Excess Weight among Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivors Treated at a Center in Northeast Brazil.

Therapeutic advances in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have increased the number of survivors but have promoted the development of long-term side effects, the best documented of which is obesity. The present retrospective case series analyzed data collected at diagnosis, end of treatment, and last follow-up visit of 210 ALL survivors treated between August 2005 and October 2014. Clinical and anthropometric data were collected from medical records. The nutritional diagnosis was based on z-scores of height-for-age (H/AZ) and body mass index-for-age (BMI/AZ) for males and females provided by the World Health Organization. H/AZ decreased and BMI/AZ increased between baseline and end of treatment, followed by H/AZ catch-up at follow-up. The prevalence of excess weight on the three occasions was 24.3%, 38.3, and 43.3%, respectively. Baseline excess weight (adjusted OR: 12.2; 95% CI: 5.5-27.0) and the ALL risk group (adjusted OR: 2.89; 95% CI: 1.1-7.6) were independently associated with excess weight at the end of treatment, whereas baseline excess weight (adjusted OR: 8.50; 95% CI: 3.93-18.40) and linear growth (adjusted OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.05-3.88) were independently associated with excess weight at follow-up. The frequency of excess weight had increased significantly by the end of treatment and persisted at follow-up. Baseline excess weight was the main factor associated with excess weight at the end of treatment and follow-up.

BRAzil magnesium (BRAMAG) trial: a double-masked randomized clinical trial of oral magnesium supplementation in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence about the role of oral magnesium supplementation in the prevention of preterm birth and related adverse outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare magnesium citrate with placebo in the prevention of adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes among women at higher risk. METHODS: This multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled randomized superiority clinical trial compared oral magnesium citrate 300 mg to matched placebo, from 12 to 20 weeks' gestation until delivery. This trial was completed in three centers in northeastern Brazil. Eligible women were those with a singleton pregnancy and ≥ 1 risk factor, such as prior preterm birth or preeclampsia, or current chronic hypertension or pre-pregnancy diabetes mellitus, age > 35 years or elevated body mass index. The primary perinatal composite outcome comprised preterm birth < 37 weeks' gestation, stillbirth > 20 weeks, neonatal death or NICU admission < 28 days after birth, or small for gestational age birthweight < 3rd percentile. The co-primary maternal composite outcome comprised preeclampsia or eclampsia < 37 weeks, severe gestational hypertension < 37 weeks, placental abruption, or maternal stroke or death during pregnancy or ≤ 7 days after delivery. RESULTS: Analyses comprised 407 women who received magnesium citrate and 422 who received placebo. The perinatal composite outcome occurred among 75 (18.4%) in the magnesium arm and 76 (18.0%) in the placebo group - an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.10 (95% CI 0.72-1.68). The maternal composite outcome occurred among 49 (12.0%) women in the magnesium arm and 41 women (9.7%) in the placebo group - an aOR of 1.29 (95% CI 0.83-2.00). CONCLUSIONS: Oral magnesium citrate supplementation did not appear to reduce adverse perinatal or maternal outcomes in high-risk singleton pregnancies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02032186, registered January 9, 2014.

Serial Doppler velocimetry of mesenteric and portal flow in very-low-birth-weight preterm neonates with and without patent ductus arteriosus.

BACKGROUND: Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm neonates are vulnerable to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which might be related to high-resistance flow in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), with decreased diastolic flow in situations of marked intestinal hypoperfusion. No previous studies have evaluated the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) parameters to assess the PDA hemodynamic repercussions. OBJECTIVE: To assess mesenteric and portal flow in VLBW preterm neonates with or without PDA using serial Doppler ultrasonography (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study on 61 VLBW preterm neonates submitted to 161 Doppler US exams, from 2 days to 20 days of age. RESULTS: All infants exhibited a progressive daily increase in the mean of the SMA diameter and systolic velocity, the portal vein diameter, the peak velocity, the mean velocity and the flow volume and of SMV diameter (P<0.05). The incidence of PDA was 37.7% (n=23) and infants with the disease revealed a smaller diameter, greater systolic velocity, lower diastolic velocity, and higher resistivity and pulsatility indices on SMA compared to those without PDA (P<0.05). Additionally, 47.8% (n=11) of infants with PDA exhibited absent or reversed end-diastolic flow in the SMA, and its resolution was seen among 54.5% (n=6) of these. Infants with PDA also exhibited lower values of portal vein diameter and flow volume and of SMV diameter (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Doppler US enhances the understanding of mesenteric and portal flow, including the effects of PDA. The study of SMV and portal vein flow is proposed as a new parameter in PDA evaluation.

