Current obstetric outcomes in Jamaican women with sickle hemoglobinopathy - a balance of risks for aspirin?

Objectives: Sickle cell disease (SCD) occurs in 2.8 % of our Jamaican antenatal population with homozygous HbSS being most associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis of HbSS, HbSC and HbSβThal pregnancy outcomes at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) between January 2012 and December 2022 was conducted.

Antihypertensive medication class and diastolic orthostatic hypertension in older Caribbean adult patients.

In the Caribbean there is limited data on orthostatic hypertension (OHT) in elderly hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic disease who are at risk for cardiovascular events. The authors examined the association of antihypertensive classes of drugs with diastolic OHT in patients 60 year and older with hypertension and hyperlipidemia attending public primary care facilities. These relationships were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of hypertensive hyperlipidemic older patients (n = 400) to determine orthostatic changes in blood pressure based on seated to standing measurements.

Pregnancy outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: experience from a Caribbean center.

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune multi-system disorder frequently affecting black women of childbearing age. No published data exist on the obstetric outcomes in a Caribbean population.

Objective: We analyzed pregnancy outcomes in an Afro-Caribbean cohort of women with SLE at a tertiary university hospital.

The Use of Biomarkers in Pharmacovigilance: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: The use of biomarkers varies from disease etiognosis and diagnosis to signal detection, risk prediction, and management. Biomarker use has expanded in recent years, however, there are limited reviews on the use of biomarkers in pharmacovigilance and specifically in the monitoring and management of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

Objective: The objective of this manuscript is to identify the multiple uses of biomarkers in pharmacovigilance irrespective of the therapeutic area.

Disparity between adolescents' health information needs and the information received in a middle-income country.

Aim: This study sought to identify adolescents' health information sources and determine the gap between what adolescents want to hear and what they actually hear from their healthcare providers (HCPs), a proxy for unmet health needs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four high schools conveniently selected in Jamaica to ensure adequate representation in rural and urban locales. Adolescents 11-19 years old with relevant assent/consent completed a paper-based self-administered questionnaire.

Awareness of inappropriate use related to antimicrobial resistance among medical doctors by country economic status: A systematic review.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is promoted by inappropriate use and is a greater burden for low to middle income countries (LMIC) than high income countries (HIC).

Objective: This systematic review aimed to compare the awareness of inappropriate use related to AMR among medical doctors from LMIC and HIC using published knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, sequential systematic literature search of PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles published since inception up to June 1, 2022 for KAP studies involving medical doctors.

Prevalence and distribution of ampc beta-lactamase producing and isolates obtained from urine samples at a tertiary care hospital in the caribbean.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of AmpC beta-lactamases (BLs) in uropathogens ( and ) at the University Hospital of the West Indies Jamaica (UHWI).

Method: De-duplicated consecutive urine samples, collected from January to March 2020 at the UHWI, were analyzed. Screening and phenotypic confirmatory tests were conducted using resistance to cefoxitin and the Disc Approximation Test (DAT) respectively, for isolates of interest.

Influence of Jamaican Cultural and Religious Beliefs on Adherence to Pharmacotherapy for Non-Communicable Diseases: A Pharmacovigilance Perspective.

Worldwide, socio-cultural determinants have been shown to influence the beliefs of patients about their health and decision making for treatment. This is consistent with the evidence that cultural and religious beliefs affect illness conceptualization and behaviors of Jamaican patients living with non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Despite these known socio-cultural influences, an acknowledgment of relevance of adherence to pharmacotherapy has been grossly understudied.

Lack of association between serum vitamin B12 and nocturnal sleep parameters following cyanocobalamin supplementation in healthy adults.

Background: This study examined the effect of vitamin B12 supplementation on sleep parameters of latency, total sleep time, wake-after-sleep onset, total time in bed and sleep efficiency in healthy adults.

Methods: This quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test design recruited adults 25-50 years old, with normal vitamin B12 levels. Sleep parameters were assessed using Phillips Respironics Actiwatch-2® on non-dominant wrist from Monday to Thursday for four weeks.

Trends in the utilization of nuclear medicine technology in Jamaica: Audit of a private facility.

This study sought to evaluate the types and frequencies of nuclear medicine studies that were carried out at a privately-run nuclear medicine facility in Kingston, Jamaica. Previous studies of this nature have not been done among this population, therefore the researchers sought to gather data which may prove to be useful for the growth of nuclear medicine practice in Jamaica. The study was a nonexperimental, retrospective study which involved an assessment of the records of all nuclear medicine patients who received a radiopharmaceutical during January 01, 2017, to December 31, 2018.

