Knowledge and Attitudes of HIV-Infected Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy Regarding Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) in Selected Hospitals in Nigeria.

Knowledge and attitudes of HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in selected hospitals in Nigeria.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Perspect Clin Res. 2012 Jul; 3(3): 95-101
Agu KA, Oparah AC, Ochei UM

The study evaluated the knowledge and attitudes of HIV-infected patients on ART regarding ADRs following routine patient counseling and education in selected hospitals in Nigeria.From 36,459 HIV-infected patients on ART in the 36 selected hospitals, a study-specific instrument was administered to 3,650 patients in a cross-sectional study. Patients were provided counseling and education on ADRs before and after commencing ART. Factor analysis was performed using principal components extraction. Item score means above midpoint (3.7) on a 5-point scale were regarded as positive attitudes and below as negative attitudes. A chi-square test was used for inferential statistics; P<0.05 was used to determine statistical significance.The mean questionnaire return rate was 47.5%. Data from 2329 (63.8%) participants were analyzed, 63.1% females and 34.4% aged 25-34 years old. A total of 80.1% participants accepted to have been counseled on ADRs; 65.8% knew that all medicines cause some kind of adverse effects; 55.1% knew the adverse effects of their medicines; 60.8% knew what to do when they suspect ADRs and it included mainly reporting to the healthcare provider (88.1%). However, only 31.9% had experienced ADRs previously. The knowledge of ADRs was associated with gender and educational and employment status of the patients (P<0.05). A total of 95.6% reported self-efficacy to ART. Majority of the rated attitude score means were >3.7 which denotes positive attitudes to ADRs. Three extracted factors accounted for 73.1% of cumulative variability. All attitude items had very significant loadings of ?0.5.Overall, participants reported good knowledge and positive attitudes to adverse effects of their medicines compared to what was reported previously. The patient counseling and education on drug therapy provided to patients may have contributed to these findings and are highly recommended.
HubMed – drug

 

Knowledge, attitude and perception/practices (KAP) of medical practitioners in India towards adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Perspect Clin Res. 2012 Jul; 3(3): 90-4
Kharkar M, Bowalekar S

The objective was to assess knowledge, attitude and perceptions/practices (KAP) of medical practitioners (MPs) in India towards Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting.A questionnaire was designed for assessment of KAP of medical practitioners in India toward ADR reporting. This questionnaire was administered to 2-3 medical practitioners from each zone prior to administering final questionnaire which was approved by Disha Independent Ethics Committee, Mumbai. 1200 medical practitioners (about 300 from each zone) from India were selected randomly.1000 medical practitioners out of 1200 (90%), selected at random were approached. A total of 870 provided responses to the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 73% of 1200 selected randomly. A total of 47.5% respondents reported that they were aware of Government ADR centers. A total of 59.2% reported that they are familiar with the procedure of reporting ADRs to Government centers. However, only 18.5% of MPs have reported the observed ADRs to Government ADR centers. As against this relatively large number of MPs (87.9%) have reported ADRs observed during their routine practice to medical representatives of pharmaceutical company and NGOs (non-Govt. Organizations). A total of 80.5% of respondents agreed that safety plays an important role and 96% reported that ADR centers are useful. However, only 55.6% of respondents have reported that there is a need for ADR centers.The study reveals that practitioners are aware of ADR reporting; their perception toward ADR reporting is right but it is not reflected when it comes to the act of reporting of ADRs. In our sample of 870 respondents only 18.5 % reported ADRs to some organizations. Only 5% of respondents recorded the details of ADR and reported to the manufacturer and 1% of respondents to government health ministry. Thus, medical practitioners in India appear to have a good knowledge about ADR reporting, the right perception toward ADR reporting. However, as far as practice of ADR reporting is concerned it is discouraging.
HubMed – drug

 

PAK4-6 in cancer and neuronal development.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Cell Logist. 2012 Apr 1; 2(2): 95-104
Minden A

PAKs 4, 5 and 6 are members of the group B family of p21-activated kinases. Among this group, PAK4 has been most extensively studied. While it has essential roles in embryonic development, in adults high levels of PAK4 are frequently associated with cancer. PAK4 is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, and the Pak4 gene is amplified in some cancers. PAK4 overexpression is sufficient to cause oncogenic transformation in cells and in mouse models. The tight connection between PAK4 and cancer make it a promising diagnostic tool as well as a potential drug target. The group B PAKs also have important developmental functions. PAK4 is important for many early developmental processes, while PAK5 and PAK6 play roles in learning and memory in mice. This chapter provides an overview of the roles of the group B PAKs in cancer as well as development, and includes a discussion of PAK mediated signaling pathways and cellular functions.
HubMed – drug

 

Impact of antiplatelet treatment on colorectal cancer staging characteristics.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2012 Sep 16; 4(9): 409-13
Symeonidis D, Koukoulis G, Christodoulidis G, Mamaloudis I, Chatzinikolaou I, Tepetes K

