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Objective: to build, validate, and evaluate an educational health website on home care for newborns for use by pregnant women, postpartum women, and family members., Method: methodological study developed according to the Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate model. After construction, the website was validated by 20 experts and evaluated by 20 individuals from the target audience, and the data wasanalyzed according to the Concordance Index with a cut-off point equal to or greater than 0.7 (70%)., Results: in the validation, the Concordance Index for all the items was higher than 0.7 (70%), with a variation between 0.75 (75%) and 1 (100%), reaching an overall average value of 0.91 (91%). In the evaluation, all the items got top marks, with anoverall average value of 1 (100%)., Conclusion: the educational website was built, validated, and evaluated in a satisfactory manner. It can be considered an appropriate tool for its purpose, with benefits in the teaching-learning process for families regarding postnatal home care fornewborns through its use. It can also be used to educate students and health professionals. The website is available for free access via laptops, computers, smartphones, or tablets.

Purpose: To correlate the dysphagia quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression before and after thyroidectomy., Methods: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, and experimental study. Twenty patients participated, with a mean age of 54 years, prevalence of females (n=17; 85%) and partial thyroidectomy (n=14; 70%). All subjects underwent laryngeal visual examination and answered the MD Anderson Dysphagia Questionnaire (MDADI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in three different moments: preoperatively, immediately postoperatively (maximum one week) and three months after surgery., Results: There was a significant difference in dysphagia quality of life for the physical and total domains in the three different moments. Regarding anxiety and depression, a statistically significant difference was observed between the scores in all domains, with a greater difference observed between the preoperative period and after 1 week. Higher values were observed in the preoperative period for mild anxiety traits, being more frequent in relation to depression, with a reduction after 1 week and an increase after three months of surgery. There was no significant correlation between the MDADI and HADS protocols., Conclusion: Patients undergoing thyroidectomy self-report better quality of life in dysphagia and reduced anxiety/depression scores after three months of surgery. There was no correlation between anxiety, depression and quality of life in dysphagia at the moments evaluated.

Purpose: To correlate voice-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression symptoms pre- and post-thyroidectomy., Methods: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, and quantitative study. Twenty patients participated in the study, with a mean age of 54 years, who underwent thyroidectomy, laryngeal visual examination, and the Voice-Related Quality of Life and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires at different times: preoperative, 1 week and 3 months post-thyroidectomy, with a higher prevalence of females (85%; n=17) and partial thyroidectomy (70%; n=14)., Results: There was no statistical difference in voice quality of life between the moments, but lower preoperative scores were observed, especially in the physical domain. We observed a slight trace of anxiety in the preoperative period, with a reduction after 1 week and an increase after 3 months. There was a moderate negative correlation between the physical domain of QVV and the anxiety subscale and the total HADS score after 1 week and between the total domain of QVV with the total HADS score after 1 week, weak negative correlation between the total domain of QVV and the HADS anxiety subscale after 1 week and the total HADS score after 3 months., Conclusion: The patients evaluated in this study self-perceived their voice-related quality of life as positive. Mild anxiety traits were identified, with a reduction after one week postoperatively and an increase after three months. The self-perception of better voice-related quality of life in the postoperative period is weakly related to the reduction of anxiety levels.

Background: The classification or index of heart failure severity in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was proposed by Killip and Kimball aiming at assessing the risk of in-hospital death and the potential benefit of specific management of care provided in Coronary Care Units (CCU) during the decade of 60., Objective: To validate the risk stratification of Killip classification in the long-term mortality and compare the prognostic value in patients with non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) relative to patients with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), in the era of reperfusion and modern antithrombotic therapies., Methods: We evaluated 1906 patients with documented AMI and admitted to the CCU, from 1995 to 2011, with a mean follow-up of 05 years to assess total mortality. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were developed for comparison between survival distributions according to Killip class and NSTEMI versus STEMI. Cox proportional regression models were developed to determine the independent association between Killip class and mortality, with sensitivity analyses based on type of AMI., Results: The proportions of deaths and the KM survival distributions were significantly different across Killip class >1 (p <0.001) and with a similar pattern between patients with NSTEMI and STEMI. Cox models identified the Killip classification as a significant, sustained, consistent predictor and independent of relevant covariables (Wald χ2 16.5 [p = 0.001], NSTEMI) and (Wald χ2 11.9 [p = 0.008], STEMI)., Conclusion: The Killip and Kimball classification performs relevant prognostic role in mortality at mean follow-up of 05 years post-AMI, with a similar pattern between NSTEMI and STEMI patients.

