Estudio sobre prevalencia de patologías crónicas en mayores de 50 años y adherencia al tratamiento mediante sistemas de dispensación personalizada / Study on the prevalence of chronic pathologies in the over 50s and adherence to treatment through personalised dispensing systems

JUSTIFICACIÓN: la atención farmacéutica ha sufrido un gran auge estas últimas décadas, debido al aumento de pacientes que padecen enfermedades crónicas, y al hecho de que las farmacias comunitarias son el punto de información sanitario más accesible y cercano para la población.OBJETIVOS: los objetivos del estudio consisten en la evaluación de la prevalencia de patologías crónicas en pacientes mayores de 50 años, así como el análisis de la adherencia al tratamiento mediante el uso de sistemas de dispensación personalizada (SDP) en una farmacia de Beniel, Región de Murcia.MATERIALES Y METODOS: en este trabajo se ha realizado un estudio a cuarenta participantes del municipio de Beniel a los cuales se les ha ofrecido el servicio de dispensación personalizada y el servicio de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico desde la farmacia. Además, se ha evaluado cuáles son las enfermadas crónicas más prevalentes en el municipio.RESULTADOS Y DISCUSIÓN: la enfermedad crónica con mayor prevalencia en Beniel es la hipertensión arterial (100 % de los encuestados), lo que coincide con los datos publicados por el Ministerio de Sanidad en los Informes Anuales de Salud. Por el contrario, la tercera enfermedad crónica más frecuente en el municipio de Beniel es la diabetes, de forma diferente a los datos nacionales que la establecen como la novena enfermedad más frecuente. Se han comparado los valores sociodemográficos en las patologías de depresión y ansiedad crónica, donde se ha visto reflejado una diferencia notable en hombres y mujeres, siendo estas últimas las más afectadas. Destaca el gran número de pacientes en tratamiento con Inhibidores de la bomba de protones (IBP) y antiagregantes plaquetarios.CONCLUSIONES: la población de Beniel no presenta grandes diferencias respecto a las patologías crónicas más frecuentes a nivel nacional. (AU)

Estudio cuantitativo y cualitativo sobre las interacciones farmacológicas en farmacias de la Región de Murcia / Quantitative and qualitative study on pharmacological interactions in pharmacies in the Region of Murcia

JUSTIFICACIÓN: las interacciones farmacológicas son un problema muy frecuente en la actualidad. La farmacia puede ser un lugar estratégico donde detectar e intervenir frente a dichas interacciones.OBJETIVOS: los objetivos del estudio son evaluar las interacciones farmacológicas más frecuentes y más graves desde un punto de vista cuantitativo y realizar un estudio cualitativo sobre el punto de vista de los farmacéuticos respecto a las interacciones, la manera de detectarlas e intervenirlas y su opinión sobre los programas informáticos de detección.MATERIALES Y METODOS: se ha recogido, en una farmacia de Murcia, información sobre las prescripciones de 167 pacientes crónicos y polimedicados con receta electrónica, lo que nos ha permitido evaluar las interacciones presentes en la medicación de los pacientes, así como su gravedad y frecuencia. Además, se ha desarrollado una entrevista semiabierta a 10 farmacéuticos de la Región de Murcia. Con ello, se pretende conocer su percepción sobre la importancia de las interacciones, el procedimiento a seguir en la detección y manejo de las interacciones y la opinión que tienen sobre los programas informáticos como herramienta en la detección.RESULTADOS: se han detectado 577 interacciones en 1330 medicamentos que tenían prescritos 167 pacientes. Las interacciones se han producido sobre todo por diuréticos (17,76 %), antidiabéticos (15,34 %), inhibidores de la bomba de protones (8,49 %) y β-bloqueantes (7,11 %). Concretamente, los fármacos que más interaccionan son hidroclorotiazida (7,37 %), metformina (6,33 %), omeprazol (6,24 %), furosemida (6,07 %) y bisoprolol (5,03 %). Las interacciones que más se han repetido son las de omeprazol-hidroclorotiazida (6,4 %), sacarosa-metformina (6,4 %), metformina- bisoprolol (2,8 %) y la de omeprazol-furosemida (1,7 %). (AU)

