Development of rapid and simple analytical method for some proton pump inhibitors [PPIs] using HPLC

A simple, selective and rapid reversed phase High Performance Liquid Chromatographic [HPLC] method for the analysis of Lansoprazole [LNS], Omeprazole [OMP] and Esomeprazole [ESOMP] has been developed and validated. HPLC-UV detector equipped with RP-C18 column, mobile phase [Water: Acetonitrile: TEA, 60: 40: 0.5 V/V/V pH=7 adjusted with phosphoric acid] and a flow rate of 1ml/min were used for the quantification for each compound. The analytical method parameter was the same except for the wave lengths; they were 285, 280, 303 nm; and the retention times were 7 min, 4.5 min and 5 min for LNS, OMP and ESOMP, respectively. Method validation was performed for each compound, and all the parameters were acceptable. Therefore, the method could be used as a simple, rapid and efficient option for the analysis of LNS, OMP, and ESOMP during routine tests in pharmaceutical industries because all the parameters [mobile phase, column, flow rate] of the method are the same except for the wave length which should be changed for each compound, and the change of the wave length does not need more than 2 minutes

Knowledge, Attitudes and practices of patients attending west bay health center towards upper respiratory tract infections

Upper respiratory tract infections [URI] are very common in general practice. Although viruses cause the majority of URI, many patients expect antibiotic treatment. At one Primary Health Care Center in Qatar, during October-November 2004, eleven hundred and eleven adult patients completed a short questionnaire on demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices towards URI, and patient satisfaction. Four hundred and forty eight [40.3 percent] recognized viruses as the most common cause of URI; seven hundred and eighty-eight [70.9 percent] chose consulting a physician as the first line of action when contracting URI; 721 [64.9 percent] stated that management should be based on physician's diagnosis while 28 percent expected antibiotics. A majority of participants acknowledged the importance of counseling in their satisfaction but 49.6 percent reported dissatisfaction if antibiotics were not prescribed and 31.6 percent reported seeking antibiotics when not prescribed. Participants expecting antibiotics differed significantly regarding knowledge of causes of URI [p = 0.004]. There was no significant difference regarding factors affecting satisfaction based on antibiotic expectation. Results highlight the need for public education and counseling on etiology, course, and management of URI by physicians