Kufa Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (KJPS) (ISSN 3005-7833) is a broad-spectrum, peer-reviewed, pharmaceutical journal. KJPS is an open-access journal that focuses on being the leading journal in the fields of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences by publishing open-access premier research in a variety of scientific disciplines, including but not limited to the following: physical pharmacy, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical technology, drug delivery; cellular and molecular biopharmaceutics; clinical pharmacy; drug metabolism and transport; medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, including drug design and prodrug strategies; computational chemistry; molecular modeling; pharmacology: pharmacognosy; biochemistry; and molecular biology. The Kufa Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences article strives for the highest quality, thanks to genuinely collaborative interactions between authors, editors, and reviewers.
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Quercetin Alleviates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Modulating IL-1β, Caspase-3, and Glutathione Signaling in Rats
Abstract Background Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a leading contributor to acute kidney injury, involving complex pathophysiological mechanisms such as excessive oxidative stress, inflammatory activation, and dysregulation of cell survival pathways. Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonol, is well recognized for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was designed to investigate the potential nephroprotective role of quercetin in an experimental rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Materials and Methods Twenty-eight adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four experimental groups: sham-operated, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) control, vehicle-treated (DMSO), and quercetin-treated groups. Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury was experimentally induced by subjecting both kidneys to ischemia for 30 minutes, followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Quercetin was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg, 30 minutes prior to the induction of ischemia. Renal tissue levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), caspase-3, and glutathione (GSH) were determined using commercially available sandwich ELISA kits. in addition to the assessment of renal histopathological changes. Results Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury induced a significant increase in IL-1β and caspase-3 levels, along with a marked depletion of GSH, in comparison with the sham group, reflecting pronounced inflammatory activation, apoptotic signaling, and oxidative stress. In contrast, quercetin pretreatment effectively mitigated renal injury by suppressing inflammatory and apoptotic responses and restoring antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by reduced IL-1β and caspase-3 levels and normalization of GSH content relative to the I/R control and vehicle groups. and attenuating renal histological damage. Conclusion Quercetin confers pronounced nephroprotective effects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, largely mediated through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Keywords Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury; Quercetin; Nephroprotection; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Apoptosis
Renal ischemia reperfusion; Quercetin; Nephroprotection; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Apoptosis
Phytochemical profiling and Bioactivity Assessment of Xanthium orientale: Evidence from HPLC, GC /MS and antibacterial activity
Xanthium orientale L. is an annual, medicinal plant that is an association of the Asteraceae family and has been extensively known to have been widely utilized in the traditional medicine in treating health conditions, especially inflammatory diseases, skin diseases, infections, and certain central nervous system disturbances. Innumerable parts of the plant are employed in traditional preparations. The plant is native to the American continent but has spread widely across the Asian continent, where it has proliferated in the temperate regions, even in the agricultural fields, roadsides, and other non-cultivated lands. Despite its medical value, Xanthium orientale is considered an invasive weed, and it may exhibit toxic effect on grazing animals when consumed in large quantities. phytochemicals Screenings and chromatography analysis revealed presence of diverse secondary metabolites such as sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, coumarins, steroids, glycosides, lignans, and phenolic compounds. Among these, plant phytochemicals considered a characteristic bioactive constituent responsible for many plants activity. In this study, comprehensive phytochemical screening of Xanthium orientale, Chromatographic identification and antibacterial activity against different strains were performed. Over all, the findings of this work support the therapeutic application corresponding to previous studies, although further investigations and studies are required to validate its activity as well as toxicity and safety assessment.
Evaluating the Effect of L-Arginine in Renal Ischemia\Reperfusion-Induced Acute Renal Injury in Male Rats: Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Inflammatory Pathway
Ischemia\reperfusion injury (IRI) is described as a reduction in blood flow followed by the restoration of perfusion and reoxygenation to the kidney. This study aims to examine the renal protective effects of L-Arginine in a rat model of renal ischemia\reperfusion by modulating the oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory cascade. The animals were divided equally into three groups. The sham group was subjected to surgical settings without the induction of ischemia\reperfusion injury. The control group was subjected to a 30-minute ischemia by occluding the renal pedicles, followed by blood restoration for 2 hours. In the L-Arginine-treated group, rats received 200 mg/kg IP of L-Arginine 30 minutes before occluding the renal pedicles, then subjected to 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Blood samples were collected to examine the levels of serum urea and creatinine. Renal tissue was used to measure the levels of F2-isoprostane, Caspase-3, and TNF-α in tissue. Histopathological analyses were performed to detect the tubular injury. The present study shows that pretreatment with L-Arginine improves kidney function through its effects on oxidative stress, apoptotic markers, and inflammatory markers.
