Assessment of impediments to competition in the pharmaceutical sector in Jamaica : supplementary volume; comparative in vitro dissolution and biopharmaceutical properties of some multi-source antihypertensive drug products marketed in Jamaica

A study has been done on the biopharmaceutical properties of antihypertensive drug products marketed in Jamaica. Four pharmacological classes of antihypertensive drugs were selected: Beta blocker (Atenolol), Angiotensine Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), Diuretics and Central Alpha Blocker (Methyldopa). Products were tested for uniformity of weight, content of active ingredients (assay) and dissolution rates, following the British Pharmacopoeia/USP procedures. It was observed that products contained the required level of active ingredients. However, some products make the active ingredient available for absorption faster and to a greater extend than others. Results generally suggest that more than company reputation and cost is required for making rational decisions on drug product selection

The PharmWatch programme: challenges to engaging the community pharmacists in Jamaica.

ABSTRACT* In February 2006, there was a renewed effort to encourage reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Jamaica. It involved renaming the process the �PharmWatch� programme and revising the reporting form. Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the attitudes of community pharmacists to ADR reporting and to assess their utilization of the PharmWatch programme. Methods: The survey was conducted in January 2007, involving 102 community pharmacists islandwide. A questionnaire was designed to assess their attitudes towards ADR reporting, their awareness of the PharmWatch programme and also to collate number of ADRs through recall. Pharmacists were then followed prospectively to collect ADRs occurring over the next three months using the PharmWatch form. Results: Although most of the pharmacists involved in the survey had more than five years of experience, the majority (67%) were not aware of the PharmWatch programme; however, 86% of the responding pharmacists indicated that they accepted that ADR reporting was a professional responsibility. They identified �reaction already known�, �more information needed about reporting ADRs� and �lack of time� as key factors that would cause non-reporting. One hundred and twenty eight retrospective ADRs were collected; none were reported to the Ministry of Health directly, while two were reported to the respective drug companies. A three month prospective follow-up with pharmacists yielded 45 reports. The most common ADR reports among both the retrospective and prospective data were associated with anti-infectives. Conclusions: The results suggest that awareness of the PharmWatch programme is not adequate to facilitate active participation in ADR reporting. More proactive interventions, such as continuous training and encouragement in the use of ADR reporting should be consideredRESUMEN En febrero de 2006 hubo un nuevo esfuerzo para animar a la comunicación de reacciones adversas (RAM) en Jamaica. Conllevó el cambio de nombre a �PharmWatch� y la revisión del formulario de comunicación. Objetivos: Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar las actitudes de los farmacéuticos comunitarios a la comunicación de RAM y evaluar su utilización del programa PharmWatch. Métodos: La investigación corrió en enero de 2007, involucrando a 102 farmacéuticos comunitarios de toda la isla. Se diseñó un cuestionario para evaluar sus actitudes hacia la comunicación de RAM, su conocimiento del programa PharmWatch y parta recopilar algunas RAM por reclamo. Se siguió a los farmacéuticos prospectivamente para recoger las RAM que ocurrieron en los tres meses siguientes utilizando el formulario PharmWatch. Resultados: Aunque muchos de los farmacéuticos involucrados en el estudio tenían más de 5 años de experiencia profesional, la mayoría (67%) no conocía el programa PharmWatch; sin embargo, el 86% de los respondentes indicaron que aceptaban que comunicar RAM era una responsabilidad profesional. Identificaron �reacción ya conocida�, �necesidad de más información sobre comunicación de RAM� y �falta de tiempo� como los factores que podrían causar la no comunicación. Se recogieron 128 RAM retrospectivas; ninguna fue comunicada directamente al Ministerio de Salud, mientras que 2 fueron reportadas directamente a los laboratorios fabricantes. Un seguimiento prospectivo de 3 meses rindió 45 comunicaciones. Las RAM más comúnmente comunicadas, tanto en el retrospectivo como en el prospectivo, estaban asociadas a antiinfecciosos. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que el conocimiento del programa PharmWatch no es adecuado para facilitar la participación activa en la comunicación de RAM. Deberían considerarse intervenciones más proactivas, como la formación continua y el aliento de la comunicación de RAM

Efficacy of Levofloxacin Loaded Nonionic Surfactant Vesicles (Niosomes) in a Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infected Sprague Dawley Rats

This study examined the effectiveness of niosomes loaded with levofloxacin in treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa (American Type Culture Collection—ATCC 27853) infections in Sprague Dawley rats since these infections are becoming more common and resistant to treatment. Levofloxacin entrapped in niosomes was prepared using the thin-film hydration method and was assessed for in vitro release and stability. Three groups of six (6) animals were infected with a lethal dose of Pseudomonas aeruginosa via the intraperitoneal (Ip) route. At six (6) hours postinfection, the animals were treated with either drug-free niosomes (control), free levofloxacin (conventional), or levofloxacin trapped in niosomes (Ip) at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg/once daily. Blood was collected via tail snips on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 for complete blood counts and viable bacterial counts (CFU/μl). At day 10, the animals were sacrificed, and the kidney, liver, and spleen were harvested for bacterial counts. The niosomes showed a sustained drug release profile and were most stable at 4°C. All animals in the control group succumbed to the infection; one animal from the conventional group died, and all niosome treated animals survived at day 10. The mean lymphocyte count (×109) was lower for the niosome (7.258 ± 1.773) versus conventional group (17.684 ± 10.008) (p<0.03) at day ten (10). Neutrophil counts (×109) were lower for the niosome (2.563 ± 1.609) versus conventional (6.2 ± 6.548) (p<0.02) groups. Though CFUs in the bloodstream were comparable for both treatment groups, the niosome treated group showed a significant reduction of CFUs in the liver, kidney, and spleen versus the conventional group (1.33 ± 2.074) vs (5.8 ± 3.74) (p<0.043), (1.5 ± 2.35) vs (9.6 ± 8.65) (p<0.038) and (3.8 4.71) vs (25.6 14.66) (p<0.007), respectively. These findings indicate that niosome is promising as a drug delivery system in treating systemic infections, but further work using niosomes with surface modification is recommended

Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria

This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of the farmers relied on perception and other non-scientific approaches such as the appearance of weeds and performance of crops in the previous season to assess soil fertility. Only 1.1% and 0.3% of the farmers assessed soil fertility through soil tests and digital applications, respectively. Most farmers adopted bush fallowing and the use of inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility. Although 4.8% of the farmers indicated that they had digital applications on their mobile phones, only 2.9% claimed to have used these. More than half (56.4%) of the farmers stated that a lack of awareness of the existence of digital applications and internet-enabled telephones were the reasons they have not been able to use digital applications. The majority of the farmers (97.3%) indicated their willingness to embrace the use of new farm decision digital applications which could provide more information, especially on soil fertility, if introduced. More extensive services focusing on older, less literate farmers and farmers who hitherto did not belong to any farmers’ association are advocated for in order to encourage the use of digital applications and soil fertility management and conservation practices