Pharmaceutical Analysis and Computer-Aided Drug Design

Data Storage and Processing

• Building up libraries involves storing and processing data.
• Instruments used in data storage and processing include HPLC, MS, GLC, spectrophotometers, and computer-aided drug design.

Computer-Aided Drug Design

• It is an integral part of drug discovery and involves rational drug design.
• Chemical modifications of molecules, generation of lead molecules, and docking studies using 3-D models of proteins are key aspects of computer-aided drug design.

Computers in Publications

• Computers facilitate effortless writing, ease of editing, reviewing, and modifications in publications.
• Software used includes Microsoft Word, WordPad, Notepad, Microsoft Excel, and Access for data presentation.
• Endnote is used for referencing, and the internet is used for publishing.

Computers in Education

• Computers have transformed education from "chalk to talk" to "display and deliver".
• Computer-aided learning (CAL) involves hypertext, video chats, web-based education, multimedia-based education, digital libraries, simulation laboratories, and tele-education.
• E-learning and digital libraries are also part of computer-aided education.

Simulations

• Simulations are used in medical education to practice procedures before performing them on patients.
• Computer programs simulate surgery and other procedures to meet this need.

Pharmacy Informatics

• Pharmacy informatics involves the use and integration of data, information, knowledge, and technology in medication use processes.
• It improves pharmaceutical care in oncology, provides clinical decision support for antimicrobial stewardship and pharmacokinetics, and controls costs in managed care.

Drug Information Services

• Pharmaceutical companies provide updated, relevant information on drug efficacy, safety, and quality.
• Drug information services are incorporated into an online network system, accessible to thousands of people worldwide.
• Drug and poison centers also provide information on drugs.

Telepharmacy

• Telepharmacy provides pharmaceutical care at a distance to patients in rural and medically underserved areas.
• Licensed pharmacists at a central pharmacy site supervise registered pharmacy technicians at remote sites via teleconferencing.

Internet Pharmacies

• Internet pharmacies, also known as online pharmacies, have been established worldwide since around 2000.
• They operate similarly to community pharmacies, with the primary difference being the method of medication request and receipt.

Information Storage and Retrieval

• Information storage refers to the systematic process of collecting and cataloging data for easy retrieval.
• Data processing techniques have made it possible to access high-speed and large amounts of information for various purposes.
• Information retrieval is a branch of computer or library science relating to storage, locating, searching, and selecting relevant data on demand.

Basic Concept of Information Storage

• Information storage refers to a place or device where data is kept, such as a storage room or computer hard disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive.
• Types of information storage media include hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, and USB flash drives.

Basic Concept of Information Retrieval

• An information retrieval system is an information system that stores, processes, and retrieves information.
• Major components of information retrieval include databases, search mechanisms, languages, and interfaces.

Database

• A database is a system that records and maintains information.
• Its objective is to store and retrieve information systematically.

Search Mechanism

• A search mechanism is a system that organizes information in a way that it can be searched and retrieved when needed.
• Search procedures can be categorized as basic or advanced search procedures.

Language

• Language is essential in information processing, transfer, and communication.
• There are two types of languages: natural language and controlled vocabulary.

Interface

• An interface is critical in determining the ultimate success of an information retrieval system.
• The quality of the interface is checked by interaction mode.

Retrieval Techniques

• There are two major retrieval techniques: basic and advanced retrieval techniques.
• Basic retrieval techniques include Boolean searching, case sensitivity searching, truncation, proximity searching, and range searching.

Boolean Searching

• Boolean searching uses logical operations (AND, OR, NOT) to narrow down or broaden a search.

Case Sensitivity Searching

• Case sensitivity searching considers the uppercase and lowercase differences in words.

Truncation

• Truncation allows a search for all different forms of a word having the same common roots.
• It uses symbols (?, *, #) for truncation purposes.

Proximity Searching

• Proximity searching allows specification of how close two or more words must be to each other in order to register a match.

Range Searching

• Range searching is useful for numerical information and allows specification of ranges using symbols (> , < , =).