BENZENE FACTS

BENZENE

also known as benzol:

structure of benzene

• Benzene is a chemical that is colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature.  
• Benzene is highly flammable and has a sweet odor.
• Benzene evaporates very quickly into the air. In a comparison of air, benzene vapor is heavier and may sink into the low-lying area.
• Only slightly in water benzene dissolves and on top of the water will float.

FORMATION OF BENZENE AND HOW IT IS USED:

• Benzene formed from both human activities and natural processes.
• Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of gasoline, crude oil, and cigarette smoke.
• Benzene ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume.
• In the United, State benzene is widely used.
• Some industries use benzene to an Intermediate to make other chemicals such as- Resins, Nylon, Plastics, and Synthetic fibers.
• Benzene is also used to make some types of lubricants, like- Dyes, Rubbers, Pesticides, Drugs, and Detergents.

BENZENE WORKS:

It works by causing cells not to work correctly. For example, It can cause Bone Marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Benzene can also damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells. The seriousness of poisoning caused by benzene depends on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical condition of the exposed person.

HOW COULD BE EXPOSED TO BENZENE:

• Benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can contaminate well water.
• Outer air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.
• Indoor air generally contains levels of benzene higher than those in outdoor air. The benzene in indoor air comes from products that contain benzene in indoor air that comes from products that contain benzene such as- glue, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
• The air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations can contain higher levels of benzene than in other areas.
• People working in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of it.
• Tobacco smoke is also a major source of benzene exposure.

SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE TO BENZENE:

• People who breathe in high levels of benzene may develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes to several hours-
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headaches 
• Confusion
• Irregular or Rapid Heartbeat 
• Unconscious
• *Death(at a very high level)

• Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:
• Sleeping 
• Vomiting
• Dizziness 
• Irritation of the stomach
• Convulsions
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

• Direct exposure of the eyes, skin, or lungs to benzene can cause irritation and tissue injury
• If a person vomits because of swallowing foods or beverages containing benzene, the vomit could be sucked into the lungs and cause breathing problems and coughing.
• But showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to benzene.

THE MAJOR EFFECT OF BENZENE FROM LONG-TERM EXPOSURE:

*(Long-term exposure means exposure of a year or more)

• Long term health effects of exposure to benzene are on the blood. Benzene can cause, a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia also causes harmful effects on the bone marrow. Benzene can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance of infection.
• For many months,  some women who breathed high levels of benzene had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of ovaries.
• In Research, Animal studied have shown low birth weights, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.
• The Department of Health and Human Services(DHHS) has observed that benzene causes cancer in humans. Exposure of high levels of benzene for long-term in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.

EXPOSURE TO BENZENE IS DANGEROUS:

(what to do if we are exposed to Benzene)

• First of all, if the benzene was released into the air, get fresh air by leaving the area where the benzene was released.
• To reduce the possibility of death from exposure to benzene in the air.

*If the benzene release was outside, move away from the area where the benzene was released.

*If the benzene release was indoors, get out the building.

• If you think you may have been exposed to benzene, you should remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as soon as possible.

• REMOVING CLOTHING:

*Take off clothing quickly that may have benzene on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head.

*Try to avoid touching any contaminated areas if you are helping other people removing their clothing and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.

• WASHING:

• Wash benzene from your skin with large amounts of soap and water, as quickly as possible. Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
• If your vision is blurred or eyes are burning, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10-15 minutes. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with water and soap. You can put your eyeglasses back on after your wash them. If you wear contacts, remove than after washing your hands and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes(even if they are not disposable contacts).

•  DISPOSING of CLOTHES:

• After you have washed, avoid touching contaminated areas of clothing and place your clothing inside a plastic bag. If you are not sure where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves or put the clothing in bag using tongs, sticks, tool handles, or similar objects. All things that touch contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag.
• Seal the bag, after that seal that bags inside another bag. In this way, your disposing of clothing will protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.

