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Patients with psoriasis often have comorbidities and are at increased risk of developing several complications compared with the general population. Knowledge on the role of immune mediators and systemic inflammation in psoriasis has led to the hypothesis that early intervention with systemic therapy has the potential to modify the course of the disease and reduce the risk of long-term adverse outcomes. In this article, we address some potential issues that need to be considered before early intervention can be implemented routinely. The first is determining what constitutes "early" intervention for psoriasis. A second point is whether the intervention should be considered for patients with early disease or for selected subsets based on risk stratification. A third important consideration is defining success for early intervention. Finally, adoption of early and effective intervention should be based on high-level evidence. Ideally, randomized trials would be the best strategy to compare early vs. late systemic treatment in patients with psoriasis, probably using the frequency of long-term outcomes as primary endpoint, with cutaneous and pharmacoeconomic outcomes assessed secondarily.
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Objective: To assess the cost-per-responder (CpR) of biologic therapies available in Brazil to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) from the private healthcare system's perspective. Methods: Number needed to treat (NNT) and (CpR) analyses were performed to evaluate biologic therapies' cost-effectiveness for moderate-to-severe PsO available in Brazil. The effectiveness of biologic treatments for moderate-to-severe PsO was assessed based on a previously published metanalysis, which included studies considering PsO patients and outcomes of interest (PASI 75, 90, and 100). The clinical efficacy data in terms of estimated NNT based on the network metanalysis (NMA) results were combined with drug treatment costs to determine the CpR for each treatment arm in 3-time horizons: the primary response period, 1-year, and 2-years. Results: Risankizumab was the most cost-effective option when NMA base case scenario data was used to calculate NNT in all PASI response for both the primary response period and 1- and 2-years follow-up durations. Differences in CpR between risankizumab and other biologic drugs increased with more significant PASI improvements. CpR sensitivity analysis also confirmed these findings, indicating that risankizumab has a better performance for PASI 100, and both risankizumab and guselkumab are very similar in terms of cost per additional PASI 75 and PASI 90 responder. Conclusions: Risankizumab was estimated to have a lower cost per PASI 75, 90, and 100 responders in most simulated scenarios (primary response period [12-16 weeks], 1-year and 2-years), among the evaluated biologic therapies.
Objetivo: Avaliar o custo por respondedor (CpR) das terapias biológicas disponíveis no Brasil para tratamento da psoríase em placas (PsO) moderada a grave, na perspectiva do sistema brasileiro de saúde suplementar. Métodos: Foram realizadas análises de número necessário para tratar (NNT) e CpR para avaliar o custo-efetividade das terapias biológicas para PsO moderada a grave disponíveis no Brasil. A eficácia foi avaliada por meio de dados de uma metanálise em rede (NMA), que incluiu estudos considerando pacientes com PsO moderada a grave e os desfechos de interesse (PASI 75, 90 e 100). Dados de eficácia em termos de NNT foram combinados com custos do tratamento medicamentoso para determinar o CpR para cada braço de tratamento em três horizontes temporais: período de resposta primária, 1 ano e 2 anos. Resultados: Risanquizumabe foi mais econômico quando utilizados os dados do caso-base para calcular o NNT, considerando todos os escores PASI para o período de resposta primária e em 1 e 2 anos. As diferenças no CpR entre o risanquizumabe e os outros medicamentos biológicos aumentaram com maiores ganhos de PASI. O CpR calculado pela análise de sensibilidade confirmou esses achados, indicando que risanquizumabe tem um melhor desempenho para PASI 100, e risanquizumabe e guselcumabe são muito semelhantes em termos de CpR por PASI 75 e PASI 90 adicionais. Conclusões: Risanquizumabe apresentou um custo mais baixo por respondedor PASI 75, 90 e 100 na maioria dos cenários analisados (período de resposta primária [12-16 semanas], 1 ano e 2 anos), entre as terapias biológicas avaliadas.
