Potassium-competitive acid blockers, a new therapeutic class, and their role in acid-related diseases: a narrative review.

Introduction: A new therapeutic class, potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), has emerged in Brazil to promote a superior antisecretory effect addressing the unmet needs related to acid-related disease management. Vonoprazan fumarate showed a good safety profile and was approved by the Brazilian regulatory agency - ANVISA.

Aim: This narrative review was conducted to review the general concepts regarding P-CABs, focussing on vonoprazan fumarate.

SAFETY OF LONG-TERM PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS: FACTS AND MYTHS.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. Frequent use and long-term maintenance of these drugs drew the attention of researchers for sporadic adverse effects reports.

Objective: The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss appropriate data and causality related to these adverse events and PPIs.

DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC CONSTIPATION: A NARRATIVE REVIEW FROM A BRAZILIAN EXPERT TASK FORCE.

Background: Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) is a condition that widely affects the global population, represents relevant healthcare resource utilization and costs, and impacts the individual's well-being.

Objective: To review the consensus of expert societies and published guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of CIC in adults, seeking to assist reasoning and decision-making for medical management of patients with CIC and provide a practical reference material.

Methods: A Brazilian medical task force searched the scientific literature in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, SciELO, EMBASE and Cochrane, using the following descriptors: chronic constipation, diagnosis, management of chronic constipation.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE CLINICAL TREATMENT.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases. GERD generates significant impairment in patients' quality of life and it is associated to relevant medical resources utilization. A better understanding of GERD pathophysiology in the past five decades has favored the evolution of therapeutic strategies from non-drug interventions and antacids to more efficacious and safer alternatives.

A prospective study of the forearm bone density of users of etonorgestrel- and levonorgestrel-releasing contraceptive implants.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare bone mineral density (BMD) before insertion and at 18 months of use of etonorgestrel- and levonorgestrel-releasing contraceptive implants.

Methods: One hundred and eleven women, 19-43 years of age, were randomly allocated to two groups: 56 to etonorgestrel and 55 to levonorgestrel. BMD was evaluated at the midshaft of the ulna and at the distal radius of the non-dominant forearm using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry before insertion and at 18 months of use.

Follow-up of users of intrauterine device with and without bacterial vaginosis and other cervicovaginal infections.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and other cervicovaginal infections, as well as the incidence of complications among new users of IUD, 1 and 6 months after its insertion, in the City of Campinas, Brazil. A total of 223 women who had a TCu-380A IUD inserted from May through November 2001, were included in the study. After the IUD insertion all women were scheduled to two additional visits: after 1 month and after 6 months, when they were interviewed and a pelvic examination was performed, along with a collection of specimens from the vagina and the endocervix for laboratory testing.

Weight variation in a cohort of women using copper IUD for contraception.

The objective of this study was to assess weight changes over time in reproductive-age women using nonhormonal contraception [copper intrauterine device (IUD) users]. Baseline variables recorded included age, parity, decade when the IUD was inserted and the presence of hypertension. A total of 1697 IUD users were followed for 7 years of use.

Therapeutic use of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in women with menorrhagia: a pilot study(1).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and performance, for up to 1 year, of an intrauterine system releasing 20 microg/day of levonorgestrel (LNG-IUS, Mirena) in the treatment of women with menorrhagia. It was a descriptive, prospective, non-comparative study. A 20 microg/day LNG-releasing-IUS was inserted on any day during bleeding to 44 women (between 24 and 49 years of age) who presented with menorrhagia after medical therapies had failed.

Bleeding patterns and clinical performance of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (Mirena) up to two years.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the bleeding patterns and clinical performance during the first 2 years of use of an intrauterine system releasing 20 microg/day of levonorgestrel (LNG-IUS, Mirena). Two-hundred-fifty-six women accepted use of Mirena from April 1998 through September 1998. The gross cumulative discontinuation rate due to pregnancy and expulsion were significantly higher in women who used the device because of heavy bleeding.