Statin use in Brazil: findings and implications.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Statins have become an integral part of treatment to reduce cardiac events in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, their use within the public healthcare system in Brazil is unknown. Consequently, we sought to determine and characterize statin use in primary healthcare delivered by the public health system (SUS) in Brazil and evaluate associated patient factors to improve future use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with a national representative sample from five Brazilian regions, derived from the National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines using a multi-stage complex sampling plan. Patients over 18 years old were interviewed from July 2014 to May 2015. The prevalences of statin use and self-reported statin adherence were determined amongst medicine users. The associations between statin use and sociodemographic/health condition variables were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 8803 patients were interviewed, of whom 6511 were medicine users. The prevalence of statin use was 9.4% with simvastatin (90.3%), atorvastatin (4.7%) and rosuvastatin (1.9%) being the most used statins. Poor adherence was described by 6.5% of patients. Statin use was significantly associated with age ≥65 years old, higher educational level, residence in the South, metabolic and heart diseases, alcohol consumption and polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first population based study in Brazil to assess statin use in SUS primary healthcare patients. Addressing inequalities in access and use of medicines including statins is an important step in achieving the full benefit of statins in Brazil, with the findings guiding future research and policies.

Deterioro comportamental leve como antecedente de la demencia: presentación de los criterios diagnósticos y de la versión española de la escala MBI-C para su valoración / Mild behavioural impairment as an antecedent of dementia: presentation of the diagnostic criteria and the Spanish version of the MBI-C scale for its evaluation

Introducción. Los síntomas neuropsiquiátricos son frecuentes en la demencia y también en estadios previos, como el deterioro cognitivo leve. Su aparición se relaciona con mayor conversión a demencia en personas cognitivamente sanas o con deterioro cognitivo leve, en comparación con las personas que no los presentan. Objetivo. Dar a conocer la importancia en las fases previas a la demencia del concepto "deterioro comportamental leve" (DCoL) y mostrar los criterios consensuados de DCoL de la International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment. Estos criterios permitirán identificar a pacientes con síntomas neuropsiquiátricos leves y cognición normal o deterioro cognitivo leve, y estudiar el riesgo ulterior de desarrollar demencia por cualquier causa. A su vez, se presenta una nueva escala, la Mild Behavioral Impairment-Checklist (MBI-C), para la valoración clínica y en investigación del DCoL. Desarrollo. Se muestran datos del mayor riesgo de demencia en presencia de síntomas neuropsiquiátricos para justificar el desarrollo del nuevo concepto de DCoL, que perfecciona los intentos previos de categorización de estos estados. Se describen los criterios diagnósticos de DCoL y el proceso de creación de la MBI-C, y se presenta su versión española. Finalmente, se plantean los próximos pasos en la investigación del concepto y medición del DCoL y sus perspectivas de futuro. Conclusiones. Los nuevos criterios de DCoL y su medición mediante la MBI-C resultan prometedores de cara a una mejor y más temprana identificación de los pacientes con riesgo de desarrollar demencia y una ayuda para la investigación de los procesos neurodegenerativos subyacentes (AU)

Introduction. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in dementia and also in previous stages such as mild cognitive impairment. Their presence is related to greater conversion to dementia in cognitively healthy people or with mild cognitive impairment compared to those who do not suffer them. Aim. An international working group pertaining to the Alzheimer Association has proposed the concept of "mild behavioral impairment" (MBI) to identify patients with mild neuropsychiatric symptoms and normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment and to study the further risk of developing dementia from any cause. A new scale, the Mild Behavioral Impairment- Checklist (MBI-C), has been developed for the assessment of MBI in clinical and research settings. Development. Data on the greater risk of dementia in the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms are shown to justify the development of the new concept of MBI, improving the previous attempts of categorization of these states. Diagnostic criteria of MBI and the process of creation of the MBI-C scale are described. The Spanish version is presented in this article. Finally, the next steps in the investigation of the concept and measurement of MBI and its future prospects are suggested. Conclusions. The new MBI criteria and their measurement using the MBI-C scale are promising for a better and earlier identification of patients at risk of developing dementia and as an aid to investigate the underlying neurodegenerative processes (AU)

