Some Piano Improvisations by Nicolas Economou

The paper examines some of the piano improvisations of the Cypriot pianist and composer Nicolas Economou (1953-1993). Highly acclaimed for his piano interpretations, Economou is little known as a composer and improviser. A large part of his compositions existed only as recordings and they were notated after his tragic death.The paper reviews how the composer’s creative personality was influenced by the jazz instrumental culture of the 20th century. The research focuses not only on some of the individual improvisations of Economou but also on the “group” improvisations of Nicolas Economou, Friedrich and Paul Gulda, Chick Corea and Rodion Shchedrin during the Munich Summer Piano Festival in 1982 and 1983.Nicolas Economou explained in the preface of the album “On two pianos” that his attempt was to “break down the stuffy ritual surrounding classical music” and bring the spontaneity of music creativity back to the audience.The aims and the objectives of the research are to introduce a very important feature of the creative thinking of Economou – his mastership in improvisation, which is reflected in the different approaches towards the form of his compositions. His great improvisatory talent places him among the most important Cypriot composers

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles with green tea-extracted reductants: a preliminary study for optimization of the preparation technique

Introduction: The current research article is focused on the optimization of the preparation technique used for the “green” synthesis of silver nanoparticles.Aim: A primary goal of the study was to define and adjust critical variables in the production process so that maximally small, pure, stable in solution, and eligible for future drug conjunction silver nanoparticles would form.Materials and Methods: Silver nanoparticles were obtained by reducing silver nitrate (1 mM and 10 mM solutions) with Camellia sinensis (green tea)-derived catechins or total green tea aqueous extract in varying concentrations and pH. The samples’ visual appearance and short-term physical stability were observed within 7 days. The formation of nanosilver suspensions was established and semi-quantified by UV-Vis spectral analysis.Results and Discussion: The alkalization of the reducing agent (pH 8) before its utilization revealed potentiation in the silver nanoparticle synthesis and stability. Among all formulations, samples obtained with alkalized purified catechin solution in 1 mM of silver nitrate showed maximally sharped absorbance peaks at 417–424 nm, minimal excess of unattached bioactive compounds, and no signs of turbidity for the suggested test period.Conclusion: These samples were considered the most promising and suitable for further investigation, processing, conjunction, and potential therapeutic application

Dietary supplements - legal regulations in Bulgaria and potential health-related risks

Introduction: People nowadays are not just passive consumers of health care. Rather, they are well aware of their personal responsibility for exercising control over their own health. The ever-growing desire to have a better quality of life is intrinsically linked to the heightened health awareness. More and more people opt for dietary supplements as part of their self-medication therapy.Aim: The aim of this study is to present how supplements are regulated in Bulgaria and to indicate the potential risks related to the improper use of supplements, including dangerous interactions with certain drugs and other supplements. Materials and Methods: The available literature on legal regulations was reviewed and comprehensively analyzed. Some of the most important and common adverse reactions were summarized.Results: Supplements are considered as food products that contribute to the balanced food diet; therefore they are subject to the corresponding regulation. Unlike drugs, there are no requirements for dietary supplements to be approved by the government for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. The lack of specific requirements for the production, content and clinical trials is a prerequisite for possible health risks to consumers. As availability has grown, so have sales - supplements constitute the fastest growing segment in the Bulgarian pharmaceutical sector and for the sixth consecutive year (2015) they recorded growth.Conclusion: Given the tendency of growth in sales of supplements, this segment should be adequately regulated and functioning. Moreover, health professionals and pharmacists in particular, as key advisors to self-medicating patients, ought to provide all available information about proper use of dietary supplements to patients and adapt the consultation individually to the particular case in order to prevent some possible adverse effects and interactions

Documentary analysis and assessment of the curriculum in Bulgarian faculties of pharmacy

