Search

The article discusses the top 10 papers in cardio-oncology from the year 2023. It highlights various topics such as tailored cardiomyopathy surveillance recommendations for childhood and young adult cancer patients, the use of dexrazoxane for cardioprotection in high-risk patients, the effectiveness of statin therapy in preventing anthracycline cardiotoxicity, the timing and benefits of exercise therapy for breast cancer patients, the impact of radiation dose exposure on major ischaemic events in breast cancer patients, the treatment strategies for immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis, the increased risk of ICI myocarditis in patients with thymic epithelial tumors, the prediction and management of cardiovascular events after CAR-T therapy, the optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for distal deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients, and the increased risk of arterial thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation/flutter patients with newly diagnosed cancer. The article emphasizes the need for further research in these areas and provides recommendations for clinical practice. [Extracted from the article]

It is a well-established fact that legally sound evidences are required to prove or disprove any criminal activity. When a particular activity occurs, it leaves a trace out of mutual contact and failure to detect that trace proves the activity did not occur. To enhance the capabilities of the justice system in evaluating evidence, researchers are continuously engaged in the development of novel analytical techniques which provide scientific methodologies for effectively assessing and interpreting the evidence associated with criminal activities. Among the several devices available, paper-based microanalytical devices (μPADs) have attracted the interest of forensic scientists/experts in recent years. These devices are designed with microchannels to which dedicated reagents are added for promoting selective reactions. As a result, they offer a practical and convenient solution for on-site detection of physical evidence, providing ready-to-use capabilities for forensic investigations. This does not only help the investigators in collection of legally sound evidences but also open avenues in apprehending the potential offender who might be present in the scene by detecting the traces. μPADs are inexpensive, simpler to operate, require less chemical consumption, portable, and provides results visible to naked eye. Furthermore, with the aid of digital scoring of color intensity, semi-quantitative results can be generated. This review explains current state of applications and operating chemistry of µPADs involved in analysis of evidences of forensic interest such as explosives, gunshot residue, drugs of abuse, pesticides, body fluids, and estimation of time since death. Furthermore, the research gaps in the domain and viability of future trends for the application of µPADs in forensic science are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of terms, such as "antiepileptic," "anticonvulsant," and "antiseizure" have been historically applied to medications for the treatment of seizure disorders. Terminology is important because using terms that do not accurately reflect the action of specific treatments may result in a misunderstanding of their effects and inappropriate use. The present International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) position paper used a Delphi approach to develop recommendations on English‐language terminology applicable to pharmacological agents currently approved for treating seizure disorders. There was consensus that these medications should be collectively named "antiseizure medications". This term accurately reflects their primarily symptomatic effect against seizures and reduces the possibility of health care practitioners, patients, or caregivers having undue expectations or an incorrect understanding of the real action of these medications. The term "antiseizure" to describe these agents does not exclude the possibility of beneficial effects on the course of the disease and comorbidities that result from the downstream effects of seizures, whenever these beneficial effects can be explained solely by the suppression of seizure activity. It is acknowledged that other treatments, mostly under development, can exert direct favorable actions on the underlying disease or its progression, by having "antiepileptogenic" or "disease‐modifying" effects. A more‐refined terminology to describe precisely these actions needs to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for providing rapid and, possibly, on-the-spot analytical results in the case of intoxication has prompted researchers to develop rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective methods and analytical devices suitable for use in nonspecialized laboratories and at the point of need (PON). In recent years, the technology of paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (μPADs) has undergone rapid development and now provides a feasible, low-cost alternative to traditional rapid tests for detecting harmful compounds. In fact, µPADs have been developed to detect toxic molecules (arsenic, cyanide, ethanol, and nitrite), drugs, and drugs of abuse (benzodiazepines, cathinones, cocaine, fentanyl, ketamine, MDMA, morphine, synthetic cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol, and xylazine), and also psychoactive substances used for drug-facilitated crimes (flunitrazepam, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), ketamine, metamizole, midazolam, and scopolamine). The present report critically evaluates the recent developments in paper-based devices, particularly in detection methods, and how these new analytical tools have been tested in forensic and clinical toxicology, also including future perspectives on their application, such as multisensing paper-based devices, microfluidic paper-based separation, and wearable paper-based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paper spray tandem mass spectrometric (PS-MS/MS) method without column separation was developed for the rapid screening of clonidine in dietary supplements. PS-MS/MS provided acceptable performance compared to high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) in terms of limits of detection and quantification, accuracy, and precision. To overcome ionization suppression of complicated plant-based pharmaceutical products, nizatidine, tizanidine, and apraclonidine were investigated as internal standards. A more similar structured internal standard is most suitable for matrix effect compensation. The developed method has advantages of simplicity and speed for the screening of clonidine in dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug repositioning has the potential to reduce costs and accelerate the rate of drug development, with highly promising applications. Currently, the development of artificial intelligence has provided the field with fast and efficient computing power. Nevertheless, the repositioning of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is still in its infancy, and the establishment of a reasonable and effective research method is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention. The use of graph neural network (GNN) to compute the similarity between TCM prescriptions to develop a method for finding their new indications is an innovative attempt. Methods: This paper focused on traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions containing ephedra, with 20 prescriptions for treating external cough and asthma taken as target prescriptions. The remaining 67 prescriptions containing ephedra were taken as to-be-matched prescriptions. Furthermore, a multitude of data pertaining to the prescriptions, including diseases, disease targets, symptoms, and various types of information on herbs, was gathered from a diverse array of literature sources, such as Chinese medicine databases. Then, cosine similarity and Jaccard coefficient were calculated to characterize the similarity between prescriptions