Perceptions and experiences of community pharmacists with off-label prescribing in the pediatric population.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate and provide insight into the prevalence and patterns of off-label drug use in the pediatric population from the perspective of community pharmacists, addressing the existing data gap in a developing setting.

Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Albanian community pharmacists in June 2021. The online administered survey explored the participants' demographic details, perceptions, and experiences with off-label prescriptions in pediatric patients.

Users' Knowledge About Adverse Effects of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Tirana, Albania.

Aim: To assess the level of knowledge of the adult users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regarding their side effects and the socio-demographic factors associated with the use of these drugs in the adult population of Albania.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including a representative sample of 199 individuals aged ≥18 years (77% women; overall mean age: 30.3±10.

Formation, Physicochemical Characterization, and Thermodynamic Stability of the Amorphous State of Drugs and Excipients.

Drugs and excipients used for pharmaceutical applications generally exist in the solid (crystalline or amorphous) state, more rarely as liquid materials. In some cases, according to the physicochemical nature of the molecule, or as a consequence of specific technological processes, a compound may exist exclusively in the amorphous state. In other cases, as a consequence of specific treatments (freezing and spray drying, melting and co-melting, grinding and compression), the crystalline form may convert into a completely or partially amorphous form.

Cost-Effectiveness of Thrombolytic Therapy, Compared with Anticoagulants Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Albania.

Aim: The study aim is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of thrombolytic treatment in acute MI comparing with anticoagulants therapy and between each other thrombolytic (SK, r-Pa).

Material And Methods: We used a prospective registry of all patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction in intensive care units in Tirana. The average drugs cost was calculated for the hospitalization period in Albanian money (ALL).

Antibiotic use in Albania between 2011 and 2012.

Introduction: Health institutions in Albania have recently reported an increase in antibiotic misuse and microbial resistance. Until now, there have been no comprehensive studies that analyzed the overall use of antibiotics in Albania. The aim of this study was to analyze the overall antibiotic use in Albania between 2011 and 2012, using standardized methodology of measurement, based on World Health Organization guidelines.

Validation of the parental knowledge and attitude towards antibiotic usage and resistance among children in Tetovo, the Republic of Macedonia.

Objective: This study sought to explore the knowledge and attitudes of parents on the use of antibiotics among children that could serve as baseline data and provide further insight in planning and developing strategies for local health education purposes.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 500 parents who attended community pharmacies in Tetovo, Republic of Macedonia, was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire from October 2013 to January 2014. The questionnaire included demographics, knowledge and attitude statements of parents towards antibiotics.

Influence of pH and method of crystallization on the solid physical form of indomethacin.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pH and method of crystallization on the solid physical form of indomethacin (IDM). IDM, a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug poorly soluble in water, underwent two different crystallization methods: crystallization by solvent evaporation under reduced pressure at 50.0°C (method A), and crystallization by cooling of solution from 50.

Permeation and skin retention of quercetin from microemulsions containing Transcutol® P.

A microemulsion for the cutaneous release of quercetin was prepared. An aqueous phase, containing 40% Transcutol® P as solubilizing agent and permeation enhancer, was emulsified with Labrafil® as oil phase and Labrasol®/Capryol™ 90 as Solvent/Co-solvent. Quercetin was dissolved in the microemulsion at the concentration of 1%.

Characterization of nicergoline polymorphs crystallized in several organic solvents.

Nicergoline (NIC), a poorly water-soluble semisynthetic ergot derivative, was crystallized from several organic solvents, obtaining two different polymorphic forms, the triclinic form I and the orthorhombic form II. NIC samples were then characterized by several techniques such as (13)C cross-polarization magic angle spinning solid-state spectroscopy, room-temperature and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and by analysis of weight loss, solvent content, powder density, morphology, and particle size. Solubility and intrinsic dissolution rates determined for the two polymorphic forms in water and hydrochloride solutions (HCl 0.

Influence of relative humidity on the interaction between different aryl propionic acid derivatives and poly(vinylpyrrolydone) K30: evaluation of the effect on drug bioavailability.

