Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2023-07-31"
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- Evaluation of Topical Formulation based on Ceramides and Study of its Effect on the Skin Barrier PropertiesPublication . Castro, Filipa Alexandra Pires de; Rodrigues, Márcio José de Abreu Marques; Kovácik, Andrej; Alves, Gilberto LourençoThis work is divided into three chapters. The first chapter refers to the research work in Pharmaceutical Sciences, developed under the ERASMUS+ program in the Skin Barrier Research Group of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Charles University. The second chapter reports my experience in hospital pharmacy at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário da Cova da Beira. Finally, the third chapter describes my experience in community pharmacy at Farmácia Silveira Mem Martins. The first chapter is entitled “Evaluation of topical formulation based on ceramides and study of its effect on the skin barrier properties” and was carried out within the scope of the research component, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Andrej Kovacik. It is known that changes in the lipid content of the stratum corneum, especially ceramides, correlate with skin diseases. The present work aimed to study the role of topical formulations based on ceramides and the barrier properties of the skin after applying the prepared emulsions. The study concluded that the topical application did not favor the barrier properties, however, it increased the organization of the lipid chain. These results may be useful to further support other studies that develop topical lipid-based formulations. In the second chapter, I report my experience over 8 weeks in Hospital Pharmacy, under the guidance of Dra. Olímpia Fonseca. In this chapter, I present everything I have learned about the medication circuit in the hospital and how the pharmacist plays a key role in its multidisciplinary team. In the third chapter, I describe my experience in Community Pharmacy, under the guidance of Dra. Bruna Castanheira. I described the activities to be developed in the community pharmacy and how the pharmacist has an active role in society.
- COVID-19 or threat of a nuclear war in Europe? A cross-sectional study of anxiety levels in adults living in PortugalPublication . Prazeres, José Filipe Chaves Pereira; Maricoto, Tiago; Lima, Inês Sampaio; Simões, Pedro Augusto Gomes Rodrigues Marques; Simões, José Augusto RodriguesBackground: Since 2019, Europe has experienced ongoing stressors with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian–Ukrainian War, which have had social, financial, physical, and psychological impacts. Studies suggest that anxiety, fear, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other psychological disorders are common in such situations, and there is a need for more research on the impact of the war on mental health in Portugal. The main goal of the present study was to assess the impact of the fear of COVID-19 and anxiety related to nuclear war on the general anxiety levels of adult individuals living in Portugal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2022 using an online questionnaire built on the Google Forms platform. Portuguese-speaking male and female individuals aged 18 years or older, who provided informed consent and agreed to participate, were included. The outcome variable was defined using the Portuguese version of the GAD-7 scale, while the main predictors were the FCV-19S and the NWA Scale in Portuguese. Linear and logistic regression models were used to test associations between predictors and outcome variable. Results: The study included 1,182 participants, with a mean age of 46.5 (±11.7) years, mostly women (80.6%). The global mean GAD-7 score was 5.8 (±4.5) points, and 17.9% of the participants scored above the 10-point cutoff. Higher scores were found in both the FCV-19S and the NWA scale among participants with anxiety, as measured by both a 10-point cutoff (p < 0.001), and GAD-7 scale mean scores (p < 0.001). The study showed that fear of COVID-19 [OR of 1.133 (95%CI: 1.097–1.170)] and, at a lesser extent, nuclear war anxiety [OR of 1.020 (95%CI, 1.009–1.031)] contribute to anxiety in the general population. This is also true for those with a personal history of anxiety, revealed by multiple regression. Discussion: This study contributes to the research on COVID-19’s impact on anxiety and provides the first comprehensive assessment of nuclear war anxiety in Portugal. Results highlight the need for long-term care for anxiety, as prevalence is expected to increase due to the pandemic and war, even in non-conflict areas like Portugal.