Guru Prasad Mohanta

An evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of Indian pharmacists towards adverse drug reaction reporting: A pilot study.

Background: Pharmacovigilance is a useful to assure the safety of medicines and protect consumers from their harmful effects. Healthcare professionals should consider Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting as part of their professional obligation and participate in the existent pharmacovigilance programs in their countries. In India, the National PV Program was re-launched in July 2010. Objectives: This survey was conducted in order to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of Indian pharmacists with the aim of exploring the pharmacists’ participation in ADR reporting system, identifying the reasons of under reporting and determining the steps that could be adopted to increase reporting rates. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among the pharmacists in India using a pretested questionnaire with 33 questions (10 questions on knowledge, 6 on attitude, 7 on practice, 7 on future of ADR reporting in India and 3 on benefits of reporting ADRs.). The study was conducted, over a period of 3 months from May 2012 to July 2012. Results: Out of the 600 participants to whom the survey was administered, a total of 400 were filled. The response rate of the survey was 67%. 95% responders were knowledgeable about ADRs. 90% participants had a positive attitude towards making ADRs reporting mandatory for practicing pharmacists. 87.5% participants were interested in participating in the National Pharmacovigilance program, in India. 47.5% respondents had observed ADRs in their practice, and 37% had reported it to the national pharmacovigilance center. 92% pharmacists believed reporting ADRs immensely helped in providing quality care to patients. Conclusion: The Indian pharmacists have poor knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance. Pharmacists with higher qualifications such as the pharmacists with a PharmD have better KAP. With additional training on Pharmacovigilance, the Indian Pharmacists working in different sectors can become part of ADR reporting system.

Concept of essential medicines and rational use in public health.

The Alma-Ata declaration during the International Conference on Primary Health Care in 1978 reaffirms that health is a fundamental human right and the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most important worldwide social goal.(1) The Alma Ata declaration has outlined the eight essential components of primary health care and provision of essential medicines is one of them.(1) Medicines are integral parts of the health care and the modern health care is unthinkable without the availability of necessary medicines. They not only save lives and promote health, but prevent epidemics and diseases too. The medicines are undoubtedly one of the weapons of mankind to fight disease and illness. Accessibility to medicines is too the fundamental right of every person.

Studies on mechanism of enhanced dissolution of albendazole solid dispersions with crystalline carriers

The main purpose of this research was to study the mechanism of drug release from solid dispersions of albendazole, giving special emphasis to particle size of the drug in solid dispersions. Solid dispersions were prepared using three different carriers, mixing ratios and methods in an attempt to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of albendazole. The mechanism of enhanced dissolution was investigated by a novel dissolution technique as an adjunct to phase solubility study, wettability test, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The solubility of albendazole was greater with albendazole-poloxamer 407 system, while polyethylene glycol dispersions showed predominant wettability. Physical mixtures showed enhanced dissolution compared with the pure drug, due to improved wetting and solubilization of drug in the diffusion layer offering carrier-rich microenvironment. Preparation of solid dispersion further improved the dissolution compared to the physical mixture, owing to increased surface area for mass transfer, thermodynamically enhanced dissolution of a higher energy amorphous form from the carrier, in addition to improved wetting and solubilization. All carriers showed comparable degree of drug particle size reduction, whereas mixing ratio and method of preparation substantially affected the particle size. Intermolecular association of drug with the carrier led to inhibition of drug recrystallization.

Effect of patient counseling on quality of life of hemodialysis patients in India

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing problem. The effect of patient counseling is to be defined on health-related quality of life. Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out the impact of patient counseling in health related quality of life (QoL). Methods: In this prospective interventional study, the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) for QoL questionnaire was used in test and control groups for data collection. The same data collection method was used during six months to study the effect of patient counseling. Results: Health related quality of life in test group showed a consistent improvement of 2% in six months. Improvement of awareness by patient counseling was also improved. Conclusion: As part of medication therapy management (MTM), patient counseling focusing on dialysis compliance, diet and medications are an effective way to improve health-related QoL and awareness in ESRD. Such services should be made mandatory by law in India to improve outcomes in chronic illness.

Synthesis and colon-specific drug delivery of a poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/MBA nanosized hydrogel.

Intravenous administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for colon cancer therapy produces severe systemic side-effects due to its cytotoxic effect on normal cells. The main objective of the present study was to develop novel oral site-specific delivery of 5-FU to the colon with less drug being released in the stomach or small intestine using biodegradable hydrogel, hydrogel nanoparticles and comparing the targeting efficiency of 5-FU to colon from both. Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) (P(AA-co-Am)) normal hydrogel and hydrogel nanoparticles (HN) were synthesized by free radical polymerization using N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker, potassium persulfate as reaction initiator and 5-FU was loaded. HN were found to be degradable in physiological medium and showed comparatively higher swelling in rat caecal medium (RCM). 5-FU entrapment was increased by increasing Am (wt%) monomer feed. In vitro release of 5-FU from normal hydrogel and HN in pH progressive medium, it was found that a AA/Am ratio of 25:75 showed higher release in RCM. The Higuchi model yielded good adjustment of in vitro release kinetics. A higher amount of 5-FU reached the colon in HN (61 ± 2.1%) than normal hydrogel (40 ± 3.6%) by organ biodistribution studies in albino rats.