Impaired neurovascular reactivity in the microvasculature of pregnant women with preeclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: PE is associated with maternal vascular dysfunction, leading to serious cardiovascular risk both during and following pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To assess microvascular reactivity in pregnant women with PE. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 36 pregnant women with PE and 36 normotensive pregnant women (C) in the third trimester. Skin microvascular blood flow was measured using LDF at rest (RF), during the maximum hyperemic response to brief arterial occlusion (MF) and during the sympathetically mediated constrictor response to deep IBH. RESULTS: In pregnant women with PE, RF was higher [C, 8.1 (4.6); PE, 12.0 (7.6), P<.001; PU perfusion units; median (IQR)] and MF/RF [C, 6.1 (3.7); PE, 3. 9 (4.9) P<.001] and peak CVC lower (P=.009) compared to normotensive controls. The constrictor response to IBH [C, 62.4% (27.9); PE, 33.0% (50.6), P=.008] was reduced in women with PE. In univariate analysis, MF/RF was associated with PE status (r=-.417, P=.0001), systolic (r=-.385, P=.001), and diastolic (r=-.388, P=.001) blood pressure, but not BMI (r=.077, P=.536). CONCLUSIONS: Women with PE are more than three times more likely to exhibit a reduced microvascular reactivity in the third trimester of pregnancy than normotensive pregnant controls. These differences may be attributable in part to an altered sympathetic neural microvascular tone in PE.

[Anthropometric assessment of nutritional status in pregnancy: comparison of five diagnostic methods used in Latin AmericaClasificación antropométrica de las embarazadas: comparación de cinco métodos de diagnóstico utilizados en América Latina]. / Classificação antropométrica de gestantes: comparação entre cinco métodos diagnósticos utilizados na América Latina.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the agreement between five anthropometric methods used for nutritional assessment in pregnancy and to compare the distribution of nutritional status obtained with each method to that of the population of non-pregnant young women in Brazil. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study with data from 1 108 pregnant women aged 19 to 35 years who received prenatal care from September 2011 to April 2012 in health services in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Nutritional status (underweight, appropriate weight, overweight/obesity) was determined using the criteria of Mardones and Rosso, Mardones et al., Atalah et al., Centro Latino Americano de Perinatologia (CLAP), and the Institute of Medicine (IOM-2009). Kappa agreement was estimated for the pairs of methods, and the chi-square goodness of fit test was performed to compare the frequency distribution of each nutritional category in each of the methods in comparison to the distribution in non-pregnant women classified according to body mass index (BMI, WHO cut-off points). RESULTS: Agreement between the methods was observed for overweight/obesity (kappa > 0.60), but not for underweight (kappa ≤ 0.60), particularly in the comparison of IOM-2009 (which relies on prepregnancy BMI) with other methods. The frequency distributions obtained with the five methods showed lower percentages of overweight/obesity and higher percentages of underweight as compared to the reference population of non-pregnant women (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The disparities observed in the present study may have resulted from the heterogeneity among the methods. This suggests that additional surveys are needed to establish population-specific anthropometric standards.

