Abstract Different intrauterine exposures are associated with different metabolic profiles leading to growth and development characteristics in children and also relate to health and disease patterns in adult life. The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of four different intrauterine environments on the telomere length of newborns. This is a longitudinal observational study using a convenience sample of 222 mothers and their term newborns (>37 weeks of gestational age) from hospitals in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), from September 2011 to January 2016. Sample was divided into four groups: pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (n=38), smoking pregnant women (TOBACCO) (n=52), mothers with small-for-gestational age (SGA) children due to idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction (n=33), and a control group (n=99). Maternal and newborn genomic DNA were obtained from epithelial mucosal cells. Telomere length was assessed by qPCR, with the calculation of the telomere and single copy gene (T/S ratio). In this sample, there was no significant difference in telomere length between groups (p>0.05). There was also no association between childbirth weight and telomere length in children (p>0.05). For term newborns different intrauterine environments seems not to influence telomere length at birth.

ABSTRACT The long-term outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukemia has improved dramatically due to the development of more effective treatment strategies. L-asparaginase (ASNase) is one of the main drugs used and causes death of leukemic cells by systematically depleting the non-essential amino acid asparagine. Three main types of ASNase have been used so far: native ASNase derived from Escherichia coli, an enzyme isolated from Erwinia chrysanthemi and a pegylated form of the native E. coli ASNase, the ASNase PEG. Hypersensitivity reactions are the main complication related to this drug. Although clinical allergies may be important, a major concern is that antibodies produced in response to ASNase may cause rapid inactivation of ASNase, leading to a worse prognosis. This reaction is commonly referred to as "silent hypersensitivity" or "silent inactivation". We are able to analyze hypersensitivity and inactivation processes by the measurement of the ASNase activity. The ability to individualize the ASNase therapy in patients, adjusting the dose or switching patients with silent inactivation to an alternate ASNase preparation may help improve outcomes in those patients. This review article aims to describe the pathophysiology of the inactivation process, how to diagnose it and finally how to manage it.

Resumo Introdução : o Projeto de Atenção à Saúde Mental dos Trabalhadores (Prasmet), da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, se inscreve no campo da Saúde do Trabalhador como um esforço concentrado de produzir conhecimento em saúde mental e trabalho, oferendo clínica psicossocial aos que trabalham em uma das maiores universidades brasileiras. Objetivos : apresentar a história do Prasmet e descrever as ações de intervenção em saúde do trabalhador voltadas aos servidores da universidade. Métodos : foram desenvolvidos dois eixos de discussão, sendo o primeiro referente às explicações sobre o funcionamento das ações do Prasmet e o segundo a construção do perfil da clientela atendida, a partir de informações que expressam características da atenção prestada e das questões clínicas dessa população. Resultados : o exercício da clínica com olhar sobre o trabalho permite situar os problemas de saúde em contextos espaciais, sociais e temporais, como a da prevalência do grupo de diagnósticos das depressões e de grupos de trabalhadores com maiores riscos de adoecimento, caso da categoria da enfermagem. Conclusão : o desenvolvimento de estratégias para as ações de promoção, reabilitação e educação em saúde do trabalhador permite abordagens institucionais de maior magnitude e resolutividade.

Abstract Introduction: the Workers’ Mental Health Care Project (Prasmet), conducted by the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, is as a concentrated effort in the Worker’s Health field to produce knowledge on mental health and work, providing a psychosocial clinic to the workers of one of the largest Brazilian universities. Objectives: to present the history of Prasmet, and to describe the occupational health interventions focused on the university workers. Methods: two axes were described - the first explaining Prasmet actions; and the second about the construction of patients’ profile, based on information about the attention provided to the workers and the clinical characteristics of this population. Results: clinical practice focused on workers’ activities allows health problems to be spatially, temporally and socially contextualized, such as the prevalence of the depression diagnosis group, and of workers with higher risk of illness, as the nursing group. Conclusion: the development of strategies for promotion, rehabilitation and education in occupational health allows institutional approaches of greater magnitude and resolution.

