Different methods for assessing glomerular filtration rate in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the best method to replace cystatin C in the evaluation of glomerular filtration in the elderly. METHODS: Individuals over 60 years of age from a primary care center were studied. Blood was collected to determine creatinine and cystatin C and 24-h urine. Three methods were compared to determine glomerular filtration: Creatinine clearance, Cocroft-Gault, modification of diet in renal disease, and Collaboration Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease based on creatinine, considering as a reference the determination of glomerular filtration using the cystatin-based Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. The statistical methods used were linear regression, Bland-Altman curve, and receiver operating characteristic. RESULTS: A total of 180 elderly people were evaluated, but 14 patients were lost from the sample, resulting in a total of 166 patients. The average age of patients was 66.9±6.1 years, and 69.8% were females. Regarding the number of patients eligible for the study, there were 12 black, 108 brown, and 46 white, 42.77% hypertensive, and 38.3% diabetic. Glomerular filtration was less than 60 mL/min in 22.28% of patients. Regarding the evaluation of the different equations, the correlation coefficient was lower for creatinine clearance and progressively higher for Cocroft-Gault, modification of diet in renal disease, and Collaboration Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease based on creatinine. The Bland-Altman diagram and the receiver operating characteristic curve showed similar performance to the correlation coefficient for the different equations evaluated. CONCLUSION: Collaboration Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease based on creatinine presented the best performance. Creatinine debug had the worst performance, which reinforces the idea that 24-h urine collection is unnecessary in these patients.

Immunologic mediators profile in COVID-19 convalescence.

SARS-CoV-2 caused the pandemic situation experienced since the beginning of 2020, and many countries faced the rapid spread and severe form of the disease. Mechanisms of interaction between the virus and the host were observed during acute phase, but few data are available when related to immunity dynamics in convalescents. We conducted a longitudinal study, with 51 healthy donors and 62 COVID-19 convalescent patients, which these had a 2-month follow-up after symptoms recovery. Venous blood sample was obtained from all participants to measure blood count, subpopulations of monocytes, lymphocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells. Serum was used to measure cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, anti-N IgG and anti-S IgG/IgM antibodies. Statistic was performed by Kruskal-Wallis test, and linear regression with days post symptoms and antibody titers. All analysis had confidence interval of 95%. Less than 35% of convalescents were anti-S IgM+, while more than 80% were IgG+ in D30. Anti-N IgG decreased along time, with loss of seroreactivity of 13%. Eosinophil count played a distinct role on both antibodies during all study, and the convalescence was orchestrated by higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and IL-15, but initial stages were marked by increase in myeloid DCs, B1 lymphocytes, inflammatory and patrolling monocytes, G-CSF and IL-2. Later convalescence seemed to change to cytotoxicity mediated by T lymphocytes, plasmacytoid DCs, VEGF, IL-9 and CXCL10. Anti-S IgG antibodies showed the longest perseverance and may be a better option for diagnosis. The inflammatory pattern is yet present on initial stage of convalescence, but quickly shifts to a reparative dynamic. Meanwhile eosinophils seem to play a role on anti-N levels in convalescence, although may not be the major causative agent. We must highlight the importance of immunological markers on acute clinical outcomes, but their comprehension to potentialize adaptive system must be explored to improve immunizations and further preventive policies.

Cardiovascular risk factors: differences between ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVES: to compare the metabolic, anthropometric, tobacco and alcohol consumption indicators considered as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, as well as the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics between indigenous from Rio Negro, Sateré-Mawé, mixed-race/black and white people living in the city of Manaus. METHODS: a cross-sectional observational study guided by the STROBE tool. There was a sample of 191 adults of both sexes. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and biochemical analyzes were performed. Statistical test was applied to cross color/race/ethnicity variable with the investigated variables. RESULTS: indigenous had better metabolic and anthropometric indicators related to cardiovascular diseases than mixed-race/black and white, as well as Sateré-Mawé in relation to Rionegrinos (from Rio Negro). CONCLUSIONS: the main differences were obesity, dyslipidemia, pre-systemic arterial hypertension/systemic arterial hypertension, and increased circumferences, with a worse situation for mixed-race/black people. The findings indicate differences in risk factors between race/color and ethnicity groups evaluated.

