Tuesday, 23 June 2015

FDA approves Cangrelor (A new Antiplatelet drug):




More presentations from Naina Mohamed Pakkir Maideen

©  On 22.06.15, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Cangrelor (Kengreal) which is a new intravenous antiplatelet drug could be used with Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the treatment of stable angina or acute coronary syndromes (ACS, or myocardial infarction (MI) and unstable angina (UA)).
©  Cangrelor (Kengreal) is an intravenous (IV), direct acting, reversible competitive inhibitor of P2Y12 receptor.

Mechanism of Action:
©  Cangrelor blocks P2Y12 receptors of Platelet cell membranes causing inhibition of release of ADP and other mediators such as TxA2 and inhibition of activation of Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa which result in to the inhibition of Platelet activation and aggregation.

Adverse Drug Reactions:
©  The ADRs such as Dyspnea, Vomiting, Nausea, Headache and Hypotension have been noted with Cangrelor use.

Contraindications:
Cangrelor is contraindicated in patients with significant active bleeding and patients with known hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to cangrelor.


Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Pharmacogenetics:



More Presentations from Dr.Naina Mohamed Pakkir Maideen

*      Pharmacogenetics is the study of influences of a gene on therapeutic and adverse effects of drugs.
*       Primaquine induced hemolysis in patients with G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase ) deficiency, was the first pharmacogenetic discovery.
*      The term Pharmacogenetics was coined by Vogel in 1959.
*      Two main divisions of Pharmacogenetics include…
Ø Drug-disposition Pharmacogenetics
Ø Drug-target Pharmacogenetics
*      Drug-Disposition Pharmacogenetics deals with the pharmacokinetics of a drug.
*      Drug-Target Pharmacogenetics deals with the pharmacodynamics of a drug.
*      Pharmacogenetic Studies include…
Ø Candidate-gene studies
Ø Genome-wide association study (GWAS)
*      The Candidate-gene approach, tests how frequent an allele or a set of alleles in patients who have a better (or worse) drug response.
*      The role of common genetic variations in disease or drug response surveyed by Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS).
*      Pharmacists can take a lead in application of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice, since they are experts in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
*      Health-care providers will increasingly need to take pharmacogenetics into consideration when prescribing medications.


Sunday, 15 March 2015

TIPS for Healthy Hajj





More from Naina Mohamed, PhD

General Health TIPS for Hajj Pilgrims:

§    Maintain personal hygiene
§    Take bath regularly
§    Wash hands with soap and water
§    Cover nose and mouth while sneezing
§    Use always a face-mask
§    Change face face-mask every 6 hourly
§    Eliminate waste in trash only
§    Avoid spitting on floor

TIPS for Hajj Pilgrims with Chronic diseases:

§    Assess the health condition with a doctor before setting out for Hajj
§    Take sufficient medications
§    Keep medications in a proper storage conditions
§    Take medicines on time
§    Follow doctors’ and pharmacists’ instructions
§    Put on a wrist strap containing information such as name, age, disease, treatment, address and contact details
§    Inform fellow pilgrims about your disease and medications
§    Avoid making too much effort
§    Head to the nearest health center, if needed

Shaving and Hair-cutting TIPS for Hajj Pilgrims:

§    Never choose street barbers
§    Insist on using disposable shavers
§    Never share hair brush, sponges, etc. with others
§    Ask the barber to wash his hands before shaving or hair-cutting

TIPS to avoid Heat Exhaustion and Sunstrokes during Hajj:

§    Drink enough liquids (Water, Juices, Soups, etc.)
§    Avoid longer exposure to the sun
§    Use an umbrella
§    Avoid making excessive effort
§    Take sufficient rest after making every hajj ritual
§    Wear light and loose clothes
§    The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and sunstrokes include high body temperature, headache,  dizziness, nausea, fatigue, thirst and muscle cramps

TIPS to get protection from Food poisoning during Hajj:

§    Wash fruits and vegetables before eating
§    Check the expiry of canned foods and drinks before buying
§    Never buy uncovered food
§    Wash hands before and after preparing food
§    Wash hands before and after eating
§    Eat foods immediately after cooking
§    Avoid storing foods in buses for long


