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)

Public use of ChatGPT for medication information in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adults in Saudi Arabia to explore public use of ChatGPT for medication-related information. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms and analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Among 475 respondents, nearly two-thirds reported using ChatGPT to...

Antibiotic prescribing practice for pediatric respiratory tract infections in a tertiary care hospital in Iraq

Prescribing antibiotics for pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) remains poorly studied in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to evaluate the quality of antibiotic prescribing for in-hospital pediatric patients with RTIs, identify predictors of this practice, and evaluate patients’ clinical outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted...

Role of IL-13 in allergic rhinitis inflammation: Preliminary results

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a major public health problem with a growing global prevalence, currently affecting approximately 30% of the world population. There remains limited understanding of how local cytokine production patterns following nasal allergen challenge relate to clinical symptoms, particularly in the context of the late-phase allergic response. Interleukin-13 (IL-13...

Effectiveness of a pharmacist-led medication management review service in improving adherence among adult females with depression and anxiety: A two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial

Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the effect of medication management review service (MMR) provided by pharmacist on the medication adherence for females diagnosed with depression and anxiety in Jordan, and to estimate the effect of different patient factors on their medication adherence. Method: Recruited patients who visited an outpatient psychiatric clinic at the...

Immune-regulating complex orchestrates protection against sepsis

The prognosis of sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction with high mortality, is closely related to the immune function of the host. It was found that the toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 signaling pathway could be activated to achieve the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Herein, a kind of immune-regulating complex is constructed by simple mixing R848, a TLR 7/8 agonist, with...

Modulation of arylnaphthalene lignan accumulation in Linum alpinum in vitro root cultures by methyl jasmonate

Linum alpinum L. is a promising source of arylnaphthalene lignans, including justicidin B (JB). In vitro root cultures (RC) of L. alpinum were investigated for JB accumulation and its modulation by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). JB content was quantified by LC-HRESI-MS over a 30-day cultivation period. The modulatory effect of MeJA was evaluated after the 5th day of application at...

Cost-effectiveness analysis of interprofessional collaboration in management of blood pressure in hemodialysis outpatients with end-stage renal disease

This 6-month study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of an interprofessional collaboration (IPC) program for hemodialysis outpatients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We compared a control group (n = 100) with an IPC group (n = 96) at Dr. Pirngadi Hospital, Indonesia, from a payer’s perspective. The IPC team, including a nephrologist, nurses, and pharmacists, provided...

Comparative evaluation of erythromycin release and mechanical properties in gelatin, hydrolyzed carrageenan, and carrageenan–maltodextrin hard-shell capsules

The mechanical behavior, formulation performance, and erythromycin release kinetics of hard-shell capsules prepared from gelatin, hydrolyzed carrageenan (HC), and hydrolyzed carrageenan–maltodextrin (HC-MD) systems were comparatively evaluated. Capsules were produced using a dip-coating method and assessed for weight variation, mechanical strength, degree of swelling...

Steroid- and immunosuppressive-resistant nephrotic syndrome in focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and hyalinosis (FSGSH) with progressive chronic kidney disease: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges

This report presents a complex case of an 18-year-old patient with multiresistant nephrotic syndrome secondary to focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and hyalinosis (FSGSH), characterized by massive proteinuria (47 to 11 g/24 h), severe hypoproteinemia (albumin 6–17 g/L), immunologic abnormalities (C3, IgM, and C1q deposits), dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway...

Time series analysis and modelling of MIS-C cases: can we predict MIS-C cases by new cases in the 0–18 age group?

Background: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe complication following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Early recognition and forecasting may support preparedness and clinical resource allocation. Objective: We aimed to model the temporal relationship between COVID-19 incidence and MIS-C cases using time series analysis. Materials and methods: We...

Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses of Typhoid Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccination in Indonesia

Typhoid fever has a substantial economic impact in developing countries, including in Indonesia. As the most cost-effective intervention to prevent typhoid fever, vaccination has not yet been introduced in the country. This study aimed to analyse the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of typhoid vaccination strategies, focusing on high-burden regions in Indonesia. This study...

Public attitudes on vaccines and seasonal influenza vaccination in Bulgaria

Vaccination has been scientifically proven to be the safest and most effective means of protection against influenza and of limiting the spread of the virus that causes it. Based on an anonymous questionnaire-based survey conducted among 1038 Bulgarian citizens, we found that only 16.76% had been vaccinated against seasonal influenza, while only 26.69% expressed willingness to be...

Anti-psoriatic effects of topical ezetimibe on imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model

Objective: This work aims to estimate the effectiveness of topically administered ezetimibe on an imiquimod-evoked psoriasis-like mouse model. Methods: Twenty-four albino mice were assorted equally into four groups (6 animals in every group), comprising controls, induction, calcipotriol 0.05% (standard drug), and ezetimibe 3%. The topical medications were administered for 7...