       BENZENE CAN BE FOUND:

       A natural process that produces Benzene-

• Forest fires 
• Volcanoes

      Benzene containing products:

• Glues 
• Paints 
• Thinners
• Inks
• Rubbers
• Lacquer, paint, and varnish removers
• Industrial solvents 
• Furniture wax
• Detergents
• Gasoline and other fuels
• Industrial cleaning and degreasing formulations

      BENZENE ACTIVITIES:

• Burning oil and coal
• Dry cleaning 
• Emissions motor vehicle exhaust
• Painting and lithography 
• Chemicals making 

    -Plastics 

    -Resins 

    -Nylon and synthetic fibers

• Making the type of:
• Rubbers 
• Lubricants
• Dyes 
• Detergents
• Pharmaceutical drugs 
• Agricultural chemicals(pesticides)

INDUSTRIES USING BENZENE:

• Petroleum refining 
• Coke and coal chemical manufacturing
• Shoe manufacturing 
• Gasoline storage, retail operation, and shipment

PEOPLE WHO MAY BE EXPOSED TO BENZENE:

• Printers
• Rubber workers
• Steelworkers
• Shoemakers
• Laboratory technicians
• Gasoline service station employees

                                                                -AKSHITA SRIVASTAVA

               

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer's Disease:

also called: senile dementia

Alzheimer's disease

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CAN IRREVERSIBLE, PROGRESSIVE BRAIN DISORDER THAT SLOWLY  DESTROYS THINKING SKILLS, MEMORY AND  EVENTUALLY; THE ABILITY TO CARRY OUT THE SIMPLE TASK.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia is one of them. In this disease, the patient forgets about their present, and also various types of problems are there. While some peoples forget a person's name (ANOMIA), while some peoples forget about new events also.  Because of the increasing number of persons who are coming in with complaints this 'forgetfulness' so much research is being conducted in the field of dementia.

• Another name:       Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's.
• Specialty:                  Neurology.
• Symptoms:               Difficulty in remembering recent events by 

                                               individuals, a problem with language, mood

                                                swings, disorientation.

                                             

• Usual onset:             Over 65 years old. 
• Duration:                  Long term.
• Risk factor:               Genetics, head injuries, hypertension,

                                               depression. 

• Diagnosis                  Cognitive testing after ruling out other possible methods:                    causes and based on symptoms.
• Differential 

        diagnosis:                  Normal aging 

• Medication:              Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA                                                         receptor antagonists (small benefit).
• Prognosis:                 Life expectancy 3-9 years.
• Frequency:                29.8 million.
• Death:                         1.9 million.                                             

HISTORY:

 

The name of Alzheimer's disease named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer observed changes in the brain's tissue of a woman, who had died of an abnormal mental disease. Her symptoms included language problems, memory loss, and unpredictable behavior. After that woman died, Alzheimer examined her brain and he found so many abnormal clumps(now known as Amyloid Plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called Neurofibrillory or tau, tangles).

                             These plaques and tangles in our brain are still considered some of the main features of Alzheimer's disease. Another feature is the loss of connections between nerve cells(nerves) in the brain. Nerves transmit messages between various parts of the brain, and from the brain to organs and muscles in the body.

Dr. Alois Alzheimer

HOW DOES ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AFFECT THE BRAIN?

Alzheimer's disease affects the brain

Scientists continue to unravel the complex brain changes involved in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease.

                               The brain typically shrinks to some degree in healthy aging but, surprisingly, does not lose neurons in large numbers. In Alzheimer's disease, however, the loss is widespread, because so many neurons stop working, lose connections with other neurons, and die. The disrupts of Alzheimer's processes vital to neurons and their networks, which including communication, metabolism, and repair.

                                Firstly, typically Alzheimer's disease destroys

neurons and their connections in parts of the brain involved in memory, including the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. After that, it affects areas in the cerebral cortex responsible for language, reasoning, and social behavior. Eventually, so many other areas of the brain are damaged. With time, a person with Alzheimer's gradually loses his or her ability to live and work independently. Ultimately, Alzheimer's disease is fatal.

SYMPTOMS:

                      

                       The main symptoms or can say key symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is -memory loss. 

                                   First of all, people with Alzheimer's disease may be aware of having difficulty with remembering things and organizing thoughts.      

                        Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease lead to growing trouble with:

*Memory:

                       Generally, we also memory lapses. It's normal to lose track of where you put your keys or forget the name of an acquaintance. But the loss of memory which associated with Alzheimer's disease persists and worsens, affecting the ability to function at work or at home.

Memory lapses 

People with Alzheimer's may:

• Repeat statements and questions over and over.
• Routinely misplace possessions, often putting them in illogical locations.
• Forget all conversations, appointments, or events, and not remember them later.
• Get lost in familiar places.
• Eventually, forget the names of family members and everyday objects.
• Have trouble finding the right words to identify objects, express thoughts, or take part in conversations.

