BackgroundOsteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterised by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with the consequent increase in bone fragility and fracture risk. The pharmacotherapy of osteoporosis is complex and its objectives are: improving bone architecture, restoring deficient bone mass, preventing fractures by increasing bone strength, avoiding falls and relieving pain. For effective results it is necessary that patients have good adherence to antiosteoporotic therapy.1 PurposeEvaluating knowledge about medications in females with primary osteoporosis.Material and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2017 in community pharmacies from a city. Females older than 65 years with primary osteoporosis who presented medical prescriptions with at least four drugs were included in the study after having expressed their written consent. Females with cognitive impairment of perception were not included in the study. Using a questionnaire the patient’s knowledge of drugs was evaluated and they were classified according to the anatomical therapeutic system.ResultsSeventy-five females were included in the study. Their ages ranged from 65 to 85 years; the average age being 71.11. Thirty-eight (50.66%) of them had knowledge of the medication administered. The most commonly prescribed drugs according to their ATC classification were: analgesics (acetaminophen) 38.6%; bisphosphonates (alendronate) 20%; vitamin D 10.6% and salmon calcitonin 10.8%. Females with low education achievement had less knowledge of these drugs than those with an increased level of education (p<0.04).ConclusionThe role of the pharmacist in the pharmacotherapeutic education of the patients is very important. The pharmacist can advise the patient about drugs from prescription medication, how to administer, dosages and solving potential drug therapy problems.Reference and/or Acknowledgements1. Subirelu MS, Călina D, Turcu-Stiolica A. Adherence to biophosphonate therapy in postmenopausal Romanian osteoporotic women with hypertension. ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting May 21–25, 2016, Washington, Value in Health19(3):A235. Meeting Abstract: PMS61.No conflict of interest
BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that produces dyspeptic syndrome with nausea, gastric or duodenal ulcers, even gastric cancer. The risk is higher in patients who have hepatitis with C virus associated.1 There are several treatment regimens consisting of the combination of a double-dose gastric antisecretory with two or three antibiotics for a duration of 10 to 14 days.PurposeTo assess the efficacy and adverse events between eradication treatment for H. pylori with quadruple therapy A with amoxicillin 1 g/day, clarithromycin 1 g/day, metronidazole 500 mg/day and esomeprazole 40 mg/day for 10 days and quadruple therapy B with levofloxacin 500 mg/day, amoxicillin 1 g/day, bismuth oxide 480 mg/day and esomeprazole 40 mg/day for 10 days.Material and methodsThis prospective study included 85 consecutive patients with dyspeptic syndrome who presented with H. pylori infection diagnosed by endoscopy and rapid urease test, divided in two groups: group A – 40 patients treated with quadruple therapy A; and group B – 45 patients treated with quadruple therapy B for 10 days. The eradication of infection was defined as a negative rapid urease test at 8 weeks after completion of treatment.ResultsThe eradication rate of H. pylori in group A was 77.5% (31 patients) and adverse events were presented in 30% (12 patients). In three cases (7.5%) the treatment was stopped because of severe digestive adverse effects. In Group B the eradication rate was 77.77% (35 patients) and the incidence of adverse effects was only 13.33% (six patients). In this group all the patients finished the therapy. The main adverse effects were digestive, such as as nausea, vomiting and food intolerance. However, there was not a significant difference in the H. pylori eradication rate between the two therapies (p=0. 999).ConclusionThe eradication rate of H. pylori is similar in therapy based on clarithromycin and metronidazole compared with the therapy based on bismuth and quinolones. The advantages of therapy based on bismuth and quinolones are a better tolerance and a decreased incidence of adverse effects.References and/or Acknowledgements1. Docea AO, Gofiă E, Călina D, Zaharie SI, Vâlcea DI, Mitru P. Autoimmune disorders due to double antiviral therapy with Peginterferon and Ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. Farmacia2016;64(4):605–611.No conflict of interest
