Use Of Herbs Research Articles

Association of Adverse Drug Reactions to HAART with Alcohol Consumption, Herbal Medication and Co-Trimoxazole Prophylaxis among Patients Living with HIV/AIDS in FMC Makurdi, Nigeria

The use of HAART for the treatment of HIV/AIDS infection, despite its success, has been reported to be accompanied by increased number of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for which some risk factors such as age, gender, co-morbidities have been implicated. The association between alcohol consumption, herbal drug intake and use of co-trimoxazole and ADRs to HAART has not been documented much. The main objective of this study is to determine the association between alcohol consumption, herbal drug intake, use of co-trimoxazole and presentation of ADRs to HAART in HIV/AIDS patients in Makurdi where there’s high HIV infection, alcohol consumption and herbal use. It was a combination of prospective and retrospective study at FMC, Makurdi. We used clinical records of the patients and questionnaires for patients enrolled from January to October, 2019 and followed up for six months. The biodata, drug history including herbal medications and social life (use of alcohol) history were retrieved. A total number of three hundred and three (303) patients were recruited during the study period out of which two hundred and ten (210) patients were used. From a total of 210 patients, 144 (68. 6%) were females while sixty-six, 66 (31.4 %) were males. Of these, only 68(32.4%) patients took alcohol while 89 (42.4%) patients used herbal medications together with HAART regimen and 185(88.1) were on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. 22 patients presented with ADR with peripheral neuropathy and insomnia being the commonest ADRs. 54.5% (majority) of the patients with ADRs took alcohol while 81.8% (majority) of the patients who developed ADRs were actually on herbal medications or co-trimoxazole. The p-value>0.05. Alcohol consumption, herbal medication use and co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in HIV/AIDS positive patients while on ARVs may increase ADRs to ARVs. Thus, HIV/AIDS patients should be discouraged from use of alcohol and herbal medication while on HAART.

Trends and predictors of incidence of hypospadias in a tertiary hospital in South Africa

BackgroundHypospadias is a penile congenital abnormality characterized by an ectopic urethral opening, ventral curvature and incomplete foreskin closure with a dorsal hooded prepuce. Management of the outcome demands high cost. The aim of this study was to determine the trends and predictors of hypospadias among babies born at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2016.MethodsMothers’ files from the transfer unit of the labour ward were reviewed. A case–control study compared boys with hypospadias and those without born approximately at the same time. Data were retrospectively collected on data collection forms. EpiData version 3.1 and STATA version 15.1 were used for statistical analysis. The Mantel Haenszel method determined combined odds ratios for hypospadias outcome on boys whose mothers were exposed to certain conditions versus boys of unexposed mothers. Woolf’s method was used to compute confidence intervals of the odds ratios. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent contributing maternal factors to the risk of hypospadias.ResultsRecords of 221 male babies were collected of which 73 were cases and 148 controls in the ratio of 1:2. Hypospadias was more frequent in boys born by Caesarean Section (p < 0.001), those with low birth weight (p < 0.001) and those small for gestational age (p < 0.002). Alcohol use (odds ratio 3.1), smoking (odds ratio 1.54), herbal use (odds ratio 2.05), medical history (odds ratio 2.8), multiple pregnancies (odds ratio 1.69) and maternal congenital abnormalities (odds ratio 3.03) indicated an increased risk of hypospadias. Surgical history (odds ratio 1.29), pre-natal vaccination (odds ratio 0.92), employment (odds ratio 0.85), and education (odds ratio 0.48) were not associated with the risk of hypospadias.ConclusionsMothers older than 36 years presented a stratifying effect on disease outcome. Our findings did not indicate major changes in trends of incidence of hypospadias. The years assessed did not have a significant effect on the number of cases.

Herbal Supplement Use for Evidence-Based Indications in US Adults: An Analysis of National Survey Data.

