Efficacy and Safety of Once-Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide treatment in overweight or obese patients without type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Randomized clinical trials that assessed the impact of once-weekly semaglutide on body weight and safety outcomes in overweight or obese patients were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, and Lilacs up to November 2023. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2.0, and certainty of evidence (CoE) with GRADE. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Ten publications, with 22.155 patients, were included. Semaglutide decreased relative body weight (MD: -11.80; 95%CI: -13.53 to -10.07; CoE: High), absolute body weight (MD: -11.58; 95%CI: -13.25 to -9.90; CoE: High) and BMI (MD: -4.15; 95%CI: -4.85 to -3.45; CoE: High). Semaglutide also increased the proportion of patients who achieved 5%, 10%, and 15% of weight loss ([weight loss≥5%: RR 2.29, 95% CI: 1.88 to 2.80; CoE: High]; [weight loss≥10%: RR 4.54, 95% CI: 3.45 to 5.98; CoE: High]; [weight loss≥15%: RR 8.29, 95%CI: 5.54 to 12.39; CoE: High]). Semaglutide leads to small risk to adverse events (RR: 1.03; 95%CI: 1 to 1.06; CoE: High), no difference in the serious adverse events (RR: 1.07; 95%CI: 0.70 to 1.62; CoE: Low), but increases in the risk to discontinued treatment (RR: 2.03; 95%CI: 1.87 to 2.20; CoE: High) and gastrointestinal adverse events (RR: 3.26; 95%CI: 1.99 to 5.34; CoE: Moderate). CONCLUSION: This up-to-date systematic review highlights that once-weekly semaglutide treatment resulted in clinically important weight loss, becoming a promising adjuvant therapy for obesity.

Avaliação da procalcitonina como tecnologia de saúde a ser incorporada em um hospital universitário para redução de tempo de tratamento com antimicrobianos / Evaluation of procalcitonin as a health technology to be incorporated in a university hospital to reduce treatment time with antimicrobials

Introdução: O uso do biomarcador procalcitonina (PCT) de forma racionalizada pode contribuir para reduzir o uso excessivo de antimicrobianos, poupar recursos e qualificar o cuidado com o paciente. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia da PCT na redução do tempo de tratamento com antimicrobianos e o impacto financeiro e factibilidade da incorporação desta tecnologia a partir de cenários simulados em um hospital de pequeno porte e média complexidade. Material e Métodos: Revisão da literatura, a partir da base de dados Pubmed seguida de análise de custo em quatro cenários simulados, comparando o PCR com a PCT. Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos randomizados e revisões sistemáticas cuja intervenção consistia no uso de PCT para guiar o tempo de tratamento com antimicrobianos. A seleção e extração dos dados foi realizada por quatro revisores independentes. A análise de custo foi realizada por meio de cenários simulados com os antimicrobianos de maior impacto na instituição totalizando doze terapias analisadas, a partir de dados de custos efetivamente desembolsados. Resultados: Foram selecionados 8 artigos para a análise final. A PCT possibilitou redução significativa de tempo de tratamento, redução de mortalidade, tempo de internação, eventos adversos e custos. A simulação de custo demonstrou que o cenário com PCT foi mais econômico para 67% das terapias analisadas, chegando à uma economia de até R$567,86 por tratamento, no caso da terapia combinada com meropenem, vancomicina e polimixina. Conclusão: A terapia guiada pela PCT reduz tempo de tratamento, internação e mortalidade apresentando impacto considerável na redução dos custos diretos, sendo factível a sua incorporação no cenário analisado

Introduction: The use of the procalcitonin (PCT) biomarker in a rationalized manner can contribute to reducing the excessive usage of antimicrobial, saving resources and improving patient care. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of PCT in reducing antimicrobial treatment time and the financial impact and feasibility of incorporating this technology based on simulated scenarios in a small and medium-complexity hospital. Material and Methods: Literature review, based on the Pubmed database followed by cost analysis in four simulated scenarios, comparing PCR with PCT test. Randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews whose intervention consisted of the use of PCT to guide the duration of antimicrobial treatment were included. Data selection and extraction was carried out by four independent reviewers. The cost analysis was carried out through simulated scenarios with the twelve therapies with the greatest impact on the institution, based on data of costs actually disbursed. Results: The final analysis included 8 articles. PCT resulted in significant reduction of duration of antibiotic treatment, reduction in mortality, length of stay, adverse events and costs. The cost simulation demonstrated that the PCT scenario was more economical for 67% of therapies analyzed, reaching savings up to R$567.86 per treatment, in the case of combined therapy with meropenem, vancomycin and polymyxin.Conclusion: PCT-guided therapy reduces treatment duration, hospitalization and mortality, presenting a considerable impact on reducing direct costs, making it feasible to incorporate it into the analyzed scenario.

