Excess deaths among adults in the state of Santa Catarina: an ecological study during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil, 2020-2021.

Objective: to estimate excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Santa Catarina and its macro-regions, Brazil, 2020-2021.

Methods: this was an ecological study, using data from the Mortality Information System; excess deaths in adults were calculated by the difference between the observed number of deaths and expected number of deaths, taking into account the average of deaths that occurred between 2015 and 2019; the variables "macro-region of residence", "quarter", "month", "sex" and "age group" were analyzed; data were analyzed in a descriptive manner.

Results: a total of 6,315 excess deaths in 2020 and 17,391 in 2021, mostly in males (57.

[Evaluation of the Lippstädter Benzo-Check as a Screening Tool for Side Effects of Long-term Use of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs].

Objective: The Lippstädter Benzo-Check is intended to motivate those affected by unwanted effects of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. This study serves as the first check whether the Lippstädter Benzo-Check adequately recorded the symptoms of longterm-use before the withdrawal and, on the other hand, a depressive control group without taking the corresponding drugs unremarkable values ​​achieved.

Methods: 101 inpatient withdrawal patients with dependency on Benzodiazepines or Z-drugs and 154 day clinic patients without benzodiazepines or Z-drugs completed the Lippstädter Benzo-Check at the beginning of treatment.

Problematic Medication With Benzodiazepines, "Z-drugs", and Opioid Analgesics.

Background: An estimated 1.4 to 2.6 million people in German suffer from drug dependence.

[Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs - Analyses of Ambulatory Prescriptions from 2006 to 2015].

Objective: The majority of medication-dependent persons uses sedatives and hypnotics for many years. In this study we describe trends of benzodiazepine and z-drug prescriptions over a 10-years period.

Methods: Prescriptions from 2006 to 2015 (based on German statutory health insurances) from the North German Pharmacy Computing Centre (NARZ) were analysed for the Federal states Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Bremen.

The Prescription of Anticraving Medication and its Economic Consequences.

Importance: According to recent studies, only a small proportion of alcoholics in the system for addiction treatment receive expedited treatment [Rehm et al.: Sucht 2014;60:93-105] and that those who are untreated are at risk of harmful and dependent alcohol consumption. This is associated with significantly negative effects on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life [Kraus et al.

Very Low Frequency of Drug Therapy of Alcohol Dependence in Germany - Analysis of Data of A Statutory Health Insurance.

Acamprosate and naltrexone are medications of proven efficacy in the treatment of alcohol dependence. In order to investigate the prescription of these drugs in outpatient routine treatment in Germany (frequency of prescription, duration, medical specialty of prescribing physician), data of a large statutory health insurance were analyzed. Persons were included who were discharged from inpatient treatment with an alcohol-related disorder among their diagnoses during a one year observation period and with no diagnosed additional substance-related disorder (apart from nicotine- and cannabis-related disorders).

[Reasons for Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs in Older Patients].

Background: Long-term use of benzodiazepines (BZD) and Z-drugs is associated with the risk of developing dependency. Many older patients use these drugs for long durations, which is often associated with low-dose dependency without an increase in dose.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons, symptoms, and side effects, as well as the prescription conditions among older patients who were prescribed BZD or Z-drugs within the last 12 months.

[The use of prescription drugs with dependence potential in Germany : A prospective analysis of prescriptions in the public healthcare system between 2006 and 2010].

Background: In Germany, about 1.4 to 2.6 million people are dependent on prescription drugs, mainly benzodiazepine derivatives and opioid analgesics.

[Comparison of Two Symptom-Triggered Treatments for Alcohol Withdrawal: HAES vs. SAB-P].

Introduction: For alcohol withdrawal during hospitalization, often a medication as means for withdrawal needs to be chosen. Modern, score-controlled processes that can be used by the nursing staff after instruction by physicians are frequently not used and even unknown in hospitals. One reason for this is that some of the scores require checking several criteria and are therefore more time-consuming and complicated than use of a fixed-dosage strategy.

