Pharmaceutical Aid Research Articles

Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Smoking Cessation Aids in a Nationally Representative Cohort of American Smokers.

BackgroundDespite strong efficacy in randomized trials, the population effectiveness of pharmaceutical aids in long-term smoking cessation is lacking, possibly because of confounding (factors that are associated with both pharmaceutical aid use and difficulty quitting). Matching techniques in longitudinal studies can remove this confounding bias.MethodsUsing the nationally representative Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS), we assessed the effectiveness of medications to aid quitting among baseline adult smokers who attempted to quit prior to one year of follow-up in two longitudinal studies: 2002–2003 and 2010–2011. Pharmaceutical aid users and nonusers with complete data (n = 2129) were matched using propensity score models with 12 potential confounders (age, sex, race-ethnicity, education, smoking intensity, nicotine dependence, previous quit history, self-efficacy to quit, smoke-free homes, survey year, and cessation aid use). Using matched data sets, logistic regression models were fit to assess whether use of any individual pharmaceutical aid increased the proportion of patients who were abstinent for 30 days or more at follow-up.ResultsPropensity score matching markedly improved balance on the potential confounders between the pharmaceutical aid use groups. Using matched samples to provide a balanced comparison, there was no evidence that use of varenicline (adjusted risk difference [aRD] = 0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = –0.07 to 0.11), bupropion (aRD = 0.02, 95% CI = –0.04 to 0.09), or nicotine replacement (aRD = 0.01, 95% CI = –0.03 to 0.06) increased the probability of 30 days or more smoking abstinence at one-year follow-up.ConclusionsThe lack of effectiveness of pharmaceutical aids in increasing long-term cessation in population samples is not an artifact caused by confounded analyses. A possible explanation is that counseling and support interventions provided in efficacy trials are rarely delivered in the general population.

The technique of dermoplasty to treat recurrent nasal polyps: preoperative evaluation, surgical details, postoperative endoscopic appearance and histopathologic analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND. The tendency of the nasal polyps for recurrence is well established and recognized. A potentially effective measure to reduce this tendency seems to be the replacement of the mucosa responsible for polyp growth. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Since February 2012, we have used this method in fifteen patients with intractable polyposis. After a short course of preoperative medication, we performed a detailed computed scan analysis to study the anatomy of the ethmoidal complex and calculate the area and contour of the graft. Under general anaesthesia, we removed the mucosa of the nasal roof and replaced it with a split-thickness skin graft. For maintenance, only a short course of nasal drops every three months seems to suffice. RESULTS. Excluding the first two cases due to a poor surgical technique, the rest of the cases may be considered successful. All patients experience a functional nose with restored nasal breathing and occasionally olfactory function with only a minimal pharmaceutical aid. Polyps still grow, but they show a much more benign course and are readily responsive to medical treatment. Interestingly, polyps present squamous metaplasia postoperatively. This feature needs further investigation. CONCLUSION. The method of dermoplasty presents a high potential for control of polyp growth. With only an hour prolongation of surgical time, a minor increase in complication rate and a small increase in morbidity rate, the technique deserves further attention from the rhinological society.

ЕКСПЕРТНА ОЦІНКА ЛІКАРСЬКИХ ЗАСОБІВ ГРУПИ S01E «ПРОТИГЛАУКОМНІ ПРЕПАРАТИ ТА МІОТИКИ»

Проведено анкетування 280 лікарів-спеціалістів (офтальмологів та лікарів загальної практики - сімейної медицини) з метою експертної оцінки препаратів групи S01E «Протиглаукомні препарати та міотики». Розраховано сумарні та середні оцінкові характеристики кожного з досліджуваних препаратів за показниками ефективності, наявності побічної дії, фактичної вірогідності призначення препарату на сьогодні, перспективності застосування препарату, наявності в аптечній мережі. Згідно з отриманими даними здійснено ранжування протиглаукомних препаратів на групи високої, середньої та низької доцільності включення у формулярні та страхові переліки

Pharmacists without Borders Canada

With your recent coverage of the important work of pharmacists during natural disasters,1,2 I thought it would be an opportune time to update CPJ readers about a pharmacist organization that has spent decades working in areas around the world in greatest need of medical and pharmaceutical aid.

Sleep Quality and Factors Influencing Self-Reported Sleep Duration and Quality in the General Internal Medicine Inpatient Population.

