• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to conduct a prevalence survey of trichomoniasis in pregnant women and to evaluate the utility of different methods for its diagnosis. A total of 597 vaginal exudates from pregnant women who were examined at the Hospital de Clinicas in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 1 August 2005 to 31 January 2007, were prospectively and consecutively evaluated. The investigation of Trichomonas vaginalis was made by different microscopic examinations, and culture on liquid medium. The sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examinations were assessed considering culture on liquid medium as the "gold standard". The prevalence of T. vaginalis obtained by culture on liquid medium was 4.0% (24/597). The prevalence of T. vaginalis obtained by direct wet smear, prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa staining, and sodium acetate-formalin (SAF)/methylene blue staining-fixing technique was 1.8%, 2.3% and 2.5%, respectively. The sensitivity of the direct wet smear was 45.8%, that of the prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa staining was 58.3%, and that of the SAF/methylene blue method was 62.5%. Considering the 3 microscopic examinations altogether, the sensitivity rose to 66.7% and the specificity was 100% for all of them. This is the first time that the prevalence data of T. vaginalis by culture in pregnant women are published in Argentina. Due to the low sensitivity obtained by microscopy in asymptomatic pregnant women, the use of the liquid medium is recommended during pregnancy, in order to provide an early diagnosis and treatment.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.432-432
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• 2002

Drug used in hospital is allowed marketing through after pharmacological and toxicological tests using various animals and clinical test of human in developing state. But as pre-marketing clinical study take short period with relatively a few of patients and strict selection criteria of people, pediatric, geriatric. pregnancy, liver and kidney patients may be excluded. As the safety of drug isn't completely evaluated before launching. it is important to collect and evaluate drug adverse reaction newly reported by medical practitioners and pharmacists. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.5-10
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• 2004

• 한국임상약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.199-200
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• 2007

• 한국임상약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.198-198
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• 2007

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8797-8800
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• 2014

Objective: To analyze cost-effectiveness of morphine, MS contin and oxycodone in the treatment of cancer pain, providing guidance for rational drug use in the clinic. Methods: Confirmed by histology, a total of 171 patients with various cancers who required analgesic treatment were selected and divided into 3 groups, 57 cases for each group, given morphine, MS contin and oxycodone, respectively. If there appeared a poor short-term effect or aggravated sudden pain during the treatment, a short-acting morphine injection was given and adverse reactions were processed by symptomatic treatment. The pain relief rate and adverse reactions of groups were observed and pharmacoeconomics evaluation was undertaken. Results: The pain relief rates with morphine, MS contin and oxycodone were 89.5%(51/57), 91.2%(52/57) and 93.0%(53/57), respectively, with no difference samong groups (${\chi}^2=4.4489$, P=0.6162). The occurrence rates of adverse reactions were 59.7%(34/57), 54.4%(31/57) and 43.9%(25/57), again with no significant variation (P>0.05). The ratios of cost-effectiveness (C/E) for the 3 groups were $14.6{\pm}7.21$, $15.0{\pm}7.44$ and $16.1{\pm}8.10$. When the price of 3 kinds of analgesics was reduced by 10%, the ratios of cost-effectiveness were $12.2{\pm}6.53$, ($13.4{\pm}6.08$ and $14.5{\pm}6.74$ but there was no differences when compared with before the price adjustment (t=1.86, P=0.0651; t=1.30, P=0.1948; t=1.17, P=0.2453). Conclusion: Morphine, MS contin and oxycodone give similar pain relief and adverse reaction rates but of all, morphine is the preferred drug for the treatment of cancer pain from the perspective of pharmacoeconomics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.430-440
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• 2018

Background : Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disturbance in hospitalized patients and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Tolvaptan, a vasopressin receptor antagonist, is increasingly used for the treatment of euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tolvaptan for the management of hyponatremia. Methods : This study was a retrospective evaluation of 106 patients who received at least one dose of tolvaptan for hyponatremia at a single tertiary academic hospital between January 2014 and June 2015. The primary endpoint was the change in serum sodium concentration after tolvaptan administration within 24 hours, with secondary endpoints of overcorrection and adverse effects. Results : The mean initial dose of tolvaptan was $20.2{\pm}7.2mg$ and the median duration of treatment was 15 days (range, 1-261 days). The maximal changes in sodium levels at 24 and 48 hours were $8.2{\pm}4.7mmol/L$ and $10.5{\pm}15.3mmol/L$, respectively. Of 99 patients in whom sodium concentrations were followed up, sodium overcorrection was observed in 26 (26.3%) patients, which was associated with concomitant use of an enzyme inhibitor (odds ratio [OR] = 4.80, 95% Cl: 1.27-18.15). However, sex, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, a daily dose of tolvaptan, and concomitant use of hypertonic saline did not show any significant difference in overcorrection. The most commonly reported adverse effects were mild and related to aquaresis, such as polyuria, thirst, and constipation. However, severe adverse effects such as hyperkalemia, hypotension, and one death related to osmotic demyelination were also reported. Conclusions : Tolvaptan is effective for treating hyponatremia. Nevertheless, the drug should be used cautiously due to serious adverse effects related to sodium overcorrection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1262-1274
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• 2022

