Perception of pharmacists regarding human resources, training, and development of a national hospital pharmacy: a preliminary report on Basel Statements

Abstract The hospital pharmacy needs a constant process of evaluation and monitoring of its activities. In Brazil, several agencies establish tasks and duties for pharmacists, but little is known about the compliance and the perception of the professional regarding these policies. The present study aims to characterize the pharmacist's perception of Brazilian hospital pharmacy policies according to the Basel Statements. A search was performed for the contacts of all medium and high complexity hospitals in the country. Subsequently, a questionnaire elaborated following the Basel Statements was sent by e-mail to hospital pharmacists throughout the country. The domain analyzed was "Human Resources, Training, and Development". Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0. Pharmacists representing a total of 111 hospitals from all Brazilian regions answered the survey questionnaire and showed that more than half of the hospital pharmacists perceive themselves as not complying, whether in the service of local, national, or pharmaceutical education. Besides updating the professionals in relation to national policies, it is necessary that the representative bodies of the pharmaceutical class be more present in the elaboration and evaluation of the policies directed to human resources, seeking uniformity and the possibility of carrying out the activities required.

Predicting combinative drug pairs via multiple classifier system with positive samples only.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to the synergistic effects of drugs, drug combination is one of the effective approaches for treating complex diseases. However, the identification of drug combinations by dose-response methods is still costly. It is promising to develop supervised learning-based approaches to predict potential drug combinations on a large scale. Nevertheless, these approaches have the inadequate utilization of heterogeneous features, which causes the loss of information useful to classification. Moreover, they have an intrinsic bias, because they assume unknown drug pairs as non-combinations, of which some could be real drug combinations in practice. METHODS: To address above issues, this work first designs a two-layer multiple classifier system (TLMCS) to effectively integrate heterogeneous features involving anatomical therapeutic chemical codes of drugs, drug-drug interactions, drug-target interactions, gene ontology of drug targets, and side effects. To avoid the bias caused by labelling unknown samples as negative, it then utilizes the one-class support vector machines, (which requires no negative instance and only labels approved drug combinations as positive instances), as the member classifiers in TLMCS. Last, both a 10-fold cross validation (10-CV) and a novel prediction are performed to validate the performance of TLMCS. RESULTS: The comparison with three state-of-the-art approaches under 10-CV exhibits the superiority of TLMCS, which achieves the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.824 and the area under the precision-recall curve = 0.372. Moreover, the experiment under the novel prediction demonstrates its ability, where 9 out of the top-20 predicted combinative drug pairs are validated by checking the published literature. Furthermore, for each of the newly-validated drug combinations, this work analyses the combining mode of the member drugs and investigates their relationship in terms of drug targeting pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed TLMCS provides an effective framework to integrate those heterogeneous features and is trained by only positive samples such that the bias of taking unknown drug pairs as negative samples can be avoided. Furthermore, its results in the novel prediction reveal five types of drug combinations and three types of drug relationships in terms of pathways.

¿Harán los Robots el trabajo del Farmacéutico? / No disponible

No disponible

Evaluation of a closed-system cytotoxic transfer device in a pharmaceutical isolator.

PURPOSE: The occupational risk associated with handling of cytotoxic anticancer drugs is well documented and, in many countries, pharmaceutical isolators are used to contain cytotoxic residues during preparation of cytotoxic infusions. Isolators are difficult to clean leading to concerns that cytotoxic contamination from the work area could be transferred to surfaces of products leaving the isolator. This study investigated the surface contamination arising from the preparation of five anticancer drug infusions (Epirubicin, Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin and Carboplatin) in a pharmaceutical isolator and compared use of a conventional syringe and needle technique with a closed-system drug transfer device (CSDTD). METHODS: Wipe samples were taken over 1 week from pre-defined areas in the isolator, gloves, preparation mats, and also from the surfaces of prepared cytotoxic infusion bags and pre-filled syringes to obtain baseline surface contamination data. Following operator familiarisation, the CSDTD was then introduced and sampling repeated for a further week (intervention period). The samples obtained were analysed using validated HPLC-UV, HPLC-FL and ICP-MS techniques, as appropriate. RESULTS: All surfaces sampled during baseline, including external surfaces of infusions and syringes, were contaminated with each marker drug. During the intervention phase, isolator surfaces were free from detectable contamination and the contamination measured on gloves, preparation mats and surface of infusions was markedly reduced. The frequency of contamination on syringe and infusion surfaces was also lower. CONCLUSION: Surface contamination from cytotoxic infusion preparation in a pharmaceutical isolator was significant and could transmit cytotoxic residues to patient and public areas via infusion surfaces. The frequency and amount of contamination were reduced by the CSDTD.

