Assessing antimicrobial consumption in public and private sectors within the Costa Rican health system: current status and future directions.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health threat. Therefore, robust surveillance systems for antimicrobial consumption (AMC) are essential to develop public health strategies. However, Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, face challenges in regularly reporting AMC data.

[What is being investigated and who conducts clinical research related to medicines in Argentina?].

Introduction: Clinical trials that involve medicines are performed in order to determine their effectiveness and safety. In Argentina, these studies are presented either to National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) to obtain drug registration, or to the National Ministry of Health (MSAL) (to obtain the official recognition). This work was carried out to increase the knowledge about the clinical trials performed in Argentina.

[High-cost medicines: the difficult balance between individual and collective rightsMedicamentos de alto custo: o difícil equilíbrio entre direitos individuais e coletivos].

Medicines are special goods that cover the health needs of the population. In recent decades, the pharmaceutical industry has changed its research and development strategy, shifting its focus from the exploration of medicines for chronic diseases affecting a large part of the population to the search for drugs for rare diseases that affect a small number of people.This lack of a mass consumer base is reflected in a selective offer of a few very high-cost products aimed at certain diseases, which hinders both patient access and financial coverage.

Constitutional DNA Polymorphisms Associated with the Plasma Imatinib Concentration in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

The tyrosine kinase Inhibitor (TKI) imatinib is approved for the treatment of the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). Pharmacokinetic studies have highlighted the importance of inter-patient variability on imatinib plasma trough concentrations (ima[C]min). In the OPTIM-imatinib trial, we demonstrated that therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is able to improve the molecular response of CP-CML patients treated with imatinib.

[Judicialization of high priced medications in Argentina: quali-quantitative study].

Introduction: The economic consequences of mandatory coverage, through judicial means, of high-priced medications constitutes a growing problem, which merits knowing its local characteristics to provide possible solutions.

Objective: To identify medications, diseases involved, economic impact and contextual factors of the judicialization of high-priced medications in the Argentine Health System(MEP).

Methods: Quali-quantitative descriptive study that retrospectively analyzed legal protection resources by MEP from three national and provincial databases from January 2017 to December 2020, evaluating the existing relationship between lawsuits with regulatory approval, inclusion in benefit packages and relationship with journalistic articles for the three most frequently prosecuted drugs.

A Cross-National Comparison of Biosimilars Pricing in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Italy.

Background: Biosimilar medicines are defined as biological products highly similar to an already licensed biological product (RP). The market entry of biosimilars is expected to reduce the costs of biological treatments.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the range of differences between the prices of biosimilars and the corresponding RP for biologicals approved in four countries.

[Concordance between essential medicines lists and diabetes guidelines in Latin America and the CaribbeanConcordância entre as listas de medicamentos essenciais e diretrizes para diabetes na América Latina e no Caribe].

Objective: Conduct an analysis to determine the existence and updating of national essential medicines lists (EMLs) and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the treatment of diabetes in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC); and compare the medicines included in each country's list and guidelines both with each other and with those of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods: Cross-sectional study. EMLs and CPGs for diabetes were found on the websites of the Pan American Health Organization and national health authorities.

[Financial and health impact of two models of providing prostheses in a public health systemImpacto econômico e sanitário de dois modelos de fornecimento de próteses em um sistema público de saúde].

Objective: Compare the health outcomes and financial outcomes of two systems for the procurement of prostheses: the traditional system, in which procurement is initiated when a product is requested; and the "Prosthesis Bank" model, based on a current inventory of supplies.

Methods: Descriptive-analytical study of users of Ministry of Health services in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The patients belonged to two study groups: 1) prostheses were provided through the traditional computerized system for hospital procurement and contracting, known as SIPACH; and 2) prostheses were provided by the Prosthesis Bank.

Biosimilars approvals by thirteen regulatory authorities: A cross-national comparison.

Biosimilars are biological medicines highly similar to a previously licensed reference product and their licensing is expected to improve access to biological therapies. This study aims to present an overview of biosimilars approval by thirteen regulatory authorities (RA). The study is a cross-national comparison of regulatory decisions involving biosimilars in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Hungary, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Peru and United States.

[Characterization of the drug supply in Argentina].

Introduction: Knowing the characteristics of the pharmaceutical market allows obtaining sensitive information to understand the supply, demand and access of the population to medicines. In order to provide primary data regarding the marketing of drugs in Argentina, the following research was performed.

Method: This is a cross-sectional quantitative-qualitative descriptive study of the Argentine pharmaceutical market, taking into account 30 years of official information provided by the National Regulatory Agency (ANMAT).

In Silico and In Vivo Studies of a Tumor-Penetrating and Interfering Peptide with Antitumoral Effect on Xenograft Models of Breast Cancer.

The combination of a tumor-penetrating peptide (TPP) with a peptide able to interfere with a given protein-protein interaction (IP) is a promising strategy with potential clinical application. Little is known about the impact of fusing a TPP with an IP, both in terms of internalization and functional effect. Here, we analyze these aspects in the context of breast cancer, targeting PP2A/SET interaction, using both in silico and in vivo approaches.

Antimicrobial Consumption from 2017 to 2021 in East Trinidad and Tobago: A Study in the English-Speaking Caribbean.

An antimicrobial consumption (AMC) study was performed in Trinidad and Tobago at the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA). A retrospective, cross-sectional survey was conducted from 1 November 2021 to 30 March 2022. Dosage and package types of amoxicillin, azithromycin, co-amoxiclav, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, nitrofurantoin and co-trimoxazole were investigated.

