Evaluation of factors affecting prescribing behaviors, in Iran pharmaceutical market by econometric methods

Prescribing behavior of physicians affected by many factors. The present study is aimed at discovering the simultaneous effects of the evaluated factors [including: price, promotion and demographic characteristics of physicians] and quantification of these effects. In order to estimate these effects, Fluvoxamine [an antidepressant drug] was selected and the model was figured out by panel data method in econometrics. We found that insurance and advertisement respectively are the most effective on increasing the frequency of prescribing, whilst negative correlation was observed between price and the frequency of prescribing a drug. Also brand type is more sensitive to negative effect of price than to generic. Furthermore, demand for a prescription drug is related with physician demographics [age and sex]. According to the results of this study, pharmaceutical companies should pay more attention to the demographic characteristics of physicians [age and sex] and their advertisement and pricing strategies

Synthesis and analgesic activity of novel hydrazide and hydrazine derivatives

The uses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] are limited by a variety of side effects. So research on preparing new analgesic agents is important. According to some reports about the analgesic activity of hydrazide and hydrazine derivatives a new series of these compounds were synthesized in order to obtain new analgesic compounds. The final compounds l0a-l0e and 15a-15d were prepared by condensation of corresponding hydrazides 7, 8 and 11-14 with different aldehydes 9a-9e. The structures of all synthesized compounds were confirmed by means of FT-IR, H-NMR and Mass spectra. All compounds were evaluated for their analgesic activities by abdominal constriction test [writhing test]. Most of the synthesized compounds induced significant reduction in the writhing response when compared to control and compound 15 was more potent than mefenamic acid in the writhing test

[ trend of pharmaceutical research in Iran compared to Middle East and North Africa: a scientometrics study]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Iranian trend of research in pharmaceutical sciences published in international publication and to compare it with that in other countries in the Middle East and North Africa in 1996-2006 through scientometrics methods. In this ecological study, the data were extracted from ISI: Web of Science, Scopus and International Pharmaceutical Abstract [IPA] databases. The indexed documents of authors from Iran as well as 13 other regional and North African countries in mentioned databases in the fields relevant to pharmaceutical sciences including pharmacy, pharmacology, toxicology and medicinal chemistry in the last 11 years [1996-2006] were retrieved and quantitatively analyzed. Analysis of indexed pharmaceutical documents from the Middle East and North African countries [1996-2006] showed that Iran ranks second in the ISI/WOS, Scopus and IPA. However, Iran has achieved the first rank in the WOS and Scopus in the years 2004-2006 and in IPA in the last two years [2005-2006]. Ranking of normalized indexed pharmaceutical documents based on GDP and population showed Iran fell to the forth rank in Scopus and IPA and the fifth in WOS. Iran has managed to stand on the first place of science production within the field of pharmaceutical sciences among Middle East and North Africa in the last 11 years. Maintenance of the acquired rank requires planning and paying enough attention to utilization of research potentials of universities and research centers within the field of pharmaceutical sciences and the interdisciplinary sciences

Lead exposure impairs NMDA agonist-induced no production in pyramidal hippocampal cells

Chronic exposure to Lead [Pb] affects neural functions in central nervous system [CNS] particularly the learning and memory. On the other hand, alteration of calcium level in the CNS results in activation of NOS where it is expected to increase nitric oxide level in hippocampus. In this study the role of Lead exposure in NMDA induced NO production in pyramidal hippocampal cells [CA1HP] was investigated. The NO level was determined by measurement of concentration of nitrite and nitrate as NO products using the metHb production at 401 nm. The ACBD [NMDA agonist]-induced NO level was almost reduced to the control level [2.5 nM] in the presence of 10 and 100 nM of Lead acetate. Lead acetate at concentrations which normally results in chronic toxicity did not increase the nitric oxide [NO] production by CA1HP. One reason for this finding could be the interaction of Lead with NMDA receptors due to similarity of Pb[2+] to Zn[2+] ion. Another reason may be related to direct interaction of Lead with NMDA receptors that inhibit the stimulated NO production

Simultaneous analysis of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole drug combinations in dosage forms by high performance liquid chromatography

A sensitive high performance liquid chromathography [HPLC] analytical procedure was developed for the quantitive determination of trimethoprim [TM] and sulphamethoxazole [SM] in commercial dosage forms. C18 analytical column [stainless steel, 25 cm X 4.6 mm i.d.] was packed with 5-micro m particles of the reversed phase material and used for assays. Mobile phase containing 0.025 M sodium phosphate as aqueous phase and acetonitrile with 0.4% triethylamine as organic phase. The drugs were quantified at flow-rate of 1.2 ml/min, with ultraviolet detection at 260 nm. The minimum detectable quantities in assays were 100 ng/ml for SM and 75 ng/ml for TM. The method is well suited to routine application and adequate sensitivity with precision