Development, test-retest reliability and validity of the Pharmacy Value-Added Services Questionnaire (PVASQ) / Desarrollo, confiabilidad test-retest y validez del pharmacy value-added services questionnaire (PVASQ)

Objective: (i) To develop the Pharmacy Value-Added Services Questionnaire (PVASQ) using emerging themes generated from interviews. (ii) To establish reliability and validity of questionnaire instrument. Methods: Using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical model, face-to-face interviews generated salient beliefs of pharmacy value-added services. The PVASQ was constructed initially in English incorporating important themes and later translated into the Malay language with forward and backward translation. Intention (INT) to adopt pharmacy value-added services is predicted by attitudes (ATT), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), knowledge and expectations. Using a 7-point Likert-type scale and a dichotomous scale, test-retest reliability (N=25) was assessed by administrating the questionnaire instrument twice at an interval of one week apart. Internal consistency was measured by Cronbach’s alpha and construct validity between two administrations was assessed using the kappa statistic and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Confirmatory Factor Analysis, CFA (N=410) was conducted to assess construct validity of the PVASQ. Results: The kappa coefficients indicate a moderate to almost perfect strength of agreement between test and retest. The ICC for all scales tested for intra-rater (testretest) reliability was good. The overall Cronbach’ s alpha (N=25) is 0.912 and 0.908 for the two time points. The result of CFA (N=410) showed most items loaded strongly and correctly into corresponding factors. Only one item was eliminated. Conclusions: This study is the first to develop and establish the reliability and validity of the Pharmacy Value- Added Services Questionnaire instrument using the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical model. The translated Malay language version of PVASQ is reliable and valid to predict Malaysian patients’ intention to adopt pharmacy value-added services to collect partial medicine supply (AU)

Objetivo: (i) Desarrollar el Pharmacy Value-Added Services Questionnaire (PVASQ) utilizando temas salidos de entrevistas, (ii) establecer la fiabilidad y validez del cuestionario. Métodos: Utilizando la Teoría del Comportamiento Planeado aumentada como modelo teórico, unas entrevistas presenciales extrajeron los creencias sobre los servicios farmacéuticos de valor añadido. Se construyó el PVASQ inicialmente en Ingles incorporando temas importantes y más tarde se tradujo al malayo, con traducción y retro-traducción. La Intención (INT) de adoptar servicio farmacéuticos de valor añadido se predice por las Actitudes (ATT), Normal Subjetiva (SN), Control Comportamental Percibido (PBC), Conocimiento y Expectativas. Usando una escala de Likert de 7 puntos y una escala dicotómica se evaluó la fiabilidad test-retest (N=25) administrando el cuestionario dos veces en el intervalo de una semana. La consistencia interna se midió con el alfa de Cronbach y la validez de constructo entre dos administradores se evaluó con el estadístico kappa y el coeficiente intra-clase (ICC). Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio (CFA) (N=410) para evaluar la validad de constructo del PVASQ. Resultados: Los coeficientes kappa indicaron una fuerza de acuerdo moderada a casi perfecta en el test-retest. Los ICC para todas las escalas probaron que la fiabilidad intra-evaluador (test-retest) era buena. El alfa de Cronbach global (N=25) es de 0,912 y 0,908 para cada tiempo medido. Los resultados del CFA (N=410) mostraron que la mayoría de los ítems cargaban fuerte y correctamente en sus correspondientes factores. Sólo se eliminó un ítem. Conclusiones: Este estudio es el primero para desarrollar y establecer la fiabilidad y validez del Pharmacy Value Added Services Questionnaire utilizando la Teoría del Comportamiento Plneado como modelo teórico. La versión traducida al malayo del PVASQ es fiable y válida para predecir las intenciones de los pacientes para adoptar servicios farmacéuticos de valor añadido al recoger su provisión de medicamentos (AU)