Subject(s)
Psoriasis , Biological Products , Costs and Cost Analysis , Supplemental HealthABSTRACT
Resumo: Introdução: A Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Goiás (FM-UFG) iniciou um novo processo de mudança curricular em 2014. As disciplinas de Semiologia I e II passaram a adotar metodologias ativas de ensino para adequação às necessidades da reforma curricular. O objetivo deste artigo foi avaliar a percepção dos discentes do primeiro ano da FM-UFG sobre o ambiente educacional das disciplinas de Semiologia I e II. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, do tipo corte transversal, envolvendo 86 alunos. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi o questionário Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (Dreem), versão em português. Os resultados foram considerados em três níveis: questões individuais, cinco dimensões e Dreem global. Calcularam-se a média, o desvio padrão e os respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95%. Obteve-se a confiabilidade interna do Dreem pelo cálculo do alfa de Cronbach, avaliou-se a distribuição dos dados da amostra pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk e realizou-se a comparação entre os percentuais da média dos escores dos domínios e do DRREM global pela ANOVA, seguida do teste de Tukey. Resultados: A média do Dreem global foi de 134,83/200 ± 17,42, uma percepção mais positiva que negativa. As cinco dimensões tiveram os seguintes resultados: percepção da aprendizagem (32,74 / 48 ± 5,59 / uma visão mais positiva); percepção dos docentes (32,71 / 44 ± 6,23 / na direção certa); percepção dos resultados acadêmicos (20,22 / 32 ± 4,09 / sentimento positivo); percepção do ambiente geral (31,74 / 48 ± 5,69 / atitude positiva); percepção das relações sociais (17,42 / 28 ± 3,83 / não é tão ruim). Foram encontrados alguns pontos problemáticos em relação a fatos memorizáveis, metodologia de ensino prévio e cansaço para cursarem a disciplina. A dimensão com mais áreas fortes foi a percepção dos docentes. Houve significância estatística quando os percentuais da média dos escores dos domínios e do Dreem global foram comparados. Conclusão: O ambiente educacional das disciplinas de Semiologia I e II da Faculdade de Medicina da UFG criado pelas inovações metodológicas foi avaliado positivamente pelos discentes participantes, com destaque para o domínio percepção dos docentes.
Abstract: Introduction: In 2014, the Medical School of the Federal University of Goias (FM-UFG) started its curricular changing process. The disciplines of Semiology I and II started to use active teaching methodologies to fit the curricular reform needs. The objective of this article was to evaluate the FM-UFG students' perception of the Educational Environment in the disciplines of Semiology I and II. Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study encompassing 86 students. The data collection tool was the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire, in its Portuguese version. Results were considered at three levels: individual questions, five domains and global DREEM. Mean values, standard deviation and respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The internal reliability of the DREEM was determined using Cronbach's alpha; the sample normality was determined using the Shapiro-Wilk test; and the comparison between the mean score percentages of the domains and of the global DREEM was performed by ANOVA ,followed by Tukey's test. Results: The global DREEM mean was 134.83 / 200 ± 17.42, a more positive than negative perception. The five domains showed the following results: Students' Perception of Learning - SPL (32.74 / 48 ± 5.59 / a more positive approach); Students' Perception of Teachers - SPT (32.71 / 44 ± 6.23 / going in the right direction); Students' Academic Self-Perception - SASP: (20.22 / 32 ± 4.09 / feeling more on the positive side); Students' Perception of the Atmosphere - SPA (31.74 / 48 ± 5.69 / a more positive attitude); Students' Social Self-Perception - SSSP: (17.42 / 28 ± 3.83 / not too bad). Some issues were found in relation to: memorizable facts; previous teaching methodology; and, fatigue to attend the discipline. The SPT was the domain with the largest number of strong areas. Statistical significance was found when comparing the mean score percentages of the domains and the global DREEM. Conclusion: Students positively evaluated the educational environment in the subjects Semiology I and II created by the new active teaching methodologies adopted by the institution, with the SPT domain being highlighted.
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PURPOSE: Data on chronic plaque psoriasis severity and its potential clinical and lifestyle implications in the Brazilian population are limited. The primary aim of this study was to assess the clinical severity of plaque psoriasis in Brazil. Further objectives included evaluating potential associations between disease severity and demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and work productivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational (non-interventional) cross-sectional study was conducted in 26 dermatologic clinics across 11 Brazilian states. Psoriasis severity was assessed using investigator judgment and Finlay's Rule of Tens: a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score >10, a Body Surface Area (BSA) > 10%, or a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score >10. RESULTS: Among 1125 patients, 205 (18.2%) had moderate-to-severe disease. On multiple regression analyses, psoriasis severity was significantly (directly) associated with the presence of physical inactivity and comorbid pain, anxiety, and depression; and significantly (inversely) associated with HRQOL and work productivity. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional studies cannot assess temporal trends, and observational studies cannot conclusively determine causality or exclude biases and confounding due to unmeasured variables. CONCLUSIONS: Among Brazilian patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, disease severity had far-reaching adverse impacts on lifestyle, comorbidities, HRQOL, and work productivity.
