Vaccenic acid suppresses intestinal inflammation by increasing anandamide and related N-acylethanolamines in the JCR:LA-cp rat.

Vaccenic acid (VA), the predominant ruminant-derivedtransfat in the food chain, ameliorates hyperlipidemia, yet mechanisms remain elusive. We investigated whether VA could influence tissue endocannabinoids (ECs) by altering the availability of their biosynthetic precursor, arachidonic acid (AA), in membrane phospholipids (PLs). JCR:LA-cprats were assigned to a control diet with or without VA (1% w/w),cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (1% w/w) or VA+CLA (1% + 0.5% w/w) for 8 weeks. VA reduced the EC, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), in the liver and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) relative to control diet (P< 0.001), but did not change AA in tissue PLs. There was no additive effect of combining VA+CLA on 2-AG relative to VA alone (P> 0.05). Interestingly, VA increased jejunal concentrations of anandamide and those of the noncannabinoid signaling molecules, oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide, relative to control diet (P< 0.05). This was consistent with a lower jejunal protein abundance (but not activity) of their degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase, as well as the mRNA expression of TNFα and interleukin 1ß (P< 0.05). The ability of VA to reduce 2-AG in the liver and VAT provides a potential mechanistic explanation to alleviate ectopic lipid accumulation. The opposing regulation of ECs and other noncannabinoid lipid signaling molecules by VA suggests an activation of benefit via the EC system in the intestine.

Pharmaceutical policies: effects of reference pricing, other pricing, and purchasing policies.

BACKGROUND: Pharmaceuticals are important interventions that could improve people's health. Pharmaceutical pricing and purchasing policies are used as cost-containment measures to determine or affect the prices that are paid for drugs. Internal reference pricing establishes a benchmark or reference price within a country which is the maximum level of reimbursement for a group of drugs. Other policies include price controls, maximum prices, index pricing, price negotiations and volume-based pricing. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of pharmaceutical pricing and purchasing policies on health outcomes, healthcare utilisation, drug expenditures and drug use. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), part of The Cochrane Library (including the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group Register) (searched 22/10/2012); MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and MEDLINE, Ovid (searched 22/10/2012); EconLit, ProQuest (searched 22/10/2012); PAIS International, ProQuest (searched 22/10/2012); World Wide Political Science Abstracts, ProQuest (searched 22/10/2012); INRUD Bibliography (searched 22/10/2012); Embase, Ovid (searched 14/12/2010); NHSEED, part of The Cochrane Library (searched 08/12/2010); LILACS, VHL (searched 14/12/2010); International Political Science Abstracts (IPSA), Ebsco (searched (17/12/2010); OpenSIGLE (searched 21/12/10); WHOLIS, WHO (searched 17/12/2010); World Bank (Documents and Reports) (searched 21/12/2010); Jolis (searched 09/10/2011); Global Jolis (searched 09/10/2011) ; OECD (searched 30/08/2005); OECD iLibrary (searched 30/08/2005); World Bank eLibrary (searched 21/12/2010); WHO - The Essential Drugs and Medicines web site (browsed 21/12/2010). SELECTION CRITERIA: Policies in this review were defined as laws; rules; financial and administrative orders made by governments, non-government organisations or private insurers. To be included a study had to include an objective measure of at least one of the following outcomes: drug use, healthcare utilisation and health outcomes or costs (expenditures); the study had to be a randomised trial, non-randomised trial, interrupted time series (ITS), repeated measures (RM) study or a controlled before-after study of a pharmaceutical pricing or purchasing policy for a large jurisdiction or system of care. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Results were summarised in tables. There were too few comparisons with similar outcomes across studies to allow for meta-analysis or meaningful exploration of heterogeneity. MAIN RESULTS: We included 18 studies (seven identified in the update): 17 of reference pricing, one of which also assessed maximum prices, and one of index pricing. None of the studies were trials. All included studies used ITS or RM analyses. The quality of the evidence was low or very low for all outcomes. Three reference pricing studies reported cumulative drug expenditures at one year after the transition period. Two studies reported the median relative insurer's cumulative expenditures, on both reference drugs and cost share drugs, of -18%, ranging from -36% to 3%. The third study reported relative insurer's cumulative expenditures on total market of -1.5%. Four reference pricing studies reported median relative insurer's expenditures on both reference drugs and cost share drugs of -10%, ranging from -53% to 4% at one year after the transition period. Four reference pricing studies reported a median relative change of 15% in reference drugs prescriptions at one year (range -14% to 166%). Three reference pricing studies reported a median relative change of -39% in cost share drugs prescriptions at one year (range -87% to -17%). One study of index pricing reported a relative change of 55% (95% CI 11% to 98%) in the use of generic drugs and -43% relative change (95% CI -67% to -18%) in brand drugs at six months after the transition period. The same study reported a price change of -5.3% and -1.1% for generic and brand drugs respectively six months after the start of the policy. One study of maximum prices reported a relative change in monthly sales volume of all statins of 21% (95% CI 19% to 24%) after one year of the introduction of this policy. Four studies reported effects on mortality and healthcare utilisation, however they were excluded because of study design limitations. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the studies of pricing and purchasing policies that met our inclusion criteria evaluated reference pricing. We found that internal reference pricing may reduce expenditures in the short term by shifting drug use from cost share drugs to reference drugs. Reference pricing may reduce related expenditures with effects on reference drugs but the effect on expenditures of cost share drugs is uncertain. Reference pricing may increase the use of reference drugs and may reduce the use of cost share drugs. The analysis and reporting of the effects on patients' drug expenditures were limited in the included studies and administration costs were not reported. Reference pricing effects on health are uncertain due to lack of evidence. The effects of other purchasing and pricing policies are until now uncertain due to sparse evidence. However, index pricing may reduce the use of brand drugs, increase the use of generic drugs, and may also slightly reduce the price of the generic drug when compared with no intervention.

