Participating as a research team during the COVID-19 pandemic benefits mental health of undergraduate medical students in Brazil.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, undergraduate medical students (UMS) exposed to isolation, social distancing and complete or partial face-to-face educational activities interruption may present increased stress, depression and anxiety. This study was undertaken to evaluate if, during isolation, UMS involved in online group activities as investigators of a research project (volunteer group) would present better mental health than their colleagues, not involved in that research (control group). A Web-based survey, via the Google Forms platform, including details on demographic data, life habits, previous health conditions, worries with the COVID-19 pandemic, sleep pattern modifications and depression, anxiety and mental stress, using the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) was implemented from 20 July to 31 August 2020. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 20.0. A p-value <0.05 was significant. A total of 684 UMS were included, 228 as a volunteer group and 456 as a control group. Mean age was 23.15 (3.16) years. The groups were paired for age, gender, ethnicity, life habits and previous health conditions. Older age, male gender, participation in the research project, unchanged sleep pattern during the pandemic, lack of fear from getting the COVID-19 and lack of previous health conditions were associated with lower DASS21 scores (better mental health). Participating as investigators of a research project foreseeing frequent interaction with patients, colleagues and professors (other investigators) lead to better mental health during the COVID-19 quarantine in Brazil.

High Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis From Northeastern Brazil: Association With Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to evaluate the prevalence of MetS in PsA patients compared with sex- and age-matched healthy controls and to test possible associations with clinical and laboratory variables. METHODS: The prevalence of MetS was determined for 76 PsA patients and 76 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, using the criteria of NCEP/ATPIII and Harmonizing, adjusted for South Americans. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for MetS. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was significantly more prevalent in the PsA group than in the control group (53.9% vs 18.4%, p < 0.001). Psoriatic arthritis was associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, increased waist circumference (WC), elevated body mass index, and raised levels of blood glucose and triglycerides. When comparing MetS and non-Mets PsA patients, MetS was not significantly associated with disease activity, skin involvement, or quality of life. In the logistic regression model, the variables independently associated with MetS were use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (p = 0.001), elevated arterial pressure (p = 0.006), age (p = 0.0015), WC (p = 0.004), and low HDL (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: In this study on PsA patients from Northeastern Brazil, MetS was highly prevalent and associated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs use, increased WC, and low HDL.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients from Northeastern Brazil: Association with disease activity.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and controls from Northeastern Brazil and to verify its association with specific RA parameters and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The prevalence of MetS was assessed cross-sectionally in 338 RA patients from a single center and 84 age and gender-matched controls from the local community. MetS was defined according to NCEP/ATPIII guidelines. Disease activity was assessed with CDAI, SDAI and DAS28 scores. Independent risk factors for MetS in RA patients were identified by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was higher in RA patients than in controls (51.3% vs. 21.8%; p < .001). RA patients had a higher frequency of hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus, greater waist circumference (WC), higher blood glucose levels and lower HDL levels. DAS28, CDAI and SDAI scores were higher and high disease activity was more frequent in MetS patients. The multivariate logistic regression identified BMI (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.05-1.20; p < .001) and disease activity (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.04-1.47; p = .016) as independent risk factors for MetS in patients with RA. CONCLUSION: RA in patients from Northeastern Brazil was found to be associated with increased WC, high prevalence of MetS (one of the highest in the world) and disease activity. Patients with MetS displayed a higher frequency of cardiovascular risk factors, indicating the need for better control of disease activity and modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Tuberculosis infection in rheumatic patients with infliximab therapy: experience with 157 patients.

It is recommended to evaluate the presence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) prior to the use of antitumor necrosis factor α. The aim of this study is to assess the presence of LTBI in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing treatment with infliximab in an endemic area for tuberculosis (TB). LTBI was searched through the contact history, chest X-ray and tuberculin skin test with purified protein derivative (PPD) ≥5 mm. We studied 157 patients in the period from May 2005 to October 2008, 99 (63.1%) were women with average age of 49 years and 58 (36.9%) were men with average age of 41 years. The group comprising 90 patients (57.3%) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 54 (34.4%) with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 13 (8.3%) with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) had PPD reactor 13.4% (21/157), being prevented by isoniazid (INH) in these patients. There are dissimilar responsiveness to the PPD between the three pathologies, and the reactivity was lower in RA (RA × AS: χ(2) = 12; P = 0.0004; and RA × PsA: χ(2) with Yates' correction = 3.6; P = 0.05). No significant difference between the reactivity of the PPD and the use of immunosuppressive drugs (P = 0.81) is observed. The immunoprophylaxis with INH showed an efficacy of 95% (20/21); three (1.9%) patients developed active TB (spondylodiscitis, meningitis and lymphadenopathy) after the use of infliximab, reaffirming extrapulmonary involvement. These results suggest that PPD has a low sensitivity for detection of LTBI in RA and that the previous use of immunosuppressive drugs does not affect the response to PPD.

