Availability and Types of Pressure Ulcer Medications at Community Pharmacies in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana.

Pressure ulcers (PU) arise from prolonged pressure on the skin and underlying tissue due to pathological changes in blood flow. They usually develop in people who are immobilized due to certain medical conditions. The incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardio-vascular diseases are on the ascendency.

Prevalence, Scope and Quality of Extemporaneous Medications in Selected Healthcare Facilities and Implications for Pharmacy Practice.

: Extemporaneous compounding is the preparation of medicines for individual patients when no commercially available authorized form exists. Unlike registered medications, these products are not subjected to various tests for quality by Regulatory Authorities. Data on compounded medications in Ghana is currently inadequate or unavailable.

Pharmacognostic profiles, evaluation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant activities of Newbouldia laevis (P. Beauv.) Seem. ex Bureau leaf and root extracts in Wistar rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Newbouldia laevis is a popular medicinal plant whose leaves and roots are used in Nigeria as ethnomedicinal prescriptions for pain, inflammation, convulsion, and epilepsy. These claims have not been scientifically verified prior to this study.

Aim Of The Study: To determine pharmacognostic profiles of the leaves and roots and evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anticonvulsant activities of methanol leaf and root extracts in Wistar rats.

Chitosan-Coated Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose Microparticles of Levodopa (and Carbidopa): In Vitro and Rat Model Kinetic Characteristics.

Background: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, and a major cause of disability. Levodopa, a prodrug of dopamine, remains the gold standard in the pharmacological management of Parkinson's disease. Despite several attempts to improve the clinical efficacy of levodopa, new oral levodopa formulations are needed to overcome irregular absorption and variable plasma concentrations.

Quinine Sulphate Microparticles as Treatment for Leishmaniasis.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite and transmitted by the female phlebotomine sandfly. The disease can affect the skin (least fatal) or internal organs (most fatal). Current treatment options for leishmaniasis have a number of adverse effects, and there appears to be resistance by the protozoan parasite ( spp.

Usefulness of combined screening methods for rapid detection of falsified and/or substandard medicines in the absence of a confirmatory method.

Background: The influx of substandard and falsified medicines is a global public health challenge and its rapid detection is a key solution to the menace. This study used three screening methods and one confirmatory method for the quality assessment of 25 batches of artemether/lumefantrine dosage forms from the Ghanaian market to test that combined screening methods only can rapidly detect substandard and/or falsified medicines in areas where confirmatory methods may not be available.

Methods: The quality of artemether/lumefantrine tablet products obtained from pharmacies and licensed chemical seller shops within the Accra metropolis in Ghana were analysed using three screening methods (GPHF Minilab, Colorimetry and Counterfeit Drug Indicator) and one confirmatory method (high-performance liquid chromatography).

Ethnomedicinal survey and mutagenic studies of plants used in Accra metropolis, Ghana.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Majority of people living in Ghana and many other developing countries rely on traditional medicinal plants for their primary healthcare. These plants are used either alone or in combination to manage a wide range of ailments. However, most of these plants have not been investigated for their mutagenic effects.

Assessment of formulated amodiaquine microparticles in Leishmania donovani infected rats.

The aim of this study was to formulate, characterise and evaluate the activity of amodiaquine microparticles against Leishmania donovani. Microparticles were formulated by encapsulating the drug in bovine serum albumin using the spray-dryer method. The microparticles were evaluated for size, zeta potential, drug content, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release profile.

Artemether-Lumefantrine Concentrations in Tablets and Powders from Ghana Measured by a New High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method.

We developed and validated a new analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of artemether and lumefantrine in fixed-dose tablets and powders for reconstitution into pediatric suspensions (PSs). The method showed linearity (r(2) > 0.9947), precision (coefficient of variation < 2%), accuracy (deviation of mean from actual concentrations < 4%), and specificity (peak purities > 99%).

Integration of novel low-cost colorimetric, laser photometric, and visual fluorescent techniques for rapid identification of falsified medicines in resource-poor areas: application to artemether-lumefantrine.

The availability of falsified antimalarial drugs can be reduced with effective drug regulatory agencies and proper enforcement. Fundamental to these agencies taking action, rapid identification must be made as soon as they appear in the market place. Since falsified antimalarials occur mostly in developing countries, performing drug analysis presents itself with unique challenges.

Formulation and characterization of atropine sulfate in albumin-chitosan microparticles for in vivo ocular drug delivery.

The overall study goal was to produce a microparticle formulation containing atropine sulfate for ocular administration with improved efficacy and lower side effects, compared with that of the standard marketed atropine solution. The objective was to prepare an atropine sulfate-loaded bovine serum albumin-chitosan microparticle that would have longer contact time on the eyes as well as better mydriatic and cycloplegic effect using a rabbit model. The microparticle formulation was prepared by method of spray-drying technique.

In vivo efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine and chloroquine against Plasmodium vivax: a randomized open label trial in central Ethiopia.

