Pharmacia

<p><b>Pharmacia</b> is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary medical journal devoted to pharmaceutical and allied sciences. Topics covered are: analytics, biochemistry, biopharmaceutics, biotechnology, cell cultures, clinical pharmacy, drug delivery, drug design, drug disposition, drug stability, medicinal chemistry, metabolism, molecular modelling, basic and clinical pharmacology, pharmacognosy, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, social pharmacy, radiopharmaceuticals, toxicology.</p> <p>The journal is published by the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Science Society since 1954. Since 2019, it is published in a collaboration with the ARPHA platform of Pensoft Publishers. The journal archive is available online since 2007.</p>

List of Papers (Total 1,014)

In vitro evaluation of the effects of flavonoids and saponins from Chenopodium bonus-henricus L. on non-enzyme-induced lipid peroxidation in isolated rat liver microsomes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 15 saponins and flavonoids from the roots and aerial parts of C. bonus-henricus L. on non-enzymatic (Fe2+/AA)-induced lipid peroxidation in isolated rat liver microsomes. The production of MDA was used as a marker of lipid peroxidation. All saponins exhibited pronounced antioxidant activity (reducing MDA production by 17–23...

Real-world effectiveness of Ruxolitinib: analysis and comparison with COMFORT-II

The analysis included 466 patients with myelofibrosis on treatment with ruxolitinib. The PFS at 12th, 20th, 30th, 40th, and 50th month was 88%, 83%, 75%, 65%, and 61% respectively. Median for PFS was reached at 73.5 months. OS median was reached at 48.2 months. OS at month 12th, 20th, 30th, and 40th month was 87%, 78%, 70%, and 56% respectively. Eligible patients for comparison...

IR-spectrophotometric identification and quantification of nitrofurazone

Nitrofurazone is a synthetic semicarbazone from the nitrofuran class and exhibits activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The aim of the current study includes the development and validation of a highly sensitive, fast, easy-to-perform, and non-destructive IR spectrophotometric method for the identification and quantification of nitrofurazone with respect to...

The clinical pharmacist’s role in optimising the management of menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a narrative review

Breast cancer survivors frequently experience menopausal symptoms resulting from treatment-induced ovarian failure, ovarian suppression, and prolonged endocrine therapy. The symptoms may be abrupt and severe, substantially affecting quality of life and complicating survivorship care. Systemic menopausal hormone therapy is generally contraindicated in hormone receptor-positive...

Effectiveness of ribociclib in metastatic breast cancer in one hospital in Bulgaria—results from real-world clinical practice

Real-world evidence (RWE) complements randomized clinical trial data by demonstrating treatment effectiveness in routine practice and unselected populations. Despite the broad use of ribociclib, real-world data remain limited, particularly in Eastern Europe. This retrospective single-center analysis evaluated outcomes in Bulgarian patients treated with ribociclib and compared...

Characterization of the essential oil of Mucuna pruriens (L.) leaves cultivated in Bulgaria

Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC, a member of the Fabaceae family, represents one of the most extensively studied species within the genus Mucuna. It is an annual, tropical, leguminous medicinal plant widely utilized in traditional Ayurvedic medicine throughout Asia and Africa. Globally, it is recognized as a plant employed in the management of Parkinson’s disease. It is also valued for...

Natural products targeting Candida auris: A pharmaceutical review

Candida auris is an emerging, multidrug-resistant yeast that can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections. A literature search of the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases identified natural products from plant, microbial, and animal sources. These agents have shown varying degrees of activity against C. auris, ranging from growth inhibition to biofilm prevention or...

Finerenone in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease: A retrospective clinical study

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease progression and increased cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Despite optimized standard therapy, substantial residual renal risk persists. Finerenone, a selective non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, has demonstrated cardiorenal benefits in...

Development of silver nanoparticle-based bioadhesive films for the treatment of soft tissue infections in the oral cavity

The application of transparent bioadhesive films is an aesthetic and patient-friendly solution for promoting the recovery of infections affecting the oral mucosa (e.g., on the lips, gums, and cheeks). Targeting the causative agent(s) of such infections is an even better alternative, offering not only protection, pain relief, and reduction of spreading but also actual healing...

From a failed blood donation attempt to the curing of hepatitis C infection: a case report

Blood transfusions are essential for effective treatment and high-quality patient care. Screening donated blood for pathogens enables early detection of infections, reduces the risk of disease transmission, and enhances public trust in blood safety. Identifying viruses such as the hepatitis C virus (HCV) facilitates the timely initiation of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy...

Comparative study on the effects of Portulaca oleracea extract and a commercial dietary supplement in spontaneously hypertensive rats with induced type 2 diabetes

This study aimed to compare the antimetabolite effects of Portulaca oleracea (purslane) extract (EPO) and a commercial dietary supplement composed of chromium, cinnamon, and purslane extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The study evaluated the impact of these bioactive substances on body weight and serum and liver biomarkers. Treatment...

Lipophilic compounds in Pulmonaria rubra and their in vitro activity

Pulmonaria rubra Schott (Boraginaceae) is a scarcely investigated congener of the medicinal species P. officinalis. This study aimed to characterize the lipophilic constituents of the dichloromethane extract from P. rubra aerial parts (PR-DCM) and to evaluate its antioxidant and neuroprotective activity in vitro, as well as its effects on monoamine oxidase (MAO) and major...