A lipoprotein source of cholesteryl esters is essential for proliferation of CEM-CCRF lymphoblastic cell line.

Tumour are characterised by a high content of cholesteryl esters (CEs) stored in lipid droplets purported to be due to a high rate of intracellular esterification of cholesterol. To verify whether and which pathways involved in CE accumulation are essential in tumour proliferation, the effect of CE deprivation, from both exogenous and endogenous sources, on CEM-CCRF cells was investigated. Cholesterol synthesis, esterification and content, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) binding and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-CE uptake were evaluated in cultured in both conventional and delipidated bovine serum with or without oleic or linoleic acids, cholesteryl oleate, LDL and HDL. High content of CEs in lipid droplets in this cell line was due to esterification of both newly synthesised cholesterol and that obtained from hydrolysis of LDL; moreover, a significant amount of CE was derived from HDL-CE uptake. Cell proliferation was slightly affected by either acute or chronic treatment up to 400 µM with Sz-58035, an acyl-cholesteryl cholesterol esterification inhibitor (ACAT); although when the enzyme activity was continuously inhibited, CE content in lipid droplets was significantly higher than those in control cells. In these cells, analysis of intracellular and medium CEs revealed a profile reflecting the characteristics of bovine serum, suggesting a plasma origin of CE molecules. Cell proliferation arrest in delipidated medium was almost completely prevented in the first 72 h by LDL or HDL, although in subsequent cultures with LDL, it manifested an increasing mortality rate. This study suggests that high content of CEs in CEM-CCRF is mainly derived from plasma lipoproteins and that part of CEs stored in lipid droplets are obtained after being taken up from HDL. This route appears to be up-regulated according to cell requirements and involved in low levels of c-HDL during cancer. Moreover, the dependence of tumour cells on a source of lipoprotein provides a novel impetus in developing therapeutic strategies for use in the treatment of some tumours.

Accumulation and aberrant composition of cholesteryl esters in Scrapie-infected N2a cells and C57BL/6 mouse brains.

OBJECTIVE: Cholesterol changes have been described in prion-cell models and in experimental rodent scrapie; yet, the pattern of this association is still controversial. METHODS: To shed light on the matter, we analysed and compared cholesterol variations in ScN2a cells and in brains of Scrapie-infected C57Bl/6 mice, using two different methods: a fluorimetric-enzymatic cholesterol assay, and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). RESULTS: Compared to uninfected controls, similar cholesterol metabolism anomalies were observed in infected cells and brains by both methods; however, only HPLC-MS revealed statistically significant cholesterol variations, particularly in the cholesteryl esters (CE) fraction. HPLC-MS analyses also revealed different fatty acid composition of the CE fraction in cells and brains. In N2a cells, their profile reflected that of serum, while in normal brains cholesteryl-linoleate only was found at detectable levels. Following prion infection, most CE species were increased in the CE pool of ScN2a cells, whereas a conspicuous amount of cholesteryl-arachidonate only was found to contribute to the cerebral increase of CE. Of interest, oral pravastatin administration to Scrapie-infected mice, was associated with a significant reduction of cerebral free cholesterol (FC) along with a concomitant further increase of the CE pool, which included increased amounts of both cholesteryl-linoleate and cholesteryl-arachidonate. CONCLUSION: Although mechanistic studies are needed to establish the pathophysiological relevance of changes in cerebral CE concentrations, to the best of our knowledge this is the first report to provide evidence of increased cholesterol esterification in brains of prion-infected mice, untreated and treated with pravastatin.

