Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Osteoporosis and its Risk Factors among Female University Students in Mirpur Azad Kashmir: A Questionnaire Based Cross Sectional Study

To assess the knowledge and awareness of osteoporosis and its risk factors among female university students in Mirpur Azad Kashmir. A cross-sectional study was carried out in female university students in Mirpur Azad Kashmir using a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge and awareness of osteoporosis was assessed using OKAT (Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool) and descriptive analysis by using SPSS (version 25). Pearson Chi-Square test (p < 0.05) was used to assess significance.Mean age of the participants was 22.45 + 1.279 years. Mean total score was 11.86 + 3.3. The overall score of knowledge was moderate (68.8%). There was a significantly high difference about risk factors, complications, and preventive measures of osteoporosis between the two groups (p = 0.000). Discipline and family history of disease were significantly associated with overall knowledge score. This study concluded that overall knowledge of osteoporosis among female students was moderate. A well-structured education programs must be added to curriculum to prevent osteoporosis in later stages.

Nanotechnology: A New Hope for the Cure of Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Bone and cartilage diseases especially osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are rapidly prevailing both in men and women particularly due to increase in life expectancies. Different treatments are being proposed using conventional drugs and their modifications. But the side effects associated with such drugs and difficulty in treatment strategies due to multifactorial nature of such diseases and difficulty in drug delivery led the researchers towards the development of more advanced technologies for the treatment purpose. Nanotechnology is a promising strategy for treating such diseases that suppresses the progression of such diseases providing causal treatment. In this review, we will summarize the recent nano-based targeted and non-targeted delivery systems using various types of nanoparticles, nanogels, nanocomplexes, nanocarriers, hydrogels etc. for the efficient delivery of drugs and other therapeutic agents like mRNA, genes, insulin-growth factors etc. Moreover, role of nanoparticles for bone and cartilage repair in tissue engineering will also be discussed.

Evaluation of Prescribing Pattern in Mirpur Azad Kashmir using who Prescribing Indicators

Promotion of rational use of drugs in developing countries is necessary for improving the quality of life. Therefore, evaluation of drug use pattern using World Health Organization (WHO) indicators is necessary for assessment of rational use of drugs. 200 prescriptions were randomly collected from different pharmacies in Mirpur and evaluated to measure prescribing indicators. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 25). Average count of drugs prescribed per prescription was 3.8 (S.D+ 2.01). Percentage of antibiotics prescribed, and injections prescribed per prescription was 42% (n=84) and 16% (n=32) respectively. The percentage of drugs prescribed from Essential Drugs List was 90.5%. It was concluded that prescribing pattern was far away from the standard WHO requirements. Greater number of drugs and overuse of antibiotics focused on close monitoring and regulation of prescribing pattern. Steps should be taken to encourage the rational use of drugs to improve the quality of life.

Evaluation of the knowledge of Health Care Professionals regarding Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Public Hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan

A cross sectional study was performed among 250 health care professionals from Children Hospital, Jinnah hospital and Services Institute of Medical science Lahore, through a self-designed questionnaire to assess the knowledge of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). A total 300 questionnaires were distributed and 250 were returned, giving a response 83%. Out of 300 health care professionals 50 participants do not even know the term TDM. Only 40% participants strongly agreed that TDM is done for all patients. Only 26.8% participants agreed that TDM is carried out for all drugs. Only 63.2% participants agreed that the TDM is very costly process. Only 38.4% strongly agreed that TDM requires extra time of health care professionals and only 36% participants remain neutral to the perception that TDM is requested by patient rather than health care professionals. Limited resources and lack of technical skills are barriers in performing TDM in under-developed country like Pakistan.

