RESUMO
Vitamin D is a lipid soluble vitamin that is metabolically converted to an active metabolite, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol). This active metabolite plays an essential role in controlling a wide range of biological activities such as calcium-bone homeostasis. In the past two decades, the effects of vitamin D in the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo have been accumulated. Moreover, results from Phase I and phase II trials of calcitriol either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents indicates its tumor suppression effects. However, therapeutic role of calcitriol has been encountered with hypercalcemic side effect in most cases. To solve this problem, vitamin D analogues with less calcemic effect have been developed. These analogues have been tested for its efficacy in a variety of cancer treatment, such as prostate, breast, pancreatic, and liver cancers, etc. Results from several clinical trials indicated that the administration of high-dose calcitriol and its analogues is safe and feasible. Thus, the promises of vitamin D from many studies may lead us to a new strategy in cancer therapy of upcoming future.
RESUMO
The objective of this study was to determine the result derived from prescribed drug related problem (DRPs) solving among elderly diabetic patients being observed by home visits carried out by a pharmacist. The design being used for this study was a one-group pretest-posttest experimental study and it was applied to 21 elderly diabetic patients. The results showed that nineteen DRPs were found with 11 patients during the first home visit. Number of DRPs gradually decreased during the second and third home visits. The most common DRPs found were related to the failure to receive medication (42.10%). Mean numbers of DRPs per patient in each pair of home visit were also compared by paired t-test. It was found that mean numbers of DRPs per patient were statistically significant for the first (mean = 0.90± 1.04) and second home visits (mean = 0.33± 0.48). However, they were not significantly found between the first and third visits and also between second and third visits. Therefore, home visits by a pharmacist provided high beneficial effect in elderly diabetic patients.
RESUMO
The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of education and counseling on adherence to antiretroviral therapy and determine factors associated with adherence in the HIV clinic at Mahasarakham hospital. A quasi-experimental design, to compare knowledge and adherence to antiretroviral therapy between an experimental (received education and counseling) and control group (not received education and counseling), two times follow up every month. Fifty-six patients with HIV were recruited: 28 patients were experimental group and 28 patients were control group. The patients’ knowledge in AIDS and antiretroviral drug were significantly increased (p \< 0.001) after education. The adherence evaluated by questionnaires showed that the adherence in the experimental group statistically significant increased (p=0.02 and 0.001, respectively) but the control group was not different. The adherence to antiretroviral therapy in the experimental group was more significantly increased than control group (p=0.004) after receiving counseling the second time. The adherence was measured by pill count method; neither experimental nor control group had significant effect before and after counseling, and they were not different at the second time of follow up. The self-record of taking medicines method, adherence was not different in both groups. The patients’ knowledge in AIDS and antiretroviral therapy were significantly associated with adherence both before and after educations (p=0.017 and 0.003, respectively). History of drug abuse, drug allergy and number of recalled memory method in taking antiretroviral drugs were significantly associated with adherence (p=0.038, 0.03 and 0.014, respectively). Patient education and counseling about disease and antiretroviral drugs by a pharmacist can improve antiretroviral adherence.