The potential Ameliorative Effects of Curcumin Against Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Acute Renal Injury in Male Rats.
Objective: This study aimed to assess whether curcumin offers protection to the kidneys in a rats model subjected to renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, focusing particularly on its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Methods: Twenty-four adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups of six: Sham, Ischemia, Vehicle (DMSO), and curcumin. We induced bilateral renal ischemia for 30 minutes, followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Curcumin at a dose of 50 mg/kg or the vehicle was administered intraperetoneal1hr before ischemia. After reperfusion, serum and kidney tissues were collected to analyse markers of renal function, urea and creatinine, along with indicators of kidney damage (KIM-1), inflammation (IL-1β), and apoptosis (caspase-3), and a nuclear protein (HMGB1). Results: The ischemia and vehicle groups showed considerably higher levels of serum creatinine, urea, and increased levels of IL-1β, KIM-1, HMGB1 and caspase-3 in kidney tissues, compared to the sham group (P<0.001). Treatment with curcumin resulted in decreased biochemical parameters when compared to the ischemia and vehicle groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: Curcumin demonstrates substantial protective effects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, evidenced by improvements in biochemical markers and decreased tissue damage. This suggests that curcumin holds potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing or ameliorating acute kidney injury.
Caspase-3, Creatinine, IL-1β, KIM-1, Curcumin, Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, Urea, HMGB1
Smoking Habits and Associated Factors Among College Students in Basra
Worldwide, smoking is a major contributor to enhanced morbidity and mortality. In addition to its social and economic consequences, student smoking has a detrimental influence on the health of young pupils. Aim: The current study intends to ascertain the frequency of smoking behaviors among college students and identify associations between these behaviors and their presence. Methods: College students in Basra University, Iraq, were the primary participants in this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) served as the primary source for the self-administered questionnaire. The study involved about 400 pupils. Findings: Of the respondents, 49.9% were men and 50.1% were women; nevertheless, only men smoke (all female participants do not smoke). Approximately 25% of the participants smoke; 60% of them started smoking before turning 18. About 50% of students who smoke use water pipes (sheesha) either by themselves or in combination with other forms of smoking. Approximately 75% of students who smoke have knowledge of the risk that smoking poses to their health and plan to quit, mostly because of these health issues. Conclusions: Among college students at universities, smoking is comparatively common, and water-pipe smoking is particularly frequent. Increased efforts are required to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and to provide resources for quitting.
Preparation and Evaluation of Immediate-Release Oral Tablets Using Solid Dispersion of Selexipag
Selexipag is an oral drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension with limited aqueous solubility, which can adversely affect its dissolution behavior, and it is classified as a biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class II drug. The present study aimed to prepare immediate-release tablets loaded with selexipag solid dispersion to enhance its solubility and dissolution. Poloxamer 407 was used as a carrier in combination with the drug at a 1:3 ( drug:polymer, w/w) ratio, and the solid dispersion was prepared using the solvent evaporation method. The resulting solid dispersion was assessed for percentage of yield, drug content, and saturation solubility in phosphate buffer pH=6.8. Using the direct compression method, the produced solid dispersion was incorporated into immediate-release tablets employing three diluents, namely mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose and starch, along with three superdisintegrants, croscarmellose sodium, sodium starch glycolate, and crospovidone. Six immediate-release tablet formulations were prepared and subsequently evaluated for weight variation, drug content uniformity, hardness, friability, disintegration time, and dissolution behavior. Formulation T4, composed of a mannitol–microcrystalline cellulose(40:60) as diluent and croscarmellose sodium (3%) as a superdisintegrant, containing 4 mg of selexipag solid dispersion, exhibited rapid disintegration and achieved approximately 99% drug release within 15 minutes compared to pure selexipag immediate-release tablet.
