Impact of a Baby-Friendly hospital on breastfeeding indicators in Shaqlawa district in Erbil governorate, Kurdistan region of Iraq

This study aimed to assess the impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on WHO-defined breastfeeding indicators in Shaqlawa district in Kurdistan region of Iraq. A household survey was carried out on a purposive non-probability sample of 200 mothers with a child aged < 30 months. Mothers were interviewed using a structured form to determine demographic data and feeding practices of the most recent child. The rate of early initiation of breastfeeding was 38.1%, exclusive breastfeeding was 15.4% and continued breastfeeding was 61.0% and 39.5% at 1 and 2 years of age respectively. A significant relationship was found between delivery at the Baby- Friendly accredited hospital and early initiation of breastfeeding but not with exclusive or continued breastfeeding. While continued breastfeeding at 1 year and 2 year was good, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding indicators were not at an acceptable level, which indicates an ineffective role for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Simultaneous HPLC-UV quantification of diltiazem and N-demethyldiltiazem in human plasma

A simple and sensitive reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for simultaneous quantification of diltiazem HCl and its major metabolite N-demethyldiltiazem in human plasma. The method involves one step solvent extraction of diltiazem, N-demethyldiltiazem and the internal standard, verapamil with n-hexane and diethyl ether [50:50 v/v]. The mobile phase comprised 0.1 M ammonium dihydrogen phosphate-acetonitrile [62:38 v/v] and triethylamine [0.08%] was added before the pH was adjusted to 5.9 with 85% phosphoric acid. Analysis was run at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min at a detection wavelength of 238 nm. The completion time for assay was not more than 10 minutes and lower limit of quantification was 5 ng/ml. The calibration curve for diltiazem and its metabolite was linear over a concentration range of 5-200 ng/ml and average recovery was about 90%. The coefficient of variation and percent error values of the assay method within and between days were all less than 10%

Simultaneous HPLC quantification of diltiazem and N-demethyldiltiazem in plasma

A simple and sensitive reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for simultaneous quantification of diltiazem and its major metabolite N-demethyldiltiazem in human plasma. The method involves one-step solvent extraction of diltiazem, N-demethyldiltiazem and the internal standard, verapamil with n-hexane and diethyl ether [50:50 v/v]. The mobile phase comprised 0.1M ammonium dihydrogen phosphate-acetonitrile [62:38 v/v] and triethylamine [0.08%] was added before the pH was ajusted to 5.9 with 85% phosphoric acid. Analysis was run at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/mm at a detection wavelength of 238 nm. The completion time for assay was not more than 10 minutes and lower limit of quantification was 5 ng/ml. The calibration curve for diltiazem and its metabolite was linear over a concentration range of 5-200 ng/ml and average recovery was about 90%. The coefficient of variation and percent error values of the assay method within and between day were all less than 10%

Comparison of ketorolac with morphine for Intra-operative analgesia in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy

To compare ketorolac 0.35 mg.kg-1 with morphine 0.1 mg.kg-1 for hemodynamic stability, efficacy of analgesia and incidence of side effects in patients undergoing elective total abdominal hysterectomy. Fifty ASA I and II patients, were enrolled in a prospective, randomized and double blind study. They were divided in two equal groups. Group K received Inj. Ketorolac 0.35 mg.kg-1 while group M received Inj. Morphine 0.1 mg.kg-1 5 minutes before induction of anaesthesia. Hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and surgical incision were noted. Data was entered and analysis was done using SPSS version 10.0. Student-t test and comparison of proportions were done where required. ANOVA was done and a p - value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. There was a significant rise in heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure in ketorolac group [K] as compared to baseline values at points of endotracheal intubation and surgical incision. Patients in Morphine group [M] showed a significant increase in heart rate only. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for supplemental analgesia requirement Intraoperatively and postoperatively. Complications seen with group K were increased surgical wound bleeding in 2 patients [8%], nausea and vomiting in 4 patients [16%] while in group M there was nausea and vomiting in 5 patients [20%], and respiratory depression in 1 patient [4%]. Although hemodynamic stability at points of painful stimulation was lower in patients given ketorolac as compared to morphine, Ketorolac has a place in the intraoperative pain relief in Pakistan and other developing countries where availability of powerful narcotics is erratic