Objective: Understanding the changes in consumer use of herbal products and what has influenced these changes is key in the promotion of evidence informed use. The last analysis of evidence informed herbal supplement use involved the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) analysis. This study reproduces and expands upon that earlier analysis, with the most recent NHIS dataset to report herb use patterns. It also explores the guiding resources consulted by consumers in their decision to use. Methods: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the NHIS identified the 10 herbal supplements with the most reported use in 2012. The reasons reported by the NHIS for taking herbal supplements were compared with the 2019 Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) to determine whether reasons cited in consumption were supported by evidence. Logistic regression models were fit according to NHIS sampling weights to examine the relationship between evidence-based use and user characteristics, guiding resources, and health care professional engagement surrounding use. Results: Of the 181 reported uses of herb supplements for a specific health condition, 62.5% were for reasons supported by evidence-based indications (EBIs). The odds of herb use consistent with evidence significantly increased for those reporting higher education status (odds ratio [OR] = 3.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.70-5.34]). Herbal supplement use consistent with EBIs was more likely among those who disclosed their herb use to a health care professional (OR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.26-2.49]). Evidence-based herb use was also less frequently informed by Media sources (OR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.28-0.66]) compared with non-EBI use. Conclusion: Approximately 62% of the reasons cited for taking the most consumed herbs in 2012 were in alignment with 2019 EBIs. This increase may be due to improved awareness of health care professionals and/or an increase of evidence for traditional uses of herbal products. Future research should explore the role of each of these stakeholders in improving evidence-based herb use in the general population.

Food Safety during Pregnancy: Current Consideration

Food safety is critical during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormone changes reduce immune function, making pregnant women more vulnerable to food-borne illnesses. The unborn fetus is particularly sensitive to food-borne diseases since its immune system has not yet matured. Pregnant women must be extremely cautious about what they eat since they are eating not just for their health but also for the health of their unborn babies. When a pregnant woman eats well, she reduces her chances of anemia, low birth weight, and birth defects. Herbal medication use during pregnancy is associated with a woman's age, family financial level, and educational standing. Preeclampsia risk was reduced, labor was extended, and the common cold and urinary tract infection were all treated with herbal treatments during pregnancy. Some herbal products may include ingredients that should not be eaten while pregnant. Herbs may include elements that cause fetal damage, uterine contractions, premature delivery, or miscarriage. The effects of various herbs on pregnant women or fetuses have not been well researched. Herbal drugs are subjected to quality control to ensure consistency, safety, and efficacy. According to this approach, the purpose of this review was to give succinct information on comprehensive food intake, dietary supplements, and the use of herbal items during pregnancy.

Global Dietary and Herbal Supplement Use during COVID-19-A Scoping Review.

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of cure and the intensity of the global spread raised a common awareness of health. The aim of this scoping review is to summarize dietary supplement use globally during first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search was conducted in December 2021 following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, ERIC, and Scopus databases were searched, and 956 results were screened for eligibility. Fourteen cross-sectional studies from 11 countries and 3 continents were examined. All studies were large population surveys investigating healthy eating and supplement use during COVID-19. Vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and multivitamins were the most widely reported, as well as natural/herbal products such as ginger and honey. The most common reason cited for supplements use was to strengthen immune system and to prevent infection of COVID-19. These studies reported that populations are relying on healthcare providers, family, friends, and social media to learn about supplement use. Future studies on the treatment of COVID-19 should include more evidence for supplement use.

A STUDY ON THE FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL HAIR OILS

The traditional medicine of India, Ayurveda, discusses the use of herbals for beauty, which is based on conventional wisdom. An effective and powerful technology in the cosmetics field is herbal cosmetics. There is nothing more ancient than humanity and civilization than the concept of beauty and cosmetics. Therefore, many of them use beauty products which contain herb that order to keep their beauty and youth. Nowadays, organic cosmetics are becoming more accessible to the common people since they are expected to have fewer side effects, as well as an increased level of safety and security. We aim in this study to develop a general-use herbal oil in which a variety of herbs that are readily available to us are utilized and evaluation of the herbal oil formulation was conducted by determining various parameters, such as viscosity, saponification value, pH, etc.