Croscarmellose sodium, immediate-release tablet, selexipag, solid dispertion, mannitol, microcrystallin cellulose
In silico, design, synthesis and evaluation of new naphthyridine-dione analogues as potential candidates for carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Abstract: Hypoxia in many kinds of solid tumours represent the main factor to induce Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) and thus supports tumour pH homeostasis under low-oxygen condition. In mouse models, pharmacological CAIX inhibition has been shown to delay tumour growth, reduce metastatic spread, and restrain cancer stem cell expansion. Accordingly, targeting carbonic anhydrase overexpression—especially CAIX—represents a promising anticancer approach. Based on this premise, a new series of naphthyridinedione derivatives (5a to 5c) was designed, synthesised, and evaluated in cell lines (HCT116 and MCF-7), with acetazolamide (ACZ) used as a control compound. To prioritise the most promising candidates, molecular docking (Schrödinger Maestro 2021-1 and PyMOL) was performed prior to synthesis to select compounds with the highest predicted binding. Antiproliferative effects were then measured using an MTT assay in both cell models. Relative to acetazolamide, compound 5c demonstrated substantially greater antiproliferative potency in HCT116 (IC₅₀ = 1.08 μM) and MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀ = 1.49 μM) compared with acetazolamide (IC₅₀ = 1.79 μM and 2.55 μM, respectively). In contrast, compounds 5a and 5b exhibited cytotoxicity broadly comparable to acetazolamide. Collectively, these findings suggest that naphthyridinedione derivatives (5a–c) provide a useful starting scaffold for further anticancer drug development. Docking analyses further indicated that 5c achieved more favourable S-scores than acetazolamide, consistent with stronger predicted binding to the CAIX active site. The methoxy substituent and the naphthyridinedione core may contribute to increased conformational flexibility and improved receptor interactions. Overall, these naphthyridinedione derivatives (5a–c) show notable CAIX-related inhibitory potential alongside measurable cytotoxicity, supporting continued evaluation as anticancer lead compounds.
Keywords: naphthyridinedione; carbonic anhydrase; docking study; cytotoxicity.
Assessment of Pharmacists’ Knowledge of Nephrotoxic Medications and Renal Dose Adjustment in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Najaf Province
Background: Changes in the structure and function of the kidney caused by a number of factors are the hallmark of chronic kidney disease, a degenerative condition. Drug-induced nephrotoxicity, which is defined as kidney damage caused either directly or indirectly by medications, is one of the most common side effects of clinical drug therapy. DIN is the main cause of both acute renal damage and chronic kidney disease. Many different mechanisms can lead to drug-related nephrotoxicity, such as immunological and inflammatory mechanisms that cause interstitial nephritis or acute or chronic glomerulonephritis; altered intra glomerular hemodynamics that cause acute kidney injury; tubular cell toxicity that increases the risk of acute tubular necrosis; crystal nephropathy; and rhabdomyolysis or thrombotic microangiopathy. Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of clinical pharmacists employed in emergency department, dialysis ward and internal medicine and nephrology ward regarding Nephrotoxic Medications and Renal Dose Adjustment in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was completed in April of 2025. A three-part questionnaire was distributed to one hundred clinical pharmacists. In the first section, participants were asked seven demographic questions . The second included 50 questions related to chronic kidney disease, nephrotoxic Medications and drug Dose Adjustment, while the third section contained 10 reasons explored pharmacists’ opinions about the causes of dosing errors. Result: A total of 100 clinical pharmacists were enrolled.pharmacists was 27.2 ± 2.7 (range: 24 – 45) years and 64% of the participating pharmacists were aged between 24-27 years. Female pharmacists were the dominant among the studied group; they accounted for 79%. the level of knowledge ofpharmacists had been found that only 10% of the participating pharmacists had good knowledge about nephrotoxic medications and dosing adjustment for patients with chronic kidney disease, 41% had fair and 49% had poor knowledge. Conclusion: this study underscores the urgent need for continuous educational programs and workshops can help maintain and enhance knowledge of pharmacists after graduation,
Chronic kidney disease, pharmacist, renal dose adjustment, nephrotoxic medications
Patterns and Knowledge of analgesic usage among undergraduate non-medical students at Kirkuk University, Iraq.
Background: Analgesics, commonly known as pain relievers, play a crucial role in alleviating pain and discomfort worldwide. Still, they are often misused, especially by young adults like university students, despite their benefits. The purpose of this study was to explore the patterns and knowledge of analgesic usage among non-medical students at Kirkuk University. Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted from January to March 2025 among students at various primary locations within the university. The Questionnaires included three sections; the first included sociodemographic details. The Second included 7 questions aimed at the students’ analgesic habits. The third section comprises 13 knowledge-based questions regarding analgesic risks, side effects, contraindications, and analgesics contained in popular brands. Results: About 312 students responded, with paracetamol being the most commonly used 48.09%. The most common indications for use were headache. About 53% of patients were taking analgesics with meals. About 31.41% reported using analgesia only as needed. Just 12.18% admitted to not reading the leaflet. About 52.20% of students consult their physician if symptoms persist. The average score of the 312 participants on the knowledge-based questions was slightly moderate (6.6 out of 13). Conclusions: Students are aware of the existence of the patient information leaflet which comes with the analgesic;however, their average score on the knowledge-based questions was moderate, which indicates they have a basic understanding but lack an awareness of the risks,contraindications, side effects, and maximum daily dose.
