The Family's Contribution to Patient Safety.

BACKGROUND: Person- and family-centered care is one of the recommendations to achieve quality of care and patient safety. However, many health professionals associate the family with insecurity in care. OBJECTIVE: To analyze, based on nurses' statements, the advantages and disadvantages of the family's presence in hospitals for the safety of hospitalized patients. METHODS: This was a qualitative interpretative study based on James Reason's risk model, conducted through semi-structured interviews with 10 nurses selected by convenience. A content analysis was performed using Bardin's methodology and MAXQDA Plus 2022 software. RESULTS: We identified 17 categories grouped according to the representation of the family in patient safety: The family as a Potentiator of Security Failures (7) and Family as a Safety Barrier (10). CONCLUSIONS: The higher number of categories identified under Family as a Safety Barrier shows that nurses see strong potential in the family's involvement in patient safety. By identifying the need to intervene with and for families so that their involvement is safe, we observed an increase in the complexity of nursing care, which suggests the need to improve nursing ratios, according to the participants.

"Looking beyond Mental Health Stigma": An Online Focus Group Study among Senior Undergraduate Nursing Students.

Evidence highlights the need for professionals to be aware of their stigmatizing attitudes and discriminatory practices in order to minimize the negative impact on the people they take care of. However, nursing students' perceptions of these issues have been poorly studied. This study explores the perspective of senior undergraduate nursing students on mental health and the stigma around it, by considering a simulated case vignette of a person with a mental health problem. A descriptive qualitative approach was chosen and involved three online focus group discussions. The findings show various manifestations of stigma, both at an individual and collective level, which indicates that it is an obstacle to the wellbeing of people with mental illness. Individual manifestations of stigma concern its effect on the person with mental illness, while at the collective level they concern the family or society in general. Stigma is a multifactorial, multidimensional, and complex concept, in terms of identifying and fighting it. Thus, the strategies identified involve multiple approaches at the individual level, aimed at the patient and family, namely through education/training, communication, and relationship strategies. At the collective level, to intervene with the general population and specific groups, such as groups of young people, strategies suggested include education/training, use of the media, and contact with people with mental disorders as ways to fight stigma.

Safety and Family-Centered Care during Restriction of Hospital Visits due to COVID-19: The Experience of Family Members.

BACKGROUND: Person and Family Centered Care (PFCC) has demonstrated important contributions to health care outcomes. However, in response to the need for safety due to the pandemic COVID-19, measures were taken to restrict hospital visits. So, the aim of this study was to understand the healthcare experience of family members of patients hospitalized during the pandemic period regarding safety and person- and family-centered care. METHODS: Qualitative interpretative study, conducted through semi-structured interviews with six family members of people hospitalized during the pandemic period. Content analysis was performed using Atlas.ti software version 22 (Berlin, Germany) and Bardin's methodology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Restrictions on hospital visits due to the pandemic of COVID-19 have led to a distancing of families from the hospital setting and influenced healthcare practice, making it difficult to involve families in the care process. In some cases, healthcare professionals made efforts to provide PFCC, attempting to minimize the impact of the visitation restriction. However, there were reported experiences of care delivery that did not consider social and psychological factors and did not place the person and family at the center of the care process, relying instead on the biomedical model. These practices left out important factors for the provision of safe care. It is crucial, even in pandemic settings, that healthcare professionals provide person- and family-centered care to the extent possible, promoting the safety of care. The family should be involved in the care of the person in the inpatient setting.

The Implications of Family Members' Absence from Hospital Visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Nurses' Perceptions.

