Ethanol and Medical Psychotropics Co-Consumption in European Countries: Results from a Three-Year Retrospective Study of Forensic Samples in Spain

Burnout and mental health among veterinarians: The role of self-compassion and associated risk factors

BACKGROUND

Veterinarians represent a population at risk for burnout. The influence of self-compassion on the development and consequences of burnout remains poorly understood.

METHODS

A validated 30-item survey was disseminated to registered members of the College of Veterinarians of Las Palmas (Spain) via Google Survey between October and December 2023 to assess levels of burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory-general survey) and self-compassion (self-compassion scale) and explore the prevalence of anxiety, depression and benzodiazepine use.

RESULTS

A total of 141 responses were received. Respondents exhibited high levels of exhaustion and cynicism. Older veterinarians exhibited lower cynicism, while those with 1‒10 years of experience reported higher exhaustion. Veterinarians with more than 10 years in their current role demonstrated increased efficacy. Females showed a lower likelihood of self-compassion. Exhaustion and cynicism were negatively correlated with self-compassion. A total of 19.8% of the respondents reported being diagnosed with anxiety/depression, and 19.1% took benzodiazepines, half of them without a prescription.

LIMITATIONS

This cross-sectional study provides a snapshot of the situation at a single point in time and may be susceptible to response bias, such as the healthy worker effect.

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions to address the complex interplay of burnout, self-compassion, mental health and demographic factors within the veterinary profession.

The effect of vitamin E on ethanol-induced liver damage in rats

Ethanol can have harmful effects on the development of the embryos. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E, as an antioxidant, on changes in liver tissue damaged by ethanol in rats. Rats were divided into 11 groups, control, naive, sunflower oil (oil), ethanol, vitamin E (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), ethanol + vitamin E (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), and oily ethanol. In the experimental groups, rats received ethanol (v/v 40%) and vitamin E (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally once a day from gestational day 0 to 28 days after delivery. Then, we evaluated the weight of rats and their offspring, the number of offspring, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), as an index of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as antioxidant enzymes, in the liver tissue of the offspring. Vitamin E significantly increases in weight of pregnant mothers and their offspring on the 21st day of pregnancy. The level of MDA in the groups receiving vitamin E was significantly reduced compared to the ethanol group. The activity of GPx and SOD antioxidants enzymes was significantly increased in the offspring. Vitamin E could reduce ethanol-induced liver damage in male offspring by reducing oxidative stress.

Influence of CYP2B6 Genotype on Methadone Dosage in Patients from the Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) Program in Pereira, Colombia

Methadone treatment reduces the use of heroin and withdrawal symptoms; however, methadone is an expensive medication with a narrow safety margin. We compared the retention rates, persistence of heroin use, and quality of life of a group of patients undergoing conventional Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) with a group for whom the CYP2B6 516G>T polymorphism was used in addition to the MMT to calculate the required methadone dose. Over 12 weeks, the retention rate, heroin usage, and quality of life of patients under conventional treatment (n = 34) were compared with those of patients for whom we used genetic markers to calculate methadone dosage (n = 38). At the end of the study, 26.4% of patients abandoned the program, and neither demographic nor clinical variables were associated with treatment adherence. Of the remaining patients, 16% of the control group and 8% of patients in the pharmacogenetic group reported heroin use, while both groups showed a 64% reduction in the use of cocaine/crack (no significant differences between the groups were found). Starting in the second week, the methadone dosage was lower among the patients for whom methadone was prescribed based on genotype. Although there were six individuals in the control group and three in the pharmacogenetic group with QTc intervals > 450 ms (a threshold that is considered dangerous), we did not find a relationship between the QTc interval and methadone dosage. There were no differences in the perception of quality of life between the two groups. The results of this pilot study suggest that concerning methadone therapy, the CYP2B6 genotype contributes to reduced effective doses and treatment costs.