[Drug advertising and promotion: regulations and extent of compliance in five Latin American countries]. / Publicidad y promoción de medicamentos: regulaciones y grado de acatamiento en cinco países de América Latina.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze differing regulations regarding drug promotion, and the extent of compliance as seen in samples of advertising directed to the public in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Peru. METHODS: A total of 683 pieces of promotional material on display in health facilities, pharmacies, and on the street were collected, 132 of which were randomly selected for analysis. The regulations governing pharmaceutical advertising, taken from official websites and interviews with regulatory officials and Ministry of Health staff in the five countries covered, were reviewed, along with their adherence to the ethical criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). The contents of the materials in the sample were evaluated to determine their degree of compliance with national regulations and WHO recommendations on drug promotion. RESULTS: The countries have regulations incorporating WHO ethical criteria. Over 80% of the material analyzed included the indications for the drug, while over 70% omitted information on adverse effects. Fifty percent of the advertisements for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs on display in pharmacies listed indications not approved by the relevant health authority. In advertising in pharmacies, the risks from inadequate information were not found to differ significantly for OTC or prescription medications. Compared with materials provided in health facilities, the relative risk of the absence of information on dosage in the material distributed in pharmacies was 2.08 (confidence interval 95% 1.32-3.39). CONCLUSIONS: Although regulations on drug promotion and advertising in the five countries studied generally incorporate the WHO recommendations, promotional materials often fail to reflect the fact.

[Restriction of antibiotic sales in pharmacies in Bogotá, Colombia: a descriptive study]. / Restricción de la venta de antibióticos en farmacias de Bogotá, Colombia: estudio descriptivo.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the implementation status of a regulation prohibiting antibiotic sales without a medical prescription in pharmacies of Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using the simulated purchase technique in Bogotá pharmacies (drugstores). The sample of 263 pharmacies was calculated by stratification (chain pharmacies and independent pharmacies) with 5% accuracy and a 2% correction factor. Simple randomization was assigned in each stratum. RESULTS: Out of the total pharmacies studied, 80.3% did not comply with the regulation established for prescription sales of antibiotics. In 20.1% of the cases, the dispenser asked about the patient's age, symptoms, or both age and symptoms in order to offer other drugs or change the antibiotic. There were no inquiries about a medical history of allergy to antibiotics. In cases in which there was the intention to sell antibiotics, the generic format was most commonly offered (81.2%). Some drug dispensers made inappropriate recommendations. The locations with the highest levels of noncompliance with the regulation were also those with high rates of unmet basic needs. CONCLUSIONS: Five years after passage of a regulation to halt the unrestricted sales of antibiotics, there is minimal compliance, and dispensing does not conform to the established parameters. Pharmacy personnel do not provide the required information according to their responsibilities.

Taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil is associated with endocannabinoid plasma levels in normal-weight individuals.

OBJECTIVE: A decreased sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) has been shown to be associated with increased energy intake and therefore an increased body mass index, although other studies have not confirmed this association, suggesting the involvement of other factors. We investigated whether the endocannabinoid system, which also modulates hunger/satiety and energy balance, plays a role in modulating eating behavior influenced by a sensitivity to PROP. METHODS: The plasma profile of the endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), anandamide (AEA), and congeners of AEA, palmitoylethanolamide and oleylethanolamide (OEA), was determined in normal-weight PROP supertasters (STs) and PROP non-tasters (NTs). A cognitive eating behavior disorder was assessed by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, which estimates dietary restraint, disinhibition, and perceived hunger. RESULTS: The disinhibition score of NTs was higher than those of STs (P = 0.02). Moreover, in NTs, OEA was inversely correlated to the perceived hunger score (r = -0.7, P = 0.002), and AEA was positively correlated to the restraint score (r = 0.5, P = 0.04) and negatively to the perceived hunger score, although the latter correlation was at the limit of statistical significance (r = -0.47, P = 0.05). In addition, we found lower concentrations of AEA and 2-AG in the plasma of NT compared with ST subjects (AEA, P = 0.034; 2-AG, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a higher disinhibition behavior in NTs may be compensated in part, in normal-weight subjects, by the decrease of peripheral endocannabinoids to downregulate the hunger-energy intake circuitry.