Clinical, colonoscopic, and histological profile of colonic tuberculosis in a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Colonic tuberculosis is not uncommon in developing countries. As emigration to the West increases, it is worthwhile to recall the clinical, colonoscopic, and histopathological features of this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical, colonoscopic and histopathological findings were evaluated in 43 patients with colonic tuberculosis. RESULTS: Abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea, fever, and a lump in the abdomen were the commonest symptoms. Extraintestinal tuberculosis was present in 11 patients (26 %). Colonoscopy revealed ulcers in 30 patients (70 %), nodules in 24 (56 %), a deformed cecum and ileocecal valve in 17 (40 %), strictures in 10 (23 %), polypoid lesions in six (14 %), and fibrous bands forming mucosal bridges in three (7 %). The cecum and ascending colon were the commonest sites involved. Segmental tuberculosis was seen in six of the 32 patients (19 %) in whom full-length colonoscopy could be performed. Two or more sites were involved in 19 patients (44 %). Histopathology revealed well-formed granulomas in 23 patients (54 %). Fourteen of the above patients (61 %) had caseation and 11 (48 %) had confluence of the granulomas. Acid-fast bacilli were present in the biopsies from two patients (5 %). Ill-formed granulomas were seen in seven patients (16 %) and chronic inflammatory changes in 13 (30 %). Despite the various histopathological findings, all of the patients responded to antitubercular treatment and continued to remain asymptomatic during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy with biopsy is a useful method for diagnosing colonic tuberculosis. Even in the absence of the classic histopathological features, a therapeutic trial may be indicated in a given clinical and colonoscopic setting. Follow-up is essential.

Profilaxia e tratamento da síndrome do desconforto respiratório com diferentes surfactantes / Prophylaxis and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome with different surfactants

O tratamento etiológico da síndrome do desconforto respiratório (SDR) por imaturidade pulmonar com surfactante exógeno é uma estratégia de eficácia comprovada. Entretanto, a eficácia relativa dos diversos preparados tensoativos, de origem natural ou sintética, pode näo ser semelhante. O objetivo é avaliar se há evidencias de que um ou mais preparados tensoativos podem ser considerados mais eficazes no tratamento e profilaxia da síndroome do desconforto respiratório. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica intensa em várias bases de dados, para identificar os estudos comparativos dos diferentes compostos tensoativos. Existem casos que corroboram que os surfactantes de origem natural produzem uma melhora mais rápida da oxigenaçäo, em comparaçäo com os de origem sintética. Também foram observadas as taxas de complicaçöes e as de mortalidade mais baixas com o emprego de surfactantes naturais. Dos dois surfactantes naturais comercializados na Espanha, o produto de origem porcina(poractant alfa) parece apresentar vantagens sobre o produto de origem bovina (beractant), como uma açäo mais rápida, expressa por uma razäo de PaO2/PaO2 mais favorável dentro das primeiras 24 horas de tratamento. Também existe uma tendência a que os pacientes tratados com surfactante porcino apresentem uma taxa de mortalidade global mais baixa, em comparaçäo com os pacientes tratados com surfactante bovino. Näo existe nenhuma razäo científica que corrobore o uso dos surfactantes sintéticos comercializados atualmente. O surfactante natural de origem porcina poderia ser considerado de primeira escolha, embora seja conveniente dispor de estudos adicionais que confirmem esse achado.(au)

Prevalence of short segments of specialized columnar epithelium in distal esophagus: association with gastroesophageal reflux.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recent studies have reported high prevalence rates of short segments of specialized columnar epithelium (SCE) in the distal esophagus. The association of SCE with gastroesophageal reflux disease is not well established. We studied the prevalence and associations of short segments of SCE in the distal esophagus amongst Indians. METHODS: 271 patients (mean age 36 [14] y; 160 men) undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were interviewed regarding symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, and history of medications, smoking or chewing tobacco and alcohol ingestion. At endoscopy, presence and grade of esophagitis and hiatus hernia were recorded. One biopsy each was taken from the squamocolumnar junction and 2 cm proximal to it. Biopsies were stained with hematoxylin/eosin and alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff. The pathologist was blinded to the clinical and endoscopic data. RESULTS: Short segments of SCE in the distal esophagus were present in 16/271 (6%; CI 5.03-6.97) patients. Increasing age (p<0.01), and endoscopic (p<0.01) and histologic (p<0.001) esophagitis were associated with its presence, whereas symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, smoking, tobacco chewing, use of alcohol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and hiatus hernia were not. One patient with SCE had dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of short segments of SCE in the distal esophagus amongst Indians is low and is usually associated with inflammation in the esophagus.

Evaluation of cardiac function in iron deficiency anemia before and after total dose iron therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiac function before and after the total dose iron therapy (TDI) and to correlate the myocardial function to the rise in haemoglobin after TDI in patients of iron deficiency anemia. METHODS: The study included 30 patients of iron deficiency anemia who presented to our institution in the last one year. There were 11 men and 19 women with the mean age of 30 years. Parameters compared before and after TDI infusion included clinical features, haemoglobin, electrocardiogram (ECG), treadmill stress test (TST) and 2 dimensional echocardiogram (2D echo). RESULTS: During the study period 30 patients (11 men and 19 women) were included for TDI. The mean haemoglobin level increased from 5 gm/dl to 5.7 gm/dl 4 days after TDI. The congestive cardiac failure disappeared in four out of eight patients after TDI. The mean heart rate on the ECG pretherapy was 102.66 +/- 14.9 and post therapy 93.4 +/- 14.9 (p = 0.011). The TST results showed improvement in effort tolerance in 17 out of 24 patients (p = 0.0012) and it improved much before there was a significant rise in haemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Impaired ventricular performance is observed in patients with iron deficiency anemia. After TDI the left ventricular function improved before there was a significant rise in haemoglobin level proving the theory that correction of the electrophysiological abnormalities of the heart in iron deficiency patient by TDI may be the result of correction of iron at the tissue level.

