Lifestyle Modifications and Nutritional and Therapeutic Interventions in Delaying the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a debilitating progressive illness that affects more than 10% of the world's population. In this literature review, we discussed the roles of nutritional interventions, lifestyle modifications, hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) control, and medications in delaying the progression of CKD. Walking, weight loss, low-protein diet (LPD), adherence to the alternate Mediterranean (aMed) diet, and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010 slow the progression of CKD. However, smoking and binge alcohol drinking increase the risk of CKD progression. In addition, hyperglycemia, altered lipid metabolism, low-grade inflammation, over-activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and overhydration (OH) increase diabetic CKD progression. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend blood pressure (BP) control of <140/90 mmHg in patients without albuminuria and <130/80 mmHg in patients with albuminuria to prevent CKD progression. Medical therapies aim to target epigenetic alterations, fibrosis, and inflammation. Currently, RAAS blockade, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, pentoxifylline, and finerenone are approved for managing CKD. In addition, according to the completed Study of Diabetic Nephropathy with Atrasentan (SONAR), atrasentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA), decreased the risk of renal events in diabetic CKD patients. However, ongoing trials are studying the role of other agents in slowing the progression of CKD.

El rol del cuidador a distancia de personas con enfermedad crónica: scoping review / The role of the distance caregiver of people with chronic disease: scoping review / Papel do cuidador à distância de pessoas com doenças crônicas: scoping review

Introducción: Se ha explorado poco sobre el rol del cuidador a dis-tancia o cuidador secundario de las personas con enfermedad cró-nica, por ello se hace necesario conocer el avance de la evidencia científica sobre este tipo de cuidadores, con el fin de determinar los aportes y los vacíos presentes en la literatura. Metodología: Revi-sión descriptiva tipo scoping review, en la que se realizó una bús-queda en las siguientes bases de datos: de Embase, Science direct, Pubmed, Medline, Academic search complete y Scopus, limitando el tiempo entre 2005 ­ 2020. Se utilizaron los términos: DeCS y MeSH de Long distance caregiver, distance caregiver, secondary caregiver y chronic disease. Además, se seleccionaron 20 artículos originales, una vez realizado el proceso de crítica con CASPe. Re-sultados. Emergieron 4 núcleos temáticos: experiencias y percep-ciones del cuidador a distancia, características del rol del cuidador a distancia, soporte social del cuidador a distancia por medio de Tec-nologías de la información y la comunicación TICs y estrategias de afrontamiento del cuidador a distancia. Conclusión: es un fenómeno poco explorado, por lo que son amplios los vacíos que existen, em-pezando por su autoreconocimiento en el desempeño de su rol hasta las intervenciones específicas que lo favorezcan.

Introduction: Little has been explored about the role of remote caregiver or secondary caregiver of people with chronic disease, so it is relevant to know the progress of scientific evidence on remote or secondary family caregivers, in order to determine the contributions and knowledge gaps present in the literature. Metodology: Descriptive review type scoping review, in which a search was performed in databases of Embase, Science direct, Pubmed, Medline, Academic search complete and Scopus, limiting between 2005 - 2020 using the terms DeCS and MeSH de Long-distance caregiver, distance caregiver, secondary caregiver and chronic disease, selected 20 original articles after completing the review process with CASPe. Results: 4 thematic nuclei emerged that were Experiences and perceptions of the remote caregiver, Characteristics of the role of the remote caregiver, Social support of the remote caregiver through information and communication technologies, ICTs and coping strategies of the remote caregiver. Conclusion: this is a phenomenon little explored, so the gaps that exist are wide, starting with their self-rec-ognition in the role performance up to the specific interventions that favor their performance.