Placental chemical elements concentration in small fetuses and its relationship with Doppler markers of placental function.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed at quantifying placental concentrations of 22 chemical elements in small fetuses (SGA) as compared with normally grown fetuses (AGA), and to assess the relationship with Doppler markers of placental function. METHODS: Prospective cohort study, including 71 SGA fetuses (estimated fetal weight < 10th percentile) and 96 AGA fetuses (estimated fetal weight > 10th percentile), recruited in the third trimester of gestation. The placental concentration of 22 chemical elements was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP-OES, ICAP 6500 Duo Thermo): aluminum (Al), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chrome (Cr), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), sulfur (S), strontium (Sr), titanium (Ti), thallium (Tl), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn). Placental function was assessed by measuring the following fetal-maternal parameters: Uterine artery Pulsatility Index (UtA PI), Umbilical artery Pulsatility Index (UA PI) and Middle Cerebral artery Pulsatility Index (MCA PI). The association between the chemical elements concentration and study group and the association with Doppler measures were evaluated. RESULTS: SGA was associated with significantly (p < 0.05) lower concentrations of Al (AGA 21.14 vs SGA 0.51 mg/kg), Cr (AGA 0.17 vs SGA 0.12 mg/kg), Cu (AGA 0.89 vs SGA 0.81 mg/kg), Mg (AGA 0.007 vs SGA 0.006 g/100g), Mn (AGA 0.60 vs SGA 0.47 mg/kg), Rb (AGA 1.68 vs SGA 1.47 mg/kg), Se (AGA 0.02 vs SGA 0.01 mg/kg), Ti (AGA 0.75 vs SGA 0.05 mg/kg) and Zn (AGA 9.04 vs SGA 8.22 mg/kg). Lower placental concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn, Se, Ti were associated with abnormal UtA, UA and MCA Doppler. DISCUSSION: Lower placental concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Mn, Rb, Se, Ti and Zn are associated with SGA fetuses and abnormal fetal-maternal Doppler results. Additional studies are required to further understand how chemical elements affect fetal growth and potentially find strategies to prevent SGA.

Diagnóstico ecográfico y manejo de la infección fetal por parvovirus B19 / Prenatal diagnosis and management of fetal parvovirus B19 infection

Introducción: El parvovirus humano B19 (B19V) es una de las principales causas de anemia fetal que puede ocasionar hidropesía fetal grave, siendo el responsable de un 18-27% de las hidropesías fetales no inmunitarias. La infección por el B19V presenta brotes epidémicos cada 4-6 años, ocasionando un mayor número de casos de anemia fetal en los que es necesario realizar tratamiento. Objetivo: Conocer los resultados de los fetos con infección por B19V, su evolución, manejo y resultados perinatales. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de los casos de infección congénita por B19V, diagnosticados en un periodo de 5 años. Resultados: Se analizaron 14 fetos con infección y afectación por el B19V. Un 71,4% de los fetos tuvieron hidropesía fetal. El hallazgo ecográfico más frecuente fue la cardiomegalia (78,6%). Se realizó transfusión intrauterina a 7 fetos. Fallecieron un 40% de los fetos. De los fetos a los que se les realizó TIU, un 42,85% falleció tras el procedimiento, todos ellos presentaron una pancitopenia grave arregenerativa. Conclusiones: Aunque es una patología de buen pronóstico, los resultados dependen en gran medida del estado hemodinámico del feto, así como el grado de afectación hematológica y los riesgos de las técnicas invasivas. Existen parámetros de anemia fetal como es la presencia de regurgitación de la válvula tricúspide que ayudan a predecir un grado de afectación fetal y, por lo tanto, debería tenerse en cuenta para valorar la realización de técnicas invasivas para estimación directa del grado de anemia fetal

