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Drug Studies (drug + studies)
Selected AbstractsSuicide, suicidality and suicide prevention in affective disordersACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2003H. J. Möller Objective:, It is well known that functional psychiatric disorders are one of the main causes of suicidal behaviour. This paper discusses the epidemiology and risk factors of suicidal behaviour in affective disorders and goes on to describe the treatment and prevention of such suicidal behaviour. Method:, A narrative overview of relevant epidemiological and drug studies. Results:, About 60,70% of patients with acute depression experience suicidal ideas. There is a high incidence of suicide (10,15%) in depressive patients. Psychopharmacological treatment with antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers is the most successful approach to avoid the risk of suicidal behaviour. In addition, psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions are of importance. Conclusion:, Suicidal behaviour and suicide must be considered when treating patients with affective disorders. The complex causation of suicidality has to be borne in mind when considering methods of suicide prevention. In order to obtain the best results, psychosocial, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological approaches should be combined, depending on the risk factors of each individual patient. [source] Re-inscribing Gender in New Modes of Medical Expertise: The Investigator,Coordinator Relationship in the Clinical Trials IndustryGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 2 2010Jill A. Fisher This article analyses the ways in which research coordinators forge professional identities in the highly gendered organizational context of the clinic. Drawing upon qualitative research on the organization of the clinical trials industry (that is, the private sector, for profit auxiliary companies that support pharmaceutical drug studies), this article explores the relationships between predominantly male physician-investigators and female research coordinators and the constitution of medical expertise in pharmaceutical drug development. One finding is that coordinators actively seek to establish relationships with investigators that mirror traditional doctor,nurse relationships, in which the feminized role is subordinated and devalued. Another finding is that the coordinators do, in fact, have profound research expertise that is frequently greater than that of the investigators. The coordinators develop expertise on pharmaceutical products and diseases through their observations of the patterns that occur in patient,participants' responses to investigational drugs. The article argues, however, that the nature of the relationships between coordinators and investigators renders invisible the coordinators' expertise. In this context, gender acts as a persistent social structure shaping both coordinators' and investigators' perceptions of who can be recognized as having authority and power in the workplace. [source] In-vitro nasal drug delivery studies: comparison of derivatised, fibrillar and polymerised collagen matrix-based human nasal primary culture systems for nasal drug delivery studiesJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 11 2001Remigius Uchenna Agu The aim of this study was to establish a collagen matrix-based nasal primary culture system for drug delivery studies. Nasal epithelial cells were cultured on derivatised (Cellagen membrane CD-24), polymerised (Vitrogen gel) and fibrillar (Vitrogen film) collagen substrata. Cell morphology was assessed by microscopy. The cells were further characterised by measurement of ciliary beat frequency (CBF), transepithelial resistance (TER), permeation of sodium fluorescein, mitochondrial dehydrogenase (MDH) activity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release upon cell exposure to sodium tauro-24, 25 dihydrofusidate (STDHF). Among the three collagen substrata investigated, the best epithelial differentiated phenotype (monolayer with columnar/cuboidal morphology) occurred in cells grown on Cellagen membrane CD-24 between day 4 and day 11. Cell culture reproducibility was better with Cellagen membrane CD-24 (90%) in comparison with Vitrogen gel (70%) and Vitrogen film (< 10%). TER was higher in cells grown on Vitrogen gel than on Cellagen membrane CD-24 and Vitrogen film. The apparent permeability coefficient (Papp × 10,7 cm s,1) of sodium fluorescein in these conditions was 0.45 ± 0.08 (Vitrogen gel) and 1.91 ± 0.00 (Cellagen membrane CD-24). Except for LDH release, CBF and cell viability were comparable for all the substrata. Based on MDH activity, LDH release, CBF, TER and permeation studies, Cellagen membrane CD-24- and Vitrogen gel-based cells were concluded to be functionally suitable for in-vitro nasal drug studies. Vitrogen film-based cultures may be limited to metabolism and cilio-toxicity studies. [source] Annotation: The use of psychotropic medications in children: a British viewTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 2 2003David Bramble Background: Prescribing practices relating to the use of psychotropic medication with mentally disordered children have changed significantly in Britain over recent years. Methods: I conducted a review of the modest body of empirical data available relating to the prescribing practices of child psychiatrists, paediatricians and general practitioners (primary care physicians). The data were obtained primarily from postal questionnaire studies but also from British drug studies and a government-sponsored evaluation of the efficacy of stimulant medication. Postgraduate training guidelines for the three principal clinical disciplines are also discussed. Results: Systematic evaluation of prescribing practices has a relatively short history. All the studies reviewed demonstrated consistent methodological weaknesses, the most important of which was reliance upon retrospective reports of prescribing practices from clinicians with no analysis of actual prescription data. No studies relating to the general use of psychotropic medication by paediatricians were found. Child psychiatrists and general practitioners appear to be using a range of drugs for a range of conditions; however, there was evidence of intra- and interdisciplinary variations in practice. It was also evident from the general practitioner data that drug treatments were frequently used for conditions best managed with behavioural methods (e.g., common sleep problems and enuresis). Government prescription data relating to methylphenidate use in ADHD reveal a dramatic rise over the past ten years. Currently, most child psychiatrists use this treatment compared to approximately half the profession only seven years ago. The use of newer antipsychotic agents as well as the SSRI antidepressants appears to be growing in child psychiatric practice. A majority of clinicians surveyed believed that medication was an important treatment modality but also felt that they were relatively unskilled in the field and requested further training. Conclusions: Overall, a picture of both a growing and better informed use of psychotropic medication is emerging in Britain despite shortcomings in postgraduate training. Future research needs to evaluate prescribing practice in a more objective manner in order to improve training and also service developments in the field. [source] The effect of the European Clinical Trials Directive on published drug research in anaesthesiaANAESTHESIA, Issue 9 2009E. Walker Summary The clinical indications for anaesthetic drugs are developed through peer-reviewed publication of clinical trials. We performed a bibliometric analysis of all human research papers reported in nine general anaesthesia journals over 6 years (n = 6489), to determine any effects of the 2004 European Clinical Trials Directive on reported drug research in anaesthesia originating from Europe and the United Kingdom. We found 89% studies involved patients and 11% volunteers. Of 3234 (50%) drug studies, 96% were phase IV (post-marketing) trials. Worldwide, the number of research papers fell by 3.6% (p < 0.004) in the 3 years following introduction of the European Clinical Trials Directive (5% Europe, 18% United Kingdom), and drug research papers fell by 12% (p < 0.001; 15% Europe, 29% United Kingdom). The introduction of the Clinical Trials Directive has therefore coincided with a decline in European drug research, particularly that originating from the United Kingdom. We suggest a number of measures researchers could take in response, and we propose a simplification of the application process for phase IV clinical trials, emphasising patient risk assessment. [source] Interpreting registry-derived drug studies: Does societal context matter?ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 11 2009Joel M. Kremer No abstract is available for this article. [source] |