OBJETIVO: Verificar si hay concordancia entre cinco métodos antropométricos de clasificación nutricional de las embarazadas y comparar las clasificaciones obtenidas con la clasificación nutricional de la población brasileña de mujeres jóvenes no embarazadas. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal con datos de 1 108 embarazadas de 19 a 35 años atendidas desde septiembre del 2011 hasta abril del 2012 en servicios de atención prenatal en el estado de Pernambuco (Brasil). La clasificación nutricional (peso bajo, peso adecuado y sobrepeso u obesidad) se realizó de acuerdo con los criterios de Mardones y Rosso, de Mardones et al., de Atalah et al., del Centro Latinoamericano de Perinatología (CLAP) y del Instituto de Medicina del 2009 (IOM-2009). Se estimaron los coeficientes kappa de concordancia para los pares de métodos y la prueba del ji-cuadrado de la bondad del ajuste para comparar la distribución de frecuencias de cada categoría nutricional obtenida con cada método con la distribución en las mujeres que no están embarazadas clasificadas según el índice de masa corporal (IMC, puntos de corte de la OMS). RESULTADOS: Los métodos concordaron en lo que respecta al diagnóstico de sobrepeso y obesidad (kappa 0,60) y no concordaron en relación con el peso bajo (kappa ≤ 0,60), particularmente cuando se compararon las clasificaciones basadas en los criterios de la IOM-2009 (que utiliza el IMC pregestacional) con los demás. Las distribuciones de frecuencias muestrales obtenidas con los cinco métodos difirieron de la población de referencia de mujeres no embarazadas (P < 0,001), observándose porcentajes de sobrepeso y obesidad inferiores a la prevalencia nacional y porcentajes de peso bajo superiores a la prevalencia nacional. CONCLUSIÓN: Las disparidades observadas pueden atribuirse a la heterogeneidad de los métodos. Se justifica la realización de investigaciones para definir patrones antropométricos específicos para determinadas poblaciones.

Could the erythrocyte indices or serum ferritin predict the therapeutic response to a trial with oral iron during pregnancy? Results from the Accuracy study for Maternal Anaemia diagnosis (AMA).

BACKGROUND: Treatment of maternal iron-deficiency anaemia can reduce risks of prematurity and low birth weight; hence a reliable diagnosis of maternal iron needs is critical. However, erythrocyte indices and serum ferritin have shown a weak correlation with iron status during pregnancy. This study verified the accuracy of those tests to predict the responsiveness to a therapeutic test with oral iron as reference standard for iron deficiency in pregnant women. METHODS: A prospective diagnostic study phase 3 was conducted in a single prenatal care center in Northeast Brazil. Between August 2011 and October 2012 a consecutive sampling included 187 women in their 2(nd)-3(rd) trimesters of low-risk pregnancy and having anaemia (haemoglobin <11.0 g/dL). Until December 2012, 139 women completed a trial with daily pills of ferrous sulfate (40 mg of iron), during 23 to 125 days. Haemoglobin (Hb), other erythrocyte indices and ferritin (index-tests) were assessed pre-treatment by automated analyzers. Hb was performed also post-treatment to assess the therapeutic response by its post-pretreatment differences. We estimated sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), predictive values (PV), likelihood ratios (LR), diagnostic Odds Ratio (OR), area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy ratio and agreement coefficient of the index-tests against an increase of at least 0.55 Hb Z-score (reference standard test). We calculated the Z-scores according to the reference population from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: Hb had a mean increase of 0.24 Z-score after 30 iron pills (p 0.013). All index-tests demonstrated PV- above 70 %, PV+ around 40 %, LR around 1.0, and AUC of 0.5 to 0.6. Hb and haematocrit had Se of 50 % (95 % CI 40 to 70); and Sp of 59 % (95 % CI 43 to 74) and 47 % (95 % CI 38 to 57), respectively. Ferritin, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration and Red blood cell Distribution Width had Se below 40 % with Sp above 70 %. CONCLUSIONS: Erythrocyte indices and ferritin could not predict the iron needs of anemic pregnant women. Increases of Hb Z-scores after a short treatment with oral iron may be a reliable therapeutic test. TRIAL REGISTRATION: World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform U1111-1123-2605; Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-237wbg , registered 28 July 2011.

Effect of short-term positive airway pressure on blood pressure in controlled hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cardiovascular disease, especially in patients with high blood pressure. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) seems to contribute to blood pressure control in patients with OSAS, mainly those with uncontrolled hypertension. However, the effect of CPAP on controlled hypertensive patients with OSAS is not known. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of CPAP on blood pressure of controlled hypertensive patients with OSAS. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: 36 recently diagnosed patients with OSAS and hypertension controlled with oral antihypertensive medication. METHODS: CPAP was performed for 5 days. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded at baseline and 5 days later using 24 h ambulatory blood pressure measurement. RESULTS: Mean (SD) 24 h systolic blood pressure was reduced from 128.9 (3.4) to 126.5 (3.5), p<0.001 and mean (SD) 24 h diastolic blood pressure was reduced from 86.9 (3.3) to 84.8 (3.3), p<0.001. A reduction in the proportion of 'non-dippers' in the participants was registered (from 40.6% at baseline to 18.2%). CONCLUSIONS: A short course of CPAP may reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with OSAS and controlled hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR - 386qsg; Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC).

