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Background Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) often present with associated anaemia which is usually present at the time of diagnosis and is aggravated during the postoperative period due to blood loss during the surgery process. Several guidelines advocate for the treatment of postoperative anaemia in these patients in order to prevent complications and allogeneic blood transfusions. However, there are no publications to shed light on the effectiveness of intravenous iron (IVI) administration after CRC surgery and the optimal dose and regimen. We have started a clinical trial with the objective of comparing the effectiveness of 1000 mg of ferric carboxymaltose with fractionated iron sucrose 200 g/48 h for the treatment of postoperative anaemia, by measuring the change of haemoglobin (Hb) levels from postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 30. Methods We designed an open label randomised controlled trial to compare two postoperative IVI treatment regimens. Patients aged > 18 years undergoing CRC surgery, with Hb

[ES] Se presentan los métodos y resultados de una actividad práctica de la asignatura de Farmacología General, dentro del tercer año de la licenciatura en medicina, basada en la película Amor y otras drogas (2010) de Edward Zwick. Los objetivos docentes incluyeron obtener distintas perspectivas sobre el uso de medicamentos (comercializador / prescriptor/ paciente/ sociedad), y reflexionar sobre las actividades promocionales, así como familiarizarse con los códigos éticos reguladores de la publicidad. Se hicieron dos sesiones de 2,5 horas separadas 2 semanas; en la primera se introdujo y organizó la actividad y se visionó la película, y en la segunda se expuso y discutió el trabajo preparado por grupos en base a preguntas específicas. Los recursos presentes en la película fueron un excelente vehículo para establecer una interacción intensa con los alumnos, reflexionar sobre la importancia de los medicamentos en la sociedad, abordar la necesidad de los códigos éticos, incidir en las diferencias entre indicación autorizada y uso fuera de indicación y enfatizar la utilización de la ficha técnica del medicamento como referente informativo. En conclusión, el ejercicio sirvió para aportar a los alumnos elementos de juicio ético sobre sus futuras responsabilidades como decisores en la prescripción de medicamentos. [EN] The methods and results of a practical exercise based on the movie Love and Other Drugs (2010) by Edward Zwick are presented. The exercise was part of the teaching activities in General Pharmacology, in the third year of the medicine degree. The teaching objectives included to perceive different views on the use of drugs (marketer/prescriber/ patient/society), to obtain critical opinions on promotional activities and to get familiar with the ethical codes controlling advertising activities. Two sessions of 2.5 hours were done, separated by two weeks. During the first one the activity was introduced and organized, and the film was viewed. During the second session the students exposed and discussed work which had been prepared guided by a number of specific questions. The resources present in the film were an excellent vehicle for establishing a strong interaction with students, to guide reflections on the importance of drugs in society, to address the need for ethical codes, the differences between licensed indication and off-label use, and to emphasise the use of the SmPC as key reference information. In conclusion, the exercise served to provide students some tools for ethical consideration on their future responsibilities as decision makers in drug prescribing.

Inflammation plays a key role in the development of colorectal cancers. We have investigated the relationship between PTGS2 (COX2) polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in a hospital based case-control study. We recruited 292 patients with colorectal cancer and 274 controls from new patients admitted to Bellvitge Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, from 1996 to 1998. Subjects responded to a questionnaire on risk factors. Genotypes of the eight more frequent polymorphisms of PTGS2 were determined. Two polymorphisms are located in the promoter sequence, one in the untranslated region of exon 1, one in exon 3, one in intron 5, two in the untranslated region of exon 10, and one downstream of the last polyadenylation (poly-A) signal. Associations were analysed with logistic regression models assuming a dominant effect for rare variants to increase statistical power. An association was detected between colorectal cancer and a polymorphism in the untranslated region of exon 10 of PTGS2, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.17-5.32, P=0.01. A nearby polymorphism downstream of the last poly-A signal also showed a nonsignificant increase in risk (OR 2.17, 95% CI 0.99-4.78, P=0.05). Analysis of haplotypes confirmed that individuals with these variants were at increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR compared to the most frequent haplotype: 2.17, 95% CI 0.97-4.84, P=0.06) Interactions between PTGS2 genotype and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of colorectal cancer were also explored.