International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology
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Antibiotic prescription assessment in geriatrics using anatomical therapeutic chemical/defined daily dose classification and World Health Organization-essential medicines list AWaRe guidelines: a prospective and observational study
Full text linkBackground: Geriatric patients are individuals with compromised overall functioning. The objective of this study was to assess the prescribing pattern and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the prescribed antibiotics.
Methods: The prescribed antibiotics were grouped using anatomical therapeutic chemical classification (ATC) and World Health Organization defined daily dose (WHO DDD)/100-bed days was calculated to analyse consumed antibiotics. The neutrophils and lymphocyte count before and after therapy was used to assess the therapeutic efficacy.
Results: Disease frequency was categorised using the International classification of disease (ICD-11) which reported 126 diseases, with 50 cases grouped under respiratory system. Selection of antibiotic was mainly definitive (37.14%) with dual therapy (55.71%) and with antibiotic sensitivity test (61.43%). Cephalosporins, was the most prescribed antibiotic class, specifically ceftriaxone. For every 100 bed days, 6.7 DDD of antibiotics were consumed in which 103 antibiotics were administered via intravenous route and 42 oral routes. The deviation of prescribed daily dose (PDD) from the DDD was performed for prescribed antibiotics of varying doses. Significant percentage deviation was observed for azithromycin (-70%) and piperacillin+tazobactam (-4.79%). The negative sign of the deviation indicates that the mean PDDs were higher than their respective WHO DDD. Furthermore, 81.38% of consumed antibiotic was from watch category of WHO essential medicine list (EML). Interestingly, the decrease in neutrophils and increase in lymphocytes prove the therapeutic efficacy of antibiotics.
Conclusions: Watch antibiotics was the most prescribed and therapeutic efficacy was frequent with dual antibiotics therapy and in monotherapy of piperacillin-tazobactam
Drug utilization patterns and adherence in patients on systemic and topical medications for the treatment of acne vulgaris
Full text linkBackground: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous units, often causing psychosocial distress and posing a treatment challenge due to poor medication adherence. This study aimed to assess drug utilization patterns and adherence among acne vulgaris patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Dermatology Department, in collaboration with the Pharmacology Department, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad. A total of 296 prescriptions were collected between November 2022 and July 2023. Patients aged 15–35 years with all grades of acne on treatment for at least six months were included; pregnant women and those with hypertension or diabetes were excluded. Drug use patterns and adherence were analyzed.
Results: Across 296 prescriptions, 852 drugs were prescribed (294 oral, 558 topical), averaging 2.87 drugs per prescription. Fixed-dose combinations were used in 210 cases, and polypharmacy was observed in 92.56% of prescriptions. Doxycycline (68.1%) was the most common oral drug, while salicylic acid + glycolic acid (47.6%) and clindamycin + retinoic acid (33.4%) were common topicals. Grade I acne predominated in topical-only users, while grade II was more common in those on combination therapy. Combination therapy showed better adherence (74 versus 67 days), improved clinical outcomes (lower IGA scores), stronger patient-doctor relationships (higher PDDR scores), and more favorable skin pH.
Conclusions: Combination therapy is commonly used for moderate acne and is associated with improved adherence, clinical outcomes, and patient engagement, highlighting the benefits of integrated treatment approaches
Knowledge, attitude and practice study on pharmacovigilance among nursing students and staff before and after a training session at a tertiary care hospital in India
Full text linkBackground: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) contribute to significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Pharmacovigilance is essential for detecting and preventing ADRs in which nurses can play a key role. However, their involvement is very limited in this domain. The study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) among nursing students and staff regarding pharmacovigilance and the impact of a structured training session on them.
Methods: A quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Nursing students and staff completed a pre-validated questionnaire before and after a training session covering pharmacovigilance concepts and ADR reporting. Pre and post session responses were compared using basic statistics.
Results: Seventy participants (43 students, 27 staff) completed the study in which 54.3% reported no prior pharmacovigilance training. Post-training, the knowledge and awareness of ADR reporting procedures increased, with a positive attitude even before the session. The percentage recognizing ADR reporting as a nursing responsibility increased to 98.5%. While there were concerns of increased workload and legal consequences, 94.3% expressed interest in further training.
