First Line Of Action Research Articles

Polyherbal Antiacne Gel: In Vitro Antibacterial Activity and Efficacy Evaluation Against Cutibacterium acnes.

Acne is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages and can lead to significant physical and psychological distress. The first line of action against acne is topical products, though the most effective are topical antibiotics. In such a scenario, the development of effective and safe herbal formulations for the treatment of acne is of great importance. Rubia cordifolia, Aloe barbadensis, and Allium cepa extracts are rich sources of bioactive metabolites and are safe compared with antibiotics, in addition to being cost effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly. Also, their combination has not been studied for treating acne, and their potential benefits need to be investigated. The present study aimed to develop an effective polyherbal gel formulation of R. cordifolia, A. barbadensis, and A. cepa combined extract for treating acne and validate its effect with reference to conventional antibiotics. Plant materials were extracted in water by the reflux method, and phytochemical analysis was done for flavonoid, anthraquinone, and phenolic contents. The combined extract (R. cordifolia, A. barbadensis, and A. cepa extracts) was formulated in gel. The selected polyherbal gel was evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity using agar well diffusion against Cutibacterium acnes (P. acnes) culture. Phytochemical analysis of the composite extract revealed the rich presence of flavonoids, phenolics, and anthraquinones. The polyherbal gels showed good physicochemical properties; however, FCEG-4 was selected for further studies. It was found to be effective against C. acnes (MTCC 1951) in agar well diffusion, as it showed a similar zone of inhibition as that of standard. Also, during invivo studies, FCEG-4 showed comparable efficacy with clindamycin gel. It was concluded from the study that composite extracts incorporated in an aqueous-based gel system were effective in topical therapy of mild acne vulgaris, showing similar efficacy to that of clindamycin cream.

Sergei Witte in the estimates of Vasily Maklakov

The ideas of Vasily Maklakov, the lawyer, a member of the Central Committee of the Constitutional Democratic Party, about the influence of Sergei Witte, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, on the process of Russian political transformation in 1905-1906 are analysed in the article. What served as sources for the study are recollections of Vasily Maklakov, Sergei Witte, Pavel Milyukov, Alexander Kiesewetter, Alexander Izvolsky. Vasily Maklakov’s ideas about the circumstances of the change in Sergei Witte’s perceptions of the form of government in Russia are revealed. It is proved that from October 1905 to April 1906, Vasily Maklakov perceived Sergei Witte as a supporter of Russia’s sustainable constitutional development. Vasily Maklakov’s perceptions of the reasons for Sergei Witte’s attempts to co-operate with the liberals are interpreted as follows – such an agreement would ensure liberal reforms. Maklkov’s judgements about the reasons for Witte’s shift to repressive policies against the revolutionaries – they were carrying out wrongdoing – are reconstructed in the article. Maklakov’s justification of the reasons for the right and liberal politicians’ refusal to support Witte’s policy is revealed. The differences in Maklakov’s and Milyukov’s views on Witte’s policy in 1905-1906 are disclosed. Maklakov characterised Witte as a great statesman able to persuade the emperor to introduce a constitution in order to create a state of law; however, to suppress the revolution, the said nobleman had to use repression as well. Witte’s first line of action led to criticism of his policies by conservatives, while constitutional democrats disagreed with the proposed version of the constitution and condemned the ill-treatment towards radicals. According to Maklakov, the lack of support from influential political forces was one of the reasons why Witte had to resign. Maklakov highlighted Witte’s significant ideas – strengthening the rule of law, organising the government’s interaction with the liberal public.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Targeted Response in Allergic Rhinitis