Characterization of an Italian landrace of Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad. of herbal and horticultural interest

Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad.) is a native species of the Andes. Its fruits are recently gaining attention as herbal and healthy product. A landrace of Caigua traditionally cultivated in Camonica Valley (Italian Alps), called “Ciuenlai” (or “Milione/Milioncino”), is almost unknown. For this reason, the phytochemical, nutritional and ecological (functional strategy) characterization of “Ciuenlai” was carried out. Phytochemical and nutritional analyses were performed considering its fruits, leaves, sprouts, and seeds, and compared with commercial South American plant material. Fruits of “Ciuenlai” showed a similar content of phenolic compounds but a lower content of saponins and flavanones and dihydroflavonols than the comparison samples. Conversely, the content in caffeoylquinic acid (frequently considered a quality marker for herbal use) was four times higher for “Ciuenlai” (0.64 ± 0.04%) comparing with the commercial variety grown in the same area (0.15 ± 0.01%). Interestingly, leaves and sprouts of “Ciuenlai” resulted rich in secondary metabolites, including saponins and flavanones and dihydroflavonols, suggesting that these parts could be eligible for herbal use. Considering the ecological and agronomical features, “Ciuenlai” showed a more ruderal strategy, and different growth, producing more fruits earlier in the season, much smaller than the South American variety. “Ciuenlai” could have developed an ecological adaptation to the peculiar climatic conditions of the mountain areas of Camonica Valley, different from the native area. The herbal use of “Ciuenlai” could be a useful strategy for its valorisation, other than the promotion of this product as typical food.

A Delphi Study of Expert Consensus on Chinese Medicine Syndrome Differentiation and Herbal Use for Early Breast Cancer.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely used in breast cancer, but there is no consensus on the Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes in the different conventional treatment stages (preoperative, postoperative, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and endocrine therapy) of early breast cancer. This Delphi study aimed to achieve expert consensus on the CM syndromes, signs and symptoms, and the Chinese herbal formulae for early breast cancer. Thirty senior CM clinicians with expertise in managing breast cancer were enrolled. The syndromes selected by ≥50% of experts and the corresponding most common Chinese herbal formulae were considered a consensus. Consensus on signs and symptoms was defined as a median score ≥4 (the item was important or very important) and ≥70% of experts rating the sign or symptom as 4 (important) or 5 (very important) on a 5-point Likert scale. Three survey rounds were conducted from 15 October 2021 to 10 March 2022. Consensus was reached with 3 syndromes confirmed for each treatment stage. Several syndromes, such as dual deficiency of qi and Blood, were considered common to multiple treatment stages. Some important signs and symptoms were presented in multiple treatment stages (eg, shortage of qi in the radiation therapy and endocrine therapy stages). This Delphi study achieved consensus on the most common CM syndromes, corresponding signs and symptoms, and the most common formulae in each treatment stage of early breast cancer, providing an evidence-based approach for future clinical practice.

Provision of primary care pharmacy operated by hospital pharmacist.

A primary care pharmacy (PCP) is operated by hospital pharmacists in Thailand. This study aims to explore the level of PCP provisions operated by hospital pharmacists, to identify health service components that affect PCP operation and to collect opinions from pharmacists regarding factors influencing PCP operation. A postal survey was conducted in northeastern Thailand. A questionnaire included: (1) the PCP checklist (36 items), (2) questions investigating the health service components required for PCP operation (13 items), and (3) queries to pharmacists concerning factors influencing PCP operation (16 items). Questionnaires were mailed to 262 PCP pharmacists. The PCP provision score was calculated with a max score of 36, and reaching at least 28.8 points was deemed as having 'met expectation'. Multivariate logistic regression with a backward approach was used to determine health service components which affected PCP operation. Most respondents were female (72, 60.0%), aged 36.0 years (IQR 31.0-41.0) and PCP work experience of 4.0 years (IQR 2.0-10.0). Overall, the PCP provision score had met expectation (median = 29.00, Q1-Q3 = 26.50-32.00). Tasks that met expectation involved managing the medicine supply, a home visit with a multidisciplinary team and protecting consumer health. Improving medicine dispensary and promotion of self-care and herbal use were below expectation. PCP operation depended on doctor involvement (OR = 5.63 95% CI 1.07-29.49) and public health practitioner involvement (OR = 3.12 95% CI 1.27-7.69). The pharmacist's responsibility, i.e., a good relationship with the community, likely increased PCP provision. The PCP has been widely instituted in Northeast Thailand. Doctors and public health practitioners should get involved regularly. Further research is needed to monitor the outcomes and value of PCPs.

