Drug therapy complexity: the importance of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up

Nowadays, the phenomenon of population ageing represents an worldwide problem, which assumes particular significance in Portugal. As they get older, individuals present more comorbidities and consequently consume an increasing number of drugs, which contributes to a growing drug therapy complexity. The institutionalized elders are particularly affected by this occurrence. Drug therapy complexity is defined as the conciliator of several characteristics of the pharmacotherapy and can affect patient’s safety and medication adherence. It can be measured with Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI). This study aims to determine the drug therapy complexity of institutionalized elders in order to assess the need of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up.

Claustrophobia and adherence in magnetic resonance imaging procedure

Claustrophobia causes a huge discomfort to those who need to perform Magnetic Resonance examinations mainly due to the physical design of most equipment. This study aimed to maximize the success rate of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) clinical studies in claustrophobic patients by the identification of facilitative strategies.

Determination of pharmocotherapeutical complexity in institutionalized elderly

The phenomenon of aging is nowadays society as acquired the status of a social problem, with growing attention and concern, leading to an increase number of studies dedicated to the elderly. The lack of domestic, familiar or social support often lead elderly to nursing homes. Institutionalization is in many cases the only opportunity to have access to health care and life quality. Aging is also associated with a higher prevalence of chronic diseases that require long term medication sometimes for life. Frequently the onset of multiple pathologies at the same time require different therapies and the phenomenon of polypharmacy (five ou more drugs daily) can occur. Even more, the slow down of physiological and cognitives mechanisms associated with these chronic diseases can interphere, in one hand, with the pharmacocinetic of many medications and, on the other hand, with the facility to accomplish the therapeutical regimen. All of these realities contribute to an increase of pharmacotherapeutical complexity, decreasing the adherence and effectiveness of treatment. The pharmacotherapeutical complexity of an individual is characterized by the conciliator element of different characteristics of their drug therapy, such as: the number of medications used; dosage forms; dosing frequency and additional indications. It can be measured by the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI), originally validated in English.

Herb-drug interactions among commonly used psychoactive substances by healthcare students

The concurrent use of herbs and/or nutritional supplements with psychoactive effect and prescription medications is common among college students. College students are a particularly vulnerable population, for they are under less social/familiar surveillance and seek greater independence, as well as under greater intellectual effort, stress, anxiety and depression, which predispose them to a higher consumption of psychoactive substances. Herbs, vitamins, and other dietary supplements may influence the effects of prescription and nonprescription drugs leading to adverse consequences, by increasing the potential for interactions. However, documented interactions between herbal medicinal products and prescribed drugs are rare. Objective: determine the prevalence of concomitant use of psychoactive substances among healthcare students in the Lisbon School of Health Technology, Portugal, in order to assess the risk of potential herb-drug interactions.

Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance in Angola

Facing chloroquine drug resistance, Angola promptly adopted artemisinin-based combination therapy as the first-line to treat malaria. Currently, the country aims to consolidate malaria control, while preparing for the elimination of the disease, along with others African countries in the region. However, the remarkable capacity of Plasmodium to develop drug resistance represents an alarming threat for those achievements. Herein, the available, but relatively scarce and dispersed, information on malaria drug resistance in Angola, is reviewed and discussed. The review aims to inform but also to encourage future research studies that monitor and update the information on anti-malarial drug efficacy and prevalence of molecular markers of drug resistance, key fields in the context and objectives of elimination.