Increased proteinuria and uric acid levels are associated with eclamptic crisis.

OBJECTIVES: Eclampsia results in high morbidity and mortality, so it is important to identify clinical and laboratorial aspects that may be useful as potential markers to differentiate women at higher risk. Thus, we aim to identify, among women with preeclampsia, aspects that may increase the risk to develop eclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. The records of patients delivered at Hospital São Lucas/PUCRS were reviewed retrospectively; 733 pregnant women with hypertension were analyzed; 329 had preeclampsia, and 45 eclampsia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum uric acid levels and protein excretion in women that develop eclampsia. RESULTS: Patients with eclampsia had higher serum uric acid levels and protein excretion, systolic and diastolic blood pressure; were more likely to have cesarean section and had worst perinatal outcomes. The combination of uric acid above 5.9 mg/dL and protein/creatinine ratio over 4.9 had a striking association with eclampsia (p ≤ 0.001). The occurrence of HELLP syndrome was significantly different between groups, with a higher incidence among women who developed eclampsia (OR 6.5; 95%CI, 3.2-13.2; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the combination of high levels of maternal serum uric acid and proteinuria are strongly associated with the development of eclamptic crises.

Solutes transport characteristics in peritoneal dialysis: variations in glucose and insulin serum levels.

BACKGROUND: Differences in small solutes transport rate (SSTR) during peritoneal dialysis (PD) may affect water and solutes removal. Patients with high SSTR must rely on shorter dwell times and increased dialysate glucose concentrations to keep fluid balance. Glucose absorption during peritoneal dialysis (PD), besides affecting glucose and insulin metabolism, may induce weight gain. The study aimed at examining acute glucose and insulin serum level changes and other potential relationships in PD patients with diverse SSTR. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a modified peritoneal equilibration test (PET) that enrolled 34 prevalent PD patients. Zero, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240-minute glucose and insulin serum levels were measured. Insulin resistance index was assessed by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) formula. SSTR categories were classified by quartiles of the four-hour dialysate/serum creatinine ratio (D(4)/P(Cr)). Demographic and clinical variables were evaluated, and the body mass index (BMI) was estimated. Correlations among variables of interest and categories of SSTR were explored. RESULTS: Glucose serum levels were significantly different at 15, 30, and 60 minutes between high and low SSTR categories (p = 0.014, 0.009, and 0.022). Increased BMI (25.5 +/- 5.1) and insulin resistance [HOMA-IR = 2.60 (1.40-4.23)] were evidenced overall. Very strong to moderate correlations between insulin levels along the PET and HOMA-IR (r = 0.973, 0.834, 0.766, 0.728, 0.843, 0.857, 0.882) and BMI (r = 0.562, 0.459, 0.417, 0.370, 0.508, 0.514, 0.483) were disclosed. CONCLUSIONS; Early glucose serum levels were associated with SSTR during a PET. Overweight or obesity and insulin resistance were prevalent. An association between insulin serum levels and BMI was demonstrated.

Health-related quality of life in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the overall health-related quality of life in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans. METHODS: Participants with a diagnosis of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans, who were being followed-up at two specialized outpatient clinics of Pediatric Pulmonology in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and controls aged between 8 and 17 years, of both genders, were included in the study. Controls were paired by gender, age, and socioeconomic level in relation to the group of participants with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans. The version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQ) tool validated for Brazil was applied for the assessment of Health-related Quality of Life, through an interview. The comparison of the Health-related Quality of Life means between the groups was performed using Student's t-test for independent samples and the chi-squared test, for categorical variables. RESULTS: 34 patients diagnosed with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans and 34 controls participated in the study. The mean age of the children included in the study was 11.2±2.5 years, and 49 (72%) of them were males. The groups showed no significant differences in relation to these variables. The quality of life score was significantly and clinically lower in the post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans group when compared with controls in the health (72.36±15.6, 81.06±16.4, p=0.031) and school domains (62.34±20.7, 72.94±21.3, p=0.043), as well as in the total score (69.53±14.9, 78.02±14.8, p=0.024), respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans presented lower health-related quality of life scores when compared with healthy individuals in the total score and in the health and school domains.

Is there any relationship between ABO/Rh blood group and patients with pre-eclampsia?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between pre-eclampsia and blood groups in a group of pregnant women hospitalized in a University Hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil - Hospital São Lucas (HSL)/PUCRS. STUDY DESIGN: Our sample consisted of 10,040 pregnant women admitted to the maternity department of HSL between 2005 and 2010. The patients were reviewed retrospectively for inclusion. Medical records of 414 women were diagnosed as preeclampsia/eclampsia and 9611 women were identified to the control group. The patients were divided into two groups: the group with preeclampsia/eclampsia and the control group, and their blood groups were considered. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 17.0. Categorical data were summarized by counts and percentages, with the statistical significance evaluated by the Chi-square test. The null hypothesis was rejected when p<0.05. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal parameters were compared between control group and pre-eclampsia, respectively, Systolic Blood Pressure (117±19.98 vs. 165±19.99); Diastolic Blood Pressure (73±14.23 vs. 106±14.24) and maternal weight at booking (73±33 vs. 83±33). For all data: mean+SD; p<0.05. In relation to blood groups, firstly they were stratified by Rh and ABO phenotypes, separately. After that the groups were put together. RESULTS: No differences in blood group distribution were observed between controls and pre-eclampsia for any analysis. (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When we adopted stricter criteria for pre-eclampsia and a large sample from the same region we noted that the results did not show any association between blood groups and the development of pre-eclampsia.

