Al Mustansiriyah Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The aim of present study was to formulate
and evaluate oral jellies containing
granisetron (GSN). This new dosage form
was designed for administration of the
drug to specific aged patients (i.e.
pediatric) in certain condition. GSN is an
antiemetic which is usually used for the
treatment of nausea and vomiting induced
by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The
selection of this dosage form was based on its acceptability by pediatric population, ease of
use and no need for water after taking the dose. In this study, two types of natural jellifying
agents have been used in different concentrations. The natural jellifying agents which have
been used were pectin and sodium alginate. The effect of jellifying agent and their
concentrations have been investigated. Oral jell was prepared by heat and congealing method.
Then investigations were done by measuring the pH, content uniformity, syneresis, stability,
general appearance and production yield. The investigations showed that the formulation F3
with 5% pectin is the best one.
Key words: granisetron, sodium-alginate, pectin, oral jelly.

The present study was designed to
investigate the effects of different
variables on the release profile of
mefenamic acid from calcium alginate
beads formulated using modified
emulsification method. Five formulations
of beads (F1-F5) with different drug:
polymer ratios were prepared in which
the amount of drug (1g) was kept constant and the amount of calcium alginate was increased
from 1 up to 5g. All the formulated beads were evaluated for percentage yield, entrapped
efficiency and in vitro release profile at pH 1.2 and 7.2 dissolution media. For further
minimize the release of drug from calcium alginate beads, the selected formulation F3 beads
were coated separately with 3% and 6% Eudragit S100 solution using dipping method. The
coated beads (F6 and F7) minimized the release of drug both in pH 1.2 and 7.2. The study
confirms significant effects of two variables, drug:polymer ratio and coating on the release of
drug from beads which can be effectively utilized to control the release from prepared
calcium alginate formulations.

Key words: calcium alginate, mefenamic acid, Eudrigate S 100, control release, beads

Our study demonstrates the preparation
of naproxen as a sustained release matrix
tablet using polyelectrolyte complexes
PECs.The cationic polymer used in this
study is chitosan CS while the anionic
polymer includes sodium alginate SA,
xanthan gum XG or carrageenan CG as
anionic polymers. FT-IR spectra of these

complexes were studied to indicate the interactions between polyions. Precompression and
compresion parameters were studied including the flowability, tablet hardness, thickness,
friability, weight variation, drug content and in vitro release study. The results showed that
the release rate of naproxen was decreased in the formulas that contains the physical mixtures
comparing to the formulas with single polymer and the formula containing high molecular
weight chitosan: xanthan gum CSh: XG physical mixture in 3:1 ratio formed the strongest
PEC in which the release rate extended up to 20 hr. In conclusion, this work succeeded in
preparation of naproxen as oral sustained release matrix tablet, using a physical mixture of
cationic and anionic polymers to form PECs resulting in less frequent dosing and a reduction
in gastric irritation.
Key words: naproxen, polyelectrolyte complex, sustained release, chitosan, xanthan gum,
sodium alginate, carrageenan.

Nefazodone is atypical antidepressant
which was manufactured by Bristol
Myers Squibb in 1994 to avoid the
adverse effects associated with other
antidepressants, including nausea,
sedation, insomnia, cardiovascular toxi
city, weight gain and dysfunction.
In 2004, nefazodone was withdrawn from USA after its withdrawal from Canada and Europe
due to the reports of liver injury in patients treated with this drug. The current study was
performed to investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of nefazodone on HepG2 cell line
at different concentrations by using MTT assay and comet assay, respectively. The results
showed that nefazodone causes a reduction in cells viability of HepG2 cell line with an IC50
4.682 µg/ml. Comet assay showed a significant increment in the three parameters (tail length,
percent of DNA in tail and tail moment) in a concentration-dependent manner, when
compared with negative control (p˂0.01), but these results considered as false positive due to
cells death.
Key words: Nefazodone, Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity, Comet assay, HepG2 cell line.

A high percentage of active
pharmaceutical ingredient are available
in the insoluble crystalline phase.
During pharmaceutical processing such
as milling there are many issues can be
initiated due to the transformation of this
crystalline materials. Some trans
formation might be positively
solving the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) problems such as solubility and
dissolution rate while others might negatively affect these factors which render the APIs into
inactive compound. Therefore, during the pre-formulation study, all of these issues must be
resolved to ensure drug stability and hence its bioavailability. This review will shed the light
on the most popular transformations that happened, factors affecting them, and the
characterization methods used for the detection of phase formed. The studying of these
factors, will help to avoid them in future