Variables psicosociales en el seguimiento farmacoterapéutico de personas con epilepsia en Colombia / Psychosocial factors in the pharmaceutical care of people with epilepsy at Colombia

Antecedentes: Diferentes estudios han mostrado que factores psicosociales y culturales pueden tener un impacto considerable sobre los resultados de la terapia farmacológica en las personas con epilepsia. Incorporar en la metodología de Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico variables psicosociales y culturales relevantes en el contexto colombiano le permitiría al farmacéutico optimizar la detección y resolución de problemas relacionados con medicamentos que presente el paciente, de modo que se alcancen los resultados esperados de la farmacoterapia. Objetivos: Explorar variables psicosociales y culturales que pueden ser incorporadas al seguimiento farmacoterapéutico dirigido a pacientes con epilepsia. Métodos: Para determinar los factores psicosociales y culturales que serían incluidos en el instrumento se utilizó la metodología Delphi. Las variables seleccionadas fueron incorporadas al método Dáder ajustado para Colombia mediante la adaptación de una encuesta de Conocimientos, Actitudes y Prácticas. Se realizó una prueba piloto en la que participaron 21 pacientes. Luego de algunos ajustes, el instrumento fue aplicado a 70 pacientes con epilepsia, con al menos un mes de tratamiento farmacológico, no sometidos a cirugía, atendidos en una institución especializada en la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. El análisis estadístico consistió en un análisis univariado para describir los resultados y un Análisis de Correspondencias Múltiples (ACM). Resultados: En la prueba piloto se encontró necesidades recurrentes de información sobre la epilepsia y el tratamiento, y se diseñó folletos para apoyar actividades educativas. El nivel de conocimientos sobre la epilepsia de los pacientes era aceptable. Se encontró correspondencia entre la afiliación al régimen de salud subsidiado y problemas de acceso a medicamentos y una posible correspondencia entre los sentimientos de vergüenza y baja autoestima con alta frecuencia de las crisis...

Restricción de la venta de antibióticos en farmacias de Bogotá, Colombia: estudio descriptivo / Restriction of antibiotic sales in pharmacies in Bogotá, Colombia: a descriptive study

Objetivo. Describir el estado de la aplicación de la norma relacionada con la prohibición dela venta de antibióticos sin prescripción médica en farmacias de Bogotá, Colombia. Métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal, en el cual se utilizó la técnica de simulación de compra en farmacias (droguerías) de Bogotá. La muestra de 263 farmacias se calculó con una precisión de 5% y un factor de corrección de 2% mediante estratificación (farmacias de cadenae independientes) y asignación aleatoria simple en cada estrato. Resultados. Del total de farmacias estudiadas, 80,3% no cumplen la norma que establecela venta de antibióticos con receta. En 20,1% de los casos, el expendedor indagó la edad del paciente o sus síntomas o ambos, con el fin de ofrecer otros medicamentos o para cambiar elantibiótico. En ninguna oportunidad se preguntó por antecedentes personales de alergia a los antibióticos. En los casos en los cuales hubo intención de venta del antibiótico, la presentación genérica fue la más comúnmente ofrecida (81,2%). Algunos expendedores de medicamentos hicieronrecomendaciones inapropiadas. Las localidades con mayor incumplimiento de la norma coinciden con aquellas que tienen altas tasas de necesidades básicas insatisfechas. Conclusiones. A cinco años de adopción de la norma orientada a contrarrestar la ventalibre de antibióticos, su cumplimiento es mínimo y la entrega no se realiza de acuerdo a los parámetros establecidos. El personal de farmacia no suministra la información requerida de acuerdo con sus competencias.

