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Background: Medical faculty and residents have a key role in the reporting of adverse events associated with medical devices. However, at present, there are no published data regarding their knowledge, attitude, and practice about materiovigilance in India. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey done among medical faculty and residents of a tertiary care institution of national importance. The questionnaire consists of 15 questions pertaining to knowledge, attitude, and practice of materiovigilance. Results: The questionnaire was administered to 138 medical faculty and residents, out of which 105 responded constituting a 76% response rate. The mean knowledge score of medical faculty and residents was 2.09 ± 1.06 and 2.07 ± 1.02, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.9). The majority of the participants (92.63%) believed that medical device can cause adverse events; however, very few of them (20.13%) have reported it during their practice. Conclusion: Requisite knowledge and appropriate attitude are essential for developing healthy practice toward reporting of adverse events associated with medical devices. Our study revealed that the knowledge gap exists among medical professionals about the reporting of adverse events and the materiovigilance program. A continuous effort is required to make them aware of the materiovigilance by conducting various training programs such as continuous medical education and workshops by the coordinators of the medical device adverse events monitoring center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a variant of autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD) which has been associated with vitamin D (vit-D) deficiency. However, whether vit-D supplementation is linked to reduction of thyroid autoantibodies and improvement of thyroid function is not well characterized. The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of vit-D supplementation on possible improvement of thyroid autoantibody titer and thyroid hormone profile in patients with AITD subjects. Methods: Twenty-three patients of HT were given weekly supplementation of 60,000 IU vit-D for 8 weeks followed by once a month for another 4 months. After 6 months of vit-D supplementation, thyroid autoantibody titer (TPO antibody) and thyroid hormone profile was rechecked. Results: Mean serum vit-D was increased significantly from 15.33 ± 5.71 to 41.22 ± 12.24 ng/mL (normal levels) after supplementation. There was significant increase in thyroid autoantibody titre (from 746.8 ± 332.2 to 954.1 ±4 59.8 IU/ml; P = 0.006) and TSH level (7.23 ± 3.16 to 3.04 ± 2.62 (mIU/L); P = 0.01) following 6 months of vit-D supplementation. Conclusion: Vitamin-D levels were low in AITD patients in eastern India and, its supplementation in HT patients increased thyroid antibody titer and there was significant reduction in serum TSH and increased in free T4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaco-epidemiological studies detailing prescribing patterns of physicians are very few from developing countries. The present study describes the patterns of prescription of drugs by physicians working in different clinical settings in India and explores using the prescriptions the incidence of potential drug-drug interactions (DDI). This study was a cross-sectional observational study. The prescriptions of patients for any chronic medical condition and drug therapy received at the first point of contact with health care services for present medical emergency were analyzed for information. The prescriptions were also analyzed for potential DDI. Data were expressed as mean ± SD or median and inter-quartile range. Multiple logistic regression was used for variables likely to be associated with incidence of DDI. Of total 710 patients, 565 prescriptions were available for analysis. Of the chronic diseases, hypertension (17.7%) and diabetes mellitus (16.8%) were the commonest. Alcoholic liver disease had maximum average number of drugs prescribed (3.9). Supplements were the most commonly prescribed pharmacological agents for chronic disease (142/796). Patients in 35-50 years of age consumed maximum average number of drugs (1.9). Antibiotics were the most frequently prescribed agents (148/1240) followed by supplements (122/1240). We noted 296 mild and moderate potential DDI. Literacy of patients and polypharmacy were the factors associated significantly with DDI. Patients in India do not consume large number of allopathic medicines. The practice of prescribing supplements and antibiotics needs to be reviewed. Potential DDI are not an important problem. Prescription policies need significant revision., (© 2011 The Authors Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology © 2011 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.)