Strengthening women in wheat farming in India: Old challenges, new realities, new opportunities

This resource provides guidance for scientists, researchers, and rural advisory services in wheat-based systems on how to better target women in all communities and how to improve inclusion for everyone. It builds on 12 case studies conducted across India’s wheat belt under CRP WHEAT. It discusses how norms are shifting in parts of rural India to accommodate open recognition of women as farmers and managers of wheat and as adopters of associated technologies, including zero tillers, combine harvesters, and improved varieties of wheat

STABILITY INDICATING RP-HPLC METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION FOR SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF AMLODIPINE AND HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE IN PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

The Aim of present work is to develop a simple, selective and precise, stability indicating RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous estimation of Amlodipine and Hydrochlorothiazide. The chromatographic separation of the two drugs was achieved on a reverse phase Hypersil Gold, C18, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5μm column using mobile as Potassium dihydrogen buffer – Acetonitrile in ratio of 600:400 v/v (pH adjusted to 3.2±0.05 using orthophosphoric acid) with flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with injection volume 20 μl and the detection was carried out at 237 nm using UV detector. The retention time of amlodipine (Amlo) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) were found to be 3.80 and 6.48 min respectively. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.84-1.98 μg/ml for hydrochlorothiazide and 4.2-9.8 μg/ml for amlodipine. The method was validated for precision, linearity, LOD and LOQ, specificity, accuracy, system suitability and ruggedness as per ICH guidelines and the results were found to be within the limits. The developed method was used for the stability studies. The validated method can be used for routine quality control testing for HCT and Amlo combine dosage form

STABILITY INDICATING RP-HPLC METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION FOR SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF AMLODIPINE AND HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE IN PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

Objective: The aim of present work is to develop a simple, selective and precise, stability indicating RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous estimation of Amlodipine and Hydrochlorothiazide. Methods: The chromatographic separation of the two drugs was achieved on a reverse phase Hypersil Gold, C18, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5μm column using mobile as Potassium dihydrogen buffer–Acetonitrile in ratio of 600:400 v/v (pH adjusted to 3.2±0.05 using orthophosphoric acid) with flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with injection volume 20 μl and the detection was carried out at 237 nm using UV detector. Results: The retention time of amlodipine (Amlo) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) were found to be 3.80 and 6.48 min respectively. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.84-1.98 μg/ml for hydrochlorothiazide and 4.2-9.8 μg/ml for amlodipine. Conclusion: The method was validated for precision, linearity, LOD and LOQ, specificity, accuracy, system suitability and ruggedness as per ICH guidelines and the results were found to be within the limits. The developed method was used for the stability studies. The validated method can be used for routine quality control testing for HCT and Amlo combine dosage form

Management of insomnia: current trends

Insomnia is one of the most commonly occurring sleep disorders worldwide.1 With increased prevalence of insomnia the demand of the people seeking pharmacological treatment for this disease is continuously increasing. Numerous options are currently available for its treatment and with our increased understanding of the neurophysiological factors involved in the insomnia continuous research is being conducted to seek newer pharmacological treatments. Recent advancement in treatment of insomnia is the introduction of non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medications such as zaleplon, zolpidem, and eszopiclone. Ramelteon, a melatonin agonist, is also helpful for sleep initiation difficulties. Tri-cyclic antidepressants have long been used for insomnia but use has been limited by unwanted anticholinergic side-effects. A hypocretin/orexin antagonist MK-4035 is presently in clinical trials. Serotonin antagonists and inverse agonists are being investigated for their usefulness in insomnia; newer research examining other mechanisms of action suggest that agents which modulate the histaminergic, serotonergic, melontonergic, and hypocretin/ orexin and perhaps gamma-aminobutyric acid B systems could play a promising role in management of insomnia

A study of comparing single dose granisetron with combination of granisetron with dexamethasone in preventing postoperative nausea vomiting in laparoscopic cholecystectomies

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains a vexing problem despite of advances in anaesthesia care. PONV is distressing adverse effect after anaesthesia and surgery, resulting in significant morbidity due to acute discomfort associated with emetic symptoms and longer stays in the recovery room or unexpected hospital admission in ambulatory settings.Methods: A prospective, randomized, double blind comparative study was conducted to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of injection granisetron 40µg/kg as a single dose and injection granisetron in two different doses (20µg/kg and 40µg/kg) in combination with dexamethasone 160µg/kg for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing general anaesthesia for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Results: Nausea and vomiting were observed postoperatively at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 consecutive hours after patient responded to verbal commands. Intensity of nausea graded verbally with an eleven point score (0-10) with those patients who scored their nausea as zero were termed nausea free, and 10 being most severe. Nausea scores when patient complains of nausea & if patient demand rescue antiemetic for nausea was noted down along with adverse effects if any. The data was analysed by ANOVA followed by unpaired‘t’ test, Chi-square/Fischer exact test or Kruskal Wallis Test.Conclusions: Granisetron as a single agent in dose 40µg/kg is effective as prophylactic antiemetic in preventing PONV in laparoscopic cholecystectomy whereas addition of dexamethasone 160µg/kg to granisetron significantly increases antiemetic efficacy of the granisetron in both the doses i.e. 20µg/kg and 40µg/kg without increasing any side effect. Granisetron 40µg//kg+injection dexamethasone 160µg/kg is best for antiemetic prophylaxis in highly emetogenic surgeries like laparoscopic cholecystectomy.  Granisetron 20µg/kg + injection dexamethasone can be cost effective alternative for routine antiemetic prophylaxis compared to granisetron 40µg//kg and granisetron 40µg//kg+ injection dexamethasone for all patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Growth Pattern of the Kamars – A Primitive Tribe of Chhattisgarh, India