*Making decisions and judgment:

                              The ability of a person to make reasonable decisions in everyday situations will decline. Example: A person wears clothes that are inappropriate for the weather or person may poor choices in social interactions.

*Thinking and reasoning:

                              Alzheimer's disease causes difficulty concentrating and thinking, especially about abstract concepts such as numbers.

                              Multitasking is literally difficult for Alzheimer's patients and it may be challenging to manage balance, finances, checkbooks, and pay bills on time.

*Planning and performing familiar tasks:

                               Such as planning and cooking a meal or playing a favorite game, become a struggle as the disease progresses. Gradually; over time person with advanced Alzheimer's may forget how to perform basic tasks ever bathing and dressing also.

*Changes in Behaviour and Personality:

                                Alzheimer's disease can affect moods and behaviors. Including problems:

• Depression
• Apathy 
• Mood swings, social withdrawal
• Distrust in others
• Changes in sleeping habits
• Aggressiveness and Irritability
• Loss of inhibitors
• Wandering
• Delusions, such as believing something has been stolen.

Risk factors of Alzheimer's disease:

• Genetics and family history: Our risk of developing Alzheimer's is somewhat higher if a first-degree relative parent or sibling has the disease.

                                      Genetics factor is a form of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). A variations gene, APOE e4, increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but not everyone with this variation of the gene develops the disease.

                                       Scientists have identified rare changes (mutations) in three genes that virtually guarantee a person who inherits are of them will develop Alzheimer's, but these mutations account for less than 1% of people with Alzheimer's disease.

• Age: The greatest risk factor of Alzheimer's disease is increasing age. Alzheimer's is not a part of normal aging but as we grow older the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease increasing.

• Down Syndrome: People with down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease. This is related to having three copies of chromosomes 21- and subsequently three copies of the gene for the protein that leads to the creation of beta-amyloid.

• Sex: There appears to be little difference in risk between men and women, but, overall, there are more women with the disease because they generally live longer than men.

• Post - Head Trauma: If a person has severe head trauma having greatest risk of Alzheimer's disease.

• Poor sleep patterns: Many of the research has shown that poor sleep patterns, such as staying asleep or difficulty falling asleep are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

• Lifestyle and heart health:   Research has also shown that the same risk factors associated with heart disease may also increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. These include:

• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke 
• High blood pressure 
• High cholesterol
• Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes

Complications:

                           A person with Alzheimer's disease may not be able to:

• Communicate that he or she is experiencing pain For Example: from a dental problem.
• Report symptoms of another illness
• Follow a prescribed treatment plan
• Notice or describe medication side effects

TREATMENT:

                             Alzheimer's disease is complicated, and it is unlikely that anyone drug or other intervention can successfully

treat it. Current approaches focus on helping people maintain mental function, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow down certain problems, such as memory loss. Researchers hope to develop therapies specific genetics, cellular, and molecular mechanisms so that the actual underlying cause of the disease can be stopped or prevented.

• Medications to manage Behaviour Alzheimer's disease:

Common behavioral symptoms of this Alzheimer's disease include agitation, sleeping, wandering, and aggression, scientists are learning why this symptom occur and are studying new treatment-drug and non-drug to manage them. Research has shown that treating behavioral symptoms can make people with Alzheimer's more comfortable and makes things easier for caregivers.

• Looking for New Treatments for Alzheimer' Disease:

Alzheimer's disease research has developed to a point where scientists can look beyond treating symptoms to think about addressing underlying processes. In clinical trials, scientists are testing and developing several possible interventions, cognitive training, physical activity, and treatments for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Conclusion: A dangerous progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.

                                                 Therefore, changing lifestyle habits can to some degree after your risk. For Example, Regular exercise and a healthy low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables are associated with a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

 

             -AKSHITA SRIVASTAVA

                               

  

                                   

Turmeric

NEEM

INTERESTING ABOUT NEEM:

-AKSHITA SRIVASTAVA 

PHARMACEUTICAL TABLET

Tablets are a solid unit dosage form of medicament or medicament with a suitable excipient. Tablet is a 

Pharmaceutical Oral Dosage Form or Solid Dosage Form . The most popular dosage form of tablets is The Compressed Tablet. Generally, tablets orally, but also can be administered sublingually, buccally, rectally, or intravaginally. The tablet is one of the forms that an oral drug can take such as elixirs, syrups, suspensions & emulsion. For identified; tablets are frequently stamped with, letters, numbers & symbols. The range of tablets to be swallowed from a few millimeters to about a centimeter. With the help of polymer coating can make the tablet smoother & easier to swallow.

