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A comparative investigation of the fundamental and derived properties of starches from some species of yam (Dioscorea spp.) was conducted with a view to establishing their suitability as excipients in tablet and capsule formulations. Variations were observed in the mean granular diameter of the starches obtained from the different Dioscorea species. Granular diameter ranged from 5.4 µm (Chinese yam) to 34.5 µm (Round leaf yellow yam). Chinese yam and Bitter yam had the highest specific surface area (625.91 m2/kg and 258.76 m2/kg, respectively) while Round leaf yellow yam and Negro yam had the lowest (117.4 m2/kg and 154.34 m2/kg, respectively). Chinese yam had the lowest granular volume (6.00 µm3), surface area (5.67 µm2) and granule surface‐mean diameter (6.74 µm), while Round leaf yellow yam had the largest mean granular diameter, highest granular volume (35.2 µm3), surface area (34.8 µm2) and granule surface mean diameter (35.88 µm). Particle size distribution plots of Chinese yam, Round leaf yellow yam and Negro yam displayed a Gaussian size distribution pattern while Bitter yam displayed a negatively skewed distribution. The variations observed in the granular size and shape may influence the observed derived properties of the starches.

In February 2006, there was a renewed effort to encourage reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Jamaica. It involved renaming the process the “PharmWatch” programme and revising the reporting form.ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to assess the attitudes of community pharmacists to ADR reporting and to assess their utilization of the PharmWatch programme.MethodsThe survey was conducted in January 2007, involving 102 community pharmacists islandwide. A questionnaire was designed to assess their attitudes towards ADR reporting, their awareness of the PharmWatch programme and also to collate number of ADRs through recall. Pharmacists were then followed prospectively to collect ADRs occurring over the next three months using the PharmWatch form.ResultsAlthough most of the pharmacists involved in the survey had more than five years of experience, the majority (67%) were not aware of the PharmWatch programme; however, 86% of the responding pharmacists indicated that they accepted that ADR reporting was a professional responsibility. They identified “reaction already known”, “more information needed about reporting ADRs” and “lack of time” as key factors that would cause non-reporting. One hundred and twenty eight retrospective ADRs were collected; none were reported to the Ministry of Health directly, while two were reported to the respective drug companies. A three month prospective follow-up with pharmacists yielded 45 reports. The most common ADR reports among both the retrospective and prospective data were associated with anti-infectives.ConclusionsThe results suggest that awareness of the PharmWatch programme is not adequate to facilitate active participation in ADR reporting. More proactive interventions, such as continuous training and encouragement in the use of ADR reporting should be considered.