BACKGROUND: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several measures were taken to prevent the transmission of infection in the hospital environment, including the restriction of visits. Little is known about the consequences of these directives, but it is expected that they will have various implications. Thus, this study aimed to understand the consequences of measures to restrict visits to hospitalized individuals. METHODS: A qualitative interpretive study was conducted through semistructured interviews with 10 nurses chosen by convenience. Content analysis was performed using Atlas.ti software, version 22 (Berlin, Germany). RESULTS: Twenty-two categories and eight subcategories were identified and grouped according to their scope: implications for the patient, implications for the family, and implications for care practice. CONCLUSIONS: The identified categories of implications of restricting hospital visits (implications for patients, relatives, and care practices) are incomparably more negative than positive and have a strong potential to cause safety events in the short to long term, also jeopardizing the quality of care. There is the risk of stagnation and even setback due to this removal of families from the hospital environment, not only in terms of safety and quality of care but also with regard to person- and family-centered care.

Patient-Centered Care for Patients with Depression or Anxiety Disorder: An Integrative Review.

People have specific and unique individual and contextual characteristics, so healthcare should increasingly opt for person-centered care models. Thus, this review aimed to identify and synthesize the indicators for the care process of the person with depression and/or anxiety disorders, based on patient-centered care, going through the stages of diagnostic assessment and care planning, including intervention. An integrative literature review with research in seven scientific databases and a narrative analysis were carried out. Twenty articles were included, with indicators for diagnostic evaluation and care/intervention planning being extracted. Care planning focused on people with depression and/or anxiety disorder must be individualized, dynamic, flexible, andparticipatory. It must respond to the specific needs of the person, contemplating the identification of problems, the establishment of individual objectives, shared decision making, information and education, systematic feedback, and case management, and it should meet the patient's preferences and satisfaction with care and involve the family and therapeutic management in care. The existence of comorbidities reinforces the importance of flexible and individualized care planning in order to respond to the specific health conditions of each person.

Patient-Centered Care for People with Depression and Anxiety: An Integrative Review Protocol.

Introduction: Depression and anxiety are mental diseases found worldwide, with the tendency to worsen in the current pandemic period. These illnesses contribute the most to the world's rate of years lived with disability. We aim to identify and synthesize indicators for the care process of the person with depression and/or anxiety disorders, based on patient-centered care, going through the stages of diagnostic assessment, care planning, and intervention. Methods and analysis: An integrative literature review will be conducted, and the research carried out on the following databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, CINAHL, Web of Science, TrialRegistry, and MedicLatina. The research strategy contains the following terms MesH or similar: "patient-centered care," "depression," and "anxiety." Two independent revisers will perform the inclusion and exclusion criteria analysis, the quality analysis of the data, and its extraction for synthesis. Disagreements will be resolved by a third revisor. All studies related to diagnostic assessment, care planning, or intervention strategies will be included as long as they focus on care focused on people with depression and anxiety, regardless of the context. Given the plurality of the eligible studies, we used the narrative synthesis method for the analysis of the diagnostic assessment, the care and intervention planning, and the facilitators and barriers. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021235405.

Gestão do risco em saúde mental: Revisão integrativa / Mental health risk management: Integrative review / Gestión de riesgos de salud mental: Revisión integradora

Resumo Contexto: Um conhecimento científico da gestão de risco nos cuidados de saúde mental é essencial para a construção de sistemas de saúde mais seguros, de qualidade e para melhorar a segurança do doente. Embora estudos sobre a segurança do doente e gestão do risco nos cuidados de saúde tenham vindo a aumentar, existe ainda pouca evidência no que se refere aos cuidados de saúde mental. Objetivo: Conhecer a evidência existente sobre a gestão do risco no âmbito dos cuidados de saúde mental, nomeadamente áreas prioritárias e estratégias de intervenção/monitorização. Métodos: Revisão integrativa da literatura através de pesquisa nas bases de dados MEDLINE, CINAHL, e Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection cujos critérios de inclusão foram: abordagem quantitativa, qualitativa e/ou revisões de literatura, nos idiomas Português, Inglês e Espanhol, publicados nos últimos 10 anos e terem como tema de pesquisa a gestão de risco no âmbito dos cuidados de saúde mental. Resultados: Foram encontrados 6 artigos que dão resposta ao objetivo desta revisão: dois estudos qualitativos, dois estudos de método misto e duas revisões de literatura. Conclusões: As áreas prioritárias na gestão do risco em saúde mental identificadas foram: violência e comportamento autodestrutivo, erros de tratamento, riscos associados à sintomatologia das doenças mentais. Nos estudos selecionados foram também identificadas estratégias de gestão do risco em saúde mental como: parceria, envolvimento e capacitação do utente, programas estruturados individualizáveis, orientações estratégias a nível político, treino e formação dos profissionais.

