11 research outputs found

    Comparação da eficácia e tolerabilidade dos fármacos antiepilépticos : revisão sistemática com meta-análises

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    OBJETIVO: Comparar a eficácia e a tolerabilidade dos fármacos antiepiléticos (FAE) no tratamento em monoterapia de pacientes com epilepsia focal ou generalizada. MÉTODOS: Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada por meio da busca nas bases de dados eletrônicas Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science e Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. Foram incluídos os ensaios clínicos controlados com pacientes com epilepsia, em tratamento com FAE, via oral, em monoterapia, e que avaliaram o número de pacientes que atingiram a remissão das crises epilépticas, que interromperam o tratamento devido à ineficácia terapêutica ou à ocorrência de reações adversas (RAM) intoleráveis. Meta-análises de comparação de múltiplos tratamentos foram realizadas por meio do modelo bayesiano de efeitos randômicos que permitiu o cálculo do Odds Ratio meta-analítico para os FAE estudados. Também foi realizado um ranqueamento da probabilidade de cada FAE ser a melhor opção em eficácia e tolerabilidade. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: A busca identificou 18874 publicações, no entanto apenas 71 estudos foram selecionados, compreendendo 17555 pacientes com epilepsia. Vinte e nove estudos apresentaram os desfechos de eficácia no tratamento de crises focais, 19 em crises generalizadas e 58 apresentaram dados de tolerabilidade. Nesses estudos, 15 FAE foram avaliados. No tratamento das crises focais, os FAE de nova geração levetiracetam (LEV), lamotrigina (LTG), oxcarbazepina, sultiame e topiramato (TPM) demonstraram possuir eficácia equivalente à carbamazepina (CBZ), clobazam e valproato (VPA). No entanto, a CBZ apresentou o pior perfil de tolerabilidade devido à grande probabilidade do paciente abandonar o tratamento devido à RAM intoleráveis. Quanto ao tratamento das crises generalizadas, a LTG, LEV e TPM são tão eficazes quanto o VPA para o tratamento de crises generalizadas tônico-clônicas, tônicas e clônicas. O VPA e a etosuximida constituem as melhores opções para o tratamento de crises de ausências, enquanto que a LTG mostrou-se menos eficaz. Para o tratamento de crises mioclônicas e espasmos infantis mais ensaios clínicos randomizados são necessários para fornecer boas evidências que possam guiar a decisão clínica dos profissionais de saúde. Dentre os FAE com perfil de eficácia adequado, a LTG destacou-se pela menor probabilidade de manifestar RAM intoleráveis.OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of the antiepileptic drugs (AED) in monotherapy of patients with focal or generalized epilepsy. METHODS: A systematic review was in the Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials databases. We included randomized clinical trials of patients with epilepsy treated with oral monotherapy AED, which evaluated number of patients becoming seizure free at the maintenance treatment period; number of patients which withdrawals from the study because of therapeutic inefficacy and number of patients which withdrawals from the study because of intolerable adverse reaction. Network meta-analyses were performed using Bayesian random effects model. We also carried out a ranking of the probability of each AED be the best option in the efficacy and tolerability outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in order to check the robustness of the results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The research identified 18,874 publications, but only 71 studies were selected, comprising 17555 patients with epilepsy.Twenty-nine trials showed the efficacy outcomes in the treatment of focal seizures, 19 in generalized seizures and 58 showed tolerability data. In the treatment of focal seizures, levetiracetam (LEV), lamotrigine (LTG), oxcarbazepine, sultiame and topiramate (TPM) have demonstrated equivalent efficacy to carbamazepine (CBZ), clobazam and valproate (VPA). LTG, LEV and TPM are as effective as the VPA for the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic, tonic and clonic seizures. VPA and ethosuximide are the best options for the treatment of absence seizures, whereas LTG was less effective. For the treatment of myoclonic seizures and infantile spasms, more randomized clinical trials are needed to provide good evidence to guide the clinical decision of health professionals. Among the AED with adequate efficacy profile, LTG stands out as the AED with the best tolerability profile, suggesting it may be the best option for the treatment of patients with epilepsy

    Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

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    Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

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    Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

    Get PDF
    Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

    Comparação da eficácia e tolerabilidade dos fármacos antiepilépticos : revisão sistemática com meta-análises

