scholarly journals Analgesics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihai Botea

It is the responsibility of the professional care team to develop an effective person-centred Pain Management strategy which appropriately assesses patients, analyses the results of the assessment and devises a person centred plan to manage pain while allowing the person to remain as independent and functional as possible. The medications useful in treating acute pain are similar to those used in treating other types of pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder developed for treating patients with cancer pain also provides a useful approach to treat acute pain. At the lowest level (mild pain) are recommended nonopioid analgesics such as paracetamol or/plus nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g. ibuprophen). Such drugs have an analgesic ceiling; above a certain dose, no further analgesia is expected. For moderate pain, are recommended combining paracetamol and/or a NSAID with an opioid (a weak opoid). The inclusion of paracetamol limits the amount of opoids that should be used within 24 hour period, with many benefits which will be discussed later in the chapter. For severe level of pain, a strong opoid such as morphine is a better choice; such opoids have no analgesic ceiling. Most postoperative or trauma patients initially respond better to a morphine-equivalent opoid. At the moment when the patient is eating and drinking, a combination of oral analgesics including opoids and paracetamol plus/minus NSAID are most of the time an adequate choice.

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 7-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamary Súarez Reyes ◽  
Carlos Agustín Villegas Valverde

Characteristics and Specialization of the Immune Response in COVID-19 Abstract The outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China, became a pandemic on March 11, 2020. It has caused almost 4 million confirmed cases worldwide, with more than 270,000 deaths. Coronavirus is an enveloped RNA virus of the β-coronavirus genus distributed in birds, humans, and other mammals. The World Health Organization has named the new disease COVID-19. The scientific community is look http://doi.org/10.22201/fm.24484865e.2020.63.4.02 8 8 Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM | ing for evidence that can lead to a better understanding of the infection and the immune response (IR), prognostic and therapeutic predictors, effective treatments and vaccines. The objective of this review was to compile updated scientific evidence of the IR to COVID-19, in order to guide professionals with solutions that have a clinical impact. The most important elements involve innate immunity with failures in the interferon system in the early stages of the infection and a sustained increase in proinflammatory interleukins. This can end in a potentially fatal cytokine storm. The infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages at the alveolar level, accompanied by neutrophilia, is very characteristic. Lymphopenia is evident at the adaptive immunity level, that, depending on the degree, can indicate the severity of the disease. Understanding the temporal sequence of the IR is crucial for choosing the appropriate and effective therapies, especially when selecting which type of anti-inflammatory drugs can be used and the frequency of the dosage. Due to the fact that it is difficult to determine when they will be clearly beneficial, not harmful to the IR and not too late, due to the irreversibility of the process. Key words: COVID-19; coronavirus; immune response


Historically, birth was considered a natural event, respected until the sixteenth century as an exclusively female movement. From the moment that the delivery began to happen inside the hospital with the participation of doctors in the process of the same, the woman stopped being the most important person and active of that event. Therefore, in order to change in this scenario, the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health have been guiding and implementing behaviors that should be stimulated during childbirth, such as the presence of a companion, the supply of fluids, the use of non-invasive techniques for relief of pain and freedom of choice of birth position, among others. The study aims to verify in the literature the systematization of knowledge about the awareness of the benefits of normal delivery, pointing out the behaviors performed that favor the woman's role. This is a literature review, with descriptive and explanatory character, in the databases Scientific Electronic Library (ScIELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS); And the National Library of Medicine (PUBMED, from 2008 to 2019), using the following descriptors: normal delivery, humanization, humanization in normal birth, women's role, and the result was three categories: The synthesis of the articles allowed us to understand that there are already some changes in the care of women during labor, but that there is still a lack of knowledge about the role of women in the labor market. It is concluded that in order for women to take part in labor and delivery, humanization becomes necessary, which is evidenced by the need to improve access and quality of delivery services.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e2015035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosangela Invernizzi ◽  
Federica Quaglia ◽  
Matteo Giovanni Della Porta

