The purpose of this study is to search for more affordable as well as effective natural excipients that can be used as viable alternative for the formulation of pharmaceutical suspension. The suspending properties of mucilage of Colocasia esculenta were evaluated comparatively with those of compound tragacanth and acacia in Paracetamol suspension. Characterization tests were carried out on Colocasia esculenta mucilage. Sedimentation volume, rheology, pH, degree of flocculation and redispersibility were the evaluation parameters. The values obtained were used as basis for comparison of the suspending agents studied. Colocasia esculenta mucilage showed comparable suspending ability as acacia and compound tragacanth although Colocasia esculenta mucilage was found to be less viscous than acacia and compound tragacanth. Also, the redispersibility of the materials was found to be in the order: Colocasia esculenta mucilage > Acacia > Compound Tragacanth. The Study indicates that Colocasia esculenta mucilage may be useful as a pharmaceutical adjuvant and as a suspending agent

Sri Lanka is a diverse country and is home to many religions, ethnicities, and languages. Sinhala-Buddhists are the predominant ethnic group in this country, constituting 70.19% of the total population, with the Muslims being the second largest minority. There are a wealth of records in history that prove the cordial relationship between Buddhists and Muslims in the past. However, the aftermath of civil war (1983-2009) caused tension to brew between these two groups. This is because of recent hate campaigns undertaken by a number of Buddhist Nationalist Groups (BNGs) through instigation of Buddhism or Sinhalese nationalism among Buddhists adherents. These groups have been actively protesting against the Muslim social, cultural, and religious practices and behaviours, such as the issuing of Halal certification, slaughtering of animals for food, conducting of prayer services, maintaining worship places, etc. They have also disseminated misinterpretations about Muslims and their religion, Islam, spreading derogatory speeches among the Buddhists. Given the above background, this paper has attempted to determine the impacts of recent campaigns on the traditional relationship between Buddhists and Muslims via an analysis of Buddhist and Muslim point of views. According to the Buddhists, the recent attempts instigated by Buddhist Nationalist Groups have not impacted their relationship with the Muslims in any way and that they still habitually maintain a cordial relationship with said community. Even the Muslims feel as strongly in terms of keeping a cordial relationship with the Buddhists. However, according to their point of view, these hate campaigns could potentially ruin their already harmonious relationship with the Buddhists, turning it into a conflicting relationship instead. Therefore, both the Buddhist and Muslim communities in Sri Lanka plan to be more vigilant against these harmful campaigns.

The research paper looked at Capacity Building Programme Needs for School Administrators in Secondary Schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was ascertained the relevance of capacity building programmes to secondary school administrators in Cross River State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The study was guided by two research questions. The population of the study comprised of 234 principals in Secondary schools in Ikom Education Zone, Cross State, Nigeria with a sample of 150 respondents. The instrument for data collection was a researcher‟s structured questionnaire titled “Capacity building programme needs for school administrators (CBPNSA)” was used to elicit information from the respondents. The instrument consisted of 20 items developed by the researcher. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The study found out that government incentives help in motivating administrators to ensure participation in capacity building programmes for effective school administration.

Cornelia De Lange Syndrome is a rare syndrome with multiple congenital abnormalities, characteristic facial appearance, prenatal and postnatal growth delay, behavioral changes and numerous gastrointestinal manifestations, out of which gastroesophagial reflux disease (GERD) contributes to high degree of disease burden. The syndrome rarely persists into adulthood. Though isolated diagnosis of GERD in a young adult in a general medical ward is a common encounter, arriving at a syndromic diagnosis considering the detailed history, clinical features and endoscopic evidence of severe reflux oesophagitis, in a 26 year old male who presented with recurrent bouts of haemetemesis, highlights the importance of pattern recognition; an important tool in clinical diagnosis even in modern day practice

FIB-4 Score is a simple formula to predict liver fibrosis based on the standard biochemical / hematological values i.e. AST, ALT, Platelet count and age. The Score lower than 1.45 has a Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 95% for significant fibrosis i.e. F3-F4 while, a Score of greater than 3.25 has a PPV of 80% for advance fibrosis i.e. F3-F4. So an improvement of FIB-4 Score is a possible indicator of change in liver fibrosis. The objective is to observe the disparity in paired FIB-04 Score in hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin at the beginning of the treatment and at the end of treatment evaluation (ETR). An observational study was carried out in patients with mono-infected, compensated CHC patients ,treated with Pegylated Interferon & Ribavirin for 24weeks to 48 weeks (according to genotype)in a tertiary care hospital (i.e. Baqai Medical University Hospital Nazimabad) from Jan 2010 to March 2015 in a paired manner i.e. before (at beginning) and at the End of treatment evaluation (ETR). Responses were analyzed by using ‘Wilcoxon signed rank test. SPSS 23.00 version was used to analyze data. Fifty eight patients diagnosed with hepatitis C took part in the study out of which 24 were males (41.4%) with mean age 38.8 (22y-60y) and 34 were females (58.6%) with mean age 43.6 (31y-60y). Out of 58 participants, 8 patients were type 1 genotype, 48 patients were type 3 genotype and 1 was type 4. Genotype of 1 participant was not recorded. According to result evaluated, there is a statically significant decrease in FIB04 score from beginning of treatment (M=2.52, SD=1.35) to ETR (M=1.74, SD=1.37) justifying that there is a definite positive change in FIB-04 score (i.e. improvement in fibrosis). Distinct positive change in FIB-4 Score was observed in Chronic Hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin at the end of treatment