One step further to Bioinformatics is Artificial intelligence (AI) and data analysis, one would wonder how we can apply AI in the area of aeroallergens’ interactions in Allergic rhinitis (AR). Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the inflammation of the nasal passages due to an immune response triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, and animal dander and many more aeroallergens. Allergic rhinitis is a growing public health, medical and economic problem worldwide. The treatment of allergic rhinitis involves the use of drugs, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroids, which can interact with genes and affect the way they work. For example, drug metabolism can be influenced by polymorphic genes which are the first line of action to an external agent like drugs. Some people may metabolize drugs faster or slower than others due to their genetic make-up. While some people may have a genetic variant that makes them less able to metabolize antihistamines, which can lead to side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth as it happens in AR. While traditional treatments exist, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities for targeted and personalized interventions. This article explores the potential applications of AI in the management of allergic rhinitis and how it can improve patient outcomes. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis can significantly impact a person's quality of life, leading to sneezing, congestion, itching, and nasal discharge and affecting their daily routine.

Advances in Drug Discovery Based on Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics in Malaria.

Malaria is one of the neglected infectious diseases, and drugs are the first line of action taken against the onset of malaria as therapeutics. The drugs can be of either natural or artificial origin. Drug development has multiple impediments grouped under three categories, a. drug discovery and screening, b. the drug's action on the host and the pathogen, and c. clinical trials. Drug development takes coon's age from discovery to the market after FDA approval. At the same time, targeted organisms develop drug resistance quicker than drug approval, raising the requirement for advancement in drug development. The approach to explore drug candidates using the classical methods from natural sources, computation-based docking, mathematical and machine learning-based high throughput in silico models or drug repurposing has been investigated and developed. Also, drug development with information about the interaction between Plasmodium species and its host, humans, may facilitate obtaining an efficient drug cohort for further drug discovery or repurposing expedition. However, drugs may have side effects on the host system. Hence, machine learning and systems-based approaches may provide a holistic view of genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic data and their interaction with the selected drug candidates. This review comprehensively describes the drug discovery workflows using drug and target screening methodologies, followed by possible ways to check the binding affinity of the drug and targets using various docking software.

Malnutrition Screening and Assessment.

Malnutrition is a serious problem with a negative impact on the quality of life and the evolution of patients, contributing to an increase in morbidity, length of hospital stay, mortality, and health spending. Early identification is fundamental to implement the necessary therapeutic actions, involving adequate nutritional support to prevent or reverse malnutrition. This review presents two complementary methods of fighting malnutrition: nutritional screening and nutritional assessment. Nutritional risk screening is conducted using simple, quick-to-perform tools, and is the first line of action in detecting at-risk patients. It should be implemented systematically and periodically on admission to hospital or residential care, as well as on an outpatient basis for patients with chronic conditions. Once patients with a nutritional risk are detected, they should undergo a more detailed nutritional assessment to identify and quantify the type and degree of malnutrition. This should include health history and clinical examination, dietary history, anthropometric measurements, evaluation of the degree of aggression determined by the disease, functional assessment, and, whenever possible, some method of measuring body composition.

How to Improve Cancer Prevention Knowledge? A Way to Identify Gaps and Tackle the Limited Availability of Health Education Services in Primary Health Care Using the European Code Against Cancer.

IntroductionThe first line of action against cancer is primary and secondary prevention. Increased efforts are needed in countries where cancer mortality is high and the healthcare system is inefficient. Objectives: Our aim was to present a new solution to identify and fill gaps in health education services in accordance with the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC).Materials and MethodsThis study was carried out in a rural population of 122 beneficiaries of health education workshops financed by the Polish Cancer League. A self-developed questionnaire was used. PQStat v1.6.8. was also applied.ResultsOur respondents were mostly farmers (53.3%) and manual workers (16.4%). Most participants self-assessed their health knowledge as good (46.7%). While 42% of all respondents claimed to know the healthy eating pyramid, only 8.2% correctly recognised all of its principles and 23.8% realised the importance of limiting the consumption of red meat. The most commonly recognised cancer risk factor were genetics (72.1%), stimulants such as alcohol or tobacco (51.5%) and environmental pollution (45.1%). UV radiation was not commonly recognised as a risk factor by respondents despite high occupational exposure in this population. We found a high percentage of male smokers. As many as 64.8% of respondents had not been counselled on cancer prevention in their clinics. A family history of cancer (FHC) did not differentiate respondents' health knowledge, health behaviors, or frequency of receiving cancer prevention counselling. Health education and health promotion in the region were unsatisfactory.ConclusionsPrimary health care (PHC) should become more involved in promoting cancer prevention knowledge. One way could be to encourage health professionals to promote the ECAC. Cancer prevention should target especially persons with FHC and focus on modifiable cancer risk factors. At the workshops we were able to adjust the strength of each ECAC recommendation to best fit the target audience. By diagnosing and targeting specific communities, we can draw the attention of PHC staff and decision-makers to local health promotion needs, which is a good starting point for improving the situation. However, larger scale projects are needed to help design specific solutions to support primary healthcare in promoting ECAC.

