Current status and perceived challenges of collaborative research in a leading pharmacy college in Iraq: a qualitative study.

Background: Interdisciplinary collaboration among academic pharmacists is crucial for enhancing scientific research, discovering new drugs and modifying existing ones, besides solving pharmaceutical problems. This study aimed to explore the perception and experience of academic pharmacists regarding research collaboration.

Methods: A qualitative study through one-to-one face-to-face interviews with faculty members at the University of Baghdad/College of Pharmacy was conducted from May to July/2023.

Determining the perceptions and practices of oncologists regarding venous thromboembolism risk assessment in ambulatory cancer patients: A qualitative study.

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) can increase morbidity and mortality for cancer patients. Therefore, guidelines recommend predicting VTE risk and thromboprophylaxis for high-risk patients. Many studies critique oncologists' adherence to thromboprophylaxis guidelines for cancer patients.

Sertraline-Induced Hypoglycemia in Drug-Induced Liver Injury.

Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is a medication recommended as a third line treatment of cholestatic liver injury pruritis. We report a case of a young male who developed liver injury secondary to self-administration of anabolic steroids and who complained of persistent pruritis leading to a treatment by sertraline. Two days later, the patient was admitted to the hospital with a severe hypoglycemia, while the liver function tests were in amelioration.

Pharmacists' perception about efficacy, safety, and quality of dietary supplements that used for rheumatic disorders in the Iraqi pharmaceutical market.

Rheumatic diseases are common progressive diseases that associated with chronic pain. Most patients seek to reduce the pain of these diseases by using dietary supplements (DS). Yet, most DS have limited benefits to reduce pain and/or disease progression.

The impact of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genetic variations on tacrolimus treatment of living-donor Egyptian kidney transplanted patients.

Background: Tacrolimus (TAC) is the mainstay of immunosuppressive regimen for kidney transplantations. Its clinical use is complex due to high inter-individual variations which can be partially attributed to genetic variations at the metabolizing enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), CYP3A4*22 and CYP3A5*3, have been reported as important causes of differences in pharmacokinetics that can affect efficacy and/or toxicity of TAC.

Perception and Attitude of Lebanese IBD Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The emergence of the COVID pandemic affected daily living and healthcare access of IBD patients, due to delays of elective procedures and in-hospital treatments. Our aim is to determine the repercussions of the pandemic on the daily habits of IBD patients and on their compliance to follow-up and treatment.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Culturally Developed Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Program among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Iraq.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease associated with a major economic burden on persons, health care systems, and countries. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSME(S)) programs are highly effective method in the management of T2DM patients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the developed culturally-specific DSME(S) program regarding glycemic control, lipid profile, and body weight for Iraqi type 2 DM patients.

Exploring the potential of intranasally administered naturally occurring quercetin loaded into polymeric nanocapsules as a novel platform for the treatment of anxiety.

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent forms of psychopathology that affects millions worldwide. It gained more importance under the pandemic status that resulted in higher anxiety prevalence. Anxiolytic drugs such as benzodiazepines have an unfavorable risk/benefit ratio resulting in a shift toward active ingredients with better safety profile such as the naturally occurring quercetin (QRC).

Traditional Systemic Treatment Options in Advanced Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer after Successful Cytoreduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: We performed a systematic literature review and a subsequent meta-analysis to compare traditional treatment options, i.e., antihormonal and cytotoxic, in LGSOC.

Design and evaluation of a new mobile application to improve the management of minor ailments: a pilot study.

Background: Seeking pharmacist advice about minor ailments is a common practice among Iraqi patients because such advice is free and quick. Unfortunately, the assessment and management of minor ailments by Iraqi pharmacists were inappropriate. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a model for a mobile application that can assist community pharmacists in the diagnosis and management of minor ailments.

Clinical Evaluation of Siponimod for the Treatment of Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Pathophysiology, Efficacy, Safety, Patient Acceptability and Adherence.

