ABCS Health Sciences

Acknowledgements to reviewers

2024-05-02T09:59:30-03:00

The Long-Term Loss of Smell and Taste in COVID-19 Patients – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2022-04-12T21:38:19-03:00

Introduction: Olfactory symptoms have been reported as particular in COVID-19 patients. Objective: To synthesize and analyze the existing evidence on the monitoring loss of sense of smell and taste in COVID-19 patients, and for how long symptoms persist after the virus is no longer active in the organism. Methods: A search was implemented in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA, and the risk of bias was assessed through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO. Results: Our systematic review included data from 14 articles with a total of 2143 participants. The most reported sensory symptom of COVID-19 was anosmia, which was detected in 1499 patients, being the only symptom to appear in all studies. Ageusia was detected in 595 patients, dysgeusia in 514 patients, and hyposmia in 209 patients. The studies provided the number of 729 patients with sensory symptoms during the acute COVID-19 infection of 15 days, and 1020 patients with lasting sensory symptoms, presenting sensory dysfunctions after the average latent period of 15 days of the acute COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Evidence points to the loss or dysfunction of taste and smell as one of the symptoms of COVID-19 persisting for an average time of 15 days, with 44% of COVID-19 patients with persistent symptoms for more than 15 days. Nevertheless, most studies do not perform a follow-up with those patients. Therefore, further research on sensory symptoms and their follow-up is required.

Nursing care regarding the psycho-emotional aspects of women submitted to mastectomy

2022-01-20T13:19:46-03:00

Breast cancer, or breast neoplasm, is one of the most frequent types of cancer, and one of the most prevalent among women. The diagnosis and specific treatments, such as mastectomy surgery, lead women to experience different feelings, with the most predominant negative thoughts. In this way, the objective of this study is to describe the importance of nursing care in the face of the psycho-emotional aspects of women after mastectomy. This is an integrative literature review study, developed in electronic Medline and Lilacs databases. The following terms were used: Breast neoplasm; Nursing; Emotions; Mastectomy. A total of 2,314 articles were found, of which eight were selected. The results and discussions were divided into two thematic axes: The first deals with the emotions of women after mastectomy, whose feelings arising from the diagnosis of the disease start to affect different areas, such as personality, sexuality, family, and social relationships. Furthermore, the second deals with nursing care after mastectomy, which must be conducted integrally, aiming at restoring physical and emotional health. Nursing is the vehicle capable of planning and collaborating with these women, promoting humanized treatment and assistance, oriented and aimed at a better quality of life, and stimulating self-help, self-esteem, and acceptance of their body.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety and associated factors among students in southern Brazil: results from Respire study

2023-01-09T14:40:05-03:00

Introduction: The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms has significantly increased in Brazil since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the studies investigating the prevalence of these symptoms in school-aged in Brazil are scanty. Objective: To identify the prevalence of moderate or severe symptoms of depression and anxiety and the associated factors among students in southern Brazil. Methods: This was a census study with all 14 sites of the Federal Institute Sul-rio-grandense. We used a self-administered, online instrument to assess biological, sociodemographic, health, nutrition, and behavior-related variables. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale assessed depression and anxiety. Results: The sample consisted of 5,112 students. The prevalence of students who presented moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety and depression was 34.3% and 24.3%, respectively. In the fully adjusted analysis, factors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms were female sex, low income, screen time at work, worse health perception, unhealthy diet, poor sleep quality, smoking, alcohol consumption, and medication use. Early age and students whose family members or friends died from COVID-19 were associated with anxiety. Married and having less screen time during leisure was a protective factor for depression. Physical activity reduced by 18% and 33% the likelihood of moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. Conclusion: Public policies to improve the health care of Brazilian students during the return to face-to-face activities are required.

Occupational stress and coping strategies of nursing staff in times of Covid-19

2023-04-27T13:03:43-03:00

Introduction: The increase in the workload of health professionals and the degree of complexity of patients, attribute greater risk to psychosocial stress. Objective: To evaluate the associations between occupational stress, quality of life at work, and coping strategies by the hospital nursing team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative study with convenience sampling, data collection from August to December 2020; in two units of the private hospital network, with sociodemographic, occupational and health questionnaires; visual analogue scale for assessing quality of life at work; Demand-Control-Support (DCS); Occupational Coping Scale. Results: The total sample consisted of 196 nursing professionals. There was significant certainty (negative, however, the dimension “Demand” of the DCS and QWL (<0.001, r=-0.367). Control over work-related work has a significant quality (but the “Control” dimension of the DCS and QWL (=0.025, r=0.160); and significantly negative, however, between the “Social Support” dimension of DCS and “Negative Equivalence” of Coping (p=0.003, r=-0.2013). Conclusion: The findings of this study allowed the correlation between occupational stress, coping and quality of life at work, showing that the lower the social support, the greater the use of avoidance strategies and consequently decline in quality of life at work. They also allowed us to identify the coping strategies used by the nursing staff and quality of life at work in the face of occupational stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses’ perceptions about management practices of nurse managers during pandemics: a descriptive and cross-sectional study

