BackgroundTesting by pharmacogenomics (PGx) aims to reduce the side-effects of medicines and to optimize therapy.AimTo ascertain the knowledge and attitudes towards PGx among pharmacy students in Jordan and West Bank of Palestine (WBP).MethodsThis cross-sectional study focused on pharmacy students from five universities in Jordan and WBP. Students were asked to answer an online survey comprising 30-closed ended questions measuring the knowledge and attitudes towards PGx.ResultsThe total number of respondents to the questionnaire was 466. Most (96.1%) respondents knew that genetic variations can affect the drug response. Most students stated that the total number of lectures mentioning PGx was fewer than three. Most (>80%) respondents answered that they knew that human genetics can affect the response, inter-individual variation, and ethnic variations in the drug response. However, their knowledge about US Food and Drug Administration recommendations regarding PGx testing of commonly used drugs was weak. Also, 60.3% of respondents stated that the information they received about PGx was insufficient. Most (>92.7%) students wished to know more about PGx and believed that PGx is helpful in choosing the appropriate drug.ConclusionPharmacy students had fair knowledge and good attitudes towards PGx. These factors could aid application of PGx in clinical practice in Jordan and WBP.

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Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are invested in various sectors and are becoming more persistent in our ambient environment with potential risk on our health and the ecosystems. The current study aims to investigate the histological, histochemical and ultrastructural hepatic changes that might be induced by 10 nm silver nanomaterials. Male mice (BALB/C) were exposed for 35 injections of daily dose of 10 nm Ag NPs (2 mg/kg). Liver tissues were subjected to examination by light and electron microscopy for histological, histochemical and ultrastructural alterations. Exposure to Ag NPs induced Kupffer cells hyperplasia, sinusoidal dilatation, apoptosis, ground glass hepatocytes appearance, nuclear changes, inflammatory cells infiltration, hepatocytes degeneration and necrosis. In addition, 10 nm Ag NPs induced histochemical alterations mainly glycogen depletion with no hemosiderin precipitation. Moreover, these nanomaterials exhibited ultrastructure alterations including mitochondrial swelling and cristolysis, cytoplasmic vacuolation, apoptosis, multilammellar myelin figures formation and endoplasmic destruction and reduction. The findings revealed that Ag NPs can induce alterations in the hepatic tissues, the chemical components of the hepatocytes and in the ultrastructure of the liver. One may also conclude that small size Ag NPs, which are increasingly used in human products could cause various toxigenic responses to all hepatic tissue components.

Background Pharmacogenomics testing aims to optimise therapy and reduce the inter‐individual variation in drug response. One of the major barriers against the implementation of pharmacogenomics testing is the low level of knowledge on the topic. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the need for pharmacogenomics education among pharmacists in the West Bank of Palestine. Methods This study was cross‐sectional and included 370 pharmacists, among different cities in the West Bank of Palestine between October and December 2020. The questionnaire consisted of 25 close‐ended questions that evaluated the exposure to pharmacogenomics education, attitude toward the role of pharmacogenomics testing in clinical practice and self‐capability of pharmacists in pharmacogenomics testing. Results It was found that 60% of the respondents disagreed that pharmacogenomics was an integral part of the pharmacy school curriculum and/or experiential education. The vast majority of the respondents (94%) agreed that pharmacists should be required to have some knowledge of pharmacogenomics. The majority of the respondents (88.6%) believe that pharmacogenomics testing will improve pharmacists' ability to more effectively control drug therapy expenditures. However, only 38% of the respondents could identify medications that require pharmacogenomics testing, and only 35.1% could identify reliable sources of information regarding pharmacogenomics for healthcare providers and patients. Conclusion It is seen from the results of this study that there is a high need to learn about pharmacogenomics testing, which can help the pharmacists make pharmacotherapy decisions. Additionally, current pharmacists have low self‐confidence in making decisions depending on the results of pharmacogenomics testing. It is recommended to increase the exposure of pharmacogenomics knowledge by including the subject in courses and workshops in pharmacy school curricula in the West Bank of Palestine.

Background: Mouse Udp-glucuronosyl Transferase (UGT) 2b1 is equivalent to the human UGT2B7 enzyme, which is a phase II drug-metabolising enzyme and plays a major role in the metabolism of xenobiotic and endogenous compounds. This study aimed to find the relative expression of the mouse ugt2b1 gene in the liver, kidney, and heart organs and the influence of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) administration. Methods: Thirty-five Blab/c mice were divided into 5 groups and treated with different commonly-used NSAIDs; diclofenac, ibuprofen, meloxicam, and mefenamic acid for 14 days. The livers, kidneys, and hearts were isolated, while the expression of ugt2b1 gene was analysed with a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: It was found that the ugt2b1 gene is highly expressed in the liver, and then in the heart and the kidneys. NSAIDs significantly upregulated (ANOVA, p < 0.05) the expression of ugt2b1 in the heart, while they downregulated its expression (ANOVA, p < 0.05) in the liver and kidneys. The level of NSAIDs’ effect on ugt2b1 gene expression was strongly correlated (Spearman’s Rho correlation, p < 0.05) with NSAID’s lipophilicity in the liver and its elimination half-life in the heart. Conclusion: This study concluded that the mouse ugt2b1 gene was mainly expressed in the liver, as 14-day administration of different NSAIDs caused alterations in the expression of this gene, which may influence the metabolism of xenobiotic and endogenous compounds.