Effects of Participating in a Research Project During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students' Educational Routines and Mental Health: Protocol for a Web-Based Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social isolation, which has a potential negative impact on the educational routines (eg, the suspension of face-to-face appointments) and mental health of medical students. The Mario Pinotti II (MPII) study is a 24-week observational study that conducted scheduled telephone calls every 2 weeks to verify the occurrence of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases on chronic hydroxychloroquine therapy (from March 29, 2020, to September 30, 2020). The effects of voluntarily participating in a research project (ie, one that involves interactions via telephone contact with patients, professors, rheumatologists, and colleagues) on the daily lives and mental health of medical students requires evaluation. OBJECTIVE: As medical students are professionals in training and have a high level of responsibility in terms of handling the emotional and physical aspects of several diseases, this study aims to evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and participation in the MPII study on the educational routines and mental health of medical students. METHODS: A web-based survey was carried out to perform a cross-sectional comparative assessment of medical students who participated in the MPII study and their colleagues who were not involved in the MPII study. Participants from both groups were matched based on sex, age, and medical school. The web questionnaire was developed by a panel composed of graduate medical students, rheumatologists, medical school professors, and a psychology professor. The questionnaire included details on demographic and life habits data and evaluated participants' impressions of the MPII study and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their educational routines and medical training. In addition, depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated using the Brazilian version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS)-21, and currently, the DASS-21 scores are grouped as those that indicate a low, moderate, or high risk of mental distress. This project was approved by the Federal University of São Paulo Ethics Committee (CAAE: 34034620.0.0000.5505). RESULTS: Data were collected from both medical student groups from July 20 to August 31, 2020. Data extraction was completed in September 2020. The data analysis is ongoing. We expect the results to be published in the first semester of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide insight into the effects of participating in a research project on depression, anxiety, and stress, which will be determined by applying the DASS-21 to a large sample of Brazilian undergraduate medical students. We will also evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students' educational routines and medical training. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/24617.

Chronic use of hydroxychloroquine did not protect against COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information on the role of chronic use of hydroxychloroquine during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Our aim was to compare the occurrence of COVID-19 between rheumatic disease patients on hydroxychloroquine with individuals from the same household not taking the drug during the first 8 weeks of community viral transmission in Brazil. METHODS: This baseline cross-sectional analysis is part of a 24-week observational multi-center study involving 22 Brazilian academic outpatient centers. All information regarding COVID-19 symptoms, epidemiological, clinical, and demographic data were recorded on a specific web-based platform using telephone calls from physicians and medical students. COVID-19 was defined according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH) criteria. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Exact Fisher tests were used for statistical analysis and two binary Final Logistic Regression Model by Wald test were developed using a backward-stepwise method for the presence of COVID-19. RESULTS: From March 29th to May 17st, 2020, a total of 10,443 participants were enrolled, including 5166 (53.9%) rheumatic disease patients, of whom 82.5% had systemic erythematosus lupus, 7.8% rheumatoid arthritis, 3.7% Sjögren's syndrome and 0.8% systemic sclerosis. In total, 1822 (19.1%) participants reported flu symptoms within the 30 days prior to enrollment, of which 3.1% fulfilled the BMH criteria, but with no significant difference between rheumatic disease patients (4.03%) and controls (3.25%). After adjustments for multiple confounders, the main risk factor significantly associated with a COVID-19 diagnosis was lung disease (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.03-2.58); and for rheumatic disease patients were diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.19-6.63) and glucocorticoids above 10 mg/ day (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.31-3.19). In addition, a recent influenza vaccination had a protective effect (OR 0.674; 95% CI 0.46-0.98). CONCLUSION: Patients with rheumatic disease on hydroxychloroquine presented a similar occurrence of COVID-19 to household cohabitants, suggesting a lack of any protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Trial registration Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC; RBR - 9KTWX6).