Visceral Adiposity in the First Half of Pregnancy in Association with Glucose, Lipid and Insulin Profiles in Later Pregnancy: A Cohort Study.

Background Obesity is the most common risk factor in pregnancy but few studies have assessed the association of between visceral adiposity (VAT) depth in early to mild pregnancy and insulin resistance (IR), dysglycemia and dyslipidemia in later pregnancy. Objective To assess the association between VAT depth in early to mid pregnancy and IR [homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR)], dysglycemia and dyslipidemia in later pregnancy. Methods We completed a prospective cohort study of 344 pregnant women at a single large hospital in Recife, Brazil. VAT depth was measured by ultrasound at 15-20 weeks gestation. Serum glucose, insulin and lipids were evaluated at 32-37 weeks gestation. Results In contrast to pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), VAT depth at 15-20 weeks was generally inferior in explaining the variation in the biochemical measures at 32-37 weeks gestation. This was the case for fasting HOMA-IR (adjusted r(2): 0.21 vs. 0.11, respectively), fasting insulin (adjusted r(2): 0.27 vs. 0.09, respectively), and lipids. Only for fasting glucose was the opposite true, but marginally (adjusted r(2) 0.03 vs. 0.06, respectively). Conclusion VAT depth measured in the first half of pregnancy is not better than pre-pregnancy BMI in predicting IR and related biochemical measures in later pregnancy.

Evaluation of ovarian reserve in women with thyroid autoimmunity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the ovarian reserve of women of reproductive age with and without thyroid autoimmunity (TAI). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records from an assisted reproduction clinic from February 2017 to December 2021. Women aged between18 and 47 years with data on antithyroperoxidase and antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibodies and assessment of ovarian reserve by anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) were included. Among the 188 participants included, 63 were diagnosed with TAI, and 125 had both antibodies negative. AMH and AFC were compared between groups. Subanalysis based on age, types of antibodies, and thyroid function markers were performed. In addition, bivariate analysis and regression models were used. RESULTS: Overall, there was no difference in the median levels of AMH or AFC between the two groups. However, in the subgroup analysis by age, we observed a trend towards lower median levels of AMH in women over 39 years with TAI (0.9 ng/mL vs. 1.5 ng/mL, p=0.08). In a subanalysis according to antibodies, we found a significantly lower median AFC in the group with anti-Tg than in the group without this antibody (8.0 follicles vs. 11.5 follicles, p=0.036). We also found a significantly higher prevalence of anti-Tg in patients with low ovarian reserve compared to those with normal reserve (60.7% vs. 39.3%, p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The ovarian reserve of women with TAI appears to be insidiously compromised over the years, with a decreased ovarian reserve in women with anti-Tg.

Effects of exergaming on the microcirculation of adolescents with overweight or obesity-a clinical trial efficacy.

To assess the effect of exergaming on the microcirculation function of adolescents with overweight or obesity, this non-randomized clinical trial efficacy was conducted with 61 adolescents aged between 10 and 16 years. The intervention group (n = 31) performed exergaming three times per week for 8 weeks. Both groups received guidelines for a healthy diet and staying physically active. Microcirculation was assessed using a laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) at baseline and after intervention. Primary outcomes derived from LDF assessment included resting flow, maximum flow, maximum/resting flow ratio, area under hyperemia, and post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH). Secondary outcomes were body mass index and systemic blood pressure. Unpaired Student's t test compared intergroup analyses, and paired Student's t test compared intragroup analyses. The significance was set at 5%. Statistical analysis intergroup and intragroup was done by fitting a two-way mixed effects model. Microcirculation was similar between groups. Maximum flow (109.0 ± 38.3 versus 124.6 ± 43.0, P = 0.022), area under hyperemia (1614 ± 472 versus. 1755 ± 461, P = 0.023), and PORH (2.18 ± 0.49 versus 2.01 ± 0.52, P = 0.031) were statistically different after intervention. Body mass index decreased in intervention (24.5 ± 3.8-24.1 ± 4.0 kg/m2, P = 0.002) and control (25.2 ± 3.2-25.1 ± 3.3 kg/m2, P = 0.031) groups. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the intervention group (110 ± 10-106 ± 9 mm Hg; P = 0.041) but not diastolic blood pressure (66.0 ± 7-68.8 ± 8 mm Hg; P = 0.089). Exergaming for 8 weeks led to improvements in the microcirculation function in adolescents with overweighed or obesity. Clinical trials: NTC03532659.