Conclusions: Training and awareness activity effectively increased KAP on pharmacovigilance among nurses. While knowledge and attitude improved, barriers exist for ADR reporting. Integrating pharmacovigilance into nursing education and addressing systemic challenges will positively impact drug safety awareness and monitoring. This study provides empirical evidence on the impact of focused training, supporting the development of strategies to improve pharmacovigilance awareness and reporting among nursing professionals
The rising global burden of osteoporosis: insights into prevalence, fracture rates, and future trends
Full text linkOsteoporosis is a global health concern, marked by reduced bone density and increased fracture of risk, which unfavorably impacts quality of life and results substantial burdens on healthcare systems. This condition often progresses asymptomatically, with fractures, functional decline, and rise in mortality emerging in advanced stages. However, projections indicate that by 2050, over 50% of global osteoporotic fractures will occur in Asia, highlighting the urgency for targeted interventions. Early detection is very crucial for mitigating osteoporosis-associated morbidity. Screening programs enable timely identification of at-risk individuals, may facilitating interventions such as pharmacological therapy and lifestyle modifications that significantly lower the fracture incidence. Furthermore, community-based awareness campaigns may be playing a critical role in promoting bone health by encouraging sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D supplement, in-addition regular to do physical activity. A life-course approach to bone health is essential. In postmenopausal women, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, lifestyle strategies are imperative for decline bone loss and preventing bone fractures. To achieve optimal bone mineral density (BMD) and postpone the onset of disease, premenopausal women must receive early preventive measure care and proper education. However, substantial rise in the prevalence of osteoporosis worldwide suggests to improve awareness among the public, expand access to healthcare, and create all-encompassing prevention and management plans. In order to lessen the significant societal and economic effects of this silent epidemic, multidisciplinary collaboration and continuing public health initiatives are essential
Evolving role of clinical pharmacists in assessment of clinical and modern health care services
Full text linkClinical pharmacy is a pharmacy profession in which clinical pharmacists as health care professionals helps and provide direct patient care with the medications. Clinical pharmacists work in many settings, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and community pharmacies. Clinical pharmacists work directly with patients in a variety of ways. They utilise their understanding of pharmaceuticals (including dose, drug interactions, side effects, cost-effectiveness, and so on) to assess if a medication plan is appropriate for their patients. Patient education and counselling on effective pharmaceutical usage are critical components of pharmacists' increasingly important duties. Pharmacists can detect and address any drug-related issues during counselling, as well as offer information that enhances patients' treatment compliance and raises the standard of care. Pharmacists have a critical role in detecting, identifying, preventing, and managing adverse drug reactions. Pharmacists play a crucial role in reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which can lead to product withdrawal or label modifications. Clinical pharmacist can improve medication review, identify drug-related issues, provide treatment suggestions, and promote medication compliance. Pharmacists can also help enhance drug safety by working with other healthcare providers to create patient-centered medication management regimens. In this position, chemists can analyse prescription histories, identify potential drug-related issues, and provide recommendations to optimise medication management
Antibiotics in national essential medicine list: alignment with WHO-AWaRe framework in Bangladesh and South Asian perspectives
Full text linkThe list of essential medicines varies between countries due to several important reasons. Different countries have different health priorities. For example, malaria or tuberculosis is a major concern in many African and Asian countries, so antimalarial and antitubercular drugs are essential there, while they are less relevant in countries where malaria is rare. Health system capacity is an important factor to consider as some medicines require special storage (like refrigeration), trained professionals to administer, or advanced diagnostic tools. Countries with limited healthcare infrastructure may not include such medicines on their essential lists. Sometimes economic factors like budget constraints influence what medicines a country can afford to provide widely. Lower-income countries may prioritize low-cost, high-impact drugs over expensive treatments. Local regulations and national health policies, medicine approval processes, import laws vary from country to country. A drug considered essential and approved in one country may not be legally available in another. Moreover, cultural and social factors like public perception, traditional medicine practices, and cultural attitudes toward certain treatments can influence what’s considered essential for that population. Countries with domestic pharmaceutical industries may prioritize medicines they can produce locally, ensuring consistent supply. While countries often refer to the World Health Organisation (WHO) model list of essential medicines, they adapt it to local needs, sometimes adding or omitting drugs based on national contexts
Comparison of conjunctival autograft and amniotic membrane graft in reducing pterygium-induced corneal astigmatism
Full text linkBackground: Pterygium is a common ocular surface disorder that not only affects cosmesis but also induces corneal astigmatism, leading to visual impairment. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of CAG and AMG in reducing pterygium-induced corneal astigmatism and to evaluate postoperative complications associated with each technique.