Introduction“Pharmacist” is one of the regulated professions, which is covered in Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by Directive 2013/55/EC, which means that access to and practice of it demands for a specific professional qualification and competences. Thus, together with pharmacists practising in a variety of settings, e.g. community and hospital pharmacies, regulatory and other authorities, the drug industry and research, faculties of pharmacy are challenged to prepare students to be capable of meeting the requirements of our dynamically evolving society. Furthermore, pharmacy graduates must commit themselves to lifelong learning and continuous development after graduation.AimThe aim of this paper is to study the current curriculum in all five faculties of pharmacy in Bulgaria and to draw some conclusions for further development and progress in the Bulgarian pharmaceutical education. Materials and MethodsA study of the curriculums of faculties of pharmacy at the Medical University of Sofia, Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Varna, Medical University of Pleven and the Faculty of Chemistry and Phar-macy at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” was summarised and tabulated. All the collected data was analysed statistically. ResultsThe analysed programs of pharmacy education for Master’s degree observe the Bulgarian Unified State Requirements for higher pharmaceutical education. The differences in obligatory subjects are not so considerable as those in eligible ones. As “pharmacy” is a multidimensional and constantly evolving scientific field, the implementation of new subjects is a necessary option for the further preparation of the students for fu-ture professional life and service in the name of the health of people.ConclusionTo conclude, curriculum should be regularly revised, and a tendency of collaboration and sharing the good practice between the faculties should be also exhibited

The Pharmacist`s Responsibility in Reversing Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion

Introduction: At present, it is commonly known that inadequate dietary intake can result in deficiencies of minerals and vitamins. Despite that, it is still less appreciated that pharmaceutical agents also have a negative impact on nutrients through a variety of mechanisms. Nowadays, this problem is on the rise especially for susceptible patients and/or patients on long-term medication therapy.Materials and Methods: An analysis of scientific web databases on the problem was performed and different lessons designed for continuing education for pharmacists were reviewed. On the basis of the analyzed lessons a questionnaire was created and conducted in Varna with the objective of displaying the practicing pharmacists` awareness of drug-induced nutrient depletion.Results: The overview of literature resources shows that drug-induced nutrient depletion is a rising problem. Special attention when consulting at the pharmacy should be paid to geriatric, cancer patients and patients with diabetes, obese or patients on weight loss programs. Some of the most used medications that negatively impact one`s nutrient status are the following - antacids, anticonvulsants, diuretics, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, cholesterol-lowering drugs (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors), estrogen-based replacement products. Survey results show that pharmacists are very knowledgeable about the impact of antibiotics on our gastrointestinal microbiota and reversing it, but their acquaintance with the negative effects of other medications on one`s nutrient status is uncertain.Conclusion: Living in years of deteriorated nutritional value of healthy food as well in addition to unhealthy food and chronic diseases, drug-induced nutrient depletion is an additional complication that should not be ignored. This is why, it is advisable for the studied issue to be included in future lessons for continuing education for pharmacists in Bulgaria

Phytotherapy in the Management of Menopause-Associated Vasomotor Symptoms

Introduction: Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months which results from the loss of ovarian follicular activity. Although it is a normal and natural part of aging occurring on average at age of 51 years, most menopausal women develop symptoms, which may deteriorate their quality of life for around one third of their life span (given the mean female life expectancy in Bulgaria of 78 years). The most common complaints are the vasomotor symptoms (VMS: hot flashes and night sweats). Hormone therapy was the gold standard of care for menopausal symptoms before the release of the Women`s Health Initiative. Afterwards, women became reluctant or anxious to use hormone therapy and sought natural non-hormonal alternatives.Materials and Methods: An analysis of accessible articles in scientific web databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar) on the problem was conducted. Collected data considering evidence in alleviating vasomotor symptoms by popular herbal remedies was further reviewed and summarized.Results: Botanical supplements are considered to act through a number of different mechanisms of action including estrogenic, progestogenic, and/or serotonergic pathways that might mimic the actions of endogenous substances. But clinical studies of the main herbal drugs used to alleviate vasomotor symptoms either did not suggest significant efficacy (as not being superior to placebo) or were limited, and inconsistent, or show different improvements: in well-being, depression, health scores. Thus, patients should be informed to be cautious of possible side effects notwithstanding the general perception of that something is safe if it is of natural origin. In case of adverse reactions, women should be referred to specialists for reconsideration of their therapy.Conclusion: To conclude, as the evidence for phytotherapeutic menopausal VMS relief is both scarce and unconvincing, there is definitely a continued need for further work on the effectiveness and long-term safety of herbal medicinal products