Introduction: The human parvovirus B19 virus (B19V) is one of the most common infectious causes of foetal anaemia, which can lead to severe foetal hydrops. This infection causes 17-27% of non-immune foetal hydrops. Epidemic outbreaks of B19V infection occur at intervals of 4-6 years, increasing the number of cases of foetal anaemia requiring treatment. Objective: To determine the findings in foetuses with B19V infection, the clinical course of these pregnancies, their management and perinatal outcomes. Material and methods: A retrospective study of cases of congenital B19V infection diagnosed over a 5-year period. Results: We found 14 foetuses with B19V infection. Hydrops was present in 71.4% of the cases. The most frequent ultrasound finding was cardiomegaly (78.6%). Exchange transfusion was carried out in 7 foetuses. Overall mortality was 40%. Of the 7 treated foetuses, 42.85% died after the procedure. All of them had severe aregenerative pancytopenia. Conclusion: The results of B19V infections largely depend on the degree of the anaemia, the haemodynamic status of the foetus, and the risk of invasive procedures. Some parameters, such as the presence of tricuspid regurgitation, can be used to diagnose foetal anaemia and could therefore be useful as a tool to evaluate the use of invasive procedures to directly estimate the degree of foetal anaemiA

Primer aislamiento de Salmonella Javiana con portación de KPC-2 en Paraguay / First isolation of Salmonella Javiana with KPC-2 in Paraguay

Varios mecanismos de resistencia a diversos agentes antimicrobianos que se han incorporado al arsenal terapéutico, han emergido en los últimos años, destacando la aparición de carbapenemasas en enterobacterias, siendo Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemasa (KPC) una de las más importantes, identificada originalmente en los Estados Unidos en 1996. En Paraguay, los primeros aislamientos de cepas portadoras de carbapenemasa tipo KPC se obtuvieron en septiembre del año 2009, a partir del cual se confirmaron la presencia en varias especies de enterobacterias, siendo Klebsiella pneumoniae la de mayor prevalencia entre ellas. Según datos del centro de referencia, Salmonella entérica serotipo Typhimurium es el serovar más común identificado en muestras de heces hasta la fecha, y el serotipo Javiana el cuarto. En este informe se describe el primer aislamiento resistente a carbapenemes por carbapenemasa del tipo KPC-2 en Salmonella entérica serotipo Javiana aislado en febrero de 2015 de una muestra fecal. Además, en muestras de la misma paciente, fueron aisladas las especies Klebsiella pneumoniae resistente a carbapenemes por presencia de la misma enzima (KPC-2) en secreción orotraqueal y Enterococcus faecalis resistente a vancomicina en muestra fecal. Este hallazgo, confirma la portación del gen que codifica para la carbapenemasa tipo KPC-2 por cepa de Salmonella entérica, y que el mismo ocurre en un serotipo poco frecuente (serotipo Javiana). Además, la recuperación en otra muestra de la paciente de K. pneumoniae productora de carbapenemasa tipo KPC- 2 evidencia la diseminación de este mecanismo de resistencia entre las enterobacterias. Palabras claves: Salmonella, KPC, carbapenemasas, enterobacterias.

At the global level have emerged over the years, microorganisms resistant to various antimicrobial agents that have been incorporated to the therapeutic arsenal. Several mechanisms of resistance have emerged in recent years, highlighting the emergence of carbapenemases in enterobacterias, entity which Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemasa (KPC), being one of the most important, originally identified in the United States in 1996. In Paraguay, the first isolates of KPC carbapenemasecarrying strains were obtained in september 2009, from which the presence of several Enterobacteria species was confirmed, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being the most prevalent among them. According to data from the reference center, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium is the most common serovar identified in stool samples to date, and the Javiana serotype the fourth. This report describes the first KPC-2 carbapenemase isolate in Salmonella enterica serovar Javiana isolated in February 2015 from a fecal sample. In addition, in samples from the same patient, Klebsiella pneumoniae species resistant to carbapenems were isolated by the presence of the same enzyme (KPC-2) in orotracheal secretion and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis in fecal samples. Key words: Salmonella, KPC, carbapenemases, enterobacterias.

