1.Knowledge, Practices and Attitudes Towards Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting by Private Practitioners from Klang Valley in Malaysia
Renu Agarwal ; Aqil Mohammad Daher ; Nafeeza Mohd Ismail
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2013;20(2):52-61
Objectives: The study aimed to determine current status of Knowledge, practices and attitudes towards adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among private practitioners in Klang region of Malaysia.
Methods: A total of 238 private practitioners in Klang valley were distributed a questionnaire consisting of seven questions, two knowledge-related, two practice-related and three attitude-related. Each favourable and unfavourable response was given a score of 1 and 0 respectively. Total score of 70% or more for each domain was considered “satisfactory” whereas less than 70% as “unsatisfactory”.
Results: One hundred forty-five participants completed questionnaire. Knowledge assessment showed 83.4% responses stating that ADR reporting helps to identify safe drugs and 91.7% responded that it measures ADR incidence. Regarding practices, 76.6% respondents were willing to report only if confident that reaction is an ADR. Regarding attitudes, 81.9%, 66.9% and 23.5% participants showed complacency, ignorance, and indifference respectively. Unsatisfactory knowledge, practices, and attitudes were observed in 57.2%, 56.6%, and 73.1% respondents respectively. Satisfactory knowledge was significantly higher in respondent with higher qualification with odds ratio of 2.96 with 95% confidence interval of 1.48–5.93.
Conclusion: The study showed unsatisfactory level of knowledge, practices and attitudes towards ADR reporting among high proportion of private practitioners in Klang valley, Malaysia.
2.Role of TGF-β1/SMADs signalling pathway in resveratrol-induced reduction of extracellular matrix deposition by dexamethasone-treated human trabecular meshwork cells
Amy Suzana Abu BAKAR ; Norhafiza RAZALI ; Renu AGARWAL ; Igor IEZHITSA ; Maxim A. PERFILEV ; Pavel M. VASSILIEV
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2024;28(4):345-359
Deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) increases aqueous humour outflow resistance leading to elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in primary open-angle glaucoma, which remains the only modifiable risk factor. Resveratrol has been shown to counteract the steroid-induced increase in IOP and increase the TM expression of ECM proteolytic enzymes; however, its effects on the deposition of ECM components by TM and its associated pathways, such as TGF-β-SMAD signalling remain uncertain. This study, therefore, explored the effects of trans-resveratrol on the expression of ECM components, SMAD signalling molecules, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue plasminogen activator in dexamethasone-treated human TM cells (HTMCs). We also studied the nature of molecular interaction of trans-resveratrol with SMAD4 domains using ensemble docking. Treatment of HTMCs with 12.5 µM trans-resveratrol downregulated the dexamethasone-induced increase in collagen, fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin at gene and protein levels through downregulation of TGF-β1, SMAD4, and upregulation of SMAD7. Downregulation of TGF-β1 signalling by trans-resveratrol could be attributed to its effect on the transcriptional activity due to high affinity for the MH2 domain of SMAD4. These effects may contribute to resveratrol's IOP-lowering properties by reducing ECM deposition and enhancing aqueous humour outflow in the TM.
3.Glutathione (GSH) improves sperm quality and testicular morphology in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.
Fathiah ABDULLAH ; Mohamed Noor KHAN NOR-ASHIKIN ; Renu AGARWAL ; Yuhaniza Shafinie KAMSANI ; Mastura ABD MALEK ; Nor Salmah BAKAR ; Aqila-Akmal MOHAMMAD KAMAL ; Mimi-Sophia SARBANDI ; Nor-Shahida ABDUL RAHMAN ; Nurul Huda MUSA
Asian Journal of Andrology 2021;23(3):281-287
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to cause reproductive impairment. In men, it has been linked to altered sperm quality and testicular damage. Oxidative stress (OS) plays a pivotal role in the development of DM complications. Glutathione (GSH) is a part of a nonenzymatic antioxidant defense system that protects lipid, protein, and nucleic acids from oxidative damage. However, the protective effects of exogenous GSH on the male reproductive system have not been comprehensively examined. This study determined the impact of GSH supplementation in ameliorating the adverse effect of type 1 DM on sperm quality and the seminiferous tubules of diabetic C57BL/6NTac mice. GSH at the doses of 15 mg kg