Applications of USP apparatus 3 in assessing the in vitro release of solid oral dosage forms / Aplicações do aparelho USP 3 em avaliar a libertação in vitro de formas de dosagem orais sólidas

USP Apparatus 3 (reciprocating cylinder) is a very versatile device for the in vitro assessment of release characteristics of solid oral dosage forms, because it enables the product to be subjected to different dissolution media and agitation speeds in a single run. In this paper, a brief history and a description of this system are presented, along with its applications in the development of immediate and modified release products and in the simulation of fasted and fed states using biorelevant media. Furthermore, a comparison is made with the basket and paddle apparatus, especially highlighting the superior hydrodynamics of USP apparatus 3, since the results are not sensitive to factors such as the presence of sample collection probes or air bubbles in the dissolution medium...

USP aparato 3 (cilindros recíprocos) é um equipamento bastante versátil para a avaliação das características de liberação in vitro de formas farmacêuticas sólidas orais, pois permite que o produto seja submetido a diferentes meios de dissolução e condições de agitação, em um único ensaio. Neste trabalho, são apresentados um breve histórico e a descrição desse sistema, suas aplicações no desenvolvimento de produtos de liberação imediata e modificada, assim como sua utilização na simulação dos estados não alimentado e alimentado com o emprego de meios biorrelevantes. Além disso, uma comparação é estabelecida com o cesto e a pá, com destaque para a hidrodinâmica superior do USP aparato 3, que faz com que os resultados não sejam influenciados por fatores como o uso de sondas de coleta de amostras ou presença de bolhas de ar no meio de dissolução...

Corcho y taponamiento farmacéutico. La situación en 1930 / Cork and pharmacy stoppers. The situation in 1930

Este artículo tiene como objetivo contribuir al estudio histórico de los mercados clientelares en el sector corchero. Es una apuesta por el largo plazo y por la perspectiva de la historia sectorial como vía para esclarecer aspectos cruciales de la historia económica, relacionados con el negocio farmacéutico, poco conocidos a nivel agregado. Así, a partir de fuentes secundarias, se analiza el caso de los tapones para la industria farmacéutica, grupo que compró grandes cantidades de tapones de corcho durante décadas, hasta entrado el siglo XX. El artículo revela que, entre otras cuestiones, la conciencia de la heterogeneidad de la materia prima, o los problemas organolépticos, siempre preocuparon a los compradores de corcho, provocando en el caso de la farmacia, su abandono definitivo

The main aim of this article is to contribute to the historical study of the clients markets in the cork sector. The study emphasizes the value of a long-term sector history perspective to clarify key aspects of economic history, related to the pharmacy business, little known at added level. Thus, from secondary sources, the article analyzes the case of the cork stoppers bought by the pharmacy industry, a group buying big quantities of stoppers for decades. The paper reveals that, among other issues, the conscience of the heterogeneity of the cork as raw material, or the organoleptic problems, did always worry the cork buyers, provoking in the pharmacy sector, their final exit

Aplicação de instrumento avaliativo para a gestão da assistência farmacêutica na atenção primária à saúde / Evaluative instrument application for the management of pharmaceutical care in primary health care

Documenta a importância de instrumentos analíticos na Gestão da Assistência Farmacêutica para a padronização de processos e organização dos serviços farmacêuticos, bem como mostra como a aplicação desses instrumentos podem contribuir de maneira significativa para a melhoria da qualidade dos serviços farmacêuticos ofertados no Sistema Único de Saúde.

O papel terapêutico do Programa Farmácia Viva e das plantas medicinais / The therapeutic role of the Program Farmacia Viva and the medicinal plants in the center-south of Piauí