Incorporação de esomeprazol em um hospital universitário: uma análise de custo-minimização / Incorporation of esomeprazole in a university hospital: a cost-minimization analysis

Introdução: Inibidores de bomba de prótons (IBP) são amplamente utilizados na profilaxia de úlceras de estresse. O omeprazol é o IBP mais prescrito no Brasil, porém, sua formulação oral convencional é inadequada para administração por sonda devido ao risco de obstrução. A apresentação injetável de omeprazol possui custo muito superior à formulação oral. O esomeprazol, por ser constituído de microgrânulos, é uma alternativa ao omeprazol injetável, pois pode ser administrado por sonda e ainda possibilitaria redução de custos. Objetivo: Analisar por meio de custo-minimização o impacto financeiro da incorporação do esomeprazol em um hospital universitário secundário. Material e Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal retrospectivo para identificar e analisar o consumo e custo relacionado ao uso de omeprazol injetável e esomeprazol nos anos de 2021 e 2022. A partir dos dados levantados, foi realizada análise de custo-minimização e determinado o impacto financeiro após incorporação do esomeprazol. Resultados: Houve redução de 76,7% no consumo de omeprazol injetável no ano de 2022. A análise de custo-minimização apontou um custo real de R$20.374,96 no ano de 2022, referente às 906 doses utilizadas no período, destas, 46,4% eram de omeprazol injetável e 53,6% de esomperazol. Considerando o cenário com terapia exclusiva com omeprazol injetável, o custo simulado foi de R$ 41.252,05. O impacto financeiro foi de R$ -20.877,09, resultando em economia de recursos de 50,6%. Conclusão: A incorporação de esomeprazol no elenco de medicamentos de um hospital universitário gerou redução significativa de custo, implicando em economia de mais de 50% no consumo global de IBP e de mais de 70% no consumo de omeprazol injetável, no ano de 2022.

Introduction: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used in stress ulcers prophylaxis. Omeprazole is the most prescribed PPI in Brazil, but its conventional oral formulation is unsuitable for administration through a tube due to the risk of obstruction. The injectable presentation of omeprazole has a much higher cost than the oral formulation. Esomeprazole, composed of microgranules, is an alternative to injectable omeprazole as it can be administered through a tube and could potentially lead to a cost reduction. Objective: To analyze, through cost minimization, the financial impact of incorporating esomeprazole in a secondary university hospital. Material and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted to identify and analyze the consumption and cost related to the use of injectable omeprazole and esomeprazole in the years 2021 and 2022. Cost-minimization analysis was performed based on the collected data, to determine the financial impact after incorporating esomeprazole. Results: There was a 76.7% reduction in the consumption of injectable omeprazole in 2022. The cost-minimization analysis indicated a real cost of R$20,374.96 in 2022 for the 906 doses used during the period, of which 46.4% were injectable omeprazole and 53.6% were esomeprazole. Considering the scenario with exclusive therapy using injectable omeprazole, the simulated cost was R$41,252.05. The financial impact was R$-20,877.09, resulting in a resource saving of 50.6%. Conclusion: The incorporation of esomeprazole into the list of medications at a university hospital led to a significant cost reduction, resulting in over 50% savings in PPI consumption and over 70% in injectable omeprazole consumption, in 2022.

Blood leukocyte transcriptional modules and differentially expressed genes associated with disease severity and age in COVID-19 patients.

