Safety Of Medicines Research Articles

Customizable orodispersible films: Inkjet printing and data matrix encoding for personalized hydrocortisone dosing

The aim of this study was to exploit the versatility of inkjet printing to develop flexible doses of drug-loaded orodispersible films that encoded information in a data matrix pattern, and to introduce a specialised data matrix-generator software specifically focused on the healthcare sector. Pharma-inks (drug-loaded inks) containing hydrocortisone (HC) were developed and characterised based on their rheological properties and drug content. Different strategies were investigated to improve HC solubility: formation of β-cyclodextrin complexes, Soluplus® based micelles, and the use of co-solvent systems. The software automatically adapted the data matrix size and identified the number of layers for printing. HC content deposited in each film layer was measured, and it was found that the proportion of co-solvent used directly affected the drug solubility and simultaneously played a role in the modification of the viscosity and surface tension of the inks. The formation of β-cyclodextrin complexes improved the drug quantity deposited in each layer. On the contrary, micelle-based inks were not suitable for printing. Orodispersible films containing flexible and low doses of personalised HC were successfully prepared, and the development of a code generator software oriented to medical use provided an additional, innovative, and revolutionary advantage to personalised medicine safety and accessibility.

The effectiveness and safety of lifestyle medicine and integrative therapies in inflammatory arthritis: an umbrella review using a hierarchical evidence gathering approach.

An umbrella review was conducted to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence on lifestyle medicine and integrative therapies for inflammatory arthritis. Five electronic databases were searched for umbrella reviews, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials on acupuncture, diet, exercise, herbal medicine, nutrient supplements, and mind-body therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and gout published from January 2012 to December 2022. The primary outcomes were functional status and quality of life. Quality assessment was performed using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2) tool, and the certainty of evidence for our primary outcomes was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach where possible. We included 52 reviews. Exercise was beneficial for functional status in both rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, with moderate certainty of evidence. Chinese herbal medicine in combination with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs may improve functional status in rheumatoid arthritis (very low certainty evidence). Acupuncture may improve functional status in rheumatoid arthritis and pain in both rheumatoid arthritis and gout; however, the evidence is of very low certainty. Evidence for other therapies was not clinically significant; however, it suggests possible benefits from quercetin and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Yoga may result in a moderate improvement in functional status when used as an adjunct to medication; however, the certainty of evidence is very low. Diet interventions offered inconsistent improvements to functional status in rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and gout with low to very low certainty. Exercise should be prescribed for people with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. More research is needed to confirm or refute evidence for Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, yoga, and anti-inflammatory diets.

Drug–Drug Interaction Relation Extraction Based on Deep Learning: A Review

Drug–drug interaction (DDI) is an important part of drug development and pharmacovigilance. At the same time, DDI is an important factor in treatment planning, monitoring effects of medicine and patient safety, and has a significant impact on public health. Therefore, using deep learning technology to extract DDI from scientific literature has become a valuable research direction to researchers. In existing DDI datasets, the number of positive instances is relatively small. This makes it difficult for existing deep learning models to obtain sufficient feature information directly from text data. Therefore, existing deep learning models mainly rely on multiple feature supplementation methods to collect sufficient feature information from different types of data. In this study, the general process of DDI relation extraction based on deep learning is introduced first for comprehensive analysis. Next, we summarize the various feature supplement methods and analyze their merits and demerits. We then review the state-of-the-art literature related to DDI extraction from the deep neural network perspective. Finally, all the feature supplement methods are compared, and some suggestions are given to approach the current problems and future research directions. The purpose of this article is to give researchers a more complete understanding of the feature complementation methods used in DDI extraction to be able to rapidly design and implement custom DDI relation extraction methods.