To evaluate whether antiplatelet medication leads to an earlier stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis.From January 2002 until March 2010, patients that presented to our institution with the initial diagnosis of CRC and were submitted to an open curative CRC resection or a palliative procedure were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion criteria were the use of antithrombotic medication, i.e., coumarins, and appendiceal malignancies. Data acquired from medical files included age, gender, past medical history, antithrombotic treatment received prior to endoscopic diagnosis, preoperative imaging staging, location of the tumor, surgical and final histopathological report. Patients that did not receive any antithrombotic medication prior to the endoscopic diagnosis comprised the control group of the study, while patients that were on antiplatelet medication comprised the antiplatelet group. Primary end point was a comparison of CRC stage in the two groups of the study. CRC presenting symptoms and the incidence of each cancer stage in the two groups were also evaluated.A total of 387 patients with the diagnosis of CRC were submitted to our department for further surgical treatment. Ninety-eight patients (25.32%), with a median age of 71 years (range 52-91 years), were included in the antiplatelet group, while 289 (74.67%) patients, with a median age of 67 years (range 41-90 years), were not in any thrombosis prophylaxis medication (control group). Thirty-one patients were treated with some kind of palliative procedure, either endoscopic, such as endoscopic stent placement, or surgical, such as de-compressive colostomy or deviation. Coronary disease (77.55% – 76 patients), stroke recurrence prevention (14.28% – 14 patients) and peripheral arterial disease (8.16% – 8 patients) were the indications for the administration of antiplatelet treatment (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine or dipyridamole) in the antiplatelet group. All patients on aspirin treatment received a dosage of 100 mg/d, while the minimum prophylactic dosages were also used for the rest of the antiplatelet drugs. Investigation of an iron deficiency anemia (147 patients), per rectum blood loss (84 patients), bowel obstruction and/or perforation (81 patients), bowel habits alterations (32 patients), non-specific symptoms, such as weight loss, intermittent abdominal pain and fatigue, (22 patients) or population screening (21 patients) were the indications for the endoscopic investigation in both groups. Bleeding, either chronic presenting as anemia or acute was significantly higher (P = 0.002) for the antiplatelet arm of the study (71 patients – 72.4% of the antiplatelet group vs 160 patients – 55.3% of the control group). The mean tumor, node and metastasis stage was 2.57 ± 0.96 for the control group, 2.27 ± 0.93 for the antiplatelet group (P = 0.007) and 2.19 ± 0.92 for the subgroup of patients taking aspirin (P = 0.003). The incidence of advanced disease (stage IV) was lower for the antiplatelet group of the study (P = 0.033).The adverse effect of bleeding that is justifiably attached to this drug category seems to have a favorable impact on the staging characteristics of CRC.
HubMed – drug

 

Antidiabetic Effects of Add-On Gynostemma pentaphyllum Extract Therapy with Sulfonylureas in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012; 2012: 452313
Huyen VT, Phan DV, Thang P, Ky PT, Hoa NK, Ostenson CG

Aims. To investigate the antidiabetic effect of the traditional Vietnamese herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) together with sulfonylurea (SU) in 25 drug-naïve type 2 diabetic patients. Methods. After 4-week treatment with gliclazide (SU), 30?mg daily, all patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups to add on GP extract or placebo extract, 6?g daily, during eight weeks. Results. After 4-week SU treatment, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA(1C) decreased significantly (P < 0.001). FPG was further reduced after add-on therapy with 2.9 ± 1.7 and 0.9 ± 0.6?mmol/L in the GP and placebo groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Therapy with GP extract also reduced 30- and 120-minute oral glucose tolerance test postload values. HbA(1C) levels decreased approximately 2% units in the GP group compared to 0.7% unit in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Conclusion. GP extract in addition to SU offers an alternative to addition of other oral medication to treat type 2 diabetic patients. HubMed – drug

 


 

Untreated: Volume 3 “Under Pressure” – Untreated is an original, comedy web series that explores the wild and wonderfully bizarre world of life inside the walls of a pint-sized drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Filtered through the eyes of our colorful core of characters, we discover that sobriety and sanity do not necessarily go hand in hand. Furthermore, this mixed up bag of nuts seems to only have one thing in common: that they are all completely unready, totally unwilling and entirely Untreated! Contact Demian Slade & Quincy Rose at: [email protected] Credits: Executive Produced, Created & Written by: Demian Slade Produced, Edited & Directed by: Quincy Rose Director of Photography: Marcin Nadolny Starring: Demian Slade as Joe Zach Tiegen as Doug Jenn Gulotta as April Elizabeth Hendrix as Shorty Brown Albert Malafronte as Dr. Stan Quincy Rose as Rich Anonymous as Candy Gregor Manns as Freddy Someone as Scruffy Guy Co-Executive Producer: Susan Martinson Assistant Camera: Tad Deutsch Sound Mixer & Boom Operator: Rob Ellenberg Special Thanks: Betsy Phillips Maddy the Cat Katie the Dog Amza Moglan Noah Alexander “Untreated” and all volumes and clips related are the sole property of Demian Slade & Quincy Rose. copyright 2011 Demian Slade & Quincy Rose: [email protected]

 

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