Easier to swallow pills 

TABLET PROPERTIES:

Tablet can be made in any shape, but the requirements of patients & tableting machines mean most are round, capsule, or oval-shaped. If we will give the shape of tablet differ from oval, round; then patients get these harder to swallow, and have more chipping or manufacturing & pregnable problems. The shape & diameter of the tablet are determined by the machine tooling used to produce them a die plus an upper & a lower punch are required; known as a station of tooling. Tablets should be hard or tuff enough that they don't break up in the bottle, & also friable enough that they dispart in our gastric tract.

In lubricants in tablet or hard gelatin capsules, commonly minerals like silica or talc & fats, eg- magnesium stearate or stearic acid, vegetable stearin are frequently used. 

Tablet of different shape 

TYPES OF TABLET: 

PILLS: Pill is around, small & solid pharmaceutical oral dosage form of medication.

Pills

CAPLETS: Caplet is an oval-shaped, smooth-coated medicinal tablet in the general shape of a capsule. There is an indentation between many caplets that's why they can be divided/ split in half so easily. After the inception of the capsule, it has been seen by consumers the best & most efficient method of taking medication. For this reason, OTC Analgesic (producers of the drug) 

wanting to emphasize the strength of their product developed the "caplet", a portmanteau of " capsule-shaped tablet", in order to tie this positive association to more efficiently-produced tablet pills, as well as being an easier to swallow shape than the usual disk-shaped tablet. 

Caplet

ORALLY DISINTEGRATING TABLET (ODT): 

It is an orally disintegrating tablet or orodispersible tablet (ODT), is a form of drug dose & it is available for a limited range of over-the-counter (OTC) & prescription medications.

Orally disintegrating tablet

ADVANTAGES:

*User Aspect (doctor, pharmacist, patient)Lightest & most compact 

• Easy handling
• Greatest dose prescription & least content variability

*Production Aspect

• High Stability
• Large scale production at the lowest cost 
• Easiest & cheapest to package & ship.

* Tablet is most stable with respect to physical, chemical & microbiological attributes.

* Tablet is the cheapest oral dosage form, easy to use & carry out with attractive & elegant appearance.

DISADVANTAGES :

• Bitter taste drugs, drugs with an objectionable odor, or sensitive to oxygen or moisture may require encapsulation or the tablets may require coating.
• Some drugs resist compression into dense compacts.
• Drugs with slow dissolution, poor wetting, intermediate to large dosage may be difficult or impossible to formulate & manufacture as a tablet that provides adequate or full drugs bioavailability.

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON THE DANGERS OF TABLET CRUSHING:

"DON'T RUSH TO CRUSH"

If someone hard to swallow tablets or capsules then, it's easy to think is to crush a capsule or tablet to make swallowing easier. But we should never crush a tablet or open a capsule without checking that it is safe to do so or not. If leaflet which comes with your medicine says the medicine is suitable for crushing, mixing, or opening with food, then it is probably safe to do so.

don't Rush to Crush

WHY WE SHOULD NOT RUSH TO CRUSH THE TABLET:

Crushing tablets or opening capsules which are not designed to be taken in this way:-

• It may cause serious side effects.
• It may prevent the medicine from working properly.
• It also may slow down recovery from illness.

* NOTE: THERE IS  SPECIAL MODIFICATION IN SOME TABLETS AFTER YEARS OF RESEARCH; THAT SOME TABLETS WHICH CAN MEAN THE DRUG IS RELEASE VERY SLOWLY, SO WE NEED TO TAKE ONLY ONE TABLET OR CAPSULE  A DAY.

-AKSHITA SRIVASTAVA

PARACETAMOL

• GENERIC NAME : paracetamol(oral/ rectal)

• ALTERNATE NAME :acetaminophen

Paracetamol is a fever reducer and pain reliever. Paracetamol is also used to treat many conditions such as - headache, colds, toothaches, backaches & muscle aches .

STRUCTURE :

• FORMULA : C₈H₉NO₂
• MOLAR MASS : 151.163 g/mol
• ANOTHER NAMES : N-acetyl - para- aminophenol, acetaminophen.
• DRUG CLASS : Antipyretics & Analgesics .
• SOLUBILITY : Soluble in ALCOHOL & WATER.
• IUPAC NAME : N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethanamide, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide.