BackgroundSleep quality in hospitalized Canadian General Internal Medicine patients is not well characterized. Our goals were to characterize hospital sleep quality in this population and identify potentially modifiable barriers to good sleep.MethodsGIM inpatients at a quaternary centre in Edmonton, Canada completed a survey, including the Verran-Snyder Halpern (VSH) questionnaire, to characterize the previous night’s sleep within 48 hours prior to discharge. A chart review was also completed to assess comorbidities, discharge diagnoses, and pharmaceutical sleep aid use.ResultsPatients reported significantly worse nighttime sleep duration in hospital compared with home (mean 5.5 versus 7.0 hours per night, p < 0.0001). Sleep quality was poor, as measured by the VSH disturbance (mean 371), effectiveness (190), and supplementation (115) subscales. Variables independently associated with poorer sleep duration in multivariable regression include prior diagnosis of sleep disorder and multi-patient occupancy rooms. Age, sex, admitting diagnosis, length of stay, frequency of vital checks, and use of sleep pharmaceuticals during the index hospitalization were not associated with sleep duration. The most frequently reported reasons for poor sleep included noise (59%), nursing interruptions (30%), uncomfortable beds (18%), bright lights (16%), unfamiliar surroundings (14%), and pain (9%).ConclusionsSleep quality for GIM inpatients is significantly worse in hospital than at home. There is a need to test non-pharmacologic interventions to address the most frequently identified factors causing poor sleep hygiene for GIM inpatients.

Adaptive approaches towards modelling of medicines provision in Sudan regarding influence of external factors

Problem of providing population of African countries with accessible medical and pharmaceutical aid is discovered in article. Aim of research was to determine factors that have an impact on level of morbidity in the country and designation of approaches towards modelling of availability of medicinal assistance in municipalities of Sudan. Dependence was obtained by means of regressive analysis will allow to conduct comparison of individual territorial units by applied means of parameters, to model potential impact of external factors on availability of medical and medicinal care.

Проблема доступности лекарственной помощи для населения России в начале ХХ в.

Проблема доступности лекарственной помощи для населения России в начале ХХ в.

The clinical significance and reliability of self-reported smoking status in patients with intracranial aneurysms: A review

ObjectiveHere we present a review of the pathophysiology of tobacco smoking on intracranial aneurysms, self-reported smoking status in these patients, screening tools and assays available for assessing active nicotine use, means of impacting smoking cessation rates, and the potential impact of smoking cessation on risk of rupture and recurrence of treated intracranial aneurysms. MethodsA literature search using PubMed was done to identify all English language studies relating to tobacco use and intracranial aneurysms, smoking and subarachnoid hemorrhage, nicotine breakdown products, and smoking cessation in neurosurgery. Results from the studies were reviewed and summarized. ResultsTobacco use is an independent risk factor for formation, growth, and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. The pathogenesis of aneurysm formation is complex, and related to increased wall shear stress, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and altered gene regulation. Furthermore 80% of all aneurysmal ruptures occur in patients who have used tobacco products. It is suboptimal to rely on self-reported smoking status in order to determine patient risk. Use of objective metrics for ongoing tobacco use may be indicated in selected patients, and may increase smoking cessation rates in these patients. A variety of laboratory and point-of-care tests are available for measurement of nicotine and nicotine breakdown products. Most assays in clinical practice measure the nicotine breakdown product cotinine, which constitutes 75% of nicotine metabolites excreted in the urine and has a substantial half-life of 16h, compared to nicotine's 2-h half-life. With proper identification, an astute physician may be able to assist in smoking cessation and foster improved patient care. By following recommended guidelines and prescribing pharmaceutical aid, a patient has a 2.5 times greater chance of smoking cessation compared with attempting to stop without physician assistance. ConclusionsSmoking increases risk for intracranial aneurysm formation, rupture, re-rupture and need for re-treatment. Measurement of nicotine breakdown products may have clinical utility in the management of patients with intracranial aneurysms. Smoking cessation interventions may be effective, and use of established smoking cessation tools use may lead to improved clinical outcomes in these patients. The effects of smoking cessation efforts on smoking cessation and intracranial aneurysm outcomes is a fertile field for future investigation.

