Allergy-like immediate reactions with herbal medicines in children: A retrospective study using data from VigiBase.

Background: The use of herbal medicines in children and the general population is continually on the rise with an overall herbal lifetime and current use ranging between 0.8%-85.5% and 2.

How General Practitioners and Their Patients Adhere to Osteoporosis Management: A Follow-Up Survey among Czech General Practitioners.

General practitioners (GPs) are key participants in osteoporosis (OP) management. The aim was to evaluate their adherence to lege artis management of the disease, potential barriers, and to discuss differences observed in comparison with the baseline survey carried out in 2007; the focus was on secondary prevention. On behalf of two professional associations, 2-round postal survey among randomly selected GPs (>1/4 of all Czech GPs) was performed in 2014.

The current clinical knowledge on the treatment of gambling disorder: A summary.

Gambling disorder (GD) is a topical problem in developed countries and may be present in 1-3% of the general population. The pathophysiology of this disorder is largely unknown but it shares similarities to other behavioral addictions. Multiple neurotransmitter systems, including dopaminergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic, glutamatergic, and opioidergic, have been implicated in GD.

Antibiotic use practices of pharmacy staff: a cross-sectional study in Saint Petersburg, the Russian Federation.

Background: Non-prescription access to antimicrobials is common, and self-prescribing is increasingly popular in Russian society. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of community pharmacists regarding antibiotic use and self-medication.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from September-December 2015 of community pharmacists in the Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region, Russia.

The effect of lamotrigine and phenytoin on bone turnover and bone strength: A prospective study in Wistar rats.

Objective: Some data suggest that exposure to lamotrigine (LTG) might be associated with impaired bone health in an orchidectomized rat model. The aim of this study was to determine if LTG poses any significant risk for bone in a gonadally intact animals and to compare the effect of LTG with that of phenytoin (PHT).

Method: Twenty-four rats were divided into control and test groups, (n=8 per group).

Methotrexate impact on radiographic progression in biologic-treated rheumatoid arthritis under clinical remission: A case report on monozygotic Caucasian twins.

We describe Caucasian monozygotic twin brothers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and discuss influence of predictors to methotrexate (MTX) outcome treatment. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the MTX metabolic pathways were genotyped. Twins have multiple mutations: a CC mutation of SNP 1298A>C in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, CC mutations of three SNPs in the adenosine receptor gene ADORA2A (rs3761422_4217241T>C, rs2267076_4221164T>C, rs2236624_4226593T>C), and a heterozygous genotype in SNPs ATIC_rs2372536_347C>G, MTHFD1_rs2236225_1958G>A.

Patterns of Non-adherence to Supplementation with Calcium and Vitamin D in Persistent Postmenopausal Women Are Similar at Start and 1 Year Later: A Qualitative Longitudinal Study.

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease and adherence can fluctuate over time. Therefore, longer observation is necessary to investigate the stability of patients' adherence. The study aim was to compare the overall adherence (OA) to supplementation with the fixed combination of calcium and vitamin D (Ca/D) in postmenopausal women at baseline and after 1 year, and to evaluate the fluctuation of the OA in individual months.

Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance among Saudi population.

Background Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a public health problem of great concern. Objective To evaluate knowledge of antibiotics, race, gender and age as independent risk factors for self-medication. Setting Residents and population from different regions of Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in the General Population in the Czech Republic.

Background: Prevalence rates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use are still missing for some European countries, especially in the East. Thus, we measured patterns and determinants of CAM use among a representative sample of the general population in the Czech Republic.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted.

Allergy-Like Immediate Reactions with Herbal Medicines: A Retrospective Study Using Data from VigiBase®.

Introduction: Herbal medicines are used worldwide and with an increasing popularity in Western countries. Although often perceived as 'naturally safe', herbals may cause severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs), with immediate allergic reactions being particularly life threatening.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse immediate allergy-like ADRs to herbals documented in VigiBase®, the WHO international pharmacovigilance database.

Cost-of-illness analysis and regression modeling in cystic fibrosis: a retrospective prevalence-based study.

Background: Economic data pertaining to cystic fibrosis (CF), is limited in Europe generally, and completely lacking in Central and Eastern Europe. We performed an analysis of all direct costs associated with CF relative to key disease features and laboratory examinations.

Methods: A retrospective prevalence-based cost-of-illness (COI) study was performed in a representative cohort of 242 CF patients in the Czech Republic, which represents about 65 % of all Czech CF patients.

Drug holidays: the most frequent type of noncompliance with calcium plus vitamin D supplementation in persistent patients with osteoporosis.

Purpose: All current recommendations include calcium and vitamin D (Ca-D) as an integrated part of osteoporosis treatment. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze compliance with a fixed combination of Ca-D in women persistent with the treatment.

Patients And Methods: An observational study was carried out in three osteocenters in the Czech Republic.

