DUAL ANTICANCER DRUG LOADED METHOXY POLY (ETHYLENE GLYCOL)-POLY (ε-CAPROLACTONE) BLOCK COPOLYMERIC MICELLES AS NOVEL DRUG CARRIERS

Objective: Curcumine (CUR) and rapamycin (RAPA) are two potent hydrophobic anticancer drugs. The clinical and preclinical applications of anticancer formulations are limited due to use of toxic excipients and poor bioavailability. In the present study, an approach has been made to develop CUR and RAPA loaded MePEG/PCL di-block copolymeric micelles keeping in the view to make excipient free formulation with slow release of drugs. Methods: The CUR and RAPA loaded MePEG/PCL di-block copolymeric micelles were prepared. Physico-chemical characters like size, surface charge and encapsulation efficiency were measured. The in vitro release studies was carried out in pH 7.4 to evaluate the sustained release properties of micelles. Results: MePEG/PCL di-block copolymeric micelles were efficiently encapsulate both the drugs, i. e. CUR (~ 64 %) and RAPA (~ 94 %) in the core and have loading capacity of ~ 12 % (CUR) and ~ 29 % (RAPA). The zetasizer measurement shows that particles have size range 128 nm to 176 nm with a negative zeta potential. SEM and AFM studies reveled that micelles have smooth exterior surface. The XRD and DSC studies explain that the drugs are uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix. The dual drug loaded micelles have sustained in vitro drug release activity as estimated in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Conclusion: These MePEG/PCL di-block copolymeric micelles are capable of carrying both the hydrophobic anticancer drugs and the encouraging results suggest further studies to evaluate the bioavailability parameters as well as suitability of the formulation

Study on drug related problems in tuberculosis patients undergoing treatment

Background: Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world. The aim of this study to identify and document the drug related problems in tuberculosis patients under anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) in an attempt to promote adherence, reduce the drug related problems and improve success rate in TB treatment. The main objective of the study to identify the drug related problems in tuberculosis patients on ATT and second objective measure the medication adherence and counsel patients to improve medication adherence.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in Raja Muthiah Medical College Hospital for 6 months from November 2018 to April 2019. The study was approved by Institutional Human Ethics Committee (IHEC).Results: Total 101 drug related problems have been identified in 70 patients using pharmaceutical care network of Europe classification. Drug interactions 41.58% was the most common drug related problems found, which was clinically significant in tuberculosis patients with co- morbidities. Insufficient awareness of health and disease 21.75% was the second most common drug related problems found, 16.83% drug choice problems found. Nearly 64% of the enrolled patients were found to be non-adherence during pre-patient counselling. After the patient counselling the adherent rate was improved 74%.Conclusions: The study concludes that pharmacist provided patient counselling found to have significant influence on improvement in the patient’s knowledge towards their disease and medication, and adherence to prescribed therapy which helps to improve the clinical outcome of TB patients

A study on abuse of topical corticosteroids in patients who attended dermatology venerology leprosy outpatient department

Background: Topical corticosteroids (TCs) are widely used in the patients affected with dermatoses. Abuse of these agents may cause severe adverse effects. Aim of the study was to study the abuse of TCs in patient who attend Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy (DVL) outpatient department. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in department of DVL at Rajah Muthiah Medical college, Tamil Nadu during the period of six months from November 2018 to April 2019. The patients were enrolled for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: Totally 50 patients with adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by the abuse of TCs were enrolled for the study. It was found that TCs were abused in all ages and equally in both genders. Nearly 72% of the people used TCs for Tinea infection and 20% of the people used TCs for acne vulgaris. Very high potent TCs such as betamethasone and beclomethasone were abused by 55% of the patient. Tinea incognito (TI) was found as common ADRs by the abuse of TCs (74%). Nearly 88% of the people bought TCs from pharmacies without prescription. Sixteen brands were found as easily accessible and affordable for the patients. Medication adherence were increased by 60% after the patient counselling.Conclusion: This study concludes, TI was found as a common ADR in patients who abused TCs such as betamethasone, beclomethasone and clobetasol. High potent TCs should not be allowed to dispense without prescription. Withdrawal of TCs will reduce the risk of ADRs

Priprava i evaluacija novog derivata eritromicina – eritromicin taurat

Erythromycin taurate, a new derivative of erythromycin, was prepared by reacting the erythromycin base with tauric acid and its physico-chemical and biological properties were evaluated. The derivative has reasonably good solubility in organic solvents. The partition coefficient values in chloroform/water 1.17 and octanol/water 1.16 systems indicate its good distribution in various tissues in vivo. The in vitro antimicrobial potency of the derivative (833.33 microgramms per mg) is higher than the existing derivatives such as erythromycin estolate, erythromycin stearate, erythromycin ethyl succinate, erythromycin gluceptate, erythromycin lactobionate. The antimicrobial spectrum is comparable to that of the parent compound. Our results indicate that erythromycin taurate has a high potential for possible clinical application and is more efficient against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae than the parent base.Eritromicin taurat pripravljen je reakcijom eritromicin baze s taurinskom kiselinom. U radu su evaluirana fizičko-kemijska i biološka svojstva ovog novog derivata eritromicina. Eritromicin taurat je relativno dobro topljiv u organskim otapalima. Koeficijent razdjeljenja u sustavu kloroform/voda bio je 1,17 a u sustavu oktanol/voda 1,16 što ukazuje da se ova ljekovita tvar može dobro raspodijeliti u različitim tkivima in vivo. Antimikrobna aktivnost in vitro (833,33 g mg-1) je veća od aktivnosti postojećih derivata eritromicina: estolata, stearata, etil sukcinata, gluceptata, laktobionata. Spektar antimikrobnog djelovanja je sličan spektru samog eritromicina. Zbog svega toga moguća je klinička primjena eritromicin taurata