Utilidad del cribado toxicológico en pediatría. Respuesta / Toxicology screening in paediatrics. Authors reply

No disponible

Cribado y diagnóstico precoz del cancer de pulmón / No disponible

No disponible

Early Cerebellar Network Shifting in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 6.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 6 (SCA6), an autosomal dominant degenerative disease, is characterized by diplopia, gait ataxia, and incoordination due to severe progressive degeneration of Purkinje cells in the vestibulo- and spinocerebellum. Ocular motor deficits are common, including difficulty fixating on moving objects, nystagmus and disruption of smooth pursuit movements. In presymptomatic SCA6, there are alterations in saccades and smooth-pursuit movements. We sought to assess functional and structural changes in cerebellar connectivity associated with a visual task, hypothesizing that gradual changes would parallel disease progression. We acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging data during a passive smooth-pursuit task in 14 SCA6 patients, representing a range of disease duration and severity, and performed a cross-sectional comparison of cerebellar networks compared with healthy controls. We identified a shift in activation from vermis in presymptomatic individuals to lateral cerebellum in moderate-to-severe cases. Concomitantly, effective connectivity between regions of cerebral cortex and cerebellum was at its highest in moderate cases, and disappeared in severe cases. Finally, we noted structural differences in the cerebral and cerebellar peduncles. These unique results, spanning both functional and structural domains, highlight widespread changes in SCA6 and compensatory mechanisms associated with cerebellar physiology that could be utilized in developing new therapies.

Enterobacterias resistentes a Carbapenemes por producción de KPC, aisladas en hospitales de Asunción y Departamento Central / Enterobacteria Carbapenem-resistant KPC by production, isolated inhospitals and Asunción and Central Department

Las infecciones por enterobacterias resistentes a carbapenemes o productoras de carbapenemasas (KPC) han emergido como un importante desafío en los centros de salud de todo el mundo, incluyendo el Paraguay. Este estudio describe los hallazgos de estos patógenos en diferentes centros de Asunción y Departamento Central, donde han sido aisladas 76 cepas de enterobacterias con resistencia a carbapenemes por producción de esta enzima, confirmadas por métodos moleculares. Además, en las mismas, han sido detectadas otros mecanismos de resistencia, como producción de betalactamasa de espectro extendido (CTX-M y PER-2) y genes que codifican la resistencia a quinolonas (qnr). Palabras claves: KPC, Enterobacterias, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Carbapenemes

Infections caused by carbapenem resistant or carbapenemase producing (KPC) enterobacteria have emerged as an important challenge in healthcare centers throughout the world, including Paraguay. This study describes findings of these pathogens in different facilities in Asunción and the Central Department, where 76 families of carbapenem resistant bacteria have been isolated through detection of this enzyme, and confirmed through molecular methods. In addition, other resistance mechanisms have been detected in the same families, such as broad spectrum betalactamase resistance (CTX-M and PER-2) and genes that codify quinolone resistance. Key words: KPC, Enterobacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Carbapenems

