The aim of the study was to assess the pharmacokinetic and bioavailability of 2 formulations of 5-mg prednisolone tablets, reference product (Teva UK Limited) and Pred (Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd) as test product. The open-label, randomized, 2-way crossover studies were conducted on 14 healthy subjects. Participants were assigned to receive both products as a single dose (20 mg formulations, 4 × 5 mg tablets) followed by a 2 weeks’ washout period. Following oral administration, samples were obtained at various time intervals and analyzed for prednisolone concentrations using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography assay method with ultraviolet detection. The obtained values for test and reference products were 683.00 ± 94.54 ng/mL and 635.16 ± 125.57 ng/mL for Cmax; 2716.54 ± 196.28 ng·h/mL and 2780.5 ± 119.73 ng·h/mL for AUC0-12; 3284.36 ± 138.12 ng·h/mL and 3317.96 ± 133.95 ng·h/mL for AUC0-∞, respectively. From the paired Student t test, no significant differences between 2 formulations were observed (P > .05). The 90% confidence intervals of Cmax, AUC0-12, and AUC0-∞ were found to be 99.0% to 100.9%, 99.4% to 100.5%, and 99.9% to 101.3%, respectively. Finally, it can be concluded that Pred (Test) of Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd and prednisolone (Reference) of Teva UK Limited are bioequivalent and interchangeable.

The variability of response to antimicrobial has been inadequately explained because of lack of pharmacokinetic data. The present pharmacokinetic study was designed to provide information beneficial to formulate a population pharmacokinetic model appropriate for Bangladeshi population. Among the beta-lactams, amoxicillin (500 mg), flucloxacillin (250 mg), cefuroxime (500 mg) and among the fluoroquinolones, ciprofloxacin (500 mg), levofloxacin (500 mg), gatifloxacin (400 mg) were studied in 15 healthy Bangladeshi male volunteers. The Cmax, AUC0–infinity, Tmax, T1/2 and Ctrough were studied with all antimicrobials. Later, the Cmax and AUC0–infinity were adjusted for bodyweight and dose. Among the studied antimicrobials, the Cmax varied to great extent even after adjustment for bodyweight and dose. The Cmax after adjustment was highest in case of flucloxacillin and lowest in case of ciprofloxacin, indicating excellent absorption of flucloxacillin in Bangladeshi population. The information obtained through this study generates necessity of new cut-off value for the antimicrobials.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpp.v30i1.20789 Bangladesh J Physiol Pharmacol 2014; 30(1):16-24

Services have become the engine of the global economy. However, the role of services in the internationalization strategy of emerging market firms remains under-researched. In a case study of Indonesia, we focus on the role played by manufacturing firms' increasing use, production, and sale of services (or "servicification") in their productivity and exports. We provide a theoretical and empirical framework to study the relationship between servicification, productivity, and exports at firm level. In terms of theory, we rely on the Resource-Based View of internationalization in a heterogeneous firms setting. Regarding methodology, we use panel techniques with administrative firm-level data from the automobile industry. We show that servicification increases the probability of emerging market manufacturing firms exporting, both directly and indirectly through increases in productivity. Results from our case study provide evidence for emerging market firms that, on the one hand, productivity mediates the relationship between servicification and internationalization, and on the other hand, servicification moderates the relationship between productivity and internationalization. Our findings imply that creating unique resources through servicification allows firms to gain a competitive advantage that increases their productivity and helps them to internationalize.