Objective. Describe the implementation status of a regulation prohibiting antibiotic sales without a medical prescription in pharmacies of Bogotá, Colombia. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using the simulated purchase technique in Bogotá pharmacies (drugstores). The sample of 263 pharmacies was calculated by stratification (chain pharmacies and independent pharmacies) with 5% accuracy and a 2% correction factor. Simple randomization was assigned in eachstratum. Results. Out of the total pharmacies studied, 80.3% did not comply with the regulation established for prescription sales of antibiotics. In 20.1% of the cases, the dispenser asked about the patient’s age, symptoms, or both age and symptoms in order to offer other drugs or change the antibiotic. There were no inquiries about amedical history of allergy to antibiotics. In cases in which there was the intention to sell antibiotics, the generic format was most commonly offered (81.2%). Some drug dispensers made inappropriate recommendations. The locations with the highest levels of noncompliance with the regulation were also those with high rates of unmetbasic needs. Conclusions. Five years after passage of a regulation to halt the unrestricted sales of antibiotics, there is minimal compliance, and dispensing does not conform to the established parameters. Pharmacy personnel do not provide the required information according to their responsibilities.

Publicidad y promoción de medicamentos: regulaciones y grado de acatamiento en cinco países de América Latina / Drug advertising and promotion: regulations and extent of compliance in five Latin American countries

OBJETIVO: Analizar las distintas regulaciones sobre promoción de fármacos y su grado de acatamiento reflejado en piezas publicitarias expuestas al público en Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua y Perú. MÉTODOS: Se recogieron 683 piezas promocionales expuestas en establecimientos de salud, farmacias y en la vía pública, de las cuales 132 piezas seleccionadas al azar fueron objeto de análisis. Se examinaron las regulaciones sobre publicidad farmacéutica -incluidas sus coincidencias con los criterios éticos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS)- tomadas de los sitios web oficiales y mediante entrevistas con los responsables de los organismos regulatorios y ministerios de salud de los cinco países del estudio. Se evaluaron los contenidos de los materiales de la muestra para determinar su grado de acatamiento respecto a las regulaciones nacionales y las recomendaciones sobre promoción de medicamentos de la OMS. RESULTADOS: Los países cuentan con regulaciones que incorporan los criterios éticos de la OMS. Más de 80 por ciento de las piezas analizadas incluían las indicaciones del fármaco y más de 70 por ciento omitían información sobre efectos adversos. Cincuenta por ciento de los anuncios de medicamentos de venta libre (MVL) expuestos en farmacias incluían indicaciones no aprobadas por la autoridad sanitaria correspondiente. En los anuncios expuestos en farmacias, no se hallaron diferencias significativas entre los riesgos de la información inadecuada con relación a su condición de venta (MVL o medicamentos de venta con prescripción médica). El riesgo relativo de ausencia de información sobre posología fue de 2,08 (intervalo de confianza de 95 por ciento 1,32-3,39) en las piezas distribuidas en farmacias, comparadas con las expuestas en establecimientos de salud. CONCLUSIONES: Si bien en general los cinco países del estudio incorporan en sus regulaciones sobre promoción y publicidad de medicamentos las recomendaciones de la OMS, con frecuencia dichas ordenanzas no se reflejan en los contenidos de las piezas promocionales.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze differing regulations regarding drug promotion, and the extent of compliance as seen in samples of advertising directed to the public in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Peru. METHODS: A total of 683 pieces of promotional material on display in health facilities, pharmacies, and on the street were collected, 132 of which were randomly selected for analysis. The regulations governing pharmaceutical advertising, taken from official websites and interviews with regulatory officials and Ministry of Health staff in the five countries covered, were reviewed, along with their adherence to the ethical criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). The contents of the materials in the sample were evaluated to determine their degree of compliance with national regulations and WHO recommendations on drug promotion. RESULTS: The countries have regulations incorporating WHO ethical criteria. Over 80 percent of the material analyzed included the indications for the drug, while over 70 percent omitted information on adverse effects. Fifty percent of the advertisements for overthe-counter (OTC) drugs on display in pharmacies listed indications not approved by the relevant health authority. In advertising in pharmacies, the risks from inadequate information were not found to differ significantly for OTC or prescription medications. Compared with materials provided in health facilities, the relative risk of the absence of information on dosage in the material distributed in pharmacies was 2.08 (confidence interval 95 percent 1.32-3.39). CONCLUSIONS: Although regulations on drug promotion and advertising in the five countries studied generally incorporate the WHO recommendations, promotional materials often fail to reflect the fact.

