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Purpose: To determine the current level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and evaluate factors influencing it among health-care providers (HCPs) in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among HCPs in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia, using the standardized research tool, BREF-WHOQOL. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed in hospitals, in the medical colleges of Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, and community pharmacies in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. Descriptive, comparative, and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS. Results: A total of 289 HCPs agreed to participate in the study, 52 % of whom were female. Most participants were married (69 %), and most had fewer than 10 years of experience (58 %). Statistically significant differences in marital status, education level, income, and year of practice were found that correlated with HCPs' HRQoL (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, respondents reported an above-average score for all survey items. Conclusion: The results indicate that HCPs see their general quality of life as good - a particularly important consideration in view of the demanding nature of their job. This study will help the concerned authorities to exactly know the current level of HRQoL among HCPs in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia, as well as help in designing better healthcare policies in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare solvent evaporation and ultrasonic assisted synthesis in preparation of nimesulide nanosponges using polyvinyl-alcohol and Eudragit L100 as a polymer/copolymer and dichloromethane as a cross linker. Methods: Twelve formulations of nimesulide were prepared, six with each method by varying the ratios of both polymer and co-polymer. The resulting nanosponges were evaluated characterized by preformulation studies, production yield (%), differential scanning calorimeter, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, entrapment efficiency (%), actual drug content (%) and in-vitro dissolution studies. Results: The results revealed that the formulation with high amounts of co-polymer in both methods showed crystalline structures with enhanced dissolution rates in basic media. Drug entrapment was higher for products prepared by solvent evaporation method (74 %) than that prepared by ultrasonic assisted method (61 %). This correlates with the enhanced dissolution rates for products by solvent evaporation method and increased solubility due to drug-polymer complex formation. Conclusion: Formulations made by solvent evaporation method demonstrate higher production yield and drug entrapment. However, both methods exhibit enhanced dissolution rates in basic medium generally as well as other characteristics that are comparable to nanosponges reported in the literature with regard to their comb like structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a stability-indicating reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of glucosamine sulphate (GS) and curcumin (Cur) in drug solution and formulation. Methods: The optimized chromatographic conditions were achieved by passing various compositions of mobile phases over different reverse phase chromatographic columns. Various validation parameters, including linearity, range, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, precision, specificity and system suitability were performed and evaluated. Stability studies under stressed conditions were done to evaluate the effects of acid, alkali, oxidation, heat and degradation by UV light. Results: The validated method was linear over the concentration range of 0.094 to 1.5 mg/mL for GS and 0.125 to 1.5 mg/mL for Cur, with a correlation coefficient > 0.999. The Intra and inter-day precision were 1.9% for GS and 0.5% for Cur, while accuracy was 96 and 102% for GS and Cur, respectively. Stability studies showed that GS was highly sensitive to acid, alkali and oxidation and less sensitive to heat and UV. Cur was stable against acid, heat and oxidation but sensitive to alkali and UV. Conclusion: The developed and validated method was precise and accurate for both GS and Cur and can potentially be utilized for their identification and quantification at industrial, research and quality control laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the efficiency of different solubilizing agents in improving solubility as well as dissolution rate of ebastine (a BCS class II drug) by incorporating prepared solid dispersion into fast disintegrating tablets. Method: The solubility of ebastine was determined in distilled water, lipids and solubilizing agents. Subsequently, the binary solid dispersions were prepared by kneading method using varying weight ratios of ebastine and solubilizing agents. The solid dispersions were then incorporated into fast disintegrating tablets (SD-FDT). Central composite rotatable design (CCD) was used to determine the impact of super disintegrating agents on disintegration time and friability of tablets. The solubility and dissolution rate of developed SD-FDT were compared with a marketed brand. The solid dispersion particles were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder x-ray diffraction (P-XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The saturated solubility of pure ebastine in water was 0.002 ± 0.041 mg/ml while the aqueous solubility of EBT/poloxamer solid dispersion SET3 (P) was 0.018 ± 2.510 mg/ml; on the other hand, EBT/soluplus solid dispersion SET1(S) has an aqueous solubility of 0.242 ± 1.390 mg/ml. Within 30 min, drug release was 14.00 ± 1.77, 78.00 ± 2.31 and 98.70 ± 2.54% from pure EBT, SET3 (P) and SET1(S), respectively. Conclusion: The solubility and dissolution rate of ebastine has been successfully enhanced by incorporating its solid dispersion in fast-disintegrating tablets (SD-FDT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To carry out computational and pharmacological evaluation of two stevioside derivatives in order to develop more effective candidates for analgesia and inflammation. Methods: Primarily, compounds were docked against targets of nociception and inflammation such as cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, 5-lypooxygenase 12-lypooxygenase, 15-lypooxygenase, prostaglandin synthase, leukotrienes C4 synthase, mu, kappa, and delta receptors to obtain their possible binding modes. Test compounds were then screened in animal model of nociception and inflammation. Results: The results of docking show that IO possesses good affinity when compared to ID. IO showed two hydrogen bonds against COX-1 and COX-2. IO also demonstrated good binding against 5-LOX, 12- LOX and 15-LOX, exhibited four, one and two hydrogen bonds respectively. Against PG synthase and LTC4, both IO and ID produced moderate binding. IO also showed significant binding against opoid receptors (p < 0.05). IO and ID significantly decrease the number of writhes to 21.20 ± 2.1 and 27.0 ± 2.12 at 10 mg/kg in acetic acid mediated pain test respectively. In hot plate method, IO and ID increase the latency period of mice to 14.14 ± 0.40 and 10.50 ± 0.34 s, respectively. IO and ID significantly reduced the paw edema to 1.69 ± 0.14 and 1.94 ± 0.14 mL, respectively, in acute inflammation (p < 0.05). In chronic inflammatory model, IO and ID decreased paw volume to 3.26 ± 0.38 and 4.20 ± 0.38 mL, respectively. Conclusion: The results show that IO is a promising candidate for further development as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents. However, their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles need to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]