COVID-19 pandemic and the consumption of self-care products for pediculosis capitis in Portugal: an interrupted time-series analysis.

This study aims to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of self-care products for pediculosis capitis management, in Portugal. A segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series (March 2020) was performed from January 2017 to August 2023 to analyze the short- and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of pediculicides and related products. Monthly rates of absolute consumption were estimated by community pharmacies' dispensing records. Portuguese municipalities were organized into quintiles according to their purchasing power index and percentage of youth, to study the association of these social and demographic variables on the sale of these products. COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the sales of products indicated for pediculosis. Since the start of the pandemic, an absolute decrease of 21.0 thousand packages was observed in the monthly average consumption (p < 0.0001) compared to the pre-pandemic period. After this reduction, the average monthly trend increased in the pandemic period in comparison with the previous period, although not significant (267.0 packages per month, p = 0.1102). Regions with higher disposable income and more young people were associated with higher sales of these products. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a notable impact on the sales of self-care products for pediculosis capitis in Portugal, in the short term. The lockdowns and other isolation measures implemented to control the spread of the virus may have led to a decrease in the number of head lice cases, consequently resulting in a reduction in sales of products.

Estimating Type 2 Diabetes Prevalence: A Model of Drug Consumption Data.

Observational, cross-sectional prevalence studies are costly and time-consuming. The development of indirect methods estimating prevalence used to obtain faster, less-expensive, and more robust results would be an advantage for several healthcare applications. This study aimed to use the drug dispensing data from community pharmacies to estimate the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Portuguese population. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a database of dispensed medicines with an indication for Diabetes mellitus in 2018 and 2021, stratified by geographic region. The methodology was based on a sequential method of acquiring prevalence estimates obtained through exposure to medicines using the daily doses defined per thousand inhabitants per day and adjusted to the rate of adherence to therapy, prescription patterns, and concomitance of antidiabetic drugs. The estimated overall T2DM prevalence in 2018 was 13.9%, and it was 14.2% for 2021. The results show the increased consumption of antidiabetic drugs, with fixed-dose combination antidiabetics and new antidiabetics being particularly important in 2021. This work allowed for the development of a model to obtain the estimated prevalence of T2DM based on drug consumption, using a simple, fast, and robust method that is in line with the available evidence. However, with the recent expanding indications for new antidiabetics, the inclusion of further data in the model needs to be studied.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a collaborative deprescribing intervention of proton-pump-inhibitors on community-dwelling older adults: Protocol for the C-SENIoR, a pragmatic non-randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, demographic ageing is a major social, economic and health challenge. Despite the increase in life expectancy, elderly often live with multiple chronic conditions, exposing them to multiple medications. Concerns have been raised about the growing issue of inappropriate long-term usage of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI), which have been associated with adverse outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Deprescribing is a recommended intervention to reduce or withdraw medicines that might be causing harm or might no longer be of benefit. This protocol details a trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a collaborative deprescribing intervention of PPI among community-dwelling elderly, involving community pharmacists and general practitioners. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A pragmatic, multicentre, two-arm, non-randomised controlled trial of a structured PPI collaborative deprescribing intervention in the primary care setting with a 6-month follow-up will be conducted. Patients must be 65 years old or older, live in the community and have been using PPI for more than 8 weeks. We hypothesize that the intervention will reduce the PPI usage in the intervention group compared to the control group. The primary outcome is the successful discontinuation or dose decrease of any PPI, defined as a statistically significant absolute 20% reduction in medication use between the intervention and control groups at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. An economic evaluation will be conducted alongside the trial. This study was approved by the Ethics Research Committee of Nova Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon and by the Ethics Committee from the Local Health Unit Alto Minho, Portugal. DISCUSSION: This pragmatic trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a patient-centred collaborative deprescribing intervention in the community setting in Portugal. It will also inform improvements for the development of future multi-faceted interventions that aim to optimise medication for the community-dwelling elderly. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 49637686.

Primary gastric squamous cell carcinoma: case report.

Primary gastric squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely rare entity with an unknown etiopathology, and prognosis is generally poor. While diagnostic criteria are standardized, the optimal treatment strategy is not defined due to its rarity. In this article, we present a case of primary gastric squamous cell carcinoma, discussing its approach and treatment.

Use and misuse of psychoactive medicines: a descriptive cross-sectional study in a densely populated region of Portugal.

