IMPACT OF CONTINUOUS PATIENT COUNSELLING ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE OF DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING OUTPATIENT PHARMACY SERVICES

ABSTRACTObjective: The morbidity and morbidity associated with diabetes can be drastically reduced by the knowledge about diabetes mellitus and appropriateattitude toward the disease. A study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) and medication adherence patternsof diabetic patients and effect of pharmacist‑led patient education on KAP and medication adherence patterns in these patients.Methods: 400 diabetic patients of either sex, aged above 18 years were divided randomly into two groups of 200 each as control and the interventiongroups. At the baseline, patients in both the groups were assessed for KAP using KAP Questionnaire and medication adherence using MoriskyAdherence Questionnaire. Patients in the intervention group were counseled both verbally and by distribution of a patient education leaflets at baselineand at three consecutive follow‑ups (1st, 2nd, and 3 months), and patients in the control group were counseled both verbally and by distribution ofpatient education leaflets at the baseline and then on the follow‑up after 3 months. Both the groups were assessed repeatedly for KAP and medicationadherence using same questionnaires after each counseling sessions. The mean scores of KAP and medication adherence, and the fasting blood sugarlevels (FBS) at the baseline and on the follow‑up for control and the intervention groups were analyzed statistically using independent sample t‑testand Mann–Whitney U‑test.rdResults: Of 200 patients in each group, 178 females and 22 males in the intervention group (mean age 57.80±9.878 years) and 179 females and21 males in the control group (mean age 57.57±9.438 years). A statistically significant improvement in the mean KAP and adherence scores wasobserved from the baseline to the final follow‑up in both groups (p≤0.001). The increase in the KAP and medication adherence scores from baselineto the follow‑up in the intervention group was found to be significantly higher than the control group. There was a reduction in the mean FBS frombaseline to the follow‑up in both the groups but a statistically significant higher reduction in the mean FBS was found in the intervention group frombaseline to the final follow‑up when compared to the control group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: A better KAP of diabetic patients about their disease can improve the medication adherence behavior which in turn can improve clinicaloutcomes. The patient education should be a continuous process, and patients should be assessed at every subsequent visit for medication adherenceto achieve better health outcome.Keywords: Diabetes, Adherence, Knowledge, attitude and practices, Patient education

A function blocking anti-mouse integrin α5β1 antibody inhibits angiogenesis and impedes tumor growth in vivo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Integrins are important adhesion molecules that regulate tumor and endothelial cell survival, proliferation and migration. The integrin α5β1 has been shown to play a critical role during angiogenesis. An inhibitor of this integrin, volociximab (M200), inhibits endothelial cell growth and movement <it>in vitro</it>, independent of the growth factor milieu, and inhibits tumor growth <it>in vivo </it>in the rabbit VX2 carcinoma model. Although volociximab has already been tested in open label, pilot phase II clinical trials in melanoma, pancreatic and renal cell cancer, evaluation of the mechanism of action of volociximab has been limited because this antibody does not cross-react with murine α5β1, precluding its use in standard mouse xenograft models.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We generated a panel of rat-anti-mouse α5β1 antibodies, with the intent of identifying an antibody that recapitulated the properties of volociximab. Hybridoma clones were screened for analogous function to volociximab, including specificity for α5β1 heterodimer and blocking of integrin binding to fibronectin. A subset of antibodies that met these criteria were further characterized for their capacities to bind to mouse endothelial cells, inhibit cell migration and block angiogenesis <it>in vitro</it>. One antibody that encompassed all of these attributes, 339.1, was selected from this panel and tested in xenograft models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A panel of antibodies was characterized for specificity and potency. The affinity of antibody 339.1 for mouse integrin α5β1 was determined to be 0.59 nM, as measured by BIAcore. This antibody does not significantly cross-react with human integrin, however 339.1 inhibits murine endothelial cell migration and tube formation and elicits cell death in these cells (EC₅₀= 5.3 nM). In multiple xenograft models, 339.1 inhibited the growth of established tumors by 40–60% (<it>p </it>< 0.05) and this inhibition correlates with a concomitant decrease in vessel density.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results herein demonstrate that 339.1, like volociximab, exhibits potent anti-α5β1 activity and confirms that inhibition of integrin α5β1 impedes angiogenesis and slows tumor growth <it>in vivo</it>.</p

