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Introduction: Treatment for multiple sclerosis should focus on relapse prevention and treatment, as well as symptom and disease progression control, which require the use of multiple medications. Objective: To evaluate the association of polypharmacy and related clinical, epidemiological factors in multiple sclerosis patient cohorts. Methods: It was conducted a prospective study of multiple sclerosis patients that held a prescription of disease-modifying drugs between January and December 2017. The medications were analyzed and classified as either long-term or as-needed medications for therapeutic objective and prescription status purposes. Results: During 2017, 124 patients were attended, 106 were eligible for the study, and 81 agreed to participate. The average age was 40.95±11.69 years. The disease duration varied between 6 months and 30 years, with a median of 7 years. More than half of the multiple sclerosis patients suffered from comorbidities (54.32%), and 76.54% were categorized as polypharmacy. The comparison of polypharmacy between the groups yielded significant differences for comorbidities and employment status and regarding age between patients with polypharmacy and patients without polypharmacy of long-term medications. Conclusion: The age of the patient and the presence of comorbidities are important factors related to polypharmacy.

ObjectiveTo determine the incidence of medication discrepancies in transition points of care of hospitalised children.DesignA prospective observational multicentre study was carried out between February and August 2019. Data collection consisted of the following steps: sociodemographic data collection, clinical interview with the patient’s caregiver, review of patient prescriptions and evaluation of medical records. Medication discrepancies were classified as intentional (documented or undocumented) and unintentional. In addition, discrepancies identified were categorised according to the medication discrepancy taxonomy. Unintentional discrepancies were assessed for potential clinical harm to the patient.SettingPaediatric clinics of four teaching hospitals in Brazil.PatientsChildren aged 1 month–12 years.FindingsA total of 248 children were included, 77.0% (n=191) patients had at least one intentional discrepancy; 20.2% (n=50) patients had at least one unintended discrepancy and 15.3% (n=38) patients had at least one intentional discrepancy and an unintentional one. The reason for the intentional discrepancy was not documented in 49.6% (n=476) of the cases. The most frequent unintentional discrepancy was medication omission (54.1%; n=66). Low potential to cause discomfort was found in 53 (43.4%) unintentional discrepancies, while 55 (45.1%) had the potential to cause moderate discomfort and 14 (11.5%) could potentially cause severe discomfort.ConclusionsAlthough most medication discrepancies were intentional, the majority of these were not documented by the healthcare professionals. Unintentional discrepancies were often related to medication omission and had a potential risk of causing harm to hospitalised children.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of Integrated Continuous Care on the functional independence of the elderly. This cohort study included participants aged 60 years or older who had experienced a disabling event or disease, and were admitted to rehabilitation in a Brazilian Integrated Continuous Care Unit. The functional gain was evaluated by the Barthel index. Fifty-nine elderly individuals admitted due to a disabling event or disease at the ICCU were assisted from March 2014 to February 2015. Since twenty-two of these were excluded, only 37 participants were evaluated. The mean age of the elderly that were included was 70.41 years (± 1.40) and most of them presented an ischemic stroke diagnosis (64.9%). The total functional gain was 24.05 (± 3.84) points, with an average stay of 32.32 (± 2.18) days. When compared with the degree of dependence on the admission and at discharge, total or severe dependence was identified in 62.2% on admission and mild dependence or total independence was identified in 54.1% at discharge, with a significant decrease in the percentage of the elderly with total dependence between admission and discharge (McNemar test, p = 0.001). At hospital discharge, 70.3% of the elderly had better individual performance in their Activities of Daily Living than at hospital admission and none of them got worse. The multi-professional team-based approach in the Integrated Continuous Care assistance model favors the elderly with gain in functionality and independence. The social network involvement of the elderly lead to their empowerment and co-responsibility along with their family/caregiver in pursuit of the therapeutic goals established together. Investigar a influência dos Cuidados Continuados Integrados na independência funcional de idosos. Este estudo de coorte incluiu participantes com 60 anos ou mais que sofreram algum evento ou doença incapacitante e que foram internados para reabilitação em Unidade Brasileira de Cuidados Continuados Integrados. O ganho funcional foi avaliado pelo índice de Barthel. Cinquenta e nove idosos admitidos por um evento ou doença incapacitante na UCCI foram atendidos de março de 2014 a fevereiro de 2015. Como vinte e dois deles foram excluídos, apenas 37 participantes foram avaliados. A média de idade dos pacientes incluídos foi de 70,41 anos (± 1,40) e a maioria apresentou AVC isquêmico como diagnóstico (64,9%). O ganho funcional total foi de 24,05 (± 3,84) pontos, com tempo médio de permanência de 32,32 (± 2,18) dias. Quando comparados o grau de dependência na admissão e na alta, a dependência total ou grave foi identificada em 62,2% na admissão e a dependência leve ou independência total foi identificada em 54,1% na alta, com uma diminuição significativa no percentual de pacientes com dependência total entre admissão e alta (teste de McNemar, p = 0,001). Na alta hospitalar, 70,3% dos pacientes apresentaram melhor desempenho individual em suas Atividades de Vida Diária do que no momento da admissão hospitalar e nenhum paciente piorou. A abordagem multiprofissional baseada em equipe no modelo assistencial do Cuidado Integrado Contínuo beneficia o idoso, com ganho de funcionalidade e independência. O envolvimento do paciente na rede social leva ao empoderamento e corresponsabilidade deste e da família/cuidador na busca dos objetivos terapêuticos estabelecidos em conjunto.

