Self-Medication Perceptions and Practice of Medical and Pharmacy Students in Serbia.

BACKGROUND: Attitudes towards conventional and complementary medicine among future healthcare professionals can impact their future pharmacotherapy practice. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predisposing factors related to self-medication among medical and pharmacy students. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, on first- and final-year students of medicine and pharmacy. The multivariate Poisson regression model with robust variance was used to identify the main predictors of self-medication. RESULTS: The overall self-medication prevalence in the past year was 81.3%. Independent risk factors for self-medication identified in the regression analysis were the final study year, housing condition, i.e., living in a leased apartment or in a student dormitory in comparison to living with parents, and cigarette consumption. The conventional drugs were the most frequently used, mostly for the symptoms of cold and pain. Final-year students had more confidence in conventional medicines than in herbal drugs and were more aware of the risks of their concomitant use. CONCLUSION: Self-medication is highly prevalent among students of medical sciences, especially among final-year students. Increased medical knowledge led to the higher awareness of the drug interaction risks.

The influence of standardized dry ivy leaf extract on the proportion of nasal secretion after post-septoplasty nasal packing removal.

INTRODUCTION: After post-septoplasty nasal packing removal, a certain proportion of nasal secretion occurs, leading to local and sometimes systemic infections. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine if standardized dry ivy leaf extract application after nasal packing removal influences the reduction of nasal secretion and diminish the occurrence of local infections. METHODS: The study included 70 post-septoplasty patients (divided into two equal groups) whose nasal packing was removed on the third day after the procedure. Group I was treated with standardized dry ivy leaf extract syrup along with regular nasal irrigation for the five days after the nasal packing removal whereas the Group II had only nasal lavage. On the sixth day after nasal packing removal, the quantity of nasal secretion was determined using a visual analog scale and nasal endoscopic examination. RESULTS: The group treated with standardized dry ivy leaf extract syrup had significantly lesser nasal secretion both by subjective patients' assessment (p<0.001) and by nasal endoscopic examination (p=0.003). The post-surgical follow up examination on the sixth day after nasal packing removal showed no development of local infection in the Group I, while in the Group II a local infection was evident in five patients (14.29%) and antibiotic therapy was required. CONCLUSION: The use of the standardized dry ivy leaf extract after nasal packing removal significantly lowers the proportion of nasal secretion.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of Pycnogenol® in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Pycnogenol® (PYC) has already being used as a food supplement and herbal medicine due to its potent antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effect of PYC on acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in rats. The effect of PYC on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was examined by determining biochemical parameters, in vitro antioxidant activity, histological assessment, and oxidative status in liver homogenates. The best antioxidant properties were demonstrated in methanolic extracts. Seven-day pretreatment with PYC suppressed elevation of CYP2E1 protein expression induced by administration of toxic dose of acetaminophen. PYC at 50 mg/kg showed the ability to significantly decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) level compared with the group received acetaminophen. Xanthine oxidase (XOD) enzyme activity was significantly elevated in acetaminophen-treated group compared with control, whereas concomitant administration of PYC in a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly reduced activity of this enzyme. Significant decrease of glutathione (GSH) hepatic content in acetaminophen-intoxicated rats compared with the control rats was improved by concomitant administration of PYC at 50 mg/kg. Protective effect of PYC on acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in rats has showed the best in vitro antioxidant potential expressed in methanolic extract and consequent histological assessment and oxidative status in liver homogenates.

Self-medication with antibiotics in Serbian households: a case for action?

Background Irregular antibiotic use, including self-medication contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. One method of accessing antibiotic use in the community is through obtaining an in house inventory of drugs. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of storage and self-medication with antibiotics agents in households in Novi Sad, Serbia. Setting Households in Novi Sad. Method The study was performed during a 4-month period (October 2015-January 2016) using a sample of 112 households in Novi Sad, Serbia. Two trained interviewers performed the survey by visiting each household. The study consisted of making an inventory of all drugs in household and a semi-structured interview about drug use practices and perceptions. Main outcome measure Number of antibiotics obtained without prescription. Results Out of 112 surveyed households, antibiotics were encountered in 55 (49.1%). Antibiotics constituted 11.98% (92/768) of total number of drug items in households. Out of all antibiotics in households, 41 (44.57%) were not in current use, and presented left-overs from previous treatment. Antibiotics were usually acquired with prescription (67, 67.7%), while about a quarter of packages were used for self-medication-purchased at pharmacy without prescription (19, 20.65%) or obtained through friends or family member (6, 6.52%).The most commonly used antibiotics for self-medication was amoxicillin (reported indications included common cold, cough, pharyngitis and tooth-ache). Conclusion Antibiotics were present in large share of households in Novi Sad. Self-medication with antibiotics and sale of antibiotics without prescription represent an important problem in Serbia.

Antioxidative and Protective Actions of Apigenin in a Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity Rat Model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Apigenin is known to have various pharmacological properties without causing significant toxicity; however, hepatoprotective effect of apigenin is not often reported. The aim of our study was to investigate if the alterations in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status are in favor to prove the efficacy of apigenin against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: The effect of apigenin on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was examined by determining biochemical parameters, histological assessment and oxidative status in liver homogenates. RESULTS: The treatment of animals with both apigenin and paracetamol attenuates the parameters of hepatotoxicity, especially for ALT and ALP activity which was significantly lower compared to groups of animals treated with saline and paracetamol. Hepatotoxicity induced by toxic dose of paracetamol was revealed also by notable histopathological alterations, which were not observed in the group treated with paracetamol together with apigenin. Apigenin also prevented paracetamol-induced increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The activities of both CAT (catalase) and GR (glutathione reductase) enzymes after the toxic dose of paracetamol were significantly increased in the liver homogenates, compared to control group. Apigenin reversed these parameters near to values of control group. CONCLUSIONS: The result of our study indicates that apigenin inhibits the level of lipid peroxidation and significantly increases the enzyme antioxidant defense mechanisms in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.