ABSTRACT
The initiation of newer techniques and development of mouth dissolving [MD] products has created new avenues of higher patients' compliance. MD formulations are actually lessen the difficulties associated with solid swallowing with better bioavailability of especially poorly soluble drugs. In the current study mouth dissolving tablet [MDT] formulations of cinitapride [1 mg] were prepared by direct compression method using various proportion and combination of superdisintegrants. Nine formulations in three batches were compressed by incorporating low [2%], intermediate [6%] and higher [10%] levels of crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, sodium starch glycolate. Micromeritic assessment of the powder blends were carried out and were found within the acceptable official limits. All newly developed trial formulations were exposed to different pharmacopoeial and non-pharmacopoeial testing. It was found that FC2 trial tablets containing polyplasdone XL [crospovidone] at level of 6% [4.5 mg] presented the best physico-chemical attributes deemed to be desirable for the ODT products. Disintegration and wetting time of optimized FC2 was computed between 15-17 and 12-15 seconds respectively. The assay and content uniformity of FC2 were estimated to be 100.02+/-0.36 and 99.66+/-1.70 percent correspondingly. On the basis of the findings it was concluded that MDT could be successfully developed by incorporating appropriate concentration of superdisintegrant and their combinations
ABSTRACT
Drug-drug interactions [DDIs] are extremely significant concern, particularly in sensitive population including pediatric and geriatric. Propensity for the development of DDIs is high in patients admitted at intensive care units [ICU]. This study was conducted to evaluate the DDIs incidence, facts and measures in ICU. From a total of 150 cases studied for ICU patients, with the mean age of 56.37+/-12.45 years, 55.33% were male and the rest were female 44.66%. The demographic information like age, gender and main diagnosis details of study participants that were extracted from the patients' clinical record. A statistically significant association between the drug interaction and the number of drugs prescribed per prescription was observed [p <0.0001]. Concerning the onset of outcome, 52% of DDIs distinguished as delayed onset of effect [past 24 hours] and 35% were categorized as rapid onset [within 24 hours]. Despite the facts regarding patient safety and minimizing DIs error, polypharmacy is still frequent in critically ill patients admitted in ICU attributed high risk of adverse reactions due to use of multiple interventions to treat severity of disease condition. Such studies may be used to develop an effective tool for the diagnosis and management of DDIs
ABSTRACT
Irrational, over and misuse of antibiotics arise as global concern in both hospital and community settings and lead to adverse events including antimicrobial resistance, associated health problems, amplified hospitalization stay and cost. Hence, Drug Utilization Evaluation [DUE] studies are designed to evaluate and improve the prescribing, administration and the rational use of medications. The present study was designed to assess the pattern of antimicrobial drug utilization in in-patients cohort of tertiary care setup in Karachi, Pakistan. This cross sectional observational study was conducted in retrospective manner. World health organization [WHO] guidelines and criteria are considered to evaluate the appropriateness of drug use in various disease conditions. ATC/DDD system was applied to determine the study outcome. High frequency of antibiotics utilization found in respiratory tract infections of both lower [LRTI] 16.8% [n=42] and upper [UTI] 13.2% [n=33]. The estimated total number of drug units administered per month was greater with cefixime [46] and ciprofloxacin [45] both. DDD/100 bed days drug utilization of antibiotics was higher with ciprofloxacin, cefexime and meropenem [47, 46 and 29.25] correspondingly. In conclusion, the current investigation signifies extensive scope for progress in prescribing trend. Drug adherence to customary guidelines of disease management and constraint policies to endorse judicious drug use may be considered vital in healthcare setup
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the awareness, need, role, and the effectiveness of the health education programs in improvement of well being of the community/citizens. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted, from Aug to Dec 2015 at the four districts of Karachi city
Material and Methods: The instrument of the study was a questionnaire, including basic demographic information of the participants and other 20 items related to need and role of health education programs in control of diseases. A total 250 participants were selected through stratified random sampling design from residential areas of North, South, East and West districts of Karachi. Participants failed to answer item one of the questionnaire were excluded from the study. The data was then analyzed and expressed in percentages and graphs