Quality Control Evaluation of Selexipag-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Capsules
This study's goal was to create and describe selexipag-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles using the ultrasonic method. Four different lipid types of palmitic acid, stearic acid, glyceryl dibehenate, and glyceryl monostearate were assessed for their effects on solubility, release behavior, and possible enhancement of oral bioavailability. Various factors, such as lipid type and concentration, are employed to improve the formulation to attain the required particle size, maximum entrapment efficiency, and cumulative drug release percentage. The optimized formulation is loaded with capsules. The optimized formulation composed from 150 mg of glyceryl monostearate and 90 mg of poloxamer 407 that demonstrated high cumulative drug release, and entrapment efficiency.
Retatrutide counteracts liver impairment in high- fat/sucrose diet induced obesity in male rats
Background: Obesity constitutes a major worldwide public health crisis in the 21st century, with its prevalence increasing annually in both industrialized and developing countries. Obesity, a multifactorial illness marked by excessive adiposity, is closely associated with several; metabolic, hepatic, and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prominent contributors to chronic illness and premature mortality. Dietary fat consumption is frequently attributed to the rise in adiposity. studies have demonstrated that high-fat diets (30% of energy derived from fat) can readily produce obesity. This study investigates the retatrutide effects on weight loss, blood glucose, and liver enzymes, aiming to explore its potential as a protect the liver. Methode: A total of 28 adult males Sprague-Dawley rats were utilized and categorized into four groups; the control group consisted of seven rats on a standard diet for 12 weeks, whilst the remaining rats were administered a high-fat/sucrose diet. Obese rats were divided into three groups after eight weeks on a high-fat/sucrose diet: obesity, Retatrutide (25 nmol/kg) subcutaneously, and vehicle (D.W.) groups, and treated for four weeks. Information pertaining to body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin concentrations, and hepatic enzymes. Results: results revealed that Retatrutide-treated obese rats exhibited significantly reduced body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, and AST levels compared to obese untreated rats. Conclusions: It concluded that Retatrutide treatment mitigates the metabolic dysregulations induced by high fat /sucrose diet, additionally; it ameliorates liver impairment.
The Interplay of NLRP3, Gasdermin-D, and C-Reactive Protein in Predicting Depression in Long-COVID
Patients with COVID-19 are at risk for long-COVID (LC) symptoms after recovery. LC is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and inflammatory symptoms. Depression is an important symptom that affects the everyday life of patients. In the present study, we recruited the leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3), Gasdermin-D (GSDMD), and C-reactive protein as tools for prediction of depression in LC patients. Leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome overactivation brought on by severe acute respiratory syndrome in certain instances, cytokine storm is also caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) is cleaved by caspase-1 upon caspase-1 activation, which causes pyroptosis, an anticipated cell death. Patients with COVID-19 also have elevated levels of CRP, another biomarker. In patients with COVID-19, elevated CRP levels have been linked to higher mortality, inflammatory alterations in chest CT scans, and severe infection. A vital initial line of defense against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is innate immunity one However, dysregulated innate immune responses can be harmful, leading to an overabundance of proinflammatory cytokines that worsen tissue damage. As an intravascular effector of innate immunity, immunothrombosis refers to complicated networks of molecular pathways and cellular interactions functioning to restrict the survival and spread of pathogens. When pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) are stimulated, the liver is the primary source of the acute-phase protein known as C-reactive protein (CRP). It is a proven biomarker for tracking COVID-19 patients' rates of inflammation. By attaching itself to pathogen surfaces and injured cells, CRP plays a crucial part in triggering the innate immune response. Serum levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, were measured using the ELISA technique. Depression symptoms were estimated using the Hamilton depression (HAMD). Results indicate a substantial rise (p<0.001) in median CRP levels in LC+Dep and LC groups compared to the control group. Serum NLRP3 levels were considerably higher (p<0.001) in the LC+Dep group compared to LC patients and the control group. The LC+Dep and LC groups had considerably greater GSDMD levels (p<0.001) than the control group, which had the lowest value. The partial correlation study among the study groups after controlling for age, weight, height, BMI, and smoking in LC patients showed significant correlation between total HAMD score and CRP, GSDRMD, and NLRP3. GSDMD has the best diagnostic ability for depression in LC patients at a cut-off value of 60.98 pg/ml indicating that the subjects may predict depression in LC patients with a significant sensitivity (69.8%) and specificity (69.9%). The present study revealed the importance of inflammation and NLRPs and GSDMD in the pathophysiology of the LC symptoms. DSDRMD is the best predictor for depression in LC patients.
