Empirical estimation of disutilities and decision thresholds for composite endpoints.

Objectives: The evaluation of health benefits and harms of an intervention with GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) frameworks includes judgments if the effects are "trivial," "small," "moderate," or "large." Such judgments ideally require the a priori establishment of decision thresholds (DTs), whose empirical derivation for single outcomes has been previously described. In this article, we provide a methodological approach to estimate DTs for composite endpoints based on disutilities.

Efficacy and safety of intranasal medications for allergic rhinitis: Network meta-analysis.

Background: Intranasal antihistamines (INAH), corticosteroids (INCS), and their fixed combinations (INAH+INCS) are one of the cornerstones of the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). We performed a systematic review and network-meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of INAH, INCS, and INAH+INCS in patients with AR.

Methods: We searched four electronic bibliographic databases and three clinical trial databases for randomised controlled trials assessing the use of INAH, INCS, and INAH+INCS in adults with seasonal or perennial AR.

Intranasal Versus Oral Treatments for Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Background: Treatments for allergic rhinitis include intranasal or oral medications.

Objective: To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of intranasal corticosteroids or antihistamines versus oral antihistamines or leukotriene receptor antagonists in improving allergic rhinitis symptoms and quality of life.

Methods: We searched four bibliographic databases and three clinical trial datasets for randomized controlled trials (1) assessing patients aged 12 years and older with seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, and (2) comparing intranasal corticosteroids or antihistamines versus oral antihistamines or leukotriene receptor antagonists.

A Comparison of Active Pharmacovigilance Strategies Used to Monitor Adverse Events to Antiviral Agents: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: The safety of antiviral agents in real-world clinical settings is crucial, as pre-marketing studies often do not capture all adverse events (AE). Active pharmacovigilance strategies are essential for detecting and characterising these AE comprehensively.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and characterise active pharmacovigilance strategies used in real-world clinical settings for patients under systemic antiviral agents, focusing on the frequency of AE and the clinical data sources used.

Protocol for the systematic reviews on the desirable and undesirable effects of pharmacological treatments of allergic rhinitis informing the ARIA 2024 guidelines.

There is insufficient evidence regarding the comparative efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments of allergic rhinitis (AR). In the context of informing the 2024 revision of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines, we plan to perform three systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the desirable and undesirable effects (i) between intranasal and oral medications for AR; (ii) between combinations of intranasal and oral medications versus nasal or oral medications alone; and (iii) among different intranasal specific medications. We will search four electronic bibliographic databases and three clinical trials databases for RCTs examining patients ≥ 12 years old with seasonal or perennial AR.

Intranasal antihistamines and corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is insufficient systematized evidence on the effectiveness of individual intranasal medications in allergic rhinitis (AR).

Objectives: We sought to perform a systematic review to compare the efficacy of individual intranasal corticosteroids and antihistamines against placebo in improving the nasal and ocular symptoms and the rhinoconjunctivitis-related quality of life of patients with perennial or seasonal AR.

Methods: The investigators searched 4 electronic bibliographic databases and 3 clinical trials databases for randomized controlled trials (1) assessing adult patients with seasonal or perennial AR and (2) comparing the use of intranasal corticosteroids or antihistamines versus placebo.

Unveiling the future: precision pharmacovigilance in the era of personalized medicine.

In the era of personalized medicine, pharmacovigilance faces new challenges and opportunities, demanding a shift from traditional approaches. This article delves into the evolving landscape of drug safety monitoring in the context of personalized treatments. We aim to provide a succinct reflection on the intersection of tailored therapeutic strategies and vigilant pharmacovigilance practices.

Assessing medication use patterns by clinical outcomes severity among inpatients with COVID-19: A retrospective drug utilization study.

Purpose: This study assessed medication patterns for inpatients at a central hospital in Portugal and explored their relationships with clinical outcomes in COVID-19 cases.

Methods: A retrospective study analyzed inpatient medication data, coded using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system, from electronic patient records. It investigated the association between medications and clinical severity outcomes such as ICU admissions, respiratory/circulatory support needs, and hospital discharge status, including mortality (identified by ICD-10-CM/PCS codes).

Intranasal antihistamines and corticosteroids in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: Intranasal antihistamines and corticosteroids are some of the most frequently used drug classes in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. However, there is uncertainty as to whether effectiveness differences may exist among different intranasal specific medications. This systematic review aims to analyse and synthesise all evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of intranasal antihistamines and corticosteroids in rhinitis nasal and ocular symptoms and in rhinoconjunctivitis-related quality-of-life.

Motivation and Knowledge of Portuguese Community Pharmacists Towards the Reporting of Suspected Adverse Reactions to Medicines: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

The close contact between patients and community pharmacists, along with the extensive geographical distribution of pharmacies in Portugal, offer exceptional conditions to detect and report adverse drug reactions (ADR). This study aimed to evaluate the motivation and knowledge of spontaneous reporting of ADR by community pharmacists of Porto, Portugal. Secondly, we aimed to generate real-world evidence on the main factors determining ADR report and at raising potential alternatives to the current reporting procedure in community pharmacy.