A retrospective, longitudinal study of factors associated with new antipsychotic medication use among recently admitted long-term care residents.

Background: Use of antipsychotic (AP) medications is high and often inappropriate among institutionalized populations. Little is known about the correlates of new AP drug use following admission to long-term care (LTC) settings. This study investigated the frequency and correlates of new AP drug use among newly admitted LTC residents.

Application of the DETECT algorithm for detection of risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis: data from a Czech tertiary centre.

Objective: The early, simple and reliable detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in SSc (DETECT) study described a new algorithm for early detection of PAH in patients with SSc. The aim of this retrospective, single-centre, cross-sectional study was to apply a modified DETECT calculator in patients with SSc in the East Bohemian region, Czech Republic, to assess the risk of PAH and to compare these results with PAH screening based on the European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) 2009 guidelines.

Methods: Sixty patients were recruited with a diagnosis of SSc (according to ACR criteria), aged 27-78 years.

Adherence to denosumab in the treatment of osteoporosis and its utilization in the Czech Republic.

Objectives: The objective was to analyze adherence and current trends in utilization and prescription practice patterns of the anti-RANKL monoclonal antibody denosumab in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP).

Methods: The prescription-based database of the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic that covers approximately 60% of the Czech population (6 million) was used as the data source. Medication possession ratio (MPR) and persistence were calculated for all patients (both OP medication-naïve and medication-experienced) with postmenopausal OP from the start of their therapy with denosumab 60 mg per ml subcutaneous injection within a period between September 2011, i.

Quality of life and drug compliance: their interrelationship in rheumatic patients.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: In rheumatic disorders, one of the treatment objectives is to improve the patient's quality of life (QoL). Similar to other chronic conditions, drug compliance is poor, but necessary for successful treatment. The relationship between drug compliance and QoL has never been tested.

The impact of changes in national prescribing conditions for statins on their public expenditure and utilization in the Czech Republic 1997-2013.

Objectives: In the Czech Republic (CZ) extensive price regulation and prescribing conditions are common instruments often employed with new drugs. Since the introduction of statins onto the market in 1990s the originally strict conditions gradually relaxed while the prescription rates and public costs were rising. The aim was to analyze long-term utilization trends of statins, changes in their reimbursement prices and prescribing conditions, and the evolution of the market.

Fat- and fiber-related diet behavior among type 2 diabetes patients from distinct regions.

Purpose: Diet and eating habits are of key importance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this comparative study was to analyze fat- and fiber-related behavior (FFB) in patients with T2DM from distinct cultural areas.

Patients And Methods: Observational study was carried out in the Czech Republic (CR) (n=200), the US (n=207), and Yemen (n=200).

Genetic polymorphisms in metabolic pathways of leflunomide in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Leflunomide (LEF) is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug used for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). More than 50% of patients are withdrawn from LEF treatment within one year, mainly due to AEs. Importantly, it is not possible to predict which patients will respond to LEF therapy nor if adverse outcome occurs.

The impact of combinations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-hypertensive agents on blood pressure.

Nowadays NSAIDs are the most frequently used groups of drugs, especially because of their availability. Their consumption is high among older people, who are much more sensitive to the side effects, and who are often also taking other drugs which can interact with them. Moreover, the majority of the older population is suffering from hypertension.

Adherence to oral bisphosphonates: 30 more minutes in dosing instructions matter.

Objectives: Low adherence to treatment with bisphosphonates significantly impedes its effectiveness. The objectives were: (1) to compare adherence to oral weekly and monthly bisphosphonates with emphasis on dosing instructions; and (2) to study associations between adherence and beliefs about the bisphosphonate treatment among women ≥ 55 years.

Methods: A multicenter survey was performed in secondary-care patients with osteoporosis.

Incidence of intravenous drug incompatibilities in intensive care units.

Aims: Drug incompatibilities are relatively common in inpatients and this may result in increased morbidity/mortality as well as add to costs. The aim of this 12 month study was to identify real incidences of drug incompatibilities in intravenous lines in critically ill patients in two intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: A prospective cross sectional study of 82 patients in 2 ICUs, one medical and one surgical in a 1500-bed university hospital.

Medical and Productivity Costs of Rheumatoid Arthritis in The Czech Republic: Cost-of-Illness Study Based on Disease Severity.

Objective: International pharmacoeconomic studies suggest that functional impairment can be a significant predictor for the evaluation of direct and productivity costs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We calculated the direct and productivity costs for five Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) groups of patients (HAQ scores <0.6, 0.

Work Productivity and Costs Related to Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Psoriasis.

Objectives: To determine and compare the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis on work productivity, to calculate the productivity costs (PC), and to map out factors that influence (functional status and disease activity) work productivity.

Methods: The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire was used to evaluate productivity losses of patients with RA (n = 77), AS (n = 230), and psoriasis (n = 93). Demographic data, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ] and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]), and clinical parameters (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28], body surface area [BSA], and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI]) were collected.