using graph convolutional network (GCN) with a self-supervised learning method, such as deep graph infomax (DGI). Results: A total of 1340 values were obtained for each of the two calculation indicators. A total of 68 prescription pairs were identified after screening with 0.77 as the threshold for cosine similarity. Following the removal of false positive results, 12 prescription pairs were deemed to have further research value. A total of 5 prescription pairs were screened using a threshold of 0.50 for the Jaccard coefficient. However, the specific results did not exhibit significant value for further use, which may be attributed to the excessive variety of information in the dataset. Conclusions: The proposed method can provide reference for finding new indications of target prescriptions by quantifying the similarity between prescriptions. It is expected to offer new insights for developing a scientific and systematic research methodology for traditional Chinese medicine repositioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with high and rising burden of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the leading causes of NCD-related deaths worldwide and is a foremost public health problem in Nigeria. As part of National policy, Nigeria has committed to implement the World Health Organization (WHO) Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease interventions for primary care. Implementing the intervention requires the availability of essential elements, including guidelines, trained staff, health management information systems (HMIS), equipment, and medications, in primary healthcare centers (PHCs). This study assessed the availability of the DM component of the WHO package, and the readiness of the health workers in these PHCs to implement a DM screening, evaluation, and management program to inform future adoption and implementation. Methods: This cross-sectional formative assessment adapted the WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool to survey 30 PHCs selected by multistage sampling for readiness to deliver DM diagnosis and care in Abuja, Nigeria, between August and October 2021. The SARA tool was adapted to focus on DM services and the availability and readiness indicator scores were calculated based on the proportion of PHCs with available DM care services, minimum staff requirement, diagnostic tests, equipment, medications, and national guidelines/protocols for DM care within the defined SARA domain. Results: All 30 PHCs reported the availability of at least two full-time staff (median [interquartile range] = 5 [4–9]), which were mostly community health extension workers (median [interquartile range]) = 3 [1–4]. At least one staff member was recently trained in DM care in 11 PHCs (36%). The study also reported high availability of paper-based HMIS (100%), and DM screening services using a glucometer (87%), but low availability of DM job aids (27%), treatment (23%), and national guidelines/protocols (0%). Conclusion: This formative assessment of PHCs' readiness to implement a DM screening, evaluation, and management program in Abuja demonstrated readiness to integrate DM care into PHCs regarding equipment, paper-based HMIS, and nonphysician health workers' availability. However, strategies are needed to promote DM health workforce training, provide DM management guidelines, and supply essential DM medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the top 10 papers in interventional cardiology published in 2023. The papers cover a range of topics, including percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary physiology and imaging, dual-antiplatelet therapy, cardiogenic shock, structural heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and arterial hypertension. The papers highlight the effectiveness of various interventions and provide insights into improving patient outcomes. However, the article also emphasizes the need for further research in certain areas. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: To report distribution of codes associated with a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis recorded in Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum compared to the previously validated CPRD GOLD database as a critical step toward making decisions about CPRD Aurum's suitability for medical research.Patients and Methods: We analyzed the distribution of codes for RA diagnoses, labs, and treatments in the new CPRD Aurum database, compared to the CPRD GOLD database by selecting relevant indicators of RA diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care. We included all patients in England in CPRD Aurum and CPRD GOLD with an incident diagnosis code for RA on or after 1 January 2005 and at least two years recorded data before first RA diagnosis.Results: We found 53,083 and 18,167 patients with a new diagnosis code for RA in CPRD Aurum and CPRD GOLD, respectively. In both databases approximately 67% were female with similar mean ages at first diagnosis. There were few differences in RA-related recording patterns between the two data sources. Before first RA diagnosis, CPRD Aurum patients had more RA-specific labs and other supporting clinical codes. After diagnosis, CPRD Aurum patients had more RA diagnoses coded and more often had 10+ general RA labs than patients in CPRD GOLD. More CPRD GOLD patients had 10+ prescriptions for conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARD) compared to CPRD Aurum. Otherwise, the distribution of drugs used to treat RA was similar between databases. The standardized incidence of RA was similar between databases.Conclusion: Overall, among patients with a diagnosis code for RA, recording of diagnoses, prescription drugs, and labs were similar between CPRD Aurum and CPRD GOLD. Slight differences were found for a few variables, but overall, we found consistency between the databases. In addition, standardized incidence of RA was similar between databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new concept of paper-based device has been developed combining the advantages of cellulose supports and the rich surface chemistry of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The composite, named as NH2-UiO-66@paper, has been developed for the isolation of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) in oral fluids, trying to mimic the interactions of those compounds with the human CB1R and CB2R receptors, mainly governed by hydrogen bonding and π-interactions with serine and histidine residues. MOF selection (UiO-66) and functionalization of the ligand (2-aminoterephthalic acid) has been done according to the following criteria: (i) water stability of the selected MOF, and (ii) promoting appropriate interactions with SCRAs due to the MOF nature. NH2-UiO-66@paper composite has been characterized in depth and the results confirmed that the material is stable at the temperature selected for thermal desorption (230 °C). Furthermore, the developed method provided appropriate precision values (RSD < 12%) and a limit of detection as low as 10 ng using ion mobility spectrometry as analytical technique. Lastly, the method has been successfully applied to the isolation of several synthetic cannabinoids from oral fluids. This method claims to be an interesting approach for expanding the combination of MOFs with sustainable support and represents a promising alternative to sophisticated and non-portable systems due to the negligible sample treatment required and the simplicity of the operation, which can be applied with screening purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, including combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), have transformed HIV into a chronic condition. Kidney diseases cause morbidity and mortality in patients living with HIV (PLWH), though cART has permitted kidney transplants with acceptable post-transplant graft and patient survival. Risk of allograft rejection remains high, which may be related to interactions between cART, specifically protease inhibitors (PI), and immunosuppressants prescribed post-transplant. This systematic review evaluates renal