STATE EMPLOYMENT POLICY IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CRISIS IN GEORGIA

The crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has not only economic character, it is multifaceted, so ways to tackle the problem are more complex and ambiguous. Measures to protect the health of the population often comes into conflict with economic recovery measures, which raises the issue of their proper balancing. At the same time, financial, moral and material support should be provided to the vulnerable sections of the society, at the same time, the party creating the demand for labor should be encouraged to maintain jobs. Recovering the economy requires a comprehensive and consistent strategy based on the interests of each citizen. It is important to have an active social dialogue between employers 'and entrepreneurs' organizations and employees. These measures are relatively easy to implement for countries with high incomes and developed economies, while for low-income countries, the use of fiscal and monetary policy instruments is limited and therefore becomes a more difficult process. In such a case, it is recommended to differentiate the directions of the state employment policy according to the priority. The first line of action in the conditions of the covid-19 pandemic should be to stop the growth of poverty caused by declining employment income from reduced employment. As mentioned above, the government's anti-crisis plan even provides for passive policy measures and appropriate funding. However, it should be noted that the simplification of bureaucratic procedures related to the issuance and administration of targeted benefits would also be desirable. The activation of passive policy has accelerated the "formalization" of informal employees, it is recommended to continue working in this direction through a different prism to prevent the growth of precariate in the labor market. It is advisable to increase the number of jobs in the formal sector, to adequately remunerate the qualifications and energy expended, to create normal working conditions and to provide real protection of the labor rights of the employees. It is recommended to finance various projects and startups to promote self-employment and motivate the unemployed people. An important measure is the systematic research of labor market needs, which creates a clear picture of the requirements in the field of employment in the policy-making process and is a vector in the planning of training relevant qualified personnel. The latter will help to eliminate the most important problems of the Georgian labor market - the imbalance between labor demand and supply

STATE EMPLOYMENT POLICY IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CRISIS IN GEORGIA

The crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has not only economic character, it is multifaceted, so ways to tackle the problem are more complex and ambiguous. Measures to protect the health of the population often comes into conflict with economic recovery measures, which raises the issue of their proper balancing. At the same time, financial, moral and material support should be provided to the vulnerable sections of the society, at the same time, the party creating the demand for labor should be encouraged to maintain jobs. Recovering the economy requires a comprehensive and consistent strategy based on the interests of each citizen. It is important to have an active social dialogue between employers 'and entrepreneurs' organizations and employees. These measures are relatively easy to implement for countries with high incomes and developed economies, while for low-income countries, the use of fiscal and monetary policy instruments is limited and therefore becomes a more difficult process. In such a case, it is recommended to differentiate the directions of the state employment policy according to the priority. The first line of action in the conditions of the covid-19 pandemic should be to stop the growth of poverty caused by declining employment income from reduced employment. As mentioned above, the government's anti-crisis plan even provides for passive policy measures and appropriate funding. However, it should be noted that the simplification of bureaucratic procedures related to the issuance and administration of targeted benefits would also be desirable. The activation of passive policy has accelerated the "formalization" of informal employees, it is recommended to continue working in this direction through a different prism to prevent the growth of precariate in the labor market. It is advisable to increase the number of jobs in the formal sector, to adequately remunerate the qualifications and energy expended, to create normal working conditions and to provide real protection of the labor rights of the employees. It is recommended to finance various projects and startups to promote self-employment and motivate the unemployed people. An important measure is the systematic research of labor market needs, which creates a clear picture of the requirements in the field of employment in the policy-making process and is a vector in the planning of training relevant qualified personnel. The latter will help to eliminate the most important problems of the Georgian labor market - the imbalance between labor demand and supply.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Edo State, Nigeria