Since the molecular mechanisms determining COVID-19 severity are not yet well understood, there is a demand for biomarkers derived from comparative transcriptome analyses of mild and severe cases, combined with patients' clinico-demographic and laboratory data. Here the transcriptomic response of human leukocytes to SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated by focusing on the differences between mild and severe cases and between age subgroups (younger and older adults). Three transcriptional modules correlated with these traits were functionally characterized, as well as 23 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated to disease severity. One module, correlated with severe cases and older patients, had an overrepresentation of genes involved in innate immune response and in neutrophil activation, whereas two other modules, correlated with disease severity and younger patients, harbored genes involved in the innate immune response to viral infections, and in the regulation of this response. This transcriptomic mechanism could be related to the better outcome observed in younger COVID-19 patients. The DEGs, all hyper-expressed in the group of severe cases, were mostly involved in neutrophil activation and in the p53 pathway, therefore related to inflammation and lymphopenia. These biomarkers may be useful for getting a better stratification of risk factors in COVID-19.

InsulinAPP application protocol for the inpatient management of type 2 diabetes on a hospitalist-managed ward: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT Objective: We assessed metrics related to inpatient glycemic control using InsulinAPP, an application available for free in Brazil, on the hospitalist-managed ward of our hospital. Subjects and methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) admitted from November 2018 to October 2019. InsulinAPP recommends NPH and regular insulins three times a day, in bolus-correction or basal-bolus schemes. Parameters that included BG within range of 70-180 mg/dL, insulin treatment regimen and frequency of hypoglycemia were evaluated. Results: A total of 147 T2D individuals (23% medicine and 77% surgery) were included (mean age 62.3 ± 12.7 years, HbA1c: 8.3 ± 3.0%). The initial insulin regimen was 50% bolus-correction, 47% basal-bolus and 3% with sliding scale insulin. During hospitalization, 71% patients required a bolus-basal regimen. In the first 10 days of the protocol, 71% BG measurements were between 70-180 mg/dL and 26% patients experienced one or more episodes of hypoglycemia < 70 mg/dL, and 5% with BG < 54 mg/dL. Conclusion: The results of this retrospective study indicate the InsulinAPP application using human insulin formulations was effective and safe for the management of hyperglycemia on a hospitalist-managed ward, with more than 70% BG measurements within the therapeutic range and a low rate of hypoglycemia.

InsulinAPP application protocol for the inpatient management of type 2 diabetes on a hospitalist-managed ward: a retrospective study.

Introduction: We assessed metrics related to inpatient glycemic control using InsulinAPP, an application available for free in Brazil, on the hospitalist-managed ward of our hospital. Subjects and methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) admitted from November 2018 to October 2019. InsulinAPP recommends NPH and regular insulins three times a day, in bolus-correction or basal-bolus schemes. Parameters that included BG within range of 70-180 mg/dL, insulin treatment regimen and frequency of hypoglycemia were evaluated. Results: A total of 147 T2D individuals (23% medicine and 77% surgery) were included (mean age 62.3 ± 12.7 years, HbA1c: 8.3 ± 3.0%). The initial insulin regimen was 50% bolus-correction, 47% basal-bolus and 3% with sliding scale insulin. During hospitalization, 71% patients required a bolus-basal regimen. In the first 10 days of the protocol, 71% BG measurements were between 70-180 mg/dL and 26% patients experienced one or more episodes of hypoglycemia < 70 mg/dL, and 5% with BG < 54 mg/dL. Conclusion: The results of this retrospective study indicate the InsulinAPP application using human insulin formulations was effective and safe for the management of hyperglycemia on a hospitalist-managed ward, with more than 70% BG measurements within the therapeutic range and a low rate of hypoglycemia.

Comparative assessment of mortality risk factors between admission and follow-up models among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare differences in mortality risk factors between admission and follow-up incorporated models. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 524 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to a tertiary medical center in São Paulo, Brazil from 13 March to 30 April 2020. Data were collected on admission, and the third, eighth and fourteenth days of hospitalization. The hazard ratio (HR) was calculated and 28-day in-hospital mortality risk factors were compared between admission and follow-up models using a time-dependent Cox regression model. RESULTS: Of 524 patients, 50.4% needed mechanical ventilation. The 28-day mortality rate was 32.8%. Compared with follow-up, admission models under-estimated the mortality HR for peripheral oxygen saturation <92% (1.21 versus 2.09), heart rate >100 bpm (1.19 versus 2.04), respiratory rate >24/min (1.01 versus 1.82) and mechanical ventilation (1.92 versus 12.93). Low oxygen saturation, higher oxygen support and more biomarkers-including lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and urea remained associated with mortality after adjustment for clinical factors at follow-up compared with only urea and oxygen support at admission. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of follow-up measurements changed mortality hazards of clinical signs and biomarkers. Low oxygen saturation, higher oxygen support, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and urea could help with prognosis of patients during follow-up.