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a complex and refractor type of cancer with global prevalence. Several barriers remain in CCA diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Therefore, exploring more biomarkers and therapeutic drugs for CCA management is necessary. CCA gene expression data was downloaded from the TCGA and GEO databases. KEGG enrichment, GO analysis, and protein-protein interaction network were used for hub gene identification. miRNA were predicted using Targetscan and validated according to several GEO databases. The relative RNA and miRNA expression levels and prognostic information were obtained from the GEPIA. The candidate drug was screened using pharmacophore-based virtual screening and validated by molecular modeling and through several in vitro studies. 301 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out. Complement and coagulation cascades-related genes (including AHSG, F2, TTR, and KNG1), and cell cycle-related genes (including CDK1, CCNB1, and KIAA0101) were considered as the hub genes in CCA progression. AHSG, F2, TTR, and KNG1 were found to be significantly decreased and the eight predicted miRNA targeting AHSG, F2, and TTR were increased in CCA patients. CDK1, CCNB1, and KIAA0101 were found to be significantly abundant in CCA patients. In addition, Molport-003-703-800, which is a compound that is derived from pharmacophores-based virtual screening, could directly bind to CDK1 and exhibited anti-tumor activity in cholangiocarcinoma cells. AHSG, F2, TTR, and KNG1 could be novel biomarkers for CCA. Molport-003-703-800 targets CDK1 and work as potential cell cycle inhibitors, thereby having potential for consideration for new chemotherapeutics for CCA.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2018

Background: In July 2016, the Infectious diseases society of america and the american thoracic society (IDSA & ATS) published a guideline recommending piperacillin/tazobactam (Pip/Tazo) 18 g/day as the anti-pseudomonal dose for the treatment of pathogenic pneumonia. After the guideline was published, the Pip/Tazo dose used for the treatment of pathogenic pneumonia was changed from 13.5 g/day to 18 g/day in a superior general hospital intensive care unit (ICU). In this study, we analyzed the effectiveness and safety of the new dose. Methods: Adult patients aged ${\geq}19years$ who were diagnosed with pneumonia in ICU and who received Pip/Tazo for 7 days or more from September 1, 2015 to May 31, 2017 were included in the study. The electronic medical record (EMR) was retrospectively analyzed. Results: At baseline, there was a significant difference between 44 patients treated with 13.5 g/day and 31 patients treated with 18 g/day of Pip/Tazo. The 18 g/day-treatment group comprised more elderly patients than the 13.5 g/day-treatment group (p=0.028). The results of the treatment-effects analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups. In case of safety data, there were significant differences in two parameters related to blood count, namely hemoglobin (p=0.016) and platelet count (p=0.011). Conclusion: Based on the significant difference in baseline age, there is a possibility that high-dose Pip/Tazo showed improved therapeutic effect. However, when high-dose Pip/Tazo was used, the blood cell count was found to drop from the reference value more frequently. Therefore, blood cell count should be monitored carefully when high-dose Pip/Tazo is administered.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2015

Objective: This study is to evaluate the awareness, needs, and barriers in patient counseling for hospitalized foreign patients. As the number of foreign population increases in Korea, demands on quality of Korean health services are rapidly increasing. Previously most of the studies have focused on the availability and utilization of healthcare service, and prevalence of disease for foreigners, however, no study has been conducted on quality of direct-patient care such as patient counseling. Method: In the present study, a survey was conducted on a total of 161 participants between March 7 and May 7 in 2014. The study subjects were consisted with 103 foreign patients who had experienced inpatient care within 1 year and 58 hospital pharmacists who work in the hospital with foreign inpatients. Results: Firstly, the hospital pharmacists were highly aware of the necessity of counseling for foreign inpatients. Secondly, the largest portion of barrier to patient counseling service was accounted a lack of foreign language skills. Lastly, the monitoring of efficacy, potential adverse reactions and discharge follow-up were emphasized. Conclusion: Effective communication skills would be essential to improve pharmaceutical care services to foreign inpatients.