ABCS Health Sciences

Strategies for coping with COVID-19 in prisons: a scoping review

2022-08-11T15:29:44-03:00

Introduction: The poor health of prisoners in penitentiaries demonstrates a very favorable condition for the spread of the virus. Objective: To revise in the scientific literature the actions carried out by health professionals in prison units to face COVID-19. Method: Scoping review, guided by the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and structured from the acronym Population, Concept, and Context. The searches were carried out in 11 databases, with the inclusion criteria being studies in English, Portuguese, and Spanish; publications in 2019/2020 and available in full. For the selection of studies, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews flowchart was used. A total of 1,624 studies were found, of which 13 were eligible for the review. Results: From the analysis of the studies, two categories emerged: the first, diagnosis/control, which presented as proposed strategies isolation, screening, improvement of basic sanitation, education, social distancing, use of personal protective equipment, reinforcement of ventilation measures and the use of remote connection; and, the second, treatment that encompassed screening, support, and medicalization of the relevant symptoms of the pathology linked to emotional assistance. Conclusion: the analyses carried out indicate the need to develop a standard operating procedure that systematizes assistance, including prevention, diagnosis/control, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 within the penitentiary system, briefly presenting priority actions to be carried out, emergencies needed and the flow in the services of the care network of the health systems.

Care for people living with HIV in the time of COVID-19: scoping review

2023-01-23T18:37:42-03:00

This study aimed to analyze the scientific productions involving the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the actions and health services offered to people living with HIV. To this end, a scoping review was carried out following the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR. The search took place in March 2022 in seven databases and the gray literature, with the descriptors: pandemic, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, HIV, HIV infections, health strategies, and health services, combined with operators booleans “AND” and “OR”. Two researchers independently searched for the data sources. With the search, 1,032 publications were identified, of which 42 were included. Difficulties in accessing and linking to health services were evidenced, such as reduced service hours, scarcity of materials, and reduction or overload of human resources, which weakened the offer of actions to monitor treatment, dispensing of medicines, and clinical follow-up. On the other hand, digital care and follow-up systems were employed, in addition to the use of long-term medication dispensing methods, resorting to places close to the affected people or even in their homes. In short, it was possible to verify that, despite the negative effects of the pandemic on health actions and services, threatening the achievements of the last 40 years in confronting the HIV epidemic, promising strategies to provide comprehensive, proactive, and continuous care were implemented in times of COVID-19.

Outcome measures for adults with Down Syndrome based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Model: A Systematic Review

2021-11-23T20:07:46-03:00

Introduction: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have functional disabilities due to the extra presence of chromosome 21. Objective: To identify the functionality and disability assessment instruments used in research involving adults with DS and associate them with the components of the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). Methods: Two independent researchers analyzed articles from PubMed, Lilacs, SciELO, Science Direct, and Cochrane databases, including cross-sectional and clinical studies whose results involved functionality and disability for individuals with DS (≥18 years), with no publication date limit for the studies. The methodological quality of the studies was analyzed by the Downs & Black Checklist; descriptive analysis was used for the results. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021234012). Results: 15 articles were analyzed in which 48 instruments were identified for the assessment of adults with DS (36.42±10.62 years); the quality of the articles was considered "good". Of these 48 instruments, 41 were associated with bodily function, 5 instruments were associated with the activity component, one instrument was associated with social participation and one instrument was associated with the environment. Conclusion: Of the 48 instruments identified to assess adults with DS, most were for the Body Function and Structure component; only the 6MWT and CAMDEX-SD have been validated for this population. LIFE-H and MQE were used to assess Social Participation and the Environment, but they cannot be considered dependable, as they have not been confirmed for individuals with DS.

History and legal aspects of bone marrow donor banks in Brazil

2022-06-01T11:55:37-03:00

Introduction: Bone marrow transplants primarily depend on people who previously registered to be donors. From then on, the search for compatibility between donor and recipient begins. Objective: To describe the historical landmarks and the legal apparatus of bone marrow donor banks in Brazil based on an integrative review. Methods: LILACS database and PubMed and SciELO journals were used. The term bone marrow transplantation was the descriptor. Eligibility criteria were: articles with the theme of Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) and studies carried out on the national territory. Results: A total of 88,855 articles were identified, among which 185 met the eligibility criteria. After they were thoroughly read, 14 articles were selected. The studies pointed out fragments that dealt with important historical landmarks for the establishment of bone marrow transplantation as a conventional treatment for oncohematological diseases. Conclusion: The use of BMT has a history of more than thirty years in Brazil. However, none of the articles identified specifically addresses the historical content of bone marrow transplantation.

Emotional aspects of parents of children with dysphagia

2021-02-24T14:38:59-03:00

Dysphagia is a common swallowing disorder in the pediatric population, which may influence the quality of life and well-being of the family. The literature points to stress, guilt, and social isolation of family members. However, the management of psychosocial aspects involved in the treatment of pediatric dysphagia is rarely discussed. This study aimed to carry out an integrative review of the literature regarding the emotional aspects of parents of children with dysphagia. Therefore a search in the databases SciELO and PubMed was made, from January 2013 to June 2020, using the descriptors in Health Sciences (DeCs): "deglutition disorders" and "child". The search was performed with English and Portuguese language limiters using associated descriptors. The selection of the studies was performed by reading the title, abstract and, if necessary, full text, applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. There were 2,169 publications, and 8 met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were examined according to the author, type of study, goals, emotional aspects involved in the treatment of swallowing disorders, and conclusions. The analysis was performed according to the presence of certain variables of the emotional aspects presented in the face of swallowing disorders, namely, parental stress, negative impact on parent/child interaction, guilt and frustration, and social isolation. The literature points out that pediatric dysphagia causes an emotional impact on the parents; indicating that it is necessary to offer emotional support and to adapt the clinical management to the different demands present in the clinic.

Health-related quality of life of patients submitted to correction of heart valve diseases

2022-12-19T22:20:12-03:00

Introduction: The measurement of the health-related quality of life construct can reveal the positive repercussions on the lives of patients undergoing corrective valve procedures, as well as revealing points that prevent new surgical approaches. Objective: To identify the health-related quality of life of valvular heart disease in the perioperative period of conventional valve surgery. Methods: This is an integrative literature review. Searches were performed independently in four databases using controlled and uncontrolled descriptors. Eligibility criteria were: original articles that addressed the assessment of the health-related quality of life of valvular patients undergoing valve repair and/or valve prosthesis implantation; in Portuguese, English, and Spanish; with a time frame for convenience between 2015 and 2019. Results: 14 studies comprised the final review sample, despite being studies conducted in different countries and with different designs, it was possible to verify the improvement in health-related quality of life when evaluated through generic instruments in valvular patients after valve surgery. However, in studies in which the assessment of the construct occurred through specific instruments, the existence of factors that can interfere with the quality of life of patients undergoing valve implantation was revealed. Conclusion: It was noticed that there was generally an improvement in health-related quality of life after the surgical intervention.