transplant outcomes in PLWH treated with PI- vs non-PI-based cART. A search strategy was generated with terms related to renal transplant, HIV, and cART and run on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane. Studies were evaluated using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines on Covidence by two reviewers and then evaluated for bias. Of 803 studies, 9 were included. Included papers were prospective or retrospective cohort studies or chart reviews of adult patients. Outcome measures included acute graft rejection, graft survival, and patient survival. One study had significant results demonstrating that PI-based therapy was correlated with increased graft rejection rates. Two studies demonstrated significant graft survival benefit to non-PI-based therapy, while one demonstrated significant benefit to PI-based therapy. Two studies found significant patient survival benefit to non-PI-based therapy. For each outcome measure, remaining data suggested improved outcomes with non-PI-based therapies without achieving statistical significance. The results demonstrate superior outcomes in PLWH taking non-PI-based cART, though the paucity of significant results suggests that PLWH who require PI-based cART for virological control may continue their regimen safely post-kidney transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the multifaceted role of AI in contemporary drug research, emphasizing its ability to analyze vast datasets, predict molecular interactions, and optimize clinical trials. AI's application extends beyond basic research, influencing preclinical studies, pharmaceutical design, clinical trials, and post-approval activities. It also plays a pivotal role in drug repurposing and the advancement of personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to individual genetic profiles. By integrating AI into various stages of drug development, the industry has achieved increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy. This paper also highlights the regulatory challenges and opportunities posed by AI, stressing the need for a flexible regulatory framework to balance innovation with patient safety. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on the pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow, driving further advancements in drug research and ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global drug policy is currently dominated by great enthusiasm about human rights, including the idea that rights can generate less punitive approaches to drugs. But if human rights were an effective framework for the prevention of punitive approaches towards drugs, why haven't they prevented them previously? One possibility is that rights are less reliable for those society considers 'less than human'. In Western liberal contexts that valorise voluntarity, rationality, authenticity, and order, people who use drugs figure as compulsive, irrational, duplicitous and chaotic. Rights can reproduce these logics of abjection, including through the repetition of ideas about drugs and proper ways of being. A body of critical drug scholarship seeks to intervene in these constructions. This work mobilises 'habit' as an otherwise to 'addiction' and argues that habit is the foundation of realities. Habits, and thus realities, can be changed. This paper draws on these approaches to explore whether insights from critical drug scholarship can help to generate something after rights, made possible by new habits and modes of connection. To make this argument, we consider habits as a site of both repetition and rupture. We ask whether habits can help us rethink or disrupt rights, and the 'human' therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 30 and 40% of 18-year olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland enter tertiary education (university) each year. Young adulthood (ages 15 to 25) is the usual period in which problems with alcohol, drugs or other behaviors begin to emerge, and yet these issues have received limited study in the UK. Government policy dictates that a full continuum of treatment and recovery services should be available in each area of the country, but uptake of these services by university students appears to be limited. In this discussion paper we describe the background to, and components of, the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), an initiative that has grown rapidly in the USA in the past decade. We then describe how the first UK University-led CRP was set up, before outlining what has been learnt so far and the potential challenges facing this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The routine use of antimicrobial therapy to treat diabetic foot infections has been widely published. However, effective treatments can be interrupted with complications such as antimicrobial resistance, systemic toxicity and allergic reactions. This paper looked at 26 individual cases using calcium sulfate (Stimulan®, Biocomposites Ltd) as a carrier for delivering antimicrobials, in the form of beads, at a local level and at the site of infection. In 69% of patients, oral and parenteral antimicrobials were ceased at the point of treatment. Patients were managed under local protocols by the podiatry team to the point of wound closure. Additionally, average healing rates were seen to be significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the harsh punishment and measures taken to crack down on drug-related crimes in China, drug offending presents a growing threat. This paper, based on in-depth interviews with 24 drug offenders who are now under incarceration, explores how drug offending is described and presented. The results reveal that drug offending is not merely simplified as good or evil, but constructed as individuals' only, attractive, or non-existent option. The implications of the results are briefly discussed in regard to the reduction in drug crimes and policy improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To conduct a discursive review on continuous glucose monitoring use among Black older adults and to address the issue of racial disparities in diabetes management and outcomes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a global health concern with significant complications and mortality rates. Black older adults are disproportionately affected. Initially designed for type 1 diabetes, continuous glucose monitoring has emerged as an innovative tool for type 2 diabetes mellitus management. Despite its potential, there are challenges related to adherence and digital literacy among Black older adults for managing Diabetes. Design: A discursive review. Methods: Searching literature in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for papers published from 2017 to 2023, we explored the use of continuous glucose monitoring in Black older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, examining barriers, facilitators and challenges. Discussion: We highlight recommendations from the literature which included barriers, facilitators, and cultural factors associated with continuous glucose monitoring use. Findings underscore the importance of addressing these challenges to reduce racial–ethnic disparities in type 2 diabetes mellitus management among Black older adults. Nurses and advanced practice registered nurses are at the forefront and can play a pivotal role in exploring and implementing interventions to promote access and proper use of continuous glucose monitoring among Black older adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As effective treatment of glioblastoma is still an unmet need, targeted delivery systems for efficient treatment are of utmost interest. Therefore, in this paper, surface modifications with a small peptide c(RGD) or physiological protein (ApoE3) were investigated. Cellular uptake in murine endothelial cells (bEnd.3) and different glioma cells (human U-87 MG, rat F98) was tested to elucidate possible differences and to correlate the uptake to the receptor expression. Different liposomal formulations were measured at 1 and 3 h for three lipid incubation concentrations. We