The journey of lung cancer patients through the health care system in Bulgaria: Insights from patient-reported outcomes

In recent years, there has been a growing body of literature on how digital technologies enhance patient engagement through patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The evaluation of PROs related to patients’ experiences of diagnosis and treatment, as well as their interactions with health care professionals and the health care system, provides important insights into how digital...

Preliminary survey findings on PharmaBot – a retrieval-augmented chatbot for insulin safety information and pharmacovigilance support

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) pose a significant patient-safety concern, contributing to substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. Source-grounded chatbots have the potential to enhance pharmacovigilance by improving access to regulated medicine information and reducing barriers to ADR reporting. We created a prototype of a web-based chatbot (PharmaBot...

Determinants of telepharmacy acceptance and medication adherence among hemodialysis patients (TEAM-HD): a cross-sectional study from Indonesia and Malaysia

The socioeconomic burden of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in Malaysia and Indonesia necessitates innovative care strategies. The TEAM-HD study assessed medication adherence and telepharmacy acceptance among hemodialysis patients in Selangor (Malaysia) and South Sulawesi (Indonesia). From April 2023 to April 2024, 131 patients (Malaysia: 71; Indonesia: 60), aged ≥ 18 years and...

Therapeutic considerations in herpes-associated secondary glaucoma – clinical cases

Herpetic uveitis, most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is a frequent cause of secondary glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in these patients is primarily due to inflammatory trabeculitis, trabecular meshwork obstruction, and steroid-induced mechanisms. IOP control is often challenging, and some cases require surgical...

Influence of halogen substitution on the electronic structure and reactivity of bexarotene-derived hydrazones: insights from DFT descriptors

Bexarotene is a clinically approved anticancer agent belonging to the retinoid class. Integrating the retinoid scaffold with a hydrazone moiety represents a promising strategy for modulating electronic properties relevant to receptor binding and desired biological activity. However, the electronic effects of halogen substitution within the retinoid–hydrazone framework have not...

Electronic structure, reactivity, and predicted biological activity of halogenated isatin-pyridine Schiff bases: a DFT study

Isatin derivatives have been at the forefront of pharmaceutical research, displaying a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. In this study, twelve isatin-pyridine Schiff bases were evaluated using density functional theory (DFT) methods to examine the influence of pyridyl ring orientation (2-, 3-, and 4-aminopyridine...

Socio-demographic factors associated with non-adherents to TB treatment in South Africa

Non-adherence to tuberculosis treatment is the main obstacle to its eradication worldwide, with 40% of patients reported in underdeveloped nations. The current study aimed to determine socio-demographic factors associated with non-adherents to TB treatment at a healthcare center in South Africa. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 65 patients undergoing treatment. Socio...

RP-HPLC method for monitoring the synthetic process of N-pyrrolyl-hydrazone compounds with bioactive potential

The development of an efficient reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method is crucial for monitoring the synthetic process of N-pyrrolyl-hydrazone compounds with bioactive potential. This study outlines the optimization of chromatographic conditions, including stationary and mobile phases, to achieve optimal separation and resolution of target compounds...

Oncopharmacological aspects of Bcr-Abl inhibitors: from revolutionary structure-based design to clinical resistance

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) represents the first oncological disease in which a direct relationship between a genetic mutation and neoplasia formation has been established. The Philadelphia chromosome leads to the expression of a tyrosine kinase with constitutive activity, providing the basis for the development of targeted pharmacotherapy. The introduction of imatinib marked...

Clinical outcomes in severe asthma patients switching biologic therapies: A real-world cohort analysis

Background: Severe asthma is a heterogeneous condition in which biologic therapies targeting type 2 inflammation have substantially improved disease control. However, a proportion of patients fail to achieve a sustained response, necessitating biologic switching in routine clinical practice. Objective: Evaluate real-world patterns, clinical outcomes, and determinants of biologic...

Delphi study on barriers to the implementation of a national clinical pharmacy practice guideline – results from Bulgaria

Although postgraduate training in clinical pharmacy has been established in Bulgaria since 1986, the practical implementation and standardization of clinical pharmacy practice remain insufficiently studied and documented. This Delphi study explored barriers to introducing a national clinical pharmacy practice guideline. Eight clinical pharmacists from six university hospitals...

Impact of pharmacy automation on dispensing efficiency, medication safety, and user satisfaction in hospital pharmacies: A systematic review and meta-analysis of G20 countries

Aim: This study assessed the effects of pharmacy automation on dispensing efficiency, medication safety, and user satisfaction in hospital pharmacies across G20 countries. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect identified studies evaluating dispensing-related automation in hospital settings. Eligible studies were analyzed using Review Manager 5.4...

Cataract after laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity – challenges in pediatric ophthalmology

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most serious eye diseases affecting prematurely born infants. Modern treatment methods, including laser photocoagulation, have significantly reduced the incidence of blindness and severe visual impairment due to tractional retinal detachment, macular folds, or excessive myopia. However, long-term complications are still observed in...