Knowledge, attitude and perception on PharmD program among penultimate and final-year undergraduate pharmacy students in a Nigerian university – An intervention study

Purpose: To carry out an interventional study on the knowledge, attitude and perception of penultimate and final year undergraduate pharmacy students of the University of Ibadan on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among penultimate and final-year undergraduate students of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan using semi-structured questionnaire. A seminar was organized for the intervention group. The data were summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Pre-intervention PharmD knowledge assessment of majority, 63 (94.0 %) control group and 63 (87.5 %) intervention group participants was below average. Post-intervention, 38 (52.8 %) intervention group participants had satisfactory scores, while 54 (80.6 %) of control group had below average scores. Generally, the participants had good PharmD attitude and perception. There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between pre- and post-intervention PharmD knowledge assessment among the intervention group. A significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed between the post-intervention PharmD knowledge of the control group and the intervention group. Conclusion: Baseline below average PharmD knowledge of study participants improved significantly in the intervention group post-intervention. Generally, the participants had a good attitude and perception towards the PharmD program. Keywords: PharmD, Pre-post intervention, Undergraduate pharmacy students, Knowledge, Attitude, Perception, University of Ibada

Effect of Solvent Type and Drying Method on Protein Retention in Chitosan-Alginate Microcapsules

Purpose: The effect of solvent used in dissolving chitosan (membrane material) and the microcapsule drying method used, on protein retention in chitosan-alginate microcapsules were studied since these factors affect the physicochemical characteristics of the coating membrane. Method: The microcapsules were prepared by extruding a solution containing alginate and BSA into chitosan/calcium chloride solution prepared with different acid solvents – acetic acid, formic acid, tartaric acid and hydrochloric acid. A portion of the microcapsules was air-dried at ambient temperature while the remaining portion was freeze-dried. The elution of protein from the microcapsules in simulated gastric fluid was monitored spectrophotometrically at λmax 280 nm. Results: Tartaric acid effected the highest mean protein retention (54%) after 9 h followed by acetic acid (35%), hydrochloric acid (31%) and formic acid, (30%). There appears to be a link between the pKa of the acids and the degree of chitosan–solvent interaction on the one hand, and protein retention on the other hand. Increase in elution pH from 1.2 to 5.0 did not significantly (P>0.05) affect protein retention. Furthermore, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the protein retention capacities of air-dried and freeze-dried microcapsules as both types showed protein retention of 50% after 5 h. Conclusion: Tartaric acid was the most suitable solvent for enhancing protein retention in chitosan-alginate microcapsules in simulated gastric fluid . Keywords: Tartaric acid, chitosan, solvent type, microcapsules, air-drying, freeze-drying.> Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 5 (2) 2006: pp. 583-58

Chitosan-alginate microparticles of Andrographis paniculata and Annona muricata extracts for Controlled Release

This study investigates the properties of microparticles prepared from Andrographis paniculata (AP) and Annona muricata (AM) aqueous extracts for controlled release. Extracts obtained by maceration of the dried powdered plant leaves were microencapsulated by counterion coacervation method. Microcapsules were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared-spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray difractometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).In vitro release studies were carried out at pH 1.2 for 2 h and 6.8 for a further 10 h. Release was monitored at274 and 230 nm for AM and AP, respectively. Encapsulation efficacy was less than 52% for AP and 70% for AM. In vitro drug release at pH 1.2 showed less than 40% release from the microcapsules after 2h while over 90% of extract was released after 6h at pH 6.8. Conventional capsules released the content within 1 h in simulated gastric fluid. FTIR, XRD and DSC results indicate the stable character of the extract within the microcapsules. Microencapsulation with chitosan- alginate controlled the release of Andrographis paniculata (AP) and Annona muricata (AM) aqueous extracts

Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy: prevalence of peripheral parasitaemia, anaemia and malaria care-seeking behaviour among pregnant women attending two antenatal clinics in Edo State, Nigeria

SUMMARY: This study evaluated malaria care-seeking behaviour, as well as the prevalence of parasitaemia and anaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of two tertiary healthcare facilities in Edo State, Nigeria. Malaria was highly prevalent in the study group (20% by microscopy and estimated 25% by PCR), but parasitaemia and incidence decreased with increasing number of pregnancies. Although the level of education of the study participants was relatively high, antimalarial control measures during pregnancy were found to be poorly utilised by the women and malaria care-seeking was often delayed. A minority of the interviewed pregnant women said they had received sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine-based intermittent preventive therapy (IPT) during current pregnancy. Moreover, the use of inferior antimalaria treatment (e.g. chloroquine) was frequent. The majority of the pregnant women, mainly primigravidae, were anaemic. Efforts to improve antimalaria healthcare must be intensified, targeting pregnant women, particularly the primigravidae and secundigravidae and the healthcare provider

An investigation on the influence of a vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer on the moisture permeation, mechanical and adhesive properties of aqueous-based hydroxypropyl methylcellulose film coatings

10.1248/cpb.52.790Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin527790-796CPBT

Using the Internal Stress Concept to Assess the Importance of Moisture Sorption-induced Swelling on the Moisture Transport through the Glassy HPMC Films

The purpose of this research was to elucidate the significance of the changes in the mechanical and the volumetric properties on the moisture diffusivity through the polymer films. The internal stress concept was adapted and applied to estimate the relative impact of these property changes on the total stress experienced by a polymer film during storage. Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose free films were used as a model material prepared at various conditions and stored at different relative humidities. The changes in the internal stress of these films due to the moisture sorption were studied. It was demonstrated that the stress-relaxation of the films increases at increasing moisture content. At the point when there is a definite loss of stress in the film, which is at moisture content higher than 6%, was shown to correlate with the significant increase of the moisture diffusivity. Further investigations revealed that the loss of stress is especially due to the swelling of the polymer rather than the changes in the inherent strain (the quotient between the tensile strength and the modulus of elasticity) of the HPMC films. This implies that the impact of the moisture sorption on the diffusivity is predominantly via volume addition rather than via altering the mechanical properties. Additionally, the approach presented here also brings up a new application of the internal stress concept, which in essence suggests the possibility to estimate the diffusion coefficient from the sorption isotherm and the mechanical analysis data