calculated the liposomal uptake saturation S and the saturation half-time t1/2. An up to 9.6-fold increased uptake for ApoE3-modified liposomes, primarily in tumor cells, was found. Contrarily, c(RGD) liposomes showed a stronger increase in uptake in endothelial cells (up to 40.5-fold). The uptake of modified liposomes revealed enormous differences in S and t1/2 when comparing different tumor cell lines. However, for ApoE3-modified liposomes, we proved comparable saturation values (~25,000) for F98 cells and U-87 MG cells despite a 6-fold lower expression of LRP1 in F98 cells and a 5-fold slower uptake rate. Our findings suggest that cellular uptake of surface-modified liposomes depends more on the target structure than the ligand type, with significant differences between cell types of different origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global surge in non-communicable diseases, like cancer, strains health systems financially and restricts patient access to treatment. Generic drugs offer comparable efficacy, safety, and quality to innovator drugs, improving patient access and well-being. To aid healthcare workers in selecting the best generic drugs, Generic drug Adoption Framework (GRAF) was developed as an evaluation tool. This paper aims to adapt the tool to Colombia for healthcare professional's daily use. Methods: Adapting the tool involved two phases: surveying healthcare workers (oncologists' specialists and pharmacists) to gauge their readiness for adopting generic drugs, additionally and expert consensus was developed to adapt the tool to the Colombian context. Results: Of 62 surveyed healthcare workers, 38.7% were early adopters and 32.3% were late adopters. Pharmacists showed higher early adoption rates (47%) than physicians (33%). In the second phase, experts identified 12 relevant attributes for the Colombian scenario, refining descriptions and scoring scales. Conclusion: The study revealed Colombian healthcare workers' perceptions of generic drugs and differences in adoption rates. The adapted tool to the Colombian healthcare context could clarify misconceptions that require diverse strategies to increase the use of generic drugs, aiding in better patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary supplement (DS) use is common and increasing among older adults, though much data available on use frequencies are from surveys and performed cross-sectionally. This paper sought to assess the frequency and pattern of dietary supplement use among older adults over time. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the AAA LongROAD study, a longitudinal prospective cohort study of older adult drivers, using data from baseline and the first two years of follow up included a total of 2990 drivers aged 65–79 years recruited at five study sites across the US from July 2015 to March 2017. Participants underwent baseline and annual evaluations, which included a "brown bag" medication review. DS were identified and categorized according to type and key components. Prevalence and pattern of DS use over time and relationship to demographics were measured with frequency and Chi squared analyses. Results: 84% of participants took at least one dietary supplement during the 2-year study period, and 55% of participants continually reported use. DS accounted for approximately 30% of the total pharmacologic-pill burden in all years. Participants who were White non-Hispanic, female, 75–79 years of age at baseline, and on more non-supplement medications took significantly more dietary supplements (P < 0.05). Vitamin D, multivitamins, calcium, and omega-3 formulations were the most common supplements, with stable use over time. Use of individual herbal supplements and cannabis products was uncommon (< 1% participants per year). Conclusions: DS use among older adults is common and relatively stable over time and contributes to polypharmacy. In clinical settings, providers should consider the influence of DS formulations on polypharmacy, and the associated cost, risk of medication interactions, and effect on medication compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, rapidly changing disease profile patterns, shortage & uneven utilization of healthcare professionals contributed massive burden on the Indian healthcare system, which resulted in varying, fragmented, inconsistent healthcare delivery to the patients and poor patient management. Patients often face and experience many challenges like lack of accessibility, poor patient-healthcare provider relationships, and inadequate quality of care, resulting in unnecessary economic burden in managing their health conditions. Thus Indian healthcare reform is essential in enhancing its capacity to fulfill patients' health needs that can be addressed by focusing on key sustainable strategies and initiatives meant for enhancing coordination of care, expanding services accessibility, redeveloping healthcare infrastructure, implementing workforce innovation and strong governance with the incorporation of core principles such as patient-centeredness, integrated care and collaborative care approaches. The clinical and ambulatory pharmacy practice are fragment of the healthcare delivery which delivers pharmaceutical care and fulfils the needs of patients across healthcare settings. This paper focuses on the present & future perspectives of ambulatory pharmacy practice in India and the factors to be considered for implementing it in patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, food scientists are interested in more rational use of crops that possess desirable nutritional properties, and buckwheat is one of the functional pseudocereals that represents a rich source of bioactive compounds (BACs) and nutrients, phytochemicals, antimicrobial (AM) agents and antioxidants (AOs), which can be effectively applied in the prevention of malnutrition and celiac disease and treatment of various important health problems. There is ample evidence of the high potential of buckwheat consumption in various forms (food, dietary supplements, home remedies or alone, or in synergy with pharmaceutical drugs) with concrete benefits for human health. Contamination as well as other side-effects of all the aforementioned forms for application in different ways in humans must be seriously considered. This review paper presents an overview of the most important recent research related to buckwheat bioactive compounds (BACs), highlighting their various functions and proven positive effects on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020 it is estimated that 281 million people were international migrants. Migrants constitute a potentially vulnerable population in terms of facing discrimination, poor living and housing conditions, and insufficient access to healthcare services. Due to the armed conflict in Ukraine in 2022, almost 10 million people crossed the Polish border within a year of the outbreak of the conflict. The objective of this paper is to present the use of primary healthcare services by people migrating from Ukraine to Poland and identify the barriers in access to healthcare by this group of persons. This study used a qualitative research technique in the form of an expert interview using individual in-depth interviews (IDI). The study group consisted of professionally active primary healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, and facility managers) in Poland. Research was carried out in the areas regarding the availability of healthcare, the potential threats and challenges, and possible system solutions. The results showed that the most common cause for doctor's appointments among migrants are respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Many cases were related to back pain, mainly resulting from the physical work of the patients. Additionally, some barriers to access and the provision of healthcare services for patients from Ukraine were identified. The majority (75%) of respondents indicated language as a significant barrier when providing services. Based on the study results, we recommend creating a dedicated website and telephone hotline for this group of