High prevalence of obesity in rheumatoid arthritis patients: association with disease activity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, a multi-center study.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a well-documented independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obesity may provide an additional link between inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis in RA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between obesity and disease parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in RA patients. METHOD: Cross-sectional study of a cohort of RA patients from three Brazilian teaching hospitals. Information on demographics, clinical parameters and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors was collected. Blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured during the first consultation. Laboratory data were retrieved from medical records. Obesity was defined according to the NCEP/ATPIII and IDF guidelines. The prevalence of obesity was determined cross-sectionally. Disease activity was evaluated using the DAS28 system (remission < 2.6; low 2.6-3.1; moderate 3.2-5.0; high > 5.1). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 791 RA patients aged 54.7 ± 12.0 years, of whom 86.9% were women and 59.9% were Caucasian. The mean disease duration was 12.8 ± 8.9 years. Three quarters were rheumatoid factor-positive, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.1 ± 4.9, and the mean WC was 93.5 ± 12.5 cm. The observed risk factors included dyslipidemia (34.3%), type-2 diabetes (15%), hypertension (49.2%) and family history of premature cardiovascular disease (16.5%). BMI-defined obesity was highly prevalent (26.9%) and associated with age, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Increased WC was associated with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and disease activity. CONCLUSION: Obesity was highly prevalent in RA patients and associated with disease activity.

Chronic use of hydroxychloroquine did not protect against COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases in Brazil

Abstract Background: There is a lack of information on the role of chronic use of hydroxychloroquine during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Our aim was to compare the occurrence of COVID-19 between rheumatic disease patients on hydroxychloroquine with individuals from the same household not taking the drug during the first 8 weeks of community viral transmission in Brazil. Methods: This baseline cross-sectional analysis is part of a 24-week observational multi-center study involving 22 Brazilian academic outpatient centers. All information regarding COVID-19 symptoms, epidemiological, clinical, and demographic data were recorded on a specific web-based platform using telephone calls from physicians and medical students. COVID-19 was defined according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH) criteria. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Exact Fisher tests were used for statistical analysis and two binary Final Logistic Regression Model by Wald test were developed using a backward-stepwise method for the presence of COVID-19. Results: From March 29th to May 17st, 2020, a total of 10,443 participants were enrolled, including 5166 (53.9%) rheumatic disease patients, of whom 82.5% had systemic erythematosus lupus, 7.8% rheumatoid arthritis, 3.7% Sjögren's syndrome and 0.8% systemic sclerosis. In total, 1822 (19.1%) participants reported flu symptoms within the 30 days prior to enrollment, of which 3.1% fulfilled the BMH criteria, but with no significant difference between rheumatic disease patients (4.03%) and controls (3.25%). After adjustments for multiple confounders, the main risk factor significantly associated with a COVID-19 diagnosis was lung disease (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.03-2.58); and for rheumatic disease patients were diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.19-6.63) and glucocorticoids above 10 mg/ day (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.31-3.19). In addition, a recent influenza vaccination had a protective effect (OR 0.674; 95% CI 0.46-0.98). Conclusion: Patients with rheumatic disease on hydroxychloroquine presented a similar occurrence of COVID-19 to household cohabitants, suggesting a lack of any protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Trial registration Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC; RBR - 9KTWX6).

High prevalence of obesity in rheumatoid arthritis patients: association with disease activity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, a multi-center study