Abstract Background: Scientific knowledge of risk management in mental health care is essential for building safer, quality health systems and improving patient safety. Although studies on patient safety and risk management in general health care are increasing, there is still little evidence in mental health care. Aim: To know the existing evidence on risk management in mental health care, including priority areas and intervention / monitoring strategies. Methods: Integrative review of literature through research on MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection data bases, including critical criteria of quantitative, qualitative approach and / or literature reviews, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, published in the last 10 years and fear as a subject of research to gesture of risk in the domain of mental health. Results: We found 6 articles that meet the objective of this review: two qualitative studies, two mixed method studies and two literature reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Among the priority areas of attention in risk management in mental health were identified: violence and self-destructive behavior, treatment errors, risks associated with the symptoms of mental illness. The selected studies also identified mental health risk management strategies such as partnership, involvement and empowerment of the user, individualized structured programs, strategic guidance at the political level, training and education of professionals.

Resumen Contexto: El conocimiento científico de la gestión de riesgos en la atención de salud mental es esencial para construir sistemas de salud más seguros y de calidad y mejorar la seguridad del paciente. Aunque los estudios sobre la seguridad del paciente y la gestión de riesgos en la atención médica general están aumentando, todavía hay poca evidencia en la atención de la salud mental. Objetivo : Conozca la evidencia existente sobre la gestión de riesgos en la atención de salud mental, incluidas las áreas prioritarias y las estrategias de intervención / monitoreo. Metodología: Revisión integral de literatura mediante la búsqueda en las bases de datos de MEDLINE, CINAHL y Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection cuyos criterios de inclusión fueron: abordaje cuantitativo, cualitativo y / o revisiones de literatura en los idiomas portugués, inglés y español publicados en los últimos 10 tienen como tema de investigación la gestión de riesgos en la atención de la salud mental. Resultados: Encontramos 6 artículos que cumplen con el objetivo del revisión: dos estudios cualitativos, dos estudios de método mixto y dos revisiones de literatura. Conclusiones: Entre las áreas prioritarias de atención en la gestión de riesgos en salud mental se identificaron: violencia y comportamiento autodestructivo, errores de tratamiento, riesgos asociados con los síntomas de enfermedad mental. En los estudios seleccionados, también identificamos estrategias de gestión de riesgos para la salud mental como la asociación, la participación y el empoderamiento del usuario, programas estructurados individualizados, orientación estratégica a nivel político, capacitación y educación de profesionales.

The use of mental health promotion strategies by nurses to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression during the COVID-19 outbreak: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare nurses' depression, anxiety and stress symptoms at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and after six months; to evaluate and compare the frequency of use of mental health promotion strategies during the same period; and to identify the relationship between the frequency of use of mental health promotion strategies, during the same period, with nurses' depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. METHODS: Data collection was carried out in two moments: at baseline and after six months. An online questionnaire was applied to nurses to assess the frequency of use of some mental health promotion strategies and their depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms (through the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - short version (DASS-21)). RESULTS: The anxiety and stress symptoms significantly decreased over time. The physical activity increased, and a decrease was observed in the remote social contacts after six months. The stress, anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower in nurses who frequently or always used all strategies compared to participants who never or rarely used them, except for one strategy (rejecting information about COVID-19 from unreliable sources). CONCLUSIONS: Mental health promotion strategies, such as physical activity, relaxation activity, recreational activity, healthy diet, adequate water intake, breaks between work shifts, maintenance of remote social contacts, and verbalization of feelings/emotions, are crucial to reduce nurses' stress, anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Affectivity in schizophrenia: Its relations with functioning, quality of life, and social support satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between affectivity and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life, functioning, and social support satisfaction in schizophrenia. METHOD: Cross-sectional study of a sample of 282 schizophrenic patients. An interview was performed using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and scales to evaluate positive and negative affect, quality of life, social support satisfaction, and functioning. RESULTS: Participants' employment status, gender, whether they smoked, hospitalization in the last year, antidepressant medication and benzodiazepines, quality of life, functioning, and satisfaction with social support had relationships with positive or negative affect. CONCLUSION: This study provides further understanding of the factors related to affectivity in schizophrenia. More studies are needed to prove these relations and their effects on rehabilitation in people with schizophrenia.