Patient-acceptable symptom state as an outcome measure in the daily care of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prevalence of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rating their state as acceptable (patient-acceptable symptom state; PASS), among 190 patients with AS seen in daily practice. Factors associated with PASS status and PASS thresholds for outcome measures were also analyzed. METHODS: The characteristics of patients with affirmative and negative assignment to PASS were compared. Associated factors were estimated by logistic regression models and PASS thresholds by the 75th percentile and receiver-operating characteristic curve methods. RESULTS: A total of 77% of patients rated their state as acceptable (95% CI 62-91). These patients were taking fewer nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, practiced more exercise, had less anxiety and depression, and had lower values of all patient-reported outcome measures, physicians' assessment, AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) and C-reactive protein. Lower values of Bath AS Disease Activity Index and physician's global assessment were independent factors associated with acceptable symptom state. High rates of anxiety and depression were found in patients not in PASS. The thresholds with the 75th percentile approach were 4.55 for the BASDAI and 2.84 for the ASDAS. Fifty-three percent of patients in PASS had a high or very high disease activity state according to ASDAS cutoff values. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of patients with AS in daily practice declared that their symptom state was acceptable. PASS status correlated with physician global assessment and BASDAI. PASS thresholds for common recommended outcome measures were relatively high and many patients in PASS had unacceptably high disease activity states according to ASDAS. Other factors such as psychological problems may influence a negative PASS state.

Maternal hair testing for the assessment of fetal exposure to drug of abuse during early pregnancy: Comparison with testing in placental and fetal remains.

UNLABELLED: Drug use by pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy and subsequent fetal exposure during early gestation can be assessed only by repetitive/systematic maternal blood/urine analysis or segmental hair analysis. No evidence of any relationship between maternal/fetal exposure during this specific period of gestation has been demonstrated to date in a human model. METHODS: To clarify drugs toxicokinetics and transplacental passage during early pregnancy, the presence of the most widely used recreational drugs of abuse and metabolites was investigated in the proximal 4cm hair segments of women undergoing voluntary termination of pregnancy (n=280) during the 12th week of gestation and the results were compared to those from placenta and fetal tissue samples in order to verify whether maternal hair testing can reflect fetal exposure and, if so, to what extent. Hair, placenta and fetal remains were analyzed by validated gas chromatography mass spectrometry assays. RESULTS: Eighty one positive hair samples were identified: 60 were positive for cannabis (74.1%), 28 for cocaine (34.6%), 7 for opiates (8.6%), 3 for MDMA (3.7%) and 18.5% were positive for more than one drug. The positive hair test results were confirmed in placenta/fetal tissues in 10 cases out of 60 for cannabis (16. 7%); in 7 out of 28 for cocaine (25%); and none for the 6 opiates positive cases and 3 MDMA cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Drugs/metabolites in hair of pregnant women can be used as biomarkers of past drug use (repetitive or sporadic), although the use is not always reflected in fetal/placental tissues. There are several possible hypotheses to explain the results: (1) the use occurred before the start of pregnancy, (2) past sporadic consumption which could be measured in hair but not in fetal and placental remains because of the narrow window of drug detection in placental/fetal tissues; (3) the sensitivity of the analytical methods was not high enough for the detection of the minute amount of drugs of abuse and metabolites which reached these tissues (4) there is a large variability in the transplacental passage of drugs of abuse and in the placenta's metabolizing capacity.

A survey of Italian and Spanish neonatologists and paediatricians regarding awareness of the diagnosis of FAS and FASD and maternal ethanol use during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Ethanol is the most widely used drug in the world and a human teratogen whose consumption among women of childbearing age has been steadily increasing. There are no Italian or Spanish statistics on ethanol consumption during pregnancy nor any information regarding prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). There is also a reasonable suspicion that these two diseases are underdiagnosed by professionals from the above-reported countries. The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the experience, knowledge and confidence of Italian and Spanish neonatologists and paediatricians with respect to the diagnosis of FAS and FASD, and 2) to evaluate professionals awareness of maternal drinking patterns during pregnancy. METHODS: A multiple-choice anonymous questionnaire was e-mailed to Italian neonatologists registered in the mailing list of the corresponding Society and administered to Italian and Spanish paediatricians during their National Congress. RESULTS: The response rate was 16% (63/400) for the Italian neonatologists of the National Society while a total of 152 Spanish and 41 Italian paediatricians agreed to complete the questionnaire during National Congress. Over 90% of the surveyed physicians declared that FAS is an identifiable syndrome and over 60% of them identified at least one of the most important features of FAS. Although over 60% Italian responders and around 80% Spanish responders were aware that ethanol use in pregnancy is dangerous, approximately 50% Italian responders and 40% Spanish ones allowed women to drink sometimes a glass of wine or beer during pregnancy.Neonatologists and paediatricians rated confidence in the ability to diagnosis FAS and FASD as low, with over 50% responders feeling they needed more information regarding FAS and FASD identification in newborn and child. CONCLUSIONS: Italian and Spanish neonatologists and paediatricians do not feel confident about diagnosing FAS and FASD. More training is needed in order to accurately diagnose ethanol use during pregnancy and correctly inform pregnant women on the consequences on the newborn.