Disentangling racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences in self-reported sleep measures: the Boston Area Community Health Survey

BackgroundRacial/ethnic differences in sleep are widely reported. However, the extent to which socioeconomic factors account for crude variation in sleep parameters by racial/ethnic groups is not clearly understood. MethodsWe studied 4144 individuals in the Boston Area Community Health Survey (2006-2010), a racially/ethnically balanced population-based cohort of black, Hispanic, and white men and women. Self-reported sleep measures were sleep duration, sleep latency, restless sleep, risk for sleep apnea, and sleep medication use. We assessed changes in the age- and sex-adjusted association between race/ethnicity and sleep measures after additional adjustment for individual socioeconomic factors (income, education, and employment) and lifestyle and behavioral factors. ResultsSelf-identified non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity was significantly associated with higher odds of short sleep duration (fully adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-2.64), longer sleep latency (fully adjusted, 20.9% longer; 95% CI, 4.1-41.9), and lower odds of pharmaceutical sleep aid use (fully adjusted OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.65) than white race/ethnicity. Education level accounted for the most substantial reduction in estimates of the age- and sex-adjusted association between black race/ethnicity and short sleep duration and sleep latency. Having less than a 4-year college education was associated with approximately 55% lower sleep latency than having postgraduate education. No significant associations were observed comparing Hispanic to white participants. ConclusionsSignificant variation was observed between black and white race/ethnicity in short sleep duration, sleep latency, and sleep aid use. Although considerable variation in sleep by race/ethnicity was explained by education level, additional variation in self-reported sleep by race/ethnicity may be due to other unmeasured socioeconomic, lifestyle, or behavioral factors.

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BIOMATERIAL OF TYMPANOTONUS FUSCATA SHELL AS PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT

Tympanotonus fus cata var radula (L) or periwinkle is a mollusc and abounds in the Niger Delta , Nigeria . It is highly consumed as source of protein . The empty shells , hither to poorly utilize d add to environmental menace. T his pilot study seeks a n industrially based econom ic value for the shell . The physico - technical properties of t he powder processed from it was evaluated as excipient for the pharmaceutical sector . A 10 % w/v aqueous dispersion of t he biomaterial has pH of 11.20. It was insoluble in water and several organ ic solvents , effervesces in dilu te or concentrated mineral acid . High level of calcium and other trace elements below the recommended pharmacopeia limits were analysed . Since its LD 50 > 15,000 mg/ kg body weight in albino mice, it i s considered non - toxic an d may serve as pharmaceutical aid in formulating orally administered medicines . Its low moisture content and mois ture absorption capacity below 3 % in 96, 84, 75 and 52 % (30 o C) relative humidity shows that it may offer a stable formulation with hydro - degr adable drugs. The compacted pellets showed high friability, though powder demonstrated poor flowabilty , implying that it may serve as tablet di luent in wet granulation technique and not as directly compressible filler . I ts trace metal and high calcium cont ent indicates that it could be processed commercially as calcium supplement for livestock. These findings if harnessed will cause a shift of economic responsiveness to periwinkle shell , protect our environment , extend agricultural activities , offer job pro spects and generate raw - material for the indige nous drug and food industries.

Interactions of European Early Career Psychiatrists with the Pharmaceutical Industry: Status Quo and Directions for the Future

Interactions between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians have recently received attention for their potential to create conflicts of interest in clinical practice, research and education. As a consequence, several medical and psychiatric associations including the EPA have published guidance papers to encourage best practice. In this context, the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) performed a cross-sectional survey among European psychiatric trainees in order to ascertain the current level of interactions, as well as beliefs and attitudes towards interactions with the pharmaceutical industry. Responses from 1444 psychiatric trainees from 20 countries were obtained and reveal important differences in the level of interactions across Europe. Assigning a an educational role to the pharmaceutical industry and aid by senior psychiatrists in organizining industry-sponsored events were associated with a higher degree of interactions. Creating alternative, non-industry-sponsored educational opportunities and specific training dedicated to industry interactions may help to reduce the impact of the pharmaceutical industry on psychiatric training in the future.

The Concept of Research of Pharmacists Professional Training in Ukraine

Despite an increased focus of the Ukrainian scientists (V. Lazoryshynets, O. Volosovets, I. Vitenko, Ya. Tsekhmister, V. Chernykh, and others) on the issue of professional training of pharmacists, today it still remains insufficiently studied, and taken European integration into account it requires significant attention. The concept of pharmacists professional training in Ukraine implies that pharmaceutical education, i.e. the structure, content, timeframes, and quality, should be brought to conformity with the state and international standards and with the demand of the country's healthcare system for high-quality pharmaceutical aid provided to population, for supply of good medicinal products in sufficient amounts, for the development of new technologies in production of medicinal products, for maintaining the nation's health. The system of continuous professional training of pharmacists in Ukraine comprises three successive stages, integrated between each other since every next stage is based on the previous and backs the new, higher level of pharmacists professional training, namely undergraduate training, postgraduate studies, continuous (lifelong) professional development. The ultimate goal of pharmacists professional training in Ukraine is to achieve objectives such as improving the quality of medicinal products and pharmaceutical aid; maintaining and strengthening the nation's health; promoting the quality of education, research and professional activities of higher educational and postgraduate institutions offering pharmaceutical education; competitiveness of pharmacists in the European and international labor markets.