Gestão de enfermagem: áreas prioritárias na segurança de profissionais e clientes / Nursing management: priority areas regarding safety of professionals and clients

Background: Due to the disturbing data that have been published, health security has gained special notoriety. The involvement of manager nurses is a fundamental condition to ensure high hospital safety standards. These are responsible for promoting a safety culture in teams and for promoting safe environments. Objective: To know what areas manager nurses consider as priority in the safety of clients and nurses in a hospital service. Methodology: A phenomenological qualitative study carried out through a semistructured interview to 14 manager nurses of a hospital in the central region of Portugal, chosen by convenience. Content analysis was carried out using Atlas.ti software and Bardin methodology. Results and Discussion: We identified 11 priority areas in client safety that reflect concern about adverse events with higher incidence rates and their causes described as more significant. The 12 priority areas in occupational safety are in line with the known occupational hazards and the most frequent workplace accidents. There are 5 categories that show a relationship between nurses 'and clients' safety. Conclusion: For those interviewed, customer and professional safety are equally important and interrelated. It is understood that health security is complex and multidimensional and does not only imply client safety, this may be dependent on the safety of the nurse and vice versa. They also demonstrated knowledge of the main safety problems described in the literature

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A new model for pharmacies? Insights from a quantitative study regarding the public's perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide community pharmacies are shifting their role in the healthcare system from simple medication dispensers to health care providers. High levels of satisfaction with pharmacy services were found in previous studies. This study has two main goals. The primary goal is to describe the levels of satisfaction and knowledge regarding pharmacy services in Portugal. The secondary goal is to explore the perceptions and the utilisation of pharmacy services by the Portuguese. This statement includes exploring the impact of a set of variables on both perceptions and uses of pharmacies in regard to services that are currently offered as well as to new services that may be provided in the future. METHODS: A face-to-face survey of closed-ended questions was applied to a nationwide representative sample of the Portuguese population in September 2015. The sample was weighted based on population distribution across regions, habitat, age and gender. Data analysis comprises descriptive statistics and Multiple Correspondence Analysis to explore different typologies of respondent's orientation toward community pharmacy. RESULTS: A total of 1114 interviews comprised the study. Of the respondents, 36% used the pharmacy as a first resource when seeking to treat a minor ailment, and 54% reported that they use the pharmacy as a first resource when seeking answers about medicines. Of those who visited their pharmacy at least once in the previous year, 94% were either globally satisfied or very satisfied. The level of acknowledgement of pharmacy services' was also high among the Portuguese. Of the participants, 29% considered there could be more services available in pharmacies that are currently provided by other health care facilities. The construction of a typology of orientations towards community pharmacy practice resulted in three outcome groups: "Motivated" (63%), those with a connection to a pharmacy; "Settled" (23%), mainly those who had a pharmacy nearby; and "Demobilised" (14%), those who are weakly tied to a pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of the Portuguese population has a strong positive attitude towards their community pharmacy, as expressed by the high levels of satisfaction with, and positive evaluation of, the pharmacy's services.

