Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance: A Global Public Health Crisis.

The discovery of antibiotics revolutionized modern medicine, effectively treating bacterial infections that were once fatal [...

Validity and Reliability of a Questionnaire on Attitudes, Knowledge, and Perceptions of Pharmacy Students Regarding the Training Received on Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance during Their University Studies.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health issue today. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the education of pharmacists as future dispensers. The objective of this study was to validate a questionnaire that assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of pharmacy students regarding the education received during their university degree on the use and dispensation of antibiotics, as well as bacterial resistance.

The role of traditional NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors on COVID-19 outcomes: a real-world data study.

The relation between use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and severity of COVID-19 has been the subject to debate since the outbreak of the pandemic. Despite speculations about the possible harmful or protective effects, the position currently most supported by the scientific community is that there is no association between use of NSAIDs and COVID-19 outcomes. With the aim of contributing to increase the body of evidence on this issue, we conducted a case-control study using real-world data to investigate the association between prior use of NSAIDs, by active ingredient and type (traditional NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors), and important COVID-19-related outcomes, including susceptibility, PCR + patient progression, and hospitalisation.

Liquid Biopsies Based on Cell-Free DNA Integrity as a Biomarker for Cancer Diagnosis: A Meta-Analysis.

Liquid biopsies have been identified as a viable source of cancer biomarkers. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cell-free DNA integrity (cfDI) in liquid biopsies for cancer. A comprehensive literature search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to June 2024.

Outpatient glucocorticoid use and COVID-19 outcomes: a population-based study.

Introduction: Owing to controversy information surrounds effect of glucocorticoids on the evolution of COVID-19, we evaluate the effects of outpatient glucocorticoid use on the severity and progression of COVID-19 and risk of infection and analyse the effect of window of exposure and dose.

Methods: We conducted a population-based case - control study, involving 4 substudies: (i) Hospitalisation; (ii) Mortality, using subjects hospitalised with a PCR + as cases and subjects without a PCR + as controls; (iii) Progression, including subjects with a PCR + (hospitalised versus non-hospitalised); and (iv) Susceptibility, with all subjects with a PCR + and subjects without a PCR + . Adjusted odds ratios (ORa) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

Impact of prior antihypertensive treatment on COVID-19 outcomes, by active ingredient.

Objectives: To assess the impact of prior chronic treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/ angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), both as a group and by active ingredient, on severity (risk of hospitalization and mortality), progression of and susceptibility to COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a multiple population-based case-control study in Galicia (north-west Spain). The study data were sourced from medical, administrative and clinical databases.

Outpatient Antipsychotic Use and Severe COVID-19: Avoiding the Impact of Age in a Real-World Data Study.

Background: The association between use of antipsychotics and COVID-19 outcomes is inconsistent, which may be linked to use of these drugs in age-related diseases. Furthermore, there is little evidence regarding their effect in the nongeriatric population. We aim to assess the association between antipsychotic use and risk of disease progression and hospitalization due to COVID-19 among the general population, stratifying by age.

Impact of prior use of antiplatelets on COVID-19 susceptibility, progression, and severity: a population-based study.

Introduction And Objectives: Hypercoagulability and thromboembolism are processes that arise from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and are responsible for a high degree of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related morbidity and mortality. This study sought to assess the effect of antiplatelet drugs on COVID-19 severity (risk of hospitalization and mortality), susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, and progression to severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study in a northwestern region of Spain in 2020.

Protein Plasma Levels of the IGF Signalling System Are Altered in Major Depressive Disorder.

The Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) has been recently proven to alleviate depressive-like behaviors in both rats and mice models. However, its potential role as a peripheral biomarker has not been evaluated in depression. To do this, we measured plasma IGF-2 and other members of the IGF family such as Binding Proteins (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-7) in a depressed group of patients (n = 51) and in a healthy control group (n = 48).

Effect of dapagliflozin on COVID-19 infection and risk of hospitalization.

Background: Dapagliflozin has been proposed as a potential treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by reducing cytokine production and inflammation. However, there are limited data on its effectiveness. We aimed to evaluate the impact of dapagliflozin on COVID-19 severity (including hospitalization risk, ICU admission, in-hospital death and progression to severe COVID-19) and its potential on susceptibility to COVID-19 infection.

Outpatient atorvastatin use and severe COVID-19 outcomes: A population-based study.

Evidence of the effect of statins on patients with coronavirus disease (2019) COVID-19 is inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between chronic use of statins-both overall and by active ingredient-and severe outcomes of COVID-19 (risk of hospitalization and mortality), progression to severe outcomes, and susceptibility to the virus. We conducted a population-based case-control study with data from electronic records to assess the risk of (1) hospitalization: cases were patients admitted due to COVID-19 and controls were subjects without COVID-19; (2) mortality: cases were hospitalized patients who died due to COVID-19 and controls were subjects without COVID-19; (3) progression: cases were hospitalized COVID-19 subjects and controls were nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients; and (4) susceptibility: cases were patients with COVID-19 (both hospitalized and nonhospitalized) and controls were subjects without COVID-19.

