Sunday, December 27, 2009

Types of thickening agents

System for Ophthalmic Dispensing
There are three major groups of thickening agents:

1. Polysaccharides
    a. Natural
        i. Acacia
        ii. Tragacanth
        iii. Starch
        iv. Sodium Alginate
    b. Semi-synthetic:
        i. Methylcellulose
        ii. Hydroxyethylcellulose
Pharmaceutical Compounding And Dispensing (Includes video clips CD-ROM)       iii. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
       iv. Microcrystalline cellulose

2. Inorganic agents
    a. Clays
       i. Bentonite
       ii. Hectorite
       iii. Aluminium Magnesium silicate
    b. Aluminium hydroxide

3. Synthetic
   a.Carbomer (Carboxyvinyl polymer)
   b. Colloidal silicon dioxide

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Actovegin

It is a deproteinized hemolysate obtained from Calf Blood.

It has the ability of enhancing the aerobic metabolism by increasing the use of glucose and oxygen and stimulates the formation of ATP. (1)

It has a neuroprotective action.

References:
(1) Boyarinov, G. A. et al. Effects of actovegin on the central nervous system during postischemic period . Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Volume 126, Number 4 / October, 1998

Sunday, December 13, 2009

TMPRSS2-ERG

It is a type of fusion gene. It has been found that 50-70% of prostate cancers are from TMPRSS2-ETS fusion prostate cancers. (1)


References:
Mosquera, J. M. et al., Morphological features of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion prostate cancer. Journal of Pathology, 2007 May; Volume 212 (1): pp. 91-101..

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Pharmacology viva preparation (Introduction)

Theory:

Q: 1. What is Handerson Hasselbalch equation?

Ans. This is used to determine the relative concentration of the protonated and unprotonated form of the drug which is determined by pH at the site of diffusion and by the strength of weak acid or base (pKa).

log Protonated/Unprotonated = pKa - pH

Q: 2. What is Young's formula for calculating the dosage of children?
Ans. Child dose = Adult dose x Age in Years / Age + 12

Q: 3. What is Dilling's formula for calculating the dosage of children?
Ans. Child dose = Adult dose x Age in years / 20

Q: 4. What is Clark's formula for calculating the dosage of children?
Ans: Child dose = Adult dose x Weight in pounds / 150

Q: 5. What do you know about Placebo?
Ans. It is any inactive compound used to satisfy patient's need for drug therapy and in research it is used for controlled studies for the determination of medicinal substances.

Practical:


Q: 6. What is function of glucose in Tyrode's solution?
Ans. It is used to provide nutrition.

Q: 7. What is the function of NaCl, KCl and CaCl2 in tyrode's solution?
Ans. These are used to maintain isotonicity and electrical neutrality.

Q: 8. What is the function of NaHCO3 and NaH2PO4 in tyrode's solution?
Ans. These are used to maintain pH between 7.3-7.6.

Q: 9. What is the function of MgCl2 in the tyrode's solution?
Ans. These are used to regulate motility of the intestine.

Viva from out of course of Pharmacology (Remember Ayah number, Surah number and What the ayah wants to tell):
Q: 10. What is mentioned in Holy Qur'an about walking arrogantly on the Earth?
Ans. It is mentioned in Holy Qur'an:

"(Luqman said,) Do not avert your face from people out of haughtiness and do not strut about arrogantly on the earth. Allah does not love anyone who is vain or boastful. (18)"
(Surah Luqman (Luqman), Surah # 31: Ayah # 18)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Classification of Anti-microbials and Thyroid hormones

Q: 1. Name anti-microbials that act through inhibition of cell wall synthesis?
Ans. Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Cycloserine, Vancomycin, Bacitracin, Ristocetin

Q: 2. Name anti-microbials that act through the inhibition of cell membrane function?Ans. Amphotericin B, Nystatin, Imidazoles, Colistin, Polymyxins

Q:3. Name anti-microbials that act through inhibition of protein synthesis?
Ans. Chloramphenicol, Tetracyclines, Aminoglycosides, Erythromycin, Lincomycin
Q:4. Name anti-microbials that act through inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis?
Ans. Sulfonamides, Trimethoprim, Pyrimethamine, Rifampin, Quinolones, Novobiocin

Q:5. Classify thyroid hormones.
Ans:
(A) Endogenous:
Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3)
(B) Animal Origin:
Desiccated thyroid
(C) Synthetic:
Levothyroxine, Liothyronine, Liotrix

Q: 7. Classify drugs interfering with the synthesis of thyroid hormones (Anti-thyroid drugs).
Ans.
(1) Thioamides:
Propylthiouracil, Thiourea, Thiouracil
(2) Anion Inhibitors:
Perchlorate, Thiocyanate
Q:8. Classify drugs preventing release of thyroid hormones (Anti-thyroid drug).