Long COVID, Pyroptosis, Inflammation, Depression, Thrombosis
Molecular Docking Study of Novel Isatin-Niflumic Acid Derivatives as Possible VEGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Designing and evaluating six novel isatin-niflumic acid derivatives as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Since there is overexpression of VEGFR-2 in aggressive malignancies, including glioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), this overexpression leads to dysregulated angiogenesis and uncontrolled cellular growth. Inhibiting VEGFR-2 kinase active site (PDB code: 4AG8) is a critical target in developing anticancer medications, as it can aid in the prevention of tumor growth and metastasis through blocking phosphorylation cascades required for endothelial cell proliferation and utilizing the molecular operating environment to assess the binding affinity of novel design compounds against targeting proteins (VEGFR-2) kinase active site. The docking outcomes depend on two important parameters, S-score and RMSD, for investigating molecular interactions and drug discovery. The newly designed compounds (I-VI) exhibit improved binding energy (S.score) ranging from -9.1782 to -9.5120 Kcal/mol and reduced RMSD values ranging from 1.0608 to 1.8914 with the enzyme active site with additional four to five binding interactions, in comparison to Sunitinib binding energy of -8.7276 Kcal/mol and RMSD value of 2.0611 and only exhibit two binding interactions with the active site. These results suggest that the newly designed compounds have the potential to be effective VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors when compared to the reference ligand (Sunitinib).
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Physicians Toward Drugs Induced QT Prolongation
Prolonged QTc intervals are a common and clinically significant issue, associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and overall mortality. Medication-induced QT prolongation is a frequent cause, involving widely used drugs such as antiarrhythmics, antidepressants, antibiotics, and antipsychotics. Addressing this risk requires improved physician awareness and proactive monitoring. This cross sectional study aimed to enhance the practice of physicians toward drug-induced QT prolongation and related cardiac events. Conducted over three months from January 15 to April 15, 2025, the study took place at Imam Al-Sadiq Teaching Hospital in Al-Hilla. 53 physicians were interviewed regarding their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward QT prolongation. The majority of participating physicians were under 40 years old, predominantly male (67.9%), and most commonly specialized in internal medicine (45.3%). Regarding their years of practice, 37.7% had been practicing medicine for(less)than 5 years, (28.3%)had between 5 and 10 years of (experience, and 34.0% had over (10 years) of experience. In the term of knowledge, 5.7% of physicians have a good knowledge and 94.3% have a bad knowledge. favourable attitude was present in 24.5%. adequate practice was found in 67.9% while 32.1% of physicians had inadequate practice. This study shows a bad knowledge, unfavourable attitudes and adequate practices among physicians about drugs induced QT prolongation.
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency between diabetes mellitus patients and non-diabetes in Iraqi population
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in various physiological functions including the regulation of calcium and phosphate balance , bone metabolism and immune function. Recent research has linked vitamin D deficiency to numerous chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus. In particular , type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with low serum vitamin D levels, potentially due to its role in insulin secretion and sensitivity. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in diabetic patients and compare it with non-diabetic individuals in the Iraqi population . This study is A cross sectional study, it involve 72 subjects (45 with diabetes and 27 without diabetes) and conducted at- Al Seder teaching Hospital -Diabetic center. They aged between 18-70 years old and collected during time between that start of September to the end of December 2024 from Najaf Governorate , Iraq. Many of the information were taken from each subject in this study like age , sex , level of vitamin D, drug that used for DM , smoking state , physical activity , blood pressure , weight and heigh. The results showed that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic individuals. Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency and Diabetes mellitus
Drug Related-Problems in Emergency Departments and The Role of Clinical Pharmacists: A Multi-Center Study in Iraq
Drug Related-Problems (DRPs) are common in emergency departments (EDs), where the fast-paced environment increases the risk of medication errors and adverse drug events. limited data are available from Iraq. Accordingly, the current study aimed to assess the prevalence, causes and severity of DRPs in Iraqi EDs and to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacist interventions (PIs). A cross-sectional, multi-center study was conducted in March 2024 at four major hospitals in Al-Najaf, Iraq. Adult patients (n=500) presenting to ED for non-surgical conditions were included. DRPs were identified and classified using PNCE version 9.0 system. PIs and their acceptance were documented. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28. DRPs were identified among 80.2% of patients. Drug-drug interactions (39.4%), ineffective medications (39.8%) and cost effectiveness problems (36.2%) were the most common causes. Regarding severity, 55.9% of the total DRPs were mils, 25.1% moderate and 19.1% were sever. A total of 685 PIs were recorded, most commonly were changing in drug instructions (30.4%). Overall, 59.4% of interventions were fully accepted by the physicians resulting in solving of 36.4% of the total DRPs. As a conclusion, DRPs are highly prevalent in Iraqi EDs, with nearly one in five classified as sever. Clinical PIs were effective and frequently accepted. Underscoring the importance of integrating pharmacists into ED team to improve patients' safety.
PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF LOXOPROFEN SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES LOADED GEL.
Loxoprofen (LX), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) known for its effectiveness in managing pain and inflammation. Conventional plain gel formulations, often require frequent application due to their rapid drug release and short duration of action, which can compromise patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a transdermal gel formulation incorporating Loxoprofen-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (LX-SLNs), with the goal of achieving sustained anti-inflammatory activity. LX-SLNs were prepared using probe ultrasonication with glyceryl monostearate (GMS) as the lipid and Poloxamer 407 as the surfactant. The prepared LX-SLNs were lyophilized and incorporated into Carbopol 934 based gels. The prepared gels were evaluated for pH, physical properties, drug content, spreadability, extudability, rheological behavior, in-vitro drug release and ex-vivo skin permeation and retention studies were performed using rabbit skin in Franz diffusion cells. In-vivo anti-inflammatory activity of LX-SLNs loaded gel was assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats using the egg albumin-induced paw edema model. At the end of the In-vivo anti-inflammatory study the paws were excised for histological evaluation. The preferred formula GF1 exhibited a pH within the acceptable range, uniform drug content, good spreadability, and pseudoplastic flow behavior. In-vitro release revealed sustained drug release over 12 hours. Ex-vivo permeation studies confirmed enhanced transdermal flux and skin retention compared to plain LX gel. In-vivo, the LX-SLNs gel demonstrated significantly higher inhibition of paw edema (p < 0.05), indicating superior anti-inflammatory efficacy. In conclusion, LX-SLNs gel offered a promising strategy for sustained delivery of LX with enhanced skin permeation and anti-inflammatory effects.
Pattern of Proton Pump Inhibitors Use Among Patients Within Emergency Department of Al-Hakeem General Hospital in Najaf City-Iraq
<top> <a title="Pattern of Proton Pump Inhibitors Use Among Patients Within Emergency Department of Al-Hakeem General Hospital in Najaf City-Iraq" href="https://journal.uokufa.edu.iq/index.php/kjps/Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) as one of the most frequently prescribed medications for their acid-suppressing effects. Their using continuously growing annually in all over the world. With the endless expansion of their market making the wide utilization of this pharmaceutical class frequently associated with notable instances of therapeutic inappropriateness where this phenomenon positions serious questions about the appropriateness of prescription of these drugs globally. Accordingly, current study aimed to evaluate the pattern of PPI using among patients within emergency department (ED) of single Iraqi hospital. Where there were no similar studies evaluate the appropriateness of PPIs use was had been made previously. An observational, prospective cross-sectional study performed in March 2024 included 188 patients who visited ED for non-surgical complaint at Al-Hakeem General Hospital in Al-Najaf city/Iraq. Of the total cohort, 43.09% of patients received a PPI as a part of their medical regimen in ED. Omeprazole was the mainstay prescribed medication among this medical class, it used in 91.35% of patients where it given as IV doses. Of the total patients who treated with PPI in ED, 23.45% were already taking a PPI as a part of their standard medical regimen before ED visit. Among patients received PPI in ED, 39.5% were on medication with an incorrect scheduling and/or dosage. The appropriateness, dosage and regimen correctness were noted to increase with age. Result of the current study revealed the over prescription of PPI both pre and throughout ED visit with an elevated % of inappropriate use in both settings.">Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) as one of the most frequently prescribed medications for their acid-suppressing effects. Their using continuously growing annually in all over the world. With the endless expansion of their market making the wide utilization of this pharmaceutical class frequently associated with notable instances of therapeutic inappropriateness where this phenomenon positions serious questions about the appropriateness of prescription of these drugs globally. Accordingly, current study aimed to evaluate the pattern of PPI using among patients within emergency department (ED) of single Iraqi hospital. Where there were no similar studies evaluate the appropriateness of PPIs use was had been made previously. An observational, prospective cross-sectional study performed in March 2024 included 188 patients who visited ED for non-surgical complaint at Al-Hakeem General Hospital in Al-Najaf city/Iraq. Of the total cohort, 43.09% of patients received a PPI as a part of their medical regimen in ED. Omeprazole was the mainstay prescribed medication among this medical class, it used in 91.35% of patients where it given as IV doses. Of the total patients who treated with PPI in ED, 23.45% were already taking a PPI as a part of their standard medical regimen before ED visit. Among patients received PPI in ED, 39.5% were on medication with an incorrect scheduling and/or dosage. The appropriateness, dosage and regimen correctness were noted to increase with age. Result of the current study revealed the over prescription of PPI both pre and throughout ED visit with an elevated % of inappropriate use in both settings.