Perceções, atitudes e emoções dos doentes submetidos a internamento psiquiátrico compulsivo: Revisão integrativa / Perceptions, attitudes and emotions of the patients subjected to involuntary psychiatric hospitalization: Integrative review / Percepciones, actitudes y emociones de los enfermos sometidos a ingreso compulsivo: Revisión integrativa

CONTEXTO: O internamento compulsivo em Psiquiatria é um dos temas mais desafiantes desta área da saúde devido às questões éticas envolvidas. A experiência de estar sob cuidados involuntários, nomeadamente em internamento compulsivo, caracteriza-se por sentimentos negativos face à perda de liberdade e autonomia. OBJETIVOS: Conhecer perceções, atitudes e emoções dos doentes submetidos a internamento compulsivo. MÉTODOS: Revisão integrativa da literatura através de pesquisa nas bases de dados EBSCO e Trip Database nas duas primeiras semanas de janeiro de 2018, cujos critérios de inclusão foram: estarem disponíveis em full text, de abordagem quantitativa, qualitativa e/ou revisões de literatura, nos idiomas Português, Inglês e Espanhol e terem como tema de pesquisa as perceções, atitudes e emoções de doentes internados compulsivamente em psiquiatria. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados 8 artigos que dão resposta ao objetivo do estudo, incluem uma revisão de literatura, quatro estudos observacionais, um ensaio controlado, um estudo qualitativo e um estudo de validação de escala. CONCLUSÕES: Face à experiência de internamento compulsivo, foram identificadas perceções, atitudes e emoções maioritariamente negativas, mas também positivas e ambivalentes. Conclui-se que estas vivências podem ter consequências para além do internamento e que há práticas que devem ser aperfeiçoadas no sentido de melhorar a experiência do doente sujeito a internamento compulsivo.

BACKGROUND: Involuntary hospitalization in Psychiatry is one of the most challenging themes in this specialty due to the ethical issues involved. The experience of being under involuntary care, namely in compulsory hospitalization, is characterized by negative feelings in the face of loss of freedom and autonomy. AIM: To investigate the perceptions, attitudes and emotions of the patients that are admitted into involuntary hospitalization. METHODS: Integrative literature review through data search on the EBSCO database and on the Trip Database, in the first two weeks of January 2018, whose inclusion criteria were: to be available in full text, quantitative, qualitative and / or literature reviews, in the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages, attitudes and emotions of patients hospitalized compulsively in psychiatry. RESULTS: We found eight articles that met the study's objective, including a literature review, four observational studies, a controlled trial, a qualitative study and a scale validation study. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions, attitudes and emotions that were mostly negative, but also positive and ambivalent, were identified in view of the experience of compulsive hospitalization. It is concluded that these experiences can have consequences beyond hospitalization and that there are practices that must be improved in order to improve the experience of the patient subject to compulsory hospitalization.

CONTEXTO: El ingreso compulsivo en Psiquiatría es uno de los temas más desafiantes de esta área de salud debido a las cuestiones éticas envueltas. La experiencia de estar bajo cuidados involuntarios, en un régimen de ingreso compulsivo, se caracteriza por sentimientos negativos en relación a la pérdida de libertad y autonomía. OBJETIVOS: Conocer las percepciones, actitudes y emociones de los enfermos sometidos al ingreso compulsivo. MÉTODOS: Revisión integrativa de la literatura a través de la búsqueda en las bases de datos EBSCO eTrip Database, en las dos primeras semanas de enero de 2018, cuyos criterios de inclusión fueron: estar disponibles en texto completo, cuantitativa, cualitativa y / o revisiones de la literatura, en portugués, inglés y español y tienen como tema de investigación de las percepciones, actitudes y emociones de pacientes internados compulsivamente en psiquiatría. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron ocho artículos que dan respuesta al objetivo del estudio, incluyen una revisión de literatura, cuatro estudios observacionales, un ensayo controlado, un estudio cualitativo y un estudio de validación de escala. CONCLUSIONES: Frente a la experiencia de internamiento compulsivo, se identificaron percepciones, actitudes y emociones mayoritariamente negativas, pero también, positivas y ambivalentes. Se concluye que estas vivencias pueden tener consecuencias más allá del internamiento y que hay prácticas que deben ser perfeccionadas en el sentido de mejorar la experiencia del paciente sujeto a internamiento compulsivo.