Enhancing Pharmacovigilance from the US Experience: Current Practices and Future Opportunities.

This review is intended to present perspectives from the US experience in enhancing pharmacovigilance on current practices and future opportunities. Best practices concepts could be applied worldwide through the presentation of how three pillars of pharmacovigilance: (1) medical and scientific excellence, (2) operational and compliance excellence, and (3) knowledge sharing and experts development in the field could serve as a framework for the establishment of an efficient and successful global pharmacovigilance system.

Dibenzyl trisulfide binds to and competitively inhibits the cytochrome P450 1A1 active site without impacting the expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

The toxicological manifestation of many pollutants relies upon their binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), and it follows a cascade of reactions culminating in an elevated expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1 enzymes. CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 are associated with enhanced carcinogenesis when chronically exposed to certain polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and their inhibition may lead to chemoprevention. We evaluated dibenzyl trisulfide (DTS), expressed in the ethnomedical plant, Petiveria alliacea, for such potential chemoprevention.

Evaluation of Plasma Circulating Cell Free DNA Concentration and Integrity in Patients with Prostate Cancer in Jamaica: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Cell free circulating DNA (cfcDNA) is a promising diagnostic tool for prostate cancer (PCa). This study aimed to measure the cfcDNA concentration and integrity in PCa patients using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. This study also assessed the correlation between these molecular biomarkers with total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, prostate volume, and age.

Introducing medical students to pharmacovigilance through a Basic Research Skills Special Study Module.

Background: Pharmacovigilance is an important aspect of clinical practice; however, there is limited evidence that it exists as a theme in medical education curricula.

Objective: We developed and used a Basic Research Skill Special Study Module to introduce pharmacovigilance to medical students in the early years of their programme.

Methods: Students completing year one or two of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme at The University of the West Indies, Jamaica participated in the four week experience from May 16th to June 12th 2019 to complete structured content sessions and self-directed activity.

Sleep disorders and behavioral disorders in Jamaican children with epilepsy: A case-control study.

Children with epilepsy (CWE) are more likely to have sleep and behavioral disorders. With differences in reports, the aim was to evaluate sleep and behavior in Jamaican CWE and determine any association with epilepsy-related variables. Children with epilepsy were identified along with age and gender-matched controls from the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Improving warfarin therapy through implementation of a hospital-based pharmacist managed clinic in Jamaica.

Background: Pharmacist managed warfarin clinics can improve the anticoagulation status of non-valvular patients. The first of such services was implemented at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Jamaica in 2013.

Objectives: To assess the anticoagulation control of patients on warfarin therapy over six months in the pharmacist managed warfarin clinic at Cornwall Regional Hospital.

Risperidone Provides Better Improvement of Sleep Disturbances Than Haloperidol Therapy in Schizophrenia Patients With Cannabis-Positive Urinalysis.

A high percentage of persons with Schizophrenia also uses and this may potentially alter the therapeutic benefits of the antipsychotic medications prescribed. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of usage on antipsychotic therapy of sleep disturbances in schizophrenia subjects. Male subjects, ≥18 years, admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies psychiatric ward between October 2015 and October 2016, and diagnosed with schizophrenia were recruited for the study.

Favourable response of serum prostate-specific antigen to conjugated oestrogen in castrate-resistant prostate cancer in Jamaica.

Conjugated oestrogen is one of the more affordable secondary hormonal options available for castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in Jamaica. The present study was conducted to examine the disease response in Jamaican men with CRPC treated with conjugated oestrogen. This study retrospectively reviewed the medical notes of patients who attended the urologic clinic of the University Hospital of the West Indies from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013 and a private urology clinic from 2 November 2005 to 3 June 2015 to identify patients diagnosed with CRPC treated with conjugated oestrogen (Premarin ®) as secondary therapy.

Evaluation of Radiopharmaceutical Adverse Reaction Reports to the British Nuclear Medicine Society from 2007 to 2016.

This study sought to answer the calls that have been made for the European Association of Nuclear Medicine to restore its surveys of reported adverse reactions. We assessed all reports of adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals that were submitted to the British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) online database (Radiopharmaceutical Adverse Events and Product Defects) from January 2007 to December 2016. This investigation was a pharmacovigilance-based, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study aimed at finding the prevalence of, and association between, radiopharmaceuticals and adverse reactions.