SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF RELATED COMPOUNDS IN ESOMEPRAZOLE AND NAPROXEN TABLETS BY USING ION PAIR REVERSE PHASE HPLC

Objective: To develop and validate a novel gradient reverse phase HPLC method for quantitative estimation of Naproxen and Esomeprazole impurities in pharmaceutical dosage form.Methods: Chromatographic separation was achieved on X-Bridge C18,150x4.6 mm, 3.5 µm column. Detection wavelength was set at 302 nm. The mobile phase A consists of Buffer and Acetonitrile in the ratio of 90:10, where Buffer was prepared by dissolving di ammonium hydrogen phosphate (2.64 gm per Liter) and 1-hexane sulphonic acid sodium salt (1.0 gm per Liter), pH adjusted to 6.5±0.05 with orthophosphoric acid. A mixture of acetonitrile and 1-propanol in the ratio of 90:10 was used as mobile phase B. Flow rate was set to 0.7 mL/minute in gradient elution mode, with a retention time for Naproxen and Esomeprazole 29 and 46 minute respectively.Results: The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 4.621 µg/mL – 99.026 µg/mL for Naproxen and 0.254 µg/mL–3.806 µg/mL for Esomeprazole (r= 0.999). The proposed method was found to be (considered)accurate and precise and linear within the desired range. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was calculated. The purity angle was found less than purity threshold for forced degradation peaks, which shows there was no interference from the common excipient, known impurities and degradents indicating separation, accuracy and reliability of the method. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines and found to be specific, accurate, linear, precise and stability indicating.Conclusion: A Novel, simple, selective and rapid reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the estimation of Naproxen and Esomeprazole impurities in pharmaceutical dosage form. Hence, the method can be used for routine analysis in various pharmaceutical industries.Â

Work-related complaints of arm, neck and shoulder among computer office workers in an Asian country: prevalence and validation of a risk-factor questionnaire

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Complaints of arm, neck and/or shoulders (CANS) affects millions of computer office workers. However its prevalence and associated risk factors in developing countries are yet to be investigated, due to non availability of validated assessment tools for these countries. We evaluated the 1-year prevalence of CANS among computer office workers in Sri Lanka and tested the psychometric properties of a translated risk factor questionnaire.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Computer office workers at a telecommunication company in Sri Lankan received the Sinhalese version of the validated Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire (MUEQ). The 94 items in the questionnaire covers demographic characteristics, CANS and evaluates potential risk factors for CANS in six domains. Forward and backward translation of the MUEQ was done by two independent bi-lingual translators. One-year prevalence of CANS and psychometric properties of the Sinhalese questionnaire were investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Response rate was 97.7% (n = 440). Males were 42.7%. Mean age was 38.2 ± 9.5 years. One-year prevalence of CANS was 63.6% (mild-53.7% and severe-10%). The highest incidences were for neck (36.1%) and shoulder (34.3%) complaints. Two factors for each domain in the scale were identified by exploratory factor analysis (i.e. work-area, computer-position, incorrect body posture, bad-habits, skills and abilities, decision-making, time-management, work-overload, work-breaks, variation in work, work-environment and social-support). Calculation of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.43-0.82) and cross-validation provided evidence of reliability and lack of redundancy of items.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>One year prevalence of CANS in the study population corresponds strongly with prevalence in developed countries. Translated version of the MUEQ has satisfactory psychometric properties for it to be used to assess work-related risk factors for development of CANS among Sri Lankan computer office workers.</p

Work related complaints of neck, shoulder and arm among computer office workers: a cross-sectional evaluation of prevalence and risk factors in a developing country

