Weisslane4686

The participation of pharmacists as members of antimicrobial stewardship programs should be enhanced to ensure appropriate and safe use of antibiotics in this context. HCPs should be encouraged to seek improvements in the performance of pharmaceutical services and innovative practices to respond to the pandemic. Further studies are needed to generate knowledge on COVID-19 to improve patient care in vulnerable populations.Essential inhaler medications for patients with respiratory diseases are backordered due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). In hospitals, there has been a drastic increase in the use of salbutamol pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), as well as salbutamol Diskus, leading to a decline in availability and causing interruptions in the supply chain. Tacrolimus in vitro Patients with asthma are at higher risk of respiratory complications if they are infected with COVID-19. Salbutamol, a short-acting β-agonist (SABA), could be a life-saving medication during critical conditions. Other short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs), such as ipratropium pMDI, and combinations of SABA/SAMA, such as Combivent Respimat, are also starting to have supply issues. With the ongoing pandemic, hospitals need to consider conservation strategies to facilitate resource-efficient salbutamol delivery and reduce their waste. In this current opinion, we demonstrate several strategies for avoiding pMDI wastage that can be adopted in both the hospital and community settings. These strategies include reprocessing used or expired pMDIs, using intravenous salbutamol and other short acting inhalers when available, and prescribing maintenance inhalers to prevent over usage of salbutamol pMDIs. We also highlight the important role of physicians and pharmacists in optimizing medication therapies to ensure adequate supplies.The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major global threat affecting millions of lives throughout the world physically and psychologically. With the asymptomatic presentation of COVID-19 in many patients and the similarity of its symptoms with the common cold and influenza, the need for accurate information on the disease is very important for its identification and proper management. Accurate information on the disease, its prevention and treatment can be disseminated through drug information centers (DICs). DICs are usually staffed by pharmacists and/or clinical pharmacists/pharmacologists. DICs are a reliable source of current and unbiased information on COVID-19 and its associated complications, including management options for healthcare professionals and the public. In addition to health and drug information, pharmacists working in the DICs can be involved in the management of the patients' health by providing information on home care and safety, medication management of patients with chronic comorbid illnesses, and psychological advice. This article explores the possible additional roles DICs can play, besides providing drug information within the hospital or in the community.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is considered the most serious global health threat in recent times. As there is a current lack of approved treatments and vaccines, universal safety precautions (USPs) must be taken to deal with this emergency.

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and beliefs of the Indian public with regard to USPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted during March 2020. A 20-item self-administered questionnaire was developed, validated and distributed using Google Forms through social media networks. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing knowledge regarding COVID-19 USPs.

Of the 1117 individuals who participated in the survey, the mean age was 28.8±10.9 years, 32.9% had a post-graduate education, 45% had a professional job, and 40% belonged to the upper-middle economic class. Overall, the mean correct response scores were 63% for USP knowledge and 83% for USP beliefs. All the sociodemographic variables were significantly (

<0.001) associated with the USP knowledge levels. Importantly, students were less likely to have a lower level of USP knowledge compared with the other occupations (odds ratio 0.35, 95% CI 0.23-0.53;

<0.001).

Although the knowledge and beliefs of the Indian public towards USPs are encouraging, there is a need for long-term educational interventions as the dynamics and severity of COVID-19 rapidly change. These findings could guide public health authorities to make and implement precautionary measures to combat this pandemic.

Although the knowledge and beliefs of the Indian public towards USPs are encouraging, there is a need for long-term educational interventions as the dynamics and severity of COVID-19 rapidly change. These findings could guide public health authorities to make and implement precautionary measures to combat this pandemic.COVID-19 has recently become a major pandemic with associated socioeconomic dimensions. Mortality statistics suggest that COVID-19 is more lethal in aged patients with comorbid conditions including hypertension. There is ongoing debate about whether the use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are useful or hazardous in patients with COVID-19, with both narratives supported by researchers with different hypotheses. The researchers supporting the use of these medications believe ACE2 functional blockers may block cellular entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and thus improve patient outcomes. The counter viewpoint argues that continuous use of these drugs results in hyperexpression of ACE2 receptors on respiratory epithelium allowing easier SARS-CoV-2 intracellular entry, resulting in enhanced viral replication and tissue damage. This short review discusses the available research on the subject with the objective to consolidate data to allow formulation of recommendations on their use or otherwise. Moreover, the authors also suggest areas for future research on the subject.In this study, we investigated the in vitro potential of axially 1-morpholiniumpropan-2-ol disubstituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine (SiPc) which was synthesized previously, on HCT-116 cells as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent. The singlet oxygen and photodegradation quantum yields of SiPc were calculated using UV-vis spectrophotometer. The cytotoxic and phototoxic effects of SiPc were evaluated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining kit, cell cycle kit, and mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm) assay kit with JC-1 were used to indicate the cell death pathway. Caspase-3 and β-catenin protein expressions were evaluated by western blotting. The singlet oxygen and photodegradation quantum yields of SiPc were calculated as 0.73 and 3.64 × 10-4 in DMSO. The cell viability assays showed that IC50 value of SiPc did not reach to 100 μM without irradiation. However, excellent phototoxicity was observed in the presence of SiPc upon light irradiation.