Introduction: Although psychoactive medicines (PMed) are needed in several psychiatric conditions, their use and misuse bear risks. We aimed at estimating the prevalence of PMed use and misuse. Methods: Data on all PMed prescribed in 2017 and dispensed in community pharmacies of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region of Portugal (ARSLVT) were extracted from ARSLVT medicines' dispensing database. For 21 PMed among prescription opioids, benzodiazepines and z-drugs (BZDR), antidepressants (AD) and anticonvulsants (AC), we estimated the number of users of each PMed, and assessed PMed misuse by a set of proxy indicators for studying this practice: chronic use (use of ≥180 DDD during the study period) of PMed intended for short-term treatments, concomitant use of several PMed, in particular if involving long-term (≥ 30 days) opioid analgesic (OA) use, and doctor shopping (patients consulting several physicians in order to have access to a quantity higher than intended by each prescriber). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing, and multivariate logistic regression was used to explore potential factors affecting long-term concomitant treatment of chronic OA with other PMed. Results: PMed use prevalence was 21.7%: 6.6% for OA, 12.7% for benzodiazepines (BZD), 5.3% for AD and 2.8% for AC. BZDR were mainly prescribed in primary care and OA in hospital outpatients. Chronic use of PMed was observed in 25%, especially with sertraline and buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (long-term treatment), and lorazepam (short-term treatment). About 56.6% of OA chronic users were long-term concurrent users with other PMed, mainly BZDR. Risk of abuse was low for BZDR, whilst four opioids had meaningful doctor shopping indicators - fentanyl, opioid use disorder buprenorphine, morphine and hydromorphone. Conclusions: BZD are the main PMed used in ARSLVT, often chronically, especially lorazepam. Prevalence of OA use is low, although with higher risk of misuse than BZDR. Concomitant use of several PMed is frequent.

Corrigendum: Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1344028.].

Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe.

Background: The study of physiotherapy is challenging and can affect the students' well-being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe and compare factors that could affect well-being among students across Europe. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire survey, students of bachelor's physiotherapy programs from 23 European faculties, from 8 countries, were interviewed on mental health and stress burden, sleep quality, dietary habits, and physical activity. Results: Although 75% of students rated their quality of life positively and 47% were satisfied with their mental health, 65% showed higher levels of stress and 51% described impaired sleep quality. The minimum physical activity of 150 min weekly was described by 79% of students, within which 67% engaged in strengthening twice a week. Students with a higher stress load/worse psychological health also showed worse sleep quality and lower amount of physical activity, women were significantly worse off. In terms of physical activity and sleep quality, students from Finland and Kosovo achieved the best results, while students from Italy, Greece, and Portugal achieved the worst. Students from Italy indicated the greatest dissatisfaction with the organisation of the study system and communication with teachers, while in Kosovo students rated the communication and study organisation the highest. All students had a problem with adhering to nutritional habits. Students from Italy and Spain, with the lowest body mass indexes and weight averages, were closest to the nutrition recommendations. Conclusion: We demonstrated that physiotherapy students are burdened with stress, suffer from sleep disorders, and do not follow the recommendations regarding nutrition nor physical activity. There are significant differences between universities and countries in some aspects.

Chlamydia trachomatis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected men treated at a referral hospital for sexually transmitted diseases in the Amazonas, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine the Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and to identify the demographic, behavioural and clinical factors associated with C. trachomatis in human immunodeficiency virus infected men. STUDY: This was a cross-sectional study of C. trachomatis prevalence among human immunodeficiency virus-infected men enrolled at the Outpatient clinic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome of the Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. C. trachomatis deoxyribonucleic acid from urethral samples was purified and submitted to real time polymerase chain reaction to identify the presence of C. trachomatis. RESULTS: A total of 276 human immunodeficiency virus-infected men were included in the study. The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 12% (95% confidence interval 8.1%-15.7%). The mean age of the participants was 34.63 (standard deviation 10.80) years. Of the 276 human immunodeficiency virus-infected men, 93 (56.2%) had more than one sexual partner in the past year and 105 (38.0%) reported having their first sexual intercourse under the age of 15 years. Men having sex with men and bisexuals amounted to 61.2% of the studied population. A total of 71.7% had received human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis in the last three years and 55.1% were using antiretroviral therapy. Factors associated with C. trachomatis infection in the logistic model were being single (p<0.034), men having sex with men (p<0.021), and having previous sexually transmitted diseases (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among human immunodeficiency virus-infected men highlights that screening human immunodeficiency virus-infected men for C. trachomatis, especially among men having sex with men, is paramount to control the spread of C. trachomatis infection. .