Temporal trends and anaemia-associated factors in 6- to 59-month-old children in Northeast Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the trends and factors associated with anaemia in 6- to 59-month-old children in Northeast Brazil. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study assessed information from the second and third Pernambuco State Health and Nutrition Surveys carried out in 1997 and 2006. A multiple regression analysis was performed from a conceptual model addressing biological and socio-economic factors, housing and sanitation conditions, maternal factors, health care and nutrition, consumption, morbidity and nutritional status. Poisson's regression with robust variance was used. SETTING: Pernambuco, Brazil. SUBJECTS: A total of 777 and 993 children, respectively, in the second and third Pernambuco State Health and Nutrition Surveys. RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dl) decreased by 19·3 % (40·9 % down to 33·0 %) between surveys. Maternal education level (less than 8 years in school), households ranked in the lowest environmental index tertile and children between 6 and 23 months of age were the variables common to the final models in the surveys of 1997 and 2006. Elements like living in rural areas, household income less than two minimum official wages and low birth weight were still present in the final model of the 1997 survey. Households ranked in the lowest economic index tertile were associated with anaemia in the model of the 2006 survey. CONCLUSIONS: The study results are quite encouraging from the perspective of reducing the prevalence of anaemia. Maternal education level, environmental conditions and child age were determinant factors in both surveys, and economic factors were determinant in 2006.

Anemia in pregnant women according to two different assessment criteria (WHO versus CDC).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women and the associated factors and perinatal outcomes according to two different diagnostic criteria: the WHO criterion and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criterion. METHODS: Cohort study, operationalized through a database. The sample comprised 781 pregnant women who had laboratory data regarding hemoglobin levels during the second trimester of pregnancy. Anemia was diagnosed when hemoglobin was less than 11 g/dl according to WHO and less than 10.5 g/dl according to CDC. Factors possibly associated with anemia were identified by adjusting Poisson univariate and multivariate regression models. To analyze the association between perinatal outcomes and anemia, the χ2 test and Fisher exact test were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 22.9% according to WHO and 10.9% according to CDC. A significantly higher risk of low birth weight was found in children of women with anemia, regardless of the diagnostic criteria used, while a greater risk of having a small-for-gestational-age newborn was seen only when the CDC criterion were applied. CONCLUSION: Anemia during pregnancy remains an important public health issue, but its magnitude may be overestimated by overly sensitive assessment criteria.

Class II radical hysterectomy for stage I-IIA cervix cancer: prognostic factors associated to recurrence and survival in a northeast Brazil experience.

BACKGROUND: The main aim of this study was describe the author's experience with class II radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy to treat stage I-IIA cervix cancer and reexamine some prognostic factors associated with disease recurrence and patient survival in this data from northeast Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on patients treated at our Centers from January 2001 to December 2008. Statistical analyses were performed using conventional methods. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients were selected to analysis. Over the 7.3-year follow-up, 80 (91%) patients were alive and 8 (9%) disease recurrences were observed. Overall 1-, 2-, and 5-year patients survival was 96.5%, 95.3%, and 84%, respectively. Recurrence was associated to tumor size ≥1 cm (P = 0.021) and compromised vaginal margin (P = 0.020). Lower survivals were associated to tumor size ≥1 cm (P = 0.038), compromised vaginal margin (P < 0.001), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.024). Postoperative complications (n = 11) included wound infection (5.7%), partial wound dehiscence (3.4%), and bladder atony (3.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Class II radical hysterectomy has provided appropriated disease control of cervix cancer with low morbidity in our experience. Furthermore, tumor size and compromised vaginal margin were significantly associated to recurrence. These factors and lymph node metastasis were also associated to lower 5-year survival according to our analysis.

Prevalence and predictors of physical inactivity in a slum in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of physical inactivity and examine the role of potential predictors in a very low-income adult population in a slum located in Recife city, northeast of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,176 subjects aged 20-60 years residing in a slum. Using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, 307 (26.1%) study participants-97 (23.8%) men and 210 (27.3%) women-have a low physical activity score (MET-minutes per week). Increased age was associated with physical inactivity only in people without overweight/obesity. Low physical activity was less common (i.e., respondents were more active) than in other Brazilian population-based studies. These results suggest that the relationship between physical activity and socioeconomic level is more complex and depends on the internal characteristics of the community.