Introdução: Tem se explorado pouco sobre o papel do cuidador à distância ou cuidador secundá-rio das pessoas com doenças crônicas, por isso, faz-se necessário conhecer o avanço da evidência científica sob este tipo de cuidadores, com o intuito de determinar os aportes e os vazios presentes na literatura. Materiais e Métodos: Revisão descritiva tipo Scoping review, realizou-se a busca nas seguintes bases de dados: Embase, Science direct, Pubmed, Medline, Academic search com-plete e Scopus, limitando o tempo entre 2005 ­ 2020. Usaram-se os descritores: DeCS e MeSH "Long distance caregiver, distance caregiver, secondary caregiver" e "chronic disease". Alem disso, selecionaram-se 20 artigos originais, uma vez realizado o processo de crítica com CASPe. Resultados: Surgiram 4 núcleos temáticos: experiências e percepções do cuidador à distância por meio de tecnologias da informação e a comunicação e estratégias de afrontamento do cui-dador à distância. Conclusão: é um fenômeno pouco explorado, pelo que são amplos os vazios existentes, começando pelo auto reconhecimento no desempenho do seu papel até as interven-ções específicas que o favorecem.

Soledad en el adulto mayor: implicaciones para el profesional de enfermería / Loneliness in elderly people: implications for nursing professionals / Solidão no adulto maior: implicações para o profissional de enfermagem

Resumen Introducción La soledad es una vivencia desfavorable, relacionada con la sensación de tristeza, que afecta la cotidianidad de la persona, el adulto mayor es más propenso a tener sentimientos de soledad debido a la falta de interacción con amigos, la enfermedad, la viudez o el deterioro cognitivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue integrar los hallazgos sobre la soledad en el adulto mayor e identificar los aspectos que influyen en la misma. Materiales y Métodos Se realizó una revisión sistemática de alcance integrativo. La búsqueda de información se realizó en 9 bases de datos, durante el periodo 2007 al 2018, se incluyeron en la revisión 36 estudios. Resultados De acuerdo con la información encontrada emergieron 4 temas: características de la soledad en el adulto mayor, causas de la soledad, consecuencias de la soledad y factores que disminuyen los sentimientos de soledad. Discusión La literatura indica que la soledad se relaciona principalmente con el aislamiento social, debido a la falta de interacción con otras personas y el desapego familiar lo que genera baja calidad de vida y riesgo de padecer enfermedades crónicas, es por esta situación que los profesionales de la salud deben prestar atención a una valoración holística del adulto mayor. Conclusiones Los estudios muestran que existen varios aspectos que influyen en el proceso de soledad del adulto mayor, así como las principales acciones que puede realizar el profesional de la salud para intervenir este fenómeno.

Abstract Introduction Loneliness is an adverse situation related to the feeling of sadness that affects the everyday life of a person. Elderly people are prone to feel lonely due to the lack of interaction with friends, illness, widowhood or cognitive impairment. This study aims to integrate the findings about loneliness in elderly people and identify the aspects that influence it. Materials and Methods A systematic review following an integrative approach was conducted. The search for information was carried out in 9 databases between 2007 and 2018, from which 36 studies were included in the review. Results According to the information found, 4 topics were identified: characteristics of loneliness in elderly people, causes of loneliness, consequences of loneliness, and factors that help reduce loneliness. Discussion The literature indicates that loneliness is mainly related to social isolation due to the lack of interaction with people and detachment from family members, generating low quality of life and risk of chronic diseases. Therefore, health professionals should take notice of a holistic health assessment in elderly people. Conclusions Studies indicate that there are several aspects influencing loneliness in elderly people as well as the main actions that health professionals can take to intervene in this phenomenon.

Resumo Introdução A solidão é uma vivência desfavorável, relacionada com à sensação de tristeza, que afeta a cotidianidade da pessoa, o adulto maior é mais propenso a sentir solidão por conta da falta de interação com amigos, doenças, a viuvez ou a deterioração cognitiva. Este estudo objetiva integrar os achados sobre a solidão no adulto maior e identificar os aspetos que influem nessa condição. Materiais e Métodos Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática de alcance integrativo. A busca de informação foi realizada em 9 bancos de dados, durante o período 2007 - 2018, incluindo a revisão de 36 estudos. Resultados De acordo com a informação encontrada surgiram 4 temas: características da solidão no adulto maior, causas da solidão, consequências da solidão e fatores que diminuem os sentimentos de solidão. Discussão A literatura argui que a solidão está relacionada designadamente com o isolamento social, produzido pela falta de interação com outras pessoas e o desapego familiar, que propicia uma baixa qualidade de vida e o risco de sofrer doenças crônicas, e é por essa situação que os profissionais da saúde devem prestar atenção a uma valoração holística do adulto maior. Conclusões Os estudos mostram que existem vários aspectos que influem no processo de solidão do adulto maior, bem como as principais ações que pode realizar um profissional da saúde para fazer uma intervenção a respeito deste fenômeno.