Assessment of risks related to medicine dispensing by nonprofessionals in Colombia: clinical case simulations.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate dispensing is one of the steps for rational drug use, so it is generally advised that the dispenser should have relevant and updated knowledge, skills, and attitudes. OBJECTIVE: To assess pharmacies and nonprofessional employees' (NEs) skills and knowledge, as well as their response to several specific case simulations in Bogota, Colombia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on a random sample of 371 pharmacies in Bogota. Information from each pharmacy was obtained using 2 approaches: (1) direct interview to collect data on organizational aspects of the store and characteristics of NEs, and (2) simulation (both by direct interview and by telephone) to assess dispensing responses in 6 simulated clinical cases. RESULTS: More than half of the simulated clinical situations resulted in inappropriate dispensing (direct simulations 57%; telephone simulations 55%). The proportion of correct answers to theoretical questions regarding a specific therapeutic problem during interviews was higher than the response when a simulation presented that same case and a dispensing act was expected. The educational background of the NEs included in the study points to a specific problem: two-thirds of the individuals selling medicines had completed only secondary-level education and only 2% of the sample had a pharmacist as technical director. Continuing education courses were either directly organized by drug manufacturers (one-third of the courses attended by pharmacists) or sponsored by them (more than an additional one-third). CONCLUSIONS: NEs should be considered part of the therapeutic chain and, if appropriately updated or instructed, could play a very important role in the always difficult promotion of rational drug use. Public health institutions and universities should be more actively involved in the provision of independent, unbiased, and essential information on common therapeutic problems, safety concerns, and new drug prescription restrictions.

Uso de medicamentos inmunosupresores en pacientes con trasplante renal, hepático y de médula ósea en una clínica de nivel III de Bogotá / Use of immunosupressive drugs in patients with kidney, liver or bone marrow transplants in a high complexity clinic in Bogota, Colombia

Antecedentes. El trasplante de órganos en la actualidad es una opción terapéutica para los pacientes que cursan estadíos terminales de ciertas patologías; el uso de inmunosupresores contribuye en gran medida a la efectividad de este tipo de tratamientos, ya que es fundamental para evitar el rechazo. El no seguimiento del consumo de medicamentos nuevos, como es el caso de los inmunosupresores que suelen tener precios relativamente elevados, junto con la ampliación injustificada de indicaciones, puede ocasionar un aumento de los costos de la terapia farmacológica y, lo más importante, causar riesgos en el paciente trasplantado. Objetivos. Describir y caracterizar el uso de medicamentos inmunosupresores en pacientes con trasplante renal, de médula ósea alogénico y hepático. Material y métodos. Estudio observacional-descriptivo de corte transversal con recolección retrospectiva de la información a un año. Se trata de un estudio de utilización de medicamentos sobre hábitos de prescripción. Resultados. El desenlace global de la terapia del trasplante produce resultados satisfactorios en un 92,5 por ciento (49 pacientes), 5,7 por ciento (3 pacientes) presentan rechazo con retiro del injerto, mientras que un paciente fallece después de ser sometido al trasplante. El medicamento más prescrito es el micofenolato de mofetil, con 41 prescripciones (28%), mientras que el más consumido es la prednisona con 2,38 dosis diaria definidas /100 pacientes/día.Conclusiones. Se evidencia la presencia de micofenolato, ciclosporina y corticoides en la mayoría de los esquemas con algunas prescripciones de anticuerpos monoclonales y globulina antitimocítica.

Evaluación de la información sobre la terapia farmacológica dada al paciente ambulatorio en el hospital San Cristóbal / Evaluation of the information on pharmacological therapy given to outpatients at the San Cristóbal hospital

Su objetivo general es evaluar la información sobre la terapia farmacológica dada por el médico al paciente ambulatorio en el hospital San Cristóbal empresa social del Estado. Sus objetivos específicos son calcular los indicadores básicos del uso de medicamentos referidos a la prescripción, a la asistencia al paciente y a factores específicos sobre uso racional de medicamentos en el hospital San Cristóbal ESE; establecer pautas orientadas al personal médico sobre el uso racional de medicamentos en lo que se refiere a la información escrita y oral sobre la terapia farmacológica dada al paciente ambulatorio; establecer lineamientos sobre programas de educación orientados a la comunidad acerca del uso racional de medicamentos en lo que se refiere a la información escrita y oral sobre la terapia farmacológica dada al médico.

