Regulation of cannabinoid receptor gene expression and endocannabinoid levels in lymphocyte subsets by interferon-β: a longitudinal study in multiple sclerosis patients.

Evidence suggests the involvement of the cannabinoid system in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We studied cannabinoid receptor (CB)1 and CB2 receptor gene expression in B, natural killer (NK) and T cells from MS patients before and after 1 year of interferon beta therapy, and compared these levels to those of healthy controls. We also measured the production of the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and the gene expression of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in these cells.

Challenges of implementing a primary health care strategy in a context of a market-oriented health care system: the experience of Bogota, Colombia.

Background: Although Colombia has a health system based on market and neoliberal principles, in 2004, the government of the capital-Bogota-took the decision to formulate a health policy that included the implementation of a comprehensive primary health care (PHC) strategy. This study aims to identify the enablers and barriers to the PHC implementation in Bogota.

Methods: The study used a qualitative multiple case study methodology.

Performance evaluation of the essential dimensions of the primary health care services in six localities of Bogota-Colombia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The high segmentation and fragmentation in the provision of services are some of the main problems of the Colombian health system. In 2004 the district government of Bogota decided to implement a Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy through the Home Health program. PHC was conceived as a model for transforming health care delivery within the network of the first-level public health care facilities.

The impact of primary healthcare in reducing inequalities in child health outcomes, Bogotá-Colombia: an ecological analysis.

Background: Colombia is one of the countries with the widest levels of socioeconomic and health inequalities. Bogotá, its capital, faces serious problems of poverty, social disparities and access to health services. A Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy was implemented in 2004 to improve health care and to address the social determinants of such inequalities.

Primary health care contribution to improve health outcomes in Bogota-Colombia: a longitudinal ecological analysis.

Background: Colombia has a highly segmented and fragmented national health system that contributes to inequitable health outcomes. In 2004 the district government of Bogota initiated a Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy to improve health care access and population health status. This study aims to analyse the contribution of the PHC strategy to the improvement of health outcomes controlling for socioeconomic variables.

[Evaluation of the obligations of the health sector in the public policy for eradication of child labor and protection for young working people].

Objective: As part of the evaluation of the obligations which the health sector acquired within the national policy for eradication of child labor, it is necessary to analyze their pertinence in relation to the context, the goals of the system and, overall, the needs felt by children of both sexes, young workers and their families.

Methods: For this evaluation the systemic approach is used where one side the commitments are compared with the social, political and economic context in which they were formulated and, on the other side, all those involved in the subject are called. From this a comparative strategy or triangulation is generated in order to obtain the coincident aspects as well as the conflicting ones, analyzing the different positions.