Pseudohaematuria Due to Mesalazine: A Case Report.

The symptom of macroscopic or 'visible' haematuria can cause significant patient distress, largely due to its' potential association with urinary tract malignancy, infection or glomerular disease. This lesson from practice describes the case of a 19-year-old female patient for whom the cause of red/brown urinary discolouration was found to relate to a reaction between renally excreted mesalazine and domestic bleach in the toilet bowel. Recognition of this phenomenon in patients taking mesalazine for inflammatory colitis is important to minimise patient distress and unnecessary investigation for a urinary tract cause.

The impact of medication regimen complexity on patient-related and clinical outcomes in kidney failure: a systematic review.

Introduction: Kidney failure is a life-limiting condition that profoundly impacts an individual's quality of life. The significant medication burden on patients required to manage the comorbidities and complications of kidney failure can have implications for patient-reported and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This work systematically reviewed methods used to assess medication regimen complexity amongst adults with kidney failure, the associated patient-reported and clinical outcomes, and the effectiveness of interventions to address regimen complexity.

Excipient induced allergies in oral medications: unravelling the covert threat - a systematic review.

Excipients have been identified as 'inert' substances that often enhance the non-pharmacological aspects of a medication. However, recent clinical evidence elucidates their potential in inducing anaphylaxis and indicates that they are often overlooked as potential allergens in routine clinical practice. The aim of the study was to assimilate published evidence on excipient-induced allergies associated with the use of oral medications and to underline their potential as potent allergens.

Caregiver Medication Information Needs and Medication Management Challenges in Pediatric Cancer: A Systematic Review.

The objective of this systematic review was to identify the medication information needs and preferences of caregivers of children with cancer and explore the medication management challenges these caregivers experienced. We conducted a systematic search of three databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and Medline) for studies published from database inception to February 27, 2024, and assessed the medication information needs of caregivers of children with cancer. The methodological quality of qualitative studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Research Checklist.

Medication Regimen Complexity and Patient-Centred Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis.

Background: Although patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) typically have complex treatment needs, the effect of medication regimen complexity on patient outcomes has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study aims to quantify medication regimen complexity and evaluate patient-centred outcomes including medication adherence and its determinants in patients undergoing PD.

Methods: This study combined a retrospective audit of baseline data with a prospective evaluation of patient-related outcomes among patients undergoing PD at a large metropolitan dialysis centre in Australia.

Predictive significance of inflammatory markers in the survival of older Indian patients with cancer: a single-center prospective analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic impact of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) on overall survival (OS) among Indian older patients with cancer.

Methods: This observational study was conducted in the geriatric oncology clinic of Tata Memorial Hospital (India). We included all patients who underwent a geriatric assessment (GA) and had a complete blood count available for analysis.

Usability Evaluation Methods Used in Electronic Discharge Summaries: Literature Review.

Background: With the widespread adoption of digital health records, including electronic discharge summaries (eDS), it is important to assess their usability in order to understand whether they meet the needs of the end users. While there are established approaches for evaluating the usability of electronic health records, there is a lack of knowledge regarding suitable evaluation methods specifically for eDS.

Objective: This literature review aims to identify the usability evaluation approaches used in eDS.

Effect of Obesity on the Use of Antiarrhythmics in Adults With Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and obesity coexist in approximately 37.6 million and 650 million people globally, respectively. The anatomical and physiological changes in individuals with obesity may influence the pharmacokinetic properties of drugs.

Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Uptake in Australian Adults.

In January 2021, Australia initiated a national COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy but faced setbacks, leading to negative press and media controversy, which may have diminished vaccine confidence. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing vaccine confidence in Australian adults (≥18 years of age) following the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine. Conducted at Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, a cross-sectional survey with 1053 respondents gauged vaccine confidence and influencing factors.

Drug-Related Problems and Recommendations Made during Home Medicines Reviews for Sick Day Medication Management in Australia.

: Using certain medications during an intercurrent illness can increase the risk of drug related problems (DRP) occurring such as acute kidney injury (AKI). Medications that increase this risk include sulfonylureas, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, metformin, angiotensin receptor blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories drugs, and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SADMANS). Sick day medication guidance (SDMG) recommends withholding SADMANS medications during an intercurrent illness where adequate fluid intake cannot be maintained.

Evaluation of Serum and Salivary Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels in Patients with Oral Potentially Malignant Conditions/Lesions: A Clinical and Biochemical Study.

Background: Oral cancer encompasses all malignancies that originate in the oral tissues and remains a major public health problem throughout the world as an important case of poor health and illness. Head and neck cancer accounts for 9.8% of the estimated 6,44,600 incidental cancer cases in India.

Assessing frailty in older Indian patients before cancer treatment: Comparative analysis of three scales and their implications for overall survival.

Introduction: Frailty, characterized by ageing-related vulnerability, influences outcomes in older adults. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes in older Indian patients with cancer.