Subject(s)
Psoriasis/complications , Psoriasis/pathology , Adult , Aged , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Brazil , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psoriasis/psychology , Quality of Life , Regression Analysis , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
The synthesis and crystal structure of the title compound, C14H19NO8·H2O, prepared in three steps from 6-O-ethyl-1,2;3,4-di-O-iso-propyl-idene-α-d-galacto-pyran-ose using protecting-group strategies employed in carbohydrate chemistry, is reported. The asymmetric unit consists of a single galactoside mol-ecule, in which the pyran-oid ring has a 4C1 conformation and the 4-nitro-phenyl moiety is essentially planar. In the crystal, each carbohydrate is surrounded by other d-galactose residues and water mol-ecules, linked by O-Hâ¯O hydrogen bonds involving all hy-droxy groups, giving a two-dimensional substructure lying parallel to (100) and extended into three dimensions by C-Hâ¯O inter-actions.
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Twenty-seven nitrated and non-nitrated compounds have been synthesized and tested for their growth inhibitory activity on three human cancer cells lines. Fourteen compounds were able to inhibit more than 50% of the growth of at least one of the cancer cell lines and five compounds exhibited high antiproliferative activity on human cancer cell lines (IC50 < 8.5 µM). The cytotoxicity of the compounds on Vero cell line was established in vitro to evaluate the selectivity. All active compounds have a good leaving group (bromide or chloride) at the benzylic position, indicating that the mechanism of action of these compounds is related to their alkylating properties. Two compounds (3 and 24) were selected for further studies in mice with Ehrlich solid tumors and display significant antitumor effects in vivo.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Nitro Compounds/chemistry , Nitro Compounds/pharmacology , Animals , Cell Line , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Chlorocebus aethiops , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods , Female , HL-60 Cells , Humans , Jurkat Cells , MCF-7 Cells , Mice , Vero CellsABSTRACT
Hand hygiene is a primary mechanism for reducing contact transmission of infectious agents. We evaluated the efficacy of hand hygiene agents under condition in which they are currently being used by healthcare workers. A total of forty Healthcare Workers (HCWs) and office workers in a teaching hospital washed their hands with procedures using soap and water, and alcohol-based gel, with and without standardized protocols. A total numbers of colony - forming units on the hands were 3.52 and 4.48 for the HCWs and non-patient staff hands, respectively (p< 0.05). The average reduction in the number of organisms before and after hand hygiene of any procedures showed always statistically significant differences by both standardized and non-standardized procedures, and they all demonstrated similar results when compared to each other, with only two exceptions. There was no difference in the proportion of HCWs or non-patient staff with Staphylococcus aureus and Gram- negative rods on their hands. This study demonstrated that the regular usage of alcohol gel is as good as handwashing with soap and water, and could increase compliance in the hand hygiene, especially in situations where there is a lack of sinks or HCWs are overworked.
Subject(s)
Infection Control , Cross Infection , Hand DisinfectionABSTRACT
Frequent hand washing may result in skin damage and increase the number of microorganisms that colonize the skin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in total flora of healthy and damaged hands that were caused by the use of gloves, soap, and antiseptics. Samples were collected from the healthy and damaged hands of 30 health care professionals before and after washing with water and nonmedicated soap for the technique of sterile polyethylene bag. Fifteen additional volunteers (technicians and students) were asked to wash their hands 20 times with water and soap; those with complaints of irritation were evaluated separately. Damaged or healthy hands did not present statistically significant differences (P > .05) in terms of qualitative analysis of epidemiologically important microorganisms; however, washing with water and soap was effective only for healthy hands. In short, the water and soap washing of damaged hands was not effective in reducing their contamination.