RESUMOEste trabalho realizou um levantamento sobre o uso de plantas medicinais na cidade de Picos-PI, identificou as plantas cultivadas no horto pertencente ao Laboratório Fitoterápico de Picos (LAFIPI), e analisou o uso de fitoterápicos dispensados pelo Programa Farmácia Viva no triênio 2008-2010. Do total dos 750 entrevistados, 37,6% foram homens e 62,4 % mulheres, dentre os quais a maioria não concluiu o segundo grau (69,2%) e 77,2% possuíam renda mensal de até dois salários mínimos. Com relação ao consumo de plantas medicinais, 76,3% afirmaram utilizá-las para tratar doenças, principalmente por considerá-las mais saudáveis (84,8%). A indicação do uso foi orientada, sobretudo, por familiares (82,2%), embora a maioria adquira as plantas em feiras livres (32,8%). Das 127 plantas relatadas, as mais citadas foram erva-cidreira, boldo e hortelã, sendo as folhas a parte mais utilizada (42,3%), predominantemente por infusão (39,4%). As aplicações mais lembradas foram para tratar dores em geral (17%), distúrbios respiratórios (16,5%) e digestivos (16%). As espécies mais cultivadas no horto são chambá (Justicia pectoralis), alecrim pimenta (Lippia sidoides), malva santa (Plectranthus barbatus) e erva cidreira (Lippia alba). O lambedor de chambá foi o fitoterápico mais procurado pela população entre 2008 e 2010. Esse estudo descreveu, pela primeira vez, o uso tradicional de plantas medicinais no município de Picos e demonstrou, também de forma inédita, a relevância de investimentos do Programa Farmácia Viva no município de Picos e sua inclusão no Programa Saúde da Família como forma de disponibilizar à população de baixa renda fitoterápicos produzidos localmente a custos reduzidos.

ABSTRACTThis study performed a research about the use of medicinal plants in Picos city, identifying the plants grown in the garden belonging to the Laboratory of Phytotherapics in Picos (LAFIPI) and analying the use of phytotherapics distributed by the Farmácia Viva Project between 2008-2010. From the total of 750 interviewed participants, 37.6% were men and 62.4 % women. Most of them do not have secondary education (69.2%) and 77.2% had an income of up until two minimum wages. Regarding consumption of medicinal plants, 76.3 % used them to treat diseases, mainly because they considered them to be healthier (84.8%). The indication of use of the plants was mainly suggested by relatives (82.2%), even though the majority of the participants acquires plants in open markets (32.8%). From the 127 plants mentioned, the most cited ones were balm, boldo and mint, and leaves were the most utilized parts (42.3%), predominantly by infusion (39.4%). The most common reasons for the usewere to treat pain in general (17%), and respiratory (16.5%) and digestive disorders (16%). The most cultivated species in the garden were chambá (Justicia pectoralis), alecrim pimenta (Lippia sidoides), malva santa (Plectranthus barbatus) and erva cidreira (Lippia alba). The "chambá licker" was the most herbal medicine searched by the population between 2008 and 2010. This investigation described, for the first time, the traditional use of medicinal plants in Picos and demonstrated,alsounprecedentedly, the relevance of investments in the Farmácia Viva Project in Picos city and its inclusion in the Family Health Program as a strategyin order to provide locally producedphytotherapics for low-income population at low costs.

Vial washers for the compounding pharmacy: ensuring preparation safety.

The safety and effectiveness of customized formulations have always been priorities for compounding pharmacists, perhaps even more so since a tragic outbreak of meningitis in 2012 was traced to preparations from the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts. Since that time, pharmaceutical compounding in the U.S. has been the focus of renewed interest from the public and from government organizations and regulatory bodies created to ensure patient safety. As a result, responsible compounders have responded to ensure--to even greater levels--the purity and safety of the formulations they prepare. One tool useful in doing so is the mechanical vial washer, which can produce cleaner vials (and/or ampules, syringes, and cartridges, depending on the washer model) more consistently than does washing vessels by hand. In this article, several such washers appropriate for use in a compounding pharmacy are profiled, and a pharmacist's experience in using one of those models is described.

Pharmaceutical dust exposure at pharmacies using automatic dispensing machines: a preliminary study.

