This project introduces “Skintelix,” a novel, multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) assistant designed to augment pharmacists’ decision-making in the preliminary assessment and management of common skin conditions. Leveraging advanced generative AI models, specifically GPT-4V, the system integrates textual symptom analysis with clinical image processing to provide accurate differential diagnoses and evidence-based treatment recommendations. The development of Skintelix followed a three-tiered architectural model, comprising a user-centric conversational interface, a robust AI core engine, and a scalable pharmacy integration layer. The model was trained on a multi-source dataset, combining established global dermatology image repositories (such as HAM10000, DDI, and SCIN) with real-world clinical data from community pharmacies and authoritative medical references. This hybrid approach was deliberately employed to mitigate common algorithmic biases and enhance clinical relevance. The system’s ability to process both images and text, its adoption of a conversational format, and its focus on locally relevant clinical contexts represent significant contributions to the field. Skintelix offers a comprehensive theoretical framework to enhance diagnostic accuracy, minimise unnecessary specialist referrals, and enable pharmacists to serve as a more effective first-line defence in dermatological care. While a full-scale clinical validation is a crucial next step, the preliminary design demonstrates high feasibility and considerable promise for sustainable deployment in challenging environments.
Keywords: Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Community Pharmacy, Digital Health, Dermatology, Multimodal AI, Pharmacist, Skin Conditions.

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Self-medication is a widespread practice in Syria, driven by socioeconomic challenges and limited healthcare access. This study assessed self-medication trends among Syrian families using a pharmacist-distributed questionnaire, examining the prevalence, motivations, types of medication, risks, and information sources. The results revealed that 97.6% of participants considered self-medication common, with pain relievers (92.5%) and cold/flu medications (68.8%) being the most frequently used. Key motivations included financial constraints (57.5%), cultural habits (46.3%), and difficulty accessing doctors (41.3%). Despite most participants recognizing potential risks, such as incorrect diagnosis (71.3%) and drug interactions (53.8%), informal sources, including family/friends (79.7%) and the internet (43%), remained the primary information channels. In comparison, physicians played a minimal role (6.3%). Pharmacists reported that self-medication increased pharmacy visits (41.3%), yet only 42.5% felt confident in providing adequate counselling. Nearly all respondents (97.5%) emphasized the need for greater public awareness. These findings underscore the pressing need for interventions to reduce reliance on self-medication, including enhanced access to healthcare, pharmacist training, and targeted educational campaigns. Addressing these issues is critical to mitigating risks and promoting safer healthcare practices in Syria.
Keywords: Self-medication, Survey, Awareness, Syrians, Pharmacists.

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Prescribing multiple medications increases the risk of drug interactions, which can be classified or ranked using various terms and methods. Drugs can interact with other drugs, foods, beverages, and herbs, both inside and outside the body. Understanding public awareness of medication use is crucial for maintaining health. This study assessed the knowledge and personal experiences of drug interactions among 140 Syrians via a social media survey. The participant demographic was predominantly female (55.1%), aged 20-30 (58.3%), held a bachelor’s degree (57%), and worked in the healthcare field (77.1%). All respondents (100%) were aware of drug interactions, with Drug-Drug interactions being the most recognized type (88.1%). The majority of respondents (70.3%) read medication leaflets and perceived the risk of interactions as moderate (53.4%) . Notably, 54.2% of participants reported having personally experienced a serious drug interaction, with nausea/vomiting (46.8%) being the most common symptom. Upon suspicion of an interaction, most consulted a doctor (55.9%) or a pharmacist (37.3%). While 58.6% felt sufficiently informed about drug interactions, an apparent reliance on and preference for pharmacists was evident: they were a primary information source (57.3%) and the most preferred method for gaining awareness (55.9%). In conclusion, despite high theoretical awareness, a significant portion of this health-literate cohort experienced drug interactions, underscoring a critical gap between knowledge and real-world outcomes. The central role of pharmacists was highlighted as a key resource for public education and intervention.
Keywords: Drug Interactions, Knowledge, Survey, Syrians.

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Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench) is an essential nutritional horticultural crop grown primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. It is cultivated mainly for food, as the most critical energy source and for medicinal uses in the tropics. In Ethiopia, oka is grown in some areas of North Western Ethiopia, with several advantages over other cereals as a food staple in areas with poor soil conditions, uncertain rainfall, and weak market infrastructure. Despite research on crop adaptability, selection, nutritional and anti-nutritional factors, there is a lack of information on the overall status, challenges, and the future role of Okra production in Ethiopia. This paper, therefore, provided a brief overview of genetic improvement, agronomic research, nutritional aspects, biochemical analysis, anti-nutritional factors, disease and insect pest management, and future research directions of Okra in Ethiopia. Moreover, genetic improvement, agronomic research, nutritional research, medicinal research, and anti-nutritional research. Different research findings have been obtained and registered since the inception of research on Okra in Ethiopia, including agronomic practices, crop protection technologies, and biochemical analyses of nutritional composition and anti-nutritional factors. The availability of these outputs in a compiled and comprehensive way is essential for enhancing the production and productivity of Okra in Ethiopia and to influence the policy makers to consider Okra underutilized crop not known by most of the country, enabling the introduction of scale-up to be known as one of the prominent food and nutrition security crops in the country. Hence, the article could serve as a helpful reference resource for researchers, students, agricultural extension workers, and NGOs working in Ethiopia on root and tuber crops in general and Okra in particular.
Keywords: Breeding, Biochemical, Crop Protection, Food Security, Okr.

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