Indian Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

183-190

Authors: Debasis Ray, Aswathi Venugopal

Background: Spontaneous reporting is an important tool in pharmacovigilance. Underreporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a common problem. In order to improve the ADR reporting, it is essential to improve the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the healthcare professionals. Various factors are related with the KAP of under reporting of ADR. Objectives: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the KAP regarding ADR reporting of among the prescribers of a tertiary care teaching hospital with ADR monitoring center in North Eastern state to get insight into the causes of underreporting of ADR. Materials and Methods: It was questionnaire based cross sectional study. A questionnaire (knowledge -1-10, attitude -11-23 and practice -24-28) was administered to 200 prescribers. The questionnaire was assessed regarding the ADR reporting. Microsoft excels worksheet and chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total 170(85%) prescribers completed and returned the questionnaire. Regarding definition of pharmacovigilance, specific aim of pharmacovigiilance, functions of ADR monitoring center (AMC), 93%, 79% and 51.8% participants respectively could answer correctly. Only 54% respondents opined correctly that reporting of ADR is voluntary. 76.5% participants know the existence of AMC in the institution. 27.6% participants expressed that ADR reporting will generate extra work. 22.4% of participants reported ADR. Regarding reasons of under reporting many factors has been pointed out namely “do not know how to report”, “lack of knowledge about reporting procedure”, “not knowing where to report”, lack of time to report and lack of access to ADR form. Conclusion: The medical professionals are aware and have partial knowledge about ADRs. However, under reporting and lack of knowledge about reporting system are clearly evident. There is great need of creating awareness about ADR reporting system. Regular sensitization program to motivate the medical professionals may improve the ADR reporting.

197-202

Authors: Anshu Gupta, Karun Bhatti, Rani Walia, Pallak Agnihotri, Sandeep Kaushal

Background: Didactic lecture promotes passive learning among students. To influence the listeners the teacher should inform, engage and entertain by using certain interactivities in the class. Interactive teaching learning activities promote active learning among students. Different strategies can be used in a lecture to involve and motivate the participants for effective teaching and learning. Aim and Objectives: The study was conducted to implement interactive teaching learning methods in large group teaching and to analyze the perceptions of students regarding the same. Methodology: One hundred and fifty students of 2nd Prof MBBS were enrolled after obtaining IEC approval and informed consent. After dividing them into two batches of 75 each, a total of 8 interactive sessions on 4 different topics of endocrine pharmacology were conducted. The students were exposed to the case based scenario, think pair and share, quiz and role play strategies of interactive teaching learning. A feedback proforma containing 12 items regarding the perceptions of students was recorded. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. Findings: A total of 137 (91%) students took the feedback regarding their perceptions of interactivities. Out of which 53 were males and 84 females. 75.2 % of the students strongly agreed it to be enjoyable. It helped the students to gain more knowledge, stimulated thinking (78%) regarding the topic. They were enthusiastic, motivated to take part in discussions. Out of the entire interactivities quiz was the most preferred (36%) method of interaction. Conclusions: The interactive teaching was found to be useful and feasible as adjunct to didactic lectures. Different activities of interaction during lecture are recommended for active participation, more attention, and motivation of students.

206-216

Authors: Vinay Kumar, Preeti Sharma, Bhulan Kumar Singh, Anil Kumar Mishra, Krishna Chuttani

The aim of the present study was to develop the procedure for radiolabeling of an anticancer drug tamoxifen with 99mTc for tumor diagnosis and to evaluate the antitumor effect of tamoxifen in EAC bearing mice. The Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells were injected invivo in Balb-C mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation of 2x106 cells/mice after every 10 days. The study included the radiolabeling of tamoxifen, in vitro stability of radiolabeled drug, invitro binding of radiolabeled drug with plasma protein, partition coefficient and biodistribution of radiolabeled drug in mice. MTT assay, mean survival time and % increase in life span, body weight, tumor size, volume and hematological parameters (Red blood cells, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit, Mean corpuscular haemglobin (MCH), Mean cellular heamoglobin concentration, Platelets, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Granulocytes and Red cell distribution width) were also evaluated. Radiolabeling of tamoxifen with technetium-99m (99mTc) was 97%. Invitro stability of the labeled complex was increased with time and found maximum at 2 hours (98.1.± 0.17). Partition coefficient of the labeled drug showed that it was highly lipophilic. Biodistribution study in tumor bearing mice exhibited high uptake in tumor cells. Tamoxifen significantly increased the life span and mean survival time of tumor bearing mice and significantly reduces the tumor weight, size and volume, body weight as compared to the control (EAC bearing) group. In conclusion, the present study indicates that 99mTc labeled tamoxifen is a potentially strong tumor diagnostic agent with low uptake in normal tissues and has anticancer activity in solid tumors.

222-225

Authors: Ajita D. Khamkar, V. M. Motghare, Rushikesh Deshpande

The era of blockbuster drugs is now ending, the pharmaceutical industry is not as innovative due to shortage of new lead structures. Ethnopharmacology and natural product drug discovery remains a significant hope in the current scenario. Ethno pharmacology provides a divergent approach involving indigenous knowledge with current technology for drug development using new approaches.Natural products have been the source of active ingredients of many medicines from 1981 till date. Aspirin, artimesinin, colchicine, digoxin, ephedrine are few important drugs that were developed from medicinal plants in the past. Hurdles like lack of trials, safety and efficacy records, gap between old concepts and modern understanding, malpractice due to intense competition in drug research, carelessly carried out bioassays and biopiracy stop this knowledge from becoming mainstream. Physician can play an important role in overcoming some of these hurdles and strict guidelines are required for ethnoergogenics. A sincere effort needs to be made to prevent the loss of this rich traditional knowledge which can help drug discovery for many years to come

230-235

Authors: Sunisha Kulkarni, Anisha Agrawal, Shyam Bihari Sharma, Suman Jain

Packaging in Pharma Industry is an extensive, comprehensive and multi-faceted task. From containment and protection to convenience, identification and delivery, packaging’s role in the market cannot be underestimated. It is a means of protecting and preserving items contained within, as well as communicating marketing and regulatory information to consumers. Earlier the requirements of these packaging focused exclusively on preserving the quality of enclosed product, whereas today the packaging occupies a significant portion of the overall food and drugs markets. These are extended to cover criteria such as stability and shelf life; convenience and compliance of product use; prevention of product tampering and counterfeiting; ensuring product safety; and brand identity. These products should be designed in such a way that it gives a soothing impact to the users; also the medicine itself has healing effect, so its packaging should complement its features as well. While there is a drive for customisation within packaging industries, there have been concerns that innovation is being hindered by factors such as budgets and regulation. As the packaging industry continues to develop increasingly sophisticated concepts, industries are starting to embrace innovations in this field to improve patient adherence to drug regimens.