“Implementing the pharmacovigilance system and publishing this journal, we were helping healthcare providers cultivate the sense of professional and civic responsibility”

The origins of the journal Safety and Risk of Pharmacotherapy date back to 1994. The journal was published as Safety of Medicinal Products, Safety of Medicines, and Safety of Medicinal Products and Pharmacovigilance. In Russia, this journal has always been the only specialised scientific publication covering exclusively the safety of pharmacotherapy. Alla V. Astakhova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, headed the journal from 1994 to 2015.The history of the journal is closely intertwined with the history of the pharmacovigilance system in Russia. Vladimir K. Lepakhin, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the Russian pharmacovigilance system. This joint interview with Alla V. Astakhova and Vladimir K. Lepakhin presents the major milestones in the development of the journal and the Russian pharmacovigilance system.

Plant-Derived Medicines for Sciatica: A Comprehensive Review

Sciatica commonly refers to radicular leg pain which is mainly caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and affects the daily functional ability of many patients in the world. However, according to the side effects and short-term benefits of its treatments, new therapeutic agents such as natural products are needed. The aim of this study was to comprehensively review the effectiveness of plant-derived products for the treatment of sciatica. Electronic databases, including Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched from inception to 17 August 2023 for this comprehensive review. English language papers reporting preclinical and clinical evaluations of the effectiveness of herbal products, including medicinal plants, multi-component herbal preparations, and phytochemicals on sciatica, radicular pain, or LDH, were included. Studies on neuropathic pain due to reasons other than sciatica, radicular pain, or LDH were excluded. From a total of 5666 papers identified in the primary search, 16 (including 4 clinical and 12 preclinical studies) were finally included. Most of the plant-derived treatments mentioned in this review belonged to the polyphenol family or contained high concentrations of various polyphenols. From the results obtained, polyphenols relieved sciatica by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, mainly through the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways. In conclusion, plant-derived medicines have the potential to improve the quality of life and functional ability of sciatica patients by relieving symptoms. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are suggested to prove the safety and efficacy of such herbal medicines for sciatica.

Efficient broad-band NIR-II emitting phosphor Mg4Ta2O9: Ni2+ with satisfactory thermal stability of luminescence

The applications of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in the fields of medicine and food safety require efficient and compact NIR light sources, for example, NIR phosphor converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs). In recent years, Ni2+ has become one of the main activators for its broadband NIR-II (1000–1700 nm) emission under ultraviolet or visible light excitation. However, two important effects (Concentration quenching which decreases the emission intensity and temperature quenching which decreases the adaptability of phosphor in high-power applications) seriously hinder the development of Ni2+ doped NIR-II emitting phosphors. It is an urgent and important task to restrain both concentration and thermal quenching of the Ni2+ luminescence to develop an efficient NIR-II emitting phosphor. Here, novel NIR-II emitting Mg4Ta2O9: Ni2+ phosphors with perovskite-like structure were synthesized and investigated. In Mg4Ta2O9, the quenching concentration of Ni2+ is as high as 0.045. This is a relatively high value for Ni2+ activated NIR-II emitting phosphors. Mg4Ta2O9: 0.045Ni2+ presents broadband emission (1100–1700 nm, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) = 218 nm) with internal and external quantum efficiency of 64.2% (IQE) and 7.2% (EQE), respectively. The phosphor exhibits excellent luminous thermal stability (at 423 K, it keeps 84.85% of initial intensity at room temperature). High structure stiffness of Mg4Ta2O9 is responsible for the high quenching concentration and desirable luminous thermal stability. This work developed an efficient NIR-II emitting phosphor which exhibits desirable thermal stability of luminescence. Theoretically, this work points out a direction for future development of efficient NIR-II emitting phosphors, selecting an inorganic compound with high structural rigidity as the host for Ni2+ doping.