Analysis and assessment of medical-economic indicators for the activities of the in-hospital department of the University Hospital “Tsaritsa Yoanna – ISUL” in the period 2013–2024

Hospital activities, and in-hospital activities in particular, represent one of the most resource-intensive parts of the health system, and their effectiveness depends to a significant extent on the rational management of financial costs. This study analyzes the dynamics of basic medical-economic indicators – average cost per patient, daily costs divided by the number of hospital...

Analysis and assessment of the quality indicators of the inpatient activity of the University Hospital “Tsaritsa Yoanna – ISUL” in the period 2013–2024

Hospital care, and inpatient activity in particular, is a key component of the health system, providing comprehensive treatment and highly specialized, continuous care for patients. This study tracks the main trends and dynamics in the quality indicators of inpatient activity at the University Hospital “Tsaritsa Yoanna – ISUL” during the period 2013–2024. The results show...

Features of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) for asthma

Objective: Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) can support effective asthma self-management interventions, improving patients’ quality of life while reducing costs for healthcare systems. This article aims to identify trends in app features relevant to the future development of reliable mHealth asthma support applications that can meet the challenges of the new century...

Developing a national digital platform for detecting potentially inappropriate medications: adaptation of the EU(7)-PIM list to Bulgarian healthcare practice

Objective: Population aging in Europe, particularly in Bulgaria, where adults ≥ 65 years represent 24% of the population, increases risks related to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP), and potentially inappropriate medications (PIM). This study aimed to adapt the EU(7)-PIM List for the national context, assess national market availability of...

Inflammatory biomarker profile in optimal and suboptimal responder psoriasis patients treated with ustekinumab

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory skin condition characterized by uncontrolled keratinocyte proliferation and potential systemic manifestations. Its pathogenesis involves activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses, leading to an imbalance in inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 are key cytokines in the pathophysiology of psoriasis and...

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of novel hydrazone derivatives in experimental models of hepatotoxicity in vitro

The safety profile of two newly synthesized series of hydrazone derivatives (7a–e and 8a–e) was studied in different liver-derived cell and subcellular culture models, i.e., isolated rat liver hepatocytes and microsomes, and the HepG2 cell line. The hydrazones, which have previously been reported to possess neuroprotective and antioxidant activity, were further assessed for...

Urachal cancer: a rare and aggressive malignancy - clinical case report and therapeutic management

Urachal carcinoma is a rare and aggressive tumor arising from the embryonic remnant connecting the bladder dome to the umbilicus. It accounts for less than 1% of bladder cancers and typically affects patients aged 52 to 59 years. Surgical resection with negative margins is the mainstay of treatment for localized disease, often involving urachal excision, partial or radical...

Enhancing ibuprofen solubility via a novel cocrystallization strategy: Experimental and computational insights

Ibuprofen (IBP), a BCS Class II drug, exhibits poor solubility and a high sticking tendency during compression in tablet manufacturing. This study presents a novel ultrasound-assisted cocrystallization method using nicotinamide (NIC) as a coformer at a 1:1 molar ratio in acetonitrile, followed by sonication at 50 kHz for 10–60 minutes. Differential scanning calorimetry and powder...

Wearable health-tracking technologies in pregnancy: capabilities, clinical evidence, and implementation challenges

Wearable health-tracking technologies are increasingly incorporated into prenatal care to enable continuous, noninvasive monitoring of maternal and fetal health. Devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart rings, and medical-grade biosensors can collect longitudinal data on physiological parameters, including heart rate, physical activity, sleep patterns, and pregnancy...

Design and in silico study of thiourea–pyrazolopyrimidine hybrids as dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors for cancer therapy

Background: Cancer remains a major cause of mortality worldwide, with the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway playing a crucial role in tumor progression, proliferation, and therapeutic resistance. Although several dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors have been developed, their clinical outcomes remain limited due to poor bioavailability, significant toxicities, and rapid resistance. Molecular...

Biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic characterization of sodium alendronate-loaded self-double-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SDEDDS)

The poor intestinal permeability of sodium alendronate (NaALD), a BCS Class III drug, severely limits its oral bioavailability. The self-double-emulsifying drug delivery system (SDEDDS) formulation containing phosphatidylcholine (PLG 1.1) demonstrated its ability to form micro- and nano-emulsions under gastric and intestinal conditions, as well as superior permeation across a...

Treatment of septic shock complicated by mediastinitis after HeartMate 3 BiVAD implantation using echo-guided device parameter optimization: a case report

Introduction: Septic shock complicated by poststernotomy mediastinitis in patients with mechanical circulatory support devices is a rare and life-threatening condition associated with high mortality. Management is particularly challenging because of the presence of prosthetic material and the risk of device contamination. Case presentation: We report a 63-year-old man with end...