2023-04-27T12:54:09-03:00

Introduction: Hospitals may not be able to manage the chaotic environment during pandemics through classical management principles. Management can only be achieved with the help of effective leadership, appropriate flow of crisis management systems, teamwork, and collaboration. Nurse managers should have effective management skills. Objective: To evaluate the perception of the nurse managers' practices by nurses such as resource management, organization, communication, psychosocial, care-training, and decision-making practices in the management of the pandemic based on the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional method was used, and a web-based online questionnaire was applied to collect data. This study included 182 nurses working in a public and private hospital in İstanbul. Result: The nurses perceived the management practices of their managers at a moderate level. The leaders' resource management practices as low (16.5%), and medium (78.6%) perceive. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) between the communication and team relations (p<0.05), resource management (p<0.01), care-training (p<0.05), and decision-making scores (p<0.01) of the nurses working in the private hospitals compared to those working in the public hospital. Conclusion: To effectively manage a complex and chaotic environment, nurse managers should trust their team, have speed and adaptation skills, be based on human factor principles, and provide a safe working environment. Education should be emphasized so that nurses can work in specialized areas and nurse managers can improve their management skills.

Effectiveness of Pilates-based exercises on the diastasis recti abdominis in climacteric women: a randomized controlled trial

2022-05-19T18:06:51-03:00

Introduction: Recent studies have related the climacteric period with changes in connective tissue elasticity that may be related to diastasis recti abdominis. Mat Pilates is a method of exercise without impact that currently has more practitioners, due to its satisfactory results. However, there are no studies that evaluate the effectiveness of mat Pilates for women with diastasis recti abdominis. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the mat Pilates program in climacteric women with diastasis recti abdominis. Methods: This randomized single-blinded clinical trial evaluated climacteric women with diastasis recti abdominis. The participants were randomized into the experimental group, which participated in 3 weekly sessions of mat Pilates for 12 weeks for a total of 36 sessions, and the control group (without exercises). The inter-rectus distance was measured with a digital caliper. The G*Power Version 3.1.9.2. software was used for the sample calculation, and the SPSS 20.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study comprised 21 women, including 10 in the control group and 11 in the experimental group, with mean ages of 54.3 ± 7.1 and 55.3 ± 6.0 years and body mass index values of 28.8 ± 5.5 kg/m² and 29.9 ± 4.48 kg/m², respectively. In the experimental group, reductions were observed in all the measures related to diastasis recti abdominis (p<0.05) in the supraumbilical, umbilical, and infra-umbilical regions. Conclusion: The mat Pilates method is effective for reducing diastasis recti abdominis in the climacteric period.

Sexual risk behavior and knowledge about sexually transmitted infections in a university population in Sorocaba, Brazil

2022-03-24T11:02:35-03:00

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health problem to which young people are highly exposed and knowledge about vulnerabilities that affect them is needed. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge about STIs and sexual behavior of a university population in the city of Sorocaba/SP. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with data collection realized by an online application with qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Results: Four hundred and seventy-seven (477) university students from different areas of knowledge were analyzed. The majority pointed to the beginning of sexual life between 15 and 18 years old. Information about sex education was obtained mainly through parents and/or guardians, while little additional knowledge was obtained after entering higher education. Biological and Health Sciences students achieved a higher score on the knowledge questionnaire and were less likely (0.391) to contract STIs when compared to Applied Social Sciences or Engineering students (2.8 and 2.9 more likely, respectively). Conclusion: Students who demonstrated greater knowledge about STIs and acquired more information on the subject during graduation were less likely to become infected, suggesting that campaigns aimed at the university public are essential for the prevention and control of these pathogens.

Hospitalizations in older adults from the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil: data from the Unified Health System, 2016–2018

2022-03-03T16:18:31-03:00

Introduction: The growing older population increases proportionately the demand for hospital care due to the increase in health problems. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of hospitalizations, and to investigate associated factors in older adults from the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2016-2018. Secondly, to provide a more comprehensive epidemiological overview of hospitalizations, the following were estimated: monthly hospitalization rate; hospital mortality rate; frequency of hospitalizations according to diagnosis, hospitalizations for conditions sensitive to primary care and in-hospital death; and hospital costs. Methods: This is an ecological and descriptive-analytic study. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Results: The prevalence of hospitalizations was 35.1% (31.2% in women and 39.7% in men). The monthly rate of hospitalizations was higher in older men when compared with older women (Rate-Ratio=1.35 [95% CI=1.27-1.43]) and adult men between 40–59 years (Rate-Ratio=2.42 [95% CI=2.26-2.58]). The cumulative incidence of hospitalization was 144/1,000 older persons (125/1,000 women and 169/1,000 men). Factors significantly associated with hospitalizations were: male sex (PR=1.52 [95% CI=1.11-2.08]); hospitalization in surgical bed (PR=1.93 [95% CI=1.05-3.56]); absence of death (PR=1.94 [95% CI=1.03-3.65]); and hospital stay ≥15 days (PR=0.71 [95% CI=0.54-0.95]). The cost of hospitalizations was R$ 220,8 million (mean of R$ 201,700/day). Conclusion: The findings strengthen the need for preventive healthcare for the older population living in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais and alert managers to the substantial socioeconomic impact of hospitalizations.

