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The lower residence contact time of drug, higher tear turnover, limited surface area of contact and impermeability of corneal epithelium layer are the reasons of poor bioavailability of conventional ophthalmic dosage forms. The purpose of this study is to formulate ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (HCl) in situ gelling ophthalmic drug delivery system based on pH of tear fluid for better bioavailability and minimising frequent instillation. This system includes pH sensitive polymer (Carbopol 934p) as a gelling agent and HPMCK15M as a viscosity enhancer which are instilled as a drop and undergo sol-gel transition in the cul-de-sac. Central composite design with two independent factors (Carbopol 934p and HPMCK15M) followed by contour plot and surface response was used to optimise formulation (Optimized). The drug was complexed with Indion® 254 to avoid drug-Carbopol 934p instantaneous incompatibility. The rheological study of Optimized exhibited pseudoplastic behaviour with adequate viscosity at higher pH (7.40 or above). It provided prolonged drug release time (8 hours). It followed Krosmeyer-Peppas model with non-Fickian diffusion. Theocular irritancy based on hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) technique suggested that it had acceptable mild irritancy (0.33, 0.66 and 0.66 out of 3 at 6th, 7th and 8th hours, respectively). It retained its antimicrobial response towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10145) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25903). The results of gelling capacity, rheological behaviour and in vitro release studies of Foptimized demonstrated that Carbopol 934p-HPMCK15M composite can help to enhance ocular bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adherence to iron and folate supplementation during pregnancy is considered key to prevention and control of iron deficiency anemia. Nepal-like other developing countries-faces problems with adherence vis-a-vis iron/folate supplementation., Objective: This descriptive survey aimed to assess the effect ofknowledge and perception ofpregnant women on adherence to iron/folate supplementation in Kathmandu, Nepal., Material and Method: The present study was conducted in Paropakar Maternity and Womens' Hospital in Kathmandu. Systematic random sampling was used to select 406 persons who were either given a self-administered questionnaire or interviewed., Results: 73.2% of the respondents showed good adherence. Bivariate analysis revealed significant associations between adherence and both knowledge and perception (p<0.05), but through multiple linear regression analysis only perception was found to be statistically associated with adherence (p<0.05). Further multivariate analysis demonstrated that the most important predictors of adherence were: perception of side effects, availability, forgetfulness and reminders from family., Conclusion: Adherence to iron/folate supplementation among women during pregnancy needs continuous improvement by minimizing the perception of constraints (viz., side-effects and forgetfulness) and, enhancing availability andfamily support.

Background: Nepal is seeing a surge in physical infrastructure in the past few years. Numerous workers enter the Kathmandu Valley to join the construction sector., Objective: This was a descriptive survey that set out to understand the knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS along with the use of condoms among construction workers in the Kathmandu Valley., Material and Method: The study was conducted in 8 different construction sites in the Kathmandu Valley. Systematic sampling was done to select a total of 317 samples that were either interviewed or handed the questionnaire for self-administration., Results: 84.6% of the construction workers had sufficient knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and 61.8% had positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS. 50.5% of those who had sex in the past 1 year had used a condom the last time they had sex. Those with insufficient knowledge were found to have negative attitude (p<0.05) and were more likely to have not used a condom the last time (p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that use of condom the last time was most affected by gender and level of knowledge., Conclusion: Despite adequate knowledge, attitude and use of condom was found to be unsatisfactory. There is an urgent need to resolve this gap.