persons as well as the use of traditional media to distribute information about access to healthcare services. It is also essential to focus on assistance for older people, since they may experience more difficulties with language and navigating the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the accelerated development of pharmaceuticals, exploring past, present, and future perspectives. It provides a historical overview of early strategies used to expedite development, beginning with initiatives from the 1990s. The work of Gardner and Byrn in accelerated development analysis during this era is highlighted. The narrative progresses to the 2000s, discussing the emergence of PK/PD in accelerating pharmaceutical development. The paper further examines case studies in the accelerated development field, including the INDIGO and Chorus programs. It concludes with an analysis of the current state of the field, referencing the NIPTE conference, which focused on the industrial perspective of accelerated development. Additionally, the paper outlines strategies for the rapid development of Solid Lipid Nanoparticle manufacturing and vaccine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Water Treatment is the property of CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Generic drugs seem a promising alternative to decrease healthcare costs. However, on one hand, doctors express reluctance toward this kind of drug, and on the other hand, existing literature remains silent about factors explaining their prescribing behavior. The current study mobilizes the Health Belief Model to offer a better understanding of the factors that hinder the prescription of generic drugs by doctors in terms of benefits, barriers, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, and action cues. Twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted with doctors from different specialties. Projective techniques were used including Chinese portrait, completion test, completion task, and association tests. Data analysis was processed using Sphinx software. The paper offers practical recommendations for health authorities and pharmaceutical firms to better promote generics. Increasing the prescription of generic drugs, compared to branded drugs, may increase patient access to affordable drug treatments, decrease healthcare costs and establish rational utilization of medicines. Generic drugs prescription may consequently play an essential role in improving the quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient safety is a central healthcare policy worldwide. Adverse drug events (ADE) are among the main threats to patient safety. Children are at a higher risk of ADE in each stage of medication management process. ADE rate is high in the administration stage, as the final stage of preventing medication errors in pediatrics and neonates. The most effective way to reduce ADE rate is using medication administration clinical decision support systems (MACDSSs). The present study reviewed the literature on MACDSS for neonates and pediatrics. It identified and classified the data elements that mapped onto the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard and the functionalities of these systems to guide future research. Methods: PubMed/ MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and ProQuest databases were searched from 1995 to June 31, 2021. Studies that addressed developing or applying medication administration software for neonates and pediatrics were included. Two authors reviewed the titles, abstracts, and full texts. The quality of eligible studies was assessed based on the level of evidence. The extracted data elements were mapped onto the FHIR standard. Results: In the initial search, 4,856 papers were identified. After removing duplicates, 3,761 titles, and abstracts were screened. Finally, 56 full-text papers remained for evaluation. The full-text review of papers led to the retention of 10 papers which met the eligibility criteria. In addition, two papers from the reference lists were included. A total number of 12 papers were included for analysis. Six papers were categorized as high-level evidence. Only three papers evaluated their systems in a real environment. A variety of data elements and functionalities could be observed. Overall, 84 unique data elements were extracted from the included papers. The analysis of reported functionalities showed that 18 functionalities were implemented in these systems. Conclusion: Identifying the data elements and functionalities as a roadmap by developers can significantly improve MACDSS performance. Though many CDSSs have been developed for different medication processes in neonates and pediatrics, few have actually evaluated MACDSSs in reality. Therefore, further research is needed on the application and evaluation of MACDSSs in the real environment. Protocol Registration: (dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bwbwpape). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug abuse has been and is a major social and health problem in the Republic of North Macedonia, the region and around the world, because the consequences arising from the direct and indirect effects of this phenomenon are many times harmful to the person himself, the family and society as a whole and affects state security. The purpose of the paper is to examine the factors that influence drug crime, the implementation of the criminal legislation of the Republic of North Macedonia in relation to the prevention and detection of crime involving narcotic substances - drugs and the sanctioning of the perpetrators of crimes related to illegal traffic and unauthorized production of drugs. In the preparation of this paper, the statistical method was used, based on the results of the official statistical data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during the period 2019-2023, we note that for the criminal offense “Unauthorized production and circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors - Article 215” is increasing, while for the criminal offense “Enable the use of narcotic drugs - Article 216” is decreasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of international public-sector contributions to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and vaccines allows for a more thorough examination of the global biomedical innovation ecosystem by institution of origin. Using new and existing methods, we have identified 364 FDA-approved drugs and vaccines approved from 1973 to 2016 discovered in whole or in part by Public Sector Research Institutions (PSRIs) worldwide. We identified product-specific intellectual property contributions to FDA-approved small molecule and biologic drugs and vaccines from the FDA Orange Book, our peer network, published studies, and three new sources: reports of medical product manufacturers' payments to physicians and teaching hospitals under The Sunshine Act of 2010, a paper by Kneller and 64 royalty monetization transactions by academic institutions and/or their faculty that one of us (AS) maintains. We include a total of 293 drugs discovered either wholly by a US PSRI or jointly by a U.S. and a non-U.S. PSRI. 119 FDA-approved drugs and vaccines were discovered by PSRIs outside the U.S. Of these, 71 were solely discovered outside the US, while 48 also involved intellectual property contributions by US PSRIs. In the context of the global public sector landscape, the US dominates drug discovery, accounting for two-thirds of these drugs and many of the important, innovative vaccines introduced over the past 30 years. Contributions by Canada, UK, Germany, Belgium, Japan, and others each amount to 5.4% or less of the total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice is related to a research paper on the antimicrobial susceptibility of Gemella bacteria to various drugs. The authors have requested corrections to the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and gene possession ratios of two strains. The correction only affects a p-value mentioned in Section 2.2.4 and does not impact the content of the paper. The study found that Gemella strains were resistant to drugs like erythromycin, clindamycin, and levofloxacin, but not to beta-lactams and vancomycin. The mechanisms of resistance varied across different species of Gemella. The given text provides tables with valuable information on the susceptibility of Gemella strains to different antibiotics, as well as the distribution of specific genes and antibiotic resistance in Gemella isolates. [Extracted from the article]