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from organic solvents by ashes wastes.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be formed during the refinery processes of crude petroleum. Their removal is of great importance. The same happens with other organic solvents used for the extraction of PAHs (hexane, acetonitrile...), which can be polluted with PAHs. Kinetic and equilibrium batch sorption tests were used to investigate the effect of wood ashes wastes as compared to activated carbon on the sorption of three representative PAHs from n-hexane and acetonitrile. Mussel shell ashes were discarded for batch sorption experiments because they were the only ashes containing PAHs. The equilibrium time was reached at 16 h. Physical sorption caused by the aromatic nature of the compounds was the main mechanism that governed the PAHs removal process. Our investigation revealed that wood ashes obtained at lower temperature (300 degrees C) did not show any PAHs sorption, while ashes obtained at higher temperature (>500 degrees C) have adsorbent sites readily available for the PAH molecules. An increase in the molecular weight of PAHs has a strong effect on sorption wood ashes wastes. As low the wood ashes particle size as high the sorption of PAHs, as a result of differences in adsorbent sites. The performance of wood ash wastes vs. activated carbon to remove 10 PAHs from organic solvents is competitive in price, and a good way for waste disposal.

Exposure to psychoactive substances in women who request voluntary termination of pregnancy assessed by serum and hair testing.

Drug abuse is a worldwide phenomenon with significant health and socioeconomic impact and it is of particular concern in women of reproductive age and in pregnant women. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of drug use by serum and hair testing in a cohort of pregnant women at 12th week gestation who decided voluntarily to interrupt their pregnancy and to investigate the relationship between drug exposure and induced abortions (IA), repeated IA and contraception. The study was conducted in an obstetrics clinic authorised to perform IA in Murcia, Spain during an 18 months period (2007-2009). Apart from serum and/or hair testing, the 142 women enrolled in the study completed a detailed questionnaire regarding drug, alcohol and tobacco use in the previous 3 months. Serum and hair samples were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry assays. Hair and serum samples showed a 30% overall positivity to drugs of abuse. Of these samples, 20.4, 14.1, 4.2 and 1.4% were positive for cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, and MDMA, respectively, with polydrug use in 5.6% cases. In this cohort, a positive association was found between drug use and repeated IA. The results highlight the need for promoting pregnancy planning for young women in general, especially when consuming psychoactive substances as well as promote safe and accessible contraception in women of reproductive age. In women requesting IA, specific drug abuse counselling should be implemented.

High prevalence of ST-78 infection-associated vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from hospitals in Asunción, Paraguay.

Forty infection-associated VanA-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) strains obtained from five collaborating hospitals in Asunción, Paraguay were investigated. Genotyping using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing revealed the presence of 17 cluster types and four STs, with 93% (37/40) of isolates comprising ST type 78. Other ST types included ST-132, ST-210 and one new ST type (ST-438). All but one isolate (ST-438) were associated with clonal complex 17 (CC17), and 97% of the total isolates carried the esp gene. Three Tn1546 variants were found, including a new lineage containing an ISEfa5 insertion in an existing IS1251 element.