Comparison between selective head cooling and whole-body cooling in neonatal therapeutic hypothermia

2022-11-21T22:13:34-03:00

Introduction: Experimental evidence, as well as improved clinical studies of the reduction of brain injury and, improves the neurological outcome, in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) occurring in therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Objective: To verify the potential of hypothermic hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) therapy in neonatal asphyxia, based on literature data, comparing the benefits between selective head cooling (SHC) and whole-body cooling (WBC), see that the use of TH as a standard treatment in newborns with moderate or severe HIE has been adopted. Methods: A search was performed in the PubMed and SciELO databases of human studies, using the keywords “Therapeutic Hypothermia”, “Induced Hypothermia”, and “Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy”, “Selective cooling of the head”, “Total body cooling” and its variables. Results: Eleven articles were selected to compose the review, after detailed reading. There is a consensus, that the reduction of the risk of death or disability at 18 months of life in neonates with moderate to severe HIE, occurs to TH through the techniques of WBC or SHC. It was found in the studies that there is no difference in terms of adverse effects between the two methods. As for radiological changes, such as hypoxic-ischemic injuries and the incidence of seizures after cooling, they are more frequent with SHC. Conclusion: Both WBC and SHC demonstrated neuroprotective properties, although WBC provides a broader area of brain protection. However, no significant differences were found between the methods in terms of adverse effects and beneficial short or long-term results.

Acknowledgements to reviewers

2023-01-02T15:20:25-03:00

Not applicable

COVID-19 clinical manifestations in children and adolescents admitted to intensive care in the city of São Carlos: a case series

2022-09-16T16:22:41-03:00

Introduction: Children with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or present a heterogeneous clinical presentation. The present case series aimed to report clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in children and adolescents admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in the city of São Carlos, Brazil, during 2020 and 2021. Reports: The subjects were six children aged 3 months to 13 years, with COVID-19. The data were collected from electronic charts. All cases were domestic contact with a COVID-19 case. Two cases had multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) and one had jaundice and ascites. One case had a seizure. One case required invasive ventilation and two cases presented gastrointestinal symptoms. There were no deaths in the cases. The length of PICU stays varied from one to 16 days. Conclusion: In the six cases reported, COVID-19 clinical manifestations in children and adolescents who required intensive care in São Carlos revealed a heterogeneous presentation and no lethality. It is worth emphasizing that a history of contact with a symptomatic respiratory person should guide the suspicion of COVID-19 in children and indicate a proper follow-up, as COVID-19 may be severe in this population.

Plantar vein thrombosis: an uncommon cause of plantar foot pain

2021-03-30T17:20:52-03:00

Introduction: Plantar vein thrombosis is a rare condition that can lead to pain, edema, and walking difficulties. It presents a series of predisposing factors, such as recent surgeries, the use of oral contraceptives, and local trauma, among others. Imaging tests are essential for the right diagnosis, and ultrasonography is the modality of choice. As for treatment, there is no consensus in the literature. Report: Case of a 30-year-old patient who sought emergency medical care complaining of sudden severe pain in the plantar region of her right foot with walking difficulties. On physical examination, hyperalgesia was observed in the plantar region, irradiating to the calf, associated with swelling. Color Doppler imaging identified an acute thrombus in the medial plantar vein. Rivaroxaban was initially prescribed and replaced by acetylsalicylic acid after three months. The treatment was effective, and the patient was discharged after 11 months. Conclusion: Plantar vein thrombosis is a rare condition and has a wide range of differential diagnoses so physicians must maintain a high level of clinical suspicion. To improve diagnosis and treatment, it would be necessary to include plantar veins in the investigation protocols of patients suspected of having Deep Venous Thrombosis, besides additional clinical research for improving treatment.

Workshops of the Pedagogic Week 2021 of Centro Universitario FMABC

2022-12-19T22:20:13-03:00

Introduction: Delivering quality medical education is a hot topic. The current discussion essentially addresses content versus competencies. Extensive curricula and matrices, and traditional assessments are against go against the modern concepts of medical education. Remote education stimulated this discussion and brought the opportunity to review the academic load and assessment. Report: In January 2021, a pedagogic workshop of the Medicine course of Centro Universitário FMABC was held. It began with a lecture by a visiting professor and coordinator of the medical school accreditation system on remote activities during the pandemic. Next, the person responsible for the Progress Test made a history of the latest assessments, and a professor who is a member of the Accreditation Committee of the Medical Schools presented a summary of the main insufficient points of the last assessment. Afterward, the students presented the last internal evaluations. Finally, the matrices of the course, from the 1st to the 4th year, were presented and compared with those of three other medical schools, and each year coordinator prepared their suggestions for changes to the matrices. Lastly, professors and the course coordination presented a report and proposals, encouraging the integration of the academic community, the reassessment of teaching plans, repetition of content and recognition of matrices of each year, offering ideas and tools, to reflection on remote learning, and opportunities for change and improvement in teaching, and learning. Conclusion: The disciplines showed willingness for integrative activities, extension and creation of elective disciplines, complementing failures caused by the Pandemic.

Oral lichen planus in a young patient: a case report with nine-year follow-up

2022-12-19T22:20:14-03:00

Introduction: Oral lichen planus is an inflammatory condition that affects the stratified squamous epithelium of the oral mucosa. It occurs more frequently in female patients and it is rarely observed in children, adolescents, or young adults. This study aims to report a case of oral lichen planus in a young patient with a nine-year follow-up. Case report: A 19-year-old man reported to the Dentistry Department with a complaint of an asymptomatic white lesion on the dorsum and left lateral border of his tongue, which had appeared a few weeks before. Two weeks later, a second lesion, very similar to the previous one, appeared on the central region of his tongue. An incisional biopsy was performed. The histological slides were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. No pharmacological treatment was prescribed. The clinical and histopathological findings were suggestive of oral lichen planus. The IL-1β/TNF-α expression was low. There was a spontaneous regression of the lesions after approximately one year. The nine-year follow-up showed no signs of recurrence. Conclusion: This case presents atypical features such as the age of the patient and the spontaneous remission of the lesions.

Hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with Fanconi anemia and VACTERL association

2022-11-21T22:13:34-03:00

Introduction: Hemophagocytic syndrome results from hyperactivity of histiocytes and lymphocytes, triggered by infections, mainly viral by cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr and herpes. Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease with heterogeneous symptoms common to other diseases such as VACTERL, a disease of unknown etiology in which there are several congenital malformations. The concomitance of Fanconi and VACTERL anemia occurs in 5 to 30% of FA patients. Report: A 14-month-old male infant was admitted to investigate fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and granulopenia. The patient was diagnosed with hemophagocytic syndrome due to hyperferritinemia, bone marrow hemophagocytosis, transaminase elevation, decreased fibrinogen, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection confirmed by serology and PCR. The test with mitomycin C (MMC) showed chromosomal fragility. The patient was diagnosed with a VACTERL/FA association for having a clinic and a test compatible with both FA and VACTERL. Conclusion: The VACTERL/FA association is seldom described, but is present in pediatric medical practice. This study presented the main clinical-laboratory aspects and reviewed the main aspects of the concurrence of this pathology.

Non-Invasive Study of Intracranial Pressure in Pre- and Post-Chemotherapy Patients for the Treatment of Breast Neoplasia

2021-09-22T17:01:17-03:00

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type among women and brings to them significant organic changes. A new intracranial pressure monitorization method consists of an external system of sensors that detects micrometric deformations on the cranial bones and transmits, in real-time, electrical signals that are visualized on a monitor. Objective: To identify changes in intracranial pressure due to chemotherapy connections through non-invasive methodology. Methods: The present study was conducted at Hospital Santa Casa de Misericordia in the city of Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil in 2017. The variables P2/P1 ratio (ICP morphological evaluation), laboratory parameters, comorbidities, and clinical aspects of the volunteers were evaluated. The vascular toxicity of chemotherapy often causes endothelial dysfunction, resulting in a loss of vasodilation effects and suppresses anti-inflammatory and vascular repair functions. Results: The values of the P2/P1 ratio before and after chemotherapy were also compared between groups. A statistically significant difference was observed in the pre-chemotherapy P2/P1 values compared to the post-chemotherapy values. Conclusion: Variations in ICP may occur in cancer patients. Further studies are necessary to evaluate if this change may contribute to the chemotherapy side effects occurrence.