A systematic review of medicinal plants and herbal products' effectiveness in oral health and dental cure with health promotion approach.

Medicinal plants and herbal drugs are being used increasingly as part of primary health care in most parts of the world. As important adjunctive and alternative treatments for oral health care, herbal products' use may continue to increase and become more widespread. The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive systematic review of the current published literature on the effectiveness of medicinal plants and herbal products employed to improve oral health in adolescents with a health promotion approach. The systematic review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The keywords "herbal medicine," "herbal extract," "herbal supplements," "plant extract," "natural drug," "pulpitis," "dental caries," "oral viral diseases," and "abscess" were used in combination with the Boolean operators OR and AND. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The search yielded 49 original research studies. A total of 22 studies had low or unclear risk bias. The geographical distribution of included studies was primarily concentrated on western countries. Overall, studies reported herbal product users' age, ranging from young adults aged 18 years to elderly people aged 75 years or older. Most studies reported multiple compounds, including herbal drugs and herbal extracts. Chamomile and Aloe vera were the most frequently reported herbal compounds. The most commonly described herbal products to treat oral diseases were gels, mouth rinses, and pastes. The studies included a range of people with oral diseases, including periodontal and gingival diseases, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, oral lichen planus, and oral candidiasis. Herbal product interventions were found to be effective and safe alternatives for oral health care. One of the most important goals of the World Health Organization (until 2015) is the oral health index, so it is important that dental services be followed up more seriously. Considering the problems in reaching this goal of the World Health Organization in our country, herbal products have the ability to improve clinical oral health outcomes in adolescents. Limited adverse side effects indicate the overall safety of these treatments for a wide range of oral diseases. Therefore, the use of medicinal plants as well as alternative medicine is one of the useful methods in achieving this important goal of public health.

Diuretics misuse: A cross-sectional study to explore community pharmacist’s perceptions of diuretics use and misuse

Exploring the factors associated with the intention to assess customers’ herbal and dietary supplement use by community pharmacists in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaMohd Shahezwan Abd Wahab, Nurul Aina Abd Malik, Shariza Sahudin, Meor Mohd Redzuan Meor Mohd Affandi, Noordin Othman, Aida Azlina Ali

Diyabetli Hastalarda Bitkisel Ürün Kullanımının BKİ ve HbA1c Üzerine Etkisi

Aim: Patients with diabetes can use herbal products to better manage the disease. The aim of this study is to examine the rate of herbal product use and the effect of herbal product use on Body Mass Index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values in patients with diabetes.Method: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in the diabetes outpatient clinic of a hospital in Istanbul with a total of 104 patients with diabetes. The data were collected using a data collection form, which questioned the patients' socio-demographic characteristics, disease information and herbal product use. Data analysis was performed using Chi-square, One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Mann Whitney U test in computer environment.Results: The mean age of patients with diabetes was 61,08±9,3 years, the mean BMI was 26,3±5,4kg/m², and the mean HbA1c value was 6,9%±1,8%. The BMI and HbA1c values of the patients using herbal products were lower than the patients not using herbal products (respectively; p=,002; p=,047). It was determined that the duration of herbal product use did not affect BMI and HbA1c values (p&amp;gt;,05).Conclusion: The use of herbal products was high in patients with diabetes. It was determined that olive leaf, cinnamon leaf, thyme juice, garlic, black sesame, blueberry, fenugreek seeds, French lavender and bitter almond were used as herbal products. Herbal product use decreased BMI and HbA1c values.

