Patient’s Perception of Community Pharmacist in North Malabar region of Kerala, India: A questionnaire based study

Pharmacists as vital healthcare professionals play significant role in effective medication management and their use among the patients. However the perception of community pharmacist  among the public needs to be assessed for effective role and further patient care. This questionnaire based study was aimed to identify the perception of patients towards the community pharmacist in north Malabar region of Kerala, India. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions with sections evaluating the demographic details (age, sex, marital status, education level & occupation) and the perception of patients towards the community pharmacist. The results were prepared based upon the responses obtained from 110 patients. The study respondents consisted of 51 (46.36%) adults (18-59 years) and 59 (53.63%) geriatrics (above 60 years). Based on their education level, 9 (8.18%), 35 (31.81%) and 66 (60%) participants were illiterate, secondary school and graduate holders respectively. The respondents of the study informed that the pharmacist enquired about their past medication history (58, 52.73%), any allergic reactions (21, 19.1%) and use of any herbal medication (31, 28.18%) prior to the dispensing process. The patients also responded that proper advice regarding dosage (90%), side effects (25%), storage (12%), healthy eating & exercise (10%) were also provided by the concerned pharmacist. As a matter of fact, 91 out of 110 patients thought the pharmacist service were good, 17 thought they were fairly good and 2 were of the opinion that it was poor. The pharmacy rating was evaluated as good by 32 (29.09%), fairly good by 78 (70.90%) and no respondents were of opinion that the pharmacy was poor in its service. Through this study, we found that the overall perception of patients towards the pharmacist in concerned community pharmacy setting was good. To further improvise their role, continued pharmacy education programmes, better communication skills and good professional training must be imparted among the community pharmacists

dosimetric studies of mixed energy intensity modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer treatments

Dosimetric studies of mixed field photon beam intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer using pencil beam (PB) and collapsed cone convolution (CCC) algorithms using Oncentra MasterPlan treatment planning system (v. 4.3) are investigated in this study. Three different plans were generated using 6 MV, 15 MV, and mixed beam (both 6 and 15 MV). Fifteen patients with two sets of plans were generated: one by using PB and the other by using CCC for the same planning parameters and constraints except the beam energy. For each patient's plan of high energy photons, one set of photoneutron measurements using solid state neutron track detector (SSNTD) was taken for this study. Mean percentage ofV66 Gyin the rectum is18.55±2.8,14.58±2.1, and16.77±4.7for 6 MV, 15 MV, and mixed-energy plans, respectively. Mean percentage ofV66 Gyin bladder is16.54±2.1,17.42±2.1,and16.94±41.9for 6 MV, 15 MV, and mixed-energy plans, respectively. Mixed fields neutron contribution at the beam entrance surface is 45.62% less than at 15 MV photon beam. Our result shows that, with negligible neutron contributions, mixed field IMRT has considerable dosimetric advantage

2,3-Dibromo-3-(4-chloro­phen­yl)-1-(2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)propan-1-one

In the title mol­ecule, C15H11Br2ClO2, an S(6) ring motif is formed via an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond. The dihedral angle formed between the chloro- and hy­droxy-substituted benzene rings is 34.10 (15)°. In the crystal, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains along the c axis

FLUKA Monte Carlo for Basic Dosimetric Studies of Dual Energy Medical Linear Accelerator

General purpose Monte Carlo code for simulation of particle transport is used to study the basic dosimetric parameters like percentage depth dose and dose profiles and compared with the experimental measurements from commercial dual energy medical linear accelerator. Varian Clinac iX medical linear accelerator with dual energy photon beams (6 and 15 MV) is simulated using FLUKA. FLAIR is used to visualize and edit the geometry. Experimental measurements are taken for 100 cm source-to-surface (SSD) in 50 × 50 × 50 cm3PTW water phantom using 0.12 cc cylindrical ionization chamber. Percentage depth dose for standard square field sizes and dose profiles for various depths are studied in detail. The analysis was carried out using ROOT (a DATA analysis frame work developed at CERN) system. Simulation result shows good agreement in percentage depth dose and beam profiles with the experimental measurements for Varian Clinac iX dual energy medical linear accelerator