O uso de psicofármacos está aumentando e no Brasil há poucos estudos investigando seu emprego pela população e na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Este estudo buscou verificar a prevalência e o padrão de consumo por usuários de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família de Porto Alegre através de um delinemeanto observacional, descritivo, retrospectivo e de corte transversal. A amostra foi composta por usuários que retiraram receitas de medicamentos controlados e os dados coletados a partir do prontuário. Foram incluídos 329 usuários, com prevalência de utilização de psicofármacos de 7,30%, média de idade de 53,14 (DP = 18,58) anos e 72% de indivíduos do sexo feminino. A média de medicamentos e psicofármacos prescritos por usuário foi de 3,56 (DP = 2,36) e 1,66 (DP = 0,90), respectivamente. A classe mais utilizada foi a de antidepressivos, seguida de antiepiléticos, ansiolíticos e antipsicóticos. Faz-se necessário elaborar estratégias para melhorar o acesso, tratamento dos usuários e uso racional de psicofármacos, incluindo a revisão das listas de medicamentos essenciais e a capacitação dos profissionais da APS.

The use of psychotropic drugs is on the increase, and there are few studies in Brazil investigating their use in the population and in Primary Health Care (PHC). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of psychotropic drug use by patients of a Family Health Unit in Porto Alegre, through an observational, descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of patients who received prescriptions for controlled psychotropic drugs and the data collected from medical records. The study included 329 patients, with prevalence of the use of psychotropic drugs of 7.30%, mean age of 53.14 (SD = 18.58) years and 72% female. The average number of prescribed drugs and psychotropic drugs per user was 3.56 (SD = 2.36) and 1.66 (SD = 0.90), respectively. The most widely used class was antidepressants, followed by antiepileptics, anxiolytics and antipsychotics. It is necessary to develop strategies to improve access, treatment of patients and rational use of psychotropic drugs, including the revision of lists of essential drugs and training of professionals in PHC.

O uso de psicofármacos está aumentando e no Brasil há poucos estudos investigando seu emprego pela população e na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Este estudo buscou verificar a prevalência e o padrão de consumo por usuários de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família de Porto Alegre através de um delinemeanto observacional, descritivo, retrospectivo e de corte transversal. A amostra foi composta por usuários que retiraram receitas de medicamentos controlados e os dados coletados a partir do prontuário. Foram incluídos 329 usuários, com prevalência de utilização de psicofármacos de 7,30%, média de idade de 53,14 (DP = 18,58) anos e 72% de indivíduos do sexo feminino. A média de medicamentos e psicofármacos prescritos por usuário foi de 3,56 (DP = 2,36) e 1,66 (DP = 0,90), respectivamente. A classe mais utilizada foi a de antidepressivos, seguida de antiepiléticos, ansiolíticos e antipsicóticos. Faz-se necessário elaborar estratégias para melhorar o acesso, tratamento dos usuários e uso racional de psicofármacos, incluindo a revisão das listas de medicamentos essenciais e a capacitação dos profissionais da APS.

The use of psychotropic drugs is on the increase, and there are few studies in Brazil investigating their use in the population and in Primary Health Care (PHC). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of psychotropic drug use by patients of a Family Health Unit in Porto Alegre, through an observational, descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of patients who received prescriptions for controlled psychotropic drugs and the data collected from medical records. The study included 329 patients, with prevalence of the use of psychotropic drugs of 7.30%, mean age of 53.14 (SD = 18.58) years and 72% female. The average number of prescribed drugs and psychotropic drugs per user was 3.56 (SD = 2.36) and 1.66 (SD = 0.90), respectively. The most widely used class was antidepressants, followed by antiepileptics, anxiolytics and antipsychotics. It is necessary to develop strategies to improve access, treatment of patients and rational use of psychotropic drugs, including the revision of lists of essential drugs and training of professionals in PHC.

Polifarmácia e falta de adesão à prescrição médica são problemas freqüentes na terapêutica farmacológica de idosos que podem prejudicar o resultado do seu tratamento. Realizou-se um estudo transversal exploratório e quantitativo em base populacional para levantar a freqüência de idosos aderentes e avaliar se a polifarmácia interfere na adesão. A pesquisa foi realizada com 466 idosos de Porto Alegre, RS. Os instrumentos foram aplicados por entrevista individual. A freqüência de idosos aderentes foi de 173 (37,1%) e maior entre os que utilizavam menos fármacos. Os resultados encontrados sugerem a implementação de programas educacionais para auxiliar os idosos no seguimento à terapêutica farmacológica.