Puerperal women's perceptions of obstetric violence during labor

2022-11-23T14:17:01-03:00

Introduction: When perceptions from healthcare users regarding the services offered by health institutions are taken into account, they become a tool to improve the quality of healthcare actions. Objective: To understand the perception of puerperal women about obstetric violence during labor. Methods: A descriptive mixed-methods study was carried out in a maternity hospital in the city of São Paulo with 31 postpartum women from August to November 2020. Quantitative data were collected in the first step, followed by the collection and analysis of qualitative data based on the theoretical framework of social representations and content analysis to decompose the interview material. Results: Two categories were identified from the perspective of the obstetric violence perception, physical abuse, and abandonment during health care. From the perceptions of puerperal women concerning obstetric violence during labor, it was possible to identify that 11 women have experienced it. Of these, 7 did not initially mention violence, but when questioned, they indicated the occurrence of inappropriate or unnecessary practices that fit the obstetric violence definition, and 20 claimed not to have experienced violence. Conclusion: It was evidenced that women sometimes did not recognize that they experienced obstetric violence, and some of those women who did had received inadequate information. There is an urgent need to reflect on the current scenario of childbirth care, reformulation of care practices, and professional awareness of good practices and evidence-based medicine.

Risk assessment and nutritional prognosis of clinical outcome in critically ill patients

2021-06-07T16:41:10-03:00

Introduction: Nutrition assessment of critically ill patients is challenging but it should be part of the clinical nutrition routine in the hospital setting. Objective: To assess the nutritional risk and prognosis of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a University Hospital in Natal, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study developed with adult and elderly patients between February 2017 and February 2020. The nutritional risk was detected by the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill score (mNUTRIC-score). The nutritional prognosis was assessed using the phase angle (PA), calculated from the resistance and reactance values provided by bioimpedance. Mann-Whitney test was used to verify the association of mNUTRIC-score and PA with the outcome (hospital discharge or death). Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to verify the correlation between mNUTRIC-score and PA. Results: A total of 55 patients were included in this study. The average value of the NUTRIC score and PA was 3.13 ± 2.35 and 4.19 ± 1.21, respectively. Most patients had low nutritional risk. Among them, 81.8% were discharged and 18.2% died. Both mNUTRIC-score (p≤0.0001) and PA (p=0.04) were associated with the clinical outcome. These two parameters were negatively correlated (r=-0.3804; p=0.0059). Conclusion: Most of the patients had a low nutritional risk determined by the mNUTRIC-score. Those with high nutritional risk had a worse outcome (death). A negative correlation was observed between the mNUTRIC score and the PA, showing that the higher the nutritional risk, the worse prognosis was found in critically ill patients.

Evaluation of the comparative effects of infrared and red laser photobiomodulation therapy on skeletal muscle atrophy in an immobilization model in rats

2021-09-14T14:59:04-03:00

Introduction: Skeletal muscle atrophy leads to a reduction in muscle strength, functionality and the quality of life of individuals. Objective: To explore the effects of two different wavelengths (red and infrared) of laser PBMT on muscle atrophy and its active ingredients on skeletal muscle atrophy using an in vivo model of muscle atrophy. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control (CG) animals were not immobilized and did not receive any type of treatment; immobilized animals with no treatment (ImC); immobilized animals submitted to red laser with wavelength of 660 nm (ImR) and near-infrared laser with wavelength of 808 nm (ImIR) treatments. Treatments were applied daily, at 2 points in the right gastrocnemius muscle (cranial and caudal), through the punctual contact technique, for 9 sessions, with the first application immediately after removing the cast. Results: The histological results demonstrated that in both treated groups (red and infrared wavelengths) a reduction of the inflammatory infiltrate and less connective tissue thickening when compared to the ImC. However, only infrared light was observed regenerating muscle fibers and an increase in the number of oxidative fibers (type I). Conclusion: These results suggest that red and infrared wavelength laser PBMT were able to promote changes in the morphology of the gastrocnemius muscle submitted to atrophy in an experimental immobilization model, reducing the inflammatory infiltrate and the formation of intramuscular connective tissue. However, infrared laser PBMT promoted more evident positive effects by increasing regenerating muscle fibers and the number of oxidative fibers.

Breast cancer: essential attributes of Primary Health Care in a border region

2021-07-08T14:24:22-03:00

Introduction: Breast cancer in Brazil is considered a public health problem, as it represents one of the main causes of death in female population. Objective: To analyze the presence of essential attributes of Primary Health Care in border region in the context of care for women with breast cancer. Methods: This is a qualitative research based on
the Complexity Paradigm, held in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 women diagnosed with breast cancer. Thematic analysis was chosen as a technique to analyze the material produced. Results: The following categories emerged: Barriers to access services for women with breast cancer; (De)constructing the bond: women, professionals and health services; Fragmented care, focused on the biological: interference for comprehensiveness; and (Dis)coordination of care for women with breast cancer within the public health system. Conclusion: The essential attributes of Primary Health Care were not present in their entirety for care for women with breast cancer, as difficulties in accessing primary care services, weaknesses in the construction and strengthening of bonds due to discontinuity of care were reported, attributed to the
incipient coordination within the public health system. It points to the need to implement care strategies, with behavioral, functional and structural changes in health services at the border.

Performance of physical activity as a predictor of women’s mammography screening attendance in a population of Northeast Brazil

2021-09-14T16:18:51-03:00

Introduction: Despite the increasing incidence of breast cancer among women in Northeast Brazil, there have been no studies on the association between physical activity and attendance to mammography screening. Objective: This study of Brazilian women addressed socio-economic variables, physical activity, and knowledge about breast cancer and their impact on attendance to mammography screening. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted as an epidemiological evaluation. Data were obtained by interviewing 307 women in a public health center. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the odds ratio (ORs) and confidence intervals (CI) of variables. Results: Mean age of women was 49.79 (SD=8.63) years and 172 (56.0%) were between 40 and 49 years old. Women aged from 40 to 49 and ≥50 years who performed physical activity, had a 2.4-fold (95% CI: 1.13-5.04) and 10.6-fold (95% CI: 2.66-41.95) increased chance to attend MS every year (p=0.040; p<0.001). Women aged between 40 and 49 years with a low and middle income, had a 10.3-fold (OR=0.097; 95% CI: 0.02-0.53) and 13.2-fold (OR=0.076; 95% CI: 0.11-0.53) decreased chance to attend MS every second year (p=0.007). The MS attendance of women aged ≥50 years with basic education level was 13.3 (OR=0.075; 95% CI: 0.09-0.66) times decreased (p=0.010). Conclusion: Physical activity represented an important predictor of MS attendance of all women. The impact of income and education level, in contrast, depended strongly on the age group.