Automatic dispensing machines (ADMs) used in pharmacies concentrate and dispense large volumes of pharmaceuticals, including uncoated tablets that can shed dust. We evaluated 43 employees' exposures to pharmaceutical dust at three pharmacies where ADMs were used. We used an optical particle counter to identify tasks that generated pharmaceutical dust. We collected 72 inhalable dust air samples in or near the employees' breathing zones. In addition to gravimetric analysis, our contract laboratory used internal methods involving liquid chromatography to analyze these samples for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and/or lactose, an inactive filler in tablets. We had to choose samples for these additional analyses because many methods used different extraction solvents. We selected 57 samples for analysis of lactose. We used real-time particle monitoring results, observations, and information from employees on the dustiness of pharmaceuticals to select 28 samples (including 13 samples that were analyzed for lactose) for analysis of specific APIs. Pharmaceutical dust was generated during a variety of tasks like emptying and refilling of ADM canisters. Using compressed air to clean canisters and manual count machines produced the overall highest peak number concentrations (19,000-580,000 particles/L) of smallest particles (count median aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2 µm). Employees who refilled, cleaned, or repaired ADM canisters, or hand filled prescriptions were exposed to higher median air concentrations of lactose (5.0-12 µg/m(3)) than employees who did other jobs (0.04-1.3 µg/m(3)), such as administrative/office work, labeling/packaging, and verifying prescriptions. We detected 10 APIs in air, including lisinopril, a drug prescribed for high blood pressure, levothyroxine, a drug prescribed for hypothyroidism, and methotrexate, a hazardous drug prescribed for cancer and other disorders. Three air concentrations of lisinopril (1.8-2.7 µg/m(3)) exceeded the lower bound of the manufacturer's hazard control band (1-10 µg/m(3)). All other API air concentrations were below applicable occupational exposure limits. Our findings indicate that some pharmacy employees are exposed to multiple APIs and that measures are needed to control those exposures.

International telepharmacy education: another venue to improve cancer care in the developing world.

OBJECTIVE: In developed countries, pharmacists play a crucial role in designing and implementing cancer treatments as part of a multidisciplinary oncology team. However, developing countries have a shortage of pharmacists, and their role is generally limited to dispensing and selling drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of providing clinical pharmacy educational activities via international teleconferencing to improve cancer care in developing countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Meticulous preparation and intense promotion of the workshop were done in Egypt before the telepharmacy conferences began. Multiple connectivity tests were performed to resolve technical problems. Nine telepharmacy conferences were delivered during 3-h sessions that were held on three consecutive days. Talks were subsequently made available via Web streaming. Attendees were requested to complete a survey to measure their satisfaction with the sessions. RESULTS: The teleconference was attended by a total of 345 persons, and it was subsequently reviewed online via 456 log-in sessions from 10 countries. Technical issues (e.g., poor auditory quality) were resolved on the first day of the event. The rate of attendees' responses on the survey was 30.1%, and satisfaction with the event was generally good. CONCLUSIONS: Telecommunication is a relatively inexpensive approach that may improve pharmacy practices, especially those used to treat patients with cancer in developing countries. Special attention to patient-based telepharmacy education, including the use of cost-effective technology, should be considered.

A proposal for phosphor imager acceptance testing procedure and routine quality controls in nuclear pharmacy practice.

OBJECTIVE: The digital autoradiography system is currently used in nuclear medicine for quantitative imaging of radioactivity distribution (thin layer chromatography samples, tissue sections, and cell cultures). The aim of this study was to define a set of tests for setting up a specific acceptance testing procedure and routine quality controls for this instrument. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 3-month period, we analyzed the active components of the instrument (phosphor screen and photometer) by using suitable self-manufactured equipment (phantoms, lead plate, lead cylinder, and photographic paper) required to realize, in a routine quality program, the following tests: integral uniformity (IU) and differential uniformity (DU) in a useful field of view (UFOV) and a central field of view (CFOV), resolution, geometric linearity, and sensitivity. RESULTS: Screen IU was 19.7 ± 2.3% (UFOV) and 11.1 ± 3.7% (CFOV). Screen DU ranged between 1.6 ± 1.1 and 1.8 ± 0.9% for UFOV and between 1.2 ± 0.4 and 1.4 ± 0.6% for CFOV. Screen resolution measured as full-width at half-maximum was 1.94 ± 0.08 mm. Screen sensitivity was 505.1 ± 10.4 digital light units and ranged between -3.15 and +3.49% with reference to the mean of measured values. Photometer IU was 17.4 ± 0.2% (UFOV) and 13.7 ± 1.1% (CFOV). Photometer DU ranged between 1.9 ± 0.9 and 2.3 ± 1.2% for UFOV and between 1.9 ± 0.8 and 2.1 ± 1.1% for CFOV. Photometer resolution was good (full-width at half-maximum =0.5 ± 0.076 mm). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the methodology we propose could be an easy, accurate, quick, and low-cost tool to guarantee the correct instrument basic function.