[Economic impact of high-price/cost medicines on social security in Argentina. The case of the Institute for the Armed and Security Forces].

Introduction: In Argentina, high-cost drugs (HCD) induce a high economic burden for all the health system sectors. However, it does not exist in Argentina any data that indicates the real problem of HCD for Social Security. That is why, the present study explores the economic impact of the HCD for one of the main Institutions of the country.

Pancake kidney with a single ureter, hydrometrocolpos, and imperforate anus: a set of uncommon malformations in a female adolescent.

An 11-year-old girl with a history of imperforate anus, urinary tract infection, and intermittent episodes of constipation presented with abdominal pain and nausea for 1 week. The x-rays revealed hydrometrocolpos and fused pelvic kidney with a single hydronephrotic ureter. The vaginal examination revealed a nonpermeable transverse vaginal septum.

[Medicines withdrawn in other countries due to safety concerns: should they continue to be available in the Argentine pharmaceutical market?].

Introduction: Numerous medicines have been withdrawn from the market because of the risks of serious adverse effects. The objective of this study was to identify in the Argentine pharmaceutical market (APM) the presence of medicines withdrawn in other countries due to safety problems, to analyze the information on their risks and to propose recommendations.

Method: observational, descriptive study that explored the presence in the APM, until May 2021, of 462 medicines withdrawn in other countries.

Antimicrobial Consumption in Latin American Countries: First Steps of a Long Road Ahead.

Background: Irrational antimicrobial consumption (AMC) became one of the main global health problems in recent decades.

Objective: In order to understand AMC in Latin-American Region, we performed the present research in 6 countries.

Methods: Antimicrobial consumption (J01, A07A, P01AB groups) was registered in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Peru.

[Implementation of a support system for isolated elderly people to limit the consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic in Buenos Aires].

The Covid-19 pandemic with its associated quarantine and isolation has had a dramatic impact on the elderly. In order to mitigate this, the National University of La Plata and the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie set up a health surveillance and early warning project for the elderly in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This interventional study, has included 1,964 people.

"CUIDARAS " : A Nominal and Personalized Health Care Model. Effectiveness of a Massive Screening for Colorectal Cancer Detection at Community level.

Unlabelled: Health systems provides care only to those people who spontaneous demand for attention; excluding those who dont perceive illness or are not aware enough to consult. Alternative healthcare models based on the nominal-personalized care like "University Center for Integrated Care of Referred Health Care" (CUIDARAS) may have better results. In order to demonstrate benefits of this model, it was performed an experience based in colorectal cancer (CRC) detection and care that focused the entire population of the town.

Association between Consumption of Fluoroquinolones and Carbapenems and Their Resistance Rates in in Argentina.

Background: Irrational use of antimicrobials (ATMs) triggers microbial resistance (AMR) which has severe consequences for human health. ATM consumption varies among countries and within each territory. These data should be known, in order to perform local policies towards AMR reduction.

[Indicators of rational prescription of medicines: feasibility of application in institutions in the AmericasIndicadores de prescrição racional de medicamentos: viabilidade de aplicação em instituições das Américas].

Objective: Evaluate the feasibility of monitoring the quality of use of medicines in health institutions in countries of the Region of the Americas by means of rational prescription indicators.

Methodology: A quantitative study of the use of medicines was conducted during the period 2016-2018. Rational prescription indicators were developed and selected in accordance with international reference values and the best available evidence for: 1) anti-inflammatory drugs: prescription of ibuprofen and/or naproxen as a percentage of all prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; 2) oral antidiabetics: metformin as a percentage of all prescribed antidiabetics, and metformin and/or sulfonylureas as a percentage of all prescribed antidiabetics; 3) insulins: crystalline insulin and NPH as a percentage of total prescribed insulins; and 4) antihypertensive drugs: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs-II), and thiazide diuretics as a percentage of all prescribed antihypertensives.

Data sources for drug utilization research in Latin American countries-A cross-national study: DASDUR-LATAM study.

Purpose: Drug utilization research (DUR) contributes to inform policymaking and to strengthen health systems. The availability of data sources is the first step for conducting DUR. However, documents that systematize these data sources in Latin American (LatAm) countries are not known.

[The Argentine health system: an analysis based on access to medicines].

The objective of the work is to describe features of the health system in Argentina though the way that the population access to medicines. Argentine health system reflects all the systems of the world in just one country. The National Public Health system, the Social Security and Private sectors coexist in order to attend the needs and demand of the population.

[Benzodiazepine and Z-drug consumption in a national social security organization in Argentina: rational or excessive use?].

Benzodiazepines and "Z-drugs" (BZD/Z) are overprescribed in many countries. This study evaluates their consumption in a social security sector health insurance provider with national coverage in Argentina. With a descriptive and observational approach, outpatient dispensations of BZD/Zs were analyzed for people over 18 years old from April 2020 to March 2021, disaggregated by sex, age, active ingredient, and half-life.

Disparities in antimicrobial consumption and resistance within a country: the case of beta-lactams in Argentina.

Objective: To describe bacterial resistance and antimicrobial consumption ratio at the subnational level in Argentina during 2018, considering beta-lactams group as a case-study.

Methods: Antimicrobial consumption was expressed as defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants. Resistance of and to beta-lactams was recorded.