Healthcare is a critical area where blockchain technology (BT) is being heralded as a potential game-changer for facilitating secure and efficient data sharing. The purpose of this review is to examine BT applications, performance challenges, and solutions in healthcare. To begin, This review paper explores popular blockchain networks for data exchange, encompassing both public and permissioned platforms, such as Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric. This paper analyzes the potential applications of BT's decentralized, immutable, and smart contract capabilities in healthcare settings, including secure and interoperable health data exchange, patient consent management, drug supply chain oversight, and clinical trial management. The healthcare industry might greatly benefit from the increased privacy, transparency, and accessibility that these technologies provide. Despite BT's promising medical uses, the technology is not without its drawbacks. High energy consumption, throughput, and scalability are all concerns. We wrapped up by discussing the solutions that have been implemented, including consensus processes, scalability measures like sharding, and off-chain transactions that are designed to mitigate the drawbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two easy-to-use, rapid, and inexpensive colorimetric-based assays for the detection of active constituent in nasal decongestant phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHP), in solution and their respective pharmaceutical preparations were reported. The assay principle depends on the diazotized sulfadimidine (DSDM) coupling with PHP active pharmaceutical compound under alkaline conditions to produce a colored azo-dye product. A UV/VIS spectrophotometry method was utilized to monitor the color absorbance change at 460 nm, with a linear calibration graph in the concentration range of 1-20 mg L-1 and a limit of detection of 0.22 mg L-1 and limit of quantification of 0.72 mg L-1 . A comparison was done using a paper-based microfluidic analytical device (µPADs) and color intensity change was measured using a Samsung note 9 camera to capture digital images and Image J software to analyze the color intensity development. A linear trend was observed above approximately 10 mg L-1 . Thus, paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (µPADs) can be used as an alternative platform to conventional methods to perform a semi-quantitative PHP drug analysis. The proposed method was applied for the determination of PHP in commercial pharmaceutical preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product consumption is an important yet understudied aspect of marketing. Over-the-counter medicines present a unique consumption context because consumers are expected to follow product label instructions. For acetaminophen, a widely consumed over-the-counter drug, the authors study which consumers tend to deviate from the label instructions, why they do so, and the interventions that are most promising to mitigate such deviations. They develop a dynamic structural model of consumption that enables them to investigate the probability of different types of label deviations (e.g., >4 g per day) and drivers of such behaviors. Label deviations are infrequent "tail area" behaviors, and the model uncovers them well. The analysis is based on a unique online consumption diary in which consumers select from two classes of acetaminophen products (single ingredient or a combination of ingredients) to treat their pain or non-pain-related symptoms. Consumers have a higher probability of taking >4 g of acetaminophen when they have multiple symptoms, and a variety of observable factors explain the individual propensity to deviate from the label. The authors propose two interventions—a new label instruction and consumer education—to mitigate the observed label deviations and assess the expected impact of each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a unique technique that allows us to detect samples in trace quantities. The spectral intensities of the characteristic Raman peaks of the analyte molecule are enhanced manifold in the presence of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs). The existence of NPs is necessary to couple the incident electromagnetic field with NPs through the localized surface plasmon resonance phenomenon, which primarily contributes to the enhancement of an SERS signal. The present work demonstrates the working of a paper-based SERS substrate to detect and quantify two pharmaceutical drugsâ€"paracetamol and aspirinâ€"in water. The proposed SERS substrate was obtained by drop-casting silver NPs over printing grade 100 grams per square meter (GSM) paper. 100 GSM denotes the class of paper where 100 grams of raw materials (cellulose) is used per square meter to manufacture the paper. The performance of the designed SERS substrate was initially evaluated with two Raman active samplesâ€"malachite green and rhodamine-6G. The applicability of the proposed SERS substrate was evaluated further through monitoring the Raman spectra of the two aforementioned pharmaceutical drugs in different field-collected water samples, thus establishing the reliability of the scheme in a real field environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dapagliflozin across the range of ejection fraction in patients with heart failure: a patient-level, pooled meta-analysis of DAPA-HF and DELIVER. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: the effect of bariatric surgery Although we know that bariatric surgery effectively targets CV risk factors, its effect on cardiovascular disease is not well-established. Interestingly, 15% of all patients were treated with an SGLT2 inhibitor and subgroup analyses suggest a benefit in both, patients with and without SGLT2 inhibitor treatment. [Extracted from the article]

Heavy substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD) have complex etiologies and often severe consequences. Certain personality traits have been associated with an increased risk for SU(D), but far less is known about personality changes related to SU(D). This review aims to synthesize the existing literature on this research question. A systematic literature search was conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 in PubMed, EbscoHost, and Web of Science. Peer-reviewed original papers on SU(D)-related personality changes were included. Of 55 included studies, 38 were observational population-based studies and 17 were intervention studies. Overall, personality and SU measures, samples, study designs, and statistical approaches were highly heterogenous. In observational studies, higher SU was most consistently related to increases in impulsivity-related traits and (less so) neuroticism, while interventions in the context of SU(D) were mostly associated with increases in conscientiousness and self-efficacy and lasting decreases in neuroticism. Findings for traits related to extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were mixed and depended on SU measure and age. Studies on bidirectional associations suggest that personality and SU(D) both influence each other over time. Due to their strong association with SU(D), impulsivity-related traits may be important target points for interventions. Future work may investigate the mechanisms underlying personality changes related to SU(D), distinguishing substance-specific effects from general SU(D)-related processes like withdrawal, craving, and loss of control. Furthermore, more research is needed to examine whether SU(D)-related personality changes vary by developmental stage and clinical features (e.g. initial use, onset, remission, and relapse). