Development and validation of RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of cefpodoxime proxetil and H2 receptor antagonists in pharmaceutical dosage forms.

A new method on RP-HPLC is devised and validated, as per ICH guidelines, for the synchronous estimation of cefpodoxime proxetil and H2-receptor antagonits that are Cimetidine, Famotidine and Ranitidine. The method is simple, accurate, expeditious, reproducible, robust and precise. Chromatography was done on a C18 (250 x 4.6mm) column with methanol: water as mobile phae in the ratio of 70:30 (v/v), pumped at a flow rate of 1ml/min and pH was maintained using 85% ortho-phosphoric acid at 3. The λ max 240 nm was preferred for UV detection. A good linear relationship was attained, over the concentration ranges of 20-70 µg/ml and 5-30µg/ml, for cefpodoxime proxetil and H2 blockers respectively, with a correlation coefficient of R= 0.9987 to 0.9992. The method was validated and found precised (i.e. intra day and interday analysis) with RSD <2%. LOD and LOQ observations were under 0.4806 to 2.6069µg/ml which proved the method to be sensitive. The method provided satisfactory results of robustness and reproducibility, when validated and applied successfully for analysis of dosage forms.

Development and evaluation of immediate release diclofenac sodium suppositories.

The objective of present study was to develop and evaluate polyethylene glycol (PEG) based diclofenac sodium suppositories. This study used water soluble PEG bases (1000, 4000 and 6000) in different combinations to formulate suppositories, which were further subjected for their physicochemical properties evaluation such as weight variation, average melting point, content uniformity and disintegration. Dissolution test was used to perform the in vitro release rate studies of the suppositories. The suppository (P3) containing PEG-6000 (50%) and PEG-4000 (50%) exhibited rapid in vitro release rate of diclofenac sodium. Moreover, homogeneous distribution of diclofenac sodium is found in all six formulations. The in vitro release patterns of diclofenac sodium from the marketed Voltral suppository (100mg) and formulated suppositories were also compared and found in standard limits.

Development and validation of HPLC method for the determination of Candesartan in human plasma.

Candesartan (CAN), an ARB-blocker, antihypertensive, was analyzed in human plasma by a simple, accurate and precise RP-HPLC (reverse phase-High performance liquid chromatography assay method which was then validated for its accuracy, specificity and precision. The mobile phase has a constitution of acetone, diethylamine and distilled water, while Phosphoric acid was used to adjust the pH to 2.5±0.1. This mobile phase was run at 1.1ml/min and the fluorescence wavelength was set to 392 nm. A C-18 HPLC, column particle size (5 µm) Mediterranean Sea ® L x 1.D. 25cm x 4.6 mm (Supelcosil) , with auto sampler injection volume of 30µl ,an internal standard Valsartan was utilized for chromatographic detection. Candesartan took a retention time of 6±0.5 minutes. This method was validated by the parameters of selectivity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, recovery, linearity and stability. Candesartan's calibration curves were found to be linear in the range of 200ng/ml to 3.125ng/ml and the coefficient of determination (r2) was found to be 0.99. Analytical recovery obtained was above 88%. Hence, this method has been found to be useful for determining Candesartan in plasma.

Efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention on the psychological well-being of health care professionals and trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method design.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis. SETTING: The context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic. METHODS: A mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants' qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants' shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis. CONTRIBUTION: The impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.