scholarly journals Increasing the Effectiveness of Pharmacotherapy in Psychiatry by Using a Pharmacological Interaction Database

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2185
Author(s):  
Michal Ordak ◽  
Tadeusz Nasierowski ◽  
Elzbieta Muszynska ◽  
Magdalena Bujalska-Zadrozny

Recent studies have shown that the knowledge of pharmacological interaction databases in global psychiatry is negligible. The frequency of hospitalizations in the case of patients taking new psychoactive substances along with other drugs continues to increase, very often resulting in the need for polypharmacotherapy. The aim of our research was to make members of the worldwide psychiatric community aware of the need to use a pharmacological interaction database in their daily work. The study involved 2146 psychiatrists from around the world. Participants were primarily contacted through the LinkedIn Recruiter website. The surveyed psychiatrists answered 5 questions concerning case reports of patients taking new psychoactive substances along with other drugs. The questions were answered twice, i.e., before and after using the Medscape drug interaction database. The mean percentage of correct answers given by the group of psychiatrists who were studied separately in six individual continents turned out to be statistically significantly higher after using the pharmacological interaction database (p < 0.001). This also applies to providing correct answers separately, i.e., to each of the five questions asked concerning individual case reports (p < 0.001). Before using the drug interaction database, only 14.1% of psychiatrists stated that they knew and used this type of database (p < 0.001). In the second stage of the study, a statistically significant majority of subjects stated that they were interested in using the pharmacological interaction database from that moment on (p < 0.001) and expressed the opinion that it could be effective in everyday work (p < 0.001). Using a pharmacological interaction database in psychiatry can contribute to the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Ordak ◽  
Aleksandra Zmysłowska ◽  
Miłosz Bielski ◽  
Daniel Rybak ◽  
Maja Tomaszewska ◽  
...  

Background: In recent years, an increase in the frequency of hospitalizations of patients taking newer and newer psychoactive substances has been observed around the world. Each year, authors publish case reports of patients who consumed previously unknown NPS. Most publications of this type concern the period between 2014 and 2016. However, no publication systematically reviews the pharmacotherapy used in these cases. This study aims to review the case reports of patients taking NPS published between 2010 and 2019, as well as analyzing the pharmacotherapy used.Methods: We searched the Thomson (Web of Knowledge), PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The search was performed using all possible combinations of the term “case report” describing the use of NPS, also referred to as designer medications, internet medications, research chemicals and herbal highs.Results: We analyzed 51 case reports on the intake of various types of NPS. Most of them (p &lt; 0.001) concerned the use of synthetic cannabinoids (41.2%) and cathinones (31.4%). The pharmacotherapy applied primarily (p &lt; 0.001) consisted of administering benzodiazepines to patients (62.7%), most of whom took only this group of medications (25.5%), followed by groups receiving benzodiazepines combined with neuroleptics (15.7%) and muscle relaxants (11.8%). Opioids were administered primarily to patients taking synthetic opioids (p &lt; 0.001). Of the 5 cases of deaths from NPS reported in the literature, three relate specifically to the synthetic opioid MT-45. The later the time period, the more medications patients were administered (p = 0.02).Conclusion: In the pharmacotherapy for NPS poisoning, one should focus primarily on combating psychomotor agitation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S571-S572
Author(s):  
P. Quintana Mathé ◽  
M. Grifell

IntroductionNew psychoactive substances (NPS) are substances that have recently become available, and are not worldwide regulated. They often intend to mimic the effect of controlled drugs, becoming a public health concern. In 2014, 101 substances were reported for the first time in the EU, which may require to be studied and risk-assessed by the scientific community. The EMCDDA recognizes it as an emerging topic where research is most needed, as the scientific community is struggling to keep pace with the speed at which new substances appear. On the one hand, case reports and internet-based surveys are quickly published but do not provide enough evidence to guide clinical decisions. On the other hand, classical high-reliability methodologies such as Cohort and Clinical studies take too long and their cost is too high to be of much use for the study of NPS. We propose an intermediate methodology to tackle this unmet need.RationaleGonzález and colleagues described a set of highly educated, experimental users of NPS with extensive knowledge and consumption of substances. These users usually look for drug checking of the substances they intend to consume. We suggest we could benefit from the collaboration of such users, and the possibility of obtaining analytical confirmation, to retrieve information about NPS in a quick and reliable fashion.Outline of methodologyRecluting of subjects that submit NPS to a drug checking facility. Analysis of the samples for analytical confirmation. Check inclusion criteria and propose inclusion in the study. Give structured forms for reporting effects and adverse events.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Author(s):  
Mohammad M. Al-Qattan ◽  
Nada G. AlQadri ◽  
Ghada AlHayaza

