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French Abstract: Introduction- Face à la pandémie COVID-19, et en absence d’un traitement efficace et sûr, de nombreux médicaments étaient utilisés sans avis médical. La présente étude a eu pour objectif d’évaluer les pratiques de dispensation des médicaments sans ordonnance dans trois villes de l’Ouest algérien. Matériels et méthodes- L’étude a été réalisée durant la pandémie du 01 Janvier 2022 au 31 Mars 2022 au moyen d’un questionnaire distribué aux pharmaciens d’officines exer­çant à Tiaret, Sidi Bel-Abbès et El-Bayadh. Le critère de jugement principal était l’éva­luation des pratiques d’automédication. La saisie, l’analyse statistique des données et l’édition des résultats ont été réalisées par le logiciel SPSS version 20. Résultats- Au total, 90 officines ont participé à l’étude. La majorité du personnel d’offi­cine (98,89%) a perçu que la pandémie a amplifié l’automédication.Les différents symp­tômes de la COVID-19 étaient la cause principale (44,53 %) de la tendance à cette pra­tique. Le paracétamol était le plus consommé (83,67 %), suivi de l’azithromycine (36,73 %), la prednisolone (31,10 %), l’amoxicilline/acide clavulanique (30,53 %), le zinc (27,38 %), la vitamine C (27,08%), la vitamine D (16,31%), le magnésium(12,92%) et même l’hy­droxychloroquine (25,56%). Conclusion-Un abus et un mésusage de plusieurs médicaments ont été constaté, des ef­forts doivent être entrepris afin d’atténuer les risques de l’automédication en impliquant activement les pharmaciens dans l’éducation thérapeutique du patient. English Abstract: Introduction-Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the absence of an effective andsafe treatment,many drugs were used without medical advice.This study aimed to evaluate the­practices of dispensing non-prescription drugs in three cities in western Algeria. Materials and methods- The study was carried out during the pandemic from January 01st, 2022 to March 31st, 2022 using a questionnaire distributed to community pharmacists prac­ticing in Tiaret, Sidi Bel-Abbes and El-Bayadh. The main endpoint was the evaluation of­self-medication practices. Data entry, statistical analysis and editing of results were perfor­med using SPSS software version 20. Results- In total, 90 pharmacies participated in the study, the majority of pharmacy staff (98.89%) having perceived that the pandemic amplified self-medication, the various symp­tomsof COVID-19 were the main cause (44.53%) of the tendency to this practice. Parace­tamol (83.67%) was the most consumed, followed by azithromycin (36.73%), prednisolone (31.10%),amoxicillin_clavulanic acid (30.53%), zinc (27.38%), vitamin C (27.08 %), vitamin D(16.31%), magnesium(12.92%),and even hydroxychloroquine(25.56%). Conclusion- Abuse and misuse of several drugs have been observed, efforts must be made to reduce the risk of self-medication by actively involving pharmacists in therapeutic patient education.

This study describes a comparative evaluation of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and potentiometric titration methods for the content determination of six Metronidazole API samples gathered from six pharmaceutical companies in Algeria. For the content determination by HPLC, Thermo Scientific Dionex UltiMate 3000 Rapid Separation LC system was used as a liquid chromatography apparatus, and the chromatographic parameters were used: temperature: 25 °C, flow rate: 1 mL/min, injection volume: 10 µL, Column: C18 (5 µm x 4.6 mm x 250 mm), and wavelength λ: 315 nm. For the content determination by potentiometric titration, a METTLER TOLEDO DL50 potentiometer, potassium phthalate acid standard solution 0.1 M, and a titrant solution of perchloric acid 0.1M were employed. All samples had a content meeting the required standard. The tested techniques proved to be effective in determining the amount of Metronidazole in the pharmaceutical raw material. In contrast to the HPLC method, the potentiometric titration did not require the use of a reference substance, but the manipulation was quick and the margin of error was significant, RHAZES: Green and Applied Chemistry, Vol. 17 (2023)

Candida parapsilosis is a very rare cause of meningitis. Though several cases have now been reported in neonates and children, only few have been described in adult HIV patients. This case report is justified by the rarity of this diagnosis in HIV patients seen in our institution. The results in Sabouraud’s culture and biochemical test (Auxacolor©) were compatible with Candida parapsilosis. The patient has been started on fluconazole, but meningitis progressed to death, showing the gravity of such an opportunistic infection. We emphasize, that rapid monitoring tests and treatment based on drug sensitivity test are required.

