An evaluation of non-adherence to pharmacotherapy for chronic diseases and socioeconomic inequalities in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate non-adherence to pharmacotherapy for chronic diseases and to investigate the existence of socioeconomic inequalities related to this outcome in Brazil.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of the Rational Use of Medicines (PNAUM). The study population corresponded to individuals aged 18 years or older with a medical diagnosis of at least one chronic disease and an indication for pharmacological treatment.

Access to prescribed medicine in the Brazilian adult population.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and check the factors associated with access to prescribed medicine by the Brazilian adult population; and to describe the distribution of the presence of monetary expenditure for the purchase, source of medicines, and the reasons for non-access.

Methods: Based on a cross-sectional design, from the 2013 National Health Research data, we analyzed a representative sample of the population that comprised adults with prescriptions written by a health professional, in the two weeks prior to the survey. The dependent variable was the access to prescribed medicines (full access, partial access, no access).

Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from hollows of living trees in the city of Alfenas, MG, Brazil.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast, aetiological agent of cryptococcosis, commonly associated with pigeon droppings and plant materials. The species has also been associated with tree hollows. The aim of the present work was to verify the presence of the yeast in hollows of living trees and identify the isolates obtained in varieties and serotypes.

[Behaviour azole fungicide and fluconazole in Cryptococcus neoformans clinical and environmental isolates].

The activity of azole fungicides for agronomical use (epoxiconazole, difenoconazole and cyproconazole) was evaluated in comparison with the therapeutic antifungal agent fluconazole, on 23 environmental samples of Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans isolated from pigeon feces that were collected from farms with agricultural practices using azole compounds, and on 11 clinical samples isolated from patients with cryptococcosis. Sensitivity tests were performed using the agar dilution technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration capable of inhibiting 50% of the environmental isolates (MIC 50) was 6.