Background: The adipose tissue is considered not only a storable energy source, but mainly an endocrine organ that secretes several cytokines. Adiponectin, a novel protein similar to collagen, has been found to be an adipocyte-specific cytokine and a promising cardiovascular risk marker., Objectives: To evaluate the association between serum adiponectin levels and the risk for cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), as well as the correlations between adiponectin and metabolic, inflammatory, and myocardial biomarkers., Methods: We recruited 114 patients with ACS and a mean 1.13-year follow-up to measure clinical outcomes. Clinical characteristics and biomarkers were compared according to adiponectin quartiles. Cox proportional hazard regression models with Firth's penalization were applied to assess the independent association between adiponectin and the subsequent risk for both primary (composite of cardiovascular death/non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI)/non-fatal stroke) and co-primary outcomes (composite of cardiovascular death/non-fatal AMI/non-fatal stroke/rehospitalization requiring revascularization)., Results: There were significant direct correlations between adiponectin and age, HDL-cholesterol, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and significant inverse correlations between adiponectin and waist circumference, body weight, body mass index, Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index, triglycerides, and insulin. Adiponectin was associated with higher risk for primary and co-primary outcomes (adjusted HR 1.08 and 1.07/increment of 1000; p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively)., Conclusion: In ACS patients, serum adiponectin was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. In addition to the anthropometric and metabolic correlations, there was a significant direct correlation between adiponectin and BNP.

Objective: To determine the concentration of nitrate/nitrite in the cerebrospinal fluid and in the dorsal horn interstice of the L6-S1 spinal cord boundary in rats with or without cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide., Methods: All experiments were conducted using Wistar female rats. A microdialysis probe was implanted in the subarachnoid space or in the spinal cord tissue at the L6-S1 segments (confirmed histologically). Two days later, the microdialysis probe was perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid, containing or not NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. Samples were collected every 15 minutes and kept at -20ºC. Nitrite/nitrate concentrations were determined by chemiluminescence., Results: In normal animals, the mean values of nitrite/nitrate concentrations in the first microdialysate sample of the cerebrospinal fluid and of the spinal cord interstice were similar (482.5±90.2pmol/75µL, n=20, and 505.7±11.5pmol/75µL, n=6, respectively), whereas, in the samples from rats with cystitis, these values were significantly greater (955.5±66.3pmol/75µL, n=8, and 926.5±131.7pmol/75µL, n=11, respectively). In both groups, NG-monomethyl-L- arginine caused a significant reduction in the nitrite/nitrate concentration. Interestingly, the maximal reduction of nitrite/nitrate concentration caused by NG-monomethyl-L- arginine was no greater than 30% of the initial values., Conclusions: These results constitute the first demonstration that nitrite/nitrate concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord interstice are elevated between 20- and 22 hours after cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis, and indicate that cystitis is associated with changes in the production of nitric oxide in the spinal cord segments, where most primary bladder afferents end.

The correlation between resistance to pyrazinamide (PZA) and resistance to other first-line antituberculosis drugs was investigated in 395 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from clinical specimens, representing 14% of the overall number of M. tuberculosis isolates obtained between 2003 and 2008 at the laboratory of a referral university hospital for tuberculosis. A high correlation was found between resistance to PZA and multidrug resistance, as well as between PZA resistance and resistance to rifampin, isoniazid, and ethambutol (p < 0.01 for all). These results highlight the importance of performing PZA susceptibility testing prior to the prescription of this drug in order to treat drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Introduction: Muscle weakness appears most often in women, the factor that causes bad esthetics., Objective: To analyze the results of the Russian current strengthening the abdominal muscles., Methods: Literature review based on publications available in the following databases: Medline / Pubmed, Scielo, Lilacs with crossing headings Russian current, sagging, abdomen. The use of electrical stimulation acts both on the white fibers, which account for the speed, but also on the red fibers given their support, and on intermediate fibers., Conclusion: The data published show the satisfaction and success of treatment, emphasizing that the Russian current promotes increase of muscle strength and hypertrophy.