Background: In vivo efficacy assessments of antimalarials are essential for ensuring effective case management. In Ethiopia, chloroquine (CQ) without primaquine is the first-line treatment for Plasmodium vivax in malarious areas, but artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is also commonly used.

Methods And Findings: In 2009, we conducted a 42-day efficacy study of AL or CQ for P.

Poor quality vital anti-malarials in Africa - an urgent neglected public health priority.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major public health problem. A vital component of malaria control rests on the availability of good quality artemisinin-derivative based combination therapy (ACT) at the correct dose. However, there are increasing reports of poor quality anti-malarials in Africa.

In vivo efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine against uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Central Ethiopia.

Background: In vivo efficacy assessments of the first-line treatments for Plasmodium falciparum malaria are essential for ensuring effective case management. In Ethiopia, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) has been the first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria since 2004.

Spray-dried doxorubicin-albumin microparticulate systems for treatment of multidrug resistant melanomas.

As multidrug resistance continues to be a problem in cancer treatment, controlled release delivery systems, such as microspheres, may aid to give a slower release of anticancer drugs into drug resistant tumor cells. In this study doxorubicin microspheres microencapsulated in an albumin matrix were prepared via the spray-drying method and characterized for particle size, content analysis, and release studies. They were then evaluated in vitro using drug resistant murine melanoma tumor cells for uptake and efflux studies.

Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies of amphotericin B microspheres.

The pharmacokinetics of Amphotericin B (AmB) from polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG 2000) entrapped cross-linked bovine serum albumin (BSA) microsphere formulations were investigated and compared with solution formulation. The microsphere preparations were characterized for particle size using electron microscopy, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. The microsphere formulations demonstrated a sustained release of AmB for a longer period of time, with no rise in plasma creatinine and potassium levels.

Biological resistance of hydroxychloroquine for Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) Army instituted a vivax malaria chemoprophylaxis program (hydroxychloroquine [HCQ] 400 mg per week) in 1997 that was expanded to nearly 200,000 soldiers by 2007, raising concerns for the emergence of drug-resistant vivax malaria. Therefore, a study of whole blood HCQ concentrations for all malaria patients admitted to four ROK Army hospitals was conducted from June through September 2007. For all 142 vivax malaria patients enrolled, fevers returned to normal by Day 3 post-treatment and all thin blood films were negative for parasites by Day 7.

Determination of oseltamivir quality by colorimetric and liquid chromatographic methods.

We developed a colorimetric and chromatographic assay for oseltamivir to assess the authenticity of Tamiflu (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland) because of a growing concern about counterfeit oseltamivir.

Pharmacokinetics of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women in Western Kenya.

Background: Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is among the most commonly used antimalarial drugs during pregnancy, yet the pharmacokinetics of SP are unknown in pregnant women. HIV-infected (HIV(+)) women require more frequent doses of intermittent preventive therapy with SP than do HIV-uninfected (HIV(-)) women. We investigated whether this reflects their impaired immunity or an HIV-associated alteration in the disposition of SP.

In vitro antimicrobial effect of encapsulated vancomycin on internalized Staphylococcus aureus within endothelial cells.

Vancomycin (VCN) is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is effective in the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections, but mainly reserved for methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is, however, ineffective against intracellular bacteria and hence a particulate form of VCN would be required. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) microspheres of VCN with a mean particle size of 5 +/- 1.

Formulation, characterization and pharmacokinetic evaluation of gentamicin sulphate loaded albumin microspheres.

The aim of this investigation was to prepare and evaluate microsphere formulations of gentamicin using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a polymer matrix and glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker. Microsphere formulations of gentamicin were prepared using a spray dryer and were evaluated for product yield, encapsulation efficiency, particle size and in vitro drug release. The anti-microbial testing was performed using a modified Kirby-Bauer technique which showed that encapsulated gentamicin had an equivalent anti-microbial activity against E.

Formulation and testing of vancomycin loaded albumin microspheres prepared by spray-drying.

Microparticles are widely employed as carriers of biologically active compounds with many possible applications. For targeted drug delivery and sustained release purposes, biopolymers (i.e.

Use of refractometry and colorimetry as field methods to rapidly assess antimalarial drug quality.

The proliferation of counterfeit and poor-quality drugs is a major public health problem; especially in developing countries lacking adequate resources to effectively monitor their prevalence. Simple and affordable field methods provide a practical means of rapidly monitoring drug quality in circumstances where more advanced techniques are not available. Therefore, we have evaluated refractometry, colorimetry and a technique combining both processes as simple and accurate field assays to rapidly test the quality of the commonly available antimalarial drugs; artesunate, chloroquine, quinine, and sulfadoxine.

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the simultaneous determination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine from whole blood dried onto filter paper.

A method using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography is evaluated for the simultaneous determination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine from 0.1 ml of whole blood dried onto filter paper. Extraction recoveries are about 60% for both drugs.