Protocol for a parallel cluster randomized trial of a participatory tailored approach to reduce overuse of antibiotics at hospital discharge: the ROAD home trial

BackgroundAntibiotic overuse at hospital discharge is common, costly, and harmful. While discharge-specific antibiotic stewardship interventions are effective, they are resource-intensive and often infeasible for hospitals with resource constraints. This weakness impacts generalizability of stewardship interventions and has health equity implications as not all patients have access to the benefits of stewardship based on where they receive care. There may be different pathways to improve discharge antibiotic prescribing that vary widely in feasibility. Supporting hospitals in selecting interventions tailored to their context may be an effective approach to feasibly reduce antibiotic overuse at discharge across diverse hospitals. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Reducing Overuse of Antibiotics at Discharge Home multicomponent implementation strategy (“ROAD Home”) on antibiotic overuse at discharge for community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infection.MethodsThis 4-year two-arm parallel cluster-randomized trial will include three phases: baseline (23 months), intervention (12 months), and postintervention (12 months). Forty hospitals recruited from the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium will undergo covariate-constrained randomization with half randomized to the ROAD Home implementation strategy and half to a “stewardship as usual” control. ROAD Home is informed by the integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services Framework and includes (1) a baseline needs assessment to create a tailored suite of potential stewardship interventions, (2) supported decision-making in selecting interventions to implement, and (3) external facilitation following an implementation blueprint. The primary outcome is baseline-adjusted days of antibiotic overuse at discharge. Secondary outcomes include 30-day patient outcomes and antibiotic-associated adverse events. A mixed-methods concurrent process evaluation will identify contextual factors influencing the implementation of tailored interventions, and assess implementation outcomes including acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and sustainment.DiscussionReducing antibiotic overuse at discharge across hospitals with varied resources requires tailoring of interventions. This trial will assess whether a multicomponent implementation strategy that supports hospitals in selecting evidence-based stewardship interventions tailored to local context leads to reduced overuse of antibiotics at discharge. Knowledge gained during this study could inform future efforts to implement stewardship in diverse hospitals and promote equity in access to the benefits of quality improvement initiatives.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT06106204 on 10/30/23

The prevalence and causes of self-medication among medical university students in Iran during COVID-19 outbreak and its implications for public health and health systems: A cross-sectional study.

Self-medication is a worldwide phenomenon that brings advantages and disadvantages to public health and health systems. This study investigated the extent and causes of self-medication among medical university students and its implications for public health in Iran in 2020. The present study was designed as a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study that examined the knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication. The population of the study was the students of health sciences programs who all entered the study. The data collection tool included a questionnaire designed online and available to students. The content validity ratio of the questionnaire was 0.84, and the alpha Cronbach coefficient was calculated at 0.8936. The prevalence of self-medication among medical university students was 19%. The most common reason for self-medication was the safety of medicines (66.67%). The most usual form of medication used was the tablet (35.67%), the most common drug taken was acetaminophen (69.01%), and the most common disease to self-medicate for was headache (67.36%). Estimating the odds ratio of self-medication with demographic variables showed no relationship. However, after adjusting the variables, age and type of degree showed an association with self-medication, as the older participants and postgraduate students had positive attitudes toward self-medication. Self-medication may be helpful, but it often needs proper guidance and logic and can carry various risks. Considering that medical sciences students will be influential in society in the future, it is necessary to pay more attention to correcting their drug use culture and providing access to health services for everyone. Appropriate prescription of medicines, controlling drug sales in pharmacies, highlighting the role of pharmacists in safe self-medication, and controlling the prevalence of self-medication is necessary.