Activation of NF-kappaB and COX-2 expression is associated with breakthrough bleeding in patients using oral contraceptives in extended regimens.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is an increase in endometrial inflammation associated with the occurrence of breakthrough bleeding in patients using an oral contraceptive in extended regimens. The presence of nuclear factor NF-kappaB and Cox-2 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in endometrial samples removed by hysteroscopy from patients with breakthrough bleeding during continuous use of an oral contraceptive containing gestodene. All patients had a history of menorrhagia associated or not with the presence of uterine pathology. The percentage of endometria showing a positive staining reaction for NF-kappaB in cell nuclei was significantly higher in patients with breakthrough bleeding than in those with amenorrhea. Cox-2 expression in the endometrium was also significantly more frequent in patients with breakthrough bleeding. The occurrence of breakthrough bleeding in patients with uterine pathology using combined oral contraceptives is associated with the activation of endometrial inflammation through the NF-kappaB pathway.

Effect of oral contraceptives on vascular endothelial growth factor, Cox-2 and aromatase expression in the endometrium of uteri affected by myomas and associated pathologies.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Cox-2 and aromatase expression in the endometrium of uteri with myomas and other associated pathologies. STUDY DESIGN: Hysteroscopy was performed in 118 women of reproductive age with myomas and menorrhagia, 40 of whom were using a pill containing 75 mcg gestodene+30 mcg ethinylestradiol. Aromatase p450, VEGF and Cox-2 expression was detected using immunohistochemistry. Fisher's Exact Test and the Mann-Whitney test were used in the statistical analysis, with significance established at p<.05. RESULTS: In patients with myomas and menorrhagia, associated pathologies such as adenomyosis, endometrial polyps and endometriosis were found in 32%, 12% and 17% of cases, respectively. Aromatase, Cox-2 and VEGF expression was greater during the proliferative phase compared to the luteal phase of the cycle or following oral contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: Endogenous progesterone or combined oral contraceptives are potent inhibitors of VEGF, aromatase and Cox-2 expression in the endometrium of patients with myomas and menorrhagia.

The effect of oral contraceptives on aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of oral contraceptives containing gestodene on aromatase expression in the endometrium of patients diagnosed with endometriosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Endometrial biopsies were taken at the time of laparoscopy in 40 patients with endometriosis, 16 of whom were using an oral contraceptive containing gestodene at the time of laparoscopy. The remaining 24 patients were receiving no form of treatment for endometriosis. Endometrial biopsies taken from 23 patients with normal echographic signs and no symptoms were used as controls. Aromatase expression was evaluated in endometrial samples using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the untreated, symptomatic endometriosis patients, aromatase expression was detected during the proliferative phase in 92% of cases, while in the symptom-free control patients aromatase was expressed in only 9% of cases. In patients with endometriosis who were using oral contraceptives, there were significantly fewer cases of positive endometria compared with the untreated patients with endometriosis (6%). CONCLUSION: Oral contraceptives containing gestodene are effective in decreasing aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis.

Aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of myomatous uteri: the influence of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use.

AIMS: To detect aromatase expression in the endometrium of myomatous uteri and to correlate it with the location of the myoma, phase of the menstrual cycle, the presence of menorrhagia and oral contraceptive use. METHOD: Aromatase p450 expression was measured using immunohistochemical methods in the endometrium of 116 patients. Sixty-one patients had menorrhagia associated with intramural/submucous myomas and nine had subserous myomas and no excessive bleeding. Forty-six patients had no uterine pathology and served as controls. Nineteen out of 61 patients with menorrhagia were oral contraceptive users at the time of the examination. Endometrial samples were obtained by hysteroscopy in all cases. RESULTS: Aromatase p450 expression was detected more frequently in the eutopic endometrium of patients with submucous or intramural myomas than in those in the subserous group, and was significantly greater during the proliferative phase than during the luteal phase or following the use of oral contraceptives. In normal uteri, aromatase expression was detected in the endometrium in less than 10% of users. CONCLUSIONS: Aromatase expression in the endometrium was affected by the location of the myoma, the presence of symptoms, and the phase of the menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptives, on the other hand, inhibited aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of patients with submucous/intramural myomas.

