Associations between (pharmaco-)genetic markers and postoperative pain after inguinal hernia repair - a prospective study protocol.

Background: Postoperative pain is a common complication following surgery, with severity and duration varying between patients. Chronic postoperative pain after inguinal hernia surgery has an incidence rate of approximately 10%. Risk factors for acute and chronic pain following hernia surgery include age, sex, psychosocial factors, and demographic background.

Pharmacogenotyping disproves genetic cause of drug-related problems in family history: a case report.

Background: In clinical practice, family medication history is not routinely assessed as part of a patient's family health history (FHH). The information is self-reported and can depend on the individual's subjective perception. To illustrate how pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing results could be used to validate self-reported family medication history on drug-related problems (DRP), as well as to inform medication-related decisions, we herein present a case involving ten members of the same family.

Concordance between pharmacy dispensing and electronic monitoring data of direct oral anticoagulants - A secondary analysis of the MAAESTRO study.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants are the preferred treatment for stroke patients with atrial fibrillation. Pharmacy dispensing data represent a practical method to identify suboptimal medication adherence.

Objective: This study investigates whether pharmacy dispensing data are indicative of real-life adherence behavior, using data from 130 patients in the MAAESTRO study (2018-2022) in Basel, Switzerland.

Overcoming Barriers: Strategies for Implementing Pharmacist-Led Pharmacogenetic Services in Swiss Clinical Practice.

There is growing evidence that pharmacogenetic analysis can improve drug therapy for individual patients. In Switzerland, pharmacists are legally authorized to initiate pharmacogenetic tests. However, pharmacogenetic tests are rarely conducted in Swiss pharmacies.

Recurrent high creatine kinase levels under clozapine treatment - a case report assessing a suspected adverse drug reaction.

Suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) during treatment with clozapine often prompt therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in clinical practice. Currently, there is no official recommendation for pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing in the context of clozapine therapy. In this case report, we demonstrate and discuss the challenges of interpreting PGx and TDM results highlighting the possibilities and limitations of both analytical methods.

Medication adherence to inflammatory bowel disease medications in Aotearoa New Zealand and correlation with health outcomes: A nationwide database analysis.

Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management entails long-term medication therapy. Worse disease outcomes and reduced quality of life might arise from poor medication adherence (MA). This study is the first to investigate patients with IBD's adherence across Aotearoa New Zealand and its relationship with disease outcomes.

Relationship between electronically monitored adherence to direct oral anticoagulants and ischemic or hemorrhagic events after an initial ischemic stroke-A case control study.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a high risk for recurrent clinical events after an ischemic stroke. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are prescribed for secondary prevention. Adherence to DOAC is crucial mainly because of their short elimination half-life.

Inconclusiveness of psychometric testing of medication adherence questionnaires.

Purpose: To propose a paradigm change for the validation procedures of medication adherence questionnaires.

Methods: A total of 121 validation procedures of unique questionnaires for medication adherence were analyzed.

Results: "Construct validity" and "internal consistency" were most often assessed, and test results varied largely.

Information in summaries of product characteristics about use in children is limited and needs standardisation: a systematic analysis in Switzerland.

Background: A considerable proportion of drugs administered to children are not authorised for this purpose, and consequently off-label use is common in paediatric care. Our aims were to quantify systematically the number of drugs authorised in Switzerland for use in children based on their current summary of product characteristics (SmPC) and to assess the quality of this information.

Methods: We used natural language processing to screen all Swiss SmPCs, available in German language in the open-source drug database, for information about use in children.

Clinical relevance and implementation into daily practice of pharmacist-prescribed medication for the management of minor ailments.

Autonomous pharmacist prescribing was legally introduced in Switzerland in 2019 with the reclassification from prescription medication to pharmacist prescribing of 105 medications for sixteen indications. Its aim was to limit medical consultations and healthcare costs. To evaluate the clinical relevance of the pharmacy prescribing medications compared to the over-the-counter medications (OTCs) and to evaluate its implementation into daily practice.