Effects of consumption of Mauritia flexuosa fruits on renal and hepatic functions in growing rats

2021-03-29T13:55:32-03:00

Introduction: Previous studies have reported that buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L. f.) is a typical fruit from the Brazilian cerrado ecosystem and an important food source for low-income populations. Its composition is rich in carotenoid polyphenols, monounsaturated fatty acids, and ascorbic acid. However, studies on the biological effects resulting from the consumption of this fruit are scarce. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a diet supplemented with buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L. f.) on kidney and liver functions in growing rats. Methods: Determination of centesimal composition, carotenoids, and fatty acids content for buriti pulp, standard chow, and butiti-supplemented chow were performed. Then, Wistar rats of both sexes were fed a standard diet or supplemented with buriti pulp. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment to determine biochemical parameters. The unpaired t-test was applied, and differences were considered significant when p<0.05. Results: A diet enriched with buriti pulp did not interfere with kidney function and most markers of liver function in animals. Alkaline phosphatase showed significantly higher plasma concentration in female rats, and albumin and uric acid showed lower concentrations in male rats in both experimental groups. Conclusion: The changes observed in biochemical markers did not provide evidence of adverse effects of buriti pulp supplementation on liver function. Thus, the intake of buriti pulp can be encouraged as it is a low-cost food source for the general population.

The challenges of the Family Health Strategy in the incidence of congenital syphilis in Pernambuco, Brazil, between 2009 to 2018

2021-05-26T20:33:27-03:00

Introduction: Syphilis is a health problem and an issue for maternal and child health. Objective: To analyze the incidence of congenital syphilis (CS) and its relationship with the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the state of Pernambuco, between 2009-2018. Methods: Observational analytical retrospective study with secondary data provided by the Brazilian National Notifiable Diseases System of the Ministry of Health on syphilis infection during pregnancy, congenital syphilis, and FHS coverage information, made available on the e-Gestor AB platform, between 2009-2018. Microsoft Office Excel, JASP 0.14.1.0 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 25 programs, and Shapiro-Wilk test, Spearman, and Chi-Squared test were used for the organization and analysis of sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results: 11,519 cases of CS were reported in Pernambuco between 2009-2018, with a 12% increase in the FHS coverage rate in the state and 376% growth in the detection rate of CS per thousand live births in the analyzed period. Of the maternal sociodemographic characteristics, there was a higher occurrence of infection in women aged 20 to 29 years (52.76%), black (77.53), and incomplete elementary school or no education (49.56%). In 90.29% of the cases, recent congenital syphilis was identified as the final diagnosis. The analysis also revealed that the greater the FHS coverage in the state, the greater the amount of inadequately performed treatments. Conclusion: The analysis of CS cases related to the FHS point to weaknesses in the control and proper treatment of the disease, especially in Black women with low education.

Identification of novel biomarkers with potential for diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer: a Bioinformatics Approach

2021-04-26T11:26:28-03:00

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most diagnosed neoplasia and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A substantial number of patients exhibit an advanced GC stage once diagnosed. Therefore, the search for biomarkers contributes to the improvement and development of therapies. Objective: This study aimed to identify potential GC biomarkers making use of in silico tools. Methods: Gastric tissue microarray data available in Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas Program was extracted. We applied statistical tests in the search for differentially expressed genes between tumoral and non-tumoral adjacent tissue samples. The selected genes were submitted to an in-house tool for analyses of functional enrichment, survival rate, histological and molecular classifications, and clinical follow-up data. A decision tree analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive power of the potential biomarkers. Results: In total, 39 differentially expressed genes were found, mostly involved in extracellular structure organization, extracellular matrix organization, and angiogenesis. The genes SLC7A8, LY6E, and SIDT2 showed potential as diagnostic biomarkers considering the differential expression results coupled with the high predictive power of the decision tree models. Moreover, GC samples showed lower SLC7A8 and SIDT2 expression, whereas LY6E was higher. SIDT2 demonstrated a potential prognostic role for the diffuse type of GC, given the higher patient survival rate for lower gene expression. Conclusion: Our study outlines novel biomarkers for GC that may have a key role in tumor progression. Nevertheless, complementary in vitro analyses are still needed to further support their potential.

High-intensity functional training with an adequate and carbohydrate-restricted hypocaloric diet promotes weight loss and cardiometabolic improvements

2021-06-14T11:17:07-03:00

Introduction: Excess body weight and its comorbidities represent a major public health issue. Interventions based on diet and exercise have not only been shown to promote weight loss, but also improve overall health, including cardiovascular health. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week hypocaloric low-carbohydrate (CHO) diet coupled with high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on the cardiometabolic risk of overweight adults. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial. A total of 31 overweight adults participated in this study, divided into two groups based on the dietary intervention: reduced-CHO (R-CHO, ≤130 g/day; n=15) and adequate-CHO (A-CHO, >130 g/day; n=16). The cardiometabolic risk was assessed using lipidaemic, insulinemia, and glycaemic parameters. A two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test was utilized to evaluate the effects of the intervention. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Participants from both groups displayed decreased low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol concentrations, as well as the number of risk factors for the metabolic disease after 12 weeks. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration of both groups increased after 12 weeks, however, the result of the intragroup analysis revealed that a significant increase was only observed in the participants from the A-CHO group. Conclusion: Reduced or adequate CHO intake was both found to be effective in reducing cardiometabolic risk. However, improvements in HDL and final cardiometabolic classification risk indicated that CHO adequacy in the diet might be a better strategy associated with caloric restriction and HIFT.

Diagnosis of fibromyalgia: diagnostic feasibility and accuracy of thermography

2022-11-21T22:13:32-03:00

Introduction: Studies have suggested using thermography as a resource to diagnose fibromyalgia, although there has been no evidence confirming this hypothesis so far. Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of computerized infrared thermography as an auxiliary method for diagnosing fibromyalgia. Methods: It is a diagnostic accuracy studywith cross-sectional design. One hundred and three individuals were evaluated for global pain using the Visual Analogue Scale. The measurement of pain at tender points was assessed by algometry, and skin temperature was assessed by thermography. To evaluate sensitivity and specificity, the analysis was performed using the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve, measured by the area under the curve with their respective confidence intervals. Results: Thermography has not been very sensitive or specific for pain (tender points) and diagnosis of fibromyalgia, according to the evaluation of the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve, with an area under the curve equal to or lower than 0.75. Conclusion: In this study the thermography was not sensitive and specific as a tool for diagnosing the fibromyalgia syndrome. This study highlights important clinical implications concerning the current methods for diagnosing it, which, despite all efforts, are still subjective and poorly reproducible.

Epidemiological study of bee stings in the state of Paraiba, Northeastern Brazil, from 2015 to 2019

2021-04-05T15:44:16-03:00

Introduction: In Brazil, envenomation by bee sting is a public health problem due to its incidence in all regions of the country, as well as the severity of cases. Despite the medical and sanitary importance, the literature on this topic in Brazil is scarce, in the Northeast region. Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of bee stings in Paraíba, in the Northeast region of Brazil, from 2015 to 2019. Methods: The current study is a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological investigation conducted through the recovery of secondary data made available by the database from the Ministry of Health Notification Information System. Results: A total of 1,151 cases were analyzed, and they were reported during all the months of the period of the study and were more frequent in the regions Agreste and Sertão of the Paraíba. The victims were men aged 20 to 59 years. Most individuals received medical assistance within 3 hours of the incident. The cases were classified as mild and progressed to cure. Conclusion: In Paraíba, bee stings have increased in recent years, especially in regions with a semi-arid climate. In addition, this study provides data that may be used in the development of educational health actions to promote the prevention and control of bee stings in this region.