INCISIONAL HERNIA AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY: ONLY THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION IS ENOUGH?

Background: Incisional hernia is characterized by a bulging of the abdominal wall caused by the prolapse of intracavitary structures, such as a segment of the small intestine, through the trocar orifice. Ultrasonography and physical examination are used in the diagnosis of incisional hernia.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the difference between physical examination and abdominal ultrasonography at the diagnosis of incisional hernia in patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

GENES EXPRESSION AND SERUM BIOMARKERS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA, CIRRHOSIS AND HEPATITIS C.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. Risk factors for HCC include hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV) virus infection, alcoholic cirrhosis and genetic alterations that can affect several cellular pathways.

Objective: This study purposed to analyze the gene and serum protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenesis, alpha fetoprotein, cystatin B (CSTB), β-catenin and glypican-3 (GPC3) in groups with HCC, cirrhosis or HCV and controls, and their relation with clinical staging in the HCC and cirrhosis groups, as well its sensitivity and specificity values.

Investigating VEGF. miR-145-3p, and miR-101-3p Expression in Patients with Cholangiocarcinoma.

Introduction: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common type of primary liver cancer. Several factors, such as epigenetic changes in promoter genes, gene expression, and microRNAs (miR), can contribute to genomic instability in cancer. This study aimed at evaluating the expression of VEGF, miRs 145-3p, and 101-3p in patients with CCA and their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of CCA.

Application of the Validated Social Assessment Instrument for Liver Transplantation Candidates.

The use of appropriate instruments for social assessment in health aims at both the participation of the subject and effectiveness in resolving demands. The objective of this study was to characterize the population assessed by the Validated Social Assessment Instrument and its implications; a descriptive, documental study with participant and dialectical observation. The data survey were taken from the social assessments applied from July 2020 to June 2021 in a transplant center in northwestern São Paulo state in Brazil.

A comprehensive review of adverse events to drugs used in COVID-19 patients: Recent clinical evidence.

Background: Since the breakthrough of the pandemic, several drugs have been used to treat COVID-19 patients. This review aims to gather information on adverse events (AE) related to most drugs used in this context.

Methods: We performed a literature search to find articles that contained information about AE in COVID-19 patients.

[Looking back on 20 years of work at the Porto Pharmacovigilance Centre, Portugal].

Since 1963, the World Health Organization has acknowledged pharmacovigilance as a priority area in global public health, guaranteeing permanent monitoring of drug safety. This study aimed to characterize the reports of adverse drug reactions received by the Porto Pharmacovigilance Centre (UFPorto), Portugal, in the unit's two decades of work. The analysis included all reports of suspected adverse drug reactions received from January 2001 to December 2019.

Guiding axes for drug safety management of pharmacovigilance centres during the COVID-19 era.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents several challenges to the organisation and workflow of pharmacovigilance centres as a result of the massive increase in reports, the need for quick detection, processing and reporting of safety issues and the management of these within the context of lack of complete information on the disease. Pharmacovigilance centres permanently monitor the safety profile of medicines, ensuring risk management to evaluate the benefit-risk relationship. However, traditional pharmacovigilance approaches of spontaneous reporting, are not suitable in the context of a pandemic; the scientific community and regulators need information on a near real-time point.

PREVALENCE AND TIME OF DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMIC ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN PATIENTS AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION.

Background: The use of immunosuppressive drugs after liver transplantation (LT) is associated with the development of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), in addition to other comorbidities of metabolic syndrome.

Objective: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the time after use immunosuppressive drugs the patient progresses to SAH, as well as to identify its prevalence and the factors that may be correlated to it.

Methods: A retrospective and longitudinal study was conducted, based on the analysis of medical records of 72 normotensive patients, attended in the transplant unit of a university hospital, between 2016 and 2019.

Polymorphisms in xenobiotic metabolism-related genes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study.

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in microsomal epoxide hydrolase (; Tyr113His and His139Arg substitution) and glutathione S-transferase (; deletion, deletion, and .Ala114Val substitution) and their correlation with clinico-histopathological features in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).We evaluated environmental risk factors and genetic alterations in 556 individuals (86 cases and 470 controls).

Underexpression of miR-126-3p in Patients with Cholangiocarcinoma.

Objectives: To evaluate the expression of miR-126-3p and its potential as a biomarker for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and to better understand the prognosis, comorbidities, and lifestyle habits associated with the disease.

Methods: Fifty-nine individuals were distributed into either the study group (38 CCA patients) or the control group (21 individuals without liver diseases). Total RNA was extracted, cDNA synthesis was performed, and miR-126-3p expression was assessed using real-time PCR.