Initiation of oral hepatitis C virus treatment: Which barriers are pertinent for ambulatory individuals with a history of illicit substance use? A qualitative interview study.

Background And Aims: The World Health Organization has set a goal to eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) by the year 2030. Nonadherence to HCV treatment has substantial economic implications due to high treatment costs, among others. Barriers to start HCV treatment may be critical.

Knowledge and attitudes of German and Swiss community pharmacists towards biologicals and biosimilars - a prospective survey before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Knowledge, attitudes and substitution laws of biosimilars are not consistent across countries. Biosimilar acceptance among patients and healthcare professionals may be suffering from gaps in knowledge and understanding about biosimilars and their regulatory approval process. Pharmacists' roles and responsibilities changed considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Genotyping of Patients with Adverse Drug Reaction or Therapy Failure: Database Analysis of a Pharmacogenetics Case Series Study.

Purpose: Pharmacogenetics (PGx) is an emerging aspect of personalized medicine with the potential to increase efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy. However, PGx testing is still not routinely integrated into clinical practice. We conducted an observational case series study where PGx information from a commercially available panel test covering 30 genes was integrated into medication reviews.

Pharmacogenetic testing and counselling in the community pharmacy: mixed-methods study of a new pharmacist-led service.

Background: Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing and counselling (short: PGx service) in the community pharmacy is not routinely practiced. We propose a comprehensive pharmacist-led service where PGx information is integrated into medication reviews.

Aim: To evaluate the pharmacist-led service comprising PGx testing and counselling (PGx service) from the perspective of patients.

Pharmacogenetic Analysis Enables Optimization of Pain Therapy: A Case Report of Ineffective Oxycodone Therapy.

Patients suffering from chronic pain may respond differently to analgesic medications. For some, pain relief is insufficient, while others experience side effects. Although pharmacogenetic testing is rarely performed in the context of analgesics, response to opiates, non-opioid analgesics, and antidepressants for the treatment of neuropathic pain can be affected by genetic variants.

Development and acceptance of a new adherence monitoring package to identify non-adherent patients with polypharmacy in primary care: a feasibility study.

Background: Adherence to pharmacotherapy is crucial to prevent symptom deterioration in chronic diseases. However, non-adherence to chronic treatments is prevalent, especially in polypharmacy. Practical tools to assess adherence to polypharmacy in primary care are missing.

Adherence patterns in antiseizure medications influencing risk of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy: A data linkage study using dispensed prescriptions.

Objective: Medication adherence is considered an important risk factor for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), although measurement accuracy is difficult. Using prescription dispensations, this study aims to estimate antiseizure medication (ASM) adherence and identify adherence patterns that influence epilepsy mortality.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of tertiary epilepsy outpatients seen at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from January 1, 2012 until December 31, 2017.

Development of a Protocol Using the Delphi Method for the ad interim Supply of Hormonal Contraceptives in Swiss Pharmacies.

(1) Pharmacists are often challenged with situations where women are already on hormonal contraceptives (HC) but have no valid prescription. By Swiss law, pharmacists are allowed to supply prescription-only drugs in exceptional situations without a physician's prescription. Because eligibility for HC can change, women at risk for complications, such as serious side effects, need to be identified.

Utilization of Drugs with Pharmacogenetic Dosing Recommendations in Switzerland: A Descriptive Study Using the Helsana Database.

Purpose: In Switzerland 167 drugs on the market contain information about pharmacogenetics in their drug label (PGx drug). Preemptive pharmacogenetic testing is reimbursed by health care insurance for only seven drugs (abacavir, carbamazepine, 6-mercaptopurine, azathioprine, 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine, and irinotecan) although, it is proposed to be a cost-effective approach to personalized medicine. The aim of this study was to describe the use of PGx drugs and their corresponding genes in Switzerland.

Renal insufficiency and magnesium deficiency correlate with a decreased formation of biologically active cholecalciferol: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin or supplied. Cholecalciferol is hydroxylated in the liver to 25(OH) vitamin D [25D]. 25D is further hydroxylated in the kidney to 1,25(OH) vitamin D [1,25D].