Abstract Introduction Herpetic whitlows in infants are rare. Previous authors only reported individual case reports. We present a case series of six infants. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective study of six cases of herpetic whitlows in infants seen by the senior author (MMA) over the past 23 years (1995–2017 inclusive). The following data were collected: age, sex, digit involved in the hand, mode of transmission, time of presentation to the author, clinical appearance, presence of secondary bacterial infection, presence of other lesions outside the hand, method of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. Results All six infants initially presented with classic multiple vesicles of the digital pulp. In all cases, there was a history of active herpes labialis in the mother. Incision and drainage or deroofing of the vesicles (for diagnostic purposes) resulted in secondary bacterial infection. Conclusion The current report is the first series in the literature on herpetic whitlows in infants. We stress on the mode of transmission (from the mother) and establishing the diagnosis clinically. In these cases, no need for obtaining viral cultures or polymerase chain reaction; and no medications are required. Once the vesicles are disrupted, secondary bacterial infection is frequent and a combination of oral acyclovir and intravenous antibiotics will be required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 883 ◽  
pp. 115054
Author(s):  
D. Martins ◽  
E.M.P.J. Garrido ◽  
F. Borges ◽  
J.M.P.J. Garrido

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Leonidas Apostolidis ◽  
Jörg Schrader ◽  
Henning Jann ◽  
Anja Rinke ◽  
Sebastian Krug

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by paraneoplastic syndromes, brain metastases, or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) has only been described in individual case reports. We evaluated patients with LC in four neuroendocrine tumor (NET) centers (Halle/Saale, Hamburg, Heidelberg, and Marburg) and characterized them clinically. In the study, 17 patients with a LC were defined with respect to diagnosis, clinic, and therapy. The prognosis of a LC is very poor, with 10 months in median overall survival (mOS). This is reflected by an even worse course in neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) G3 Ki-67 >55%, with a mOS of 2 months. Motor and sensory deficits together with vigilance abnormalities were common symptoms. In most cases, targeted radiation or temozolomide therapy was used against the LC. LC appears to be similarly devastating to brain metastases in NEN patients. Therefore, the indication for CNS imaging should be discussed in certain cases.


Author(s):  
Hugo López-Pelayo ◽  
Julian Vicente ◽  
Ana Gallegos ◽  
Andrew McAuley ◽  
Yacin Buyuk ◽  
...  

Medicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Mary Beth Babos ◽  
Michelle Heinan ◽  
Linda Redmond ◽  
Fareeha Moiz ◽  
Joao Victor Souza-Peres ◽  
...  

This review examines three bodies of literature related to herb–drug interactions: case reports, clinical studies, evaluations found in six drug interaction checking resources. The aim of the study is to examine the congruity of resources and to assess the degree to which case reports signal for further study. A qualitative review of case reports seeks to determine needs and perspectives of case report authors. Methods: Systematic search of Medline identified clinical studies and case reports of interacting herb–drug combinations. Interacting herb–drug pairs were searched in six drug interaction resources. Case reports were analyzed qualitatively for completeness and to identify underlying themes. Results: Ninety-nine case-report documents detailed 107 cases. Sixty-five clinical studies evaluated 93 mechanisms of interaction relevant to herbs reported in case studies, involving 30 different herbal products; 52.7% of these investigations offered evidence supporting reported reactions. Cohen’s kappa found no agreement between any interaction checker and case report corpus. Case reports often lacked full information. Need for further information, attitudes about herbs and herb use, and strategies to reduce risk from interaction were three primary themes in the case report corpus. Conclusions: Reliable herb–drug information is needed, including open and respectful discussion with patients.


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