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the intersections between two phenomena that have shaped eastern Kachin State in Myanmar's northern borderlands with China since the late 1980s: the transformation of once-remote spaces into resource frontiers shaped by overlapping and cumulative forms of export-oriented resource extraction, and the upsurge of opium cultivation and drug use. Through the analytic of extractivism, we examine how the modalities surrounding logging and plantations in the Myanmar-China borderlands offer critical insights into how drugs have become entrenched in the region's political economy and the everyday lives of people 'living with' the destruction, violence and insecurity wrought by extractive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug interactions represent a significant challenge in modern medicine, as the concomitant use of multiple medications is prevalent in-patient care. Understanding the mechanisms behind drug interactions, accurately assessing their occurrence and adopting effective management strategies are critical to optimizing therapeutic outcomes and minimizing adverse events. This research paper provides a comprehensive review of drug interactions, focusing on their underlying mechanisms, methods for assessment and the implementation of management strategies in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is already known?: SDM improves clinical outcomes by increasing attendance and treatment adherence in adolescents diagnosed with depression.SDM could reduce treatment disagreements and enhance consumers' and their families' satisfaction with mental healthcare services.Healthcare professionals are a critical part of SDM. However, MHPs' practices of SDM in the daily management of adolescents diagnosed with depression need to be clarified. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: From the viewpoints of MHPs, SDM was not extensively applied in the daily management of adolescents diagnosed with depression.MHPs who trust their consumers and have received training related to SDM are more likely to practice SDM in the daily management of adolescents diagnosed with depression.The positive preferences for providing information and family involvement in treatment decision‐making are facilitators; working in closed inpatient mental health wards and open inpatient mental health wards are hindering factors for MHPs' practices of SDM. What are the implications for practice?: MHPs should encourage information sharing with consumers and their family members to help them participate in treatment decision‐making actively.A trusting and friendly therapeutic relationship with consumers should be maintained in the daily management of adolescents diagnosed with depression.SDM‐related training should be encouraged for MHPs to promote widespread SDM. Introduction: Shared decision‐making (SDM) is an ideal model for a therapeutic relationship that can improve health outcomes. Healthcare professionals are a critical part of SDM, and they play an important role in the practices of SDM in the clinical setting. Evidence suggests that adolescents diagnosed with depression can benefit substantially from SDM. However, mental health professionals' (MHPs) practices of SDM for adolescents diagnosed with depression in China are not well‐documented. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the practices of SDM for adolescents diagnosed with depression from the viewpoints of MHPs in China. Method: In this cross‐sectional study, we recruited a total of 581 MHPs by convenience sampling. The Shared Decision‐Making Questionnaire—Physician Version (SDM‐Q‐Doc) was used to evaluate the MHPs' practices of SDM for adolescents diagnosed with depression. Results: The mean SDM‐Q‐Doc was 80.47 (±16.31). Within the six specific decision‐making situations, most MHPs selected non‐SDM (52.7%–71.6%). Substantial numbers of respondents believed that MHPs made the final decision, especially with regard to the development (37%) and adjustment of medication regimens (42%). The practice of SDM was predicted by MHPs' preference for providing information, their trust in consumers, preference for family involvement in treatment decision‐making, working in an outpatient clinic and receiving SDM training (F = 23.582; p =.000; R2 =.198; adjusted R2 =.189). Discussion: Although the MHPs' self‐rated score of SDM‐Q‐Doc was high, SDM was not extensively applied in the daily management of adolescents diagnosed with depression. Thus, SDM needs to be further promoted by enhancing SDM‐related training for MHPs, thereby actively promoting the involvement of families, facilitating the information sharing for consumers and families, and building an active, trusting consumer‐practitioner relationship. Implications for Practice: MHPs should prioritise information sharing with consumers and families, as well as build trusting and friendly therapeutic relationships. Family involvement in treatment decisions should be encouraged when adolescents diagnosed with depression are in need. Actively participating in training related to SDM is also important. Future high‐quality evidence is still needed to explore the facilitators and barriers to SDM practices from a tripartite perspective of MHPs, adolescents diagnosed with depression and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of self-disclosure has been a controversial issue that remains highly debated by current practising social workers and researchers alike. Yet an increasing number of lived experience practitioners or peer support workers are being employed in many human services areas, including mental health, suicide prevention, bereavement services, drug and alcohol recovery, criminal justice, and emergency services, alongside or in complement to, social worker roles. Peer or lived experience roles seek to enhance the recovery journey for clients by sharing lived experience commonality, whereas social workers seek to enhance the recovery journey through psychosocial engagements. Both may have relevant lived experience to their role. The aim of this paper is to explore how sharing lived experiences, also referred to as self-disclosure, between social workers and client/service user can enhance the relationship, with attention paid to safety and recovery. A narrative review of the literature identified that there is a lack of empirical research undertaken exploring how disclosures impact the service users and what decision-making strategies can assist social workers in deciding how and when to share. The current AASW Code of Ethics offers no clear practice standards or ethical guidelines for effective self-disclosure. The analysis of the literature results in a reflective supervision tool for social workers in pre-service training and early career social workers, with the aim of assisting decisions that may prompt lived experience sharing. Recommendations for further research and development are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although Ireland has one of the highest levels of well‐being in Europe, having a health condition has been found to have a direct negative impact. The aim of this study is to evaluate the current situation and the experiences of patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare genetic skin disease, and their relatives living in Ireland, with a focus on burdens and helpful practices. Methods and Measures: In a mixed‐methods design, a series of standardised questionnaires were combined with open‐ended questions. Via an online survey, data from n = 59 EB patients and relatives of EB patients living in Ireland were collected. Results: EB affects both the patients and their relatives. Burdens were found in relation to the visibility of EB, the degree of severity, the current health status, reduced mobility, the financial impact of EB, the psychosocial impact and personal and social resources. The paper also analyses existing resources and highlights opportunities for support and needs of improvement. Conclusion: Quality of life with EB is influenced by somatic symptoms and the psychosocial burden. Individual helpful