In 2005 and 2006, 8,121 clinical specimens submitted to the Mycobacteriology Laboratory of the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital/Thoracic Diseases Institute, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were inoculated on Löwenstein-Jensen medium containing glycerol and pyruvate. There were 79 mycobacteria isolates that presented growth only on pyruvate-containing medium, and those isolates were selected for the presumptive identification of Mycobacterium bovis. The selected isolates were screened with biochemical tests, PCR amplification (with the specific primers Rv0577 and Rv1510), and pyrazinamide susceptibility tests. All of the strains isolated showed specific phenotypical and genotypical patterns characteristic of M. tuberculosis, and no M. bovis strains were detected.

Objective: To identify nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolated from sterile sites in patients hospitalized between 2001 and 2006 at the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil., Methods: During the study period, 34 NTM isolates from sterile sites of 14 patients, most of whom were HIV-positive, were submitted to phenotypic identification and hsp65 PCR-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA)., Results: Most isolates were identified as Mycobacterium avium, followed by M. monacense, M. kansasii, and M. abscessus., Conclusions: The combination of PRA, a relatively simple and inexpensive method, with the evaluation of a few phenotypic characteristics can allow NTM to be accurately identified in the routine of clinical laboratories.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the class I HLA antigens and class II HLA allele frequencies in 164 patients with leukemia: 35 patients with ALL (acute lymphoid leukemia), 50 with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and 78 with CML (chronic myeloid leukemia)., Methods: The genotyping of class I HLA was performed by microlymphocytotoxicity and of class II by PCR-SSP (polymerase chain reaction - sequence specific of primers) (One Lambda, Canoga Park, CA, USA)., Results: In patients with LLA, frequencies of HLA-B45 and HLA-B56 were higher (P = 0.02; OR = 3.13; 95%IC = 0.94-10.44; P = 0.03; OR = 3.61; 95%IC = 0.47-27.64, respectively), than in controls. In patients with AML, the frequency of HLA-B7 (P = 0.01; OR = 2.41; 95%IC = 1.25-4.67) was higher than in controls. The presence of HLA-B45 (P= 0.01; OR = 3.29; 95%IC = 1.46-7.40), HLA-DRB1*04 (P = 0.002; OR = 2.17; 95%IC = 1.36-3.46) and HLA-DRB1*08 (P = 0.004; OR = 2.36; 95%IC = 1.34-4.16) was associated to increased risk of CML developing., Conclusion: Our results suggest that variants of HLA confer susceptibility to the same forms of leukemia, and could provide new tools for the investigation of genetics and etiology of this disease.

In the period from November of 2000 to November of 2001, a study of sand flies was realized in the municipalities of Alto Caparaó and Caparaó with the objective of determining their seasonal variation, comparing the points of study related to the occurrence of these insects and detecting their ideal environments. Monthly collections were carried out, with Falcão light traps at nine points, four traps per point, in the following environments: of animals shelter, forest (bush), coffee plantation and the external walls of houses. Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) was the predominant species, and animal shelter the environment with the largest occurrence of sand flies. A significant difference in the composition of sand fly species was found in the studied points. Lutzomyia intermedia is the species suspected of transmitting Leishmania in the region.

Objective: To measure the serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with chronic chagasic heart disease and in individuals with positive serology for Chagas' disease and no heart impairment, and to correlate the serum BNP levels with the degree of cardiac impairment, cardiac dimensions, presence of a pacemaker, and ejection fraction., Methods: Serum BNP concentrations were determined by use of the Triage-BNP Test produced by BIOSITE. Serum BNP was assessed in 25 patients from the Chagas' disease outpatient clinic of the Hospital Universitario Oswaldo Cruz, who were divided into 2 groups as follows: 1) G1--comprising 13 asymptomatic patients with positive serology for Chagas' disease and no heart disease detectable on electrocardiography, chest X-ray, and echocardiography; and 2) G2--comprising 12 patients with Chagas' disease and heart impairment., Results: Significantly more elevated BNP levels were detected in the chagasic patients with cardiac impairment: (G1=4.4 +/-4.4 pg/ml, G2=293.0+/-460.2 pg/ml); (P<0.01). In the 2 groups, the serum levels of BNP correlated neither with age nor with sex. The levels were directly proportional to functional class and cardiac area on chest X-ray. Although a trend towards an increment in systolic function impairment was observed, no linear correlation with the ejection fraction on echocardiography occurred. The presence of definitive pacemaker and electrocardiographic alterations did not change the serum BNP levels., Conclusion: Asymptomatic individuals with a positive serology for Chagas' disease and no evidence of ventricular dysfunction have serum BNP levels similar to those of the general population.