Vitamin K2 in Health and Disease: A Clinical Perspective.

Vitamins are essential organic compounds that vary widely in chemical structure and are vital in small quantities for numerous biochemical and biological functions. They are critical for metabolism, growth, development and maintaining overall health. Vitamins are categorised into two groups: hydrophilic and lipophilic.

Evaluation of the type and frequency of extemporaneous formulations dispensed in hospital and community pharmacies.

Background: Extemporaneous compounding is practiced globally by pharmacists to allow for dispensing of personalised doses of medicinal products not commercially available. Extemporaneous compounding must result in a product which is safe and effective. However, data on formulation and expiry of extemporaneous products may not be readily available.

The experiences of migrant pharmacists: A phenomenographical study.

Objectives: To understand the experiences of migrant pharmacists in Ireland as they applied for recognition of their qualifications and registration with the national accrediting body.

Methods: Semi structured interviews were conducted with eight participants recruited using purposive sampling. Interview transcripts were subject to a phenomenographic study using a stepwise, inductive approach.

The biological responses of vitamin K2: A comprehensive review.

Vitamin K1 (VitK1) and Vitamin K2 (VitK2), two important naturally occurring micronutrients in the VitK family, found, respectively, in green leafy plants and algae (VitK1) and animal and fermented foods (VitK2). The present review explores the multiple biological functions of VitK2 from recently published and studies, including promotion of osteogenesis, prevention of calcification, relief of menopausal symptoms, enhancement of mitochondrial energy release, hepato- and neuro-protective effects, and possible use in treatment of coronavirus disease. The mechanisms of action associated with these biological effects are also explored.

Medication safety incidents associated with the remote delivery of primary care: a rapid review.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered rapid, fundamental changes, notably increased remote delivery of primary care. While the impact of these changes on medication safety is not yet fully understood, research conducted before the pandemic may provide evidence for possible consequences. To examine the published literature on medication safety incidents associated with the remote delivery of primary care, with a focus on telemedicine and electronic prescribing.

Supporting pharmacy students' preparation for an entry-to-practice OSCE using video cases.

Background And Purpose: Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are widely used, including in licensure examinations. OSCEs assess diverse skills in a structured manner, but can be stressful for students and have a significant organisational burden for faculty. Case-based video OSCE preparation resources were developed for students preparing for a licensure OSCE.

Modulation of Amyloid-β and Tau in Alzheimer's Disease Plasma Neuronal-Derived Extracellular Vesicles by Cerebrolysin® and Donepezil.

Background: Plasma neuronal-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEV) contain proteins of pathological, diagnostic, and therapeutic relevance.

Objective: We investigated the associations of six plasma NDEV markers with Alzheimer's disease (AD) severity, cognition and functioning, and changes in these biomarkers after Cerebrolysin®, donepezil, and a combination therapy in AD.

Methods: Plasma NDEV levels of Aβ42, total tau, P-T181-tau, P-S393-tau, neurogranin, and REST were determined in: 1) 116 mild to advanced AD patients and in 20 control subjects; 2) 110 AD patients treated with Cerebrolysin®, donepezil, or combination therapy in a randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Changes to primary care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived impact on medication safety: A survey study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the delivery of primary care around the world. In Ireland, the use of technologies such as virtual consultations and the electronic transfer of prescriptions became widespread in order to deliver care to patients while minimising infection risk. The impact of these changes on medication safety is not yet known.

Chemical fingerprinting of the Brazilian medicinal plant (R. Br.) Less. (Asteraceae) collected at different altitudes.

(R. Br.) Less.

Educating pharmacy students through a pandemic: Reflecting on our COVID-19 experience.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy education worldwide has been immense, affecting students, educators and regulatory agencies. Pharmacy programmes have had to rapidly adapt in their delivery of education, maintaining standards while also ensuring the safety of all stakeholders. In this commentary, we describe the challenges, compromises and solutions adopted by our institution throughout the pandemic, the lessons learnt, adaptive measures taken, and strategies to develop and future-proof our curricula.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 2,2-Dimethylthiochromanones as Anti-Leishmanial Agents.

Within this work, we describe the design and synthesis of a range of novel thiochromanones based on natural products reported to possess anti-leishmanial action, and their synthetic derivatives. All compounds were elaborated via the key intermediate 2,2,6-trimethoxythiochromanone, which was modified at the benzylic position to afford various ester, amine and amide analogues, substituted by chains of varying lipophilicity. Upon testing in , IC values revealed the most potent compounds to be phenylalkenyl and haloalkyl amides and , with IC values of 10.

Plasma Levels of Neuron- and Astrocyte-Derived Exosomal Amyloid Beta1-42, Amyloid Beta1-40, and Phosphorylated Tau Levels in Schizophrenia Patients and Non-psychiatric Comparison Subjects: Relationships With Cognitive Functioning and Psychopathology.

Cognitive deficits in people with schizophrenia (PWS) are a major predictor of disability and functioning, yet the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. A possible role of amyloid and tau biomarkers (hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease) is still speculative in schizophrenia. Exosomes or extracellular vesicles, involved with cell-to-cell communication and waste removal, can be used to assay brain-based proteins from peripheral blood.

Investigation of the Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Stability of Losartan Potassium 5 mg/mL Extemporaneous Oral Liquid Suspension.

