[Blood pressure measurement campaign (May Measurement Month) from community pharmacies in 2018: analysis of screening in Spain]. / Campaña de medida de la presión arterial (May Measurement Month) desde las farmacias comunitarias en el 2018: análisis del cribado en España.

INTRODUCTION: Within the international project May Measurement Month, in Spain, the community pharmacy is where the greatest number of measurements are carried out and where the population can be made aware of the importance of regular blood pressure measurement. OBJECTIV: To ascertain the situation of the Spanish population's blood pressure and dissemination of the importance of its regular measurement through the community pharmacies. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in Spanish community pharmacies during the month of May 2018, among pharmacy users of legal age. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured as main variables. RESULTS: Five thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five readings were made by 891 pharmacists. One thousand, seven hundred and fifty-five (34.8%) people had not had their blood pressure measured in the last year. Of the participants, 31.2% had high blood pressure readings. Mean systolic blood pressure was 127.1±20.1 and mean diastolic blood pressure 77.5±12.5, higher in men (p<.001). There were normal blood pressure values in 3,981 (68.8%) patients; one high reading in 1,226 (21.2%); and two in 578 (10%). There were 912 (15.76%) patients with SBP≥140 and 314 (5.4%) with DBP≥90. Four (0.07%) hypertensive emergencies were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Three out of ten participants had a high blood pressure reading. Therefore, protocolized blood pressure readings carried out in a health care facility such as the community pharmacy, allowed the identification of a significant number of subjects with high and untreated blood pressure.

Cross-sectional study on prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in domestic ruminants in an endemic area of the Canary Islands (Spain).

Trypanosoma evansi is the most widely spread of the pathogenic African trypanosomes of animals. The disease (surra) was first diagnosed in the Canary Islands in a dromedary camel in 1997; thus, a control plan was implemented achieving the eventual eradication of T. evansi from most of the infected areas in the Archipelago. However, a little area remains still infected despite the use of the same control measures. To evaluate possible reservoirs in the area a representative sample of domestic ruminants was examined by serological, parasitological and molecular tests. Of a total of 1228 ruminants assessed, 61 (5%) were serologically positive (7 cattle, 21 goats, 33 sheep), but T. evansi could be demonstrated in none of them. According to FreeCalc assessment, cattle and goat populations would be free from disease; however, the results from sheep are not adequate to conclude that the population would be free from disease. As a conclusion, surveillance must be exercised on ruminant farms in the surroundings of the infected area in order to evaluate the possible extension of the disease and their potential role as reservoirs of T. evansi.

The role of wild rodents in the transmission of Trypanosoma evansi infection in an endemic area of the Canary Islands (Spain).

Trypanosoma evansi was diagnosed for the first time in camels in the Canary Islands in 1997. Several sanitary measures including treatment of infected animals were taken; however, nowadays a little area is still infected. In order to determine possible reservoirs 138 wild rodents were trapped, 64 of them in the infected farms and the remaining 74 in other areas. The captured species were Rattus rattus (24), Rattus norvegicus (69) and Mus musculus domesticus (45). Serological (CATT/T. evansi), parasitological (micro-Hematocrit Centrifugation technique and stained smears) and molecular (PCR) methods for T. evansi and T. lewisi were used as diagnostic methods. None of the examined rodents was positive for T. evansi; 18, however, showed motile trypanosomes at micro-Hematocrit Centrifugation technique and resulted positive for T. lewisi by PCR. The results would suggest that the studied rodent species would not play a relevant role in the epidemiology of T. evansi infection in Canaries.

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in domestic ruminants in Gran Canaria Island, Spain.

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis with worldwide occurrence. In the Canary Islands, the overall seroprevalence in humans has been estimated to be 21.5%. Gran Canaria island concentrates the highest ruminant population in the archipelago and the prevalence of the human infection is 23.5%. To evaluate the seroprevalence in livestock and the affected areas in Gran Canaria island, a total of 1249 ruminants were randomly selected for this study (733 goats, 369 sheep and 147 cattle). The samples were evaluated using an indirect ELISA Kit. The results showed seroprevalences of 60.4%, 31.7% and 12.2% in goats, sheep and cattle, respectively. Based on these results, Q fever could be considered as endemic in Gran Canaria island. Sanitary measures should be taken at the farm level to minimize the risk of exposure of C. burnetii to humans.

[Evaluation of a programme to monitor drug therapy in type-2 diabetics]. / Evaluación de un programa de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico a diabéticos tipo 2.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of pharmaceutical intervention in a programme to monitor the drug therapy of type-2 diabetics; and to assess the improvement of the indicators, glycosylated haemoglobin, basal glycaemia, lipid profile, albumin/creatinine, blood pressure, BMI, medication-related problems and adherence. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: 14 local pharmacies in the province of Pontevedra (Galicia), Spain. SUBJECTS: 126 type-2 diabetics, over 18 years old and who joined voluntarily a monitoring programme, distributed 50-50 into intervention and control groups. VARIABLES: The main variable was HbA1c. Other variables were: clinical indicators of metabolic control (mean basal glycaemia, lipid profile), blood pressure, BMI, medication-related problems, understanding of the illness and its complications, adherence to medical treatment and to changes in life-style, and incidence of complications. METHODS: Introduction and randomisation of patients. Recording of the initial status of the research variables, study and assessment stage, pharmaceutical interventions to detect and resolve any passing medication-related problems and educational activities. Referral to family doctor if his/her intervention required. Follow-up lasted 12 months with monthly scheduled visits and on-demand visits, after which the variables were assessed once more. The stages of study, evaluation, intervention and education did not occur in the control group. DISCUSSION: The study will enable the role of the chemist in achieving the objectives of controlling type-2 diabetes patients to be achieved through educational intervention and assistance in drug therapy monitoring.