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of prostatic disorders in a large population of dogs in Jos, Plateau State. Medical records from 2 major veterinary hospitals were retrieved. A total of 38,201 cases in male dogs were presented to the small animal units of the hospitals from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2016, out of which a total of 2 (0.01%) were found to be prostatic disorders. These prostatic disorders were benign prostatic hyperplasia 1(50%) and prostatic carcinoma 1(50%). The study revealed a prevalence of 0.01% of prostatic disorders observed in intact male dogs of ages 2years and 3years. Based on breeds of dog affected by these disorders, the German shepherd and Mongrel were the predisposing breeds. In conclusion, it is either those prostatic diseases are rare in dogs in Jos or the conditions are misdiagnosed

Abstract: Wet direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an attractive alternative to transplanted rice, as it saves the drudgery of raising seedlings and transplanting, reducing labor and cost of cultivation. As direct-seeded rice stays in the field for a longer duration than transplanted rice so weed control remains one of the major challenges for its success. A field experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh during Boro season of 2013-14, to evaluate effectiveness of different weed management practices; weedy, hand weeding and other practices with pre and post-emergence herbicides; Bensulfuran methyl + Acetachlor and Pyrazosulfuran ethyl on the performance of direct-seeded rice. Results showed that yield and yield attributing parameters and weed dynamics were significantly affected and the trend of higher production and lower weed dynamic in different growing stage of direct-seeded rice was obtained. Irrespective of weed management options, hand weeding (5.21 t ha-1), pre with post emergence herbicide (5.15 t ha-1), post emergence herbicide with one supplement hand weeding (5.02 t ha-1) and pre emergence herbicide with one supplement hand weeding (4.95 t ha-1) produced significantly higher yield, while lowest yield was recorded in control plots (3.54 t ha-1).

Gastroretentive systems can remain in the gastric region for several hours and hence significantly prolong the gastric residence time of drugs. Prolonged gastric retention improves bioavailability, reduces drug waste, and improves solubility for drugs that are less soluble in a high pH environment. The present work describes the formulation and evaluation of gastroretentive system of an antiretroviral agent, Stavudine, based on the concept of altered density. Emulsion gelation technique was used to prepare the floating microcarriers using sodium alginate as the polymer. Microcarriers containing oil was prepared by gently mixing and homogenizing oil and water phase containing sodium alginate which was then extruded into calcium chloride solution. The prepared microcarriers were evaluated for drug entrapment efficiency, particle size and shape, micrometric properties, buoyancy and in-vitro drug release studies. The results of FTIR spectroscopy showed stable character of Stavudine. The mean particle size of microcarriers was in the range of 0.59-1.25mm. Microcarriers were spherical and free flowing. The drug entrapment efficiency was found to be 44.6-69.1%. The microcarriers remained buoyant for more than about 12h. The drug release study showed that Stavudine from the microcarriers was prolonged more than 10hrs. The results demonstrate that the amount of the oil entrapped in each microcarrier is play role in particle size entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release

Abstract: Islam as a religion is based on knowledge acquisition recognizes the importance of recordkeeping and management, which is signified in the first five verses of the Holy book of Islam, the Qur’an. This paper overviews the origin of recordkeeping and management in Islam. It highlights the purposes of recordkeeping and management in Islam, as well as the challenges faced in recordkeeping and management in the era of Information and Communication Technologies. It concludes by offering some suggestions on improving recordkeeping and management in Islam.

Work environment and engagement has great importance regarding organizational commitment. Now a day’s nurses are stressed and burdened due to poor working environment and less engagement. Organizational commitment means loyalty or commitment of an employee to his or her organization. Thus, the current study aims to assess the effects of work environment and engagement on nurse’s organizational commitment in public hospitals Lahore, Pakistan. Cross-sectional study design was used in this study. Self-administered questionnaire distributed to 200 nurses through convenient random sampling. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data while regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis. Finding of the current study reveals the significant positive relationship between work environment and nurse’s organizational commitment or between engagement and nurse’s organizational commitment