* IMPORTANT INFORMATION :

Do not use more of paracetamol than is recommended. If we will take maximum amount of paracetamol it can cause serious harm like damage to our liver. Maximum dose of paracetamol for adults is 1 gram(1000mg) per day.(NOT MORE THAN THAT). Paracetamol contain so many combination medicines . If we use certain products together may accidentally use too much paracetamol.

* AVOID ALCOHOL :

NOTE : We should read thelabel of any other medicine should using to see if it contains Paracetamol, Acetaminophen or APAP; in that condition should avoid drinking alcohol.

• Alcohol may ↑ (increase) risk of liver damage while taking paracetamol.
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* OVERDOSE OF PARACETAMOL :

If we have used maximum amount of Paracetamol, in that condition various symptoms shown in our body such as - vomoting, nausea, loss of  appetite, sweating, stomach pain & weakness. After some time signs may include pain in our upper stomach , dark urination & white of our eyes or yellowing of skin. If you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reactions ; stop using of this medicine .

OVERDOSE ON PARACETAMOL CAUSES LIVER FAILURE 

* INTERESTING FACTS : EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PARACETAMOL 

• FACT ONE : Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen & has been clinically used since 1893.

• FACT TWO : Paracetamol does not interact with another medicine UNLESS if taken with other Paracetamol containing drugslike co-codamol which will then cause overdose. 

• FACT THREE : Maximum amount of Paracetamol can be lethal & overdose of Paracetamol may cause severe liver damage .

• FACT FOUR : Series of chemical sequencing acetanilide & phenacetin is metabolised to Paracetamol.
• FACT FIVE : Paracetamol can be administered to everyone ; children, elderly, pregnant women, EXCEPT individuals with Liver Dysfunction.

• FACT SIX : Paracetamol has so many formulations; soluble tablet, oral solution, capsule, caplet & suppositories.

* NOTE : IF YOU HAVE BLOOD PRESSURE; YOU SHOULD AVOID THE SOLUBLE TABLET DUE TO THE SALT CONTENT .

A SYSTAMATIC REVIEW OF THE EFFECT OF PARACETAMOL ON BLOOD PRESSURE

-AKSHITA SRIVASTAVA 

MICROMERITICS

• POWDER CAN BE SIMPLY CALLED THE COLLECTION OF DRY PARTICLES WHICH COULD BE FINE OR PRODUCED BY CRUSHING,GRINDING,OR DISINTEGRATING THE COARSE SOLID PARTICLES .

• WHEN THERAPEUTIC POWDERS ARE CONSIDERED ,PARTICLES SIZE DISTRIBUTION IS A CRITICAL FACTOR THAT GOVERNS THE PACKAGING ,FLOW & DRUG UNIFORMITY IN THE POWDER BLEND .

*COMPARISION OF POWDER WITH OTHER SUBSTANCE:

A PASTE OR GEL MIGHT BECOME A POWDER AFTER IT HAS BEEN THROUGHLY DRIED , BUT IT IS NOT CONSIDERED AS POWDER WHEN IT IS WET BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FLOW FREELY.

SUBSTANCES LIKE DRIED CLAY , ALTHOUGH DRY BULK SOLIDS COMPOSED OF VERY FINE PARTICLES , ARE NOT POWDERS UNLESS THEY ARE CRUSHED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MUCH COHESION BETWEEN THE GRAINS , SO THEREFORE THEY DO NOT FLOW FREELY LIKE A POWDER.

A POWDER ON THE OTHER HAND IS A SOLID , NOT A LIQUID , BECAUSE IT MAY SUPPORT SHEAR STRESSES & THEREFORE MAY DISPLAY AN  ANGLE OF REPOSE.

* WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR POWDER ON THEIR FACE?

IT'S BECAUSE THEY THINK IT WILL MAKE THEIR FACIAL SKIN LOOK FLAWLESS , CLEAN, FAIR (AS SHOWN IN ADVERTISEMENT.BUT NONE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBABLE REASONS ARE COMPLETELY CORRECT...

WEARING POWDER ON FACE WILL WORK ONLY IF A PRIMER FOUNDATION IS APPLIED & EVERYTHING IS EVENLY BLENDED NOT LEAVING ANY BLEMISHES SO THAT IT MATCHES PERFECTLY WITH THE SKIN TONE OF THE PERSON & EVEN THAT TOO WHEN THE POWDER IS ACTUALLY MEANT TO BE APPLIED ON FACIAL SKIN.

-AKSHITA SRIVASTAVA