OBJECTIVES: This is a randomized controlled trial that aims to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led discharge counseling on reducing pharmacotherapy problems in the 30-day postdischarge period of cardiology patients from a tertiary hospital in Brazil. METHODS: At discharge, two cardiovascular pharmacy residents performed a medication counseling session with the intervention group, and the follow-up was performed by telephone (3 and 15 days after discharge). The number of pharmacotherapy problems was evaluated during a pharmacist-led ambulatory consultation 30 days after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 66 and 67 patients were randomized to the intervention and control groups, respectively, but only 51 patients were analyzed in each group, all with similar baseline characteristics. The intervention group had significantly fewer pharmacotherapy problems compared to the control (p<0.001), and 100% of the patients had at least one problem. We observed five problems significantly more frequently in the control group: “incorrect time of taking” (p=0.003), “use higher dose of medication” (p=0.007), “use lower dose of medication” (p=0.014), “restart discontinued medication” (p=0.011), and “underdosing prescription” (p=0.009). Simvastatin, enalapril, carvedilol, and atorvastatin were the medications more associated with pharmacotherapy problems. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that pharmacist-led discharge counseling should be an indispensable service, as patients exhibited less pharmacotherapy problems in the 30-day postdischarge period, especially related to drug administration and adherence.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-provided discharge counseling on mortality rate, hospital readmissions, emergency department visits, and medication adherence at 30 days post discharge. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was approved by the local ethics committee and included patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the cardiology ward of a Brazilian tertiary hospital. The intervention group received a pharmacist-led medication counseling session at discharge and a telephone follow-up three and 15 days after discharge. The outcomes included the number of deaths, hospital readmissions, emergency department visits, and medication adherence. All outcomes were evaluated during a pharmacist-led ambulatory consultation performed 30 days after discharge. RESULTS: Of 133 patients, 104 were included in the analysis (51 and 53 in the intervention and control groups, respectively). The intervention group had a lower overall readmission rate, number of emergency department visits, and mortality rate, but the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). However, the intervention group had a significantly lower readmission rate related to heart disease (0% vs. 11.3%, p=0.027), despite the small sample size. Furthermore, medication counseling contributed significantly to improved medication adherence according to three different tools (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacist-provided discharge medication counseling resulted in better medication adherence scores and a lower incidence of cardiovascular-associated hospital readmissions, thus representing a useful service for cardiology patients.

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, determinar, modelar as curvas de secagem das folhas de Manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.) por infravermelho nas temperaturas de 50, 60, 70 e 80 ºC e avaliar a influência das temperaturas de secagem na cor das folhas desidratadas. A secagem foi conduzida em secador infravermelho com controle de temperatura e em estufa com circulação de ar. Aos dados experimentais foram ajustados oito modelos matemáticos. As magnitudes do coeficiente de determinação (R²), do erro médio relativo (P), do erro médio estimado (SE) e do teste do qui-quadrado (χ²) foram utilizadas para verificar o grau de ajuste dos modelos. Do estudo concluiu-se que: a) o comportamento das curva s de secagem das folhas de manjericão foi semelhante ao da maioria dos produtos agrícolas; os tempos de secagem no infravermelho foram menores do que na estufa com circulação de ar; b) o modelo matemático de secagem proposto por Midilli et al. (2002) foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais; c) o coeficiente de difusão variou de 9,10 10-12 a 2,92 10-11 m² s-1 e d) a cor das amostras foi altamente influenciada pela secagem tornando-se mais escuras devido à perda de clorofila com o aumento da temperatura.

The objective of this paper was to model the drying curves of the leaves of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in the infrared at temperatures of 50, 60, 70 and 80 ºC and to evaluate the influence of drying temperature on the color of dried leaves. Drying was conducted in infrared dryer with temperature and greenhouse air circulation. Experimental data were fitted to eight mathematical models. The magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R²), the mean relative error (P), the estimated mean error (SE) and chisquare test (χ2) were used to verify the degree of fitness of the models. From the study it was concluded that: a) the behavior of the drying curves of basil leaves was similar to most agricultural products, the drying times in the infrared were less than the drying times in an oven with air circulation, b) the mathematical drying model proposed by Midilli et al. (2002) was the one which best adjusted to the experimental data, c) the diffusion coefficient ranged from 9.10 x 10-12 to 2.92 x 10-11 m² s-1 and d) the color of the samples was highly influenced by drying, becoming darker due to loss of chlorophyll with increasing temperature.

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, determinar e modelar as curvas de secagem da pimenta Cumari do Pará (Capsicum chinense Jacqui), nas temperaturas de 45, 55 e 65 ºC e estimar seu coeficiente de difusão. As pimentas foram coletadas no município de Ceres, GO, e transportadas para UEG - Anápolis, GO; a secagem foi conduzida em secador experimental com controle de temperatura e fluxo de ar de 60 m³ min-1 m-2; os dados experimentais foram ajustados aos nove modelos matemáticos; as magnitudes do coeficiente de determinação (R²), do erro médio relativo (P) e do erro médio estimado (SE) foram utilizadas para verificar o grau de ajuste dos modelos. Concluiu-se que: a) o comportamento das curvas de secagem da pimenta Cumari do Pará foi semelhante ao da maioria dos produtos agrícolas; b) o tempo de secagem foi de 4 h; 2 h e 50 min e 1 h e 55 min para as temperaturas de secagem de 45, 55 e 65 ºC, respectivamente; c) o modelo matemático de secagem de Midilli et al. (2002), foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais; d) os valores do coeficiente de difusão aumentaram de acordo com a elevação da temperatura do ar de secagem, apresentando resultados entre 2,29 10-11 e 2,57 10-11 m² s-1.

Among the processes of food preservation, drying the product stands out for maintaining the nutritional quality and flavor of products. The objective of this study was to determine and adjust the curves of drying of Pará Cumari pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacqui), at temperatures of 45, 55 and 65 ºC. The Pará Cumari peppers were collected in the city of Ceres, GO and transported to UEG - Anápolis, GO. Drying was conducted in fixed bed dryer with temperature control and airflow of 60 m³ min-1 m-2. Experimental data were adjusted to nine mathematical models. The magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R²), the mean relative error (P) and the estimated mean error (SE) were used to verify the degree of fit of the models. It was concluded that: a) the behavior of the drying curves of Pará Cumari pepper was similar to most agricultural products; b) the drying time was 4 h; 2 h and 50 min and 1 h and 55 min, respectively, for the drying temperatures of 45, 55 and 65 ºC; c) the mathematical model of drying proposed by Midilli et al. (2002) was the best fit to the experimental data; d) values of the diffusion coefficient increased with the increase of the temperature of the drying air, with results between 2.29 10-11 and 2.57 10-11 m² s-1.