The present work assessed the physical interactions between several aryl propionic acid derivatives and polyvinyl(pyrrolidone) K30 (PVP), stored together at 298+/-0.5K at different relative humidities (RH 55, 75 and 86%). Results were compared to those obtained at low RH (22%), published in a previous paper.

Compression behaviour of anhydrous and hydrate forms of sodium naproxen.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the technological properties and the compression behaviour of the anhydrous and hydrate solid forms of sodium naproxen. Among the hydrates, the following forms were studied: the monohydrate (MSN), obtained by dehydrating a dihydrated form (DSN) in each turn obtained by exposing the anhydrous form at 55% RH; a dihydrated form (CSN) obtained by crystallizing sodium naproxen from water, the tetrahydrated form (TSN) obtained by exposing the anhydrous form at 75% RH. The physico-chemical (crystalline form and water content), the micromeritic (crystal morphology and particle size) and the mechanical properties (Carr's index, apparent particle density, compression behaviour, elastic recovery and strength of compact) were evaluated.

Differences in the interaction between aryl propionic acid derivatives and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) K30: A multi-methodological approach.

The present work aims at the application of several methods to explain differences in the physical interaction of some aryl propionic acid derivatives (ibuprofen [IBP], ketoprofen [KET], flurbiprofen [FLU], naproxen [NAP], fenbufen [FEN]) with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) K30, stored together at 298 +/- 0.5 K and 22% RH. X-ray powder diffractometry and (13)C-solid state NMR demonstrated that IBP was able to strongly interact with the polymer, while weak interaction was observed for KET, FLU, NAP, and the least for FEN.

Influence of crystal hydration on the mechanical properties of sodium naproxen.

The aim of this work is to establish a correlation between water uptake by anhydrous sodium naproxen (ASN) at two different relative humidities and modifications in tableting and densification behaviour under hydration. Water uptake was evaluated at different relative humidities. Models for the hydration kinetics of ASN at 55% and 86%, corresponding to the formation of the dihydrated and tetrahydrated forms, respectively, were evaluated assuming Eyring's dependence on temperature.

Physico-chemical and technological properties of sodium naproxen granules prepared in a high-shear mixer-granulator.

In the present work, authors produced tablets of anhydrous sodium naproxen by wet granulation using a high-shear mixer-granulator. Drug hydrated to the tetrahydrated form, as observed by X-ray powder diffractometry. After wet granulation, authors then performed two different drying procedures, obtaining granules of different water content and crystallographic characteristics.

Validation of an HPLC-MS method for rociverine tablet dissolution analysis.

The aim of this work was to develop and validate a method to assess the dissolution behaviour of rociverine sugar-coated tablets. In our laboratories, an HPLC-MS in reverse phase method of analysis was developed for the dosage of unknown rociverine solution. This analytical method was applied to determine the dissolution rate of rociverine tablets produced by the industrial procedure, because there is no official method description.

The role of several l-HPCs in preventing tablet capping during direct compression of metronidazole.

Several low-hydroxypropyl cellulose (l-HPC) derivatives (LH-11, 21, 22, 31, and 32) differing in granulometric particle size or in hydroxypropyl content were considered in the present study. The l-HPC grades were characterized as pure powders, in order to determine both compression and densification behavior, in presence or in absence of magnesium stearate as lubricant, and then, were physically mixed in different proportions with metronidazole, which was also previously characterized as pure powder. The tabletability and compressibility of these binary mixtures were then evaluated, in presence or in absence magnesium stearate as lubricant at two different compression speeds (20 and 70 mm/sec).

Influence of metronidazole particle properties on granules prepared in a high-shear mixer-granulator.

Metronidazole is a good example of high-dose drug substance with poor granulating and tableting properties. Tablets are generally produced by liquid granulation; however, the technological process failure is quite frequent. In order to verify how the metronidazole particle characteristics can influence granule properties, three metronidazole batches differing for crystal habit, mean particle size, BET surface area and wettability were selected, primarily designed according to their different elongation ratio: needle-shaped, stick-shaped, and isodimensional.