Use of medicinal plants during COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Medicinal plants are an integrative and complementary health practice widely used by the population. However, its use is not without risks. This study assessed the profile and associated factors with the traditional use of medicinal plants.

Self-Medication during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: Findings and Implications to Promote the Rational Use of Medicines.

Self-medication is identified by the consumption of medications without a prescription or guidance from a qualified prescribing professional. This study estimated the prevalence, profile, and associated factors with self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a household survey in the Alegre city, from November to December 2021.

Daridorexant for the treatment of insomnia disorder: findings and implications.

Purpose: The involvement of the orexin system in the physiopathology of insomnia has been rapidly increasing in understanding. In this sense, daridorexant was the third orexin receptor antagonist approved by the FDA in January 2022. This review aims to summarize the chemistry, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile of daridorexant for the treatment of insomnia disorder.

Abdeg technology for the treatment of myasthenia gravis: efgartigimod drug experience.

Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness that improves with rest and worsens with effort or throughout the day.

Areas Covered: Efgartigimod is a human IgG1-derived Fc fragment modified at five residues to increase its affinity for the neonatal Fc receptor by Abdeg technology. Thus, efgartigimod binds to the neonatal Fc receptor and decreases the levels of IgG, including autoantibodies of this isotype.

Conventional Synthetic Disease-Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs for Psoriatic Arthritis: Findings and Implications From a Patient Centered Longitudinal Study in Brazil.

Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are the first-line treatment to inhibit the progression of psoriatic arthritis. Despite their widespread clinical use, few studies have been conducted to compare these drugs for psoriatic arthritis. a longitudinal study was carried out based on a centered patient national database in Brazil.

TransCon human growth hormone for children with growth hormone deficiency: a technology evaluation.

Introduction: Standard-of-care treatment for growth hormone deficiency consists of daily subcutaneous injections of recombinant human growth hormone, also known as somatropin. Although somatropin treatment is well established, the burden of daily injections can lead to poor adherence and quality of life. In this regard, a TransCon human growth hormone (lonapegsomatropin-tcgd) technology was developed to optimize the therapeutic effect of daily somatropin for the treatment of children with growth hormone deficiency.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Psoriatic Arthritis: Findings and Implications.

Objectives: To assess the quality of life (QOL) and its associated factors in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who would start treatment with biologic drugs at the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at a single center pharmacy in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. EQ-5D was used to assess the patients' QOL.

FIRST LINE OF SUBCUTANEOUS ANTI-TNF THERAPY FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY.

: This study aims to evaluate and compare the use of subcutaneous anti-TNF for RA in a Brazilian real-life setting. : A prospective cohort of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naïve patients treated with adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab, and certolizumab was developed. Medication persistence, disease activity by the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), functionality by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), quality of life by the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), and safety were evaluated at 6 and 12 months.

Cost-utility analysis of the anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in a real-world based model.

Background: Spending on drugs provided by the Brazilian Public Health System (BPHS) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increased substantially with the beginning of the supply of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARD). This study aims to perform a cost-utility analysis of the most used biological drugs for the treatment of RA in Brazil.

Methods: a Markov model was used to carry out the cost-utility analysis.

Impact of biologic DMARDs on quality of life: 12-month results of a rheumatic diseases cohort using the Brazilian EQ-5D tariff.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between biological Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (bDMARDs) use and quality of life (QoL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Patients And Methods: We evaluated adult patients prescribed biological DMARDs whose quality of life was evaluated at six and 12 months. The EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) was used with the Brazilian tariff.

Comparative persistence of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in ankylosing spondylitis patients: a multicenter international study.

To evaluate persistence on conventional DMARDs (cDMARDs) and anti-TNF therapies, and to identify potential determinants of discontinuation among individuals with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) living in Brazil and Quebec, Canada. We conducted a cohort study of AS patients using health administrative data (2010-2015). One-year and 2-year persistence rates were assessed.

Access to high-cost medications for psoriatic arthritis in the National Health System in Brazil: the long path up to dispensation.

Background: Pharmaceutical Assistance (PA) is a dynamic and multidisciplinary process that aims to supply health systems, programs or services with quality medicines, enabling access and health care, in an efficient and timely manner. The objective of the study was to evaluate the profile of administrative processes for the treatment of PsA, identify the time elapsed in the flow of processes and its associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of medication requests for the treatment of PsA was carried out between November 2014 and December 2016.

Biological therapy in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis: economic and epidemiological considerations.

: Biological therapies have a significant economic and clinical burden but, in general, lose their effectiveness over time. This study evaluated the medication persistence and costs associated to use of anti-TNF agents for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment. : A historical cohort composed of individuals in Brazil with PsA diagnosis was developed during the period between 2010 and 2015.

Effectiveness and safety of anti-TNF in psoriatic arthritis patients in Brazil: a post-incorporation analysis.

Aim: Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease that can result in disability and decreased quality of life.

Materials & Methods: A prospective cohort was conducted in Brazil. Disease activity was measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), functionality by the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and the quality of life by the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D).

Quality of life of patients with Diabetes Mellitus Types 1 and 2 from a referal health centre in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Unlabelled: Quality of life (QoL) characteristics are important in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM 1 and 2).

Aim: Evaluate QoL and DM-associated factors among diabetic patients.

Methods: Patients attending a University Hospital were interviewed about their sociodemographic, clinical and QoL characteristics, with QoL measured via the EQ-5D.