Determination of quality indicators of a combined nootropic drug

Introduction. The state drug policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan is aimed at the release of new affordable import-substituting drugs of domestic production, which are not inferior in activity to foreign analogues. Taking this into account, and also taking into account the high cost of imported nootropic drugs, the pharmaceutical production of LLC «Тemur med farm», Syrdarya region, Uzbekistan has developed the composition, technology and production of the combined drug "Nootrotem". "Nootrotem" is a combined preparation of piracetam and methylethylhydroxypyridine succinate in an injectable dosage form. Based on preclinical pharmacological studies, the pronounced nootropic and metabolic effects of the studied drug have been proven. Objective: The purpose of these studies is to develop quality assessment methods and establish quality indicators of the combined drug "Nootrotem" solution for infusions. Material and methods. 5 series of laboratory samples of the drug "Nootrotem" solution for infusions obtained at the pharmaceutical production "Temur med farm", Uzbekistan, were used as research objects. Results. The determination of the quality indicators of the studied drug was carried out in accordance with the modern requirements of the National pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European pharmacopoeia, as well as in accordance with the general technical regulations on the safety of medicines. Conclusion. As a result of the conducted research, the main quality indicators of the drug "Nootrotem" solution for infusions were established according to the following indicators: description, authenticity, transparency, chromaticity, pH, package filling volume, mechanical inclusions, impurities, residual sulfur dioxide, osmolality. The limits of their rationing have been established in accordance with the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Evidence map of clinical research on Chinese patent medicines for post-acute myocardial infarction heart failure

An evidence map was established to comprehensively sort out the clinical research in the treatment of post-acute myocardial infarction heart failure(P-AMI-HF) with Chinese patent medicines, so as to reveal the distribution of evidence in this field. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMbase were searched for the randomized controlled trial(RCT), systematic reviews/Meta-analysis, and guidelines/consensus in this field. The evidence was analyzed and displayed in the form of a combination of text, charts, bubble charts, and bar charts, and the quality of RCT, systematic reviews/Meta-analysis, and guidelines/consensus were evaluated by RoB 1.0, AMSTAR2, and AGREE Ⅱ, respectively. A total of 163 RCTs, 4 systematic reviews/Meta-analysis, 1 network Meta-analysis, 2 observational studies, and 5 guidelines/consensus were included. In recent years, the total number of publications in this field has shown an upward trend. There were a variety of Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of P-AMI-HF, among which Shenfu Injection received the most attention. The clinical RCT and systematic reviews/Meta-analysis generally had poor quality, and the RCT mostly had a small size, a single center, and a short cycle. The outcome indicators mainly included cardiac function indicators, myocardial injury markers, total response rate, hemodynamic indicators, and safety indicators, while the characteristic efficacy indicators of TCM received insufficient attention. The development processes of some guidelines/consensus lack standardization, which compromised their authority and rationality. Chinese patent medicines have advantages in the treatment of P-AMI-HF, while there are also problems, which remain to be solved by more high-quality evidence. That is, more large-sample and multi-center clinical studies should be carried out in the future, and the formulation process of relevant systematic reviews/Meta-analysis and guideline/consensus should be standardized and the quality of evidence should be improved. In this way, the effectiveness and safety of Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of P-AMI-HF can be explored.

Фармакоэпидемиологические и фармакоэкономические аспекты лечения псориаза

Bioethical approach to determine the feasibility of using medicines involves systemic analysis of pharmacoepidemiological and pharmacoeconomic aspects of treatment, especially while treating the most common and chronic diseases. Psoriasis is the most common disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, accounting for 15% of cases. The rate of psoriatic complications constitutes 6–42%. Skin lesions, psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory intestinal diseases, mental disorders and malignant lesions produce a great effect on health, duration and quality of life, and result in early loss of labor capacity and disability of patients. So, it is important to study effectiveness and safety of systemic medicines in patients with severe and moderate-to-severe disease and perform subsequent analysis of possible use and comparison of the effectiveness of various combinations. Most affordable but ineffective medicines commonly cause real growth of further expenses on treatment, and postpone administration of more effective, though much more expensive medicines. Economic aspects of rational use of healthcare resources are becoming increasingly important whereas pharmacoeconomic values are crucial while selecting a treatment strategy.

Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Selected Mental Illnesses: Practical Approach and Overview of the Literature.

