Potential drug-drug Interactions in hospitalized cancer patients: A report from the Middle-East.

INTRODUCTION: Patients suffering from solid tumors use a wide range of cytotoxic drugs. In this study, we aimed to detect, document, and descriptively analyze the potential drug-drug interactions in hospitalized solid tumor's patients in a Middle Eastern referral oncology-hematology University-affiliated hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the medical record of solid tumor's patients who were admitted to the referral oncological center in Isfahan, Iran, during the six months period (2018) were considered. We included all patients who had received at least two chemotherapy or nonchemotherapy drugs simultaneously. The potential drug-drug interactions between chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy drugs were evaluated with Lexi-Interact ver.1.1 online software. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 141 cancer patients were recruited, and their drug therapy regiment was thoroughly analyzed. We detected 227 drug-drug interactions with moderate or major severity out of included patients in which 96, 71, 32, and 28 interactions were in the category of C, D, B, and X, respectively. One hundred and fourteen patients (80.8%) encountered at least one potential drug-drug interactions during their hospitalization. Mechanistically, most of drug-drug interactions (56.4%) were pharmacodynamics. Interaction between granisetron and metoclopramide were the top 10 detected interaction (11.4%). The interaction between docetaxel and carboplatin was the most frequent drug-drug interactions between oncology drugs (2.6% of total drug-drug interactions). CONCLUSION: Potentially moderate or major drug-drug interactions frequently occur among solid tumor's cancer patients necessitate the establishment of a clinical pharmacy service for providing relevant pharmacotherapy consultations to prevent this potentially serious concern.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Community Dwelling Elderly in an Iranian Population.

OBJECTIVES: Fruits and vegetables are important components of a healthy diet, and their consumption could help prevent a wide range of diseases. In this study, fruit and vegetable consumption in elderly people were assessed. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly (≥65 year-old) people who came to pharmacies affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Science. Face-to-face interview using a questionnaire including food frequency questionnaire and demographic and socioeconomic variables was administered. RESULTS: Of the total 504 participants, 56.3% were male and 43.7% were female. The mean daily serving of fruit and vegetable (combined) consumption in men and women were 4.58±1.31 and 4.65±1.28, respectively. The prevalence of daily fruit and vegetable intake of 5 or more servings was 37.9%. Low educational and low income participants ate lower fruits and vegetables (combined). Age, gender, smoking, and chronic disease had no significant influence on their consumption. Educational level was the only independent predictor of fruit and vegetable consumption (OR: 3.81, CI: 1.64-8.84). CONCLUSIONS: Most elderly people consumed less than the recommended levels of fruits and vegetables. From the point of view of prevention of chronic disease, health education programs which targeted elderly people particularly for those at the risk of low consumption are needed and recommended.

Safety and efficacy of terbinafine in a pediatric Iranian cohort of patients with Tinea capitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tinea capitis is a common infection of the scalp and hair shaft caused by dermatophyte fungi that mainly affects prepubescent children. Systemic therapy is required for treatment and to prevent spread. The aim of present study was to assess the effect of terbinafine for Tinea capitis treatment in children. METHODS: Thirty Iranian pediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of Tinea capitis were enrolled in the study. The Study was conducted in a general and referral teaching hospital (Imam Medical Centre - Tehran, Iran) from 2006 to 2007. Eligible patients with less than 20 kg of body weight were given 62.5 mg terbinafine, and for patients between 20 and 40 kg the dose was 125 mg, on the first visit. All patients had the second clinical visit and second samples for microscopic study were taken. For each patient, direct mycology test (KOH test) and mycological culture were carried out before the study was started and after second, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth weeks. Probable drug's adverse effects were also recorded. RESULTS: Based on the results of mycological culture of patients' lesions, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton sheonlini were considered as major causes of Tinea capitis in these children. Out of 30 study patients, KOH test of 93% in the 5th week and 100% in the 6th week was negative. All patients healed completely from signs of infection, after six weeks. Also, no severe side effects were seen in any patients. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the use of terbinafine is an effective therapy in Iranian cases of Tinea capitis in children without severe side effects.