Extemporaneous oral liquid preparations are commonly used when there is no commercially available dosage form for adjustable dosing. In most cases, there is a lack of stability data to allow for an accurately assigned shelf life and storage conditions to give greater confidence of product safety and efficacy over its shelf life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical, chemical and microbiological stability of an extemporaneous oral liquid suspension of losartan potassium, 5 mg/mL, used to treat paediatric hypertension in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Ireland.

Evaluation of Various Solvent Extracts of (Dennst.) Alston Leaves, a Bangladeshi Traditional Medicine Used for the Treatment of Diarrhea.

(TL) is an important ethnic medicine of Bangladesh used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. Hence, current study has been designed to characterize the antidiarrheal (in vivo) and cytotoxic (in vitro) effects of . A crude extract was prepared with methanol (MTL) and further partitioned into -hexane (NTL), dichloromethane (DTL), and -butanol (BTL) fractions.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel chromanone and quinolinone analogues of uniflorol as anti-leishmanial agents.

Within this work, we describe the design and synthesis of a range of novel chromanones and quinolinones, based on natural products reported to possess anti-leishmanial action. The core heterocycles were obtained either via classical or ionic liquid mediated Kabbe condensation in the case of chromanones, or aqueous Sonogashira based alkynylation followed by acid-catalysed cyclisation in the case of quinolinones. Upon testing in promastigotes, axenic amastigotes and -infected macrophages, compound was identified as displaying interesting activity, inhibiting axenic amastigotes and intracellular amastigotes with ICs of 25.

Qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical study of the Pangkhua community in Bilaichari Upazilla, Rangamati District, Bangladesh.

Background: The present study documents the ethnomedicinal knowledge among the traditional healers of the Pangkhua indigenous community of Bangladesh. The documented data from this area was quantitatively analyzed for the first time. We aimed to record ethnomedicinal information from both the traditional healers and also the elderly men and women of the community, in order to compile and document all available information concerning plant use and preserve it for the coming generations.

Evaluation of anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of Holigarna caustica (Dennst.) Oken leaves.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Holigarna caustica (Dennst.) is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of painful conditions such as eye irritation, inflammation, arthritis, skin diseases, cuts and wounds.

Aim Of The Study: The present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of H.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel 2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-one based chalcones as cytotoxic agents.

We designed and synthesised a series of novel chalcones, incorporating the heterocyclic framework of 2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-quinolinone, which was prepared via Sonogashira coupling of a substituted orthoaniline under aqueous conditions using Pd catalysis followed by acid-mediated cyclisation. The compounds were screened against the NCI-N87 and DLD-1 cancer cell lines, with most compounds showing low micromolar cytotoxic activity.

Quantitative Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used by Indigenous Communities in the Bandarban District of Bangladesh.

This study documents information on significant ethnomedicinal plants, which was collected from the traditional healers of three indigenous communities of Bangladesh. The documented data were quantitatively analyzed for the first time in this area. The information was obtained through open-ended, semi-structured questionnaires.

Popular medicinal uses of Calea uniflora Less. (Asteraceae) and its contribution to the study of Brazilian medicinal plants.

Calea uniflora Less. is widely used in southern Santa Catarina (Brazil), but there are no scientific studies which support its use. Then, this study was proposed to determine of the percentage use of C.

Mast cell stabilisers.

Mast cells play a critical role in type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. Indeed, mast cell mediators are implicated in many different conditions including allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, psoriasis, mastocytosis and the progression of many different cancers. Thus, there is intense interest in the development of agents which prevent mast cell mediator release or which inhibit the actions of such mediators once released into the environment of the cell.

High-throughput methods for screening liposome-macrophage cell interaction.

Carriers are often an essential element of drug delivery, bestowing attributes to their cargo such as biocompatibility, enhanced delivery, extended half-life and efficacy as well as mediating specific targeting at a tissue, cell or intracellular level. Liposomes and lipid-based carriers have been investigated for decades for this purpose, many achieving clinical approval including products such as Doxil® and Myocet™. Large-scale compound screens are routinely carried out in the field of drug discovery; however, less work has been done on harnessing high-throughput methods for carrier material screening.

Interprofessional ethics and professionalism debates: findings from a study involving physiotherapy and pharmacy students.

Ethics is a core component of healthcare curricula and may provide ideal content for interprofessional education (IPE). An IPE debate in ethics and professionalism was developed for first year undergraduate pharmacy and physiotherapy students. A controlled "before-and-after" study was conducted.

Synthesis and evaluation of phenoxyoxazaphospholidine, phenoxyoxazaphosphinane, and benzodioxaphosphininamine sulfides and related compounds as potential anti-malarial agents.

A series of phenoxyoxazaphospholidine, phenoxyoxazaphosphinane and benzodioxaphosphininamine sulfides and related cyclic organophosphorus compounds based on the lead anti-tubulin herbicides amiprophos methyl and butamifos were synthesised and evaluated for anti-malarial activity. Of these compounds, while none of the phenoxyoxazaphospholidines, phenoxyoxazaphosphinanes or benzodioxaphosphininamine sulphides were more potent than APM, phosphorothioamidate 30, a dual compound also bearing an aminoquinoline motif, showed promising activity against Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 0.038 μM) and warrants further study.