Abstract Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a well-documented independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obesity may provide an additional link between inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis in RA. Objective: To evaluate the association between obesity and disease parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in RA patients. Method: Cross-sectional study of a cohort of RA patients from three Brazilian teaching hospitals. Information on demographics, clinical parameters and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors was collected. Blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured during the first consultation. Laboratory data were retrieved from medical records. Obesity was defined according to the NCEP/ATPIII and IDF guidelines. The prevalence of obesity was determined cross-sectionally. Disease activity was evaluated using the DAS28 system (remission < 2.6; low 2.6—3.1; moderate 3.2-5.0; high >5.1). Results: The sample consisted of 791 RA patients aged 54.7 ± 12.0 years, of whom 86.9% were women and 59.9% were Caucasian. The mean disease duration was 12.8 ± 8.9 years. Three quarters were rheumatoid factor-positive, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.1 ±4.9, and the mean WC was 93.5 ± 12.5 cm. The observed risk factors included dyslipidemia (34.3%), type-2 diabetes (15%), hypertension (49.2%) and family history of premature cardiovascular disease (16.5%). BMI-defined obesity was highly prevalent (26.9%) and associated with age, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Increased WC was associated with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and disease activity. Conclusion: Obesity was highly prevalent in RA patients and associated with disease activity.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis using adalimumab.

Leishmaniasis is an anthropozoonosis caused by species of Leishmania and can have different clinical presentations, depending on the parasite-host relationship. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a cytokine essential to infection control, especially against intracellular parasites such as Leishmania. Anti-TNF-α strategies have had a marked impact on the treatment of rheumatic diseases, but the clinical use of those antagonists has been accompanied by an increased report of infections. We report the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis treated with adalimumab and methotrexate in Brazil. We believe that, in this case, there was no association between the anti-TNF-α treatment and cutaneous leishmaniasis, because the disease was limited to only one ulcer that healed completely after treatment. More studies, however, are necessary to better understand the possible relationship between anti-TNF-α agents and leishmaniasis.

Use of the abatacept in a patient with psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is an inflammatory seronegative arthritis of unknown origin. Classically, PA has five clinical forms, and asymmetric oligoarthritis is the most common type. We describe the case of a patient with PA refractory to disease-modifying drugs, who developed drug-induced hepatitis after chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid, administered prior to the treatment with an anti-TNFα agent. Due to the risk of activating latent tuberculosis with the administration of anti-TNFα and hepatotoxicity onset caused by the TB treatment and based on the fact that the treatment of PA is similar to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a decision was made to use the empirical treatment with abatacept. Approximately twenty days after the second infusion of the drug, the patient showed clinical improvement, resolution of the arthritis, almost complete disappearance of the skin lesions and improvement of anemia and inflammatory tests.

Leishmaniose tegumentar em paciente com espondilite anquilosante utilizando adalimumabe / Cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis using adalimumab

A leishmaniose é uma antropozoonose causada por espécies de Leishmania e pode apresentar-se de diversas formas clínicas, dependendo da interação parasita-hospedeiro. O fator de necrose tumoral-α (TNF-α) é uma citocina essencial para o controle de infecções, especialmente contra parasitas intracelulares como a Leishmania. A terapia anti-TNF-α tem importante papel no tratamento de doenças reumáticas, mas o uso desses antagonistas está relacionado ao aumento de infecções. Relatamos o primeiro caso de leishmaniose cutânea no Brasil em uma paciente portadora de espondilite anquilosante em uso de adalimumabe e metotrexato. Acreditamos que neste caso não houve relação entre o uso de anti-TNF-α e a leishmaniose cutânea, pois a doença estava limitada a apenas uma úlcera, que cicatrizou completamente após o tratamento. Mais estudos, entretanto, são necessários para entender melhor a possível associação entre agentes anti-TNF-α e leishmaniose.

Leishmaniasis is an anthropozoonosis caused by species of Leishmania and can have different clinical presentations, depending on the parasite-host relationship. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a cytokine essential to infection control, especially against intracellular parasites such as Leishmania. Anti-TNF-α strategies have had a marked impact on the treatment of rheumatic diseases, but the clinical use of those antagonists has been accompanied by an increased report of infections. We report the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis treated with adalimumab and methotrexate in Brazil. We believe that, in this case, there was no association between the anti-TNF-α treatment and cutaneous leishmaniasis, because the disease was limited to only one ulcer that healed completely after treatment. More studies, however, are necessary to better understand the possible relationship between anti-TNF-α agents and leishmaniasis.