Dependence on the use of technologies and daytime sleepiness in adolescent students

2021-07-06T13:14:20-03:00

Introduction: Over the past 50 years, there has been a decline in average sleep duration and quality, with adverse consequences for overall health. Growing evidence from countries around the world shows the negative impact of using internet access technologies on sleep due to the short wavelength enriched light emitted by these electronic devices. Objective: To analyze the exposure to modern technologies/internet and its relationship with the state of daytime sleepiness in teenage high school students. Methods: a survey was conducted in six public schools located in the northeast of Brazil. The sample consisted of 1,130 students (mean age 16.6 years ± 1.1). The data collection instrument used was an objective criterion. The characteristic analytical study and quantitative interpretation. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation. For association analyses, the chi-square test or Student's t-test was used. It was considered significant p<0.05. Results: We found that 7% and 31.6% of the participants reported a state of sleepiness during and after classes, respectively. 59.3% report using the internet excessively, 39.9% have a feeling of dependence, 32.6% report sleep deprivation due to excessive internet use, and 26.7% are unsuccessful in trying to reduce the use of cell phones. Conclusion: The relationships between the variables in this study will allow us, the younger students use internet access equipment, the more they are exposed to the risk of sleep impairment.

Validation and reliability of the test of daily Activities-GLITTRE (GLITTRE-ADL TEST) to evaluate functional capacity in older adults

2022-11-17T14:08:05-03:00

Introduction: The decline in functional capacity (FC) interferes with the functional independence of older adults, so it is important to assess the FC and use appropriate instruments for this. Objective: To investigate the Glittre Activities of Daily Living (ADL) test’s validity and reliability for assessing functional capacity in older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 100 elderly (68 ± 5.16 years). To assess the convergent validity, the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) were performed. The intra-examiner test-retest of the Glittre-ADL test was performed on the same day with a 30-minute interval between repetitions and inter-examiner reliability with an interval of seven days. Results: There was a strong correlation between the Glittre-ADL test and the 6MWT (r= -0.75; p<0.001) and the TUG (r=0.77; p<0.001). The intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability was excellent (ICC)=0.91 and 95% CI=0.14-0.97; p<0.001 and ICC=0.91; 95% CI: 0.86-0.94; p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The Glittre-ADL test demonstrated that it is valid and that its reliability is adequate to assess functional capacity in older adults.

Impact of COVID-19 on the sexual function and self-esteem of young Brazilian undergraduate students

2022-02-24T15:19:13-03:00

Introduction: Satisfactory sexual function contributes considerably to women's physical and mental health and is affected by several factors, including chronic stress. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, these stressors have been intensified by fear of contamination and morbidity and mortality, deaths, and long-term social isolation. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual function and self-esteem of young women attending university in Brazil and also investigate the importance of social isolation in these conditions. Methods: This longitudinal study included 90 students with active sexual life who answered questionnaires before (in person) and during (virtually) the pandemic. The instruments used were the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: Only 67 women answered all questionnaires sent during the pandemic and had a mean age of 22.9 (±2.99) years; most of them were eutrophic, healthy students and, had a fixed partner. The total FSFI score allowed us to classify women without sexual dysfunction and was not modified during the pandemic. On the other hand, the self-esteem found was slightly lower than that considered healthy and did not change during the pandemic. Women who maintained social distancing showed a statistically significant reduction in sexual function when compared to those who did not (p=0.003). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic did not influence young women’s sexual function or self-esteem attending university in Brazil. However, the behavior of social isolation during the pandemic impaired the sexual function of these women.

Coping strategies adopted by students and professors in the COVID-19 pandemic context: a cross-sectional study

2022-01-25T18:15:11-03:00

Introduction: In face of the COVID-19 crisis, classroom activities at universities were interrupted in Brazil, following the guidelines of health agencies to minimize coronavirus contamination levels, with implications for students’ and professors’ mental health. Objective: To identify the coping strategies used by students and professors of a Brazilian university during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the associated sociodemographic and institutional/academic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using an online questionnaire with questions on socioeconomic aspects and applying the Ways of Coping Scale. Results: 671 students and 231 professors from a public university in the south of Brazil enrolled in the study. Students and professors used more problem-focused coping strategies followed by searching for social support. Regarding the professors, the variables frequency of leaving home and gender were positively associated with the problem and emotion-focused strategies and religion/fanciful thought strategies, respectively. Regarding the students, women used predominantly emotion-focused and religious/fanciful thought strategies. Students aged 27 or more used more problem-focused and 18-20 and 21-26 years old used predominantly emotion-focused strategies. Living with family and leaving home for 8 days or more were associated with the religious/fanciful thought strategy. Conclusion: Attention should be given to gender, age, and frequency of leaving home, when planning mental health actions to foster the use of a wider range of coping strategies adopted by university students and professors throughout moments of developmental crisis, such as the ones that emerged across pandemics.

Impacts of pandemic COVID-19 on dental urgencies in Primary Health Care: an ecological study

2022-03-21T18:32:09-03:00

Introduction: After the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, oral health care in Primary Health Care (PHC) services in Brazil focused on emergency care. Objective: To evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the number of emergency dental visits in PHC in Brazil. Methods: This was an analytical and ecological study with data from the Health Information System for Primary Care referring to the number of attendances performed from March to December 2018 to 2020 in PHC services throughout Brazil for toothache, abscess, and dentoalveolar trauma. Differences between the monthly medians of the number of attendances before the pandemic (April to December 2018 and 2019) and during (April to December 2020) were analyzed using the independent-samples Mann-Whitney U test considering the interquartile ranges (IQR). Results: Approximately 14 million cases were analyzed, with almost one-third of them occurring during the pandemic. There was a reduction in the median of the monthly number of emergency department visits in Brazil (-16.5%; p<0.031). Attendances for toothache reduced from a monthly median of 448,802.0 to 377,941.5 (IQR before [IQRa]: 416,291.7-506,150.5; IQR during [IQRd]: 310,251.0-454,206.5), dentoalveolar abscess attendances reduced from 34,929.0 to 27,705.5 (IQRa: 30,215.0-37,870.5; IQRd: 22,216.0-30,048.2) and to dentoalveolar trauma from 16,330.5 to 10,975.0 (IQRa: 14,800.0-18,472.7; IQRd: 8,111.2-13,527.5). Conclusion: Significant reductions were observed in the performance of emergency dental procedures in PHC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study on awareness, knowledge, and practices towards antibiotic use among the educated and uneducated people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan

2021-06-07T17:06:21-03:00

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance developed through the inadequate use of antibiotics; is an overriding task for global public health. Objective: To explore awareness, knowledge, and practices, and compare the elements associated with antibiotic misuse in different University students and uneducated people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2020 using a validated questionnaire. Data were collected from eleven different university students and uneducated people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Results: 3,600 questionnaires were completed, consisting of 56.9% Male and 43.0% Female. 1,999 (55.5%) of the antibiotic users reported through the survey used non-prescription antibiotics within a one-month study period. Out of the participants, 230 (6.3%) were uneducated or their education level was below matric rest were university students. 1999 (55.5%) reported buying Antibiotics with Medical Prescription. Most self-medicated participants (56.9%) stop taking antibiotics when they feel better. More than 90% of the respondents answered that doctors and pharmacist staff do not guide them well that how to use antibiotics. 2,171 (60.03%) respondents mistakenly believed that antibiotics improve restoration from coughs and colds. Only 720 (20%) respondents knew that antibiotics also disturb normal flora and 547 participants (15.9%) agree that unnecessary use of antibiotics causes bacterial resistance. Conclusion: Finding from this study may have important implications for public health policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan given the growing global resistance to antibiotics and the reported health issues related to their improper use.

