Trends in Family Planning in Russia, 1994–2003

CONTEXT: Although Russian women have adequate knowledge of modern contraceptives, their level of use of these methods has been low, and abortion rates remain relatively high

Неспецифические примеси в фармацевтических субстанциях: особенности методик их определения

One of the prerequisites of efficacy and safety of finished pharmaceutical products is the quality of pharmaceutical substances used in their production. Criteria of assessment of pharmaceutical substance purity are determined by the substance composition and production technology, as well as by specific aspects of the finished pharmaceutical product production and use. It is necessary to control the content of nonspecific organic and inorganic impurities, impurities of microbial origin, and residual solvents. The aim of the study was to analyse characteristics of test methods used to determine nonspecific impurities in pharmaceutical substances. The State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation describes various chemical, physical, physicochemical and biological tests for the analysis of nonspecific impurities. Determination of inorganic cations and anions usually includes comparison of test solutions with solutions of the corresponding reference standards, or checking the absence of a positive reaction in the test solution. Quantitative analysis of trace impurities largely relies on highly specific and sensitive test methods, such as atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The content of residual organic solvents is determined by gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography. The purity and safety of pharmaceutical substances are ensured by biological tests: “Microbial quality”, “Sterility”, “Pyrogenicity”, “Bacterial endotoxins”. Specific characteristics of test methods used for determination of the content of nonspecific impurities in various pharmaceutical substances depend on physicochemical properties of the tested substances, toxicity of the analysed impurities, and content limits. The results of the study make it possible to formulate a methodological approach to the development of criteria for assessing the quality of pharmaceutical substances. This approach includes mandatory compliance with the basic principles of substance standardisation, as well as case-by-case selection of quality parameters, specific test conditions and content limits for impurities.Одним из факторов эффективности и безопасности готовых лекарственных средств является качество используемых фармацевтических субстанций, критерии оценки чистоты которых обусловлены их составом и технологией получения, а также особенностями производства и применения лекарственных препаратов. Обязательному нормированию подлежат неспецифические примеси органической и неорганической природы, микробного происхождения, остаточные растворители. Цель работы — анализ особенностей методик определения неспецифических примесей в фармацевтических субстанциях. Для оценки их содержания Государственная фармакопея Российской Федерации предусматривает использование различных химических, физических, физико-химических и биологических методов анализа. При определении неорганических катионов и анионов, как правило, проводится сравнение с растворами соответствующих эталонов или фиксируется отсутствие положительной реакции в испытуемом растворе. Для количественного анализа микропримесей достаточно широко используются высокоспецифичные и чувствительные методы: атомно-абсорбционная спектрометрия, атомно-эмиссионная и масс-спектрометрия с индуктивно связанной плазмой. Содержание остаточных органических растворителей определяется методами газовой или высокоэффективной жидкостной хроматографии. Для оценки чистоты и обеспечения безопасности применения фармацевтических субстанций используются биологические испытания: «Микробиологическая чистота», «Стерильность», «Пирогенность», «Бактериальные эндотоксины». Индивидуальные особенности методик проведения испытаний на содержание неспецифических примесей в различных фармацевтических субстанциях обусловлены физико-химическими свойствами исследуемых соединений, токсичностью анализируемых примесей и допустимыми пределами их содержания. Результаты работы позволяют сформулировать методологический подход к разработке критериев оценки качества фармацевтических субстанций, сочетающий обязательное соблюдение основных принципов стандартизации субстанций, индивидуальный выбор показателей качества, особых условий проведения испытаний и норм содержания примесей

Developing a service for urban waterway transport

This paper outlines the implementation of a service for passengers using urban waterway transport. The service is designed to provide users with aggregated information about the city’s water infrastructure and facilitate communication between them. By doing so, it aims to improve the safety and comfort of using urban waterway transport. As part of this study, we segmented the users of passenger urban waterway transport and analyzed their information needs. Based on this analysis, we described the service data, using the example of St. Petersburg’s water infrastructure. Finally, we implemented the service as a mobile application

Nonspecific Impurities in Pharmaceutical Substances: Characteristics of Test Methods

One of the prerequisites of efficacy and safety of finished pharmaceutical products is the quality of pharmaceutical substances used in their production. Criteria of assessment of pharmaceutical substance purity are determined by the substance composition and production technology, as well as by specific aspects of the finished pharmaceutical product production and use. It is necessary to control the content of nonspecific organic and inorganic impurities, impurities of microbial origin, and residual solvents. The aim of the study was to analyse characteristics of test methods used to determine nonspecific impurities in pharmaceutical substances. The State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation describes various chemical, physical, physicochemical and biological tests for the analysis of nonspecific impurities. Determination of inorganic cations and anions usually includes comparison of test solutions with solutions of the corresponding reference standards, or checking the absence of a positive reaction in the test solution. Quantitative analysis of trace impurities largely relies on highly specific and sensitive test methods, such as atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The content of residual organic solvents is determined by gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography. The purity and safety of pharmaceutical substances are ensured by biological tests: “Microbial quality”, “Sterility”, “Pyrogenicity”, “Bacterial endotoxins”. Specific characteristics of test methods used for determination of the content of nonspecific impurities in various pharmaceutical substances depend on physicochemical properties of the tested substances, toxicity of the analysed impurities, and content limits. The results of the study make it possible to formulate a methodological approach to the development of criteria for assessing the quality of pharmaceutical substances. This approach includes mandatory compliance with the basic principles of substance standardisation, as well as case-by-case selection of quality parameters, specific test conditions and content limits for impurities

Methodological approaches to the choice of identification test methods for medicines

The article summarises the main selective and non-selective methods of physical, chemical and physico-chemical analysis which are used in medicines identification testing and which differ in selectivity, sensitivity, informative value, sample preparation, and availability. The article demonstrates that the choice of methods is governed by chemical, physical and physico-chemical properties of medicines and the type of medicine (whether it is a substance or a finished dosage form). The article describes a complex approach based on the use of several analytical methods, the cumulative results of which are used to support medicines identification

Методологические подходы к выбору методов установления подлинности лекарственных средств

The article summarises the main selective and non-selective methods of physical, chemical and physico-chemical analysis which are used in medicines identification testing and which differ in selectivity, sensitivity, informative value, sample preparation, and availability. The article demonstrates that the choice of methods is governed by chemical, physical and physico-chemical properties of medicines and the type of medicine (whether it is a substance or a finished dosage form). The article describes a complex approach based on the use of several analytical methods, the cumulative results of which are used to support medicines identification.Представлен обзор основных селективных и неселективных методов физического, химического и физико-химического анализа, используемых при подтверждении подлинности лекарственных средств и различающихся по селективности, чувствительности, информативности, пробоподготовке, доступности. Показано, что выбор методов исследования зависит от химических, физических и физико-химических свойств определяемых веществ, типа лекарственного средства (фармацевтическая субстанция или лекарственная форма). Рассмотрен комплексный подход, основанный на использовании нескольких методов анализа, по совокупности результатов которых подтверждается идентичность лекарственного средства