Uso do abatacepte em uma paciente com artrite psoriásica / Use of the abatacept in a patient with psoriatic arthritis

Artrite psoriásica (AP) é uma artrite inflamatória soronegativa de causa desconhecida. Classicamente, a AP apresenta cinco formas clínicas, sendo a oligoartrite assimétrica a mais comum. Descrevemos o caso de uma paciente com AP refratária às drogas modificadoras da doença, que evoluiu com hepatite medicamentosa após quimioprofilaxia com isoniazida, administrada previamente ao tratamento com anti-TNFα. Em virtude do risco de ativação de tuberculose (TB) latente pela administração de anti-TNFα, da hepatotoxicidade decorrente do tratamento da TB, e baseado no fato de o tratamento da AP se assemelhar ao da artrite reumatoide, optou-se pelo tratamento empírico com abatacepte. Aproximadamente vinte dias após a segunda dose do biológico, a paciente evoluiu com importante melhora clínica, resolução da artrite, regressão das lesões de pele e melhora da anemia e das provas de atividade inflamatória.

Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is an inflammatory seronegative arthritis of unknown origin. Classically, PA has five clinical forms, and asymmetric oligoarthritis is the most common type. We describe the case of a patient with PA refractory to disease-modifying drugs, who developed drug-induced hepatitis after chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid, administered prior to the treatment with an anti-TNFα agent. Due to the risk of activating latent tuberculosis with the administration of anti-TNFα and hepatotoxicity onset caused by the TB treatment and based on the fact that the treatment of PA is similar to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a decision was made to use the empirical treatment with abatacept. Approximately twenty days after the second infusion of the drug, the patient showed clinical improvement, resolution of the arthritis, almost complete disappearance of the skin lesions and improvement of anemia and inflammatory tests.

Manifestações musculoesqueléticas em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise / Musculoskeletal manifestations in patientes under hemodialysis

As anormalidades musculoesqueléticas em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise são numerosas e freqüentes, sendo mais prevalentes naqueles em tratamento dialítico de longa duração. A artralgia é o sintoma mais comum, ocorrendo em mais de 70 por cento dos pacientes. O hiperparatireoidismo secundário é a principal causa da doença renal óssea, e as manifestações clínicas são: dor óssea, artralgia e prurido. A amiloidose, decorrente da deposição de proteína Beta2-microglobulina nos tecidos, manifesta-se pela presença de ombro doloroso, síndrome do túnel do carpo, dedo em gatilho, ruptura espontânea de tendão e fratura patológica. Outras manifestações musculoesqueléticas observadas são a artrite induzida por cristais, necrose avascular, artrite séptica, fraqueza muscular e cãibras musculares.

Pancreatite aguda no Hospital Geral de Fortaleza: aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos e evolutivos - análise retrospectiva de 35 casos / Acute pancreatitis at the Fortaleza General Hospital: clinical aspects, diagnosis, and evolution- retrospective analysis of 35 cases

A pancreatite aguda, uma doença comum, pode ser clinicamente leve ou grave, O objetivo deste trabalho foi reconhecer os fatores envolvidos com a doença em nosso meio e compará-los com os dados da literatura. Um estudo retrospectivo foi realizado avaliando 35 pacientes com pancreatite aguda internados no serviço de Gastroenterologia do Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, no período de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2002. Os homens foram mais acometidos (54,3por cento) que as mulheres e a idade variou de 15 a 89 anos, com média de 42,88 anos. As principais causas foram a litíase biliar (48,6por cento) e o alcool (35,3por cento). A pancreatite aguda esteve associada à necrose em oito casos (22,9Por cento) e ao edema intersticial em 22 (62,9por cento). A normoamilasemia foi encontrada em seis pacientes ( 17,1por cento) e a média dos valores da proteína C-reativa foi duas vezes maior na forma necrotizante que na edematosa. A tomografia computadorizada com uso de contraste intravenoso, método de imagem de escolha para o diagnóstico e detecção de complicações como a necrose pancreática, foi realizada em 19 pacientes (54,3por cento). A ultra-sonografia abdominal, o método mais sensível para avaliação da árvore biliar na pancreatite aguda. Foi realizada em 32 casos (91,4por cento). Foram submetidos à colecistectomia todos os pacientes com pancreatite biliar sem contra-indicação cirúrgica. A taxa de mortalidade foi de 8,6por cento (37,5por cento na forma necrotizante e 0por cento na edematosa). Conclui-se que a pancreatite necrotizante associou-se a maior morbimortalidade e que os resultados do trabalho de modo geral, concordam com os da literatura