Quality control parameters of Gandhakadi Yoga tablets W. S. R. To its microscopic evaluation

Gandhakadi Yoga is a formulation suggested for Loha Sevanajanya Vikara Prashamana (Iron overload) in Ayurveda Prakasha and can be used as iron chelator which might help to decrease the iron overload. The present study was carried out to standardize the finished product Gandhakadi Yoga tablets for confirmation of its identity, quality and purity. Thus a trial was made to establish the Quality assessing parameters for Gandhakadi Yoga tablets by simple microscopic technique. The characters i.e. black debris of Gandhaka treated with Bhringaraja, light yellow brown content of Gandhaka, fragment of spongy parenchyma of Agastya leaf, oil globules and epicarp cells with tannin content of Vidanga etc. were the characteristic features of the finished product

Screening test for olfactory function: a new tool validated in Nepalese children

Background: Olfactory function disorders adversely affect the growth and development of children and it increases the risk of various injuries and hazards. Despite a significant problem, this area has been neglected and there is no single cross culturally validated tool to evaluate olfactory function of Nepalese children. This study was designed to determine the order recognizable by Nepalese children, which could be used as a screening test tool for olfactory function. Methods:  A total of 130 children age ranging from 4 to 10 years from six schools of Kathmandu valley were examined. (Sampling) All students of Nursery to grade 4 were divided into three age groups and tested separately for 22 different odors for the olfactory function. The child was then asked to point out the correct answer and was recorded. From the most recognized 12 odors, 7 odors were selected which exceeded the minimum threshold for a proposed screening tool. After two weeks, a revalidation test was carried out among 45 children (15 from each age group) in same schools by using 7 odors in four-fold repetition in order to determine the real identification of odor. Results: Among the 22 objects or odors tested, a 75% recognizability threshold was exceeded by 12 odors. From these 12 orders, 7 most recognized odors (apple, banana, lemon, fish, chocolate, soap and coconut) were selected for a proposed screening test tool. Retesting of the chosen odors showed satisfactory test-retest reliability, split half reliability and validity of the 7 odors test. Conclusion: We found 7 odorants, which were commonly familiar to Nepalese children and can be used to determine the orthonasal olfactory function of Nepalese children. This test is easy, quick, non-interventional and cost effective in resource restricted clinical practice setting like in Nepa