Impact of COVID-19 on immunization of Brazilian infants.

OBJECTIVE: To examine recent vaccination trends among Brazilian children during their first year of life, and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on these trends. METHODS: Monthly vaccination and birth data from the DATASUS (Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System) database of the Ministry of Health of Brazil were obtained from January 2017 to December 2020. Interrupted time series analysis was used to compare vaccination trends before and after March 2020, when isolation measures were first implemented in Brazil. RESULTS: There was no strong evidence of a significant change in trends during the study period, or before and during the pandemic at national level. However, the mean number of vaccinations per child was 10.6, which is lower than the 13 doses expected under the immunization schedule. CONCLUSIONS: Although the pandemic did not appreciably impact on vaccinations, incomplete immunization among children aged <1 year in Brazil is cause for concern. A potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on specific antigens or regional and sociodemographic disparities in vaccinations cannot be ruled out without further research.

Temporal Validation of a Predictive Score for Death in Children with Visceral Leishmaniasis.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a temporal validation of a predictive model for death in children with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). METHODS: A temporal validation of a children-exclusive predictive model of death due to VL (Sampaio et al. 2010 model), using a retrospective cohort, hereby called validation cohort. The validation cohort convenience sample was made of 156 patients less than 15 years old hospitalized between 2008 and 2018 with VL. Patients included in the Sampaio et al. 2010 study are here denominated derivation cohort, which was composed of 546 patients hospitalized in the same hospital setting in the period from 1996 to 2006. The calibration and discriminative capacity of the model to predict death by VL in the validation cohort were then assessed through the procedure of logistic recalibration that readjusted its coefficients. The calibration of the updated model was tested using Hosmer-Lemeshow test and Spiegelhalter test. A ROC curve was built and the value of the area under this curve represented the model's discrimination. RESULTS: The validation cohort found a lethality of 6.4%. The Sampaio et al. 2010 model demonstrated inadequate calibration in the validation cohort (Spiegelhalter test: p=0.007). It also presented unsatisfactory discriminative capacity, evaluated by the area under the ROC curve = 0.618. After the coefficient readjustment, the model showed adequate calibration (Spiegelhalter test, p=0.988) and better discrimination, becoming satisfactory (AUROC = 0.762). The score developed by Sampaio et al. 2010 attributed 1 point to the variables dyspnea, associated infections, and neutrophil count <500/mm3; 2 points to jaundice and mucosal bleeding; and 3 points to platelet count <50,000/mm3. In the recalibrated model, each one of the variables had a scoring of 1 point for each. CONCLUSION: The temporally validated model, after coefficient readjustment, presented adequate calibration and discrimination to predict death in children hospitalized with VL.

Correlation between pesticide use in agriculture and adverse birth outcomes in Brazil: an ecological study.

This ecological study analyzed the association between pesticide use and prematurity, low weight and congenital abnormality at birth, infant death by congenital abnormality, and fetal death in Brazil in 2001. Simple linear regression analysis has determined a positive association between pesticide use and prematurity, low birth weight, and congenital abnormality. The association between pesticide use and low birth weight (p = 0.045) and, congenital abnormality (p = 0.004) and infant death rate by congenital abnormality (p = 0.039) remained after the adjustment made by the proportion of pregnant women with a low number of prenatal care visits.

Visceral Adipose Tissue Depth in Early Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus - a Cohort Study.

Some studies have suggested that abdominal visceral adipose tissue depth (VAD) measured by ultrasound in early pregnancy, may predict the future onset of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Wheter this is true, independent of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), has been debated, leading the current study. A prospective cohort study was completed, in which VAD was measured at around 14 weeks' gestation. GDM was later assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test at 24 to 28 weeks, according to the IADPSG criteria. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis were used to estimate the predictive value of VAD, above and beyond pre-pregnancy BMI. 627 pregnant women were enrolled, and 518 completed the study. VAD was measured at a mean of 14.4 weeks' gestation. 87 women (16.8%) subsequently developed GDM. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for developing GDM was 1.99 (95% CI 1.59-2.46) per 1-cm increase in VAD. After adjusting for maternal BMI and age, the OR was 2.00 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.50). The ROC under the curve for developing GDM was higher for VAD (0.70, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.75) than for pre-pregnancy BMI (0.57 95% CI 0.50 to 0.64) (p < 0.001). In conclusion, higher VAD may better predict GDM than pre-pregnancy BMI.

