Iraq market and produced by different companies.  Methods: Different batches of candesartan cilexetil oral tablets (the concentration of candesartan was 8 mg) were subjected to quality control tests. Tests included weight variation, friability, hardness, drug content, disintegration time and in vitro release study. The protocols of these tests were performed according to USP pharmacopeia. Results: The results, in this study, revealed that all the used batches of candesartan cilexetil oral tablets complied with the specification of USP pharmacopeia for weight uniformity, friability value (% loss) was<1. Hardness results of the tablets were 4.9-6.6 Kg/cm2, which was within the required limits (i.e. 4-8 Kg/cm2). Disintegration time was<15 min in both Simulated Gastric Fluid (SGF) and Simulated Intestinal Fluid (SIF). The percentage of drug content in all marketed tablets was found between 96.2 % and 99.8 %, reflecting compliance with the pharmacopeia limits (i.e. 85-115 %). An in vitro release study indicated that the release of all marketed tablets exceeds 80 % within 15 min. Conclusion: All the studied tablets, loaded with candesartan cilexetil, were produced within the standard criteria of tablet production. The quality control analysis of the selected tablets, in this study, revealed satisfactory pharmaceutical properties (including safety and effectiveness) that comply within the limits of USP pharmacopeia.

Objective: This study was employed to evaluate the quality of marketed oral tablets containing clopidogrel bisulfate. Tablets produced by various companies and commercialized in the Iraq market were used in the study. Methods: Batches of clopidogrel bisulfate conventional tablets (containing 75 mg of drug) were exposed to the quality control tests. These tests involved friability, weight variation, hardness, drug content, disintegration time, and in vitro release study; these tests were conducted depending on USP pharmacopeia. Results: The data indicate that all batches of clopidogrel bisulfate complied with the limitations of USP pharmacopeia for variation of weight, results of the hardness of tablets were 7.2-9.6 Kg/cm2. Friability value (% loss) was less than one, which was within the required limits. The time of disintegration was less than 25 min in both artificial gastric fluid (AGF) and artificial intestinal fluid (AIF). Drug content was observed between 97.1 % and 99.8 %, indicating compliance with the limits of pharmacopeia (85-115 %). An in vitro release study of batches was greater than 80 % within 25 min. Conclusion: All batches of clopidogrel bisulfate were manufactured within the criteria of tablet manufacturing. The quality control tests of tablets showed acceptable pharmaceutical properties (effectiveness and safety) that lie within the limits of USP pharmacopeia.