A cross sectional study of the physical growth status was made on 655 Kamar children (341 boys and 314 girls), aged 5 to 18 years, in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. The study aimed to find out the growth pattern of the Kamar children, which is considered to be a primitive tribe of Chhattisgarh, India and was compared with another Indian tribe and the official data for all India (ICMR). Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, sitting height, biacromial diameter, biilliocristal diameter, upper arm circumference, calf circumference and measurements of the triceps and subscapular skinfolds. All anthropometric measurements except skinfold thickenness exhibit uniform increase with age in both sexes. However, when height and weight of the Kamar boys and girls were compared with the data for other tribes and for all India, the Kamar children (both boys and girls) indicated lower weight and height and the difference showed to be significant, for almost all ages. Kamar boys showed higher anthropometric values than girls in almost all measurements except in biilliocristal diameter and in measured skinfolds. Poor socio-economic status of this primitive tribe may be one of the reasons for this poor growth pattern. However, in-depth study is necessary in order to arrive at any basic conclusions and to recommend any policy and interventions

Prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical study to different doses of ketamine for prevention of shivering during spinal anaesthesia

Background: Ketamine has better effect than other drugs like pethidine, fentanyl, clonidine, tramadol, midazolam in prevention of shivering during anaesthesia and has a role in thermoregulation by different means. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy of Ketamine injection and to compare the different doses (0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg) of inj. Ketamine in prevention of shivering in operative patients under spinal anaesthesia.Methods: The present study was a prospective, randomized, double blinded and clinical study conducted in L.T.M.M.C & L.T.M.G.H, Mumbai, India during January 2012 to September 2013. 120 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status of I or II, between the age of 18 – 65 years of either sex and height 150-170 cms were randomly selected and included in the study as per eligibility.Results: The study suggests that prophylactic administration of injection Ketamine at doses of 0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg was producing a significant antishivering effect but an incidence of sedation and hallucination was observed in the Ketamine 0.5 mg/kg receiving group throughout the perioperative period.Conclusions: From this study we can conclude that prophylactic dose of Ketamine 0.25 mg/kg i.v. has lesser side effects comparison to Ketamine 0.5 mg/kg i.v. in prevention of shivering in patients, undergoing surgical procedure under spinal anaesthesia

A prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial to study efficacy and safety of benzydamine 0.15% gargles in prevention of postoperative sore throat

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is an undesirable outcome of general anesthesia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of benzydamine preoperative gargles in reducing the incidence and severity of POST.Methods: A randomized double blind prospective study involving 200 adult male and female patients was performed to assess the incidence of sore throat, cough and hoarseness of voice following tracheal intubation. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (group B and group C) of 100 each. Group B patients received benzydamine 0.15% gargles while group C received placebo. Patients were asked to gargle for 30 seconds, five minutes before induction of anesthesia. The patients were examined for sore throat, cough and hoarseness of voice at intervals of 0, 2, 4, and 24 hours post-extubation.Results: The incidence of POST was significantly high (p<0.05) in the group C (controls) as compared to group B (cases) at all the durations of time after extubation. The peak incidence was noted at 0 and 2 hours post extubation, in both the groups, where 89% in group C and 47% reports of sore throat in group B were observed. The benzydamine group B had no evidence of sore throat at 24 hours duration whereas group C had 36% of patients who still complained sore throat. The incidence and severity of hoarseness of voice was found to be significantly low in group B at all the times as compared to group C (p<0.05).Conclusions: A simple technique of gargling performed preoperatively with benzydamine hydrochloride was effective in reducing POST with no evidence of any side effects.

Effect of calcium channel blockers on the serum levels of thyroid hormone

Background: The effect of the calcium channel blockers on the cardiovascular system is implemented judiciously in different conditions related to cardiovascular system such as angina pectoris, hypertension, and in cardiac arrhythmias but the aspect that deals with the impact of blockade of calcium channels in other systems like endocrine system remains eclipsed. These effects generally go unnoticed and the present study was formulated to elucidate the serum T3, T4, TSH levels after administration of calcium channel blockers and to observe the resultant side effect on the endocrine glands, if any by this commonly used group of drugs.Methods: The study was conducted on male albino rabbits, they were divided in three groups of ten each and each group received one of the calcium channel blockers- Verapamil, Diltiazem and Nifedipine for three months. At the end of each month the serum T3, T4, TSH levels were evaluated by chemiluminisence.Results:It was found that on continuous daily administration of calcium channel blockers there was a gradual fall in levels of T3 and T4 with rise in TSH levels in comparison to the control value taken before initiating the drug therapy.Conclusion: These findings could have potential clinical implications and this study proposes the importance of blood thyroid hormone level follow up in the long-term calcium channel blocker therapy.