The safety of herbal medicine: myth or reality

IntroductionThe use of herbal medicines continues to expand rapidly. Many people now take herbal medicines or herbal products for their health in different cases due to their low price and better compatibility with the human body. They are also regarded as minimal risk in terms of side effects, although researches on herbal medicine safety are still not broad or deep enough. Unfortunately, there are limited available published data regarding the potential toxicity of a variety of plant substances commonly used in herbal drugs.Aim The aim of this paper is to review safety issues associated with the use of herbal products.Materials and Methods We used the following web databases - Pubmed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. Results More and more reports have been documenting the apparent increasing popularity of herbal medicines. Although many popular herbal products are thought to be safe, a lot of unexpected effects of some of them are already described in the literature. Both minor and major toxicities have been determined, including emesis, hypersensitivity reactions, cardiovascular events, neurological dysfunction, hepatic and renal failure, and also development of malignant disease.Conclusion Our research shows the importance of pharmacists being aware of what nonprescription herbal medications their patients are taking and being informed of the potential side and toxic effects of these agents

Pregnancy with Tetralogy of Fallot

Introduction: Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that is present at birth. It features four problems: a ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, a right ventricular hypertrophy  and an overriding aorta. The cause of the tetralogy of Fallot is not known and it is most often diagnosed in the first few weeks of life due to either a loud heart murmur or cyanosis. Children having a tetralogy spell will initially become extremely irritable in response to the critically low oxygen levels and may become sleepy or unresponsive if the severe cyanosis persists.The aim of our research was to evaluate the pregnancy outcome in women with tetralogy of Fallot. The study was a retrospective analysis of maternal and perinatal outcome in 3 women with TOF treated in a cardio-obstetric unit. One of the women with this uncorrected congenital heart defect had one child. Obstetric and cardiac complications were more frequent in the uncorrected tetralogy.Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of maternal and perinatal outcome of pregnancies in women with TOF who were seen in the obstetrics unit in Varna`s hospital - Maichin Dom. All women were supervised in the cardio-obstetric clinic under joint supervision of obstetrician and cardiologists. These women were kept under observation post partum.Results: The outcome of our research was that in the women with a corrected condition - there were 100% live births to term. In the uncorrected woman there was one preterm birth. There was 1 neonatal death in the uncorrected woman, too. No baby was determined to have a congenital anomaly, including congenital cardiac malformations.Conclusion: Tetralogy of Fallot carries substantial risk to mother and fetus. Surgical correction is associated with improved maternal and perinatal outcome. These patients need detailed pre-pregnancy evaluation and should be under joint supervision of an obstetrician, a cardiologist, a congenital cardiac surgeon, and an anesthetist

Valorization of Peanut and Walnut Shells through Utilisation as Biosorbents for the Removal of Textile Dyes from Water

The present research focuses on the application of peanut and walnut shells, in their natural state, for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from water solutions in batch and dynamic (flow-through) conditions. Under batch conditions, at a 100 mg/L MB concentration of aqueous solution, the optimum dose of the studied biosorbents was determined to be 2.5 g/L, reaching about 95–97% efficiency of MB removal for both materials. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to model and evaluate the experimental data under different initial concentrations of MB (25 to 100 mg/L). The determined maximum adsorption capacities are 41.50 mg/g for walnut shells and 46.80 mg/g for peanut shells. Under flow-through conditions, breakthrough curves are determined for three sizes of fractions (<0.25 mm, 0.315–0.5 mm, and 0.8–1.6 mm). For peanut shells, the smaller the particle size, the higher the adsorption capacity and the column breakthrough time. For walnut shells, however, the particle size seems to have a more complex influence on the adsorption process parameters, and this phenomenon deserves future investigation. The adsorption capacity for one and the same fraction size of 0.315–0.5 mm and initial MB concentration of 50 mg/L is higher under dynamic flow conditions, i.e., 51 mg/g compared to 20 mg/g for walnut shells and 46 mg/g compared to 17.5 mg/g for peanut shells