[Long-term prescription of benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines].

Background: The number of persons with a dependence on prescription drugs such as sedatives or tranquilizers in Germany is estimated at between 1.4 and 1.9 million.

[Substance-abuse related emergencies--illegal drugs, part II].

For the first time since the year 2000 the number of death due to substance abuse of illegal drugs has increased in Germany in 2007 (+8 % compared to 2006). Emergency situations due to drug abuse are frequent, particular in big cities. They may be, however, difficult to diagnose and / or treat for an emergency physician on scene because of a lack of diagnostic tools, the local and personal surroundings, and the unknown number and nature of drugs.

[Substance-abuse related emergencies--illegal drugs, part I].

For the first time since the year 2000 the number of death due to substance abuse of illegal drugs has increased in Germany in 2007 (+8 % compared to 2006). Emergency situations due to drug abuse are frequent, particular in big cities. They may be, however, difficult to diagnose and/or treat for an emergency physician on scene because of a lack of diagnostic tools, the local and personal surroundings, and the unknown number and nature of drugs.

[Alcohol-related disorders in the preclinical medicine].

Alcohol is the most frequently abused drug in Germany. Approximately 50.000 individuals die annually due to alcohol-related disorders.

Objective and subjective efficacy as well as tolerability of olanzapine in the acute treatment of 120 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the objective and subjective efficacy as well as tolerability of olanzapine in acute treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders under naturalistic non-selective conditions. Inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, consecutively admitted over an 18-month period, treated with olanzapine, were included. Diagnoses were made according to ICD-10 criteria based on repeated clinical assessments.

Comparing and combining naltrexone and acamprosate in relapse prevention of alcoholism: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Naltrexone and acamprosate have been shown to be effective in relapse prevention of alcoholism via different pharmacologic mechanisms. Since it remains uncertain whether both substances are equally efficient and whether a combination of both drugs potentiates the efficacy, we conducted the first published controlled study comparing and combining both compounds.

Methods: After detoxification, 160 patients with alcoholism participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol.

Comparing the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics in open uncontrolled versus double-blind controlled trials in schizophrenia.

Objective: Due to methodological reservations, open clinical trials investigating efficacy and tolerability of antipsychotic agents are often regarded with doubt. However, there are nearly no studies comparing findings of controlled double-blind with those of open trials. The aim of this study was to investigate whether results of open and double-blind approaches differ and thereby gain information about the validity of open trials.

Improvement of schizophrenic patients' subjective well-being under atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Recent research indicates that subjective well-being is a major determinant of medication compliance in schizophrenia. However, it is yet unresolved whether atypical neuroleptics differ regarding subjective side-effects. A self-report instrument has been constructed to evaluate 'subjective well-being under neuroleptics' (SWN).

Leptin: a modulator of alcohol craving?

Background: Leptin has been shown to regulate food intake and energy expenditure. Because leptin acts via regulation of appetite, we studied the hypothesis that suggests leptin modulates craving for alcohol as well.

Methods: We studied leptin plasma concentrations (RIA) both in alcoholic subjects during inpatient detoxification (day 1: n = 78, day 14: n = 60) and in healthy control subjects (n = 30).

[Open studies in comparison to controlled studies in testing of neuroleptics].

Objective: Due to methodological reservations, results concerning the efficacy of neuroleptics in open trials are often regarded with doubt. Until now, there are nearly no studies comparing findings of controlled double-blind with those of open trials. Aim of this study was to investigate if results of an open or double-blind approach differ and hereby to gain information about the validity of open trials.

Apolipoprotein A-I in bile inhibits cholesterol crystallization and modifies transcellular lipid transfer through cultured human gall-bladder epithelial cells.

Background: Apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), conventionally purified by several steps including organic solvent-delipidation from plasma, inhibits cholesterol crystallization in bile. To observe a significant effect in vitro, however, supraphysiological concentrations above 100 microg/mL are required. For this reason, this protein has not been considered to play a physiological role in vivo.