Pharmaceutical and Natural Sciences

The research is important to identify the woody and shrub plants that grow in this area as well as their economic, food and pharmaceutical importance. The researched area is located at an altitude of 700 – 1100 m. lies from the eastern part of the Carraleve mountain massif - Sharr Mountains. Plants are dominated by: Oaks (Querrqus), Hazelnut (Corylus), Beech (Fagus), Elder (Sambucus), Acacia (Robinia), Cornel (Cornus), Poplar (Populus), Wild Apple (Malus), Pear (Pyrus) , Cherry (Prunus) etc. This research was conducted during 2020, during the expeditions, UBT students also participated, in order to get to know the plants and their habitat directly in nature.

The study was based on a questionnaire for self-adminstered laxatives. Part of this study were 76 pharmacists from Municipality of Tetovo. The questionnaire was developed in two different languages, Albanian and Macedonian. The response format included multiple choice questions in which the participants were asked to choose the most reasonable answer for them on the given list of options. 35% of patients have taken laxatives with doctor's recommendation, 36% from pharmacists recommendation. Only 17% of patients have taken laxatives without recommendations. 48% of healthcare professionals for constipation treatment recommend use of synthetic laxatives and 51% of them recommend use of natural-based laxatives. The most common pharmaceutical forms of laxatives that pharmacists recommend the most, majority of them, 29% have given herbal tea laxatives and 21% syrup forms of laxatives. Other types of pharmaceutical forms are less given to patients. Pharmacists also have rarely encountered the appearance of side effects in patients during the use of natural laxatives.

SARS-CoV-2 is a strain of the coronavirus that was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan - and the spread began as a pneumonia of the unknown causative agent on December 31, 2019. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the explosion as a Public Health Emergency at the level of International Concern. On February 11, 2020, the International Committee on Virus Taxonomy (ICTV) decided to name the virus as (SARS-CoV-2) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the WHO finally decided to name the disease caused by this virus as COVID-19 (for Coronavirus disease identified in 2019). The responsible institutions and also the Kosovo Chamber of Pharmacists have immediately given various recommendations regarding preventive measures which should be taken by pharmacists in pharmacies in order to prevent the spread of the virus. These recommendations have also been made in collaboration with the organizations FIP and PGEU which expertise has also been utilized and such materials have been translated and sent to pharmacists as a reference with the latest news regarding the situation. This work shows an analysis of the role of community and hospital pharmacists in pandemic management as well as the challenges faced by pharmacists. Also part of the analysis is the chronology of medicines which are recommended for use according to clinical protocols and approval by the EMA with the indication for COVID-19.

An analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes collected from the patients worldwide has identified mutations in the virus that could aid in drug and vaccine development. The researchers found that the virus’s genetic diversity in most countries is similar to what it is globally, suggesting that it was introduced repeatedly by many infected people in each country rather than by a “patient zero.” The genetic analysis found 198 mutations that have occurred more than once. “Mutations in themselves are not a bad thing it is nothing to suggest SARS-CoV-2 is mutating faster or slower than expected. Several factors, including pharmacogenetics, it is possible to contribute to inter-individual variability in drug response. However, till today little is known about the host genetics interaction with infection and COVID-19 progression. To understand the role of host gene, we review the current literature, aggregate readily available genetic resources, and provide some updated analysis relevant to COVID-19 and associated phenotypes.

The medical information and medical literature available nowadays, is enormously growing. The usage of electronic information sources is becoming more and more common nowadays. Pharmacists are required every day to respond to multiple requests for different drug information from different people. Evaluation skills of medication information and medication literature are vital for the Pharmacist because it can provide medication information and other information to patients and their families. This study aims to research the use and utilization of pharmaceutical information electronically to enhance professional knowledge, following new pharmaceutical trends, inform the patient about the use, dosage, usage of medicines, etc. Quantitative method. The target group was Pharmacists (n = 120) surveyed from 1125 (10.67%) licensed pharmacists of the Republic of Kosovo. Out of 120 pharmacists all stated that they know how to use and use electronic resources, 100%. Have you received training during your studies: YES 50% NO 50%. After studies: YES 37.5% NO 62.5%. Do you use electronic resources in your pharmacy: YES 90.83% NO 9.17% How long do I use: 60% daily, 26.67% biweekly, 8.33% monthly, once a year 0.83%, never 4.17%. Informing the patient about his medications: 58.33% agree, 12.50% partially, 9.17% disagree, 11.67% have no idea. To gain knowledge: 75% agree 1.67% disagree 5.83% have no idea, follow the innovation in the pharmacy: 75% agree 1.67% disagree 7.50% have no idea. Electronic sources used for bar name 66.67% agree 3.33% disagree 14.17% have no idea. Drug dose: 55.83% agree 5% disagree 12.5% have no idea. Way of use: 44.17% agree 11.67% disagree 14.17% have no idea. Taking grass before or after meals: 38.33% agree 13.33% disagree 21.67% have no idea. Side effects: 61.67% agree 1.67% disagree 11.67% have no idea. Drug interactions; 54.17% agree 3.33% disagree. Drug interactions: 47.50% agree 6.67% disagree. Contraindications: 59.17% agree 7.5% disagree. Most used information sources: drugs.com 76.67%, WebMed 40%, Rx List 20.83%. How secure are the electronic resources: YES 48.33% NO 51.67%. Most frequently used sources: electronic 70.83%, printed literature 29.17%. Do you use the drug registry; YES 90%, NO 10%. Most used registry: registry5 63.33%. Electronic sources: 80% accurate, 15% very accurate, 1.67% not at all accurate. Does it contain all the information you are looking for: 75% in many cases yes, 16.67% sometimes. More accurate sources of information: information from electronic sources 31.67% from printed literature 68.33%.

Screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) bulk modified with Tl2O3 were used for the amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide in flow injection analysis (FIA) at optimum conditions of -100 mV operating potential, 0.2 mL/min flow rate and as carrier medium phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.5). The linear range of the response of screen-printed electrodes for hydrogen peroxide detection was from 5 mg/L to 200 mg/L with a detection limit (LOD) of 2.5 mg/L. The repeatability of measurements was 1.1 % RSD (n=8 measurements) and the reproducibility 1.4 % RSD (n=8 sensors). The sensor was further tested for its selectivity for the detection of H2O2 in the presence and absence of possibly interfering compounds. Besides, an amperometric biosensor was developed using the screen printed carbon electrode modified with Tl2O3, Nafion and glucose oxidase as the bio-recognition layer for the determination of glucose. Calibration curves of the glucose biosensors with an operating potential of -100 mV and a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min in the concentration range from 10 mg/L to 1000 mg/L glucose showed a quasi-linear relation between concentration and signal up to 200 mg/L. LOD was estimated as 6.6 mg/L and the repeatibility of the measurements was 2.4 % (n=7 measurements). The glucose biosensor was tested for its selectivity to possibly interfering substances which might occur in blood and exhibited negligible effect. Finally, the biosensor was used for the detection of glucose in human blood samples showing satisfactory results compared to the results obtained from a commercial glucose biosensor. Additionally, a protein biosensor using amino acid oxidase and protease was designed using SPCE bulk-modified with the mediator (Tl2O3) and a double enzyme film at the surface containing L-amino acid oxidase and a protease. The operating potential was -400 mV with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a template analyte in the concentration range from 20 mg/L to 200 mg/L. LOD was estimated as 5.3 mg/L and the repeatability of the measurements was 2.8 % (n=3 measurements). Finally the biosensor was applied to the determination of protein in milk samples with flow injection analysis and the results were in good agreement with data obtained with a spectrophotometric method (Bradford assay).

Limni Lake, which is one of efficiency lagoons of Aegean Region, covers an area of approximately 68 ha. This study was carried out to determine the water quality of Limni Lake and possible ecological parameters affecting the lake at 7 stations selected between April 2018 and March 2019. Some physico-chemical parameters (Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, saturated oxygen, electrical conductivity, salinity, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, ortho- phosphate, total phosphorus, suspended solids, turbidity, chlorophyll-a, BOD 5 were analyzed and compared with the older datas. Water samples were analysed in the Water Analysis Laboratory of the accredited Research Laboratories of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University and evaluated in terms of water quality. As a result of this study which continued one year, especially in summer period, some contaminations are inspected in terms of water quality and ecology which are related to vacational season, mine exportation from Güllük Port and aquaculture that is managed in soil pools.

The newly identified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV- 2) that originated in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. By July 2020, the WHO reported over 17 million confirmed cases in over 200 countries around the globe. This review discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect healthy people, structure and replication cycle of SARS- CoV-2; targets and therapeutics SARS- CoV-2 and anti-COVID drugs: strategies and perspectives.

The aim of this study is to assess the quality of the surface water used for irrigation purposes by examining the presence of trace elements in the main irrigation sources in Istog area in Kosovo. Samples were taken from several of these sources (rivers, some reservoirs, pump stations and canals) and were then analyzed for trace elements content such as zinc, iron, copper, manganese, lead, nickel, cobalt, cadmium, chromium, and molybdenum, by Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES 4100). The findings revealed no significant differences in terms of trace elements content in the samples coming from the various sources. Copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt, lead and chromium were found in normal concentrations in all the water sources, whereas zinc and iron were found to be in deficient concentrations. Cadmium was at recommended maximum concentrations. Molybdenum is found in high concentrations especially in the water samples taken from pump stations and irrigation reservoirs. In the future it is necessary to closely and continuously monitor the concentrations of molybdenum in the irrigation waters of this area. Furthermore, it is essential to identify the causes of the high molybdenum levels in these waters. However, these sources can be used for irrigation purposes without posing a threat to the soil and plants.