Preparation and characterization of nebivolol nanoparticles using Eudragit® RS100

Nebivolol, a beta-blocker, has been widely used for the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases; but has drawbacks like poor solubility and bioavailability requiring frequent dosing. The present study attempts to overcome these issues through nanoparticulate delivery system using widely used carrier Eudragit(®) RS100. The solvent evaporation (single emulsion) technique was used for developing nanoparticles. The impact of formulation and process variables on particle size and entrapment efficiency was studied to optimize the formulation. The physico-chemical characterization confirmed the particle size in nano range with smooth and spherical morphology. Further, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies confirm compatibility of drug-polymer combination. The in vitro drug release study of the prepared nanoparticles showed prolongation of drug release with reduced burst release in comparison with pure drug powder.

Evaluation of self medication practices in rural area of town sahaswan at northern India.

Background: Many of the studies have investigated the prevalence and nature of self-medication. It is a common type of self-care behavior among the populace of various countries. World Health Organization promotes the practice of self-medication for effective and quick relief of symptoms without medical consultations to reduce the burden on health-care services, which are often understaffed and inaccessible in rural and remote areas. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the extent and pattern of self-medication among the population (patients) attending pharmacies at study sites and to note the association of self-medication variables with demographic factors. Subjects and Methods: The present study was a community based cross sectional study aimed to gather information about the prevalence of self-medication in the rural town of Sahaswan, Uttar Pradesh from June 2012 to July 2012. The sample size comprised of 600 respondents. Data were collected through a prepared questionnaire. All descriptive data were coded, entered and analyzed using the statistical package for Social sciences program version 17.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive data analysis was conducted and reported as frequencies and percentage. Results: The percentage of patients who were seeking self-medication was approximately 50% (300/600). Most of the patients were seeking self-medication for headache and other pain (23.3% [140/600]), fever (14.5% [87/600]), urinary tract infections (9.7% [58/600]) and respiratory tract infections (11.7% [70/600]). The drugs most commonly purchased for practicing self-medication were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (25.3% [152/600]), medications used for gastro intestinal problems (20.8% [125/600]) and antibiotics (16.7% [100/600]). Conclusion: Prevalence of self-medication was high primarily among illiterate males aged above 15 years with a low income. Patient health awareness programs, assistance by community pharmacists and pharmacist continuing education are necessary for controlling self-medication. There is a need for planning interventions to promote rational self-medication through mass medias such as newspaper, magazine and TV.

Studies on wound healing effect of flaveria trinervia leaf in mice

The methanol extract of Flaveria trinervia (Asteraceae) leaf was evaluated for its wound healing property by excision wound models. The wound contraction and epithelialisation was faster in the leaf paste applied mice when compared to povidone-iodine treated ones. The wound healing property may be attributed to the antioxidant activity of the extract.

Felodipine loaded PLGA nanoparticles: preparation, physicochemical characterization and in vivo toxicity study

Felodipine, a calcium channel blocker has been widely used for the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases; but the frequent dosing is needed for its poor solubility and variable bioavailability. In present study an attempt has been made to overcome the problems through nanoparticulate delivery system using poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer keeping in the view to get better sustainability of the formulation. The nanoparticles were prepared by single emulsion solvent evaporation technique and the physico-chemical characterization of prepared nanoparticles confirmed the particles were nanosize range with smooth and spherical morphology. Further, the compatibility of drug-polymer combination was analyzed by FTIR and DSC study. The in vitro drug release study of PLGA nanoparticles showed longer duration of drug release with reduced burst release compared with pure felodipine. The in vitro drug release data were fitted with various mathematical models to establish the drug release mechanism from the nanoparticles and found to follow mixed order kinetics. The in vivo toxicity study in albino mice showed no noticeable change in biochemical parameters and histopathology of organs. Hence, the developed felodipine nanoparticles were prepared, characterized and could possibly be advantageous for prolonged drug release and improving the antihypertensive effect.

Formulation and evaluation of herbal gel of Pothos scandens Linn

Abstract Objective To formulate Pothos scandens Linn (P. scandens) leaf extract in to a gel and investigate their burn wound healing activity. Methods Ethanolic extract of dried leaves of P. scandens were subjected to priliminery phytochemical evaluation and wound healing activities studies. Different gel formulations of ethanolic extract of P. scandens (4% w/v) were prepared using polymers carbopol 934 and carbopol 940 by varying their concentration. These formulations were evaluated for physical parameters, drug content, pH, viscosity, extrudability, spreadability, primary skin irritation, pharmacological activity and stability. Results Wound healing studies of ethanolic extract revealed that P. scandens treated animals were found to epithelise in 22 days while the solvent control and the untreated rats epithelise within 35 and 40 days respectively. The formulation with 1.5% w/w carbopol 934 was found to be more promising as it shows better physicochemical characteristics, higher pharmacological activity and stability compared to other formulations. Conclusions P. scandens alcoholic extract shows significant improvement in burn wound contraction and hence this is a promising candidate in burn wound healing.