Research on unintroduced new drugs in South Korea from 2011 to 2020: approaches to prioritization and strategy.

In recent years, with the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world have realized that improving patient access to new medicines can have a significant impact on public health and economic stability. The aim of this study was to identify new drugs that are urgently needed among those not yet available in South Korea from 2011 to 2020, and to develop strategies to improve access by analyzing the causes of delay. Through a 3-step screening process that included a literature review of new drugs, surveys of domestic clinicians and academics, and consideration of expedited review status by regulatory authorities, 34 out of 244 unreleased new drugs were prioritized for rapid introduction.

The driving-related attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of cannabis users in the Australian Capital Territory following decriminalisation.

Introduction: In January 2020, the government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) decriminalised the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use. This study explored the driving-related attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of ACT residents who are legally cultivating and consuming cannabis.

Methods: A two-part cross-sectional study was conducted.

The effectiveness of antenatal education on improving labour and birth outcomes - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The World Health Organisation has suggested antenatal education be integrated within standard antenatal care. However, evidence for the impact of antenatal education varies. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated randomised controlled trial evidence regarding the influence of antenatal education on labour and birth outcomes.

DREAM: an adaptive, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of duloxetine for reducing leg pain in people with chronic sciatica-trial protocol.

Introduction: Sciatica is a debilitating condition that often becomes chronic, and for which there are few effective treatment options. Treatments such as the anti-depressant duloxetine have shown promise, but the evidence is inconclusive. We are describing a high quality, definitive trial to investigate the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of duloxetine in chronic sciatica.

Antipsychotic, benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescriptions in a Swiss hospital network in the Choosing Wisely and COVID-19 eras: a longitudinal study.

Aims Of The Study: Physicians frequently prescribe antipsychotics off-label to treat, among others, insomnia and anxiety. The Swiss "smarter medicine - Choosing Wisely" campaign has tried to raise awareness about the risks and to limit benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescriptions. In the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, our network of public hospitals joined the campaign with the aim of avoiding unnecessary benzodiazepine and Z-drug treatments, with prescription monitoring, benchmarking and educational contributions.

Saliva-based point-of-care assay to measure the concentration of pyrazinamide using a mobile UV spectrophotometer.

Introduction: Pyrazinamide, one of the first-line antituberculosis drugs, displays variability in drug exposure that is associated with treatment response. A simple, low-cost assay may be helpful to optimize treatment. This study aimed to develop and validate a point-of-care assay to quantify the concentration of pyrazinamide in saliva.

Graph neural network-based subgraph analysis for predicting adverse drug events.

Purpose: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant global public health concern, and they have resulted in high rates of hospital admissions, morbidity, and mortality. Prior to the use of machine learning and deep learning methods, ADEs may not become well recognized until long after a drug has been approved and is widely used, which poses a significant challenge for ensuring patient safety. Consequently, there is a need to develop computational approaches for earlier identification of ADEs not detected during pre-registration clinical trials.

An Integrated Approach for Representing Knowledge on the Potential of Drugs to Cause Acute Kidney Injury.

Introduction And Objective: The recent rise in acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence, with approximately 30% attributed to potentially preventable adverse drug events (ADEs), poses challenges in evaluating drug-induced AKI due to polypharmacy and other risk factors. This study seeks to consolidate knowledge on the drugs with AKI potential from four distinct sources: (i) bio(medical) peer-reviewed journals; (ii) spontaneous reporting systems (SRS); (iii) drug information databases (DIDs); and (iv) NephroTox website. By harnessing the potential of these underutilised sources, our objective is to bridge gaps and enhance the understanding of drug-induced AKI.

The endocannabinoid system in appetite regulation and treatment of obesity.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signaling system that is responsible for maintaining homeostasis by modulating various regulatory reactions in response to internal and environmental changes. The influence of ECS on appetite regulation has been a subject of much recent research, however, the full extent of its impact remains unknown. Current evidence links human obesity to ECS activation, increased endocannabinoid levels in both central and peripheral tissues, along with cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CBR1) up-regulation.

Unintentional poisoning in older Australians: a retrospective audit of New South Wales Poisons Information Centre data.

Introduction: Poisons information centres provide phone-based risk assessment and management advice on poisonings. Unintentional poisonings are a common reason for consulting a poisons information centre, and older adults are at increased risk of unintentional poisoning and adverse outcomes. We describe patterns of unintentional poisoning in older adults reported to a regional poisons information centre.

Utilising paired measurements of phosphatidylethanol to monitor early success in alcohol abstinence.

Introduction: Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a specific and persisting marker of ethanol (alcohol) consumption. Early success of medically necessary abstinence can be assessed by monitoring PEth disappearance at a biologically plausible rate. This requires an understanding of PEth elimination, its variability and its determinants.

Use of, time to, and type of first add-on anti-hyperglycaemic therapy to metformin in Australia, 2018-2022.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine contemporary trends in the use of, time to, and type of first add-on anti-hyperglycaemic therapy to metformin in Australia.

Methods: We used the dispensing records of a 10% random sample of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) eligible people. We included people aged 40 years and older initiating metformin from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020.

Learning to Learn Independently: Guiding Students to Develop Self-Directed Learning Skills During Medical Student Independent Research Projects-Findings from an Australian University.

Introduction: Most medical schools offer students the opportunity to conduct independent research projects in order to learn about evidence-based medicine. This study aimed to explore the experience of students, graduates, and supervisors during an independent research project through the lens of self-directed learning.

Methods: Students and recent graduates were asked to complete an anonymous survey about their experiences.

Identification of reversible OATP1B1 and time-dependent CYP3A4 inhibition as the major risk factors for drug-induced cholestasis (DIC).

Hepatic bile acid regulation is a multifaceted process modulated by several hepatic transporters and enzymes. Drug-induced cholestasis (DIC), a main type of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), denotes any drug-mediated condition in which hepatic bile flow is impaired. Our ability in translating preclinical toxicological findings to human DIC risk is currently very limited, mainly due to important interspecies differences.

L-carnitine co-administration prevents colistin-induced mitochondrial permeability transition and reduces the risk of acute kidney injury in mice.

Colistin is a polymyxin antibiotic currently experiencing renewed clinical interest due to its efficacy in the treatment of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. The frequent onset of acute dose-dependent kidney injury, with the potential of leading to long-term renal damage, has limited its use and hampered adequate dosing regimens, increasing the risk of suboptimal plasma concentrations during treatment. The mechanism of colistin-induced renal toxicity has been postulated to stem from mitochondrial damage, yet there is no direct evidence of colistin acting as a mitochondrial toxin.