Although an increasing number of patients suffering from mental illnesses self-medicate with cannabis, current knowledge about the efficacy and safety of cannabis-based medicine in psychiatry is still extremely limited. So far, no cannabis-based finished product has been approved for the treatment of a mental illness. There is increasing evidence that cannabinoids may improve symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Tourette syndrome (TS), anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to surveys, patients often use cannabinoids to improve mood, sleep, and symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is evidence suggesting that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and THC-containing cannabis extracts, such as nabiximols, can be used as substitutes in patients with cannabis use disorder.Preliminary evidence also suggests an involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the pathophysiology of TS, ADHD, and PTSD. Since the ECS is the most important neuromodulatory system in the brain, it possibly induces beneficial effects of cannabinoids by alterations in other neurotransmitter systems. Finally, the ECS is an important stress management system. Thus, cannabinoids may improve symptoms in patients with mental illnesses by reducing stress.Practically, cannabis-based treatment in patients with psychiatric disorders does not differ from other indications. The starting dose of THC-containing products should be low (1-2.5 mg THC/day), and the dose should be up-titrated slowly (by 1-2.5 mg every 3-5 days). The average daily dose is 10-20 mg THC. In contrast, cannabidiol (CBD) is mainly used in high doses>400 mg/day.

Scientific connotation of temperature control in processing of Chinese medicinal materials based on theory of quality evaluation through morphological identification

Processing of Chinese medicinal materials is an important part in the Chinese medicine heritage, and the temperature control in the processing has a direct impact on the quality and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines. However, the processing of Chinese medicinal materials has the problems of subjective temperature judgement, determination of the end point based on experience, unclear processing mechanism, unstable quality of products, and inconsistent processing standards. The temperature control in the processing is reflected in the appearance and internal quality of Chinese medicinal materials. The theory of quality evaluation through morphological identification is developed based on the comprehensive evaluation of the shape, color, taste, and components, which is associated with the temperature control in the processing. To solve the problems above, this paper puts forward the following solutions. The first is literature mining. By review of the ancient medical works and pharmaceutical experience, the temperature control in processing and the evolution of processing methods can be revealed. Second, according to the ancient method, the processing principle can be explored, on the basis of which the processing technology can be innovated. Third, the standard operating procedure(SOP) should be established to quantify the fire temperature, providing a theoretical basis for the formulation of Chinese medicinal material processing standards. Moreover, it provides a basis for improving the quality of processed products and increasing the safety and effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicines.

THE EFFECT OF KASTURI (Mangifera Casturi) BARK EXTRACTS AT CONCENTRATION OF 12.7% ON THE NUMBER OF MACROPHAGES AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION

Background: Tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to take part of the tooth that exposes the bone and soft tissues of the oral cavity. The wound will occur in the soft tissue, and hard tissue around the extraction area after the tooth extraction. Wound healing after tooth extraction begins with the inflammatory phase, in which the movement of leukocytes occurs, such as neutrophil cells. If the wound is chronic, it will be replaced by macrophages. Macrophages are the dominant cells in chronic inflammation and have a role in phagocytizing bacteria and clean damaged tissue. However, if the disturbance occurs during the wound-healing phase, it can cause bleeding, swelling, and infection, so that a safe alternative medicine is required, which is from an herbal plant of Kasturi bark extracts at a concentration of 12.7%. Objective: To prove the effect of the administration of Kasturi (Mangifera casturi) bark extracts at a concentration of 12.7% applied topically to the number of macrophage cells in the tooth extraction wound of Wistar rats (Rattus novergicus). Methods: This study was an Experimental Laboratories research with Post Test with Control Group Design. This study was performed on 24 Wistar rats that had been adapted ±2 weeks with a simple random sampling technique. The calculation of macrophage cells was conducted through direct observation with a light microscope and 3 visual fields. Results: The results of the study showed that Kasturi bark extracts had more effect on the number of macrophage cells than control groups. The results of One Way ANOVA showed that there is a significant relationship between each group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Kasturi bark extracts at a concentration of 12.7% can help the number of macrophage cells increase on the 3rd day and decrease on the 5th day after tooth extraction of Wistar rats. Keywords: Kasturi Bark Extract, Macrophage, Tooth Extraction.

