Comparison of knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics and resistance, and antibiotics self-practicing between Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy students in Southern India.

Background: There is limited research on pharmacy specialization based differences with regards to usage of antibiotics.

Objective: To compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students about usage and resistance of antibiotics in Southern India.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving final year BPharm and PharmD students studying in two private institutions located in Andra Pradesh, India.

The impact of a pharmacist assisted clinic upon medication adherence and quality of life in mental health patients.

Objective: To determine if a pharmacist assisted psychiatric clinic would improve adherence to medications and quality of life over 6 months. The primary study endpoints were the change from baseline in Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), Brief Evaluation of Medication Influences and Beliefs (BEMIB), World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scales as well as hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Secondary endpoints included metabolic and physiologic parameters.

Maillard reactions in pharmaceutical formulations and human health.

This article reviews pharmaceutical and health implications of the nonenzymatic Maillard reaction, also referred to as browning or N-glycation. The spontaneous Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and amines was first reported by French scientist Louis Maillard in 1912; the Maillard reaction may also occur with other drugs. Hemoglobin A1c and chemically complex colored products that follow initial dextrose and amino acids adducts in parenteral nutrition solutions are the advanced maillard products most familiar to pharmacists.

Survey of pharmacists and physicians on drug interactions between combined oral contraceptives and broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Objective: To evaluate physician and pharmacist knowledge on potential drug interactions between combined oral contraceptives (COC) and broad-spectrum antibiotics and determine if any difference exists between responses.

Methods: Two hundred licensed retail pharmacists and 200 licensed family practice physicians in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland were mailed an anonymous survey between August 2007 and November 2007. The survey consisted of 3 short questions asking practitioners about their current opinion on drug interactions with COCs and whether an alternative form of contraception is needed for patients taking COC and concomitant broad-spectrum antibiotics.