Herbal supplement use among reproductive-aged women in an academic infertility practice

To address the knowledge gap surrounding herbal medicine and supplement usage patterns and supplement-prescription medication interactions among patients seeking treatment for infertility. Cross-sectional survey study. Academic infertility practice. Ninety-five reproductive-aged patients. Not applicable. Use of herbal medications and supplements, baseline demographics, history of infertility treatments, and potential supplement-medication interactions. We surveyed 95 participants with a median age of 35 years. Overall, 68.4% of patients reported ever having used supplements or herbal medicines in the past. Current use of herbal supplements and vitamins was reported by 53.7% and 93.7% of participants, respectively, with a median of 2 (range 19) supplements used per person. There were no significant associations between patient demographics, comorbidities, or infertility treatments with increased rates of supplement use. The most commonly used herbal supplements were: green tea (n = 14), chamomile (n = 12), peppermint (n = 9), turmeric (n = 8), elderberry (n = 7), ginger (n = 7), maca (6) with the most common modalities being pills/capsules (23.8%) and tea (42.3%). The most common reasons for use were: general health and wellness (24.5%), immune support (16.2%), stress (14.0%), and fertility (15.0%). Patients used maca (n = 5), chasteberry (n = 3), goji berry (n = 2), ginger (n = 2), yam-based progesterone (n = 2), and combination product (n = 2) for fertility purposes. A total of 7.9% of patients learned about these products from their general health care provider, and 33.3% of supplements were disclosed by patients to their provider. We identified 41 moderate-risk supplement-drug interactions, with 12 of these interactions attributed to infertility therapies. Based on the interaction checker, the most commonly proposed mechanisms of interaction were CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 inhibition. In terms of safety in pregnancy, cannabidiol and chasteberry were suggested to be "possibly unsafe in pregnancy," and red raspberry leaf "likely unsafe in pregnancy" without direct medical supervision. We found over two thirds of women seeking treatment for infertility reported past and over half reported current herbal medicine and supplement use. Notably, the Natural Medicines Interaction Checker suggested high rates of moderate-risk supplement-drug interactions and possible harmful effects in early pregnancy. Our results call for further investigation of clinically relevant supplement interactions with infertility therapies.

Herbal Essential Oil use as Ulcer Protective Activity: A Systematic Review

Around the course of the past few decades, essential oils have been an increasingly prominent subject of research all over the world. These naturally occurring chemicals may find applications in a wide variety of medical and biotechnological fields. In light of the urgent need to find new anti-ulcer agents and the significant amount of effort that has been put into developing medications for the treatment of ulcers, the purpose of this review is to investigate the anti-ulcer activities of fifteen different bioactive compounds that can be found in essential oils.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Minuman Kesehatan Berbahan Baku Hasil Pertanian Lokal di Desa Pulau Semambu

PULAU SEMAMBU VILLAGE COVID 19 PREVENTION TRAINING ON LOCAL AGRICULTURAL HEALTH DRINK. The growing epidemic of COVID-19 poses a significant problem for the government and the population. Among the several measures used to avoid infection is the consumption of nutritious meals and beverages that boost the body’s immunity. Based on the results of the site survey; ginger, turmeric, lime, and pineapple are four antioxidant-rich plants that grow in Pulau Semambu Village. Turmeric contains curcumin, ginger contains shogaol and gingerol, and limes have high in vitamin C, those compounds play a vital function as an antioxidant and immunostimulant. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple that can enhance the absorption of curcumin molecules. The activity was conducted utilizing lecture and live demonstration, discussion, and a pre- and post-test to assess participant knowledge. According to the hedonic test, syrup is considered acceptable. Based on the results of the test, it was found that participant’s knowledge had increased. The public knowledge of the COVID-19 transmission process has increased to 100%, 96% of respondents understand the causes of COVID-19, 96% of respondents understand the symptoms of COVID-19, and 92% of respondents understand how to prevent COVID-19. The community’s knowledge of herbal use also increased, 100% of respondents understand the sorts of herbs that can be used to prevent COVID-19, 72% of respondents understand how to process these herbs, and 92% of respondents understand how to prepare these herbs.