Effects of Patient-Controlled Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Cancer Induced Bone Pain Relief in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) therapy opens up the possibility for individuals with Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) to receive a home-based, patient-controlled approach to pain management. The aim of this study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of patient-controlled TEAS (PC-TEAS) for relieving CIBP in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is a study protocol for a prospective, triple-blind, randomized controlled trial. We anticipate enrolling 188 participants with NSCLC bone metastases who are also using potent opioid analgesics from 4 Chinese medical centers. These participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the true PC-TEAS or the sham PC-TEAS group. All participants will receive standard adjuvant oncology therapy. The true group will undergo patient-controlled TEAS intervention as needed, while the sham group will follow the same treatment schedule but with non-conductive gel patches. Each treatment course will span 7 days, with a total of 4 courses administered. There will be 4 assessment time points: baseline, the conclusion of weeks 4, 8, and 12. The primary outcome of this investigation is the response rate of the average pain on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) scale at week 4 after treatment. Secondary outcomes include pain related indicators, quality of life scale, mood scales, and routine blood counts on the assessment days. Any adverse events will be promptly addressed and reported if they occur. We will manage trial data using the EDC platform, with a data monitoring committee providing regular quality oversight. PC-TEAS interventions offer an attempt to achieve home-based acupuncture treatment and the feasibility of achieving triple blinding in acupuncture research. This study is designed to provide more rigorous trial evidence for the adjuvant treatment of cancer-related pain by acupuncture and to explore a safe and effective integrative medicine scheme for CIBP. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05730972, registered February 16, 2023.

Некоторые проблемные вопросы организации выполнения научных исследований в области медицины катастроф

Summary. The objectives of the study are to analyze and give a general assessment of the organization of scientific research on the problems of disaster medicine, including within the framework of dissertation works carried out mainly by specialists of the Disaster Medicine Service (QMS) of the Russian Ministry of Health; outline the main directions for its further improvement. Materials and methods of research. Research materials – regulatory, program and methodological documents regulating the procedure for organizing scientific research on the problems of disaster medicine in 1994–2020: all (116) dissertation works defended in the dissertation council in the specialty 05.26.02 “Safety in emergency situations (medicine) disasters)”, which operated in 1996–2020. at the All-Russian Center for Disaster Medicine “Zashchita” (VTsMK “Zashchita”); data from expert assessment cards on the research topic, filled out by the teaching staff of the departments: disaster medicine, mobilization training of health care and disaster medicine, disaster medicine and life safety of educational organizations of higher medical and additional professional education of the Ministry of Health of Russia; scientific works and publications devoted to the study of problematic issues in disaster medicine. When carrying out the study, the following methods were used: methods of content analysis and expert assessment; statistical, analytical, bibliographic methods and field observation method. Research results and their analysis. The results of the study are presented, characterizing the state of the organization of scientific research on problematic issues of disaster medicine, including within the framework of dissertations carried out by specialists from medical organizations subordinate to the Ministry of Health of Russia. Reasonable proposals were made to improve the organization of scientific research in disaster medicine.

Herbal medicines for treatment of socially significant diseases in current Bulgarian society

Abstract Socially significant diseases are defined as widespread diseases causing great economic, social and demographic damage. Nowadays traditional health practices have gained increasing interest. The aim of this online survey was to establish the knowledge of a random sample of Bulgarian people about traditional medicines in order to find out: 1) the knowledge about the use of medicinal plants for some socially significant diseases; 2) the attitudes of respondents towards the medicinal plants safety; 3) the statement whether the herbs can replace conventional drugs. In present survey the most used medicinal plants reported was Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Allium sativum L., Valeriana officinalis L., Sambucus nigra L., Cinnamomum verum J. Presl and Curcuma longa L. Current scientific studies proved appropriate use reports of these plants. One of the reasons for the renewed interest in phytotherapy is the assumption that anything natural is safe, but there are data that herbal chemical constituents could exert toxic effects. The demographic features of our respondents revealed the importance of the level of education for the self-health care. So, more efforts should be focused on the spread of disease prevention information in low educated populations.

