Patient-reported adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions: a cross-sectional study on malaysian HIV/AIDS patients

This study aimed to explore the adverse drug reactions [ADRs] reported by patients and to identify drug-drug interactions [DDIs] among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [HIV/AIDS] patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic, Hospital Sungai Buloh, an HIV/AIDS referral centre. The patients were randomly selected and were encouraged to describe ADRs caused specifically by any of the prescribed antiretroviral drugs [ARDs]. Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded from the patients' medical records. In addition data on antiretroviral treatment [ART], DDIs and other conventional medication were also documented. A total of 325 randomly selected HIV/AIDS patients with a mean age of 22.94 years participated in the study. The most frequently prescribed ARDs were lamivudine [64.6%], zidovudine [40.6%] and efavirenz [42.5%]. Commonly reported ADRs were fatigue [54.8%], allergic reactions [41.5%], weight loss [41.5%], dry mouth [35.1%] and memory loss [35.1%]. Female [87.8%], non-complementary and alternative medicine [CAM] users [87.3%] and participants below 50 years old [81.1%] were identified as having a higher prevalence of ADRs compared to males [79.6%], CAM users [78.7%] and participants aged 50 years or more [77.5%]. Patient age was found to be significantly associated [p = 0.048] with the ADRs. In addition, a total of 44 cases of DDIs belonging to category D were also found in this study. This study enabled us to identify the most common ADRs and DDIs associated with the use of ART. Safe and effective treatment depends on the healthcare providers' knowledge of the same

Emergence of multi-drug resistance among beta-lactamase producing salmonella

Multi-drug resistant strains of Salmonella isolated from blood and bone marrow cultures of pyrexial patients received from physicians, hospitals and different clinics were studied from May to November, 1993. Of 2143 samples collected, 424 [20%] cases yielded the growth of different organisms. Out of these 266 [63%] were positive for Salmonella strains. The strains isolated were Salmonella typhi 239 [90%] and Salmonella paratyphi A 27 [10%]. Two hundred twenty [82%] strains of Salmonella showed increased beta-lactamase activity and an alarming increase in resistance against commonly used antibiotics for enteric fever

Female upsurge in incidence of gastric ulcer and relation with parity

476 patients underwent Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi over a eight year period [1985-1992]. All presented with clinical features suggestive of peptic ulcer. Most of the patients suffering from duodenal ulcer were males [79%]. A female predominance was seen in gastric ulcer [63%] which further increased [77%] when only ulcers in the body of the stomach were taken into consideration. An increasing intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] is thought to be the likely cause of the female upsurge in gastric ulcer incidence. However, the relation with parity is also a strong contributory factor to the higher female incidence of gastric ulcer

Spirometric testing of FEV1 in acute asthma

Seventy patients of acute bronchial asthma were subjected to assessment of FEV1 [Forced Expiratory Volume in one second]. A significant disparity between clinical grade and FEV1 was observed. The decrease in FEV1 was more marked than in FVC. The study leads to an inference that, in acute bronchial asthma, the airway obstruction should be assessed by frequent monitoring of FEV1, and PEFR