Results: Total 189 residents were continued the participation belonging to the age group between 18-65 years. Majority of the respondents [96.82%] were in favor of organizing health education activities. About 75.13% believed that such programs have pronounced effect in management of diseases. Furthermore, participants [51.32%] were willing to attend health seminars/symposiums and workshops to be aware to their medical problems. It was also found that they have basic concept of immunization and harmful effects of smoking on health
Conclusion: Over all the residents of Karachi were well aware to the health education and its role in improvement of disease status. Residents showed positive response for participation in health education activities to manage their illness or medical problems. However, the present study involves a smaller population subjects. Authors highly recommended the institution of health education programs in hospitals and community to make the people and environment healthy
ABSTRACT
Aceclofenac is considered to be an effective drug that has been widely prescribed for multir pjedical complaints globally. Owing to high demand many generic counterpart of aceclofenac tablets are now available in the commercial market. The aim of the present work is to evaluate and compare the quality attributes of various national/local brands of aceclofenac immediate release tablets [l00mg] with the standard multi-national brand available in Pakistan. Physico-chemical evaluation was performed by determining the average tablet weight, thickness
Subject(s)
Quality Control , In Vitro Techniques , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal , Analysis of Variance , TabletsABSTRACT
Background: Levofloxacin is a broad spectrum quinolone, widely used to treat infections caused by gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Development of resistance by pathogens against different broad spectrum antibiotics is increasing and now becoming a global issue
Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate the current sensitivity pattern of levofloxacin against various common clinical isolates like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiellapneumoniae
Methods: A total of one hundred and ten samples were collected from different pathological laboratories of Karachi, Pakistan. The above mentioned pathogens were isolated from blood, stool/urine, sputum, skin samples
Results: Results show least resistance of levofloxacin against Ecoli [27.5%], and P.aeruginosa [27%], while S.aureus possessed highest resistance [45%]
Conclusion: Study concluded levofloxacin still possesses excellent anti-microbial activity against common pathogens. Routine monitoring and surveillance is further required to ensure effective treatment regimens to community
ABSTRACT
Self medication is a universal problem having low prevalence in developed countries and higher in developing countries [low and middle income countries] of the world. The study was designed to determine the pattern of self medication among medical and non medical students of Karachi. The tool of study was questionnaire, distributed among 100 medical and 100 non medical students of different universities. It was found that self medication was more prevalent in medical students [94%] than non-medical students [82%]. Medical students practiced self medication on the basis of their drug's knowledge, while non medical students used their previous experiences [26%], or advices from friends/relatives [17%]. Respondents [both medical and non medical students] were used to treat common complains like cough/flu, cold, headaches, and fever by self medication and they were satisfied with their practices. Anti-allergies, anti-pyretics, analgesics and antibiotics were among the medicines which have been taken by users without consulting physicians. Strict control of medicines is needed, since this approach to medicines may lead to harmful effects and development of resistance especially in case of antibiotics
ABSTRACT
Enoxaparin [Clexane] is a low molecular weight heparin with a molecular weight of around 4500 D. It is a blood thinner used to treat pulmonary embolism, Deep vein thrombosis, unstable angina, non-ST elevated myocardial infarction and ST- segment elevation myocardial infarction. This project is designed to evaluate the most widely used Low molecular weight heparin [LMWH], enoxaparin in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome [ACS] based on prescriptions evaluation. Prescriptions were collected from different health institutes and were evaluated on the basis of Market Share, MIP data-competitors, MIP data-indication, and on MIP data-specialty. The study included both male and female patients of age ranging between 50-70 years. The results reflect the prescription patterns of enoxaparin [Clexane] by evaluating 73 prescriptions from major cardiovascular hospitals in Pakistan between February 2008 and October 2008. The prescription pattern showed that physicians in Pakistan have a tendency of prescribing enoxaparin with other drugs. The results also showed that patients were prescribed multiple anti-coagulants concomitantly, including enoxaparin and aspirin. Overall, the analysis of anti-coagulants has indicated that enoxaparin is the drug of choice for the treatment of ACS