Introduction: A number of disease-modifying therapies have been approved for use in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in the past two decades. However, only few treatment options are available for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Siponimod has recently been approved for use in patients with active forms of SPMS (who experience clinical relapses or new lesions on MRI superimposed on secondary progression independent of relapse activity).

Efficacy and Safety of Sitagliptin in the Treatment of COVID-19.

: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a high risk of mortality especially among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Effective treatments against COVID-19 can complement the vaccination effort worldwide. Many review articles studied the effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors among COVID-19 patients and found conflicting results.

Serum Phosphorus, Parathyroid Hormone, and Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 in Egyptian Patients Six Months after Undergoing Living-donor Kidney Transplantation.

End-stage renal disease is a major health problem with many complications. Previous studies emphasized the relationship of cardiovascular disease and mortality among these patients to dysregulated phosphate homeostasis. Even after successful renal transplantation, the risk is not eliminated.

Could the re-emerging practice of wild boar hunting linked to the recent economic crisis lead to new outbreaks of trichinellosis in Lebanon?

Background: Documented trichinellosis outbreaks in Lebanon date back to the late 19th century. The first published outbreaks were attributed to the consumption of wild boar meat, while those that followed incriminated pork. The practice of hunting wild boar is currently re-emerging in Lebanon given the recent economic crisis that has limited the purchase of livestock meat.

Validation of newly developed culturally specific diabetes self-management education and support program for Iraqi type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Background: Diabetes self-management (DSM) is the cornerstone in diabetes mellitus (DM) management. Unfortunately, the practice of DSM by Iraqi type 2 DM (T2DM) patients is poor that mainly resulted from their poor knowledge about the required DSM behaviors. This lack of knowledge may be attributed to the lack of DSM education and support (DSMES) program in Iraq.

Spirituality and the quality of life of cancer patients: An antidepressant effect.

Objectives: Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the world, and represents an economic, social and psychological burden. Scientific studies have focused on psychosocial coping mechanisms of patients and on factors improving their quality of life. Thus, the aim of the present study is to analyze the influence that spirituality would have on the quality of life of Lebanese cancer patients and to identify whether the influence on quality of life is mediated through a decreased depression.

Can developing countries face novel coronavirus outbreak alone? The Iraqi situation.

Iraq is one of seven Arabic countries (Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) that acquired novel coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) via people who have visited Iran recently. Iraqi outdated public healthcare settings are already overwhelmed with many acute injuries from ongoing unrest. Iraq faces six challenges in controlling COVID-19 [1]: A shortage in number of quarantine facilities [2], the availability of the testing which is limited to one governmental lab only in Baghdad [3], a shortage in personal protective equipment (PPE) and ambulances [4], a low level of public awareness [5], a shortage in hygiene preparations and [6] a high rate of antibiotic resistance in case of secondary bacterial infection.

Anticoagulation Therapy Reduces Recurrent Stroke in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source Patients With Elevated Coagulation Markers or Severe Left Atrial Enlargement.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if anticoagulation therapy reduces recurrent stroke in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) patients with left atrial enlargement (LAE) or abnormal markers of coagulation and hemostatic activity (MOCHA) compared to antiplatelet therapy. ESUS patients from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019, underwent outpatient cardiac monitoring and the MOCHA profile (serum d-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1.2, thrombin-antithrombin complex, and fibrin monomer).

The prevalence of screened trichotillomania in medical students of Saint-Joseph University.

Objectives: Our study aims to determine the prevalence of trichotillomania among medical students. Furthermore, we aim to determine the perception of trichotillomania in this population.

Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional study that aims to determine the prevalence and the perception of trichotillomania among medical students in, compared to a control population.

The Development and Validation of Quality of Life Scale for Iraqi Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background And Aim: The current trend for determining the effectiveness of new treatment or services provided for diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is based on assessing the improvement in both glycemic control and the patient quality of life. Many scales have been developed to assess quality of life among DM patients, but unfortunately, no one can be considered as gold standard. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a brief and specific scale to assess quality of life among Iraqi type 2 DM patients.