Consumers' and practitioners' perspectives on the antipsychotic induced metabolic syndrome and challenges in metabolic monitoring to patient prescribed second generation antipsychotics in severe mental illness.

Second-generation antipsychotics are highly effective in controlling symptoms if taken as prescribed. However, poor medication adherence results in patients continuing to experience psychotic episodes and metabolic disturbances that can cause them to develop abnormal lipid levels, weight gain, and diabetes. Understanding the underlying modulators that impact follow-up appointments and metabolic monitoring is critical.

Learner attitudes towards a virtual microbiology simulation for pharmacy student education.

Introduction: Simulation for education has become popular, but much literature on this modality fails to critically examine the learner's experience, focusing instead on learning outcomes. Learner attitudes should be scrutinised and monitored to appraise a technology-enhanced learning experience as student perceived educational benefits of technology-enhanced learning is reported to be more important than the intrinsic characteristics of any particular medium or tool. This study sought to evaluate pharmacy students' attitudes toward a virtual microbiology simulation.

Identification of risk factors and metabolic monitoring practices in patients on antipsychotic drugs in South India.

The objectives of this study were to identify the risk factors for metabolic syndrome in patients on antipsychotics and to compare the frequency of metabolic monitoring with evidence-based guidelines. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care health institution of South India. The study included patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorders prescribed with antipsychotic drugs.

Appraising the role of the virtual patient for therapeutics health education.

Background: Face-to-face instruction, paper-based case-studies and clinical placements remain the most commonly used teaching methods for therapeutics curricula. Presenting clinical content in a didactic manner presents challenges in engaging learners and developing their clinical reasoning skills which may be overcome by inclusion of the virtual patient (VP). Currently there is limited literature examining the use of the VP in therapeutics teaching and learning.

Critical assessment of thioguanine treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases: Is it time to rehabilitate this treatment?

Objective: The potential therapeutic effect of thioguanine in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is hindered due to association with vascular hepatotoxicity. The study aimed to assess the evidence for efficacy of thioguanine in IBD management and the association with nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) and other thioguanine-related hepatotoxicities.

Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used for literature search.

Monitoring salivary melatonin concentrations in children with sleep disorders using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Background: Melatonin is synthesized in the pineal gland and is an important circadian phase marker, especially in the determination of sleep patterns. Both temporary and permanent abnormal sleep patterns occur in children; therefore, it is desirable to have methods for monitoring melatonin in biological fluids in the diagnosis and treatment of such disorders.

Objective: The objective of the study is to develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of melatonin in saliva and to apply it to monitoring salivary concentrations in children with sleep disorders.

Pharmacovigilance among surgeons and in surgical wards: overlooked or axiomatic?

To review the status of pharmacovigilance system among surgeons and in surgical wards with recommendations. Literature search using MEDLINE, cross-reference of published data and review of World Health Organization-Pharmacovigilance transcripts. Pharmacovigilance system is still in its infancy among surgeons and in surgical wards.

Pharmacovigilance in clinical dentistry: overlooked or axiomatic?

Developments in dental pharmacotherapeutics require dentists to constantly update their knowledge of new drugs, drug safety, and therapeutic trends. Recent incidents of bisphosphonateassociated poor healing, spontaneous intraoral ulceration, and bone necrosis in the oral and maxillofacial region stress the need for vigilant spontaneous reporting of adverse events. This article discusses the rationale for pharmacovigilance in dental practice using specific methods and reviews the pros and cons of adverse drug reporting among dental practitioners.

Therapeutic options in the management of sleep disorders in visually impaired children: a systematic review.

Background: Treatment of sleep disorders in visually impaired children is complicated by a complex pathophysiology, a high incidence of sleep disorders in this population, and a dearth of management options. The significant impact on the health of these children and distress to their caregivers warrant a systematic assessment of the published literature on therapeutic approaches.

Objective: This systematic review aims to assess the current therapeutic options in the management of sleep disorders in visually impaired children to identify knowledge gaps and guide future research.

A clinicopathological study of necrotizing fasciitis--an institutional experience.

Objective: To describe the clinicopathological features in necrotizing fasciitis with evaluation of its clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria and mortality rate.

Design: A case series, observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal, India, from January 2003 to May 2005.

Free radicals and antioxidant therapy in clinical practice: to be or not to be?

Free radicals and antioxidant therapy have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. Current research reveals the potential applications of antioxidants in prevention or control of disease. However, controversy still exists due to lack of well controlled clinical trials and definitive conclusion on efficacy/safety.