Design, synthesis, molecular docking, and antibacterial assessment of a new ciprofloxacin metal-complex derivative
New azo containing and azo metal complex derivatives of ciprofloxacin ( D and E) were synthesized to increase its antibacterial activity and decrease microbial resistance caused by different bacterial species. Many types of metal ions can be used, in our research we used Ag+ . Some of the physicochemical characterstics and FT-IR were used to confirm the chemical structure of the resulting compounds. In silico study was done by using a molecular operating environment program (MOE) and it was noticed that the synthesized compounds showed a high affinity to the target site in topoisomerase enzyme. These results were compatible with invitro biological study.
Fluoroquinolone, Azo linkage, Metal ions
Assess the Impact of the Pharmacist on Enhancing Pharmacological Thrombo-Prophylactic Prescriptions in Patients with Renal Impairment
ABSTRACT Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), irrespective of the extent of renal impairment, are acknowledged to have an elevated risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and stroke; yet, study findings on the association between CKD and the heightened risk of VTE and stroke have been inconclusive. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) predominantly arises during hospitalization for significant surgical procedures or trauma, however it may potentially manifest several months post-surgery. The quantity of anticoagulants approved for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders has risen. Irrespective of the anticoagulants employed, prior studies indicated that improper utilization in patients with renal impairment elevates the risk of hemorrhage. An interventional study was done to evaluate the proper utilization of anticoagulants in patients with renal impairment within healthcare institutions in Najaf Province. Intervention consists of lectures, brochures, rollups and buck lists about updated guideline of safe anticoagulant use in patients with renal impairment. The study included two patients' groups according to receiving intervention or not. the appropriateness of intervention was assessed at 3 periods preintervention, 4 weeks after-intervention and 12 weeks after intervention according to CHAD-VASC scoring system for stroke risk and PADUA scoring system for VTE risk. Results shown that at baseline there were no significance difference between two groups according to Chi-square analysis with respect to inappropriate prescribing of anticoagulants. after 4 weeks of intervention the is significant decline in percentage of patients receiving inappropriate anticoagulants (9%) in comparison to patients not received intervention (23.5%). After 12 weeks of intervention the is significant decline in percentage of patients receiving inappropriate anticoagulants (2.5%) in comparison to patients not received intervention (21.5%). The results also shown that inappropriate prescribing has been improved dramatically after 12 weeks in comparison to 4 weeks of intervention. This study demonstrated that appropriate prescribing of anticoagulants in CKD patients significantly improved following the intervention and Prolonged monitoring is advised to evaluate the enduring effects of this intervention.
Chronic Kidney Disease, Stroke, Venous Thromboembolism, Pharmacological Thromboprophylaxis.