Rationale: Necrotizing fasciitis is a destructive tissue infection with rapid progression and high mortality. Thus, it is necessary that high-performance dressings be introduced as possibilities of treatment. Patient concerns: Female patient, 44 years of age, admitted to hospital unit complaining of lesion in the gluteal region and drainage of purulent secretion in large quantity followed by necrosis. Diagnoses: The diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis was carried out with the computerized tomography examination result and its association with the patient's clinical condition. Interventions: Initially, successive debridements were carried out in lower limbs as well as primary dressing with enzymatic debriding action until indication of negative pressure wound therapy, for the period of 2 weeks in the right lower limb and for 5 weeks in the left lower limb, with changes every 72 h. Dressing with saline gauze was used at the end of this therapy until hospital discharge. Outcomes: After the use of negative pressure wound therapy, we observed the presence of granulation tissue, superficialization and reduction of lesion extension. The patient presented good tolerance and absence of complications. Lessons: Negative pressure wound therapy constituted a good option for the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis, despite the scarcity of protocols published on the subject.

Pharmacovigilance encompasses the detection, evaluation, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems. Knowledge of real and independent pharmacovigilance data is essential because clinical trials with medicinal products are limited and do not reveal all adverse effects of a product. The spontaneous notification system is one of the main tools used in pharmacovigilance. However, important remaining challenges for health professionals are the accurate recognition of adverse drug reactions and reporting routinely and systematically during their work. Once low notification rates make it harder to detect and monitor potential safety issues, it is needed risk assessment, and regulatory actions to safeguard patient safety. The objective of this study is to present the challenges of pharmacovigilance in Brazil. The implementation of computerized active search tools significantly improves the identification of possible adverse drug effects. Effective pharmacovigilance is crucial to ensure the safety and integrity of healthcare systems, to avoid lengthy hospital stays and to optimize healthcare spending. However, pharmacovigilance tools remain underused, undervalued, or even unknown in Brazil.

The Specialized Component of Pharmaceutical Care is the Brazilian Unified Health System strategy that aims to ensure comprehensive drug treatment at an outpatient level and improve access to high complexity, high cost treatments, such as multiple sclerosis. Given the diversity of treatments available and the differences in financing and dispensing in different countries, the objective of this study was to present the workings of the model of care for patients with multiple sclerosis through the public health system in Brazil in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. In Campo Grande, the registration and dispensation of drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis is the responsibility of the Pharmacy School Professor Ana Maria Cervantes Baraza of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul. In this center, all patients receive pharmaceutical advice on the administration of injectable drugs and oral medications; the storage, preservation, and transportation of refrigerated drugs; and information on the disease and management of adverse reactions. Clinical pharmacy services are also available to patients in a pharmaceutical office, ensuring patient privacy and comfort and enabling the creation of a bond with the pharmacist. The model of care provided by the Pharmacy School allows for the development of pharmaceutical services, encourages the rational use of medicines, and emphasizes the importance of self-care, adherence to therapy, and the co-responsibility of patients and their families.

Objective: To evaluate the health service and the satisfaction of patients and their caregivers in relation to the therapeutic ride, in Integrated Continuous Care. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study, conducted between January 2017 and January 2018, using a specific form for data collection and interview conducted before hospital discharge. Results: The study included 23 patients and 27 caregivers. Regarding the evaluation of the service related to the therapeutic ride, 95.6% (22/23) of the patients and 70.4% (19/27) of the caregivers confirmed that they understood the objectives of this practice. The duration of the therapeutic ride was considered sufficient by 69.6% (16/23) of patients and 70.4% (19/27) of caregivers. Most patients (52.2%) and caregivers (70.4%) declared to be very satisfied with the result of the therapeutic ride. Conclusion: The therapeutic ride demonstrates its differential aspect by adding training, contributing greatly to the safe transition from the hospital to the home.

Objectives: to evaluate the maternalfetal outcomes of thromboprophylaxis with enoxa parin based on scoring system in women with serum markers for hereditary thrombophilia and previous obstetric complications. Methods: a retrospective study was undertaken based on data collected from clinical records. We included 54 pregnant women with serum markers for hereditary thrombophilia undergoing therapeutic intervention with enoxaparin in the period from November 2009 to December 2013. The initial dose of low molecular weight heparin was guided by a scoring system. The maternalfetal outcomes of previous pregnancies and, subsequently, the treatment were compared using the chisquare (χ2) test with the Yates correction and Fisher's Exact Test; p

Objectives: to determine the frequency of serum markers for hereditary and acquired thrombophilia and their association with pregnancy in women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Methods: a case-control study was conducted among 25 pregnant women with SLE (study group) and 32 pregnant women without known disease and with at least one previous pregnancy (control group). The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and hereditary thrombophilia were examined in both groups. We used the y2 Test with Yates correction or Fisher's Exact Test to verify the associations and calculate the relative risk. Results: thrombophilia was present in 72.0% of pregnant women with SLE and in 6.0% of patients in the control group. A significant association was found between the presence of SLE and serum markers for hereditary thrombophilia / antiphospholipid antibodies (p

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of enoxaparin and unfractionated heparin (UFH) administered in prophylactic and therapeutic doses on fetal vessels in healthy pregnant Wistar rats, according to Doppler velocimetry measurements. Methods: Fifty animals were assigned to one of five groups: controls (saline), prophylactic and therapeutic enoxaparin (1 and 2 mg/kg/day, respectively), and prophylactic and therapeutic UFH (72 and 400 UI/kg/day, respectively). Uterine horns were examined by ultrasound for identification of live fetuses. A sample of these fetuses underwent Doppler velocimetry. Spectral curves, peak systolic velocity (PSV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) of the middle cerebral artery, ductus venosus, and umbilical artery were investigated. Differences were considered statistically significant when p