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Menopausal women experience urogenitory and vasomotor symptoms with increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases, which can be reduced by hormone replacement therapy. However unopposed estrogen therapy has been associated with an increased risk of endometrial hypeiplasia or cancer. The objectives of this study were to compare effects of continuous vs. sequential hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lipid profile, bone mineral density and menopausal symptoms of postmenopausal women and to assess how they perceive the menopause and HRT culturally. In this retrospective study, women in menopause longer than 6 months, normal in the mam-mogram and Papanicolaou smear, cholesterol level lower than 190 mg/dL or triglyceride level lower 4han 500 mg/dL were treated with Srogen (conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg tablet) and Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg tablet) for continuous treatment(CT) or Cycloprogynova (Estradiol valerate 2 mg and Norgestrel 0.5 mg complex tablet) for sequential treatment(ST). They were evaluated for lipid profile, bone mineral density, menopausal symptoms, side effects and their perception of menopause and HRT. As results, total sixty-seven patients out of ninety-four enrollees were included in final analysis (33 in continuous therapy, 34 in sequential therapy). There were significant decrease in total cholesterol (, p=0.0001), LDL (, p=0.0001), and increase in HDL (, p=0.0001). Bone minora) density increased significantly with HRT (, p=0.0001). But, there were no significant differences in change of lipid profile between continuous and sequential therapy: Total cholesterol, $13.12\pm4.7\;vs.\;16.91\pm4.3;\;LDL\;20.53\pm4.1\;vs.\;18.93\pm5.12:HDL\;7.15\pm2.3\;vs.\;4.67\pm2.2,\;p>0.05$. Incidences of flush reduced from . The change of endometrium and breast were found 3 (CT) and 5 (ST) women, respectively. Most of women recognized that HRT is necessary for postmenopausal period but did not understand well the cardiovascular protective effect. In conclusion, hormone replacement therapy was effective in improving lipid profile, bone mineral density and menopausal symptoms in both continuous and sequential treatments with similar efficacy.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the pattern of regimens prescribed for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease in a regional community hospital. 226 patients were treated as an outpatient and followed for one year. 88 patients had gastric ulcer (GU) alone, 6 patients had duodenal ulcer (DV) alone, 5 patients had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) alone, 25 patients had both GU and DU, 88 patients had both GU and GERD, and 14 patients had both DU and GERD. During this study period no one was treated for Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. The disease showed higher occurrence in male population (139 patients, ) and among the ages of 30 and 40 . The average age of these patients was 41.3 years and there was no difference between the genders. of these patients underwent CLO test to check for the existence of Helicobacter and of these Patients showed the positive response. of patients with GU and of patients with DU showed the positive response and there was no difference between the genders . 184 patients were deemed to be cured based on the disappearance of their symptoms after completing the regimens. Compliance rate did not differ for gender or different diseases, while showing a difference in age. Patients between the ages of 20 to 30 years old showed the worst compliance rate. In addition, the compliance was lower among the patients who had previous occurrence of the disease, and this was more evident among female patients. Although 184 patients out of the total 226 patients were deemed to be cured, 36 patients of these returned to the hospital for relapsed diseases within one year. The factors that affected for patients to relapse were the diseases accompanied by ulcer and social environments, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and previous history of the diseases (smoking P<0.001, alcohol consumption P<0.02, previous history of disease P<0.05). The regimen using receptor antagonists+tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate+clarithromycin showed the lower rate of relapse, and the regimens of omeprazole (OMP)+amoxicillin+tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate and OMP+amoxicillin+metronidazole showed better compliance rate. Patient education by pharmacists on the importance of compliance to regimens and the risk factors fer relapse can provide a better patient care. This would ultimately result in more cost-effective treatments by preventing additional cost for treating relapsed symptoms in approximately of patients.