Medical and non-medical factors that influence the kidney transplantation technical registry: a cross-sectional study

2021-05-04T12:05:30-03:00

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide public health problem, because of its association with an elevated risk of mortality, low quality of life, and prohibitive cost to the health system. Objective: To identify the factors that might influence the kidney transplantation technical registry. Methods: Cross-sectional study of descriptive analysis conducted in six dialysis health care centers in the south of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Patients over 18 years of age were included in this study in 2016 and 2017. The demographic and clinical variables were subjected to Pearson's chi-square test using Stata Software for statistical analysis. Research approved by the Ethics Committee 1386385. Results: Of 314 participants, 228 (72.6%) were not on the kidney transplantation technical registry. The medical and non-medical factors with statistical significance were age (p<0.01), income (p<0.01), having children (p=0.01), time since diagnosis (p=0.01), and time on hemodialysis (p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a substantial proportion of 72.6% of hemodialysis patients not registered on the kidney transplantation technical registry. The identification of factors that influence the kidney transplantation technical registry contributes both theoretically and to healthcare management, by the health team and government who can direct strategies towards the most appropriate health care. Health professionals should be aware of the impact of these factors and how the factors might pose a risk of complications that make it impossible to register on the kidney transplantation waiting list.

Genomic constellations of RVA detected in Brazil from 1986 to 2016: a temporal and geographical distribution and occurrence of reassortments

2021-06-09T17:32:51-03:00

Introduction: Species A rotavirus (RVA) infections are a major cause of severe gastroenteritis in children of <5 years worldwide. In Brazil, before vaccination, RVA was associated with 3.5 million episodes of acute diarrheal disease per year. Due to the segmented nature of their genomes, rotaviruses can exchange genes during co-infections, and generate new virus strains and new reinfections. Objective: To evaluate the genomic diversity of RVA isolated in Brazil in 30 years, between 1986 to 2016, to investigate possible changes in the frequency of genotype constellations before and after the implementation of the vaccine. Methods: In total, 4,474 nucleotide sequences were obtained from the Virus Variation Database. Genomic constellation was compared, and the proportion of rotavirus genotypes was analyzed by time and geographic region. Results: Our results showed that major known genotypes were circulating in the country during the period under analysis, with a prevalence of the G1P[8] Wa-like genotype, decreasing only in the period immediately after the introduction of the vaccine. Regarding the geographical distribution, most of our constellations, 62 (39.2%), and 50 (31.6%) were concentrated in the North and Northeast regions. Our analysis also showed the circulation of multiple strains during the periods when the DS-1-like and AU-1-like genotypes were co-circulating with the Wa-like genotype. Conclusion: Therefore, it is likely that inter-genogroup reassortments are still occurring in Brazil and so it is important to establish an efficient surveillance system to follow the emergence of novel reassorted strains that might not be targeted by the vaccine.

Work of nutritionists from the Family Health Support Center in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

2021-03-29T14:03:25-03:00

Introduction: Nutritional care in Primary Health Care is essential to face the problems of food and nutrition of the Brazilian population. Objective: To compare the performance patterns of nutritionists who are members of the Family Health Support Center in the state of Paraíba, according to training in Primary Health Care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 34 nutritionists linked to the Family Health Support Center in the State of Paraíba. Information on demographic characteristics, professional qualification, labor specificities, knowledge, and use of essential bibliography for work in Primary Health Care, development of food and nutrition actions, and job satisfaction were collected. Results: There were deficiencies in the knowledge and use of some technical documents in the area, as well as in the development of actions related to food and nutrition surveillance (completion of SISVAN-Web/e-SUS forms/sheets and interpretation of nutritional reports), vitamin A, and iron supplementation programs and care provision (monitoring of the growth and food guidance) to beneficiaries of the Bolsa Familia Program, especially among professionals without training in Primary Health Care. Conclusion: Nutritionists act on the actions of the food and nutrition programmatic agenda in Primary Health Care. The use of SISVAN-Web or e-SUS, activities linked to micronutrient supplementation programs, and the care provided to beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program were the least developed actions, particularly in the absence of training to work in Primary Health Care.

Predictors of short-term mortality in HIV-infected patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit

2022-05-24T16:21:45-03:00

Introduction: Historically, complications of HIV infection have been related to admissions to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Despite therapeutic advances, the results of the analysis of prognostic factors in patients with HIV/AIDS have varied, including late diagnosis and failure to adhere to antiretroviral treatment. Objective: To evaluate the predictors of short-term mortality in HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU, as well as their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: A retrospective cohort study including patients admitted to the ICU of a teaching hospital from 2003 through 2012. Data were collected from medical records after the Institutional Review Board approval. Results: 148 HIV-infected patients were identified and 131 were eligible. Among included patients, 42.75% were HIV new diagnoses and 5.34% had no information about the time of diagnosis. The main reasons for admission to the ICU were respiratory failure and sepsis while mortality was 70.23% between 2003 and 2012. Among the risk factors for mortality were low albumin, high APACHE, low CD4⁺ T lymphocyte count, and not using antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion: Despite the availability of diagnosis and treatment for HIV-infected individuals, the number of new cases of advanced Aids diagnosed in high-complexity services such as ICU is high, as well as the non-use of combination antiretroviral therapy. It is necessary to strengthen anti-HIV screening to detect and treat more cases in the early stages.

Organizational culture of public health services from the perspective of nursing professionals

2021-03-22T12:45:17-03:00

Introduction: Culture is present in all environments, representing, in general, the ways of thinking, acting, feeling, learning, and sharing by a plurality of people. Objective: Analyze the values and practices that characterize the organizational culture of health services of the public network from the perspective of nursing workers. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical, quantitative study was conducted with 156 nursing workers from the public health services of a city in the State of Goias, Brazil. The Brazilian Instrument for Assessment of Organizational Culture and a sociodemographic and labor characterization questionnaire were used. The data were analyzed in the STATA program. Results: It was identified that the female sex was significant with the reward and training practices (p=0.050). The professional nurse category was related to the values of competitive, individualistic, satisfaction, and well-being professionalism (p=0.036 and p=0.041). Income was correlated with cooperative professionalism (p=0.010). Conclusion: Managers of health institutions must promote an adequate work environment, with the use of tools capable of assessing the needs and abilities of subjects.