Hidden figures: Revisiting doping prevalence estimates previously reported for two major international sport events in the context of further empirical evidence and the extant literature.

High levels of admitted doping use (43.6% and 57.1%) were reported for two international sport events in 2011. Because these are frequently referenced in evaluating aspects of anti-doping, having high level of confidence in these estimates is paramount. In this study, we present new prevalence estimates from a concurrently administered method, the Single Sample Count (SSC), and critically review the two sets of estimates in the context of other doping prevalence estimates. The survey featuring the SSC model was completed by 1,203 athletes at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics (WCA) (65.3% of all participating athletes) and 954 athletes at the 2011 Pan-Arab Games (PAG) (28.2% of all participating athletes). At WCA, athletes completed both UQM and SSC surveys in randomised order. At PAG, athletes were randomly allocated to one of the two surveys. Doping was defined as "having knowingly violated anti-doping regulations by using a prohibited substance or method." Estimates with the SSC model for 12-month doping prevalence were 21.2% (95% CI: 9.69-32.7) at WCA and 10.6% (95% CI: 1.76-19.4) at PAG. Estimated herbal, mineral, and/or vitamin supplements use was 8.57% (95% CI: 1.3-16.11) at PAG. Reliability of the estimates were confirmed with re-sampling method (n = 1,000, 80% of the sample). Survey non-compliance (31.90%, 95%CI: 26.28-37.52; p < 0.0001) was detected in the WCA data but occurred to a lesser degree at PAG (9.85%, 95% CI: 4.01-15.69, p = 0.0144 and 11.43%, 95% CI: 5.31-11.55, p = 0.0196, for doping and nutritional supplement use, respectively). A large discrepancy between those previously reported from the UQM and the prevalence rate estimated by the SSC model for the same population is evident. Caution in interpreting these estimates as bona fide prevalence rates is warranted. Critical appraisal of the obtained prevalence rates and triangulation with other sources are recommended over "the higher rate must be closer to the truth" heuristics. Non-compliance appears to be the Achilles heel of the indirect estimation models thus it should be routinely tested for and minimised. Further research into cognitive and behaviour aspects, including motivation for honesty, is needed to improve the ecological validity of the estimated prevalence rates.

Historical Aspects of Herbal Use and Comparison of Current Regulations of Herbal Products between Mexico, Canada and the United States of America

Increased life expectancy and high costs of medicines and medical care have led to the use of herbal products. However, these items may contain toxic compounds that have an impact on public health. We will focus on the regulatory aspects and differences of these products marketed in the North American region (USA-Mexico-Canada) from government websites and selected literature. Mexico has an ancestral tradition of using plants for the treatment, improvement, and maintenance of human health as compared with Canada and the USA Currently, the use of herbal products in this region has a regulatory framework. The legal framework in these three countries is related to their history, idiosyncrasies, socio-economic and cultural aspects. Therefore, there are different public policies for herbal products consumed in the region. Mexico has a more specific classification of these products. In Canada, all herbal products are classified as natural health products and the safety and efficacy must be scientifically proven. In the USA, the development of botanical drugs is very recent. In particular, both herbal products classified as food supplements in Mexico and dietary supplements in the USA may have risks in both safety and efficacy.

Obstetrician-gynecologists' perspectives towards medication use during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.