Estudo da associação entre fatores socioambientais e prevalência de parasitose intestinal em área periférica da cidade de Manaus (AM, Brasil) / Study of the association between socio-environmental factors and the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in the suburbs of the city of Manaus in the state of Amazonas, Brazil

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a associação entre fatores socioambientais e condições de saneamento urbano com a prevalência de parasitoses intestinais, em uma comunidade na periferia da cidade de Manaus. O estudo consistiu de um levantamento socioambiental e de um inquérito parasitológico. Foi encontrada uma comunidade heterogênea, apresentando diferenças em relação aos níveis socioeconômicos e ambientais entre as micro-áreas avaliadas, embora as condições de saneamento básico da comunidade tenham-se mostrado precárias de uma forma geral. A prevalência de parasitose intestinal foi de 44,2 por cento. Não foi identificada diferença significativa entre as micro-áreas com respeito à ocorrência de parasitoses intestinais. Houve associação entre parasitoses intestinais e tipo de construção residencial, faixa etária e procedência da água de higiene pessoal e do lar. O despejo do esgoto a céu aberto foi fator de risco associado a parasitoses intestinais (OR=6,72; p=0,034) e a protozoários intestinais (OR=21,87; p=0,004). Foram fatores de risco, apenas para a presença de protozoários, o despejo de esgoto em igarapé (OR=12,98; p=0,011) e o uso de fossa rudimentar (OR=9,54; p=0,019).

This study assesses the association between socio-environmental factors and urban sanitation conditions with the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in a community on the periphery of the city of Manaus. The study comprised a socio-environmental survey and a parasitological inquiry. A heterogeneous community was revealed with some socio-economic and environmental differences between the micro-areas evaluated, even though the urban sanitation conditions were found to be predominantly precarious. The prevalance of intestinal parasitosis was 44.2 percent. There was no significant difference between the micro-areas that could explain the occurrence of intestinal parasitosis. An association was found between intestinal parasitosis and residential building types, age bracket and the quality of the water used for personal hygiene and consumption in the home. Open air sewerage was a risk factor associated with intestinal parasitosis (OR=6.72; p=0.034) and also with intestinal protozoa (OR=21.87; p=0.004). In terms of the presence of protozoa, two risk factors were verified: the dumping of sewage directly into the river system (OR=12.98; p=0.011) and the use of rudimentary cesspits (OR=9.54; p=0.019).

Componentes do peso vivo em cordeiros e borregos Polwarth e cruzas Texel x Polwarth / Live weight components in Polwarth and Texel x Polwarth lambs and hoggets

O estudo teve por objetivo comparar e quantificar o peso vivo ao abate e seus componentes em cordeiros e borregos Polwarth (Ideal) com cruzas de Texel x ovelhas Polwarth. Foram sacrificados 59 cordeiros com 116 dias de idade, sendo 40 Polwarth (21 machos e 19 fêmeas) e 19 cruzas de Texel x ovelhas Polwarth (7 machos e 12 fêmeas) e 24 borregos com 450 dias de idade, sendo 14 Polwarth e 10 cruzas de Texel x ovelhas Polwarth. Os animais foram criados em condições extensivas de campo nativo ao sul do Brasil (Pelotas-RS) e castrados aos 30 dias de idade. Em termos de valores absolutos, para peso vivo e seus componentes, não se detectaram diferenças significativas entre cordeiros puros e cruzas; para borregos, verificou-se que os cruzas apresentaram maiores pesos (peso vivo ao abate, carcaça quente e fria, cabeça, pulmões com traquéia, fígado, gordura renal e pélvica e rins). Em valores percentuais, foram verificados efeitos significativos entre puros e cruzas, somente em cordeiros, para pele e pulmões com traquéia e, um efeito de sexo para patas e fígado. Os resultados evidenciaram que o cruzamento entre ovelhas Polwarth com Texel, para aumento da produção de carne em condições extensivas de campo nativo, é viável em borregos (maior idade e peso) e não para cordeiros.

This work was undertaken to compare and quantify live body weight, at slaughter, and its components of Polwarth and Polwarth x Texel (ram) lambs and hoggets. Fifty-nine lambs (116 days old) were slaughtered. From that, forty were Polwarth (21 males and 19 females) and nineteen were Polwarth x Texel cresses (7 males and 12 females). Also, twenty-four hoggets (450 days old) were slaughtered. Fourteen hoggets were Polwarth and ten Polwarth x Texel cresses. The animals were raised under range conditions on native pasture, in seuthem Brazil (Pelotas-RS), and castrated at 30 days eld. There were no significant diferences, in absolute values, for body weight and its components, among purebred lambs and crosses; for hoggets, the crosses have shown higher weights (live body weight at slaughter, warm and cool carcass, head, lungs plus trachea, liver, kidney plus pelvic fat, and kidney). In percentage values, significant effects were observed among rebred and crosses only with lambs for hide and lungs plus trachea and sex effect for legs and liver. The results have shown that the crossbreeding among Polwarth (ewes) and Texel, for the increment of meat production under range conditions, is possible at a later age and weight (hoggets) but not for lambs.