Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Drug interactions with grapefruit juice

Drug interactions with grapefruit juice

Concomitant intake with grapefruit juice increases the concentrations of many drugs in humans. The effect seems to be mediated mainly by suppression of the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A4 in the small intestine wall. This results in a diminished first pass metabolism with higher bioavailability and increased maximal plasma concentrations of substrates of this enzyme. The effect was most pronounced in drugs with high first pass degradation.

Orphan Diseases - An Indian Perspective

Orphan Diseases - An Indian Perspective:

Diseases which manifest in patient populations representing at the maximum 6-8% of the world population are defined as rare diseases. 1 They are pathologies whose incidence at birth is less than 1 in 2000. 50% of these appear when the sufferer has reached adult age. Today there are over 5000 rare diseases listed in the world with five new rare diseases being described every week in the medical literature.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Pharmacogenomics: Impact on Drug Response and Applications to Infectious Diseases Management

Pharmacogenomics: Impact on Drug Response and Applications to Infectious Diseases Management

The impact of pharmacogenomics on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases is discussed. The application of pharmacogenomics to infectious diseases requires consideration of the genomes of both the pathogen and the host.

Specialized chronotherapeutic drug delivery systems

Specialized chronotherapeutic drug delivery systems

In the field of modified release, matching of drug release to the body’s circadian rhythms have been fundamental strategies involves for selecting a new drug delivery system which increase the efficacy and safety of drugs by proportioning their peak plasma concentrations during the 24 hours in synchrony with biological rhythm.

Novel Approaches In Vaccines Delivery

Novel Approaches In Vaccines Delivery

Oral vaccination of animals and man, to provide effective mucosal and/or systemic immunity, is largely ineffective. This is due mainly to the very small quantity of antigen that survives degradation in the intestine and that crosses the intestinal wall.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Six Sigma: A measure of goodness in Quality Management System

Six Sigma: A measure of goodness in Quality Management System

Six Sigma (6σ) is a methodology to manage process variations that cause defects. It can be defined as a rigorous and disciplined methodology that utilizes data and statistical analysis to measure and improve a company’s operational performance, practices and systems. Six Sigma identifies and prevents defects in manufacturing and service-related processes.