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Complaints of arms, neck and shoulders (CANS) is common among computer office workers. We evaluated an aetiological model with physical/psychosocial risk-factors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We invited 2,500 computer office workers for the study. Data on prevalence and risk-factors of CANS were collected by validated Maastricht-Upper-extremity-Questionnaire. Workstations were evaluated by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Visual-Display-Terminal workstation-checklist. Participants' knowledge and awareness was evaluated by a set of expert-validated questions. A binary logistic regression analysis investigated relationships/correlations between risk-factors and symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sample size was 2,210. Mean age 30.8 ± 8.1 years, 50.8% were males. The 1-year prevalence of CANS was 56.9%, commonest region of complaint was forearm/hand (42.6%), followed by neck (36.7%) and shoulder/arm (32.0%). In those with CANS, 22.7% had taken treatment from a health care professional, only in 1.1% seeking medical advice an occupation-related injury had been suspected/diagnosed. In addition 9.3% reported CANS-related absenteeism from work, while 15.4% reported CANS causing disruption of normal activities. A majority of evaluated workstations in all participants (88.4%,) and in those with CANS (91.9%) had OSHA non-compliant workstations. In the binary logistic regression analyses female gender, daily computer usage, incorrect body posture, bad work-habits, work overload, poor social support and poor ergonomic knowledge were associated with CANS and its' severity In a multiple logistic regression analysis controlling for age, gender and duration of occupation, incorrect body posture, bad work-habits and daily computer usage were significant independent predictors of CANS</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of work-related CANS among computer office workers in Sri Lanka, a developing, South Asian country is high and comparable to prevalence in developed countries. Work-related physical factors, psychosocial factors and lack of awareness were all important associations of CANS and effective preventive strategies need to address all three areas.</p

Strengthening social capital in the Sri Lankan population: A qualitative exploration of factors driving the mothers’ support groups initiative during economic crisis

Background: Social capital is a concept that has been identified to improve health outcomes in many populations. Due to COVID-19 and many other factors, Sri Lanka faced a massive economic crisis that affected the nutrition of communities. Many community engagement initiatives have begun to promote the country’s nutrition during the worst-hit years. The Mothers’ Support Groups initiative is one of the existing community engagement initiatives that is well known for strengthening community social capital. This article discusses how the Mothers’ Support Groups (MSG) initiative in Sri Lanka contributed to improving social capital in Sri Lanka during the economic crisis, focusing on nutrition. Methods: We conducted a case study on the activities undertaken by mothers’ support groups in view of how they focused on social capital. We selected all activities presented by districts that improved social capital related to nutrition promotion captured in the YouTube video stream. We analyzed these qualitative data to identify the main themes related to social capital and nutritional promotion. Two coders transcribed the video recordings. We analyzed the data using the iterative thematic inquiry (ITI) method and initially assessed beliefs about concepts, building new beliefs through encounters with data, listing tentative themes, and evaluating themes through coding. Results: Six major themes were identified (that social capital had been strengthened to promote nutrition): awareness creation of nutrition, home gardening promotion, promoting livestock farming, minimizing food waste, improving the home economy, and psychosocial health promotion. The most common forms of social capital encountered in these themes were bonding, bridging, and linking. Furthermore, strengthening structural social capital is more prominent than strengthening cognitive social capital. Conclusion: Social capital can improve nutritional status during crises. Activities that can be used to achieve this vary from simple awareness creation among communities to more advanced psychosocial health promotion. Overall, social capital contributed to the community development aspect of health promotion to a greater extent

Some Selected Phytoconstituents from Rhus succedanea as SARS CoV-2 Main Protease and Spike protein (COVID-19) Inhibitors: Selective Phytoconstituents from Rhus succedanea against SARS CoV-2: In silico approach

Rhus succedanea (Anacardiaceae) was used to treat multiple human afflictions. Literary works demonstrate that it has many biological activities. Today's research aims to recognize Rhus succedanea Phyto-derived anti-viral compounds against the main protease and spike protein of the viral agent of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) gain insight into the molecular interactions. In the current study, ten molecules taken from R. succedanea are analyzed through docking, derived from the PubChem database. Docking experiments with Autodock vina and PyRx tools were conducted. AdmetSAR and DruLito servers were eventually used for drug-like prediction. Our research shows that the phytoconstituents from R. succedanea, namely, Amentoflavone, Rhoifolin, and Agathisflavone acts against SARS CoV-2 main protease with the binding affinity of -9.3, -8.6 and -8.4 Kcal/mol; Hinokiflavone Robustaflavone and Amentoflavone acts against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain of spike protein with a binding affinity of -10.5, -10.4 and -10.1 Kcal/mol respectively. These phyto-compounds can use contemporary strategies to develop effective medicines from natural origins. The substances identified potential anti-viral as likely. However, In-vitro studies are even more necessary to assess their effectiveness versus SARS CoV-2