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Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the pharmacy professionals' understanding and viewpoints on drug information center (DIC) services and differences, if any, with pharmacologist's survey conducted earlier. Materials and Methods: An electronic cross-sectional knowledge, practice, and attitude survey was carried out. A questionnaire in the form of the hyperlink was sent to pharmacy professionals through e-mail, Facebook messenger, and WhatsApp. Factors linked to pharmacy professionals' vision in expanding countrywide DIC services were studied with logistic regression in R. Results: A total of 125 pharmacy professionals responded. The participant believing in the published literature as a standard reference for establishing and running the DIC services; participants identifying more challenges in the day-to-day DIC functioning; and participants believing in the ability of DIC in reducing morbidity, mortality, and cost of care had 4.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.97-6.44), 4.24 (95% CI = 0.97-6.44), and 2.43 (95% CI = 0.97-6.44) times association with good knowledge score. Good attitude scores were discovered of participants working in fully and partially functional DIC (odds ratio [OR] = 9.66, CI = 0.97-6.44 and OR = 9.49, CI = 0.97-6.44) to participants not involved in DIC duties. The participant who understood DIC services' real purpose had 2.83 (95% CI = 0.97-6.44) times association with good practice scores. Overall, pharmacy professionals carried better attitude scores, but lesser knowledge, and practice scores than pharmacology professionals. Conclusion: Lower knowledge and practice score of pharmacy professionals asks for training in critical appraisal of published literature and due modifications in graduate and postgraduate curricula. A collaborative approach between pharmacists and pharmacologists is needed to improve the quality of drug information services and evidence-based medicine practice in low-resource countries like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics are in use for physiological boosting, health supplement, and for treatment since historical time. Recently, the to-and-fro pathways linking the gut with the brain, explaining the indirect communication via modulation of immune function and levels of various neurotransmitters, have been discovered, but how precisely these modulations alter the levels of neurotransmitters contributing to the cognitive and other symptom improvements in patients with schizophrenia remains a new arena of research for psychiatry and psychology professionals. The germ-free mice experiments have been the game changer in the mechanistic exploration. The antimicrobial usage alters the local gut flora and hence is associated with psychiatric side effects that strengthen the association further. The changes in the genetics of these bacteria with different types of diet and its correlation with neurotransmitters production capacity and the psyche of the individual are indeed an emerging field for schizophrenia research. Redressal of issues such as manufacturing, the shelf life of probiotics, and stability of probiotics in the gut milieu, in the presence of food, secretions, and exact volume needed for particular age group will help in refining the dose duration of probiotic therapy. Clinical trials are underway for evaluating safety and efficacy in schizophrenia. The gut microorganism transplant and pharmacovigilance of probiotics are important areas yet to be addressed accurately. This paper elucidates the pathways, clinical studies, availability of probiotics in the Indian market with their composition, regulatory issues in India about the probiotic use, and future of probiotic research in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Convolvulus pluricaulis (CP; C. pluricaulis) methanolic extract on Triton WR‐1339‐induced hyperlipidaemia in rats. Methods: The study comprised of six groups namely normal control, experimental control and treatment groups (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of C. pluricaulis, and 65 mg/kg of Fenofibrate). Hyperlipidaemia was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Triton WR‐1339 400 mg/kg in rats. Parameters such as lipid profile, oxidative stress, histological analysis and atherogenic index were evaluated. The plant extract was further studied by HPLC and LCMS, for analyses of active phytochemicals. Key findings: The result of the study showed that C. pluricaulis significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL‐c, MDA levels and atherogenic index while the levels of HDL‐c and GSH were found to be raised. Plant extract at the dose of 400 mg had a consistent effect on all lipid profile parameters. Lower doses (100 and 200 mg) did not produce a statistically significant reduction in LDL‐c. In addition, the protective effect of C. pluricaulis was confirmed by histological analysis. Further, the findings of the study were found to be comparable with fenofibrate. Conclusions: Therefore, the present study suggests that C. pluricaulis has the potential for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicine is a forever-evolving science and commands continuous research. Pharmacologists and pharmacists contribute various amounts of medicine-related information to physicians, while clinicians face challenges in evidence-based medicine practice due to several reasons such as overloaded number of drug approvals, as well as the enormous quantity of scientific research data in medical journals published every day, making it more complicated for doctors to stay updated with the current advancements. This in addition, results in the call for more sophisticated crisis-targeting skills in order to respond to the more complex clinical difficulties that brazen out practitioners today. The drug information center (DIC) service run by Department of Pharmacology is the bridge between doctors by providing accurate, unbiased, up-to-date drug information for better patient care. Novel initiatives, such as antibiotic stewardship programs, therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance, and materiovigilance are being considered by Department of Pharmacology. On a similar note, DIC activities have a huge potential to fit in as an integral part of pharmacology curriculum. Undergraduate, postgraduate, and superspeciality pharmacology curricula are deficient in formal teaching of evidence-based medicine. Western countries have been running variety of courses on drug information like residencies, fellowships for the training of pharmacy, pharmacology postgraduate students for last four decades. This is the need of the hour for a country like India to inculcate such practices for promoting rational use of drugs. This review will highlight how pharmacology and pharmacy curricula can be upgraded so as to contribute for improvement of rational therapeutics in the era where alternative medicines are also considered by patients in disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the effect of a nonselective β-blocker (propranolol) and cardioselective β-blocker (metoprolol) on wound healing in rats using incision and excision wound models and to compare the effect of these drugs on wound healing. Materials and Methods: Propranolol and metoprolol were given orally. Sprague Dawley rats of either sex were used. Incision and excision wound models were used to evaluate the wound-healing activity. Effects of metoprolol and propranolol on tensile strength, period of epithelialization, and hydroxyproline content were observed. Histological analysis was done to see collagen deposition and inflammatory infiltrate. Statistical Analysis Used: The data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Scheffe's test. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 15.0. Results: Administration of propranolol or metoprolol was shown to decrease tensile strength, delay wound contraction and re-epithelialization, increase inflammatory infiltrate, and reduce collagen density and hydroxyproline levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that nonselective and cardioselective β-blockers delay wound healing and these effects are mediated by β1-receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]