Key words: Milling, transformation, amorphous, crystalline

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease,
usually characterized by chronic airway
inflammation together with increased
oxidative stress that lead to clinical
symptoms of asthma.
Obesity is a known risk factor of asthma

as the obesity is correlated with systemic inflammation and airway restriction. Curcumin, a
natural product derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa (Turmeric), has a wide range of
beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory and weight reducing agent. This study was
designed to evaluate the effect of curcumin as supplement therapy on the pulmonary function,
total and differential white blood cell count and metabolic status of chronic bronchial
asthmatic patients. It is a prospective randomized controlled interventional study carried out
on 40 patients visiting Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital and conducted from October 2017 to
April 2018. The patients were allocated into group1; include 17 asthmatic patients assigned to
receive conventional therapy for asthma alone, and group 2; include 23 asthmatic patients
assigned to receive conventional therapy for asthma plus 750 mg curcumin capsule twice
daily for two months. Results revealed significant improvement in forced expiratory volume
in one second (FEV1) and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital
capacity (FEV1/FVC) in group 2 patients after two months(P<0.01). The total white blood
cell count didn’t show any difference after treatment except decrease in neutrophil count after
curcumin supplement (p< 0.05). The leptin level and body mass index present with no
significant difference in both groups after two months (p >0.05).
Key words: chronic bronchial asthma, pulmonary function, leptin, curcumin supplement.

Background: Post-operative nausea and
vomiting (PONV) continues to be among
the
main
anesthesia,
concerns after general
impacting approximately
30% of all postoperative patients. PONV
is still reported by patients as their most
distressing post-surgical outcome even
surpassing that of pain. In spite of the presence of PONV prophylaxis guidelines and the
availability of multimodal and novel anti-emetics, it is clear that these guidelines are poorly
applied with insufficient prescription of pre-emptive anti-emetics. This study aimed at
evaluating the effect of educational intervention with general surgeons and anesthesiologists
on prophylactic antiemetic prescribing practice.
Methods: An interventional study was carried out at Al-Sader Medical City/ Al-Najaf
province/ Iraq. In the observational phase of the study, patients were selected from the general
surgery ward to observe the baseline prescribing pattern of the prophylactic anti-emetics and
PONV incidence among them. After implementing the educational program, another group
(interventional group) of patients was taken to see if there was any alteration in the practice of
pre-emptive anti-emetics prescription and the incidence of PONV.
Results: Two groups each of 50 patients were enrolled, namely, observational group and
interventional group. In the observational group, only 7 patients (14%) received preoperative
prophylactic anti-emetics compared to 24 patients (48%) in the interventional group,
(P<0.001). No statistically relevant difference was observed in the use of post-operative anti
emetics. The incidence of PONV within the first 24 hours was significantly lower among the
interventional patients’ group, (28%) versus (54%) before the educational intervention,
(P<0.05).
Conclusion: This study revealed that the educational program done by the researcher has a
positive impact on the prescription of pre-operative prophylactic anti-emetics with subsequent
reduction in PONV incidence.
Key words: PONV prophylaxis, educational program

Background: Patients who experience
acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at
high risk of having further events in the
future. One month after the attack, the
average readmission rate was estimated
to be approximately 20%. As a result,
patients must receive secondary preven
tion medications to avoid reoccurrence
of these cardiovascular events. To get the entire benefit, patients must adhere to the prescribed
regimen. However, many studies demonstrated that patients do not adhere to the prescribed
medications upon the long term, and this leads to substantial deterioration of disease and
consequently death, as well as significant financial burden. This study has the objective of
assessing the impact of pharmacist intervention on increasing patients\' adherence to ACS
medications.
Method: a prospective interventional study was performed from January to October 2018. A
total of 70 patients were selected randomly and were divided into those who received the
usual care processes offered by pharmacists at discharge, and those who received well
structured clinical pharmacist intervention about the discharge medications and disease. Heart
rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and lipid profile were measured at baseline and after 3 months.
Also, patients\' level of adherence to the discharge medications was assessed after 3 months.
Furthermore, 30-day hospital readmission rate was evaluated.
Results: Regarding patients\' medication adherence, 63.3% of the patients in intervention
group had high level of adherence compared to only 21.1% of controls. After 3 months of
follow up significant reduction in mean scores of outcomes were noticed in intervention group
compared to control, where HR (73.6 vs. 80), SBP (129.5 vs. 141), DBP (81.2 vs. 87.5). Also
serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL were reduced and HDL increased significantly in
the intervention group (P <0.05), while no such changes seen in controls. Moreover, no
considerable difference was observed in hospital readmission between the intervention and
control group.
Conclusion: This study showed that pharmacist intervention caused notable enhancement in
patient\' medication adherence with subsequent improvement of heart rate, blood pressure, and
lipid profile, but with no improvement in hospital readmission.
Key words: Adherence, Outcomes, Pharmacist, Intervention, ACS.