    Get PDF
    OBJETIVO: Comparar a eficácia e a tolerabilidade dos fármacos antiepiléticos (FAE) no tratamento em monoterapia de pacientes com epilepsia focal ou generalizada. MÉTODOS: Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada por meio da busca nas bases de dados eletrônicas Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science e Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. Foram incluídos os ensaios clínicos controlados com pacientes com epilepsia, em tratamento com FAE, via oral, em monoterapia, e que avaliaram o número de pacientes que atingiram a remissão das crises epilépticas, que interromperam o tratamento devido à ineficácia terapêutica ou à ocorrência de reações adversas (RAM) intoleráveis. Meta-análises de comparação de múltiplos tratamentos foram realizadas por meio do modelo bayesiano de efeitos randômicos que permitiu o cálculo do Odds Ratio meta-analítico para os FAE estudados. Também foi realizado um ranqueamento da probabilidade de cada FAE ser a melhor opção em eficácia e tolerabilidade. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: A busca identificou 18874 publicações, no entanto apenas 71 estudos foram selecionados, compreendendo 17555 pacientes com epilepsia. Vinte e nove estudos apresentaram os desfechos de eficácia no tratamento de crises focais, 19 em crises generalizadas e 58 apresentaram dados de tolerabilidade. Nesses estudos, 15 FAE foram avaliados. No tratamento das crises focais, os FAE de nova geração levetiracetam (LEV), lamotrigina (LTG), oxcarbazepina, sultiame e topiramato (TPM) demonstraram possuir eficácia equivalente à carbamazepina (CBZ), clobazam e valproato (VPA). No entanto, a CBZ apresentou o pior perfil de tolerabilidade devido à grande probabilidade do paciente abandonar o tratamento devido à RAM intoleráveis. Quanto ao tratamento das crises generalizadas, a LTG, LEV e TPM são tão eficazes quanto o VPA para o tratamento de crises generalizadas tônico-clônicas, tônicas e clônicas. O VPA e a etosuximida constituem as melhores opções para o tratamento de crises de ausências, enquanto que a LTG mostrou-se menos eficaz. Para o tratamento de crises mioclônicas e espasmos infantis mais ensaios clínicos randomizados são necessários para fornecer boas evidências que possam guiar a decisão clínica dos profissionais de saúde. Dentre os FAE com perfil de eficácia adequado, a LTG destacou-se pela menor probabilidade de manifestar RAM intoleráveis.OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of the antiepileptic drugs (AED) in monotherapy of patients with focal or generalized epilepsy. METHODS: A systematic review was in the Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials databases. We included randomized clinical trials of patients with epilepsy treated with oral monotherapy AED, which evaluated number of patients becoming seizure free at the maintenance treatment period; number of patients which withdrawals from the study because of therapeutic inefficacy and number of patients which withdrawals from the study because of intolerable adverse reaction. Network meta-analyses were performed using Bayesian random effects model. We also carried out a ranking of the probability of each AED be the best option in the efficacy and tolerability outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in order to check the robustness of the results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The research identified 18,874 publications, but only 71 studies were selected, comprising 17555 patients with epilepsy.Twenty-nine trials showed the efficacy outcomes in the treatment of focal seizures, 19 in generalized seizures and 58 showed tolerability data. In the treatment of focal seizures, levetiracetam (LEV), lamotrigine (LTG), oxcarbazepine, sultiame and topiramate (TPM) have demonstrated equivalent efficacy to carbamazepine (CBZ), clobazam and valproate (VPA). LTG, LEV and TPM are as effective as the VPA for the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic, tonic and clonic seizures. VPA and ethosuximide are the best options for the treatment of absence seizures, whereas LTG was less effective. For the treatment of myoclonic seizures and infantile spasms, more randomized clinical trials are needed to provide good evidence to guide the clinical decision of health professionals. Among the AED with adequate efficacy profile, LTG stands out as the AED with the best tolerability profile, suggesting it may be the best option for the treatment of patients with epilepsy

    Análise da assistência à saúde aos pacientes com hepatites virais B e C no estado do Amapá

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    O Amapá é uma região hiperendêmica para hepatites virais B (HB) e C (HC), As Políticas Públicas de Saúde garantem o direito dos pacientes ao acesso universal e gratuito à assistência médica e ao tratamento das HB e HC, Neste sentido, o estudo avaliou a assistência à saúde oferecida aos pacientes com HB e HC, atendidos pelo SUS, no Amapá, Os dados foram coletados junto aos prontuários médicos e comparados com os Protocolos Clínicos e Diretrizes Terapêuticas para HB e HC e com a rede assistencial do SUS, Foram identificados e incluídos no estudo 123 pacientes atendidos no Centro de Referência em Doenças Tropicais, dos quais 43 e 85 pacientes apresentaram diagnóstico de HB e HC, respectivamente (cinco coinfectados com HB e HC), O acompanhamento clínico ambulatorial dos pacientes foi inferior a seis meses (período necessário para diagnóstico conclusivo de infecção crônica) para 53,7% dos pacientes devido ao abandono do tratamento, O exame de aminotransferases não foi solicitado à 37,4% dos pacientes e a biópsia hepática foi realizada por 84% dos pacientes com algum grau de severidade da doença, Dezessete pacientes receberam interferon-alfa peguilado como farmacoterapia inicial, mas a escolha inicial do esquema terapêutico mais potente não é recomendada pois não deixa opções para terapia de resgate em casos de resposta negativa à terapia inicial, A assistência à saúde dos pacientes com HB e HC no estado do Amapá apresenta deficiências, tais como o abandono do tratamento, inclusão e exclusão inadequada de pacientes nos protocolos de tratamento, além da dificuldade de acesso aos exames de diagnóstico e ao monitoramento da doença nos pacientes infectados