Tibone in the perimenopause for the treatment of androgen deficiency

A tibolona pode ser usada para tratar a deficiência androgênica na mulher na perimenopausa. O mecanismo de ação mais importante da tibolona é a redução dos níveis de SHBG e o aumento da testosterona livre. A tibolona também ativa a COX-2 no endométrio aumentando o risco de formação de pólipos endometriais. O aumento da testosterona livre com o uso da tibolona leva a um aumento de produção tecidual de estrogênios nos tecidos que expressam aromatase

Effect of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on aromatase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in adenomyosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci is affected by previous use of oral contraceptives containing gestodene, and to determine whether changes in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression occur in adenomyosis during the menstrual cycle. PATIENT AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study carried out in paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue obtained from patients with a histological diagnosis of adenomyosis obtained during the proliferative (n = 25) and luteal (n = 10) phases of the menstrual cycle and following the use of continuous oral contraception with gestodene/ethinyl estradiol (n = 7). COX-2 and aromatase expression were measured in both eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Aromatase expression was detected in 80% of the endometrial slices by immunohistochemistry. In positive cases, aromatase was mainly detected in the stromal cells of the eutopic endometrium, whereas in the adenomyotic foci this expression was negative in the majority of the cases. Oral contraceptives containing gestodene, on the other hand, were effective in suppressing aromatase expression in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium. COX-2 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in the glandular epithelium of both eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci and there were no significant changes in its intensity throughout the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: Aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci is suppressed by oral contraceptives containing gestodene. Increased aromatase activity may be responsible for the persistent COX-2 expression during the luteal phase.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the endometrium and its relationship to bleeding in users of continuous oral contraceptives.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate whether or not the presence of irregular bleeding during use of oral contraceptives (OC) is associated with increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational study was carried out in 26 patients who were using gestodene 75 microg/ethinylestradiol 30 microg prior to endometrial resection. The patients were divided into two groups: those with amenorrhea (n = 14) and those who had irregular bleeding (n = 12). The resected endometrium was immunostained for COX-2, Bcl-2 and Ki-67 expression. Routine pathology was carried out using standard hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: Irregular bleeding during OC use was associated with strong COX-2 expression in both glandular and superficial epithelium. There were also more patients in this group with irregular endometrial maturation and higher Ki-67 values. Bcl-2 expression, on the other hand, was not affected by the presence of uterine bleeding. CONCLUSION: The presence of irregular bleeding during OC use is associated with strong COX-2 expression in the endometrium, thereby suggesting a pivotal role of prostaglandins in this process.

Heat therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis elicits a systemic cytokine response similar to that of antimonial (Glucantime) therapy.

Controlled heat delivered as radio waves has been used successfully in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Here we investigated whether local heat therapy has systemic effects, as measured by the modulation of cytokine production following heat therapy of CL lesions compared with antimonial (Glucantime) treatment. Patients with CL were randomly assigned into this study. Heat (50 degrees C for 30s) was applied once. The control group received Glucantime therapy for 20 d. Cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was assayed on days 0, 14 and 28 after onset of treatment. At the end of 28 d, 75% of lesions were healing or healed in the heat therapy group and 90% in the control group (P=0.1261). There was a decrease in IFN-gamma, IL-5 and TNF-alpha levels comparing day 0 with day 28 in both groups, but no difference between the two therapy groups. In patients with only one of several lesions treated with heat therapy, the untreated lesions also healed. Local heat therapy in CL lesions leads to systemic cytokine responses similar to that induced by systemic Glucantime therapy.