C60 fullerene (C60) as a nanocarbon particle, compatible with biological structures, capable of penetrating through cell membranes and effectively scavenging free radicals, is widely used in biomedicine. A protective effect of C60 on the biomechanics of fast (m. gastrocnemius) and slow (m. soleus) muscle contraction in rats and the pro- and antioxidant balance of muscle tissue during the development of muscle fatigue was studied compared to the same effect of the known antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). C60 and NAC were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 1 and 150 mg kg−1, respectively, daily for 5 days and 1 h before the start of the experiment. The following quantitative markers of muscle fatigue were used: the force of muscle contraction, the level of accumulation of secondary products of lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and the oxygen metabolite H2O2, the activity of first-line antioxidant defense enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)), and the condition of the glutathione system (reduced glutathione (GSH) content and the activity of the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme). The analysis of the muscle contraction force dynamics in rats against the background of induced muscle fatigue showed, that the effect of C60, 1 h after drug administration, was (15–17)% more effective on fast muscles than on slow muscles. A further slight increase in the effect of C60 was revealed after 2 h of drug injection, (7–9)% in the case of m. gastrocnemius and (5–6)% in the case of m. soleus. An increase in the effect of using C60 occurred within 4 days (the difference between 4 and 5 days did not exceed (3–5)%) and exceeded the effect of NAC by (32–34)%. The analysis of biochemical parameters in rat muscle tissues showed that long-term application of C60 contributed to their decrease by (10–30)% and (5–20)% in fast and slow muscles, respectively, on the 5th day of the experiment. At the same time, the protective effect of C60 was higher compared to NAC by (28–44)%. The obtained results indicate the prospect of using C60 as a potential protective nano agent to improve the efficiency of skeletal muscle function by modifying the reactive oxygen species-dependent mechanisms that play an important role in the processes of muscle fatigue development.
Abstract
Introduction: The main task of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of a patient, and the therapy of chronic pain with opioids is a significant problem for palliative care patients in Ukraine. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the opioid availability for palliative care patients in Ukraine.
Methods: Analysis of the list and consumption of opioids according to the scientific publications and legal documents.
Results: It was found that in Ukraine as of June 2021, 12 international non-proprietary names of opioids were registered, most of which are represented by several dosage forms, which makes it possible for patients to receive adequate pain relief through non–invasive therapy with oral forms. It was shown that two thirds (63.2%) of trade names of opioids registered in Ukraine were of domestic origin. Based on a comparative analysis of the range of opioids, available in current regulatory documents, it was established that in the State Register of Medicines of Ukraine and the Unified clinical protocol there is an almost identical list of opioids (12 drugs). However, in the State Drug Formulary and the National List of Essential Medicines, this list is much smaller (8 and 5 drugs, respectively). Since 2013 changes in the regulatory documents on the medical use of opioids in Ukraine have occurred, and oral morphine was registered for the first time, allowing access to adequate pain relief. Analysis of the morphine consumption level by dosage forms has shown that before 2013, the pharmacies sold only morphine in injections, and since 2013, the consumption of oral morphine increased.
Conclusions. Changes in regulatory documents partially simplified the complicated process of obtaining opioids by patients. However, more than 80% of patients still do not receive adequate pain therapy due to the hesitancy of doctors to prescribe opioids and an extremely insufficient number of pharmacies (1.8%) that sell opioids for the population.
Introduction
Many clinical studies have proved the effectiveness of probiotics in metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance. However, the impact of probiotic therapy on pancreatic β-cell function is ambiguous. The influence of probiotic supplementation vs. placebo on β-cell function in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) was assessed in a double-blind, single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (RCT).
Methods
Sixty-eight patients with T2D were selected for participation in the RCT. Patients were randomly allocated to consumption of live multistrain probiotics or a placebo for 8 weeks, administered as a sachet formulation in double-blind treatment. The primary main outcome was the assessment of β-cell function as change in C-peptide and HOMA-β (homeostasis model assessment-estimated β-cell function), which was calculated using the HOMA2 calculator (Diabetes Trials Unit, University of Oxford). Secondary outcomes were the changes in glycemic control-related parameters, anthropomorphic variables, and cytokines levels. Analysis of covariance was used to assess the difference between groups.