Genomic landscape of patients in a phase II study of zanubrutinib in ibrutinib- and/or acalabrutinib-intolerant patients with B-cell malignancies

Not available

Role of Serum Magnesium levels in Asthmatic with children

Objective: To determine the association between serum magnesium level and asthma, by establishing the difference in serum magnesium level between children with asthma and controls. Method: Serum magnesium levels of 44 children with acute asthma and 44 controls of the age group of 6-16 years was determined and statistically compared. Lung function tests (FEV1%) were done and correlated with serum magnesium levels using Pearson&rsquo;s comparison coefficient. Results: The mean serum magnesium value of cases (1.9136&plusmn;0.44) is lower than the controls (2.0042&plusmn;0.26), with 32 cases showing a deficiency of serum magnesium. Pearson&rsquo;s correlation coefficient, reveals positive correlation between FEV1% with serum magnesium levels, r=0.819, P&lt;0.001. Conclusions: This study reveals that the serum magnesium levels, even if in normal range, are statistically lower amongst asthmatics. It also brings out the relationship between magnesium levels and lung function tests, showing an improvement in the latter with increase in the former

Health-related quality of life and its determinants among South Indian type 2 diabetes patients with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract Background and aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in type-2 diabetics. The quality of life among those patients was not explored well. Hence, the present study aimed to correlate the determinants with the quality of life (QoL) among the study subjects. Methods A hospital-based case–control study was conducted at Bhargavi Gastro and Surgical Hospital, Warangal, Telangana, with 358 subjects, from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2021 (24 months). A 358 of cohort type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects were recruited with 1:1 of NAFLD and without NAFLD. QoL was determined with the SF-36 questionnaire, which comprises eight domains. Statistical analysis included t test, chi-square, and Spearman correlation performed with SPSSV.25 software. Results Out of 358 subjects, 200 (55.8%) were males and 158 (44.1%) were females. Glycemic parameters (FBS and HbA1c), lipid profile, liver transaminases (SGPT and SGOT), and serum uric acid levels were significantly high in NAFLD subjects (p  0.05). Conclusion The decreased QoL was observed in subjects of T2DM with NAFLD. The QoL is significantly influenced by elevated FBS, SGPT, SGOT, and TG levels. Hence, clinicians need to be vigilant and implement strategies to improve the quality of life in type 2 diabetics with NAFLD

The Anticancer Role of Capsaicin in Experimentallyinduced Lung Carcinogenesis

Objectives: Capsaicin (CAP) is the chief pungent principle found in the hot red peppers and the chili peppers that have long been used as spices, food additives and drugs. This study investigated the anticancer potential of CAP through its ability to modify extracellular matrix components and proteases during mice lung carcinogenesis. Methods: Swiss albino mice were treated with benzo(a) pyrene (50 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) orally twice a week for four successive weeks to induce lung cancer at the end of 14th week. CAP was administrated (10 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) intraperitoneally. Extracellular matrix components were assayed; Masson’s trichome staining of lung tissues was performed. Western blot analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 were also carried out. Results: In comparison with the control animals, animals in which benzo(a)pyrene had induced lung cancer showed significant increases in extracellular matrix components such as collagen (hydroxy proline), elastin, uronic acid and hexosamine and in glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate and dermatan sulfate. The above alterations in extracellular matrix components were effectively counteracted in benzo(a)pyrene along with CAP supplemented animals when compared to benzo(a) pyrene alone supplemented animals. The results of Masson’s trichome staining for collagen and of, immunoblotting analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 further supported the biochemical findings. Conclusion: The apparent potential of CAP in modulating extracellular matrix components and proteases suggests that CAP plays a chemomodulatory and anti- cancer role working against experimentally induced lung carcinogenesis