El proceso de absorción del Real Tribunal del Protoalbeitarato por la Escuela de Veterinaria de Madrid (1792-1855) / The takeover process of the Real Tribunal del Protoalbeitarato by the Faculty of Veterinary of Madrid (1792-1855)

La absorción del Real Tribunal del Protoalbeitarato1 por la Escuela de Veterinaria de Madrid presenta ciertas singularidades respecto al proceso equivalente en medicina y farmacia. La pugna y hegemonía del Real Tribunal durante casi sesenta años desde la creación de la Escuela de Veterinaria (1792), ha sido estudiada por la historiografía tradicional con una visión centrada fundamentalmente en aspectos veterinarios. En el presente artículo se investigan en detalle los procesos conducentes a la absorción y se pone de manifiesto la relevancia de las motivaciones políticas y su predominio sobre las de carácter técnico, sanitario o profesional. Por ello, se analiza el juego de instituciones y de agentes externos a la veterinaria implicados, en especial destacamos el papel desempeñado por el XV Marqués de Cerralbo (AU)

The absorption of the Real Tribunal del Protoalbeitarato by the Veterinary Science School of Madrid shows several singularities in relation to the equivalent process in medicine and pharmacy.The conflict and the hegemony of the Real Tribunal during almost sixty years from the creation of the Veterinary Science School (1792), has been studied by the traditional historiography with a view fundamentally focused on veterinary aspects. In this article, the process of absorption is investigated in full detail. Also, the relevance of political motivations and their predominance over technical, sanitary or professional motivations are shown. So, the game of institutions and agents which are external to the veterinary science are analysed; specially, the out standing role performed by the XV Marquis of Cerralbo(AU)

From Tonic-cups to Bitter-cups: Kwasi bita beker from Suriname Determination, past and present use of an ancient galenic artefact.

In the main markets of Paramaribo (Suriname), many stands offer what is locally called "Bitter-cups", or "Kwasi bita beker", small footed-cups, roughly carved from a whitish wood. The use of these cups is strictly medicinal and it seems to be restricted to Suriname, as they are not found in neighbouring countries (Guyana, French Guiana). The aim of this study was to identify the botanical origin of Bitter-cups still in use in the Saramaka traditional medicine (as information from field people was controversial), and document the ethnopharmacology of this original galenical artefact. Microscopic and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses were carried out on Bitter-cup, and anatomical criteria (marginal parenchyma band, size of intervessel and vessel-ray pits, rays width and rays composition, vessels clustering, frequency and size of parenchyma pits) together with HPLC profiles of the macerates showed that the wood cup was similar to Quassia amara L. (Simaroubaceae) wood. Ethnopharmacological investigation indicates that the use of these cups is simply due to the pharmacological properties attributed to "bitters", and is strongly linked to tradition and cultural attitudes. This study also emphasizes the long lasting use of these cups, now restricted to Suriname only, with almost no variation over one century.

[Duchamp's ready-made pharmaceutical ampoule]. / Un ready-made pharmaceutique de Marcel Duchamp.

At the end of 1919, Marcel Duchamp realizes, by means of a Parisian pharmacist, a ready-made that he entitles Air de Paris. We describe in this article the original ampule used by Duchamp.

[Pharmaceutical pottery in the Museum of History of Medicine of Rome "La Sapienza"]. / La ceramica apotecaria nel Museo di Storia della Medicina dell'Università di Roma "La Sapienza".

Chemist's and pharmaceutical vases are a historical, aesthetic, cultural, often careless, patrimony that evokes numerous suggestions. It is not possible to distinguish their history from the history of general ceramics in order to reconstruct the context in which these manufactured object were made. Even though manufacture presents a peculiarity of its own it interlaces with the objects of everyday use and with the production designed to any specific and different uses. Ceramics is one of the most flourishing art in Italy; a revival of its techniques arose just in relation with the 'rebirth' of spices commercial trading in Italy.