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by dysplastic, ineffective, clonal and neoplastic hematopoiesis. MDS represent a complex hematological problem: differences in disease presentation, progression and outcome  have necessitated the use of classification systems to improve diagnosis, prognostication and treatment selection. However, since a single biological or genetic reliable diagnostic marker has not yet been discovered for MDS, quantitative and qualitative dysplastic morphological alterations of bone marrow precursors and of peripheral blood cells are still fundamental for diagnostic classification. In this paper World Health Organization (WHO) classification refinements and current minimal diagnostic criteria proposed by expert panels are highlighted and related problematic issues are discussed. The recommendations should facilitate diagnostic and prognostic evaluations in MDS and selection of patients for new effective targeted therapies. Although in the future morphology should be supplemented with new molecular techniques, the morphological approach, at least for the moment, is still the cornerstone for the diagnosis and classification of these disorders.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-xuan Li ◽  
Chang-zheng He ◽  
Yi-chen Liu ◽  
Peng-yue Zhao ◽  
Xiao-lei Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Patients with cancer are more likely to incur poor clinical outcomes. Due to the prevailing pandemic, we propose some surgical strategies for gastric cancer patients. Methods: The ‘COVID-19’ period was defined as occurring between 2020-01-20 and 2020-03-20. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups, pre-COVID-19 group (PCG) and COVID-19 group (CG). A total of 109 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study. Results: The waiting time before admission increased by 4 days in the CG (PCG: 4.5 [IQR: 2, 7.8] vs. CG: 8.0 [IQR: 2,20]; p=0.006). More patients had performed chest CT scans besides abdominal CT before admission during the COVID-19 period (PCG: 22 [32%] vs. CG: 30 [73%], p=0.001). After admission during the COVID period, the waiting time before surgery was longer (PCG: 3[IQR: 2,5] vs. CG: 7[IQR: 5,9]; p<0.001), more laparoscopic surgeries were performed (PCG: 51[75%] vs. CG: 38[92%], p=0.021), and hospital stay period after surgery was longer (7[IQR: 6,8] vs.9[IQR:7,11]; p<0.001). In addition, the total cost of hospitalization increased during this period, (PCG: 9.22[IQR:7.82,10.97] vs. CG: 10.42[IQR:8.99,12.57]; p=0.006). Conclusion: This study provides an opportunity for our surgical colleagues to reflect on their own services and any contingency plans they may have to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.


Author(s):  
Rawaz Tawfeeq ◽  
Tarin Tahssen Obied ◽  
Aram Ommar

Background: Errors in drug prescriptions are the most common preventable medication errors encountered in clinical practices worldwide. The purpose of this study is to examine the pattern of prescriptions and drug use in the Kurdistan region and to determine whether prescription patterns are based on rational therapeutic considerations. Methods: A cross sectional-observational study was conducted in the Kurdistan region of Iraq over a period of five months. A total of 1000 prescriptions were selected randomly from different pharmacies and data obtained from each prescription. In these prescriptions a total of 2878 medications were prescribed. After collection, excel software was then used to perform calculations. Results: The average number of drugs per prescription was calculated to be 2.8. Drugs prescribed by generic name were 27% and more than 98 percent of prescriptions were handwritten. The duration of therapy was mentioned in 56.5% of prescriptions. However, the dose and dosage form of medications were recorded 62% and 87.3% respectively. The percentage of prescriptions containing a signature was 88.1%. Furthermore, the percentage of antibiotics, supplements, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other painkillers were prescribed at a rate of 51.8%, 44.2%, 31.8%, and 21.8% per prescription. Conclusion: Whilst observing the data we can conclude that the rate of drugs written per prescription is much higher than the suggested World Health Organization (WHO0 average. Prescribing errors are one of the most common preventable causes of medication errors and the use of electronic prescriptions may play a huge role in ameliorating this fact.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512520401p1-7512520401p1
Author(s):  
Charmaine Lim ◽  
Manisha Sheth

