Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of ketoprofen in palm oil esters nanoemulsion

Ketoprofen is a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug has been used in the treatment of various kinds of pains, inflammation and arthritis. However, oral administration of ketoprofen produces serious gastrointestinal adverse effects. One of the promising methods to overcome these adverse effects is to administer the drug through the skin. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects from topically applied ketoprofen entrapped palm oil esters (POEs) based nanoemulsion and to compare with market ketoprofen product, Fastum® gel. The novelty of this study is, use of POEs for the oil phase of nanoemulsion. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies were performed on rats by carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema test and carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia pain threshold test to compare the ketoprofen entrapped POEs based nanoemulsion formulation and market formulation. Results indicated that there are no significant different between ketoprofen entrapped POEs nanoemulsion and market formulation in carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema study and carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia pain threshold study. However, it shows a significant different between POEs nanoemulsion formulation and control group in these studies at p<0.05. From these results it was concluded that the developed nanoemulsion have great potential for topical application of ketoprofen

FORMULATION AND STABILITY EVALUATION OF KETOPROFEN LOADED VIRGIN COCONUT OIL BASED CREAMY EMULSION

Objective: To formulate and optimize a topical formulation; a virgin coconut oil (VCO) based Ketoprofen loaded creamy emulsion containing Tween 80® as the surfactant and to evaluate the stability of samples. Methods: In preformulatory studies optimization of the formulae was done using ternary phase diagrams with water titration method and emulsions were formulated using two methods; spontaneous emulsification and homogenization. Their stability was analyzed under visual observation to optimize the best formulae for Ketoprofen incorporated creamy emulsion. 2.5% w/w Ketoprofen topical formulations are available in the market. Results: Centrifugation provided more comparable data than visual observation. Phase separation was the main instability condition observed in unstable emulsions. Composition 23.60% VCO: 29.53% Tween 80®: 45.87% water was identified as the best optimized formulae in both with and without Ketoprofen formulations and all the samples with different Ketoprofen concentrations were stable for 14 days under centrifugation and visual observation stability studies. Conclusion: Homogenization was more effective in stable emulsion formation than spontaneous emulsification in VCO, Tween 80®,water emulsion. The best optimized formula was 23.60% VCO: 29.53% Tween 80®: 45.87% water

AWARENESS OF USAGE OF SUNSCREENS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN KANDY, SRI LANKA

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the awareness of usage of sunscreens among school children in Kandy, Sri Lanka.Methods: School children (138) who do outdoor sports were recruited from six schools. Knowledge and attitudes towards the usage and application of sunscreens were assessed using a researcher administered questionnaire. Statistical analyses were done using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS version-16).Results: Among the school children who do outdoor sports, 71 (51.4%) of participants used sunscreens and 67 (48.6%) of participants did not use sunscreens.Conclusion: According to the results most of the school children have a lack of knowledge, attitudes and practice towards the usage of sunscreens

A comparative study regarding antibiotic consumption and knowledge of antimicrobial resistance among pharmacy students in Australia and Sri Lanka.

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge. Pharmacists play a key role in the health care setting to support the quality use of medicines. The education and training of pharmacy students have the potential to impact on patterns of antibiotic use in community and hospital settings. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare antibiotic use and knowledge of antibiotics and AMR among undergraduate pharmacy students in Australian and Sri Lankan universities.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Australian and Sri Lankan universities that offer a pharmacy degree. A paper-based survey was utilised in Sri Lanka and an identical survey distributed online among pharmacy students in Australia. Descriptive and comparative data analyses were performed.Results476 pharmacy students from 14 universities in Australia and 466 students from 6 universities in SL completed the survey. Participants commonly reported previous antibiotic use [Australia (88%) and Sri Lanka (86%)]. The majority of students [Australia (89%) and Sri Lanka (77%)] reported they obtained antibiotics with a prescription. Australian pharmacy students correctly reported regarding optimal antibiotic use for certain disease conditions when compared to Sri Lankan students (PConclusionThis study provides an understanding about antibiotic consumption and knowledge on AMR among pharmacy students in a developed country, Australia and a developing country, Sri Lanka. These findings identify possible misconceptions about antibiotics and a lower level of knowledge of AMR amongst Sri Lankan undergraduate pharmacy students. Future research should focus on implementation of a strategic education plan for undergraduate pharmacy students in Sri Lankan universities. The curricula of pharmacy courses in Australian universities may inform such a plan

COMPARATIVE IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF METFORMIN HCl AND PARACETAMOL TABLETS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE IN KANDY DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Objective: Availability of numerous brands of tablets with price variations compared to their generic drugs in the current drug market places health practitioners, pharmacists and patients in a dilemma of generic substitution. In such background, this study was aimed to compare the in-vitro efficacy of some of the low priced generic tablets with their brands commonly available in Sri Lanka.Methods: A survey of the prices of commonly used tablets and capsules available at pharmacies in Kandy area in Sri Lanka was carried out. Based on the results of the survey, frequently used two tablets; Metformin HCl (one locally manufactured generic (M1) and 3 brands M2-M4) and Paracetamol (one locally manufactured generic (P1) and two brands P2-P3) were selected for the study. All the products were examined visually for their organoleptic properties and tested for uniformity of weight, disintegration time, assay value, dissolution rate, hardness or crushing strength and friability. Pertinent official guidelines were followed throughout all the tests.Results: The results of aesthetic assessment showed no sign of defects and all the tested tablets complied with the official standards for the above parameters. Despite some minor differences in tablet hardness and disintegration time profiles, other in-vitro characteristics of the tested brands; Paracetamol and Metformin HCl and their locally manufactured generics appears to be similar and not significantly different from each other.Conclusion: According to in-vitro official quality control tests, all the generics and brands of the respective drugs tested could be regarded as equally effective.Â

Investigating knowledge regarding antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance among pharmacy students in Sri Lankan universities

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major challenge for global health care. Pharmacists play a key role in the health care setting to help support the quality use of medicines. The education, training, and experiences of pharmacy students have the potential to impact on patterns of antibiotic use in community and hospital settings. The aim of this study was to investigate antibiotic use, knowledge of antibiotics and AMR among undergraduate pharmacy students at Sri Lankan universities and to compare this between junior and senior pharmacy student groups. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the six universities in Sri Lanka that offer pharmacy undergraduate programmes. All pharmacy students in each university were invited to participate in this study using a self-administered questionnaire with ethics approval. The study instrument comprised five major sections: demographic information, self-reported antibiotic use, knowledge of antibiotic uses in human health, knowledge of AMR and antibiotic use in agriculture. Descriptive data analyses were conducted and Chi-squared analysis was used to explore associations between different variables and level of pharmacy education. Results Four hundred sixty-six pharmacy students completed the questionnaire. A majority of participants (76%) reported antibiotic use in the past year. More than half (57%) of the junior pharmacy students incorrectly indicated that antibiotic use is appropriate for the management of cold and flu conditions. Senior pharmacy students (n = 206) reported significantly better antibiotic knowledge than junior students (n = 260), p < 0.05. Overall pharmacy students showed good understanding of AMR and their knowledge level increased as the year of pharmacy study increased. Conclusions This study found that pharmacy students commonly report using antibiotics. Junior students report some misconceptions about antimicrobials. A comparison between junior and senior pharmacy students suggests that pharmacy education is associated with improved understanding of appropriate antibiotic use and AMR among undergraduate pharmacy students in Sri Lanka