Introduction:Superficial mycosis may be considered among elderly due to the presence of concomitant diseases that can complicate theirtreatment. Theaimofthestudywas todetermineprevalenceofsuperficialmycosisamongelderlypatientsover aperiodofoneyear.Material and Methods:Aquestionnaireforeachpatient (sex,age, bath,animalcontact,weight, clinical signs) wasapplied.Results:A total of 100 patients with suspicion of mycosis (onyxis, skin disorders) were enrolled. 45 patients were positive for fungalelementsonbothdirectexaminationandcultureonSDAmedium.Themostcommonassociatedmorbiditywasdiabetes mellitus(71,1%). A correlation was found between mycosis in elderly and onyxis especially in fingernails (p=0,041). On culture examinationCandida non albicans(35,6%),Trichophytonrubrum(26,7%), followed byCandida albicans(22,2%) were the most identifiedfungi.Conclusion:Adequateeducationandmycologicalmonitoringarerequiredtoimproveour elderlypatient’s qualityoflife.

The most of the ��-blockers are still clinically being sold as a racemic mixture despite the fact that their enantiomers show significant differences in the pharmacological effects and activities. This paper describes a comparative study of tow chiral separations of (RS)���Propranolol racemate by HPLC using ��-Glycoprotein (AGP) and ��-Cyclodextrin (BCD) Stationary Phases. For the AGP separation, the column size was (150 mm X4 mm X 5 ��m), the mobile phase composed of Propanol-2 and Ammonium acetate (0.5:99.5 v/v), at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min and the detection by ultraviolet absorption at 225 nm. For the BCD separation, the column size was (200 mm X4 mm X 5 ��m), the mobile phase composed of Acetonitrile: Ethanol: Acetic acid: Triethylamine (960: 33: 4: 3 v/v/v/v), at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and the detection by ultraviolet absorption at 225 nm. The retention time of S-Propranolol and R-Propranolol with AGP separation was respectively: 7.25 min and 11.82 min while with the BCD separation 16.18 min and 18.50 min respectively. The racemate contains 50.46 % of S-Propranolol and 49.53 % of R-Propranolol with AGP separation while with BCD separation, it contains 50.43 % of S- enantiomer and 49.57 % of R-enantiomer. There is a similarity between the enantiomeric purity values and the enantiomeric excess values of tow separations, but the separation with AGP stationary phase is faster than with the BCD stationary phase. For a selective ��-blocking use, it could be very interesting to encourage its production in its form enantiomerically pure wich is the S-enantiomer.

Introduction:Clopidogrel is widely used in developed and developing countries for preventing and treating atherothrombotic complications due to atherosclerosis. However, some patients show clopidogrel resistance in vitro with insufficient inhibition of platelet function. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of clopidogrel resistance in elderly patients based on the platelet closure time and to identify risk factors.Material and Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out between December 2017 and May 2018 at the University Hospital of Sidi Bel Abbes.Platelet closure time was measured using the P2Y cartridge with the Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA). Clopidogrel non-response was defined as a P2Y platelet closure time less than 106 seconds.Results:We enrolled 73 patients aged 65 year old and over in the study.Two patients were excluded because of a hematocrit less than 25%. A total of 71subjects was included in our analysis. The sex ratio male/female was 1.15. The frequency of clopidogrel resistance in elderly patients was 18.3%, with a 95%confidence intervalCI (9.30-27.3). Among the factors examined (age, sex, body mass index, tobacco, diabetes, arterial hypertension, chronic kidney failure, dyslipidemia, personal history of myocardial infarction, clopidogrel dose, associated drugs, hyperleukocytosis), only arterial hypertension was significantly associated with in vitro clopidogrel resistance p = 0.035, OR =4.525 95% CI (1.114-18.38).Conclusion:A significant rate of elderly patients did not respond to clopidogrel, which put them at a higher risk of developing thrombo-ischemic events. Point-of-care testing can help to identify these patients who may then benefit from alternative antiplatelet therapy.

Demodex is an ectoparasite of pilo-sebaceous follicle and sebaceous gland, it can mimic many other inflammatory dermatoses such as folliculitis, rosacea and perioral dermatitis-like lesions. We present a case of a patient living in rural, with reddish brown scaly spots on his neck and chest resembling tinea versicolor. Laboratory examination of skin scraping and adhesive tapes revealed Demodex follicularum mites and no fungal elements. We conclude that scotch tape preparation for microscopic examination is a simple and helpful method to reveal mites presence and rule out false fungal suspicion.