Effect of probiotic therapy on periodontal tissues and intestinal mucosa of rats with ligature-induced periodontitis

2022-12-19T22:20:12-03:00

Introduction: As periodontitis is caused by dysbiotic biofilm, it is believed that therapy with probiotics can act to control the mechanisms of adhesion and colonization, competing with invading microorganisms. Objective: Evaluate probiotic therapy effect on periodontal tissues and intestinal mucosa of rats with ligature-induced periodontitis. Methods: 32 Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=8): Control Group (CG); Periodontal disease (PD); Probiotic (PROB); PD + probiotic (PDPRO). PD and PDPRO received a ligature over the first lower molars and PROB and PDPRO the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus based were given orally for 44 days. The animals were euthanized and the blood was collected for evaluation of triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations. The hemimandibles were collected for histomorphometric and radiographic analysis. The duodenum was removed for morphological evaluation and gingival tissue around the molars was collected for analysis of IL-17. Results: The ANOVA one-way test was used followed by Tukey Test. PDPRO had a significantly lower bone loss than the PD (p<0.05) and a smaller number of osteoclasts on PDPRO when compared to the PD. As for IL-17, there was a decrease in the PDPRO when compared to the PD. The histomorphometry of the duodenum showed that there was a significant increase in the width of the villi in PROB only. Conclusion: The therapy with probiotics was effective to avoid the development of periodontitis by reducing alveolar bone loss and inflammation modulation and increasing the width of the duodenum villi, which may help to restabilize the balance of the gastrointestinal tract.

Sources of validity evidence in the assessment of perceived motor competence in Brazilian schoolchildren

2022-12-19T22:20:12-03:00

Introduction: The judgment a child makes about his/her competence in the motor domain is known as perceived motor competence, a key element in building the child's healthy behavior; a Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC) seems to be a suitable perceived motor competence’s assessment, but its validity needs to be evaluated. Objective: To examine the internal structure, the convergent validity, and the reproducibility of the PMSC. Methods: The sample comprised 187 Brazilian healthy schoolchildren (9.6 years ± 0.8); it was applied to the questionnaires PMSC and the Self-Perception Profile for Children scale. Results: PMSC's confirmatory factor analyses indicated adjustment indexes classified as adequate for a two-factor model; there were satisfactory reliability indices (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.654 and 0.652 for locomotion and object control sub domains, respectively); convergent validity (r=0.41 and r=0.56, p<0.001, for locomotion and object control sub domains, respectively). Conclusion: These results contribute to the accumulation of sources of evidence for the PMSC as a valid tool for perceived motor competence assessment in a local and global context.

Association between phase angle of bioelectrical impedance analysis and nutritional parameters in older adults

2022-12-19T22:20:13-03:00

Introduction: Phase angle (PhA) is a Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) parameter representing an indicator of cellular health and has been suggested as a biomarker of nutritional status. Objective: To evaluate the association between PhA and nutritional parameters in older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with community-dwelling older adults. Body mass index (BMI), arm muscle circumference (AMC), calf circumference (CC), body fat percentage (BF%), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM), serum albumin, mini-nutritional assessment (MNA), and PhA were assessed. Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, chi-square test, and Poisson regression models were performed. Results: 144 participants were included in the study, and most of them were female, aged ≥80 years, and underweight. Most older adults with lower PhA were women, aged range 80–89 years, and with reduced ASMM (p<0.05). PhA presented a significant correlation with age (r=–0.417; p<0.001), ASMM (r=0.427; p<0.001), AMC (r=0.195; p=0.019) and BF% (r=–0.223; p=0.007). Older adults with lower PhA present reduced ASMM (PR: 1.25; 95%CI: 1.04–1.50), and hypoalbuminemia (PR: 1.50; 95%CI: 1.11–2.03). Conclusion: PhA is related to commonly nutritional indicators used in clinical practice and could be an important biomarker of muscle mass reserves in community-living older adults of both sexes.

Foot wound risk and quality of life of people with type 2 diabetes are related to self-care

2022-12-19T22:20:14-03:00

Introduction: Adherence to self-care has been identified as a means of preventing diabetic foot wounds, positively influencing the clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients. The adherence to this strategy is divergent in different populations. It is essential to determine the self-care practices that are associated with diabetic foot ulcers and the quality of life in adults with diabetes. Objective: To understand self-care practices and explore their relationship with the foot wound risk and quality of life of persons with type 2 diabetes in a city in northeastern Brazil. Methods: A descriptive exploratory study was conducted with a sample of 300 individuals with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, classification of foot wound risk, the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and SF-36. Results: Adherence to self-care was low for physical exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and foot care. The diet and the use of medication had better adherence by the participants. Foot wound risk was related to no adherence to diet (OR 2.2 95% CI 1.32-3.38), physical activity (OR 0.49 95% CI 0.25-0.95), and blood glucose checking (OR 5.31 95% CI 1.58-17.78). Quality of life was associated with physical activity (OR 0.35 95% CI 0.16-0.74). Conclusion: It can be concluded that is a relationship between self-care practices adherence, risk of foot wounds, and quality of life.

Evaluation of the level of Internet Addiction and its effects on academic performance among Medical and Paramedical College Students in Iraq

2022-12-19T22:20:14-03:00

Introduction: Nowadays a considerable population in the world uses the internet. Unfortunately, despite many interests and its specific advances in communication, the Internet is sentenced to have serious side effects. Objective: To detect the percentage of internet addiction and its effect on academic performance among Medical and Paramedical students in some Iraqi universities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 806 medical and paramedical students who were subjected to the online survey which includes demographic information associated with internet usage, and Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) was applied to survey the grade of internet addiction. Results: Results reveal a moderate level of addiction among students without significant variations between genders, high significant relationship (p<0.01) between students concerning their housing area, and strong significant variations (p<0.01) in the time of using the internet, besides strong significant differences (p<0.01) between internet addiction and academic performance. Conclusion: Medical and paramedical students practice the internet for diverse activities including learning despite their moderate grade of addiction there are no significant differences between genders. They employ it over 5 h/day, which affects negative tasks on their academic performance.

Clinical, Laboratory and Tomographic characteristics associated with obesity and BMI at Hospital admission in adult patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

2022-11-21T22:13:32-03:00

Introduction: The pathological status of obesity can influence COVID-19 from its initial clinical presentation, therefore, the identification of clinical and laboratory parameters most affected in the presence of obesity can contribute to improving the treatment of the disease. Objective: To identify the clinical, laboratory, and tomographic characteristics associated with obesity and BMI at t hospital admission in adult patients with COVID-19. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study with a total of 315 participants with COVID-19 confirmed by rt-PCR. The participants were divided into non-Obese (n=203) and Obese (n=112). Physical examinations, laboratory tests, and computed tomography of the chest were performed during the first 2 days of hospitalization. Results: Patients with obesity were younger, and they had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, higher frequency of alcoholism, fever, cough, and headache, higher ALT, LDH, and red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and percentage of lymphocytes. Also, they presented a lower value of leukocyte count and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio (RNL). The parameters positively correlated with BMI were alcoholism, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fever, cough, sore throat, number of symptoms, ALT in men, LDH, magnesium, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and percentage of lymphocytes. The parameters negatively correlated with the BMI were: age and RNL. Conclusion: Several parameters were associated with obesity at hospital admission, revealing better than expected results. However, these results should be interpreted with great caution, as there may be some influence of a phenomenon called the Obesity Paradox that can distort the severity and prognosis of the patient.

