Pont, LG, Denig, P, van der Molen, T, Jan van der Veen, W & Haaijer-Ruskamp, FM 2004, 'Validity of performance indicators for assessing prescribing quality: the case of asthma', European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 59, no. 11, pp. 833-840.
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Pont, LG, van der Molen, T, Denig, P, van der Werf, GT & Haaijer-Ruskamp, FM 2004, 'Relationship between guideline treatment and health-related quality of life in asthma', European Respiratory Journal, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 718-722.
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The aim of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of asthma patients treated according to the 1997 National Institute of Health (NIH) international asthma guideline and that of asthmatics receiving non-guideline treatment.The suitability of 146 asthmatics' medication regimes was determined according to the 1997 NIH asthma guideline. Quality of life was assessed on a seven-point scale using the Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire.Just over half of the patients were not currently using the treatment considered necessary for controlling their asthma. Patients treated according to the guideline (n=72) had a significantly higher overall HRQL than patients with non-guideline treatment (5.7versus5.3). The differences were also significant for the subscales measuring symptoms and environmental exposure, but not for activities or emotional function.An association between non-guideline treatment and a poorer health-related quality of life in asthma patients treated in general practice was observed. This study supports the role of evidence-based guidelines in daily practice. Further studies are needed to determine if guideline treatment is responsible for the increase in health-related quality of life observed in this work.
Uchiyama, K, Takano, H, Yanagisawa, R, Inoue, K, Naito, Y, Yoshida, N, Yoshino, S, Murase, H, Ichinose, T & Yoshikawa, T 2004, 'A NOVEL WATER‐SOLUBLE VITAMIN E DERIVATIVE PREVENTS ACUTE LUNG INJURY BY BACTERIAL ENDOTOXIN', Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 226-230.
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SUMMARY1. Various chemokines, such as keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1α and macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1, are involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury induced by bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS). Oxidative stress is an important regulator of the expression of these chemokines, whereas vitamin E protects against LPS‐induced insults. In the present study, we determined the effects of 2‐(α‐d‐glucopyranosyl) methyl‐2,5,7,8‐tetramethylchroman‐6‐ol (TMG), a novel water‐soluble vitamin E derivative with excellent anti‐oxidant activity, on acute lung injury induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS (125 µg/kg) in mice.2. When TMG was administered intratracheally and intravenously (0.1, 1.0 or 10 mg/kg), it dose‐dependently decreased the infiltration of neutrophils into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after LPS challenge.3. Histological examination showed that treatment with TMG ameliorated the LPS‐induced infiltration of neutrophils into the lungs. Furthermore, TMG attenuated the LPS‐induced increase in pulmonary expression of KC, MIP‐1α and MCP‐1 at both the transcriptional and translational levels.4. These results indicate that TMG is a possible treatment for acute lung injury, especially that caused by Gram‐negative bacteria. The therapeutic effect of TMG may be mediated, at least in part, by suppression of the local expression of chemokines, possibly through its strong anti‐oxidant activity.
Williams, KA, Gelgor, L & Aslani, P 2004, 'Use of non-prescription products', Australian Journal of Pharmacy, vol. 85, no. 1012, pp. 492-493.
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Community pharmacy has a growing role to play in collecting information on the use, efficacy and safety of non-prescription drugs.