The people of Edo State of Nigeria have a long history of dependence on traditional medicine as a primary source and first line of action for their healthcare needs. Efforts have been made by various national and subnational governments towards integrating the TM practice for the benefit of its citizens with little progress. The slow progress is partly because of dearth in the knowledge, attitude and practice of the practitioners. A descriptive cross-sectional study aimed at highlighting the demography, attitude and approach as well as the exposing the key gaps in the practice and expectation of the practitioners from the different stakeholders, was carried out. The survey study was conducted using a standardized structured questionnaire. The outcome showed that 90% of practitioners were within the age bracket of 25 and 65 years, and majority (66%) were of male gender and, about 94% and 78% were literate and self-employed, respectively. About 30% have being in practice for less than 10 years and about 44% sees less than 10 patients per week. The major diseases treated include malaria (66%), stomach ulcer (62%), cough and sore throat (54%), diabetes (54%), gonorrhoea/sexually transmitted diseases (52%) and menstrual pain (50%). About 28% claimed to have subjected some of their products to laboratory testing but only about 4% of respondents had NAFDAC registered products. Edo TMPs have high expectation for government and partners supports in strengthening TM practices through the provision modern production facility, supports for medicinal plant gardens, laboratory testing, training on best practices and better legislation for citizens’ patronage.

Calcium and Potassium Nutrition Increases the Water Use Efficiency in Coffee: A Promising Strategy to Adapt to Climate Change

Coffee (Coffea spp.) represents one of the most important sources of income and goods for the agricultural sector in Central America, Colombia, and the Caribbean region. The sustainability of coffee production at the global and regional scale is under threat by climate change, with a major risk of losing near to 50% of today’s suitable area for coffee by 2050. Rain-fed coffee production dominates in the region, and under increasing climate variability and climate change impacts, these production areas are under threat due to air temperature increase and changes in rainfall patterns and volumes. Identification, evaluation, and implementation of adaptation strategies for growers to cope with climate variability and change impacts are relevant and high priority. Incremental adaptation strategies, including proper soil and water management, contribute to improved water use efficiency (WUE) and should be the first line of action to adapt the coffee crop to the changing growing conditions. This research’s objective was to evaluate at field level over five years the influence of fertilization with calcium (Ca+2) and potassium (K+) on WUE in two coffee arabica varieties: cv. Castillo and cv. Caturra. Castillo has resistance against coffee leaf rust (CLR) (Hemileia vastatrix Verkeley and Brome), while Caturra is not CLR-resistant. WUE was influenced by yield changes during the years by climate variability due to El Niño–ENSO conditions and CLR incidence. Application of Ca+2 and K+ improved the WUE under such variable conditions. The highest WUE values were obtained with an application of 100 kg CaO ha−1 year−1 and between 180 to 230 kg K2O ha−1 year−1. The results indicate that adequate nutrition with Ca+2 and K+ can improve WUE in the long-term, even underwater deficit conditions and after the substantial incidence. Hence, an optimum application of Ca+2 and K+ in rain-fed coffee plantations can be regarded as an effective strategy to adapt to climate variability and climate change.

Post-translational regulation of the membrane transporters contributing to salt tolerance in plants.