Nutrition impact symptoms, sarcopenia, and malnutrition in hospitalized patients

2022-11-21T22:13:33-03:00

Introduction: Nutrition Impact Symptoms (NIS) are common in hospitalized patients and can be aggravated in the presence of malnutrition. Objective: To verify the presence of NIS and its association with sociodemographic and clinical variables, sarcopenia phenotype, and nutritional status of individuals hospitalized. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with hospitalized patients, of both sexes and ≥50 years old. Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed GS), and anthropometric measurements were performed up to 48 hours after admission. NIS was obtained through PG-SGA and stratified into two groups: <3 and ≥3 symptoms. The chi-square test (χ²) was performed, and a 5% significance level was adopted. Results: A total of 90 patients (65.4±9.67 years) were studied, with the majority of men (56.7%), older people (70.0%), married (68.9%), low economic class (72.2%), without work activity (70.5%), with two previous diseases (60.0%), overweight by body mass index (46.7%) and adequate adductor pollicis muscle thickness (83.3%). The most prevalent NIS were "dry mouth", “anorexia”, and "smells sick" respectively 31.1%, 30.0%, and 16.7%. There was an association between NIS and SARC-F score (p=0.002), handgrip strength (p=0.016), the status of sarcopenia (p=0.020), PG-SGA (p<0.001), and economic status (p=0.020). Conclusion: The identification of NIS is common, and may infer negative nutritional status and functional performance of patients. The use of protocols to identify NIS during hospitalization should be considered to minimize the negative impact on nutritional status.

Access to pediatric hearing healthcare in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

2022-11-21T22:13:33-03:00

Introduction: Hearing impairment compromises the child's language development and learning process. Neonatal screening, diagnosis, and hearing intervention are actions that must be carried out for comprehensive hearing healthcare in childhood. Objective: To assess access to children's hearing healthcare services and the factors that influence access. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 104 children who underwent neonatal hearing screening and were referred for diagnosis. The sources were the databases, where demographic, social, and variables related to the access and use of health services were collected. Percentage distribution of categorical variables and measures of central tendency and dispersion of continuous variables were performed. To assess the association of dependent and independent variables, the Chi-square test was used with a 5% significance level. Results: Only 56 (53.3%) of screened children attended hearing healthcare services. Of these, 41 went to the studied service, and 24 completed the diagnosis. Three children had hearing loss and were candidates for cochlear implants. The mean age at diagnosis was 211 days and the standard deviation was 155.9 days. The duration of diagnosis was 135 days and the standard deviation was 143.2 days. There was no statistical significance between access to health services and the distance of the service, age, and education of the mother. Conclusion: There is a lack of access to the service and completion of the diagnosis and children are not assisted at appropriate ages. The mother's age and education and distance to the service did not influence access to and use of the service.

Assessment of responsiveness and minimum important difference of the Maternal perception of Childbirth Fatigue Questionnaire (MCFQ)

2022-11-21T22:13:33-03:00

Introduction: The assessment of responsiveness and the Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) is the basis for validating the Maternal perception of Childbirth Fatigue Questionnaire (MCFQ). Objective: To assess the responsiveness and determine the value of the MCID for the MCFQ. Methods: This is an observational study, conducted at HC-UFPE with 50 parturients in active labor. The MCFQ was applied in two moments: in the initial evaluation (EV1), performed at the beginning of labor between 4-6 cm of uterine dilation, and final (EV2), six hours after the first evaluation. Responsiveness was determined by calculating the effect size (ES), and standardized response mean (SRM), considering that values of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 points represent respectively small, moderate, or large values of responsiveness. The ability to detect change through the questionnaire was also assessed by the t-test. The level of significance adopted for this analysis was p less than 0.05. The MCID was verified based on the calculation of the standard error of measurement (SEM) index. Results: The MCFQ showed values of 0.4 and 0.6 for ES and SEM respectively and a p-value <0.001, thus showing a good capacity for change. The value of the MCID for this population was seven points. Conclusion: MCFQ presents a potentially significant change with a value of the MCID of seven points after six hours of active labor.

Indicative of depressive symptoms among older people: a longitudinal study

2022-11-21T22:13:34-03:00

Introduction: Depressive symptoms can affect the quality of life of older people. Therefore, changes in this condition must be monitored. Objective: To analyze the prevalence of changes in the indicative of depressive symptoms among older people and their associated factors. Methods: Longitudinal study was carried out for two years with 387 older people from a municipality in Triângulo Mineiro, Brazil. Data were collected at home using Mini-Mental State Examination; a structured questionnaire prepared by the Collective Health Research Group; Lawton and Brody scale; and a short Geriatric Depression Scale. Descriptive analysis and multinomial logistic regression were performed (p<0.05). Results: After the two-year follow-up, there was a decrease in the prevalence of older people with indicative depressive symptoms (24.3%). In addition, 20.2% of the older people have no indication of depressive symptoms; 63.0% maintained their initial condition and 16.8% were new cases. Positive self-rated health (p=0.003), functional independence for instrumental activities of daily living (p=0.025), and the lower number of morbidities (p=0.002) were predictors of improvement in indicative of depressive symptoms; while the increase in the number of morbidities (p=0.002) was a predictor for the presence of this condition. Conclusion: The occurrence of indicative depressive symptoms among older people decreased during the follow-up and the improvement of this condition was associated with positive self-rated health, functional independence for instrumental activities of daily living, and with a lower number of morbidities. Such factors should be considered when planning health actions aimed at preventing depressive symptoms in older people.

Oral health conditions of institutionalized older adults and associated factors

2022-11-21T22:13:35-03:00

Introduction: The growth of the Brazilian older adult population has influenced the increased demand for institutionalization for this public, which usually has poor oral health conditions such as edentulism. Objective: To characterize the oral health conditions and verify the variables related to the edentulism of institutionalized older adults and verify the relation of the time of institutionalization with oral health. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted with 512 institutionalized older adults in which the sociodemographic profile, general health conditions, and oral health care and conditions were evaluated by clinical exams, consultations of medical records, and structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences using the Pearson Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests and a logistic regression model using a 95% confidence level. Results: A high DMFT (29.4), high prevalence of complete edentulism (61.3%), high need for maxillary (73.6%), and mandibular oral rehabilitation (56.8%) were observed. Edentulism was associated with older age (p<0.001), lower schooling (p<0.001) and non-retirement (p=0.031). It was found that longer institutionalization time remained associated with edentulism even when adjusted by sociodemographic and general health variables (p=0.013). It was also associated with the absence of brushing (p=0.024) and a lower frequency of tooth, gum, and prosthesis brushing (p<0.001). Conclusion: It is suggested to establish oral health care routines within long-term institutions for the effective maintenance of oral health throughout the institutionalization time.

Association of adductor pollicis muscle thickness and anthropometric indicators in community older adults

2022-11-21T22:13:35-03:00

Introduction: The measurement of the adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) has been investigated as an index for muscle mass and undernutrition. However, there are few studies related to community-living older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with community-dwelling older adults, of both sexes. The APMT, the body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), arm muscle circumference (AMC), and calf circumference (CC) were evaluated. For APMT classification, the 25th percentile value (P25 ≤9 mm) of the sample was considered to identify muscle mass deficit. Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and Poisson regression were performed, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Among men, APMT showed a correlation with AC (r=0.350; p<0.01), and among women it was with BMI (r=0.337; p=0.01). There was an association between the BMI classification and the APMT percentile (p=0.020). Older adults with BMI<23 kg/m² were 1.28 times more likely to have APMT≤P25 (p=0.007) and older adults with adequate BMI were 1.23 times more likely (p=0.023). Older adults with reduced CC have a 1.18 times more chance of presenting APMT≤P25 (p=0.064). Conclusion: APMT has been associated with BMI in older adults, proving to be a good parameter for the assessment of malnutrition.