Liraglutide in the management of obesity: real world data (Portugal).

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are major public health issues with increasing incidence and prevalence, affecting more than 50% of the population in developed countries. Due to its complex pathophysiology and multifactorial etiology, disease understanding, diagnostic approach and management remain suboptimal. Together with a structured nutritional intervention and physical activity plan, pharmacological treatment has the potential to magnify weight loss and health related benefits. Liraglutide is one of the most effective and frequently prescribed weight loss medication. Its efficacy and safety have been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials, however, real world data in Portugal is scarce. The authors report on the experience of a University Hospital Endocrine Clinic in the management of patients with overweight and obesity with liraglutide on top of lifestyle intervention. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of liraglutide in the management of overweight and obesity. METHODS: Retrospective, longitudinal observational study. Inclusion criteria were adult patients (>18 years old) with obesity (BMI>30 kg/m2) or overweight (≥27 kg/m2) with at least one obesity related co-morbidity (hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) with at least three months of liraglutide treatment. Diabetes diagnosis and prior bariatric surgery were exclusion criteria. Demographic and clinical variables were included and weight was recorded before and after at least 3 months of liraglutide treatment. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight patients (85.8% females) with a mean age of 48.7±11.9 years were treated with liraglutide. Mean baseline BMI was 33.8±5.2 kg/m2 and median follow-up was 13 months. At the last appointment, 85.8% were still taking liraglutide. Among patients still taking liraglutide, mean weight loss was 7.6 kg (7.9%), with significantly greater losses in patients treated for more than 6 months (8.6kg vs. 6.2 kg, P=0.016). Patients with obesity lost significantly more weight than overweight patients (8.3 kg vs. 4.5 kg, P=0.028), despite similar treatment duration. The reasons for liraglutide withdrawal were gastrointestinal intolerance (7), medication cost (2), inefficacy (10) and physician instructions (1). CONCLUSIONS: The present study documents the long-term efficacy of liraglutide in the treatment of patients with overweight and obesity, with a low rate of drug withdrawal. Mean weight loss was significant and more evident from the 6th month of treatment on. Liraglutide, along with lifestyle intervention, is a good option for weight management in the majority of patients with obesity.

What drives change in neonatal intensive care units? A qualitative study with physicians and nurses in six European countries.

BACKGROUND: Innovation is important to improve patient care, but few studies have explored the factors that initiate change in healthcare organizations. METHODS: As part of the European project EPICE on evidence-based perinatal care, we carried out semi-structured interviews (N = 44) with medical and nursing staff from 11 randomly selected neonatal intensive care units in 6 countries. The interviews focused on the most recent clinical or organizational change in the unit relevant to the care of very preterm infants. Thematic analysis was performed using verbatim transcripts of recorded interviews. RESULTS: Reported changes concerned ventilation, feeding and nutrition, neonatal sepsis, infant care, pain management and care of parents. Six categories of drivers to change were identified: availability of new knowledge or technology; guidelines or regulations from outside the unit; need to standardize practices; participation in research; occurrence of adverse events; and wish to improve care. Innovations originating within the unit, linked to the availability of new technology and seen to provide clear benefit for patients were more likely to achieve consensus and rapid implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Innovation can be initiated by several drivers that can impact on the success and sustainability of change.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Tetracycline-Resistant Plesiomonas shigelloides Strain Isolated from Aquaculture-Reared Tilapia.

We hereby present the 3.7-Mb draft genome sequence of Plesiomonas shigelloides strain FM82, isolated from a tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a fish farm in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. P. shigelloides strain FM82 carries antimicrobial resistance, biofilm, and CRISPR-related genes.