Awareness on expiration date of repackaged prescription medications and pulverization of solid pills: A questionnaire study

Background@#The number of elderly people with comorbidities who experience dysphagia associated with geriatric disorders, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s dementia, is increasing. Consequently, the demand for long-term prescriptions of powdered medications is expected to rise. Most patients procure repackaged prescription medications from pharmacies; however, the guidelines regarding their expiration dates are unclear. @*Objectives@#The aim of this study was to assess awareness among adults regarding the expiration dates and drug stability issues associated with repackaged prescription medications, including powdered medications. @*Methods@#A questionnaire with 16 components was designed and distributed online (August 1-September 1, 2019) to adults aged 19 years or older. Statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis and chi-square test, were conducted on the obtained data. A p-value 0.05). @*Conclusions@#More than half of the total respondents, including healthcare workers, were not familiar with the appropriate expiration dates of repackaged prescription medications. The establishment of evidence-based guidelines regarding drug expiration dates and the dissemination of awareness among patients are required. Furthermore, clinical practices including repackaging or pulverizing medications for long-term prescriptions should be avoided owing to the associated drug stability issues.

Awareness on expiration date of repackaged prescription medications and pulverization of solid pills: A questionnaire study

Background@#The number of elderly people with comorbidities who experience dysphagia associated with geriatric disorders, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s dementia, is increasing. Consequently, the demand for long-term prescriptions of powdered medications is expected to rise. Most patients procure repackaged prescription medications from pharmacies; however, the guidelines regarding their expiration dates are unclear. @*Objectives@#The aim of this study was to assess awareness among adults regarding the expiration dates and drug stability issues associated with repackaged prescription medications, including powdered medications. @*Methods@#A questionnaire with 16 components was designed and distributed online (August 1-September 1, 2019) to adults aged 19 years or older. Statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis and chi-square test, were conducted on the obtained data. A p-value 0.05). @*Conclusions@#More than half of the total respondents, including healthcare workers, were not familiar with the appropriate expiration dates of repackaged prescription medications. The establishment of evidence-based guidelines regarding drug expiration dates and the dissemination of awareness among patients are required. Furthermore, clinical practices including repackaging or pulverizing medications for long-term prescriptions should be avoided owing to the associated drug stability issues.

Relationship between Abdominal Obesity and Proportion of Supper and Late-night Meals

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a serious problem, and there have been various studies to elucidate its causes. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between obesity and proportion of supper and late-night meals among the Korean general population. METHODS: The total analyzed population was 15,757 people (mean age 44.6 years). The criterion for abdominal obesity as defined by waist circumference was follows: men ≥90 cm, women ≥85 cm. Supper and late-night meals are defined as meals eaten between 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Calories of supper and late-night meal were divided by the total calorie intake of the day and categorized into quintiles. Various variables that can affect obesity were corrected for in the model, and logistic regression models were used to confirm the relationship between supper and late-night meals and waist circumference. RESULTS: Comparing the first quintile to the second, the third, and the fifth showed statistically significant results (Odds ratio: 1.19, 1.25, and 1.21, respectively). We also compared the breakfast group and the no breakfast group. Only the breakfast group showed statistically significant results (Odds ratio: 1.28, 1.30, 1.22, and 1.21, respectively). CONCLUSION: Risk of abdominal obesity will be decreased if one reduces the proportion of supper and late-night meals to half of the recommended calorie intake.

Effect of fenofibrate on C-reactive protein levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: High levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Most reports on the effect of fibrate on CRP level have inadequate study designs and the results are inconsistent. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of fenofibrate on CRP levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients. METHODS: Patients with triglyceride (TG) level over 200 mg/dL were treated with 200 mg of fenofibrate (Fenofibrate group, n=30) or with general measures (Control group, n=30). Patients with CRP levels >10 mg/L were excluded. Patients with hypercholesterolemia were treated with HMG CoA reductase inhibitor (Statin group, n=30). Lipid and lipoprotein levels were measured before and 2 months after medication. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in Fenofibrate and Control groups. Baseline CRP levels were independently associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus. Fenofibrate therapy did not change CRP levels (1.67+/-1.60 vs 1.76+/-1.88 mg/L, p=0.79) as did Control group (p=0.46). When both Fenofibrate and Control groups were divided into three subgroups in terms of baseline CRP levels, CRP levels were increased in the lowest group (p=0.019), did not change in the middle and the highest groups (p=0.89 and p=0.47 respectively). In patients with baseline CRP level > or =3 mg/L, CRP levels were decreased (p=0.041). Changes of CRP levels were independently associated with baseline CRP levels. Statin therapy decreased CRP levels (p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Fenofibrate did not change CRP levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients. Cardioprotective effects of fibrates may not be associated with anti-inflammatory mechanisms in contrast to those of statins.

Binding of Annexin V to Oxidized Lipid on Oxidatively Damaged Erythrocyte

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Annexin V is known to bind to the phosphatidylserine (PS) of damaged cell membranes. We recently demonstrated that annexin V binds to oxidized red blood cells (oxRBC). The aim of this study was to find whether annexin V binds to oxidized lipids or to the PS of oxRBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Red blood cells (RBC) were oxidized by the addition of CuSO4, and the degree of oxidation evaluated using the semiquantitative measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). The binding of annexin V to oxRBC was evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Annexin V was found to bind to oxRBC, but not to native RBC. The percentage of RBC binding to annexin V was closely correlated with the degree of oxidation, as measured using TBARS (r=0.99, p=0.000) in relation to the concentration of CuSO4. The binding of annexin V to oxRBC was attenuated in the presence of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), with these phenomena also being dosedependent. The binding was reduced by 71.0+/-3.0% in the presence of 100 microgram/mL oxLDL. LDL had no influence on the binding of annexin V to oxRBC. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that annexin V may bind to the oxidized lipids of cell membranes. Further studies will be required to evaluate the relative importance between oxidized lipids and PS, and to find the characteristics of oxidized lipids in the binding of annexin V to damaged cell membranes.