FLUKA Monte Carlo for Basic Dosimetric Studies of Dual Energy Medical Linear Accelerator

General purpose Monte Carlo code for simulation of particle transport is used to study the basic dosimetric parameters like percentage depth dose and dose profiles and compared with the experimental measurements from commercial dual energy medical linear accelerator. Varian Clinac iX medical linear accelerator with dual energy photon beams (6 and 15 MV) is simulated using FLUKA. FLAIR is used to visualize and edit the geometry. Experimental measurements are taken for 100 cm source-to-surface (SSD) in 50 × 50 × 50 cm3 PTW water phantom using 0.12 cc cylindrical ionization chamber. Percentage depth dose for standard square field sizes and dose profiles for various depths are studied in detail. The analysis was carried out using ROOT (a DATA analysis frame work developed at CERN) system. Simulation result shows good agreement in percentage depth dose and beam profiles with the experimental measurements for Varian Clinac iX dual energy medical linear accelerator

SORGHUM – OGI PLANTAIN FLOUR FOOD BLEND: AN ALTERNATIVE WEANING FOOD FOR NEAONATES

The inability of some parents to afford the commercial weaning foods has led to an increase in case of malnutrition. This is predominant in babies that have reached the weaning stage. This work focused on the utilization of plantain (Musa spp., ABB genome) flour for enhancing the nutritive value of Sorghum-Ogi food, which is one of the stable foods used as weaning food in Nigeria. The study was carried out using the same quantity of Sorghum-Ogi (100%) with increasing quantity of plantain flour (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% weight per weight). The proximate analysis, functional properties, pasting properties, organoleptic evaluation and microbial load of the food blends were determined. The result indicated that there was an increase in fat content with increased addition of plantain flour. The microbial load of the blend indicated that the food blends were safe for consumption. The inclusion of plantain showed a high acceptance value up to 60% plantain flour for the organoleptic evaluation. In summary, the nutritional indices analyzed indicated that increasing level of addition of plantain flour up to 60% level is an optimum and good nutritional weaning food for babies and this will solve food security issues in children

(E)-3-(3,4-Dimeth­oxy­phen­yl)-1-(2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)prop-2-en-1-one

In the title compound, C17H16O4, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the hy­droxy­phenyl and dimeth­oxy­phenyl rings is 5.9 (6)°. The mean plane of the prop-2-en-1-one group makes dihedral angles of 3.6 (0) and 2.6 (7)° with the hy­droxy­phenyl and dimeth­oxy­phenyl rings, respectively. An intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs. The crystal packing is stabilized by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O contacts and π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.6571 (8) Å]

Does COVID-19 contribute to development of neurological disease?

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated primarily with pneumonia, recent data show that the causative agent of COVID-19, the coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can infect a large number of vital organs beyond the lungs, such as the heart, kidneys, and the brain. Thus, there is evidence showing possible retrograde transmission of the virus from the olfactory epithelium to regions of the brain stem. Methods: This is a literature review article. The research design method is an evidence-based rapid review. The present discourse aim is first to scrutinize and assess the available literature on COVID-19 repercussion on the central nervous system (CNS). Standard literature and database searches were implemented, gathered relevant material, and extracted information was then assessed. Results: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors being the receptor for the virus, the threat to the central nervous system is expected. Neurons and glial cells express ACE2 receptors in the CNS, and recent studies suggest that activated glial cells contribute to neuroinflammation and the devastating effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the CNS. The SARS-CoV-2-induced immune-mediated demyelinating disease, cerebrovascular damage, neurodegeneration, and depression are some of the neurological complications discussed here. Conclusion: This review correlates present clinical manifestations of COVID-19 patients with possible neurological consequences in the future, thus preparing healthcare providers for possible future consequences of COVID-19

(2E)-3-(3-Benzyl­oxyphen­yl)-1-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl­phen­yl)prop-2-en-1-one

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C23H20O3, an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring. The central benzene ring makes dihedral angles of 80.17 (8) and 16.99 (7)°, respectively, with the benz­yloxy and hy­droxy­methyl phenyl rings. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked via inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form dimers. The dimers are connected by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π inter­actions to form columns down the b axis