Effectiveness of randomized controlled trial of a mobile app to promote healthy lifestyle in obese and overweight patients.

BACKGROUND: Health advice is useful for establishing behavioural changes, but such changes tend not to last. It would therefore be good to identify mechanisms for reinforcing advice and one option is the use of information and communication technologies. Given the limited evidence on the effectiveness of such technologies, we decided to conduct a clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a mobile application (app) for supporting the provision health advice for weight loss. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial with 110 obese and overweight patients from the Basque public health care network (Araba). Patients were randomly allocated to the control (health advice) or intervention (health advice + app) groups. Primary (weight) and secondary (blood cholesterol level, blood pressure, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and adherence to dietary and exercise recommendations) outcome variables were assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months after the end of the intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in weight (0.357 kg; P = 0.7), blood cholesterol (2.6 mg/dl; P = 0.617), blood pressure (2.3 mmHg; P = 0.369) or adherence to recommendations on diet (84.6% in control and 92.9% the intervention group, P = 0.413) or physical activity (56% in controls and 75% the intervention group, P = 0.145). On the other hand, there were significant differences in HbA1c in favour of the control group (-0.095%; %; P = 0.046). DISCUSSION: The use of AKTIDIET® to support health advice for weight loss cannot be recommended. More high quality studies are needed, and patients should be involved in the design of apps to increase their efficacy and usability. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02308176.

Caracterización de los patrones de prescripción de nuevos antiepilépticos / Prescription patterns characteristics of new antiepileptic drugs

RESUMEN Fundamento: la epilepsia es una de las enfermedades neurológicas más frecuentes y cerca del 30 % de los pacientes que la padecen no se controlan con antiepilépticos clásicos. Objetivo: caracterizar los patrones de prescripción de antiepilépticos nuevos en el municipio Camagüey. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal de utilización de medicamentos, de tipo prescripción/indicación, con elementos de esquema terapéutico. El universo estuvo constituido por 300 pacientes y todos quedaron incluidos en el estudio. Las variables evaluadas fueron: grupo de edad, indicaciones, asociaciones e intervalos de administración. Resultados: predominó el uso de vigabatrina y lamotrigina en niños y en pacientes con diagnóstico de epilepsia, mientras que la gabapentina se empleó más en adultos y en el dolor neuropático. La vigabatrina y la lamotrigina se emplearon sobre todo asociadas a antiepilépticos clásicos, donde el valproato fue el más utilizado. La gabapentina se utilizó sólo en monoterapia. Existieron errores en los intervalos de administración de los tres fármacos estudiados. Conclusiones: la prescripción de nuevos antiepilépticos fue adecuada en la mayoría de los casos. Los errores identificados estuvieron relacionados con los intervalos de administración.

ABSTRACT Background: epilepsy is one of the most frequent neurological diseases and almost 30 % of patients who suffer from it do not get control with classic antiepileptic drugs. Objective: to characterize prescription patterns of new antiepileptic drugs in Camagüey municipality. Methods: a descriptive and cross-section study about use of medicines, of prescription-indication type with elements of therapeutic scheme was conducted. The study universe was composed of 300 patients and all of them were included in the research. The following variables were studied: group of age, indications, associations and interval of administration. Results: the use of vigabatrin and lamotrigin prevailed in children and patients with diagnosis of epilepsy while the Gabapentin was more frequent used in adults and neuropathic pain. Vigabatrin and lamotrigin were mainly used in associations with classical antiepileptic drugs, being valproic acid the most used drug on it. Gabapentin was used alone. There were mistakes on intervals of administration of all studied drugs. Conclusions: the prescription of new antiepileptic drugs was adequate in most cases. Identified mistakes were related to intervals of administration.

Primer reporte en Cuba de endocarditis infecciosa a consecuencia de brucelosis / First report of infective endocarditis in Cuba as a result of brucellosis

