Knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacists regarding dietary supplements: a community pharmacy- based survey in Tehran

The present study aimed to evaluate pharmacy practice regarding dietary supplements in Tehran [I.R. Iran]. So, the factors affecting on pharmacists' practice including their knowledge, attitude, and some underlying factors were evaluated. This is an observational knowledge; attitude and practice [KAP] study. The unit of analysis include community pharmacies practice in Tehran. The data was collected in 2013 via an anonymous, self-administered; postal questionnaire consisted of demographic information, knowledge [subjective and objective questions], attitude, and practice evaluation part. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS. This study showed that although the knowledge has a significant effect on attitude and practice, the attention should be paid on other underlying factors such as experience, pharmacy ownership situation and academic degree which might have positive impact on pharmacists' practice. According to this study, although many underlying factors such as experience, university and pharmacy ownership have impact on pharmacy practice regarding dietary supplements, the most attention should paid to knowledge as the main factor and more attention should be paid to training on dietary supplement could be recommended

Quality of life and job satisfaction of dispensing pharmacists practicing in Tehran private-sector pharmacies

As there is no evidence of previous studies on evaluating the level of job satisfaction and the major causes of dissatisfaction among the pharmacists in Iran, this study was designed. This study is a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of pharmacists practicing in Tehran private-sector pharmacies. We selected a stratified random sampling using number of prescriptions as a variable for stratification. The questionnaire was divided into three sections containing the demographic characteristics, general health perception and job satisfaction. Of all the participants, 62% were the owners of pharmacies and 38% were pharmacists in charge [non-owner]. Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported satisfaction about their psychological and physical state. Just 11% of pharmacists were financially satisfied and 49% felt relaxed at the workplace. There was no correlation between the satisfaction and owning the pharmacy or sex of respondents. Spearman›s correlation showed that the income satisfaction correlated negatively with age [p

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of Bovine thrombin and compression method in femoral pseudoneurysm of parients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Pseudoaneurysm has been an increasingly common complication of catheterization procedures during the past two decades, with the greatest incidence being in the femoral artery. Treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with the injection of thrombin is reported to be an efficacious and safe procedure. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and success rate of percutaneous ultrasonographically-guided thrombin injection and compression method for the treatment of pseudoaneurysm and for studying of the effect of thrombin injection on systemic coagulation parameters. This cohort clinical trial was conducted on patients with femoral pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous intervention [PCI] in Shaheed Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center. The patients were divided into two randomized groups and treated with either the compression method or the percutaneous ultrasonographically-guided thrombin injection method. Pseudoaneurysm size, pseudoaneurysm neck size, thrombin dose, thrombosis time, outcome of therapy, and complications were documented prospectively. Duplex sonographic follow-up examinations were performed at 0 and 24 hours afterwards. Partial thrombin time as well as the Quick test [prothrombin time] was monitored before and after the intervention. Thirty patients between 15 and 85 years of age with femoral pseudoaneurysm following catheterization were enrolled in this study. The average length and width of the pseudoaneurysms were respectively 2.45 +/- 1.15 cm and 2.06 +/- 1.07 cm. In total, 13 thrombin injections were administered. The mean thrombin dose was 500-2000 IU. The success rate of thrombin injection was %92.30 [12 of 13 patients], which was significantly higher than that of compression 82.35% [13 of 17 patients] [p value<0.05]. No thromboembolic, infectious, or allergic complications occurred. In this study, the percutaneous ultrasonographically-guided thrombin injection method was successful and safe in the management of femoral pseudoaneurysms. Changes in coagulating factors indicated the possibility of thrombin passage into the arterial circulation.

Comparing the effects of clomipramine and fluoxetine on fasting blood glucose in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder

This study was conducted to compare the effects of clomipramine and fluoxetine on fasting blood glucose [FBS] in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD]. Thirty nondiabetic children with OCD entered this randomized trial. Subjects were between 7 to 17 years of age and had not received any medication that could affect blood glucose level for at least 2 weeks prior to the initiation of the study. Patients were assigned to receive 20 to 60 mg/d of fluoxetine or 75 to 200 mg/d of clompiramine for 8 weeks. The exclusion criteria were pregnancy and lactation, history of diabetes mellitus, any liver and thyroid disorder, epilepsy and major heart disease. Additionally, none of the patients should have received electroconvulsive therapy within 6 months prior to the initiation of the study. FBS levels were measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after the initiation of the trial. In the fluoxetine group, FBS level was decreased from 82.93 mg/dL [baseline] to 79.73 mg/dL at week 4 [P<0.001] and to 72.53 mg/dL at week 8 [P<0.001]. On the other hand, in the clomipramine group, FBS level was increased from 84.93 mg/dL [baseline] to 87.00 mg/dL at week 4 [P<0.05] and to 95.33 mg/dL at week 8 [P<0.001]. This 8-week study demonstrated that FBS levels may decrease in children with OCD who received flouxetine, and may increase in those treated with clomipramine. Therefore, it is suggested that FBS levels should be monitored and taken into consideration when choosing between fluoxetine and clomipramine in the treatment of OCD

Comparison of the analgesic profile and side effectts of tramadol vs pethidine followingurological surgery

The optimization of pain management following surgery with minimal side effects, is one the major goals of surgical and medical teams. In this randomized double blind study, sixty ASA [American Society of Anesthesiologist] class I or II patients, undergoing urological surgery, were assessed to receive either pethidine or tramadol using a standard method for general anesthesia. Pain intensity was assessed by verbal rating, through a 4-step scaling system. Results of this investigation have revealed that the mean total drug administered in tramadol group were 244.53 + 56.95 mg and in pethidine group 176.78+42.99 mg respectively. There were no significant differences in analgesic effect, observed in either group during early hours following surgery, but after 8,12 and 16 hours significant differences were observed. Analgesic properties of tramadol were almost comparable with pethidine nevertheless; pethidine was superior in some extent. No significant differences in patient's PaO2 were found, but PaCO2 at 1 and 4 hours after surgery had a greater retention in pethidine group. [P<0.001]. There was a significant reduction in respiratory rate in pethidine group at 4,8,12 and 16 hours following surgery, compared with tramadol group [P<0.001]. Incidence of dizziness was greater in patients who received pethidine [P<0.001], and sweating was higher in tramadol group [P<0.01]. Also there was a greater need for metoclopramide to overcome nausea in tramadol group [P<0.05]. Results of this study may suggest that tramadol could be considered as a safe and effective analgesic, following urological surgery as compared with pethidine