TIPS to avoid Nausea and Vomiting during Hajj:

§    Do not eat and drink too much
§    Avoid fatty foods
§    Drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration
§     Consult the doctor if vomiting is severe and persisting

TIPS to prevent Diarrhea during Hajj:

§    Avoid fatty foods
§    Check the cleanliness of foods
§    Cook the food properly
§    Do not buy from street vendors
§    Wash hands every now and then
§    Drink much liquid to avoid dehydration
§    Visit the nearest health center if diarrhea persists

TIPS to prevent Constipation during Hajj:

§    Drink enough liquid
§    Avoid cheese and dairy products
§    Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables
§    Eat more prunes which have lots of fiber
§    Avoid caffeinated drinks
§    Consume bulky agents such as fenugreek, flaxseed

TIPS to prevent Dermatological diseases during Hajj:

§    Maintain personal hygiene
§    Take bath regularly
§    Use powder and moisturizing cream when needed
§    Walk using long steps to avoid exfoliation
§    Keep thigh area clean and dry

TIPS to prevent Respiratory diseases during Hajj:

§    Use always a face-mask
§    Change face face-mask every 6 hourly
§    Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing
§    Do not drink ice cold water
§    Keep away from the A/C while sweating

TIPS to prevent Tuberculosis (TB) during Hajj:

§    Use always a face-mask
§    Change face face-mask every 6 hourly
§    Avoid overcrowded places
§    Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing
§    Wash hands every now and then
§    Keep residences well ventilated
§    Inform the Hajj mission doctor, if a fellow hajj coughing all the time

TIPS to prevent Xerophthalmia (Dryness of Eyes) during Hajj:

§    Use sunglasses
§    Consult with oculist before using contact lenses
§    Use moisturizing eye drops after consulting with oculist

General TIPS to perform Hajj:

§    Do not ignite fire inside the tents
§    Do not sleep on the pavements and roadsides
§    Do not get on top of buses or vehicles
§    Do not bump on others
§    Visit nearest health facility if required
§    Follow the directions issued by authorities
§    Do not slaughter the sacrifice on roads
Use the designated toilets only

Monday, 16 February 2015

Pharmacoeconomics:



More Presentations from Dr.Naina Mohamed Pakkir Maideen

Ø Pharmacoeconomics is a branch of health economics which compares the value of one drug to another.
Ø Pharmacoeconomic analysis involves…
¨   Choosing a perspective
¨   Identifying and measuring costs
¨   Identifying and measuring consequences
Ø Common perspectives include:
¨   Patient perspective
¨   Provider perspective
¨   Payer perspective
¨   Society perspective
Ø Healthcare costs are categorised as…
¨   Direct Medical Costs
¨   Direct Nonmedical Costs
¨   Indirect Nonmedical Costs
¨   Intangible Costs
¨   Opportunity Costs
¨   Incremental Costs
Ø Consequences (Outcomes) are categorised as…
¨   Economic outcomes
¨   Clinical outcomes
¨   Humanistic outcomes
¨   Positive outcomes
¨   Negative outcomes
¨   Intermediate outcome
¨   Final outcome
Ø Pharmacoeconomic methodologies include…
¨   Economic evaluations
·       Partial economic evaluations
o  Cost consequence analysis (CCA) or Cost outcome analysis (COA)
o  Cost-of-illness (COI) evaluation
·       Full economic evaluations
o  Cost Minimization Analysis (CMA)
o  Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA)
o  Cost Effectiveness Analysis (CEA)
o  Cost Utility Analysis (CUA)
¨   Humanistic evaluation
·       Health Regulated Quality of Life (HRQOL)
·       Patient preferences
·       Patient satisfaction
Ø Pharmacoeconomic analysis helps to achieve maximum benefit in limited cost.
Ø Pharmacoeconomic data can be a powerful tool to support various clinical decisions, including effective formulary management, individual patient treatment, medication policy, and resource allocation.
Ø By understanding the principles, methods, and application of pharmacoeconomics, healthcare professionals will be prepared to make better, more-informed decisions regarding the use of pharmaceutical products and services.