Analysis of the Perception of Interns, Residents, and Preceptors through the Mini-CEX Evaluation Method (Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise) / Análise das Percepções de Internos, Residentes e Preceptores por meio do Método de Avaliação Mini-CEX (Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise)

Abstract: Introduction: Mini-CEX is an evaluation method that covers the domains: anamnesis, physical examination, counseling, clinical judgment, organization, and professionalism. It has been tested and validated for use in any practice scenario. With its characteristic of providing feedback after a clinical assessment, the Mini-CEX can also be used as a training method to guide the professional development of students and teachers, promoting greater knowledge retention in undergraduate students and continuously providing information for students to realize how far they are from the desired objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of interns, residents, and preceptors of Internal Medicine (IM) regarding the Mini-CEX instrument. Methods: Qualitative study, using the focus group technique, carried out from February to July 2017. Twenty interns, thirteen residents, and five IM preceptors participated. It consisted of six focus groups, two with interns, two with residents, and two with preceptors, using semi-structured questions that identified perceptions, through the methodology used, on the quality of the evaluation and possible repercussions for the teaching-learning process. Results: In the focus group of interns, the feedback moment of the assessment was considered essential for the learning process, although the bedside assessment was tense due to the preceptor's presence. The residents reported that the evaluation was a valid one, as it led them to review some points in the medical literature, in addition to stimulating clinical reasoning in the face of a real situation. The preceptors validated the importance of the feedback for those who were evaluated and identified the bedside assessment as a moment for the best analysis of the individualities. Conclusion: Through the perceptions of the groups in focus, the mini-CEX was identified as a fundamental instrument for the teaching and learning process of all those involved and the need to structure the moment of feedback aiming to attain a more effective result. During the bedside assessment, the stimulus to clinical reasoning was identified as a positive point and the strangeness, anxiety, and tension as negative points.

Resumo: Introdução: O Mini-CEX é um método de avaliação que abrange os seguintes domínios: anamnese, exame físico, aconselhamento, julgamento clínico, organização e profissionalismo. Foi testado e validado para utilização em qualquer cenário de prática. Com sua característica de fornecer feedback após uma avaliação clínica, o Mini-CEX também serve como um método de formação para guiar o desenvolvimento profissional de formandos e formadores, promovendo maior retenção de conhecimento no corpo discente e fornecendo, continuamente, informações para que o estudante perceba o quão distante está dos objetivos almejados. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a percepção de internos, residentes e preceptores da clínica médica (CM) sobre instrumento Mini-CEX. Método: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo realizado pela técnica de grupo focal no período de fevereiro a julho de 2017. Participaram 20 internos, 13 residentes e cinco preceptores de CM. Constituíram-se seis grupos focais, dois com os internos, dois com residentes e dois com docentes, com perguntas semiestruturadas que identificaram as percepções, por meio da metodologia empregada, na qualidade da avaliação e eventuais repercussões para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Resultados: No grupo focal dos internos, o momento de feedback da avaliação foi considerado essencial para o processo de aprendizado embora a avaliação a beira-leito tenha se mostrado tensa pela presença do tutor. Os residentes relataram que a avaliação foi válida, pois os levou a revisar alguns pontos da literatura médica, além de estimular o raciocínio clinico diante de uma situação real. Os preceptores validaram a importância do feedback para os avaliados e identificaram a avaliação a beira-leito como momento de melhor análise das individualidades. Conclusão: Por meio das percepções dos grupos em foco, identificamos o Mini-CEX como ferramenta fundamental para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem de todos os envolvidos e a necessidade de estruturação do momento de feedback para um resultado mais eficaz. Durante a avaliação a beira-leito, foi identificado o estímulo ao raciocínio clínico como ponto positivo e o estranhamento, a ansiedade e a tensão como pontos negativos.

Colonization pressure and risk factors for acquisition of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a medical surgical intensive care unit in Brazil.

We studied a nonconcurrent cohort of 582 patients admitted to a medical-surgical intensive care unit. Use of antimicrobials (imipenem and metronidazole) was a risk factor for acquisition of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii only for the subcohort of patients admitted in months in which colonization pressure was lower than the median value.