Current medical research and opinion
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The effectiveness of the national drug safety monitoring program directly depends on the active participation of healthcare professionals in reporting suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The aim of the study was to explore community pharmacists' comprehension of pharmacovigilance, their perspectives toward reporting ADRs and investigate the current practice of ADR reporting among pharmacists in Serbia. ⋯ Despite the community pharmacists' positive attitude toward adverse drug reporting and their role in the process, they show limited knowledge regarding the issue and highly prevalent under-reporting of ADRs. Educational programs are necessary to increase ADRs reporting.
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Observational Study
A comparison of country-level data from the VISIONARY study examining treatment outcomes with preservative-free tafluprost/timolol fixed-dose combination therapy.
Analysis and comparison of country-level data from the VISIONARY study, examining treatment outcomes with the topical fixed-dose combination of preservative-free tafluprost (0.0015%) and timolol (0.5%) (PF tafluprost/timolol FC) in adults with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) who were insufficiently treated with or unable to tolerate either beta-blocker or prostaglandin analogue (PGA) topical monotherapy. ⋯ Subanalysis of VISIONARY study data revealed significant IOP reductions following a switch to the PF tafluprost/timolol FC from either PGA or beta-blocker topical monotherapy. Cross-country variation was likely due to baseline IOP differences. Within country, outcomes were consistent regardless of diagnosis, dosing or prior monotherapy. Treatment was generally well tolerated.
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Aeromonads are gram-negative opportunistic bacteria, mainly found in aquatic environments. Hematologic patients are particularly at risk of Aeromonas soft tissue infections and septicemia, especially during chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. ⋯ In a previous paper we characterized the patient's aberration with cytogenetic and FISH analysis. Here, we provide details regarding the patient's rapidly progressing infection and underline the importance of maintaining high clinical suspicion of Aeromonas infections in acute leukemia. Given the unusually rapid progression of an infection caused by a rare non-resistant pathogen, and after considering data on the implication of metalloproteinase function in immune system regulation, a correlation between risk of severe infection and TAF15-ZNF384 aberrated acute lymphoblastic leukemia cannot be ruled out.
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Chronic cough is a common reason for medical consultations and is associated with considerable physical and psychological morbidity. This study investigated healthcare use and cost in chronic cough and assessed its relationship with cough severity, health status, objective cough frequency (CF), and anxiety and depression. ⋯ Healthcare cost associated with chronic cough are largely due to diagnostic investigations and clinic consultations. The predictors of costs were health status (LCQ) and anxiety. Further studies should investigate the optimal management protocols for patients with chronic cough.