Social media marketing of pharmacies across the Republic of North Macedonia

Internet marketing or digital marketing, is the fastest growing type of promotion for brands and companies to connect with potential customers. There are as many specializations within digital marketing as there are ways of interacting using digital media. This study evaluates and describes the usage of social media marketing as most common type of digital marketing used for self-promotion of the pharmacy sector in the Republic of North Macedonia. Social media marketing is raising brand awareness by engaging people in discussion online. The most popular platforms for social media marketing are Facebook and Instagram. For the purpose of the analysis, data from social network profiles Facebook and Instagram and from the websites of the 1000 pharmacies is used. This data includes: profile content, frequency of posts of health related articles and products, presence of relevant information and links to sites from which the content is shared, frequency of posting offers and sales at the pharmacy. The conducted research shows that the use of Internet as a digital marketing tool in Republic of North Macedonia is not sufficiently developed, especially when websites are used as a marketing tool for promotion of the pharmacy business and their services. The results show that Facebook as social media is used most frequently for posting health advices, promotion of new products and answering customer’s questions. Promotion of the professional pharmaceutical services is lower than the promotion of products. This leads to insufficient data for the implementation of the principles of evidence-based medicine in daily practice. Keywords: Internet marketing, digital marketing, social media marketing, promotion, pharmacies, Facebook, Instagram, website

The relevance of nutrition as a step forward to combat COVID-19

A new type of single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the coronavirus’s family named SARS-CoV-2 has recently appeared, with fast-growing human to human transmissions. This virus has posed an important global health threat. Many nutrients can support the immune system and help in preventing or in ameliorating the response to viral infections. In the case of COVID-19, the unique pathophysiology of the coronavirus needs to be understood, in order to determine whether any potential nutrition intervention is indicated. A literature survey that comprised of ongoing research was conducted to evaluate the benefits of the bioactives present in food, such as: plant-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics, against the mechanisms of the COVID-19 infection. Although no food is yet confirmed to help in the prevention or in the treatment of the coronavirus transmission alone, exploring the possible implications of nutrition-infection interrelationships is of utmost importance. Well-designed and controlled clinical studies are emerging to explain whether the higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods, unsaturated fatty acids, and other natural functional foods may aid in combating the COVID-19 infection. Meanwhile, a healthy and balanced diet is traditionally practised in viral infections that support the healthy gut microbiota profile. The human immune system function should be a vital prophylactic measure, along with adequate physical activities and sleeping habits. The consumption of immune-supportive nutrients is also encouraged in the elderly, comorbid, and in the immune-compromised as well as in malnourished individuals, in order to minimise the complications and the negative outcomes that are associated with the COVID-19 disease. Keywords: COVID-19 nutrition, mаcronutrients, micronutrients, bioactive compounds, malnutrition

Optimization of self-emulsifying drug delivery system of cefuroxime axetil

Overcoming solubility problems is the greatest challenge during formulation of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (API’s) into oral solid dosage forms. Different formulation approaches were used to surpass this problem and enhance their solubility in the gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, in order to achieve a faster dissolution and better absorption, which will directly influence their therapeutic effect. In this paper, an evaluation of the potential of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) to improve the solubility of the active ingredient cefuroxime axetil (CA) was done. Screening of the solubility of the API in different excipients was done, and Tween 80, PEG 400, and Olive oil as a surfactant, co-solvent, and oil, respectively, were chosen as the most convenient system constituents. An optimal self-emulsification and solubilization ability of this system was assessed using mixture experimental design statistical tools based on the response surface methodology (RSM). The prepared CA-SEDDS were evaluated for droplet size (d10, d50, d90 in µm), droplet size distribution (Span factor), and absorbance. As a complementary approach, for better representation of the non-linear relationship between the formulation compositions and the observed dispersion characteristics an artificial neural network (ANN) was used. Optimal formulation that consists of 10% (w/w) Tween 80 as surfactant, 80% (w/w) PEG 400 as co-solvent and 10% (w/w) Olive oil, was obtained. Both, mixture experimental design and ANN were combined for a comprehensive evaluation of CA-SEDDS and the obtained results suggested that formulation of SEDDS is a useful approach for improving the solubility of the CA. Keywords: self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), cefuroxime axetil, design of experiment, artificial neural network (ANN)

Effect of fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment on DMFT-index

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in dental status during fixed orthodontic treatment. A total of 60 patients with diagnosed malocclusion were included. Subjects were divided in 3 groups (20 subjects in each group). The first group was treated with dental cream GC Tooth Mousse, and the second group with Fluorogal - solution with a low concentration of fluoride (0.05% F). Control group comprised 20 patients. All subjects received precise instructions for oral hygiene and exclusion of dietary intake before fixed orthodontic appliance was placed and during each control. In our study clinical oral health status (DMFT-index) was registered before and at the end of the orthodontic treatment. The subjects treated with dental cream GC Tooth Mousse at the end of the orthodontic treatment had increased DMFT-index 5.85 in comparison to the beginning of the treatment, where the average value of the index was 5.25 (however, the difference was not statistically significant). A statistically significant difference between medium values of the DMFT-index before and after the orthodontic treatment was detected in the control group. The results of this study show that DMFT-index increased in a group of dental patients undergoing orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances. The patients must follow good instructions, motivation, and control of oral hygiene during the treatment. Key words: carious lesions, fixed orthodontic appliance

Regulatory Аffairs in the pharmaceutical industry – insights

The Regulatory Affairs as a field in the pharmaceutical industry has a lot of potential for individual professional growth. Formerly viewed as a clerical profession, growing requirements from competent authorities for a more regulated pharmaceutical industry resulted in growing interest and demand for regulatory proffessionals. The pharmacists working in a modern regulatory department unit are today viewed as key figures in obtaining the company’s goals and objectives. Their expertise can undoubtedly contribute to improving the strategy for the eventual market launch of a pharmaceutical product and provide for a better overall process in developing new products as well as maintaining ones that are already registered. In this essay we delve inside the image surrounding this department, and try to bring forward what is actually behind it. We then look inside the organizational structure and everyday activities of a regulatory department, and offer our thoughts into making the processes in that department more efficient consulting the latest insights from leading experts on this subject. Ultimately, we try to include the application of technological advancements into the picture and what their contribution would mean for managing information and thus an efficient way of functioning in such departments. Keywords: Regulatory Affairs, technology, information, organization, efficient