This review article summarises the role of membrane transporters and their regulatory kinases in minimising the toxicity of Na+ in the plant under salt stress. The salt-tolerant plants keep their cytosolic level of Na+ up to 10-50mM. The first line of action in this context is the generation of proton motive force by the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. The generated proton motive force repolarises the membrane that gets depolarised due to passive uptake of Na+ under salt stress. The proton motive force generated also drives the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter, SOS1 that effluxes the cytosolic Na+ back into the environment. At the intracellular level, Na+ is sequestered by the vacuole. Vacuolar Na+ uptake is mediated by Na+/H+ antiporter, NHX, driven by the electrochemical gradient for H+, generated by tonoplast H+ pumps, both H+ATPase and PPase. However, it is the expression of the regulatory kinases that make these transporters active through post-translational modification enabling them to effectively manage the cytosolic level of Na+, which is essential for tolerance to salinity in plants. Yet our knowledge of the expression and functioning of the regulatory kinases in plant species differing in tolerance to salinity is scant. Bioinformatics-based identification of the kinases like OsCIPK24 in crop plants, which are mostly salt-sensitive, may enable biotechnological intervention in making the crop cultivar more salt-tolerant, and effectively increasing its annual yield.

Situación de Enfermería en tiempos de COVID-19: Una mirada panorámica

El presente artículo tiene por objetivo analizar la situación de enfermería en tiempos de covid-19: una mirada panorámica, a nivel nacional y mundial, a través del método de revisión de artículos científicos y documentos, enfoque cualitativo, estudio de tipo básico, descriptivo. Resultados: Impacto del comportamiento social ante el rol del profesional de enfermería en medio de un sistema de salud en crisis y débil, fuerza laboral del profesional de enfermería insuficiente ante una brecha o déficit de profesionales de enfermería en primera línea de acción, déficit de formación de profesionales de enfermería ante la demanda en los sistemas de salud, mortalidad con consecuencias en los profesionales de enfermería y colectividad, adquisición y disponibilidad insuficiente de equipos de protección personal al profesional de enfermería, despliegue de la teoría de la enfermería moderna y teoría del autocuidado. Conclusiones: el análisis y sistematización de la información permitió reconocer el impacto del comportamiento social ante el rol del profesional de enfermería en medio de un sistema de salud en crisis y débil, la fuerza laboral del profesional de enfermería fue insuficiente ante una brecha o déficit de profesionales de enfermería en primera línea de acción, existe déficit de formación de profesionales de enfermería ante la demanda en los sistemas de salud, la adquisición y disponibilidad es insuficiente de equipos de protección personal al profesional de enfermería, ante la contextualización ocurrió la mortalidad con consecuencias en los profesionales de enfermería y colectividad. Por lo tanto, hubo despliegue de la teoría de la enfermería moderna y teoría del autocuidado.

Phosphate Beneficiation Innovation in a Sustainable Development Way, OCP Khouribga Mine Case

OCP’s challenge: contribute to sustainably feeding a growing world population. Agricultural yields must be significantly increased and sustained for this to happen. OCP places innovation, product development, and processes, along with sustainability, at the heart of its strategy in order to provide a sustainable response to the challenge of food security. Morocco has the greatest phosphate resources, with more than 70% of the world's reserves. OCP Group aims to conserve them to meet the growing demand for fertilizers and guarantee food security. OCP develops and invests in the efficient management of the use of its raw materials and promotes industrial synergies. Its first line of action aims to make efficient use of deposits and maximize the recovery of low phosphorous content phosphates during the extraction phase at its open-pit mining sites. OCP has thus developed a reverse flotation process to enrich its phosphates. But even with all this innovative processes that we already have, the question in ocp is always How can we reinvent ourselves? How can we strike the right balance between performance, reduced mining costs, and a longlasting competitive edge? How can we add value to a market-leading product? Since 2016, OCP Group has built on the industrial transformation it launched in 2008 by initiating a digital transformation to change its means of production. We are headed toward industry 4.0.