Polipharmacy and medication non-adherence are problems faced frequently in the treatment of elderly patients. An exploratory cross-sectional study and quantitative approach were conducted to assess the frequency of treatment-adherence in elderly and how polipharmacy can affect adherence. Four hundred and sixty six elderly answered a questionnaire in Porto Alegre, RS in individual interviews. The adherence frequency found was 173 (37.1%) and was higher among those, who use less medication. These results indicate the need for implementing educational programs for the elderly in order to help them to follow their drug therapy.

Polifarmácia e falta de adesão à prescrição médica são problemas freqüentes na terapêutica farmacológica de idosos que podem prejudicar o resultado do seu tratamento. Realizou-se um estudo transversal exploratório e quantitativo em base populacional para levantar a freqüência de idosos aderentes e avaliar se a polifarmácia interfere na adesão. A pesquisa foi realizada com 466 idosos de Porto Alegre, RS. Os instrumentos foram aplicados por entrevista individual. A freqüência de idosos aderentes foi de 173 (37,1%) e maior entre os que utilizavam menos fármacos. Os resultados encontrados sugerem a implementação de programas educacionais para auxiliar os idosos no seguimento à terapêutica farmacológica.

Polipharmacy and medication non-adherence are problems faced frequently in the treatment of elderly patients. An exploratory cross-sectional study and quantitative approach were conducted to assess the frequency of treatment-adherence in elderly and how polipharmacy can affect adherence. Four hundred and sixty six elderly answered a questionnaire in Porto Alegre, RS in individual interviews. The adherence frequency found was 173 (37.1%) and was higher among those, who use less medication. These results indicate the need for implementing educational programs for the elderly in order to help them to follow their drug therapy.

The elderly population is one of the most rapidly increasing populations in the world. Physiological alterations induced by the aging process make these individuals more susceptible to chronic diseases and, consequently, to increased drug utilization. Objective: To describe the profile of drug utilization in the elderly living in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Methods: An observational and cross-sectional population-based study to investigate the characteristics of the population, sources of information and types of drugs used by the elderly was performed. Four hundred and eighty patients were recruited from data supplied by the City Hall of Porto Alegre. The elderly were interviewed individually during the period from January to May 2006 by trained interviewers. A validated pharmacotherapy questionnaire was used for data collection and data were tabulated and analyzed by the SPSS 11.5 computer program. Results: Of the 480 patients interviewed, 13.8% did not use any medication. Cardiovascular system drugs represented the pharmacological class most used by the elderly (64.0%). When ill, 71.9% of these individuals visited the doctor, while 36.9% self-medicated. For the majority (50.2%), drugs were identified by their labels. Only 41.2% of the elderly understood medical prescriptions and 68.3% of the patients studied obtained the necessary information for the appropriate use of therapy from their doctors. Conclusions: The present study suggests that a pharmaceutical care program for the treatment, prevention, and use of medications may provide a higher efficiency to elderly drug therapy.

La población anciana es una de las poblaciones que crece más rápidamente en el mundo. Las alteraciones fisiológicas producidas por la edad hacen a estos individuos más susceptibles a las enfermedades crónicas y, consecuentemente, a un aumento de uso de medicamentos. Objetivo: Describir el perfil de utilización de medicamentos en ancianos que viven en Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal poblacional para investigar las características de la población, fuentes de información y tipos de medicamentos utilizados por los ancianos. Se reclutó a 484 pacientes de datos proporcionados por el Ayuntamiento de Porto Alegre. Se entrevistó a los ancianos individualmente durante un periodo de enero a mayo de 2006 por entrevistadores entrenados. Se usó un cuestionario farmacoterapéutico validado para la recogida de datos y los datos se tabularon y analizaron con el programa SPSS 11.5. Resultados: De los 480 pacientes entrevistados, el 13,8% no utilizaban medicación. Los medicamentos del aparato cardiovascular representaban el grupo terapéutico más usado por los ancianos (64,0%). Cuando enferman, el 71,9% de estos individuos visitaron al médico, mientras que el 36,9% se auto-medicó. Para la mayoría (50,2%), identificaron los medicamentos por las etiquetas. Sólo el 41,2% de los ancianos entendían las recetas médicas y el 68,3% de los pacientes estudiados obtuvieron la información necesario de sus médicos. Conclusiones: El presente estudio sugiere que un programa de atención farmacéutica para el tratamiento, prevención y uso de medicaciones puede proporcionar una mayor eficiencia a los tratamientos de los ancianos.