Beneficial effects of Naringin against lopinavir/ ritonavir-induced hyperlipidemia and reproductive toxicity in male albino rats.

OBJECTIVE: This research work was planned to determine whether Naringin (NG) had any protective effects against lopinavir/ritonavir (LR)-induced alterations in blood lipid levels, hepatotoxicity, and testicular toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of six rats each were used for the study: Control (1% ethanol), naringin (80 mg/kg), lopinavir (80 mg/kg)/ritonavir (20 mg/kg), and lopinavir (80 mg/kg)/ritonavir (20 mg/kg) + naringin (80 mg/kg). The drug treatment was continued for 30 days. On the last day, the serum lipid fractions, liver biochemical parameters, testicular antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic), and the histopathology of the liver and testis tissue were assessed for all rats. RESULTS: Treatment with NG decreased significantly (p<0.05), the baseline serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). But these parameters were significantly (p<0.05) increased in LR-treated animals. Naringin, co-administered with LR, restored the liver and testicular biochemical, morphological, and histological balance. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that NG can be used as a treatment for LR-induced biochemical and histological changes in the liver and testes and changes in serum lipid levels.

Patient Medication Adherence and Physician Prescribing among Congestive Heart Failure Patients of Yemen.

Congestive heart failure has been associated with high morbidity and mortality requiring hospitalisation and is further complicated by noncompliance and under prescriptions. We aim to determine medication adherence and percentage deviation among Asians population in general and Yemenis in particular. A cross-sectional, prospective observational study with purposive sampling was conducted at two cardiac outpatient centers in 70 congestive heart failure patients for a period of 3 months. An Arabic translated Morisky 4 item scale assessed the adherence of patients. Deviation in prescribing was determined by chart review. All 70 patients had mean age of 56.6±16 years. Morisky 4 item scale predicted low adherence (n=33; 47.1%) and overall nonadherencerate (n=38; 54.2%) was slightly higher than adherence. Percentage nonadherence versus adherence was high with diuretics (53 vs. 46%) and, digoxin (40 vs. 29%). The adherence percentage of angiotensin receptor blockers (9%) and beta blockers (8%) was low. Diuretics were the most prescribed drugs (n=69; 99%), followed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (n=51; 73%), cardiac glycoside (n=48; 69%), few patients were on angiotensin receptor blockers (n=8; 11%) and (n=9; 13%) beta blockers. The maximum prescribing rate deviation was seen with angiotensin receptor blockers (-89%) and beta blockers (-87%) followed by nitrates (-77%). Digoxin (-31%) and angiotensin converting enzymes (-27%) deviated comparatively less. Prescribing as well as utilisation rates generally were low resulting in nonachievement of therapeutic goals which could be resolved using multimodel approach.