Volume 65 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Phospholipid-based non-viral carriers composed of neutral phospholipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and the binary mixture DOPE–oleic acid (OA) are examined as potential DNA delivery vectors. The process of DNA condensation in the presence of Ca²⁺ ions has been monitored through changes in emmision intensity of fluorescent probe ethidium bromide. The decline in fluorescence intensity with increasing Ca²⁺ concentration at two different time intervals was correlated with the binding capacity of complexes and possible release of DNA from the complex. The microstructure of DOPE–OA mixtures at different OA/DOPE molar ratios and that of DOPE–OA–DNA–Ca²⁺ complexes were determined using synchrotron small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXD). We identified inverted hexagonal phase H_II as the dominant structure. OA affects the lattice parameter of H_II formed by DOPE. With the increasing OA/DOPE molar ratio, the lattice parameter decreases, which results in significantly lower fraction of DNA bound to the OA-enriched complexes.

The aim of our analysis is the estimation of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) competitiveness level, calculation of capacity, share and saturation of studied segment of market that allow to improve the competitive strategies of pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to the results of content-analysis of foreign and native economic literature, we elaborated the methodology of estimation of NSAID competitive positions that consists of six main stages. The offered model of estimation of competitiveness of the studied group of medicines is based on the construction of competition map of medicines on the example of non-selective NSAID as the largest group by the number of presented trade names (TN) using the calculation of market share of medicines for 2015-2016 and dynamics of its growth.

RESULTS: The results of NSAID TN distribution in groups according to the market share volume testify that only 8 TN of medicines among 74 are the leaders of market and 10 TN are characterized with strong competitive position. At the same time 51 NSAID TN are outsiders and 5 TN have weak competitive position.

The results of NSAID TN distribution in groups according to the change of their competitive position allow state that 16 TN among 74 have fast worsening competitive position, 43 TN belong to the group with worsening competitive position and only 5 TN has competitive position, characterized by fast improvement.

CONCLUSION: The analysis of position, occupied by NSAID TN in matrix, demonstrated that 8 TM of medicines are the leaders of the market. At the same time 51 medicines TN are outsiders. The results of research demonstrated that 59 NSAID TN are characterized with worsening and fast worsening competitive positions.

Introduction: Intervention of pharmacists in medication adherence can meaningfully contribute to achieving therapeutic outcomes. Exploring the real-life readiness and opportunities of pharmacists may result in the adoption of measures, which could be seen through improvement of patients’ adherence to pharmacotherapy.

Aim: The aim of the paper was to make a survey on community pharmacists’ potential in medication adherence support in its connectivity to technical and personnel factors, which underline the capacities of pharmacies in dealing with medication adherence.

Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted from October to December 2014 and involved 158 pharmacists from 117 Czech (CZ) and 41 Slovak (SK) community pharmacies. The structured questionnaire surveyed both technical and personnel factors, including provision of consultancy services related to medication adherence. Non-adherence risk reduction was evaluated by adopting Morisky Scale modified from the pharmacist’s perspective. Questionnaires outcomes were summarised in contingency tables and analyzed for associations between respective categorical variables using χ² or exact tests and association coefficients. All results are reported as significant at P≤0.05.

Results: The average score of adherence support (CZ/SK 1.95/1.93) was significantly higher as compared to that of persistence or concordance (P<0.001). Reduction of non-adherence risk reached the score of a medium degree (P=0.73, average 2.29 in CZ and 2.22 in SK). These findings were significantly associated with personnel capacities (provision of consultancy, preference for the use of recommended procedures in CZ (P<0.001), number of years of practice in SK (P=0.029)), while significant association with technical equipment (consultancy room) in the SK (P=0.037).

Conclusion: The pharmaceutical care is developing towards the improvement of medication adherence in both countries - assuming a medium degree of adherence support. Further progress may be observed in strengthening the pharmacists’ personnel capacities, and accelerated mainly using information technologies, i.e. through technical capacities.

After years of mainly expert discussions (not only in the Slovak legal environment), the concept of and legislation on re-export offer a sort of solution provided for in the Act no. 306/2016 Coll. Said act amends the key legislation in this field, namely the Act no. 362/2011 Coll. on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices and on the amendment of certain acts, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “Act on Medicinal Products”) and the Act no. 363/2011 Coll. on the Scope and Conditions of Payments for Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Dietetic Foods from Public Health Insurance and on the amendment of certain acts, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “Act on Payments”). The topic of the paper belongs in the area of medicinal products and pharmaceutical services, it offers, however, significant overlaps in the area of the constitutional, administrative and European law and is aimed at multidisciplinary research into the issue of the reverse export (re-export) of medicinal products. Besides these laws, also the Constitution of the Slovak Republic (“SR”) and the sources of the European Law have to be taken into account in relation to the subject in question. The main aim of legislation in this area of law was restriction on the re-export of selected products and protection of patients from adverse impacts of such business activity. The aim of the paper is the authors’ effort to analyse the issue of the re-export of medicinal products within the context of the adopted Act no. 306/2016 Coll., whose legislative solution is inevitable for the protection of life and health of the population of the Slovak Republic.

Aim: Sildenafil citrate is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). As for both clinical applications, the only available dosage form is tablets; there is a clear need for a safe oral liquid, especially for children. The objective of this study was to determine the stability of sildenafil citrate in SyrSpend® SF PH4, a suspending agent containing neither sorbitol nor alcohol.

Material/Methods: The studied sample was compounded into a 2.5-mg/mL suspension and stored in low-actinic plastic bottles at temperatures between 2 and 8°C and at room temperature conditions. Six samples were assayed at each time point out to 92 days by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The method was validated for its specificity through forceddegradation studies.

Results: The samples remained within 90–110% of the initial concentration throughout the course of the study. Conclusions: On the basis of the data collected, the beyond-use date of this product is at least 92 days when protected from light at both refrigerated and room temperature storage conditions.