A vast majority of studies evaluated pregnant women's knowledge and attitudes towards using medications during their pregnancy, with few global and lack of regional studies conducted to spot obstetrician-gynecologists practices in this regard. This study aims to assess Obstetrician-gynecologists' knowledge of medication teratogenicity potential, their frequently used resources, and their residency training contribution to medication use during pregnancy. This is a cross-sectional, survey-based study targeting licensed Obstetrician-gynecologists who are practicing in Saudi Arabia using a validated self-administered web-based questionnaire developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A total of 60 obstetrician-gynecologists were included in the study. Most participants were female (72%) with median age and clinical experience of 42 and 13 years, respectively. The majority (87%) agreed that Isotretinoin is contraindicated, while around 60% of respondents were unsure about the safety of herbal remedies use. Online databases (e.g., Lexi-Comp and Micromedex) were chosen as the top utilized medication resources (45%). Around 48% strongly agreed that liability is a concern if there were adverse pregnancy outcomes following the use of medications. Regarding their training assessment, obstetrician-gynecologists who had been in practice for more than 15 years were significantly more likely to rate themselves as well qualified (P value < .05). The majority adequately and significantly rated their training on prescribed medications (58.3%), OTC medications (45%) and dietary supplements or herbal remedies (32%) (P value < .05). Obstetrician-gynecologists showed a different level of knowledge about the risks and safety of medications when used during pregnancy. More efforts are needed to optimize medication selection, herbal avoidance, and training performance.

Prevalence, Perception and Predictors of Concomitant Herbal Medicine Use among HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Patients in Metekel Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The use of herbal medicine is common in Ethiopia. However, evidence on the extent and predictors of concomitant use of herbal medicine with conventional treatment among HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients is limited. To assess the extent of concomitant use of herbal medicine with conventional therapy and associated factors among HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients in Metekel Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020. HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients who visited the health facilities during the study were interviewed face-to-face using a structured and pretested questionnaire. The descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. 412 patients on conventional treatment were included in this study; 355 (86.2%) were HIV patients, and 57 (13.8%) were TB patients. More than half, 217 (52.7%) participants reported using herbal medicine while on conventional therapy. Among those who claimed to have used herbal medicines, 32 (14.7%) received herbal medicine from traditional healers. About four of five herbal users did not disclose their use to their healthcare providers. The type of health facility on follow-up (P=0.03), disease status (P=0.01), occupation (P=0.02), discontinuing ART (P=0.03), and encountering side (P=0.04) were the determinant factors for the use of herbal medicine among our study participants. In the Metekel Zone, concomitant consumption of herbal medication is common among HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients. Furthermore, most patients did not disclose the healthcare practitioners about their herbal use. Therefore, healthcare practitioners must assess and counsel patients regarding the potential adverse effects and herb-drug interaction to optimize therapy.

Prevalence and factors associated with adverse drug reactions among heart failure patients hospitalized at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda

BackgroundAdverse drug reaction (ADR) of medications remains an obstacle to achieving optimal disease outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of ADR among Heart failure (HF) patients hospitalized at Mbarara Regional and Referral Hospital.MethodA prospective observational study was conducted among hospitalized HF patients from November 2021 to January 2022. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine factors associated with the ADR.ResultOverall, 118 HF patients were included in the study with a median age of 43 years. A total of 164 ADRs were identified during the follow-up period of 1011 days. The incidence of new ADRs was 106 ADRs/1000 person-days. The prevalence of ADR was 59.3%. Of the 164 ADRs, 118(71.9%) were probable. The gastrointestinal system was the most frequently (27.5%) affected system. Over half (86, 52.4%) of the ADRs were mild and 96(58.5%) were preventable. Age group 19–59(AOR 0.15[0.03–0.35] at 95%CI, p = 0.013), herbal use (AOR 3.07[1.01–9.32] at 95%CI, p = 0.048), poly-pharmacy (AOR 8.7[2.4–15.77] at 95%CI, p < 0.001) and drug-drug interaction (AOR 6.06[2.79–12.5] at 95%CI, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with ADRs among HF patients.ConclusionMore than half of the hospitalized HF patients experienced at least one ADR during their hospital stay. The use of herbal medicines, poly-pharmacy, and drug-drug interaction were associated with a high risk of ARDs whereas the age group 19–59 years was less likely to experience ADRs.