Therapeutic Impact of Fluvastatin and Metformin Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Cell Viability Assay
<a title="Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most detrimental and intrusive state of liver cancer. The incidence of HCC resumed advancing rapidly, ranking as the sixth most common cancer and the fourth ultimate cause of death. Objective: To evaluate the utility of metformin and fluvastatin, alone or in combination, as potential anticancer therapeutics using human liver cell lines (HepG2). Methods: Four groups were allocated: The control)Group1) consists of HepG2 cells treated with 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide with an average absorption at 570 nm of 0.651; the fluvastatin (Group 2)in (6.5, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μM) concentrations; the metformin (Group 3) in (6.5, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM); and the (Group 4) of 10 mM metformin with fluvastatin in (10, 15, 20, and 40 μM) of HepG2 cell. Results: The results revealed a synergistic effect between metformin and fluvastatin, where the combination is more effective in achieving an IC50 of about 25. These are more potent at reducing cell viability by about 44.62%. Also, combining of 10 μM metformin with 10 and 40 µM fluvastatin concentrations might be considered more significant in terms of providing precise and reliable measurements. Conclusion: The Significant change in this study in reductions of cytotoxic effects can be participated in the future as predictive marker for treatment. " href="https://journal.uokufa.edu.iq/index.php/kjps/Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most detrimental and intrusive state of liver cancer. The incidence of HCC resumed advancing rapidly, ranking as the sixth most common cancer and the fourth ultimate cause of death. Objective: To evaluate the utility of metformin and fluvastatin, alone or in combination, as potential anticancer therapeutics using human liver cell lines (HepG2). Methods: Four groups were allocated: The control)Group1) consists of HepG2 cells treated with 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide with an average absorption at 570 nm of 0.651; the fluvastatin (Group 2)in (6.5, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μM) concentrations; the metformin (Group 3) in (6.5, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM); and the (Group 4) of 10 mM metformin with fluvastatin in (10, 15, 20, and 40 μM) of HepG2 cell. Results: The results revealed a synergistic effect between metformin and fluvastatin, where the combination is more effective in achieving an IC50 of about 25. These are more potent at reducing cell viability by about 44.62%. Also, combining of 10 μM metformin with 10 and 40 µM fluvastatin concentrations might be considered more significant in terms of providing precise and reliable measurements. Conclusion: The Significant change in this study in reductions of cytotoxic effects can be participated in the future as predictive marker for treatment.">Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most detrimental and intrusive state of liver cancer. The incidence of HCC resumed advancing rapidly, ranking as the sixth most common cancer and the fourth ultimate cause of death. Objective: To evaluate the utility of metformin and fluvastatin, alone or in combination, as potential anticancer therapeutics using human liver cell lines (HepG2). Methods: Four groups were allocated: The control)Group1) consists of HepG2 cells treated with 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide with an average absorption at 570 nm of 0.651; the fluvastatin (Group 2)in (6.5, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μM) concentrations; the metformin (Group 3) in (6.5, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM); and the (Group 4) of 10 mM metformin with fluvastatin in (10, 15, 20, and 40 μM) of HepG2 cell. Results: The results revealed a synergistic effect between metformin and fluvastatin, where the combination is more effective in achieving an IC50 of about 25. These are more potent at reducing cell viability by about 44.62%. Also, combining of 10 μM metformin with 10 and 40 µM fluvastatin concentrations might be considered more significant in terms of providing precise and reliable measurements. Conclusion: The Significant change in this study in reductions of cytotoxic effects can be participated in the future as predictive marker for treatment.
Cytotoxicity, Cell Lines, Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Isatin-Based 3-Phenoxybenzoic Acid Derivatives as VEGFR-2 Inhibitors with Anti-Angiogenic Potential
Objectives: Due to its significant role in supporting the development and spread of cancer, the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) of angiogenesis has been used in cancer treatment. The research presented created and synthesized a number of phenoxy benzoic acid derivatives. This work develops and evaluates four novel drugs targeting cancer and the VEGFR. Methods: For the chemical synthesis, we used phenoxy benzoic acid, sulphuric acid, methanol, hydrazine hydrate, Isatin derivatives, and glacial acetic acid. Results: In vitro cell line investigations and silico docking studies showed antitumor efficacy for the produced substances. The results demonstrated that the inclusion of isatin in the molecular framework enhanced receptor binding by interacting with critical amino acids essential for VEGFR-2 enzymatic activity. The docking study showed that compounds F1 and F4 had the highest binding affinities, with S-scores of -8.54 and -8.2, respectively, interacting with key amino acids such as Glu885, Cys1045, and Asp1046. The in vitro cytotoxicity results demonstrated selective anticancer activity. Compound F4 exhibited the highest potency against MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 5.76 µM), while F1 displayed notable activity against HepG2 cells (IC50 = 9.73 µM). Compared to sorafenib, the synthesized compounds showed selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells while sparing normal cells. These findings suggest that the newly synthesized compounds could be potential VEGFR-2 inhibitors with selective anticancer properties. Conclusion: The synthesized Isatin-based 3-phenoxybenzoic acid derivatives exhibited strong VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity and selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells while reducing toxicity to normal cells.
Angiogenesis; Cancer; VEGFR-2; Isatin; MCF-7; HepG-2