Tuberculosis (TB) treatment challenges in TB-diabetes comorbid patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The Directly Observed Treatment-Short Course (DOTS) Programme was implemented by WHO and includes a combination of four anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs (isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and rifampicin) for a period of six months to eradicate the TB infection completely. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is recognized as one of a strong contributor of TB according to World Health Organization (WHO). The presence of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM type 2) makes TB treatment complicated.

A discursive presentation of community pharmacies: Premises, storage, staff, documentation and legal compliance.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess compliance with legal requirements, safe medication storage and staffing standards in community pharmacies in Punjab, Pakistan.

Method: We conducted a three-step cross-sectional study using observations, questionnaires and face-to-face interviews in 544 systematically-selected community pharmacies. We used descriptive statistic and one-way ANOVA to assess the data.

Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia.

Background: With the huge number of patients who suffer from chronic and incurable diseases, medical scientists continue to search for new curative methods for patients in dire need of treatment. Interest in stem cells is growing, generating high expectations in terms of the possible benefits that could be derived from stem cell research and therapy. However, regardless of the hope of stem cells changing and improving lives, there are many ethical, religious, and political challenges and controversies that affect the research, and mandated to establish ethical guidelines and regulations.

The impact of a combined intervention program: an educational and clinical pharmacist's intervention to improve prescribing pattern in hospitalized geriatric patients at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: There is a difference between evidence-based guidelines for geriatric patients and clinical practice of physicians. Prescribing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) can be attributed to the fact that many physicians are not aware of PIMs usage.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a combined intervention program comprising an educational and clinical pharmacist intervention to reduce the incidence of PIMs among hospitalized geriatric patients.