Abstract Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. The purpose of this research was to examine the efficacy of a 9-week equine-assisted program named "Horse in the Moment." Mixed-methodology research was conducted to explore the effectiveness of equine-assisted activities on quality of life (QOL) and relational skills for individuals diagnosed with dementia. Pre and post scores on World Health Organization QOL showed significant difference. Families of the participants also reported improvements in communication and socialization. Primary Author and Speaker: Charmaine Lim Additional Authors and Speakers: Manisha Sheth


Author(s):  
Allakhyarov D.Z. ◽  
Petrov Yu.A. ◽  
Chernavsky V.V.

This article presents reviews of literature sources on the clinical and pathogenetic aspects of the course of a new coronovirus infection in pregnant women, in order to analyze the features of the course of COVID-19 in pregnant women and to assess the impact of infection on the body of a woman and a fetus. Pregnancy is a special physiological condition, during which a number of changes occur in the body, not only in the hormonal status, but also in the immune system. The urgency of this problem is due to the high prevalence of new coronavirus infection among the population. On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO), as a result of the dynamic development of the epidemic in many countries and continents, declared a global pandemic of the contagious disease COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to available studies, pregnant women are more susceptible to a more severe course of infectious diseases affecting the upper respiratory tract. According to various studies, a new coronavirus infection can lead to premature birth, miscarriage, and preeclampsia. Separate studies show increased mortality in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 virus does not have a direct teratogenic effect on the fetus, but it can indirectly lead to harmful effects on the developing organism. Special attention should be paid to the issue of vaccination of pregnant women against a new coronavirus infection, at the moment there is no accurate data on the effect of the vaccine on the body of the pregnant woman and the fetus. In this regard, the question of the impact of a new coronavirus infection on the course of pregnancy has become relevant.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Emanuele Napoli ◽  
Matteo Nioi ◽  
Ernesto d’Aloja ◽  
Maurizio Fossarello

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an important health problem that was defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. Although great concern has been expressed about COVID-19 infection acquired through ocular transmission, its underlying mechanism has not currently been clarified. In the current work, we analyzed and elucidated the two main elements that should be taken into account to understand the “ocular route”, both from a clinical and molecular point of view. They are represented by the dynamism of the ocular surface system (e.g., the tear film turnover) and the distribution of ACE2 receptors and TMPRSS2 protein. Although it seems, at the moment, that there is a low risk of coronavirus spreading through tears, it may survive for a long time or replicate in the conjunctiva, even in absence of conjunctivitis signs, indicating that eye protection (e.g., protective goggles alone or in association with face shield) is advisable to prevent contamination from external droplets and aerosol.


Diagnostics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateo Cortes Rivera ◽  
Claudio Mastronardi ◽  
Claudia Silva-Aldana ◽  
Mauricio Arcos-Burgos ◽  
Brett Lidbury

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating chronic disease of unknown aetiology that is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) as a disorder of the brain. The disease predominantly affects adults, with a peak age of onset of between 20 and 45 years with a female to male ratio of 3:1. Although the clinical features of the disease have been well established within diagnostic criteria, the diagnosis of ME/CFS is still of exclusion, meaning that other medical conditions must be ruled out. The pathophysiological mechanisms are unclear but the neuro-immuno-endocrinological pattern of CFS patients gleaned from various studies indicates that these three pillars may be the key point to understand the complexity of the disease. At the moment, there are no specific pharmacological therapies to treat the disease, but several studies’ aims and therapeutic approaches have been described in order to benefit patients’ prognosis, symptomatology relief, and the recovery of pre-existing function. This review presents a pathophysiological approach to understanding the essential concepts of ME/CFS, with an emphasis on the population, clinical, and genetic concepts associated with ME/CFS.


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