Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Abstract

Abstract Pharmacy practice is an ever‑changing science and profession. We are witnessing many 
advancement of pharmacy technology, drug‑related information and applied clinical pharmacy 
literature, which influence our every day’s life. Thus, new knowledge generated by research 
and clinical experience widen the knowledge; change the understanding of drugs and their 
application in therapeutics and every days life. Thus, policy makers, pharmacists, clinicians and 
researchers must evaluate and use the information existing in the literature to implement 
in their healthcare delivery. This paper is prepared for pharmacy researchers and pharmacy 
students and analyzes the major principles of ethical conduct in general science and also 
closely related topics on ghost authorship, conflict of interest, assigning co‑authorship, 
redundant/repetitive and duplicate publication. Furthermore, the paper provides an insight 
into fabrication and falsification of data, as the most common form of scientific fraud. Scientific 
misconduct goes against everything that normal scientific method wants to reach for and 
pharmacy practitioners as one the first line available health care professionals all round the 
world should be enough aware of its importance and details when they want to evaluate the 
medical and pharmaceutical literature and deliver unbiased and ethically published knowledge 
of drugs both for the research or during consultations for patients care.

Abstract Objective: To assess and describe the call services delivered by drug and poison information 
call center (DPIC) of 13‑Aban pharmacy, which is closely operated by the Department of 
Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: All calls services including counseled and follow‑up calls provided by 13‑Aban 
DPIC to health care professionals and public were collected, documented, and evaluated 
in a 2 years period from July 2010 to June 2012 using the designed software. Data analysis 
was done by SPSS version 16.0.
Findings: Totally 110,310 calls services delivered during a 2 years period. Among 
healthcare professionals, pharmacists, general physicians, and nurses requested more call 
services respectively (P = 0.001). DPIC could detect 585 potential cases of adverse drug 
reactions (ADRs) and 420 cases of major drug‑drug interactions (DDIs).
Conclusion: This study by analyzing and reporting the two-years activities of one of 
the major DPICs in Iran, showed that DPICs can offer drug consultation for healthcare 
professional and public as well as detect and prevent ADRs and DDIs, and therefore can 
promote patients’ health regarding drug therapy.

Abstract Objective: Different additives have been used to prolong brachial plexus block. We 
evaluated the effect of adding magnesium sulfate to ropivacaine for supraclavicular brachial 
plexus blockade. The primary endpoints were the onset and duration of sensory and motor 
block and duration of analgesia.
Methods: One hundred patients(25–55 years) posted for elective forearm and hand surgeries 
under supraclavicular brachial plexus block were divided into two equal groups (Groups RM 
and RN) in a randomized, double‑blind fashion. In group RM (n = 50), 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine 
plus 150 mg (in 1 ml 0.9% saline) magnesium sulfate and in group RN (n = 50), 30 ml 0.5% 
ropivacaine plus 1 ml normal saline were administered in supraclavicular block. Sensory 
and motor block onset times and block durations, time to first analgesic use, total analgesic 
need, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), hemodynamic variables, and side effects were 
recorded for each patient.
Findings: Though with similar demographic profile and block (sensory and motor) onset 
time, the sensory and motor block duration and time to first analgesic use were significantly 
longer and the total need for rescue analgesics was lower in group RM (P = 0.026) than 
group RN. Postoperative VAS values at 24 h were significantly lower in group RM (P = 0.045). 
Intraoperative hemodynamics was comparable among two groups and no appreciable side 
effect was noted throughout the study period.
Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that adding magnesium sulfate to 
supraclavicular brachial plexus block may increase the sensory and motor block duration 
and time to first analgesic use, and decrease total analgesic needs, with no side effects.

Abstract Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine various aspects of methylphenidate 
adverse reactions in children with attention deficit‑hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Iran.
Methods: During the 6 months period, all children under methylphenidate treatment alone 
or along with other agents attending a university‑affiliated psychology clinic were screened 
regarding all subjective and objective adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of methylphenidate. 
Causality and seriousness of detected ADRs were assessed by relevant World Health 
Organization definitions. The Schumock and Thornton questionnaire was used to determine 
preventability of ADRs.
Findings: Seventy‑one patients including 25 girls and 46 boys with ADHD under 
methylphenidate treatment were enrolled within the study period. All (100%) ADHD 
children under methylphenidate treatment developed at least one ADR. Anorexia (74.3%), 
irritability (57.1%), and insomnia (47.2%) were the most frequent methylphenidate‑related 
adverse reactions. Except for one, all other detected ADRs were determined to be mild. In 
addition, no ADR was considered to be preventable and serious.
Conclusion: Our data suggested that although methylphenidate related adverse reactions 
were common in children with ADHD, but they were mainly mild and nonserious.

Abstract Objective: Shivering is an unpleasant sensation for patients who undergoing spinal 
anesthesia. This randomized double‑blind clinical trial study was designed to compare the 
effect of intrathecal fentanyl with intrathecal meperidine for prevention of shivering in lower 
limb orthopedic surgeries under spinal anesthesia.
Methods: Ninety patients were randomly recruited to receive either 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric 
bupivacaine plus 20 μg of fentanyl (Group F), or 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 
0.2 mg/kg of meperidine (Group M), or 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine plus normal saline 
(Group S). The incidence and intensity of shivering were compared in three groups. Data 
were analyzed by analysis of variances, Mann–Whitney U‑test followed by Chi‑square test.
Findings: There were not statistically differences in complications and side‑effects between 
three groups. Total incidence of shivering was similar between Groups F and M (16.7% 
vs. 13.3% respectively, P = 0.72) whereas it was significantly different to Group S (43.3%) 
(P = 0.025 for Group F vs. S, and P = 0.011 for Group M vs. S). Also the intensity of 
shivering between Groups F and M was similar (P = 0.66), while it was significantly less in 
these groups compared to Group S (P = 0.013 and P = 0.004, respectively).
Conclusion: Addition of fentanyl 20 µg or meperidine 0.2 mg/kg to 0.5% bupivacaine 
intrathecally significantly decreased the incidence of shivering in lower limb orthopedic 
surgeries. There was no significant difference between two drugs with this respect.

Abstract Superwarfarin toxicity may be a serious problem. It needs high clinical suspicious in patients 
with bleeding diathesis without hematologic or liver diseases even in patients with apparent 
negative history of warfarin or other anticoagulant accessibility. Here we reported a 
patient with a negative history of any medical diseases or drug administration who was 
referred with generalized ecchymosis. Increased international normalized ratio and decreased 
vitamin K‑dependent coagulation factors were detected in this patient. His hematologic and 
liver evaluations were normal. Clinical pharmacist emphasis in taking history revealed using 
anticoagulant rodenticide all over the farm the patient lived in that might result in unaware 
intoxication in this patient who suffered dementia.

Abstract

Abstract