BackgroundAcne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder of pilo-sebaceous unit that affects adolescentsbut may be extended to adulthood, especially to females.PurposeThe aim of this study is to compare the treatment efficacy of intense pulse light (IPL) +vacuum combined with hormonal pills versus pills alone for moderate comedonian and papullar-pustular female acne.Material and methodsThis single-blinded randomised controlled trial included 110 females (age 18–35 years) with moderate comedonian and inflammatory endocrine acne (proven by elevated testosterone levels and hyperandrogenism), resistant to conventional treatment, into two groups: group I – 50 females treated with a combination of IPL+vacuum and pills (ethynilestradiol 0.03 mg +drospirenona 3 mg) and group II with 60 females treated only with pills for 6 months. We excluded patients under 18 years, pregnant, with photosensitivity history or with acne treatments in the previous 8 weeks. Final assessment was made by comparison of the changes in inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions count and the Acne Global Severity Scale (AGSS) between the groups by the random-effects regression model. We estimated the necessary sample size for a two-sample likelihood-ratio proportion test.ResultsWe observed a significant reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions in both groups (p<0.001) but the treatment success rates significantly differed between the groups only for comedonian lesions (OR=5.52, p<0.001) but not for papullar-pustular lesions (OR=1.25, p=0.351). The quality of life evaluation showed a better satisfaction in patients from group I (p=0.003).ConclusionBoth methods are efficient for inflammatory lesions, but for comedonian acne we obtained better results with IPL +vacuum + pills treatment compared with pills alone.References and/or Acknowledgements1. Ianosi S, Ianosi G, Neagoe D, et al. Age-dependent endocrine disorders involved in the patogenesis of refractory acne in women. Mollecular Medicine Reorts2016;14(6):5501–5506.2. Ianosi S, Neagoe D, Calbureanu M, Ianosi G. Placebo-controlled randomised compared study, blind investigator between combined vacuum and intense pulsed light versus intense pulsed light devices in both comedonian andpapullar pustulous acne. J. Cosmetic and LaserTherapy2013;15(5):248–254.No conflict of interest
BackgroundTelangiectasias and reticular veins of the lower extremities are common lesions. Sclerotherapy was considered the gold standard for treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypertonic 20% saline/2% lignocaine (HS) and polidocanol 0.5% (POL) compared with laser clinical results.PurposeThis is a prospective, randomised study comparing the efficacy of sclerotherapy with POL, HS and long-pulsed neodymium ytrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser in the treatment of legtelangiectasias in females, using each patient as her own control.Material and methodsWe included in this study 285 females with primary leg telangiectasias and reticular veins (C 1A E p A S1 P N) in order to be treated with sclerotherapy or laser. One leg was treated with one of: Nd:YAG, POL or HS. The others receive, randomly, one other of these treatments. At the end there were 190 legs treated with each method. There were two sessions at 8 weeks’ interval. Assessment of vessels clearing, patient satisfaction and complications was conducted after 2 months: patient’s satisfaction, treating physician’s evaluation and blinded physician’s evaluation. Two investigator and #39;s evaluation was made using before and after photographs of the leg vessels using a 6-point scale from 0 (no change) to 5 (100% cleared). Patients reported pain sensation and outcome satisfaction.ResultsRegarding patient satisfaction, we noted no statistical significant differences (P 0.72), but group Nd:YAG felt that treatment was more painful (P 0.003). Physicians’ result assessment proved no statistically significant difference between HS, Nd:YAG and POL-treated legs. POL and HS caused more staining compared with Nd:YAG (P 0.02 and 0.03).ConclusionRegarding patient satisfaction, we noted no statistical significant differences (P 0.72), but groupNd:YAG felt that treatment was more painful (P 0.003). Physicians’ result assessment proved no statistically significant difference between HS, Nd:YAG and POL-treated legs. POL and HS caused more staining compared with Nd:YAG (P 0.02 and 0.03).References and/or AcknowledgementsWe gratefully thank all the staff of our medical centre for supporting this study.No conflict of interest
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