Polypharmacy and pattern of medication use among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: results from Pars Cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a common chronic condition. Its chronic nature may affect the pattern of medication use. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, associated factors, and patterns of polypharmacy and medication use among GERD patients in southwestern Iran. METHODS: We used data from the Pars Cohort Study. We classified drugs using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system. The Lexicomp® database was used to assess potential drug-drug interactions. Multivariable Poisson regression was applied. Adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 9262 participants were included. Among 2,325 patients with GERD, age-standardized prevalence of polypharmacy was 9.5% (95% CI: 7.5%, 11.6%) in males, and 19.3% (95% CI: 17.2%, 21.4%) in females. The PR of experiencing Polypharmacy by GERD patients compared to non-GERD patients was 1.82 (95% CI: 1.61, 2.05%). Multimorbidity (PR: 3.33; CI: 2.66, 4.15), gender (PR: 1.68; CI: 1.30, 2.18), and metabolic syndrome (PR: 1.77; CI: 1.45, 2.15) were associated with polypharmacy among GERD patients. Drugs for acid-related disorders were the most common used drugs among men, women and elders. We found that 13.9%, 4.2%, and 1.1% of GERD patients had type C, D and X drug interactions, respectively. CONCLUSION: GERD is correlated with a higher prevalence of polypharmacy. Among GERD patients, females, those with multi-morbidities, and those with metabolic syndrome may be affected more by polypharmacy. Considering the fairly high rate of interactions identified, a review of the medication list is essential when approaching GERD patients, and physicians must check for medications that may worsen GERD.

New 3-Hydroxypyridine-4-one Analogues: Their Synthesis, Antimicrobial Evaluation, Molecular Docking, and In Silico ADME Prediction.

INTRODUCTION: Drug resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs has become a serious threat to human health, which highlights the need to develop new antimicrobial agents. METHOD: In this study, a new set of 3-hydroxypyridine-4-one derivatives (6a-j) was synthesized, and the antimicrobial effects of these derivatives were evaluated against a variety of microorganisms using the microdilution method. The antimicrobial evaluation indicated that compound 6c, with an electron-donating group -OCH3 at the meta position of the phenyl ring, was the most active compound against S. aureus and E. coli species with an MIC value of 32 µg/mL. Compound 6c was more potent than ampicillin as a reference drug. RESULT: The in vitro antifungal results showed that the studied derivatives had moderate effects (MIC = 128-512 µg/mL) against C. albicans and A. niger species. The molecular modeling studies revealed the possible mechanism and suitable interactions of these derivatives with the target protein. CONCLUSION: The obtained biological results offer valuable insights into the design of more effective antimicrobial agents.

Seborrheic keratosis in an adolescent: A rare presentation.

Seborrheic keratosis is a common benign epidermal lesion that typically occurs in the elderly population. Its occurrence in childhood and adolescence is rare and can pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians and dermatopathologists. We report a case of a 16-year-old boy with multiple brown, black oval-shaped stuck-on lesions on his face, which were diagnosed as seborrheic keratosis based on histological findings. The patient had no significant medical history or family history of seborrheic keratosis. In this report, we discuss the differential diagnoses of seborrheic keratosis-like lesions in childhood and adolescence and explain why they were not compatible with our case. We also review the available treatment options. Our case emphasizes the need for dermatologists to consider seborrheic keratosis in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions in young patients.