Differences in weight loss and safety between the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: A non-randomized multicenter study from the titration phase.

Introduction: Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Weight loss (≥5 %) reduces the risk of CVD. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1 RA) have shown clinically weight loss.

Repurposing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for severity of COVID-19: A population-based study.

The World Health Organization has proposed that a search be made for alternatives to vaccines for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, with one such alternative being selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This study thus sought to assess: the impact of previous treatment with SSRI antidepressants on the severity of COVID-19 (risk of hospitalisation, admission to an intensive care unit [ICU], and mortality), its influence on susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and progression to severe COVID-19. We conducted a population-based multiple case-control study in a region in the north-west of Spain.

Colchicine and risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19: A population-based study.

Colchicine is one of the most widely studied and best-known anti-inflammatory treatments. This study aimed to assess the effect of colchicine on risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19; and its effect on susceptibility to and severity of the virus in patients with COVID-19. We carried out a population-based case-control study.

Effect of Previous Anticoagulant Treatment on Risk of COVID-19.

Introduction: Little is known about the role played by anticoagulants in COVID-19.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of previous anticoagulant treatment on risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19, progression to severe COVID-19 and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection.

Methods: We conducted a multiple population-based case-control study in northwest Spain, in 2020, to assess (1) risk of hospitalization: cases were all patients admitted due to COVID-19 with PCR confirmation, and controls were a random matched sample of subjects without a positive PCR; (2) progression: cases were hospitalized COVID-19 subjects, and controls were all non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients; and (3) susceptibility: cases were patients with a positive PCR (hospitalized and non-hospitalized), and the controls were the same as for the hospitalization model.

Semaglutide versus GLP-1 agonists. Effectiveness, safety, and quality of life in patients with diabetes mellitus 2. The SEVERAL study.

Objective: The cardiovascular disease is the first cause of deaths in patients  with diabetes mellitus 2. The objective is to evaluate and compare the weight  loss in patients with diabetes treated with the different GLP-1 receptor agonists  for the first time. Secondary endpoints are glycosylated hemoglobin  reduction, changes in quality of life and physical activity and the safety of  these drugs.

Clinical usefulness of serum angiotensin converting enzyme in silicosis.

Introduction: Silicosis is an irreversible and incurable disease. Preventive measures to eliminate exposure are the only effective way to reduce morbidity and mortality. In such situations, having a biomarker for early diagnosis or to predict evolution would be very useful in order to improve control of the disease.

Patients With High Cardiovascular Risk as Candidates to Bempedoic Acid, After Treatment With Statins, Ezetimibe and PCSK9 Inhibitors: An Estimation and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) is the lead effector of atherosclerosis and main treatment target. Bempedoic acid is a novel oral drug in the therapeutic armamentarium which is able to reduce LDLc. The objectives of this study were (1) to select the potential patients for administering bempedoic acid such as those with a very high cardiovascular risk in which objectives of LDLc were not achieved despite conventional treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) and/or statins and ezetimibe and (2) to estimate the cost-effectiveness of bempedoic acid in different scenarios.

Correlation between the main clinical, imaging, and arthroscopy findings in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

The purpose of this work was to prospectively correlate the most characteristic clinical symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, such as pain and limitation of mouth opening, with the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (disc position, degenerative changes, and effusion) and arthroscopy findings (roofing, synovitis, chondromalacia, adhesions, and perforations). These examinations were performed in 298 patients diagnosed with internal derangement refractory to conservative treatment. The mean age of the patients was 38.

Prevalence and clinical impact of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease in patients with silicosis.

Background: Silicosis is associated with an increased risk of developing systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD). The prognostic implications of this association are poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARD and autoimmune markers in a cohort of patients with exposure to silica and assess their impact on prognosis.

Integrity and quantity of salivary cell-free DNA as a potential molecular biomarker in oral cancer: A preliminary study.

Background: Differences in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments have been described as a valuable tool to distinguish cancer patients from healthy individuals. We aim to investigate the concentration and integrity of cfDNA fragments in saliva from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and healthy individuals in order to explore their value as diagnostic biomarkers.

Methods: Saliva samples were collected from a total of 34 subjects (19 OSCC patients and 15 healthy controls).

A multicenter case-control study of the effect of e-nos VNTR polymorphism on upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in NSAID users.

Bleeding in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users limited their prescription. This first multicenter full case-control study (325 cases and 744 controls), explored the association of e-NOS intron 4 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) in NSAID exposed and unexposed populations and assessed any interaction between this polymorphism and NSAIDs. NSAID users carrying e-NOS intron 4 wild type genotype or VNTR polymorphism have higher odds of UGIH than those unexposed to NSAIDs [Odds Ratio (OR): 6.

Patients-centered SurvivorShIp care plan after Cancer treatments based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence technologies (PERSIST): a multicenter study protocol to evaluate efficacy of digital tools supporting cancer survivors.

Background: It is encouraging to see a substantial increase in individuals surviving cancer. Even more so since most of them will have a positive effect on society by returning to work. However, many cancer survivors have unmet needs, especially when it comes to improving their quality of life (QoL).