practices in dealing with this rare disease can be considered as mediators, but they need to be supported by structural and healthcare improvements. Patient or Public Contribution: The perspective of EB patients, their relatives and EB experts were taken into account in the development of the study design via two feedback loops with the EB patient organisations DEBRA Ireland and DEBRA Austria. The design was adapted accordingly. Additionally, by including open‐ended questions, patients and relatives could contribute their individual perspectives and add insights into their lives with EB that might not have been captured with the structured online survey alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introductions: Psychosis is a condition of severe mental disorder characterised by the presence of disability in assessing reality. Schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder. It is also associated with long-term disability. ACT is one of the newest psychological interventions for psychotic patients. This paper aims to describe ACT as the newest psychotherapy intervention and its advantages for psychotic patients. Review: The management of psychosis is a combination of the use of antipsychotics, psychotherapy, and psychosocial therapy. ACT is one of the newest psychological interventions for psychotic patients that aims to increase the patient’s psychological flexibility through six core processes of therapy: acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, self as context, value, and committed action. ACT does not target symptom reduction. Therapists help patients recognise and reduce unnecessary struggles with psychological content so that patients can develop an accepting attitude and be able to move towards the values they hold. Conclusions: The use of third-wave behavioural therapy based on mindfulness and acceptance showed good results in patients with psychotic disorders. ACT aims to help individuals accept things that are beyond their control and commit to actions that can improve their lives. Research on the clinical adaptation of ACT for psychosis has shown good initial results in reducing distress due to psychotic symptoms, better regulation of emotions, and reducing relapsing rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses the problem of the presence of selected pharmaceuticals in waters by determining the state of scientific knowledge. The sources of drug residues in the aquatic environment were characterized and the most important information was collected on the toxicity measures of the most commonly used drugs, including NLPZ: (1) non-steroidal analgesics and antipyretics (diclofenac, ibuprofen, phenazone, acetaminophen, propyphenazone, indomethacin, ketoprofen, pentoxifylline, and phenacetin), (2) pharmaceuticals used to reduce blood lipid levels (bezafibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil), (3) drugs used in cardiac conditions, in particular those used to lower blood pressure and treat arrhythmia (atenolol, sotalol, metoprolol), (4) antibiotics (trimethoprim, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, piperacillin, erythromycin, sulfadimidine, dehydrate-erythromycin, 4N-Acetylsulfamethoxazol), (5)drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (naproxen, fenoprofen), and (6) anticonvulsants, drugs used in neuropathic disorders and tranquilisers (carbamazepine, diazepam, primidone, oxazepam, temazepam). The authors reviewed research papers dealing with the indicated issue, taking into account: (1) research on the presence of pharmaceuticals in water, (2) studies on the health and environmental risk of drinking water for the presence of drug residues and their mixtures, (3) research on the effectiveness of water treatment in terms of pharmaceuticals. Gaps in scientific knowledge have been demonstrated, which are a hint for the directions of future research work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, titanate nanotubes (TNTs) have been receiving more attention and becoming an attractive candidate for use in several disciplines. With their promising results and outstanding performance, they bring added value to any field using them, such as green chemistry, engineering, and medicine. Their good biocompatibility, high resistance, and special physicochemical properties also provide a wide spectrum of advantages that could be of crucial importance for investment in different platforms, especially medical and pharmaceutical ones. Hydrothermal treatment is one of the most popular methods for TNT preparation because it is a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly water-based procedure. It is also considered as a strong candidate for large-scale production intended for biomedical application because of its high yield and the special properties of the resulting nanotubes, especially their small diameters, which are more appropriate for drug delivery and long circulation. TNTs' properties highly differ according to the preparation conditions, which would later affect their subsequent application field. The aim of this review is to discuss the factors that could possibly affect their synthesis and determine the transformations that could happen according to the variation of factors. To fulfil this aim, relevant scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, etc.) were searched using the keywords titanate nanotubes, hydrothermal treatment, synthesis, temperature, time, alkaline medium, post treatment, acid washing, calcination, pharmaceutical applications, drug delivery, etc. The articles discussing TNTs preparation by hydrothermal synthesis were selected, and papers discussing other preparation methods were excluded; then, the results were evaluated based on a careful reading of the selected articles. This investigation and comprehensive review of different parameters could be the answer to several problems concerning establishing a producible method of TNTs production, and it might also help to optimize their characteristics and then extend their application limits to further domains that are not yet totally revealed, especially the pharmaceutical industry and drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsampling has revolutionized pharmaceutical drug development and clinical research by reducing sample volume requirements, allowing sample collection at home or nontraditional sites, minimizing animal and patient burden, and enabling more flexible study designs. This perspective paper discusses the transformative impact of microsampling and patient‐centric sampling (PCS) techniques, emphasizing their advantages in drug development and clinical trials. We highlight the integration of liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC–MS) strategies for analyzing PCS samples, focusing on our research experience and a review of current literatures. The paper reviews commercially available PCS devices, their regulatory status, and their application in clinical trials, underscoring the benefits of PCS in expanding patient enrollment diversity and improving study designs. We also address the operational challenges of implementing PCS, including the need for bridging studies to ensure data comparability between traditional and microsampling methods, and the analytical challenges posed by PCS samples. The paper proposes future directions for PCS, including the development of global regulatory standards, technological advancements to enhance user experience, the increased concern of sustainability and patient data privacy, and the integration of PCS with other technologies for improved performance in drug development and clinical studies. By advancing microsampling and PCS techniques, we aim to foster patient‐centric approaches in pharmaceutical sciences, ultimately enhancing patient care and treatment efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Condiment is the property of China Condiment and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Deborah Robertson provides an overview of recently published articles that may be of interest to non-medical prescribers. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]