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Introduction: Non-traumatic back pain constitutes roughly 5% of the admissions to emergency departments. This study seeks to compare the efficacy of intravenously administered paracetamol, dexketoprofen, and ibuprofen in patients with non-traumatic acute low back pain. Methods: This study was designed as a randomized, double-blinded investigation and carried out at a tertiary hospital. 210 eligible patients without trauma who presented with low back pain were recruited for the study and randomized into paracetamol (n = 71), dexketoprofen (n = 70), and ibuprofen (n = 69) groups. The measurements at 0, 15, 30 and 60 min were noted down by using a 100 mm VAS, and the relevant comparisons were made. Results: The VAS scores at 0 and 60 min in the paracetamol, dexketoprofen, and ibuprofen groups decreased on average by 40 mm, 42 mm, and 43 mm, respectively. The baseline and final pain scores of each drug group differed significantly (p < 0.05), though the between-group analysis revealed no significant difference (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Given the obtained data, we did not note a significant difference between intravenous paracetamol, dexketoprofen and ibuprofen with respect to pain efficacy in non-traumatic acute low back pain. Based on the patients' clinical conditions and histories, we concluded that the choice of medication might not change the efficacy of the treatment and patient comfort. © 2022 Elsevier Inc.

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Mecânica, A presente dissertação de mestrado baseia-se no estudo e otimização de um dispositivo que faz a abertura e selagem de ampolas para comercialização. O equipamento numa primeira fase tem uma chama que abre um orifício na ampola por onde, numa segunda fase, é inserido o líquido com que se pretende encher a ampola. Por último há a atuação de duas chamas, controladas por certos níveis de gás e oxigénio, que efetuam a selagem da ampola. A empresa MesoSystems, local onde foi desenvolvido este projeto, é a detentora desta máquina e pretende que a mesma funcione de modo totalmente automático, sem ocorrer nenhuma vigilância por parte de um operador, durante um turno de sete horas de fucnionamento. Em primeiro lugar, o equipamento foi analisado ao pormenor e foram identificados os seus principais componentes. Para além disso, foram também identificados os componentes da maior parte dos outros dispositivos presentes no mercado e comparou-se as caraterísticas de modelos semelhantes da marca ROTA e Harsiddh Engineering. O próximo passo da dissertação foi a descrição do tipo de ampolas usadas na máquina e a identificação do tipo de controlo de qualidade utilizado pela empresa na produção das ampolas. Foi também realizado um teste ao aparelho para identificar os problemas principais do mesmo. De seguida, foi idealizado um sistema com sensores de temperatura através da uitlização do software Arduino para se conseguir analisar e trabalhar os valores de temperatura retirados para cada uma das chamas. Por fim, e após uma extensa análise dos resultados obtidos com o sistema projetado, foram retiradas as devidas conclusões e expôs-se os possíveis trabalhos futuros para este projeto., This master thesis is based on the study and optimization of a device that opens and seals ampoules for retail. The equipment, in the first place, has a flame that opens a hole for a liquid to be filled in the ampoule. Then, two flames of gas and oxygen are resposible to seal the ampoule. The company Mesosystems, where this project was developed, is the owner of this machine and wants the equipment to work fully automatically, without operator surveillance, during a seven hour shift. Firstly, the equipment was analyzed in detail and the main components were identified. In addition, the components of most of the other devices on the market were identified and the caratheristics of similar models from the Rota and Harsiddh Engineering brands were compared. The next step of the thesis was the description of the type of ampoules used in the machine and the identification of the type of qualily control used by the company in the production process. A test was also carried out on the equipment to identify the main problems. Then, a system with temperature sensors was design using the Arduino software to be able to analyze and work with the temperature values obained for each of the flames. Finally, and after an extensive analysis of the results obtained with the designed system, the appropriate conclusions were taken and the possible future works for this project were exposed.

OBJECTIVES: To transfer sterile medical devices (SMD), infusion bags (IB), ampoules (A), injection vials (V) and infusion bottles (B) into a laminar airflow cabinet (LAF) or safety cabinet (SC) with a surface bioburden as low as possible.METHODS: Surface bioburden of the outer layer of SMD, IB, A, V and B was determined by contact plates. Surface bioburden determination of critical spots on A, V and B (ampoule necks and stoppers) was determined by high-recovery swabs and contact plates. Particle emission from white cardboard boxes was determined by a particle counter.RESULTS: The chances of a contaminated outer layer of SMD is negligible as long as they stay in their original boxes. The outer layer of double-packed IB can contain a considerable number of micro-organisms. As found in previous studies, the surface bioburden of A, V and B is low as long as they stay in their original cardboard boxes. Particle emission from white boxes is low. The necessity of a final disinfection step inside LAF/SC of critical sspots of A, V and B cannot be proven. SmallSMD, ampoules and injection vials can be transferred into the background areain their original white boxes. Other materials have to be unpacked in front ofthe lock while the operator wear disposable gloves. Disinfection of the outerlayer of IB, before transfer trough the lock, is advised. Tohave materials with a low chance of contamination in LAF/SC, transfer bypresentation for SMD and IB and using a sterile tray for disinfected materialsis an effective procedure. Wiping of ampoule necks and stoppers inside LAF/SC isadvised based on risk assessment.Small SMD, ampoules and injection vials can be transferred into the background areain their original white boxes. Other materials have to be unpacked in front ofthe lock while the operator wear disposable gloves. Disinfection of the outerlayer of IB, before transfer trough the lock, is advised.CONCLUSION: When SMD, ampoules, injection vials and infusion bottles stay in their original boxes as long as possible, the aseptic transfer and the disinfection procedure can be maintained effectively and efficiently.

The optically good quality organic 2-aminopyridinium 4-nitrophenolate 4-nitrophenol (2AP4N) single crystal (length 120 mm and diameter 15 mm) was grown by a novel Immersing ampoule Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (ISR) method. The water covered completely the ampoule containing growth solution in the unidirectional method for the first time in the literature. The ampoule was specially designed for the growth of good quality and bulk size unidirectional single crystals by slow cooling condition. The unwanted temperature gradient developed on the solution surface was completely avoided, hence the secondary nucleation developed on top of the ampoule is avoided. The growth apparatus and optimizations parameters have been made simpler compared to the conventional SR method. Growth direction parallel to the gravity direction can be easily achieved, hence slanted growth could be avoided within the ampoule and also linear transportation of embryos from solution to crystal-solution interface is achieved. The ISR method-grown single crystal was subjected to various characterizations. The optical behavior of the grown crystal was analyzed by UV–Vis NIR spectrophotometer. The optical homogeneities of the single crystal have been analyzed by birefringence measurement. The growth of 〈0 0 1〉 direction was confirmed by the PXRD analysis. The crystalline perfection of different growth portions (bottom, middle and top) was analyzed by HRXRD measurement. The full-width at half maximum (FWHM) values of various regions, indicate that the whole grown crystal has high crystalline perfection and is optically homogeneous. The new crystal growth ISR method has been introduced and also the various studies reveal that the ISR method grown single crystals are favorable for high performance optical device applications.