Different methods for assessing glomerular filtration rate in the elderly

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the best method to replace cystatin C in the evaluation of glomerular filtration in the elderly. METHODS: Individuals over 60 years of age from a primary care center were studied. Blood was collected to determine creatinine and cystatin C and 24-h urine. Three methods were compared to determine glomerular filtration: Creatinine clearance, Cocroft-Gault, modification of diet in renal disease, and Collaboration Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease based on creatinine, considering as a reference the determination of glomerular filtration using the cystatin-based Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. The statistical methods used were linear regression, Bland-Altman curve, and receiver operating characteristic. RESULTS: A total of 180 elderly people were evaluated, but 14 patients were lost from the sample, resulting in a total of 166 patients. The average age of patients was 66.9±6.1 years, and 69.8% were females. Regarding the number of patients eligible for the study, there were 12 black, 108 brown, and 46 white, 42.77% hypertensive, and 38.3% diabetic. Glomerular filtration was less than 60 mL/min in 22.28% of patients. Regarding the evaluation of the different equations, the correlation coefficient was lower for creatinine clearance and progressively higher for Cocroft-Gault, modification of diet in renal disease, and Collaboration Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease based on creatinine. The Bland-Altman diagram and the receiver operating characteristic curve showed similar performance to the correlation coefficient for the different equations evaluated. CONCLUSION: Collaboration Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease based on creatinine presented the best performance. Creatinine debug had the worst performance, which reinforces the idea that 24-h urine collection is unnecessary in these patients.

Cardiovascular risk factors: differences between ethnic groups / Factores de riesgo cardiovascular: diferencias entre grupos étnicos / Fatores de risco cardiovascular: diferenças entre grupos étnicos

ABSTRACT Objectives: to compare the metabolic, anthropometric, tobacco and alcohol consumption indicators considered as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, as well as the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics between indigenous from Rio Negro, Sateré-Mawé, mixed-race/black and white people living in the city of Manaus. Methods: a cross-sectional observational study guided by the STROBE tool. There was a sample of 191 adults of both sexes. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and biochemical analyzes were performed. Statistical test was applied to cross color/race/ethnicity variable with the investigated variables. Results: indigenous had better metabolic and anthropometric indicators related to cardiovascular diseases than mixed-race/black and white, as well as Sateré-Mawé in relation to Rionegrinos (from Rio Negro). Conclusions: the main differences were obesity, dyslipidemia, pre-systemic arterial hypertension/systemic arterial hypertension, and increased circumferences, with a worse situation for mixed-race/black people. The findings indicate differences in risk factors between race/color and ethnicity groups evaluated.

RESUMEN Objetivos: comparar los indicadores metabólicos, antropométricos, de consumo de tabaco y alcohol considerados como factores de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares, así como las características demográficas y socioeconómicas entre los indígenas del Rio Negro, Sateré-Mawé, población de raza mixta/negra y blanca que viven en la ciudad de Manaus. Métodos: estudio observacional transversal, guiado por la herramienta STROBE. La muestra consistió en 191 adultos de ambos sexos. Se realizaron mediciones antropométricas, presión sanguínea y análisis bioquímicos. La prueba estadística se aplicó a la variable de color/raza/etnia con las variables investigadas. Resultados: los indígenas tenían mejores indicadores metabólicos y antropométricos relacionados con las enfermedades cardiovasculares que los de raza mixta/negros y blancos, así como los Sateré-Mawé en relación con los rionegrinos (del Rio Negro). Conclusiones: las principales diferencias fueron: obesidad, dislipidemia, pre-hipertensión arterial sistémica/ hipertensión arterial sistémica y aumento de las circunferencias, con una situación peor para los raza mixta/negros. Los resultados indican diferencias en los factores de riesgo entre los grupos de raza/color y etnia evaluados.

RESUMO Objetivos: comparar os indicadores metabólicos, antropométricos, de consumo de tabaco e álcool, considerados como fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares, assim como as características demográficas e socioeconômicas entre indígenas do Rio Negro, Sateré-Mawé, Pardos/Negros e Brancos que residem na cidade de Manaus. Métodos: estudo observacional transversal, norteado pela ferramenta STROBE. Amostra de 191 adultos de ambos os sexos. Realizadas medidas antropométricas, pressão arterial e análises bioquímicas. Aplicado teste estatístico no cruzamento da variável cor/raça/etnia com as variáveis investigadas. Resultados: os indígenas apresentaram melhores indicadores metabólicos e antropométricos relacionados às doenças cardiovasculares que os pardos/negros e brancos, assim como os Sateré-Mawé em relação aos rionegrinos. Conclusões: as principais diferenças foram: obesidade, dislipidemia, pré-hipertensão arterial sistêmica/hipertensão arterial sistêmica e circunferências aumentadas, com destaque de pior situação para os pardos/negros. Os achados indicam haver diferenças nos fatores de risco entre os grupos de raça/cor e etnia avaliados.