Diltiazem inhibits calcium channels and leads to vascular smooth muscle relaxation and negative inotroic and chronotropic effects in the heart. Diltiazem (DTZ) is almost completely absorbed after oral administration, but its bioavailability is reduced because of considerable hepatic first-pass metabolism. The main metabolite of DTZ is deacetyldiltiazem. The purpose of this study was to report the pharmacokinetic changes of DTZ and its metabolite, deacetyldiltiazem (DAD) after intravenous administration of diltiazem to control rabbits and rabbits with mild and medium folate-induced renal failure (FIRRs). The area under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) of DTZ were significantly increased in mild and medium FIRRs. The metabolite ratio of the DAD to DTZ were significantly decreased in mild and medium FIRRs. The elimination rate constant and total body clearances (CLt) of DTZ were significantly decreased in mild and medium FIRRS. These findings suggest that the hepatic metabolism of diltiazem was inhibited and CLt and of DTZ were significantly decreased in mild and in rabbits with medium folate-induced renal failure.

The effect of circadian rhythm on gentamicin pharmacokinetics was studied in rabbits who took a single intravenous 2 mg/kg dose of gentamicin at 09:00 in the morning (a.m.) and 22:00 in the evening (p.m.). A significant circadian rhythm of pharmacokinetic parameters as a function of time of day was noted in rabbits, showing lower total body clearance and higher serum area under the curve (AUC) when given in the evening. The half-life was shorter in the morning when compared to the evening . The AUC was greater in the evening than that in the morning , most likely because the CLt was significantly higher when gentamicin was given in the morning versus in the evening . The of gentamicin in the evening was increased significantly(p<0.05) compared to those of gentamicin in the morning. It is reasonable to consider individual circadian rhythm for effective dosage regimen of gentamicin in clinical chronotherapeutics.

This study is intended to set the criteria for the classification of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and classify hospital pharmacy formulations according to the criteria. 717 hospital pharmacy formulations were collected ken the Center for review and evaluation of health insurance, and national provincial offices. Hospital pharmacy formulations were evaluated based on the 'Guidelines on the Hospital Pharmacy Formulations (Notification No. 2000-46)'by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Drug classification advisory committee was composed of twelve medical and pharmaceutical specialists, and suggested opinions on the drug classification. Among 717 formulations, 651 drugs satisfied the basic conditions for the hospital pharmacy formulations. 312 formulations were classified as drugs for the disinfection and tests. For the rest of them, 231 formulations were classified as prescription drugs whereas 108 drugs were as non-prescription drugs. 56 non-prescription drugs were included as hospital formulations, because there were no therapeutic alternatives. Iu sum 599 drugs were suggested as hospital pharmacy formulations. The study also recommends pharmaceutical companies to produce drugs of limited commercial value, and doctors to change their unique prescribing behavior in order to prevent the abuse of hospital pharmacy formulations.

Reofecoxib는 용량 의존적으로 cyclo-oxygenase-2를 선택적으로 억제한다. 골관절염 환자를 대상으로 하여 이중맹검, 무작위, Western Ontario and McMasters Universi-ties Osteoarthritis Index를 이용하여 평가한 결과, rofecoxib 12.5, 25 mg는 신체적 기능을 크게 향상시키는 것으로 보여졌다. 또한 diclofenac (50 mg, 1일 3회), ibuprofen (800 mg, 1일 3회), nabumetone(1500 mg, 1일 1회)와 유사한 임상효과를 나타내었다. Rofecoxib는 원발성 월경곤란증과 수술 후 치통에 효과적으로 억제하였으며 naproxen sodium과 ibuprofen과 같은 진통 효과를 보였다. Rofecoxib는 안전성 면에서 우수하며 가장 흔한 부작용은 설사, 두통, 오심과 상기도 감염증이다. Rofecoxib 12.5, 25, 50 mg/day를 투여한 골관절염 환자에게서 위장관계 부작용(천공, 궤양, 출혈)은 ibuprofen, diclofenac, nabumetone을 투여한 환자보다 훨씬 낮은 발생빈도를 나타내었다.