Materials And Methods: Our observational single-centre study, conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital from February 2020 to July 2022, enrolled participants aged 60 years and above with cancer.

Medication Adherence Among Patients With Kidney Disease: An Umbrella Review.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) imposes a significant medication burden on patients due to the necessity of multiple treatments to slow disease progression, manage coexisting conditions, and address complications. The complex medication regimen, in turn, has implications for clinical and patient-centered outcomes. This umbrella review provides comprehensive evidence on extent of medication nonadherence among adults with CKD, as well as associated risk factors, outcomes, and the effectiveness of interventions by synthesizing evidence from published systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses.

Systematic Review on Treatment and Outcomes of Tuberculous Peritonitis in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis.

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis due to tuberculosis (TB) is associated with poor outcomes and optimal treatment strategies for this condition remain unknown. Our study aimed to: (i) systematically review the published literature on peritonitis caused by in patients on PD and (ii) review cases of peritonitis due to in patients on PD reported in Australia and New Zealand to determine the epidemiology, management strategies, and outcomes of this condition.

Methods: A literature search of Medline, Scopus, Embase, ClinicalTrials.

Drug-Related Problems and Sick Day Management Considerations for Medications that Contribute to the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Medication use during acute illness increases the risk of experiencing drug related problems (DRPs), including acute kidney injuries. It is recommended that potentially nephrotoxic medications are withheld during acute illness, including sulfonylureas, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, metformin, angiotensin receptor blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SADMANS). It is unknown if Australian pharmacists currently provide sick day medication management advice regarding SADMANS medications.

Predictors and patterns of empirical antibiotic therapy and associated outcomes in COVID-19 patients: a retrospective study in a tertiary care facility in South India.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led to a global health crisis. Inappropriate use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients has been a concern, leading to antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluated the patterns and predictors of empirical antibiotic therapy in COVID-19 patients and associated outcomes.

Performance of potentially inappropriate medications assessment tools in older Indian patients with cancer.

Background: Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use are common problems in older adults. Safe prescription practices are a necessity. The tools employed for the identification of PIM sometimes do not concur with each other.

Impact of a pharmacy-led screening and intervention in people at risk of or living with chronic kidney disease in a primary care setting: a cluster randomised trial protocol.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognised as a growing global public health problem. Early detection and management can significantly reduce the loss of kidney function. The proposed trial aims to evaluate the impact of a community pharmacy-led intervention combining CKD screening and medication review on CKD detection and quality use of medicines (QUM) for patients with CKD.

Correlation of the Geriatric Assessment with Overall Survival in Older Patients with Cancer.

Aims: Global guidelines recommend that all older patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy should undergo a geriatric assessment. However, utilisation of the geriatric assessment is often constrained by its time-intensive nature, which limits its adoption in settings with limited resources and high demand. There is a lack of evidence correlating the results of the geriatric assessment with survival from the Indian subcontinent.

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide regulates body weight and food intake via GABAergic neurons in mice.

The development of single-molecule co-agonists for the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor (GLP-1R) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor (GIPR) is considered a breakthrough in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. But although GIPR-GLP-1R co-agonism decreases body weight with superior efficacy relative to GLP-1R agonism alone in preclinical and clinical studies, the role of GIP in regulating energy metabolism remains enigmatic. Increasing evidence suggests that long-acting GIPR agonists act in the brain to decrease body weight through the inhibition of food intake; however, the mechanisms and neuronal populations through which GIP affects metabolism remain to be identified.

The current status of geriatric oncology in India.

Geriatric oncology in India is relatively new. The number of older persons with cancer is increasing exponentially; at our institution, 34% of patients registered are 60 years and over. Apart from the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, there are currently no other Indian centers that have a dedicated geriatric oncology unit.

The Role of Adult Vaccines as Part of Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Scoping Review.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health concern, causing an estimated 700,000 deaths annually. Although immunisation has been shown to significantly reduce AMR, the role of vaccines as part of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices is often overlooked.

Objective: To identify and examine the available literature on the role of vaccines as part of AMS practices.

Culture-directed antibiotics in peritoneal dialysis solutions: a systematic review focused on stability and compatibility.

Background: This systematic review summarises the stability of less commonly prescribed antibiotics in different peritoneal dialysis solutions that could be used for culture-directed therapy of peritonitis, which would be especially useful in regions with a high prevalence of multidrug antibiotic-resistant strains.

Methods: A literature search of Medline, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar for articles published from inception to 25 January, 2023 was conducted. Only antibiotic stability studies conducted in vitro and not recently reviewed by So et al.

Validation of the Onco-MPI in predicting short-term mortality in older Indian patients with cancer.

Introduction: The number of older patients with cancer is increasing exponentially worldwide, and a similar trend has also been noted in India. The Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) strongly correlates the presence of individual comorbidities with mortality, and the Onco-MPI prognosticates patients accurately for overall mortality. However, limited studies have evaluated this index in patient populations beyond Italy.