Ans.
(A) Iodides:
KI, NaI
(B) Iodinated contrast media:
Ipodate, Iopanoic acid

Q: 9. Name the drug causing thyroid gland destruction.
Ans. Radioactive Iodine (I-131)

Q: 10. Prove from the current scientific knowledge that this universe obeys ALLAH?
Ans. According to Alan Guth’s Inflation theory in Physics, after the birth of universe, its size doubles every 10 ^-34 seconds. This doubling took place for not more than 10 ^-30 seconds.
Within this short time, universe expands from something you could hold in hand to something at least 10 ^ 25 times bigger.
In this extremely small interval of time gravity emerged, later on joined by strong and weak nuclear forces, later on joined by elementary particles. From nothing at all, suddenly there were a very large mass of electrons, protons, neutrons and much more.
ALLAH has said in Holy Qur’an:
The Originator of the heavens and earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is. (Surah Al-Baqarah, Surah # 2: Ayah # 117)

Classification of Anti-emetic drugs and laxatives

Q:1. How do you classify anti-emetic drugs?
Ans.
(A) Central Anti-emetics:
(1) Dopamine D2-Receptor Antagonist:
Haloperidol
(2) Sedative-Hypnotics:
Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines
(B) Central and Peripheral Antiemetics:
(1) D2 receptor antagonists:
Metacloperamide, Domperidone
(2) 5-HT3 receptor antagonists:
Ondansetron, Granisetron
(3) Anti-muscarinics:
Scopolamine, Atropine
(4) H1 receptor antagonists:
Ceclizine, Meclizine, Dimenhydrinate
(C) Peripheral antiemetics:
(1) Demulcents:
Gum acacia, Gum tragacanth
(2) Adsorbents:
Kaolin, Aluminium hydroxide
(3) Gastric mucosal anesthetics:
Chlorbutanol
Q: 2. How do you classify anti-diarrheals?
Ans.
(1) Gastrointestinal protectives and adsorbents:
Bismuth subsalicylate, Attapulgite, Pectin, Kaolin
(2) Astringents:
Drugs that have the ability of releasing tannic acid e.g. catechin
(3) Anti-motility drugs
(a) Antimuscarinics:
Mepenzolate, Propantheline, Atropine
(b) Opioid derivatives:
Codeine, Loperamide
Q: 3. How do you classify bulk laxatives?
Ans.
(1) Hydrophilic colloids:
Agar, Psyllium seeds and husks, Bran
(2) Osmotic laxatives:
(a) Saline Cathartics:
Magnesium hydroxide, Magnesium citrate
(b) Lactulose
Q: 4. How do you classify Stimulant laxatives?
Ans.
(1) Mild stimulants
Figs, Prunes, Castor oil
(2) Moderate stimulants:
Phenolphthalein, Bisacodyl
(3) Severe stimulants:
Croton oil, Colocynth,
Q:5. Classify stool softeners?
Ans.
(1) Surface active agents:
Docusate sodium, Poloxamers such as poloxalkol
(2) Mineral oils:
Liquid paraffin
Viva from out of course of Pharmacology:
Q: 6. What is the effect of Quranic Recitation on Alzheimer’s disease (A. D.) ?
Ans.
Name of Journal:
Journal of Neurobiology of Aging
Article title:
The effect of voice of Holy QURAN to decrease aggressive behaviors in people with A. D
.
Researchers and Year:
Abdollahzadeh et al. in 2000
Effects:
They have found that Quranic recitation after a 4 week observation period causes a
1. Decrease in aggressive behavior of patients with alzheimer’s disease.
2. General increase in remembrance of past memories.