Rapid Synthesis of Nanometric Cellulose Hydroxyapatite

Cellulose hydroxyapatite (Cel-HAp) nanometrics were prepared by microwave-assisted method in order to improve structural and morphological characteristics. The preparation of nanometric Cel-Hap was performed using different grades of cellulose (pharmaceutical aid and analytical reagent), CaCl2.4H2O and NaH2PO4.2H2O precursors. The mixture was heated in a microwave oven at low temperatures (70°C and 90°C) for five minutes .This method is applied in order to reduce synthesis time as well as to obtain materials more efficient to remove pollutant ions. The solids were characterized by Electronic Spectroscopy (DRUV), X-rays diffraction, Vibrational Spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman) and SEM. FTIR and Raman spectra show the characteristic bands of carbonated hydroxyapatite and cellulose. X-rays diffraction shows the typical diffraction peaks of HAp and Cellulose. SEM shows morphological differences between obtained solids: spicular (CelA-HAp, analytical reagent) and stacked layers (CelF-HAp, pharmaceutical aid) respectively. From the SEM studies and applying Scherrer's formula the materials were found to be nanometrics

Design, development and comparison of ethanol production from free and immobilizedsaccharomyces cerevisiaeunder stationary culture

Background: The aim of the present study is to design, develop and compare the production capacity and the difference in the yield of the ethanol by fermentation technology. The utility of the alcohol per annum is increasing day by day as the number of industries using ethanol as a solvent, pharmaceutical aid. Hence the production of ethanol by fermentation technology has triggered us to investigate the best way and method to produce ethanol of benefit of Pharmaceutical Industry. Method: The conventional method of production of alcohol was performed by aerobic batch type of fermentation: the yield was noted. The same production was performed by using immobilized yeast cells by gel entrapment technique. We produced ethanol by free and immobilized 'saccharomyces cerevisiae' under stationary culture. Cane molasses was used as a sugar source for about (12 - 21%), medium pH (4-5.5). incubation temperature (25 degreesc-30 degreesc), volume of fermentation medium (200 - 350ml) and reuse of immobilized yeast cells. Result: Rate of ethanol production was maximal with immobilized yeast cells. The results indicate that 2gm vegetative cells of yeast on utilizing molasses at 15% sugar concentration with medium pH 4.5 at 30oC. Conclusion: Hence we conclude that the fermentation optimization and the yield value of popular organic solvent (ethanol) was studied and reported. The specific gravity of the distillated alcohol by free and immobilized yeast cells were found to be 0.9730, 0.9705 at room temperature and the alcohol content was found to be 85%, 93.52% as per International Pharmacopeia respectively. To conclude the immobilized yeast cells were found to yield more ethanol than free yeast cells.

Rheological characterization of galactomannans extracted from seeds of Caesalpinia pulcherrima

The galactomannan from the seeds of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. was isolated and purified by precipitation method using alcohol to get C. pulcherrima (CP) gum. CP gum was studied for its physicochemical and rheological properties. The composition of CP gum was found to contain mannose:galactose:glucose:xylose in a proportion of 2.8:1:0.1:0.08, with M/G ratio 2.80. The molecular weight (Mw) for CP gum was obtained to be approximately 2.72×106Da by static light scattering measurements and 2.79×106Da using Mark–Houwink relationship. The intrinsic viscosity by Huggins and Kraemer plots using capillary viscometry was obtained as 12–12.5dl/g. The rheological behavior of aqueous galactomannan solutions was studied at 25°C, using steady-shear and dynamic oscillatory measurements. The various concentrations of CP gum exhibits shear thinning non Newtonian behavior at high shear rate and Newtonian flow at low shear rate. Experimental data in steady shear has been correlated and found a better fitting with the Cross and Carreau models. A graph of the specific viscosity at zero shear rate (ηsp0) against coil overlap parameter (C[η]) was plotted and the slope of the lines in dilute and semi-dilute regions were found to be 1.23 and 4.1 respectively. The critical concentration (C*) was found to be about 3.8/[η]. The linear viscoelastic region for CP gum solutions presented nature as that of macromolecular solutions. At all shear rates and frequencies, ηap and η* had almost similar magnitudes, which shows its reasonable agreement with the Cox–Merz rule. The present investigation shows the suitability of CP gum as a pharmaceutical aid application like viscosity modifier, release retardants, binders.

NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY OF THE TOBACCO ADDICTION IN PREVENTION OF CARDIORESPIRATORY DISEASES

Tobacco smoking is a serious public health issue in Russia and one of the major risk factors of cardiorespiratory diseases. Smoking cessation is the most cost-effective measure for prevention of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and for reduction in risk of death from these diseases. Helping the patients to quit smoking is difficult because of the nicotine addiction that most of them face. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is used to reduce the tobacco dependence and withdrawal symptoms while quitting smoking and ease the transition from cigarette smoking to complete abstinence. NRT doubles the chances of smokers for quitting. Among modern pharmacotherapy approaches for smoking cessation NRT is a method of choice in cardiovascular and respiratory patients due to proven safety. NRT with a combination of slowand long-acting drugs with rapid-acting ones is more effective than NRT with a single type of drugs and helps to overcome the withdrawal symptoms and withstand tobacco dependence in a longer run. NRT may be successfully used as a pharmaceutical aid for patients with tobacco dependence in the hospitals when those will adopt the smoke-free hospitals status under the new Federal “antitobacco” law.

Lithium Delivery Enhances Bone Growth during Midpalatal Expansion

Lithium is an activator of β-catenin signaling, and β-catenin mediates bone acquisition in response to mechanical loading in the bone. We tested the hypothesis that lithium enhances new bone formation during midpalatal suture expansion. Forty-eight Wistar rats with or without suture expansion were gavage-fed daily with lithium chloride or sodium chloride. We labeled the rats with bromodeoxyuridine to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of the osteoprogenitors. Lithium increased β-catenin expression and cell proliferation in expanding sutures. Initial delay in the differentiation of osteoprogenitors into mature osteoblasts by lithium treatment corresponded with expansion of pre-osteoblasts, which preceded the increase of new bone formation in the suture. These results suggested that β-catenin regulates proliferation of osteoprogenitors and maturation of osteoblasts during midpalatal suture expansion osteogenesis, and that lithium enhances bone regeneration by elevating β-catenin expression. Lithium treatment could be a pharmaceutical aid to improve the stability of orthodontic treatment like rapid palatal expansion.

Novel Lannea Woodier gum matrices for controlled release of drugs

The objective of the study is to establish the potential of Odina gum as a novel pharmaceutical aid for development of controlled release drug delivery systems. The influence of varying the proportion of the gum, the nature of diluents and their ratio in the preparation was also evaluated. Compatibility of the drugs with the gum was studied using FTIR and DSC. In vitro dissolution studies indicated that various proportions of Odina gum ranging from 10% to 70% are required depending on the nature of the drug. Furthermore, a blend of lactose and microcrystalline cellulose were also required to tailor the release profiles for attaining controlled release of both the moieties. Swelling studies were carried out to support the drug release mechanism. Peppas model was found to be the best fit model. Hence swelling and diffusion were concluded to be the basic mechanisms modulating drug release from the gum based matrices.

Fruit Gum of Aegle marmelos as Pharmaceutical Aid

Fruit Gum of Aegle marmelos as Pharmaceutical Aid

Preparation and characterization of a novel pachyman-based pharmaceutical aid. II: A pH-sensitive, biodegradable and biocompatible hydrogel for controlled release of protein drugs

In this investigation, the fabrication, physico-chemical and biological characterization of a novel smart hydrogel had been evaluated for its potentials in effective controlling protein delivery. The hydrophilic pachyman-based hydrogel was generated facilely by crosslinking hydrosoluble carboxymethyl pachyman (CMP) with epichlorohydrin (ECH). The ECH concentration possessing maximum (99.7%) encapsulation efficiency and the most appropriate swelling characteristics was found to be 1.25% (w/v). The resultant hydrogel exhibited swelling ratios most favorable for drug release in simulated intestinal media. It could release two model protein drugs (bovine serum albumin and lysozyme) in the controlled manner and with full preservation of the protein stability and enzymatic activity. Importantly, the ECH-CMP hydrogel was confirmed to be biocompatible and biodegradable. From these findings, we were able to conclude that the synthesized pachyman-based hydrogel would be a promising delivery carrier candidate for site-specific delivery of protein drugs.