The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic thyroid hormone suppression therapy (THST) is prothrombotic. We obtained blood samples from 14 thyroid cancer patients while on THST and after they had become hypothyroid for radioiodine whole-body scanning and therapy. Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, fibrinogen, factor VIII, antithrombin, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), PAI-1/tPA, and C-reactive protein were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the hyper- than in the hypothyroid state, whereas protein C and plasmin-antiplasmin complexes were significantly lower during the hyperthyroid period. When the 10 female patients were hyperthyroid, their levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, fibrinogen, protein S, antithrombin, tPA, PAI-1, and PAI-1/tPA were significantly higher (P

One in six patients in ambulatory clinical research settings may be taking herbal products in addition to prescribed treatment. This figure is lower than in the general population, possibly because the patients may stop using herbs when participating in a research project. Although empirical evidence on the beneficial or adverse effects of herb therapy alone or in combination with drug therapies is limited, clinical researchers should be aware of the potential for confounding clinical trial results.

This study's objective was to compare the levels of patient medication adherence and knowledge achieved by medication consultations in two settings: a cardiology clinic and an outpatient pharmacy. Thirty-three patients were randomized to receive medication counseling either at the clinic or the outpatient pharmacy. Their medication knowledge and medication adherence (assessed by pill counts and by the Electronic Medication Events Monitoring System [MEMS]) were determined at baseline and at 1-month follow-up. Pill counts overestimated adherence compared with MEMS (90.8% vs. 80.7%, p < 0.001). The average medication adherence rate in patients who received therapeutic consultation at the clinic was 83.2% versus 78% for outpatient pharmacy patients (ns). Knowledge assessment scores of patients at follow-up were 69.7% and 59.7%, respectively (ns). No significant difference was observed in medication knowledge and adherence between the two groups. Other modalities, in addition to medication consultation, should be employed to improve patient medication knowledge and adherence.