Author informationArticle notesCopyright and License informationPDFCitations 1Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, PAKISTAN 2Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences, Lahore, PAKISTAN Corresponding author. Correspondence: Dr. Sara Shahid 1Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad-45320, PAKISTAN. 2Department of Pharmacy Practice,

Objective: The current research study aimed to access the relationship between obesity and asthma exacerbations and severity among adult patients at the outpatient section of a federal hospital (PIMS) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional research study was carried out on 207 asthma adult patients belonging to different areas and ethnic groups from the country. The study setting was the PIMS hospital, which attracts patients from all over the country due to its facilities and cost-effective treatments. The body mass index (BMI) of asthma patients was calculated using the heights and weights of the study subjects. However, the pulmonary functions were calculated using a computerized spirometer i-e Spirolab III S/N 303681 in line with Winspiro PRO 7.1.version software. It presents the patient’s forced vital capacity that expires in the first second of expiration to full (FEV1) in comparison to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, that is, Tiffeneau–Pinelli index was also recorded to determine the asthma severity. Results: According to recent surveys, the overall prevalence of patients with overweight and obesity was 29.0% and 23.7%, respectively. A Chi-square test was used, and a statistically significant relationship was observed between BMI and asthma severity (P < 0.001). The adult obese female patients presented poor pulmonary functions. The average FEV1/FVC ratio presented significant variance among four different categories of BMI with P < 0.05. This difference was due to the normal BMI category as the Tiffeneau–Pinelli index, that is, FEV1/FVC in the normal BMI group was significantly lower as compared to that in underweight and obese patients. Conclusion: The study subjects presented raised asthma severity in accordance with the raised BMI. Obese patients presented comparatively raised asthma exacerbations. Moreover, a statistically significant association of gender difference was observed between obesity and asthma severity. It was concluded that adult asthmatic women with obesity presented raised asthma severity as compared to adult asthmatic males.

Introduction: Self-medication is regarded as the system of taking medicines without the consultation of licensed medical practitioner. Self-medication leads to irrational use of medical drugs which is hazardous for health. The prevalence of this crucial issue is rapidly increasing worldwide. The present study was aimed to access the pattern of self-medication trends in healthcare students and non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey based observational study has been conducted to access the knowledge along with the attitude of medical and non-medical students regarding self-medication. The study settings included different universities and medical colleges of Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 301 students from medical department and other departments were included in the study. A validated self-medication assessment questionnaire was used to access the knowledge along with attitude pattern of self-medication among healthcare students as well as non-healthcare students. Results: The findings of the present study presented that medical students are more aware of the potential side effects and adverse reactions of the self-medicated drug as compared to the non-medical students. Whereas, trends of self-medication was observed to be slightly higher in healthcare students as compared to the non-healthcare students. Moreover, the frequency of antibiotic use was comparatively more frequent in medical students as compared to the non-medical graduates. Whereas, the use of painkillers without prescription was more prevalent in non-medical students as compare to the medical graduates. Conclusion: There has been a significant difference in knowledge of healthcare students and non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan. Although both healthcare and non-healthcare students have high prevalence of self-medication but differences have been observed in case of drugs taken. Healthcare students practice self-medication more as compared to the non-health-care students.                        Peer Review History: Received: 10 November 2022; Revised: 18 December; Accepted: 5 January 2023, Available online: 15 January 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Received file:                             Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Similar Articles: ANTIMICROBIALS SELF MEDICATION AMONG PARAMEDICAL STUDENTS IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY ANTIBIOTICS KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR USES AGAINST VARIOUS DISEASES AMONG THE DORMITORY STUDENTS OF A RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSITY IN BANGLADESH: A PILOT STUDY

Introduction: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease with high rates of infection and mortality throughout the world, but its spread is greater in developing countries, and its control is difficult. It is known that the most common side reaction of drug treatment for tuberculosis is hepatotoxicity resulting from the drugs, which negatively affects adherence to treatment as a result of patients not continuing to use it. Objective:This study aimed to determine the extent of hepatotoxicity as a result of drug treatment for tuberculosis. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study conducted on TB patients undergoing TB treatment in a general hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. A data collection form was used to obtain demographic and treatment data. The hepatotoxicity of TB drug therapy was evaluated by performing liver function tests (LFTs).Study duration was of 4 months. Results: The study showed that out of 100 tuberculosis patients, 55 patients were hepatotoxic. Hepatotoxic population includes 26% males and 29% females including almost 10% children either male or female. The maximun hepatotoxicity was observed in the patients undergoing combination therapy. Around 3-5 % patients showed that the Serum-GlutamicPyruvic-Transaminase (SGPT) values more than 2 times of their normal values. While other 50% showed hepatotoxicity 1-2 times of their normal values. Most of the patients found were in the age group ranging from 35-60 years. The main drugs used in tuberculosis treatment were: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutal. Conclusion:The rate of hepatotoxicity in TB patients on anti-TB treatment was high. The current study concluded that the more we move towards a greater number of drugs in combination, the greater the extent and chance of hepatotoxicity. The combination of three anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide) resulted in maximum hepatotoxicity. Peer Review History: Received: 21 August 2023; Revised: 18 September; Accepted: 19 October, Available online: 15 November 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Marwa A. A. Fayed, University of Sadat City, Egypt, maafayed@gmail.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Owanaro Peter, Nigeria, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. owonaropeter@gmail.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Dr. Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan, drwadhsheikh1974@gmail.com

Background and Objective: A lifestyle-associated disease, Diabetes Mellitus, mandates compliance with established policies by physicians and patients to achieve optimal glycemic control. Collaborative care from healthcare providers and patients is essential for effective management, which slows disease progression, improves quality of life, and reduces medication costs. This study assessed the effectiveness of pharmacist-led education initiatives on clinical outcomes and direct treatment costs for patients who have diabetes in two public hospitals in Malaysia. Methods: Four hundred diabetes patients included in the study that were randomly allocated to two corresponding groups. Another group as the control group, consisting of two hundred patients, received standard treatment, whereas the patients in intervention group, including two hundred patients, received pharmacist-led care via Diabetic Medication Therapy Adherence Clinics (DMTAC) with conventional treatment. Pharmacists provided educational interventions emphasizing dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, the significance of physical activity, and appropriate medication storage. Among these, 143 control patients and 156 intervention patients completed the one-year study, which comprised two follow-up visits. Clinical outcomes and treatment expenses were evaluated and the analysis of data was performed utilizing version 24 SPSS. Descriptive statistics were presented as mean ± standard deviation, including normality assessed using the skewness, kurtosis and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Two-way ANOVA or Independent t-tests were applied for hypothesis testing when data showed normal distribution. Results: After the research, group receiving intervention had a much higher decrease in HbA1c levels relative to the control group (3.59% versus 2.17%; p < 0.001). The intervention group had considerable decreases in systolic blood pressure (9.29 mmHg) and similarly in diastolic blood pressure (7.58 mmHg; with p < 0.005). Additionally, levels of cholestrol in the intervention group improved significantly (0.13 mmol/L; p < 0.001). Moreover, treatment expenses for the pharmacist-led intervention group shown a substantial reduction (p < 0.001). By the second follow-up, the additional cost per patient since baseline was RM 236.07 in the control group, compared to only RM 47.33 per patient in the intervention group with pharmacist involvement. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led interventions led to a significant improvement in HbA1c levels. While medication expenses increased in both groups from the initial follow-up, the control group exhibited significantly greater increase levels than the intervention group.

The authors have presented a good work that would be very helpful in improving the immunization services across Bangladesh. They have worked on a very pressing issue of the current time. Overall, the study objectives, nature and structure of the man...