Short-term treatment with Uncaria tomentosa aggravates the injury phenotype in mdx mice

2022-01-31T16:14:46-03:00

Introduction: Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) DC. (Rubiaceae) or UT is a medicinal plant with antiviral, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle wasting disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene; this deficiency leads to sarcolemma instability, inflammation, muscle degeneration and fibrosis. Objective: Considering the importance of inflammation to dystrophy progression and the anti-inflammatory activity of UT, in the present study we evaluated whether oral administration of UT extract would ameliorate dystrophy in the mdx mice, a DMD model. Methods: Eight-week-old male mdx mice were submitted to 200 mg/kg body weight daily UT oral administration for 6 weeks. General histopathology was analysed, and muscle tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor-β, myostatin and osteopontin transcript levels were assessed. The ability of mice to sustain limb tension to oppose their gravitational force was measured. Data were analysed with the unpaired Student’s t-test. Results: Morphologically, both untreated and UT-treated animals exhibited internalised nuclei, increased endomysial connective tissue and variations in muscle fibre diameters. Body weight and muscle strength were significantly reduced in the UT-treated animals. Blood creatine kinase was higher in UT-treated compared to untreated animals. In tibialis anterior, myostatin, transcript was more highly expressed in the UT-treated while in the diaphragm muscle, transforming growth factor-β transcripts were less expressed in the UT-treated. Conclusion: While previous studies identified anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and anticarcinogenic UT effects, the extract indicates worsening of dystrophic muscles phenotype after short-term treatment in mdx mice.

Correlation between postoperative cardiac risks factors, functionality and hospital length of stay

2021-09-27T22:30:32-03:00

Introduction: Cardiac surgery (CS) may be associated with several organic repercussions responsible for the appearance of cardiac risk factors during the postoperative period. These, associated with prolonged hospital length of stay (LoS), may trigger critical manifestations in individuals undergoing this surgical procedure. Objective: To investigate the relationships between postoperative cardiac risk factors, LoS, and changes in functioning state. Methods: Patients undergoing reconstructive, substitutive, or corrective cardiac surgeries were evaluated. The presence of postoperative cardiovascular risks was assessed using the InsCor score, while LoS and functionality were collected from medical records. Results: One-hundred patients with a mean age of 59.2±12.3 years were included. Significant correlations between functionality and both the hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) LoS (p<0.0001, ρ=0.56; p=0.002, ρ=0.29, respectively), as well as between hospital LoS and the number of comorbidities (p=0.003, ρ=0.28) were found. No significant relationships were observed between the number of postoperative risk factors and LoS. Conclusion: Functionality and comorbidities are associated with increased hospital and ICU LoS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

In silico evaluation of the gene expression profile of syndecan-4 in different breast tumor subtypes

2021-11-30T12:45:54-03:00

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the main causes of death in women. Luminal tumors A and B show good response with hormonal treatments, tumors that overexpress HER-2 can be treated with monoclonal antibodies, whereas triple-negative tumors have few treatments available because they present low or absent expression of hormone receptors and HER-2, in addition, they present worse tumor progression. Syndecans are heparan sulfate proteoglycans that have the function of interacting with growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix, thus modulating important processes in tumor progression. Objective: Analyze the expression of syndecan-4 in different subtypes of breast tumors. Methods: Bioinformatics is a useful tool for the study of new biomarkers. In the present study, the TCGA database (514 patients) and Metabric (1,898 patients) were analyzed using the cBioportal software. Gene expression data were analyzed by RNA-Seq and Microarray from biopsies of breast tumors. Results: An alteration in syndecan-4 gene expression was observed among the different subtypes of breast tumors. Patients with a triple-negative tumor had decreased expression for syndecan-4 in both databases. Conclusion: Syndecan-4 is a potential biomarker for breast tumor prognosis since decreased expression of syndecan-4 is related to triple-negative breast cancer.

Factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding

2021-12-07T16:30:57-03:00

Introduction: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is still little stimulated in several hospitals in Brazil. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF). Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative study with retrospective secondary data collection in hospital records of 250 full-term newborns, regardless of the type of delivery, with no history of maternal gestational risk, seen in the last six months. Data collection period in a public maternity hospital in Greater São Paulo. Data collection was performed between November 2018 and January 2019, with approval from the hospital and the FMABC Research Ethics Committee under register n. 2,924,393. Results: The prevalence of EIBF was 66%. BFH is associated with anesthesia at childbirth (p<0,001), APGAR less than or equal to 8 in the 1st and 5th minutes (p<0,001), and with c-section (p<0,001), which represented 29.2% of deliveries in the sample. Respiratory distress (38.82%), hypotonia (24.70%), followed by unfavorable maternal conditions (18.82%), were shown to be impeding factors for EIBF, although 90% of newborns received Apgar 9 /10 in the 5th minute. Conclusion: The prevalence of early breastfeeding is lower than recommended, but compatible with the most recent national frequency proportions.