Introducción: las manifestaciones clínicas por brucelosis han sido muy poco investigadas y no se profundiza en los síntomas y las posibles complicaciones que puede causar. Objetivo: reportar por primera vez en Cuba un caso de endocarditis infecciosa a consecuencia de brucelosis. Métodos: hombre blanco, de 57 años, campesino, remitido desde Vertientes, que ingresó en diciembre de 2009 en el Hospital Provincial "Manuel Ascunce Domenech" de Camagüey, con diagnóstico presuntivo de endocarditis infecciosa por Brucella e insuficiencia aórtica moderada, que refirió presentar fiebre, malestar general, decaimiento, dolores musculares, articulares, artritis, astenia marcada, anorexia, signos neurológicos, sudoración y fuerte dolor en el pecho. En anteriores ingresos fue tratado con antimicrobianos, indicándole entre los complementarios, serología lenta en busca de brucelosis, pero por no disponibilidad de reactivos no se realizaron estas pruebas hasta enero de 2010. Se precisaron como antecedentes epidemiológicos el contacto directo con ganado vacuno y porcino y la presencia de heridas y microtraumatismos en manos y pies, propios de su labor. Su finca colinda con otra donde hay ganado afectado de brucelosis. Resultados: los exámenes de laboratorio resultaron positivos con elevados títulos serológicos, y aunque no fue posible el aislamiento del agente etiológico mediante el cultivo, se confirmó serológicamente la enfermedad y la endocarditis infecciosa como complicación sobreañadida; esto llevó tratamiento con antimicrobianos y medicamentos para la afección cardíaca. Se diagnostican muy poco estas complicaciones a consecuencia de brucelosis en la literatura internacional, este es el primer reporte para Cuba. Conclusiones: la descripción de este caso, constituye una alerta en el diagnóstico de las endocarditis infecciosas quizá asociadas a antecedentes epidemiológicos de brucelosis.

Introduction: the clinical manifestations of brucellosis have been poorly researched on and the symptoms and possible complications have not been deeply studied either. Objective: to report a case of infective endocarditis caused by brucellosis for the first time in Cuba. Methods: a Caucasian male farmer aged 57 years was referred from Vertientes municipality to be admitted at "Manuel Ascunce Domenech" provincial hospital in Camaguey province in December,2009. He had been presumptively diagnosed with infectious endocarditis caused by Brucella and with moderate aortic failure since he presented with fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle and joint pains, arthritis, marked asthenia, anorexia, neurological signs, sweating and strong chest pain. In his previous hospitalization, he had been treated with antimicrobials after indication of supplementary tests such as slow serology for brucellosis; however, specific reagents were not available,so these tests were not performed until January 2010.The epidemiological history of this case included his direct contact with cows and pigs as well as wounds and minor traumas inflicted on his hands and feet resulting from his type of work. His farm is next to another farm where the cattle is also affected with brucellosis. Results: the lab tests were positive with high serological titres, and although it was not possible to isolate the etiologic agent through culturing, the disease and the infective endocarditis were serologically confirmed as additional complication; this required antimicrobial treatment and drugs for the heart disease. These complications from brucellosis are barely diagnosed in the international literature, and in Cuba, this is the first report of the disease. Conclusions: the description of this case is an alert to diagnosis of infective endocarditis that may be associated with epidemiological history of brucellosis.

[First report of infective endocarditis in Cuba as a result of brucellosis]. / Primer reporte en Cuba de endocarditis infecciosa a consecuencia de brucelosis.

INTRODUCTION: the clinical manifestations of brucellosis have been poorly researched on and the symptoms and possible complications have not been deeply studied either. OBJECTIVE: to report a case of infective endocarditis caused by brucellosis for the first time in Cuba. METHODS: a Caucasian male farmer aged 57 years was referred from Vertientes municipality to be admitted at "Manuel Ascunce Domenech" provincial hospital in Camaguey province in December, 2009. He had been presumptively diagnosed with infectious endocarditis caused by Brucella and with moderate aortic failure since he presented with fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle and joint pains, arthritis, marked asthenia, anorexia, neurological signs, sweating and strong chest pain. In his previous hospitalization, he had been treated with antimicrobials after indication of supplementary tests such as slow serology for brucellosis; however, specific reagents were not available,so these tests were not performed until January 2010.The epidemiological history of this case included his direct contact with cows and pigs as well as wounds and minor traumas inflicted on his hands and feet resulting from his type of work. His farm is next to another farm where the cattle is also affected with brucellosis. RESULTS: the lab tests were positive with high serological titres, and although it was not possible to isolate the etiologic agent through culturing, the disease and the infective endocarditis were serologically confirmed as additional complication; this required antimicrobial treatment and drugs for the heart disease. These complications from brucellosis are barely diagnosed in the international literature, and in Cuba, this is the first report of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: the description of this case is an alert to diagnosis of infective endocarditis that may be associated with epidemiological history of brucellosis.