Prospective evaluation of medication-induced esophageal injury and its relation to esophageal function.

BACKGROUND: Few prospective studies are available on the incidence of medication-induced esophageal injury (MIEI). AIMS: To prospectively study the occurrence of MIEI with indomethacin and doxycycline and the predictive factors for its development. METHODS: In an operator-blinded study, 51 patients (age 16-65 y) requiring indomethacin (n = 24) or doxycycline (27) underwent symptom evaluation, endoscopy and scintigraphy before and after 7 days of therapy. MIEI was defined as de novo occurrence or worsening of pre-existing esophagitis or development of esophageal ulcer. RESULTS: Pre-therapy endoscopy was normal in 32 patients and revealed esophagitis in 19 (grade I--11, grade II--8). Post-therapy, 16 patients developed esophageal symptoms, which appeared earlier with doxycycline (2.0 [0.8] vs 4.1 [1.7] days, p = 0.016). MIEI developed in 23 patients--de novo esophagitis in 16, worsening of esophagitis in 6; 5 patients developed ulcer. Seven of 12 patients with hiatus hernia developed MIEI. Presence of pre-therapy gastroesophageal reflux disease did not predict MIEI. There was no difference in pre- or post-therapy transit values between patients with and without MIEI; patients who developed ulcers had significantly slower esophageal transit (p < 0.05). There was no difference in esophageal transit or occurrence of MIEI between patients who received indomethacin or doxycycline; however, 5 of 8 patients with hiatus hernia who received doxycycline developed MIEI (p = 0.02; relative risk 3.96 [CI 1.2-12.7]). CONCLUSIONS: 40% of patients receiving doxycycline or indomethacin developed MIEI; 10% developed ulcers. Hiatus hernia increased the risk for MIEI.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus in Mumbai, and immunogenicity and safety of hepatitis A vaccine.

OBJECTIVES: Since epidemiologic trends of hepatitis A are changing worldwide, we studied its seroprevalence in Mumbai, which is thought to be a high-endemicity area. The immunogenicity and safety of a hepatitis A vaccine were also studied. METHODS: Six hundred and seventy subjects (456 men; age range 6 mo-60 y) answered a questionnaire on social and medical history. Qualitative analysis of total anti-HAV was performed in all subjects by ELISA. One hundred and seven of 147 anti-HAV negative subjects received hepatitis A vaccine at months 0, 1 and 6. Subjects were followed up (months 1, 2, 6, 7) to look for side-effects and seroconversion. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HAV was 523/670 (78%); 38% of children < 5 years were anti-HAV negative. Seroprevalence rates of 80% were reached by 15 years. Prevalence was lower in the higher socio-economic group (151/234; 64.5%) compared with the lower socio-economic group (372/436; 85%) (p < 0.001). One month after doses 1, 2 and 3 of the hepatitis A vaccine, seropositivity was 92%, 99% and 100%, respectively. Minor self-limited side-effects occurred in 19.5% of subjects; there were no major side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of anti-HAV is high in Mumbai. Seroprevalence is lower in the higher socio-economic groups. The hepatitis A vaccine is safe and immunogenic.

PIP: Prevention of hepatitis A virus (HAV) can be achieved through improved hygiene and living conditions, access to clean drinking water, and passive and active immunization. The present study assessed the age-related seroprevalence of HAV in Mumbai, India, in 1995-96 and the immunogenicity and safety of a newly developed inactivated HAV vaccine. 670 children and adults were recruited from 2 sites: a private hospital serving a predominantly middle- and upper-class population and a public hospital with low-income patients. Overall, 523 subjects (78%) were positive for anti-HAV. This rate was higher among low-income patients (85.3%) than those of higher socioeconomic status (64.5%). 38% of children under 5 years of age and 80% of those 11-15 years old were seropositive. 107 patients seronegative for anti-HAV were offered the vaccine. Anti-HAV antibody appeared 1 month after the first injection in 92.4% of vaccine recipients and 1 month after the second injection in 99%. Side effects were mild and self-limited. These findings confirm both the safety and the immunogenicity of the inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in high endemicity areas. However, universal immunization remains too costly in India. Further epidemiologic studies are needed to identify specific risk groups and regions that should be targeted for hepatitis A vaccine.

Retroperitoneal perforation in ulcerative colitis with mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema.

Retroperitoneal colonic perforation in patients with ulcerative colitis is rare. We report such a case in a patient with severe ulcerative colitis without toxic dilatation in whom mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema also developed. Unlike previously reported cases, our patient was treated conservatively with intravenous fluids, parenteral nutrition, intravenous hydrocortisone, and antibiotics. After 2 weeks, the mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema and the retroperitoneal air completely disappeared.