A study on drug therapy issues in the department of medicine of a tertiary care teaching hospital-prospective observational study

Background: A drug therapy problem (DTP) is any undesirable event experienced by a patient that involves or is suspected to involve, drug therapy, and that interferes with achieving the desired goals of therapy. The improper use of drugs can lead to patient morbidity and even mortality. DTP s are the clinical territory of the pharmaceutical care practitioner and the resolution of identifying the DTPs help patients to achieve their goals of therapy. Identifying DTPs enables risk quantification and determination of the potential impact of prevention strategies.  DTPs are associated with prolonged length of stay and increased economic burden and results in increased risk of death.Methods: A hospital based, prospective observational study was conducted at department of medicine in Rajah Muthiah medical college and hospital, 80 patients were enrolled in this study based on the inclusion-exclusion criteria. The DTPs were identified using the Cipolle’s method of classification of DTP.Results: The study has shown that 80 of the patients involved in the study had a total of 136 DTPs. An average of 1.7 DTPs were recorded per patient during the study. The most common DTP identified was unnecessary drug therapy accounting to 47%. The absence of valid medical indication was (30%) and (16%) were due to the duplication of therapy. The second most common DTP was unsafe drug for patients, accounting to 45% were due to patient non-compliance and drug interaction which was minor. Need for additional drug therapy was the third most identified accounting 13% were due to medical indication indicate the need of drug therapy.Conclusions: The foremost commonly observed DTP is unnecessary therapy and patient non-compliance to the drugs. The study suggests that DTPs are significantly occurring in hospital can cause the patient for comorbidity, prolonged hospitalization. The study suggests that clinical pharmacist and general practitioners can work together to spot and resolve the DTPs

Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Emulgel of Pothos scandens Linn for Burn Wound Healing Activity

The main aim of this work was to formulate the leaf extract of Pothos scandens in to an emulgel and investigate their burn wound healing activity. Ethanolic extract of dried leaves of Pothos scandens were subjected to preliminary phytochemical evaluation and wound healing activities studies. Emulgel formulations were prepared using three types of gelling agents: Carbopol 934, Carbopol 940 and HPMC K4M. The influence of the type of the gelling agent on the drug release from the prepared emulgel was investigated. The prepared emulgel were evaluated for their physical appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release, pharmacological activity and stability. It was finally concluded that the formulation F1 with 1%w/w Carbopol 940 was found to be more promising formulations as it shows better physicochemical characteristics and higher pharmacological activity compared to other formulations. Herbal emulgel of ethanolic extract of Pothos scandens shows significant improvement in burn wound contraction and hence this is a promising candidate in burn wound healin

The role of pharmacoeconomics in current Indian healthcare system

Phamacoeconomics can aid the policy makers and the healthcare providers in decision making in evaluating the affordability of and access to rational drug use. Efficiency is a key concept of pharmacoeconomics, and various strategies are suggested for buying the greatest amount of benefits for a given resource use. Phamacoeconomic evaluation techniques such as cost minimization analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, cost benefit analysis, and cost utilization analysis, which support identification and quantification of cost of drugs, are conducted in a similar way, but vary in measurement of value of health benefits and outcomes. This article provides a brief overview about pharmacoeconomics, its utility with respect to the Indian pharmaceutical industry, and the expanding insurance system in India. Pharmacoeconomic evidences can be utilized to support decisions on licensing, pricing, reimbursement, and maintenance of formulary procedure of pharmaceuticals. For the insurance companies to give better facility at minimum cost, India must develop the platform for pharmacoeconomics with a validating methodology and appropriate training. The role of clinical pharmacists including PharmD graduates are expected to be more beneficial than the conventional pharmacists, as they will be able to apply the principles of economics in daily basis practice in community and hospital pharmacy

Cytotoxic investigation of some newly synthesized quinoline-thiazole based azo compounds

1256-1264A series of diazotized sulphonamides have undergone azo coupling with the newly synthesized Schiff base ligand (E)-N-((2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylene)-4-phenylthiazol-2-amine 3a and (E)-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-((2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylene)-thiazol-2-amine 3b to give quinoline-thiazole based azo compounds. The solvent effect of the resulting compounds has been studied with different solvents. The structural confirmation of all the synthesized congeners has been carried out by different spectral techniques such as elemental analysis, 1H NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis and LC-MS. The results of in vitro cytotoxic activity of the synthesized compounds has revealed that the compounds N-(4-(((Z)-(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)(4-phenylthiazol-2-ylimino)methyl)diazenyl)phenylsulfonyl)acetamide 5b, 4-(((Z)-(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)(4-phenylthiazol-2-ylimino) methyl)diazenyl)-benzenesulfonic acid 5d and 4-(((Z)-(4-(4-chlorophenyl) thiazol-2-ylimino) (2-chloroquinolin-3yl)methyl)diazenyl) benzene-sulfonic acid 5h show excellent cytotoxic action against MCF 7 (human breast cancer cell line) and K562 (CML cell line)