Health-related quality of life in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans / Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em pacientes com bronquiolite obliterante

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the overall health-related quality of life in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans. Methods: Participants with a diagnosis of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans, who were being followed-up at two specialized outpatient clinics of Pediatric Pulmonology in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and controls aged between 8 and 17 years, of both genders, were included in the study. Controls were paired by gender, age, and socioeconomic level in relation to the group of participants with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans. The version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQ) tool validated for Brazil was applied for the assessment of Health-related Quality of Life, through an interview. The comparison of the Health-related Quality of Life means between the groups was performed using Student's t-test for independent samples and the chi-squared test, for categorical variables. Results: 34 patients diagnosed with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans and 34 controls participated in the study. The mean age of the children included in the study was 11.2 ± 2.5 years, and 49 (72%) of them were males. The groups showed no significant differences in relation to these variables. The quality of life score was significantly and clinically lower in the post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans group when compared with controls in the health (72.36 ± 15.6, 81.06 ± 16.4, p = 0.031) and school domains (62.34 ± 20.7, 72.94 ± 21.3, p = 0.043), as well as in the total score (69.53 ± 14.9, 78.02 ± 14.8, p = 0.024), respectively. Conclusion: Patients with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans presented lower health-related quality of life scores when compared with healthy individuals in the total score and in the health and school domains.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde geral em participantes com bronquiolite obliterante. Métodos: Foram incluídos no estudo participantes com diagnóstico de bronquiolite obliterante pós-infecciosa que estavam em acompanhamento em dois ambulatórios especializados de pneumologia pediátrica em Porto Alegre, Brasil e controles, entre 8 e 17 anos, de ambos os sexos. Os controles foram pareados por sexo, idade e nível socioeconômico em relação ao grupo de participantes com bronquiolite obliterante pós-infecciosa. Para avaliação da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde geral foi aplicado a versão validada para o Brasil do instrumento PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory), por meio de entrevista. A comparação entre as médias da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde entre os grupos foi realizada mediante o teste t para amostras independentes e para as variáveis categóricas por teste qui-quadrado. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 34 pacientes com diagnóstico de bronquiolite obliterante pós-infecciosa e 34 controles. A média da idade das crianças incluídas foi de 11,2 ± 2,5 anos e 49 (72%) deles eram do sexo masculino. Os grupos não apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação a essas variáveis. O escore de qualidade de vida foi significativamente e clinicamente menor no grupo bronquiolite obliterante pós-infecciosa em comparação com o controle nos domínios saúde: (72,36 ± 15,6; 81,06 ± 16,4; p = 0,031); escolar: (62,34 ± 20,7; 72,94 ± 21,3; p = 0,043) e no escore total (69,53 ± 14,9; 78,02 ± 14,8, p = 0,024), respectivamente. Conclusão: Os pacientes com bronquiolite obliterante pós-infecciosa apresentam escores de qualidade de vida relacionados à saúde menor do que indivíduos saudáveis no escore total e nos domínios saúde e escolares.

Nutritional status evaluated by multi-frequency bioimpedance is not associated with quality of life or depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients.

Hemodialysis therapy significantly impacts on patients' physical, psychological, and social performances. Such reduced quality of life depends on several factors, such as malnutrition, depression, and metabolic derangements. This study aims to evaluate the current nutritional status, quality of life and depressive symptoms, and determine the possible relationships with other risk factors for poor outcomes, in stable hemodialysis patients. This was a single-center, cross-sectional study that enrolled 59 adult patients undergoing hemodialysis. Laboratory tests that included high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (CRP), and quality of life and depressive symptom evaluation, as well as malnutrition-inflammation score, nutritional status and body composition (by direct segmental multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis) determinations were performed. Patients were classified as "underfat", "standard", "overfat", or "obese" by multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis. Seven patients were underfat, 19 standard, 19 overfat, and 14 obese. Triglyceride levels significantly differed between the underfat, standard, overfat, and obese groups (1.06 [0.98-1.98]; 1.47 [1.16-1.67]; 2.53 [1.17-3.13]; 2.12 [1.41-2.95] mmol/L, respectively; P=0.026), as did Kt/V between the underfat, overfat, and obese groups (1.49 ± 0.14; 1.23 ± 0.19; 1.19 ± 0.22; P=0.015 and P=0.006, respectively). Depressive symptoms, quality of life, and CRP and phosphate levels did not diverge among nutritional groups. Creatinine, albumin, and phosphate strongly correlated, as well as percent body fat, body mass index, and waist circumference (r=0.859 [P<0.001], and r=0.716 [P<0.001], respectively). Depressive symptoms and physical and psychological quality-of-life domains also strongly correlated (r(s) = -0.501 [P<0.001], r(s) = -0.597 [P<0.001], respectively). The majority of patients were overfat or obese and very few underfat. Inflammation was prevalent, overall. No association of nutritional status with malnutrition-inflammation, quality of life, or depressive symptoms could be established.