Results
Supplementation with live multiprobiotic was associated with slight significant improvement of β-cell function (HOMA-β increased from 32.48 ± 13.12 to 45.71 ± 25.18; p = 0.003) and reduction of fasting glucose level (13.03 ± 3.46 vs 10.66 ± 2.63 mmol/L and 234.63 ± 62.36 vs 192.07 ± 47.46 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and HbA1c (8.86 ± 1.28 vs 8.48 ± 1.22; p = 0.043) as compared to placebo. Probiotic therapy significantly affects chronic systemic inflammation in people with T2D by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.
Conclusions
Probiotic therapies modestly improved β-cell function in patients with T2D. Modulating the gut microbiota represents a new diabetes treatment and should be tested in more extensive studies.
Trial Registration
NCT05765292.
The aim. Research on the peculiarities of the use of modern motivational tools by domestic employers in the pharmaceutical industry (including training and involvement of pharmaceutical specialists in social projects).
Materials and methods. An anonymous online survey in the Google Form was conducted from April 3, 2021 to November 1, 2021 on the social network "Facebook" (including in four pharmaceutical groups of this network). Methods: analysis, synthesis, and generalization.
Results of the research. The main motivating factors of respondents and the main motivational tools used by employers in the pharmaceutical industry have been identified. The state of training and education during professional activities and the evaluation of their effectiveness by respondents have been studied. Professional and motivational-psychological trainings are in the lead in the ranking of educational projects (75.2 % of respondents). The methods of evaluation of pharmaceutical specialists used by employers in the pharmaceutical industry have been generalized. The attitude of respondents to the participation of employers in the pharmaceutical industry in social and charitable projects has been studied. Most respondents (67.5 %) positively perceives the participation of employers in social and charitable projects, for some of them this is a motivational advantage when choosing a place of work.
Conclusions. An online survey of 508 pharmaceutical professionals, conducted in a Google Form has allowed us to establish the features of current motivational approaches used today in pharmaceutical organizations and the attitude of respondents to them. It has been found that such motivational tools as trainings (innovative form of education) (55.1 %), as well as material forms of incentives (73.2 %) are widely used. At the same time, the main topics of the trainings are regarding the professional aspects of activity. An important factor in the life of a pharmaceutical organization is its social and charitable work, which forms a positive attitude towards it on the part of pharmaceutical professionals, and sometimes serves as a motivational advantage in choosing a place of work
The aim. Study of the attitude of parents with medical and pharmaceutical and other educations to vaccination of their children from the point of view of social pharmacy.
Materials and methods. An anonymous online survey of 1,566 respondents (of whom 302 are parents with medical and pharmaceutical education) on the Google Form online service in the Viber mobile application and on the Facebook social network, which was conducted from September 16, 2021 to October 6, 2021.
Methods of analysis, synthesis and generalization were used.
Results. A high degree of commitment to vaccination among the respondents was established (almost 9 out of 10 parents). 26.1 % of respondents motivate the refusal by the inadequate quality of vaccines, 25.7 % consider vaccination to be inappropriate; 24.3 % do not administer preventive vaccinations to children due to their unsatisfactory state of health; 20.4 % - due to possible side reactions. 67.1 % of parents are interested in the composition of vaccines, 95.6 % know the symptoms and complications of the diseases for which vaccination is carried out, and 96.6 % - side effects after vaccination, although 74.5 % want to receive more information about possible complications. At the same time, there are slightly fewer supporters of vaccination among respondents with medical and pharmaceutical education than among respondents without such education, although this difference is not statistically significant. However, depending on the education, significant differences (more than 10 %) were observed among the respondents regarding interest in the composition of vaccines, adherence to vaccination against COVID-19 of their children older than 12 years and the opening of vaccination points in pharmacies.
Conclusions. It was found that to increase the level of awareness of medical and pharmaceutical professionals regarding vaccination, it is necessary to optimize educational professional programs and curricula for their training. It is shown that increasing the level of their knowledge will increase the commitment of parents with other education to children's vaccinations. The need to expand the professional role of pharmacists by involving them in vaccinations has been confirmed