Iron Nutritional Status of Karate Players: A Review

It has been suggested that iron depletion before anemia may impair performance. Karate players have risk factors for iron depletion. This study reviewed the related literature with respect to the iron nutritional status of karate players and dietary treatments. Examining iron intake in related studies indicated that the iron intakes of female players were lower than those of male players. A high prevalence of iron deficiency was reported only in female karate players. A high prevalence of hemolysis was found not only in sparring players, but also in kata (forms performed alone) players. Dietary modification is the preferred strategy to ensure adequate iron intake, maintenance of iron levels, and as the first line of action to prevent iron deficiency. Because most reports on iron nutrition status of karate players are from Japan and all studies are cross sectional, future research investigating the iron nutritional status of karate players should include (i) Studies from Western countries and (ii) Longitudinal studies. These studies should focus on adolescents since there is a paucity of information in the literature in this area.

Gender mainstreaming: A lasting solution to disaster risk reduction.

Disasters threaten resources as well as displace millions of people globally. It is undisputable that disasters have gender dimensions. However, most African countries are still lagging behind as far as the holistic integration of gender mainstreaming into national policies, particularly on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The purpose of this article was to unpack the consequence of overlooking gender in DRR, thereby highlighting its importance. The study followed a comparative study design, by using two case studies of Mumbwa District in Zambia and Chivi District in Zimbabwe. The specific objectives were to examine the disaster risks in both Mumbwa and Chivi districts, analyse the DRR strategies used in both districts and highlight the critical success factors derived from gender mainstreaming in DRR in these cases. Findings showed that gender mainstreaming is not only an important tool in DRR but also a sustainable development initiative. Despite challenges faced by countries in DRR, gender mainstreaming should always be considered as their first line of action in DRR.

Determination of the Probabilities of Landslide Events—A Case Study of Bhutan

Landslides have been and are prominent and devastating natural disasters in Bhutan due to its orography and intense monsoonal rainfall. The damage caused by landslides is huge, causing significant loss of lives, damage to infrastructure and loss of agricultural land. Several methods have been developed to understand the relationship between rainfall and landslide incidences. The most common method to understand the relationship is by defining thresholds using empirical methods which are expressed in either intensity-duration or event rainfall-duration terms. However, such thresholds determine the results in a binary form which may not be useful for landslide cases. Apart from defining thresholds, it is significant to validate the results. The article attempts to address both these issues by adopting a probabilistic approach and validating the results. The region of interest is the Chukha region located along the Phuentsholing-Thimphu Highway, which is a significant trade route between neighbouring countries and the national capital Thimphu. In the present study, probabilities are determined by Bayes’ theorem considering rainfall and landslide data from 2004 to 2014. Singular (rainfall intensity, rainfall duration and event rainfall) along with a combination (rainfall intensity and rainfall duration) of precipitation parameters were considered to determine the probabilities for landslide events. A sensitivity analysis was performed to verify the determined probabilities. The results depict that a combination of rainfall parameters is a better indicator to forecast landslides as compared to single rainfall parameter. Finally, the probabilities are validated using landslide records for 2015 using a threat score. The validation signifies that the probabilities can be used as the first line of action for an operational landslide warning system.

A rare case of a large breast phyllodes tumor

Introduction: Phyllodes tumor is a rare form of breast cancer, and the malignant form, the rarest presentation. Although the Phyllodes tumors rarely metastasizes, they can grow faster than any other breast tumor. Diagnosis and treatment are crucial, and surgery is the first line of action. Large tumors represent a surgical challenge because the excision with free margins is essential to prevent local recurrence and metastatic spread. In this presentation, we report a rare case of a giant Phyllodes tumor weighing 7.15 kg on a 66-year-old woman and a review of the literature highlighting some issues surrounding the management of phyllodes tumors. Case Report: A 66-year-old women, without known relevant precedents, was admitted to breast pathology consult due a large, ulcerated and infected tumor. An incisional biopsy revealed borderline Phyllodes tumor. No distant metastasis were identified. After infection control, a left mastectomy was performed, with primary closure of the defect by mobilizing the skin flaps. The postoperative period was uneventful. Pathological examination revealed a 30x28x18 cm, 7150 gr malignant Phyllodes tumor with free margins. After one year follow-up there is no evidence of local or distant recurrence. The patient refused plastic reconstructive surgery. Conclusion: Phyllodes tumor is a rare breast tumor, with the malignant phenotype being the rarest of them all. Surgical therapy is the gold standard for the treatment of phyllodes tumors. Phyllodes tumors should be removed with, at least, 1 cm free margins, especially if they’re malignant tumors. The role of adjuvant therapy is still controversial.