Finger Tip Unit (FTU) is being considered as a means of quantifying dosages but rough guides are provided in literature and it is without psychometric value. The primary aims of this study were to determine reference values for FTU metric length (FTUML) and compare values of 6 different age groups. 600 participants were purposively recruited. The weight, height and selected anatomic girths were measured using standard procedures. The FTUML was measured from the tip of index finger to the distal palmar crease using an inelastic tape measure. Body Somatotype and BMI were computed. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The mean FTUML for participants between 11 and 20 years, 21 and 30 years and other age groups were 2.5cm, 2.7cm and 2.4cm (SD = 0.3cm each) respectively, There was significant difference between the FTUs of different age groups (F= 15.37, P= 0.001). The FTUML of age group of 21-30 years was significantly higher than that of others (p=0.001). There was significant correlation between FTUML and height, wrist, ankle girths and body Somatotype (r- values= 0.410, 0.234, 0.472 and -0.106 respectively, p<0.01). Age and other independent variables considered were significant predictors of FTUML (F=32.46, P=0.001). The variables contributed 39.9% to the prediction of FTUML. The predictive equation obtained for FTUML was valid (r = 0.63, p = 0.001). It was concluded that the Fingertip Unit Metric Length of the participants ranged between 2.4 and 2.7cm and it differed across different age groups. Age, height, weight, Body Mass Index, girths and somatotype were significant correlates and predictors of Fingertip Units Metric Length

In order to recognize Chinese herbal medicine quickly and conveniently, we development telephone recognition platform by Java language. Object to the focus on health and Chinese herbal medicine, we put forward the system idea based on Android telephone to meet the requirement of herbal medicine recognition and help people recognize Chinese herbal medicine in travelling or outsides. The telephone application software developed by Java platform of micro edition can recognize Chinese herbal medicine by similar key word retrieving in the condition of plant characters and environment conditions

Around the globe, occupational-related diseases are widespread and common. Posture during work and duty hours are the major risk factor in the development of musculoskeletal disorder. The rationale behind the study is to find out the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder among dentist. Data was evaluated by using chi square test. The duration of the study was from Dec 2016 to Feb 2017 including pilot survey. 60 dentists were elected randomly and were questioned about personal characteristics, job history, work load, physical risk factors at work place and about low back pain (LBP) and neck pain. 5 point Likert Scale was used to measure responses and 10 item-scales was used to evaluate the prevalence of MSD. Informed consent was signed by the participants. Non-probability sampling technique was applied Confidentiality was assured. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 21.00 version. As evaluated from a study that back and neck pain is highly prevalent among dentist. According to results, 75% dentist exhibited back pain, 45% showed shoulder pain, 10% had elbow pain, 3% had wrist pain, 36% had upper back pain, 48.3% had lower back pain, 16% had hip, buttock and thigh pain, 8% showed bilateral knee pain, and 5% had bilateral ankle pain

Etoposide is an anticancer drug that belonging to topoisomerase II inhibitors, it used to treat various human malignancies. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. The present study evaluated the possible protective potential of oral treatment of ginger oil (75&150 mg/kg body weight) three times weekly for 21 days against the genotoxic effects of etoposide oral administration (1mg/kg body weight) three times weekly for 21 days on bone marrow in male albino rat (Rattus norvegicus). Sixty adult male albino rats were used as the following, 30 rats (5 for each group) were prepared for DNA, evaluated the oxidative status in liver tissue (they were received the treatments for 21 days). The other 30 rats were used for chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow in addition to mitotic index in bone marrow (they were received the treatments for 72 hours only). Animals treated with etoposide showed DNA fragmentations on agarose gel electrophoresis and a significant increase in the percentage of bone marrow total chromosomal aberrations (TCA: 183.3±2.7) with significant decrease (P<0.01) in mitotic index in bone marrow (22.3± 2.25 ). Malondialdehyde and nitric oxide as indicators for oxidative stress showed an increase (2.42 ±0.05, 24.25 ±0.41) respectively, in contrast superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione showed decrease (P<0.01) with values (15.2 ±0.20, 5.42±0.31, 1.43±0.09) respectively, after etoposide treatment. While treatments with ginger oil (either 75 or 150 mg/kg b. wt.) normalize the oxidative status in liver tissues. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that ginger oil exerted a protective effect against genotoxicity and cytotoxicity induced by etoposide that may be due to its antioxidant effects. Consequently, we recommended that ginger oil can be suggested to be administrated as co-medicine in chemotherapeutic treatments of cancer

Dengue is a vector born viral infection that belongs to family Flaviviridae. It is a single stranded RNA virus and endangers 2.5 billion people world wild. Dengue viral (DENV) infections cause a broad spectrum of illnesses from self-limited fever to severe hemorrhagic manifestations and increased vascular permeability. Cardiac manifestations of dengue are rarely associated with severe dengue fever. There are ample of dengue with myocarditis reported all over the World. But dengue with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is rare, we reported dengue with AMI during the last outbreak and also we reported our challenges faced during the management period.