Its general objective is to evaluate the information on pharmacological therapy given by the physician to the outpatient at the San Cristóbal hospital, a social enterprise of the State. Its specific objectives are to calculate the basic indicators of the use of medicines referred to prescription, patient care and specific factors on rational use of medicines in the hospital San Cristobal ESE; to establish guidelines oriented to medical personnel on the rational use of medicines regarding written and oral information on pharmacological therapy given to the outpatient; to establish guidelines on education programs oriented to the community on the rational use of medicines regarding written and oral information on pharmacological therapy given to the physician.

Intervención educativa a médicos de atención primaria sobre suplementación nutricional en población prioritaria de Bogotá / Educational intervention for primary care physicians on nutritional supplementation in a priority population in Bogota

Objetivo Medir la retención de información de los médicos y profesionales vinculados a hospitales de primer nivel de atención de Santa Fe de Bogotá, acerca de la necesidad y condiciones de la suplementación con hierro y ácido fólico en población prioritaria. Antecedentes En un estudio realizado por el Instituto Nacional de Salud en cinco regiones de Colombia, se establece que la mayor deficiencia moderada en depósitos de hierro, para el grupo de edad de 12-59 meses y gestantes, se presenta en Bogotá. Otros grupos de alta susceptibilidad son los recién nacidos de bajo peso y los niños preescolares. Así mismo, los riesgos de aparición de defectos del tubo neural (DTN), principalmente anencefalia y espina bífida, varía entre 0.6 y 2.8 por mil nacidos sanos. El riesgo puede llegar al 3.5% cuando existen antecedentes de estos eventos. En estos casos es indispensable disponer de un eficiente y oportuno sistema de tamizaje, monitoreo y la garantía de un suplemento adecuado. Metodología Estudio experimental de evaluación de una intervención educativa, antes y después de la misma con seguimiento concomitante de un grupo de control. La intervención se definió como la realización de una conferencia acerca de la importancia epidemiológica y los aspectos nutricionales y farmacoterapéuticos relevantes para suplementación, así como la entrega del material escrito de soporte. Resultados No hay evidencia que permita rechazar la hipótesis nula (p=0.2578). El total de pérdidas que se presentaron en el estudio (cercanas al 40%), podría motivar a conocer el efecto de esta pérdida de poder sin embargo hoy se discute mucho lo apropiado de calcular un poder a posteriori. La reflexión fundamental tiene que ver con la baja asistencia de los profesionales y las razones que la generan. Los resultados sugieren una baja credibilidad de la convocatoria formal escrita. Podría resultar más participativa una intervención en la que el personal asistencial encuentre motivación e interés por su práctica cotidiana y por sus necesidades más cercanas. Conclusiones Para aumentar el impacto de las medidas educativas que garanticen mayor cumplimiento de la estrategia de suplementación, deben integrarse un conjunto de medidas educativas continuadas, asociadas a iniciativas de investigación clínica y epidemiológica en las que participen activamente los prescriptores y profesionales de la salud.

Objective To measure the information retention of physicians and professionals linked to primary care hospitals in Santa Fe de Bogotá about the need and conditions of iron and folic acid supplementation in priority populations. Background In a study conducted by the National Institute of Health in five regions of Colombia, it is established that the highest moderate deficiency in iron deposits, for the age group of 12-59 months and pregnant women, occurs in Bogota. Other groups of high susceptibility are low birth weight newborns and preschool children. Likewise, the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), mainly anencephaly and spina bifida, varies between 0.6 and 2.8 per thousand healthy births. The risk can reach 3.5% when there is a history of these events. In these cases, it is essential to have an efficient and timely system of screening, monitoring and the guarantee of adequate supplementation. Methodology Experimental study of evaluation of an educational intervention, before and after the intervention with concomitant follow-up of a control group. The intervention was defined as a lecture on the epidemiological importance and relevant nutritional and pharmacotherapeutic aspects for supplementation, as well as the delivery of written support material. Results There is no evidence to reject the null hypothesis (p=0.2578). The total losses that occurred in the study (close to 40%), could motivate to know the effect of this loss of power, however today there is much discussion about the appropriateness of calculating a posteriori power. The fundamental reflection has to do with the low attendance of professionals and the reasons that generate it. The results suggest a low credibility of the formal written call. An intervention in which the health care personnel find motivation and interest in their daily practice and in their immediate needs could be more participatory. Conclusions To increase the impact of educational measures to ensure greater compliance with the supplementation strategy, a set of continuous educational measures should be integrated, associated with clinical and epidemiological research initiatives in which prescribers and health professionals actively participate.