Intensive Care Unit Delirium and Intensive Care Unit-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Delirium is one of the most common behavioral manifestations of acute brain dysfunction in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is a strong predictor of worse outcome. Routine monitoring for delirium is recommended for all ICU patients using validated tools. In delirious patients, a search for all reversible precipitants is the first line of action and pharmacologic treatment should be considered when all causes have been ruled out, and it is not contraindicated. Long-term morbidity has significant consequences for survivors of critical illness and for their caregivers. ICU patients may develop posttraumatic stress disorder related to their critical illness experience.

Designing an instrument to assess the competence of cognitive analytic therapists in training

IntroductionSince its origins, cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) has become a focused and more effective alternative that can be approached from the first line of action by mental health teams. However, since CAT incorporates in its intervention aspects of other currents, it is possible that its limits and specificity may have blurred. Furthermore, therapists in training use to report difficulties related to this. For that reason, assessing the competence of CAT therapists in training becomes so important, as it promote the reflection of the therapist in its training and provides professionals necessary skills to ensure a better quality care for their patients.Aim and objectivesThe aim of this study was to design an instrument to identify the main training problems in CAT therapists which allows therapist's competence evaluation.MethodsFor this purpose, a specific tool to detect the main problems in the implementation of the psychotherapy by self-report was administered and evaluated by two therapists in training during its clinical practice.ResultsThe main implementation problems detected had to do with collusions and the temporary adjustment of the sessions. The therapists reported a high satisfaction with the instrument, which was valued as useful to be aware of the problems in CAT training and with clearly explained contents.ConclusionsThe tool has been shown to be useful to assess therapist's competence and to take awareness of collusions allowing the therapist to avoid them.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The public purchase of aphrodisiac products without prescriptions in the Alahsa region of KSA

Abstract Objectives To investigate requests for common prescription-only aphrodisiacs across community pharmacies in the Alahsa region of KSA. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among conveniently selected pharmacies in the eastern region of Alahsa, KSA. Self-administered questionnaires were directly distributed to 73 consenting community pharmacies. Completed questionnaires were coded, reviewed for accuracy and entered into a database in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 19.0; IBM Corporation, Somers, NY). The data were analysed using descriptive analysis. Results The survey response rate was 72.60%. With respect to the availability of aphrodisiacs and sexual supplements, most of the pharmacists disclosed that they had stocks of Viagra and Cialis. The most common men's health complication reported by pharmacists was erectile dysfunction (n = 12, 22.6%), followed by premature ejaculation (n = 4, 7.5%) and low sexual desire (n = 1, 1.9%). Less than half of pharmacists (n = 9, 16.9%) cited Viagra and Cialis as preferred drugs for treating premature ejaculation. Approximately 32 (60.3%) proposed delayed sprays as the first line of action, while 13 (24.5%) considered antidepressants as their first-choice drug. Conclusion The non-prescription dispensing of prescription-only medicines, including sexual enhancement products, is common in KSA. The majority of pharmacists continue to violate pharmaceutical laws without recognizing the potential harm they are causing their communities. Stakeholders should organize training and certification initiatives to ensure that pharmacists are aware of and comply with national pharmaceutical laws. These agencies should also ensure that pharmacies maintain safe and ethical practices.