Adverse drug reactions impact on patient health, effectiveness of pharmacological therapy and increased health care costs. This investigation intended to detect the most critical drug-drug interactions in hospitalized elderly patients, weighting clinical risk. We conducted a cross-sectional study between January and April 2014; all patients 70 years or older, hospitalized for >24 hr and prescribed at least one medication were included in the study. Drug-drug interactions were estimated by combining Stockley's, Hansten and Tatro drug interactions. Drug-drug interactions were weighted using a risk-analysis method based on failure modes, effects and criticality analysis. We calculated a criticality index for each drug involved in the drug-drug interactions based on the severity of the interaction mechanism, the frequency the drug was involved in drug-drug interactions and the risk of drug-drug interactions in patients with impaired renal function. The average number of drugs consumed in the hospital was 6 AE 2.69, involving 160 active ingredients. The most frequent were as follows: Furosemide, followed by Enalapril. Of drug-drug interactions, 2% were classified as contraindicated, 14% advised against and 83% advised caution during the hospital stay. Thirty-four drug-drug interactions were assessed, of which 23 were pharmacodynamic drug-drug interactions and 12 were pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (1 was both). The clinical risk calculated for each drug-drug interaction included heparins + non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or Digoxin + Calcium Gluconate, cases which are pharmacodynamic drug-drug interactions with agonist effect and clinical risk of bleeding, one of the most common clinical risks in the hospital. An index of clinical risk for drug-drug interactions can be calculated based on severity by the interaction mechanism, the frequency that the drug is involved in drug-drug interactions and the risk of drug-drug interactions in an elderly patient with impaired renal function.Drug-related problems (DRP) are a very important public health concern that cause adverse drug reactions (ADR), which impact on patient health, effectiveness of pharmacological therapy and increased healthcare costs [1]. Drug-drug interactions have been reported to account for 5.6% to 63% of medication-related problems (MRPs), particularly in elderly patients, where the prevalence of at least one drug-drug interaction is about 46% [2]. The conditions of elderly patients, such as a decline in the functional capacity of most organs and systems, comorbidity and, in turn, polypharmacy (more than five drugs), make this population more susceptible to drug-drug interactions, resulting in a long hospital stay or death [3,4].There are many studies that report the prevalence of drugdrug interactions, while focusing on identifying the implicated drugs and the type of clinical effect on the patient [5,6]. Currently, research has focused on knowing the DDI action mechanisms, which allows assessment of their relevance and ...

Background: Dementia is a priority public health issue due to its high prevalence worldwide and its economic, social, and health impact. However, there are few reports in Mexico based on formal tests and with a clinical approach based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Objective: This study estimates the prevalence of the main types of dementia among elderly people living in the community in Mexico City. Methods: A population-based, two-step study was conducted, including 6,204 elderly individuals aged 60 or above with in-home assessment. All participants were screened for cognitive impairment; those who presented some cognitive problem underwent a standardized neurological examination. Each diagnosis was based on the criteria for dementia in the DSM-5, and the final consensus diagnosis of dementia was determined by an expert panel. Results: The global estimated prevalence of dementia in the Mexican population was 7.8% met the criteria for Alzheimer’s disease, 4.3% for vascular dementia, and 2.1% for mixed dementia. The prevalence of dementia was higher in women than in men (15.3% versus 12.5%, respectively). Conclusion: These results provide evidence to propose strategies for Latin American countries where dementia represents a challenge due to the heterogeneity of the populations and socioeconomic disparities, requiring early diagnosis and at the first levels of care.

Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entity on the planet, having pivotal roles in bacterial ecology, animal and plant health, and in the biogeochemical cycles. Although, in principle, phages are simple entities that replicate at the expense of their bacterial hosts, due the importance of bacteria in all aspects of nature, they have the potential to influence and modify diverse processes, either in subtle or profound ways. Traditionally, the main application of bacteriophages is phage therapy, which is their utilization to combat and help to clear bacterial infections, from enteric diseases, to skin infections, chronic infections, sepsis, etc. Nevertheless, phages can also be potentially used for several other tasks, including food preservation, disinfection of surfaces, treatment of several dysbioses, and modulation of microbiomes. Phages may also be used as tools for the treatment of non-bacterial infections and pest control in agriculture; moreover, they can be used to decrease bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance and even to combat global warming. In this review manuscript we discuss these possible applications and promote their implementation.