Review on Pharmacovigilance Method, Recent Developments, Future Perspective and Software

Abstract: Pharmacovigilance starts in the clinical stage and continues the entire drug's life cycle. Pharmacovigilance is the study, identification, and prevention of potential drug-related issues and side effects, with an emphasis on the acute and longterm impacts of pharmaceuticals, biological products, herbal remedies, and traditional treatments. Pharmacovigilance has changed recently, becoming more and more crucial to improved clinical practice and public health research. Pharmacovigilance employs a range of techniques, including focused clinical investigations, stimulated reporting, passive and active surveillance, comparative observational studies, and descriptive research. New advances in pharmacovigilance are crucial to meeting patient needs and maintaining their health. Three papers in pharmacovigilance are available for future guidance: Waller and Evans' Erice Manifesto for Global Reform of the Safety of Medicines in Patient Care; the Erice Declaration on Transparency; and the Erice Declaration on Transparency. Pharmacovigilance in the future must be able to identify safe problems quickly in order to persuade the patient about the drug's safe use. Additionally, pharmacovigilance techniques can be used to determine which patients are susceptible to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and how those reactions might occur. The use of patients as information sources in the pharmacovigilance sector is crucial for this process. The majority of software uses are for ADR administration and reporting. The programmes that are most frequently used include repClinical, PvNET, Oracle Argus Safety, ArisG, and Oracle adverse event reporting.

Review on Android Application Based Peltier Cooling System for Medicine Safety

Abstract: As the demand for heat-sensitive chemicals continues, ensuring their storage and transportation becomes increasingly important to maintain their effectiveness and safety. This article describes the Peltier cooling system as an Android application designed to improve the safety and reliability of drug storage during transportation. The proposed system combines the Peltier cooling module with a purpose-built Android application to monitor and control the temperature in the storage chamber. Peltier cooling components actively control the internal temperature based on instantaneous feedback from the temperature sensor. The Android app gives users an easy way to set the temperature, monitor the current temperature, and get instant notifications when there is a difference. The basic features of the system include fever measurement, temperature control and instant notifications. The Android app communicates with the Peltier cooling system using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, allowing users to easily access and control the system from their smartphones. This allows doctors and staff supervising the delivery of temperaturesensitive medications to constantly monitor and control storage conditions.

Beyond pillbox: a national cross-sectional study on the attitudes, practices, and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine

BackgroundWhile community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine, their potential role remains largely untapped. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine products among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates and explore the correlates of knowledge in the study sample.MethodsUsing a stratified random sampling frame, a national survey of community pharmacists was conducted in the United Arab Emirates. In a face-to-face interaction, participants completed a multi-component questionnaire consisting of four sections: sociodemographic and general characteristics; knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine products and usage; attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine. Based on participants’ answers, scores were calculated with higher scores indicating more positive knowledge, attitudes, and practices.Results373 community pharmacists participated in the study (response rate: 83%). For the knowledge questions, more than 50% of community pharmacists correctly answered the functions of complementary and alternative medicine, however lower percentages were noted for the side effects and drug interactions questions. Most community pharmacists had positive attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine, except for particular aspects such as efficacy, where 40% agreed that complementary and alternative medicine is only effective in treating minor complaints. As for practices, while more than 70% of participants counseled patients on complementary and alternative medicine use, only 47% reported the toxic effects when encountered. Multiple linear regressions showed that community pharmacists working in independent pharmacies, those with fewer years of experience, and those who did not receive complementary and alternative medicine education during their academic degree had lower knowledge scores (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe findings of this study showed that community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates have good knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine functions and generally positive attitudes and practices, with few gaps identified in each. Together, these findings provide critical evidence for the development of targeted interventions to promote the role of community pharmacists towards safe and effective complementary and alternative medicine use in the country.