Comparison of weight estimation methods in hospitalized Brazilian children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: in emergencies or in situations involving critically ill patients, an accurate calculation of body weight is essential to ensure adequate medical care. Generally, simple techniques are used to determine weight. Aim: to evaluate the weight estimation methods Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) Update, Luscombe and Owens, Best Guess, and the Broselow tape, comparing measured weight with the weight estimated by each method in hospitalized Brazilian children and adolescents. Methods: an observational study in which anthropometric data were collected from patients of 0-14 years of age between August 2016 and January 2017. The paired t-test was used to compare the patients' measured weight with their estimated weight. The accuracy of each method was analyzed using Bland-Altman plots and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient. Results: the sample consisted of 446 patients. Most of the patients were male (58.1%), of 1-5 years of age (43%) and well nourished (85%). For those under 12 months of age, the APLS Update and Best Guess methods performed best, with the difference in means of measured weight and estimated weight being 0.4 kg (p = 0.183) and -0.2 kg (p = 0.140), respectively. In the 1-5 years of age group only the APLS Update yielded satisfactory results (0.2 kg; p = 0.200). The best agreement with measured weight, according to the Bland-Altman plots and Lin's coefficient, was found for the Broselow tape (CC = 0.96). Conclusion: of the estimation methods evaluated the Broselow tape was the most accurate one. Further studies are required to adapt this method for use in the Brazilian population, thus ensuring its appropriate application in this country.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: en las emergencias o en las situaciones que involucran a pacientes críticamente enfermos, el cálculo preciso del peso corporal es esencial para garantizar una atención médica adecuada. En general se utilizan técnicas simples para determinar el peso. Objetivo: evaluar los métodos de estimación del peso Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) Update, Luscombe y Owens, Best Guess y la cinta Broselow, comparando el peso medido con el peso estimado por cada método en los pacientes hospitalizados. Métodos: estudio observacional en el que se recopilaron datos antropométricos de pacientes de 0 a 14 años de edad entre agosto de 2016 y enero de 2017. Se utilizó la prueba t pareada para comparar el peso medido de los pacientes con su peso estimado. La precisión de cada método se analizó mediante gráficos de Bland-Altman y el coeficiente de correlación de concordancia de Lin. Resultados: la muestra estuvo constituida por 446 pacientes. La mayoría eran varones (58,1%) de 1 a 5 años (43%) y bien nutridos (85%). Para los menores de 12 meses de edad, los métodos APLS Update y Best Guess obtuvieron los mejores resultados, siendo la diferencia entre las medias de peso medido y peso estimado de 0,4 kg (p = 0,183) y -0,2 kg (p = 0,140), respectivamente. En el grupo de 1 a 5 años, solo el método APLS Update arrojó resultados satisfactorios (0,2 kg; p = 0,200). El mejor acuerdo con el peso medido, según las gráficas de Bland-Altman y el coeficiente de Lin, se encontró al utilizar la cinta Broselow (CC = 0,96). Conclusión: de los métodos de estimación evaluados, la cinta Broselow fue la más precisa. Se requieren estudios adicionales para adaptar este método para su uso en la población brasileña.

Fat Distribution among Children Born Extremely Low Birth Weight and Very Low Birth Weight: A Cohort Study.

Background: Fat distribution is associated with chronic diseases and birth weight may influence fat distribution throughout life. Our aim was to compare fat distribution in children born extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW). Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated children born ELBW and VLBW around the 7th year of life. Fat distribution was assessed by ultrasonography measurements of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat thickness. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results: We studied 63 children. Visceral fat thickness but not subcutaneous fat thickness was significantly increased in children born ELBW compared with children born VLBW, respectively, 3.13 (±1.08) versus 1.86 (±0.76) mm. This result remained after adjustment for age, gender, and BMI; adjusted coefficient 0.118, 95% confidence interval 0.009-0.227, p = 0.034. Conclusion: Children born ELBW seem to have increased visceral fat thickness compared with children born VLBW.