Methods: A prospective, comparative study was conducted on 60 patients with primary pterygium at the Upgraded Department of Ophthalmology, GMC, Jammu, from Oct.2016 to April 2017. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo pterygium excision followed by either CAG/AMG. Preoperative and postoperative assessments were conducted at multiple intervals up to six months.
Results: Preoperatively, the mean pterygium size was similar in both groups. Postoperatively, corneal astigmatism showed a progressive decline in both groups. By the first postoperative day, astigmatism significantly decreased (p<0.001), with further reductions at one week (p<0.0001). At one month, the conjunctival autograft group demonstrated a slightly greater reduction (0.60±0.61 D) compared to the amniotic membrane group (0.84±0.68 D). By three months, astigmatism remained stable at 0.62±0.62 D and 0.98±0.72 D, respectively. However, the intergroup difference was not statistically significant at any time point (p>0.05), indicating comparable efficacy in postoperative corneal curvature improvement. Postoperative complications were more frequent in the conjunctival autograft group, with significantly higher conjunctival hyperemia (63% vs. 26%, p=0.003), while other complications were comparable between groups.
Conclusions: Both conjunctival autograft and amniotic membrane graft effectively reduced corneal astigmatism following pterygium excision.
Potential restorative effect of silymarin on liver histoarchitecture on paracetamol-induced in hepatotoxicity, in adult albino rats
Full text linkBackground: Paracetamol is one of the most common pain relievers you’ll find in any medicine cabinet. Worldwide its often used for fevers or everyday aches without a second thought. But while it’s generally safe, taking too much can seriously harm the liver, something many might not realize. Otherwise, natural remedies offer potential remedies like silymarin, an extract from milk thistle. This herbal compound isn’t just a supplement; studies suggest it fights oxidative stress and even helps repair damaged cells. Objective of this study was to determine the histo-restorative effects of different doses of silymarin milk thistle on liver histo-architecture on paracetamol-induced hepato-toxicity among adult albino rats.
Methods: A total of 24 rats, splitting them into four groups. One group got a high, toxic dose of paracetamol alone; another stayed untreated as a control. The remaining rats were all given paracetamol first to induce liver injury, then divided into three subgroups receiving low, medium, or high doses of silymarin. After the treatment period, their liver tissues were extracted and studied under a microscope, using standard staining techniques to assess any recovery.
Results: High dose of paracetamol induced liver toxicity. Upon administration of high dose of silymarin milk thistle, there was histo-restoration of liver architecture with evenly distribution of hepatocytes and reduction and vacuolation of the central vein in relation to the control group.
Conclusions: These findings showed that high dose (600 mg/kbwt) of silymarin milk thistle was found to have restorative effects and restored the liver histo-architecture to near normal
Outcome measures for determining treatment efficacy in radiculopathy
Full text linkRadiculopathy is a neurological disorder caused by any pathology affecting the nerve roots of peripheral nerve system, commonly manifested by pain, paresthesia and motor weakness. Lumbosacral radiculopathy, commonly referred to as low back pain, and cervical radiculopathy, referred to as neck pain, are the two most common forms of the condition. Although one of the main goals of treatment is pain alleviation, this does not always indicate that a patient has entirely recovered. Even after their pain subsides, many patients still struggle with everyday activities and emotional wellbeing. Patient reported outcomes are therefore used to determine if the treatment is effective in terms of functional quality of life of the patient. There are several scales and questionnaires available to evaluate pain and functional disability in both cervical and lumbar radiculopathies. By using these measures, efficacy of treatment may be evaluated more precisely and patient care is enhanced
In vitro evaluation of antioxidant property of ethanolic extract of Zea mays var. saccharata
Full text linkBackground: Antioxidants play a crucial role in protecting against oxidative stress, which contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. Corn (Zea mays) is widely consumed and contains bioactive phytochemicals, but its antioxidant potential is not well established.
Methods: This was an in vitro experimental study conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India, during June to July 2025. Ethanolic extract of fresh corn kernels was prepared by cold maceration. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) assay and DPPH radical scavenging assay across concentrations of 20–100 µg/ml. Results were compared with standard antioxidants (ascorbic acid and BHT).
Results: The yield of dried ethanolic extract was 2.5 g from 50 g kernels. TAC showed a dose-dependent increase in activity, while DPPH scavenging ranged from 0% to 11.6%, significantly lower than the BHT standard (63–100%).
Conclusions: The ethanolic extract of Zea mays demonstrated moderate antioxidant potential, supporting its role as a natural source of antioxidants. Further isolation of active phytochemicals and in vivo studies are recommended