    Analysis of clinical pharmacist interventions in the neurology unit of a Brazilian tertiary teaching hospital.

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    It is estimated that around five to 10.0% of hospital admissions occur due to clinical conditions resulting from pharmacotherapy. Clinical pharmacist's activity can enhance drug therapy's effectiveness and safety through pharmacotherapy interventions (PIs), thus minimizing drug-related problems (DRPs) and optimizing the allocation of financial resources associated with health care. This study aimed to estimate the DRPs prevalence, evaluate PI which were performed by clinical pharmacists in the Neurology Unit of a Brazilian tertiary teaching hospital and to identify factors associated with the occurrence of PI-related DRP. A single-arm trial included adults admitted in the referred Unit from 2012 July to 2015 June. Patients were evaluated during their hospitalization period and PIs were performed based on trigger DRPs that were detected in medication reconciliation (admission or discharge) or during inpatient follow-up. Student's t-test, Chi-square test, Pearson and Multiple logistic regression models to analise the association among age, number of drugs, hospitalization period, and number of diagnoses with occurrence of DRPs. Analyses level of significance was 5%. In total 409 inpatients were followed up [51.1% male, mean age of 49.1 (SD 16.5)]. Patients received, on average, 11.9 (SD 5.8) drugs, ranging from two to 38 drugs per patient, and 54.3% of the sample presented at least one DRP whose most frequent description was "untreated condition". From all 516 performed PIs that resulted from DRPs, 82.8% were accepted and the majority referred to "drug introduction" (27.5%). Multiple logistic regression showed that age, length of hospital stay, number of drugs used, diagnosis of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis would be clinical variables associated with DRP (p < 0,05). Monitoring the use of drugs allowed the clinical pharmacist to detect DRPs and to suggest interventions that promote rational pharmacotherapy

    The Masticatory Activity Interference in Quantitative Estimation of CA1, CA3 and Dentate Gyrus Hippocampal Astrocytes of Aged Murine Models and under Environmental Stimulation

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    Studies indicating the influence of masticatory dysfunction, due to a soft diet or lack of molars, on impairing spatial memory and learning have led to research about neuronal connections between areas and cell populations possibly affected. In this sense, with scarce detailed data on the subfields of hippocampus in dementia neurodegeneration, there is no information about astrocytic responses in its different layers. Thus, considering this context, the present study evaluated the effects of deprivation and rehabilitation of masticatory activity, aging, and environmental enrichment on the stereological quantification of hippocampal astrocytes from layers CA1, CA3, and DG. For this purpose, we examined mature (6-month-old; 6M), and aged (18-month-old; 18M) mice, subjected to distinct masticatory regimens and environments. Three different regimens of masticatory activity were applied: continuous normal mastication with hard pellets (HD); normal mastication followed by deprived mastication with equal periods of pellets followed by soft powder (HD/SD); or rehabilitated masticatory activity with equal periods of HD, followed by powder, followed by pellets (HD/SD/HD). Under each specific regimen, half of the animals were raised in standard cages (impoverished environment (IE)) and the other half in enriched cages (enriched environment (EE)), mimicking sedentary or active lifestyles. Microscopic stereological, systematic, and random sampling approaches with an optical dissector of GFAP-immunolabeled astrocytes were done, allowing for an astrocyte numerical estimate. Stratum moleculare and hilus, from the dentate gyrus (DG) and Strata Lacunosum-Moleculare, Oriens, and Radiatum, similarly to the dentate gyrus, showed no significant change in any of the investigated variables (age, diet, or environment) in these layers. However, in Stratum radiatum, it was possible to observe significant differences associated with diet regimens and age. Therefore, diet-related differences were found when the HD 18M IE group was compared to the HD/SD/HD 18-month-old group in the same environment (IE) (p = 0.007). In the present study, we present modulatory factors (masticatory function, environmental enrichment, and aging) for the differentiated quantitative laminar response in the hippocampal regions, suggesting other studies to read the plasticity and responsiveness of astrocytes, including the molecular background

    NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

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    Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

    NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

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    Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data
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