Hydrogels as Controlled Drug Delivery System: A Brief Review of Properties Classification and Synthesis

Hyrogels are cariers of novel drug delievry system and these polymeric network have ability to hold large amount of water but they do not dissolve in water .These polymeric network may be crosslinked either through chemical or physical crosslinking method. Without changing their three dimensional structure hydrogels undergo the swelling mechanism Hydrogels are used as drug delivery carriers because of their distinctive properties. They have three dimensional configurations and have water soluble cross linked network of polymers .Hydrogels have porous structure and by changing the cross linker concentration we can modify their affinity for water. Because of their unique properties these are used for various medical purposes like cellular immobilization , tissue engineering ,diagnostics and regenerative medicines.

A Review of Parenteral Administration of Testing Substance in Rabbit and Mice

There are many publications that deal with the administration of test substances to animals and the removal of blood samples for different objectives. The parenteral route of drug administration includes further different routes, i.e., drug administration through muscles (IM route) through veins (IV route) and through subcutaneous route. We can manage to check the outcomes of test substances within minutes when we go for the IV route as in this route; the drug directly goes to the systemic circulation. Different experimental animals are utilized to check the possible outcomes of test substances that include Rabbit, mice, and rat. Various factors like dose strength, dose frequency and the meaning by which drug can be administered to an animal can be examined. The emphasis on drug safety should be the main priority while injecting drug substances. Animal ethics guidelines should be followed in this regard. AEG basically provides us with safety guidelines that should be followed for safe handling.

Alopecia: Review of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Novel Treatment Strategies

Alopecia is an autoimmune and non-communicable disorder. The immune system, especially Tlymphocytes, present around the hair follicle attacks, cause inflammation and loss of hair from some or all areas of the scalp. It is highly prevalent in the United States; an estimated 4.5 million are affected by this disease. Finasteride and minoxidil are mostly used to treat alopecia in the form of solutions and gels. However, their use has been limited due to severe adverse effects observed during therapy. This article summarizes the epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, sign and symptoms, and diagnostic parameters with a focus on novel treatment strategies.

Use of Fluorescent Probe for the Fast and Quantitative Detection of Chemicals in the Blood

Different methods are adopted for the quantitative detection of chemicals in the blood. One of which is discussed here, i.e., the fluorescent probes that are preferred in biological systems owing to their sensitivity, high selectivity, elevated spatiotemporal resolution, and noninvasiveness. In recent years, for the identification of various chemicals, a large number of probes have been designed. For the detection as well as identification of fluorescent probes, sulfides, different chemicals such as iron, glucose, glutathione etc., in the blood are discussed. The maximum detection limits of newly synthesized fluorescent probes for different chemical analysis are studied and comparatively analyzed. Different parameters like pH, incubation time, mixing time, the detection limit of the fluorescent probes is also explored.

Micro Particles: A Review of Recent Developments, Microencapsulation Method, and Therapeutic Strategies

A targeted drug delivery system has a great impact on patience health minimizing the side effect and enhancing therapeutic outcomes, so modern research come towards particulate drug delivery system. Microparticle and nanoparticle are key tools for targeted sustained, delayed, and tissue-specific drug delivery. In this review article, I will discuss microparticle drug delivery system, types of microparticles how drug release from microparticulate system, Materials required for microparticulate drug delivery system, polymers used for micro particles drug delivery system, and procedures employed for the formulation of microparticulate drug delivery systems, Microencapsulation method, and treatment plan depend on Polymeric Microparticles.

Characterization and Evaluation of Capsules and Study of QC tests for Capsules

Using the capsule as a dosage form dates back to the early pharmacy days; from those days, the capsule preparation process is greatly evolved in order to meet the current needs of patients and the pharmaceutical industry. Currently, all pharmaceutical industries are making a dynamic change in the specifications of particular dosage forms such as capsules. It has become more difficult to obtain the higher valued drug product from the dosage form, along with the potential for improved delivery that can improve clinical outcomes. In addition, the capsules have played a significant role in drug development because of the hand filling or the production of semiautomatic capsular formulations, which have fewer requirements, and can be developed easily. The article will discuss different tests like Universal tests and specific tests, particularly for capsules, performed prior to the release of the batch to ensure efficacy and safety.