Incertidumbre ante la enfermedad crónica. Revisión integrativa / Uncertainty about Chronic Disease. Integrative Review / Incerteza na doença crônica. Revisão integrativa

Resumen: Este estudio tiene como objetivo integrar la evidencia acerca de la incertidumbre ante la enfermedad en el paciente con enfermedad crónica y su cuidador familiar, guiados por la teoría de la incertidumbre ante la enfermedad. Para esto se realizó una síntesis integrativa de la literatura durante los años 2007 a 2017. Se usaron las bases de datos Medline, Science Direct, Ovid Nursing, Scielo, Scopus, CINAHL y Psycinfo en los idiomas inglés y español. Para realizar la síntesis integrativa se incluyeron 46 publicaciones, con 21 estudios de tipo cualitativo, 19 cuantitativo, 2 mixtos y 4 revisiones. Los estudios se realizaron en su mayoría en pacientes con cáncer, enfermedades neurodegenerativas, fallos orgánicos, falla cardiaca, EPOC y en cuidados paliativos de distintas enfermedades. Dentro de las principales conclusiones del estudio se plantea que la persona con enfermedad crónica y su cuidador familiar desarrollan incertidumbre ante la enfermedad crónica debido a falencias en la educación acerca de la enfermedad y el cuidado, así como el soporte social que reciben del equipo de salud y de sus redes de apoyo.

Abstract: This study aims to integrate the evidence about the uncertainty about the disease in the patient with chronic illness and their family caretaker, guided by the theory of uncertainty about the disease. For this, an integrative synthesis of the literature was carried out during the years 2007 to 2017. The Medline, Science Direct, Ovid Nursing, Scielo, Scopus, CINAHL and Psycinfo databases were used in the English and Spanish languages. To carry out the integrative synthesis, 46 publications were included, with 21 qualitative, 19 quantitative, 2 mixed and 4 reviews. The studies were mostly carried out in patients with cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, organic failures, heart failure, COPD and in palliative care of different diseases. Among the main conclusions of the study, it is suggested that the person with chronic illness and their family caretaker develop uncertainty about the chronic illness due to shortcomings in education about the disease and care, as well as the social support they receive from the health team and its support networks.

Resumo: Este estudo tem como objetivo integrar a evidência a respeito da incerteza face à doença no paciente com doença crônica e seu cuidador familiar, guiados pela teoria da incerteza na doença. Para isso, realizou-se uma síntese integrativa da literatura durante os anos 2007 a 2017. Usaram-se os bancos de dados Medline, Science Direct, Ovid Nursing, Scielo, Scopus, CINAHL e Psycinfo nos idiomas inglês e espanhol. Para realizar a síntese integrativa incluíram-se 46 publicações, com 21 estudos de tipo qualitativo, 19 quantitativo, 2 mistos e 4 revisões. Os estudos realizaram-se, em sua maioria, em pacientes com câncer, doenças neurodegenerativas, falhas orgânicas, falha cardíaca, EPOC e em cuidados paliativos de diferentes doenças. Dentro das principais conclusões do estudo, propõe-se que a pessoa com doença crônica e seu cuidador familiar desenvolvem incerteza na doença crônica devido a falências na educação a respeito da doença e do cuidado, bem como o suporte social que recebem da equipe de saúde e de suas redes de apoio.

Ceftaroline-Resistant, Daptomycin-Tolerant, and Heterogeneous Vancomycin-Intermediate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Causing Infective Endocarditis.

We report a case of infective endocarditis (IE) caused by ceftaroline-resistant, daptomycin-tolerant, and heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Resistance to ceftaroline emerged in the absence of drug exposure, and the E447K substitution in the active site of PBP2a previously associated with ceftaroline resistance was identified. Additionally, we present evidence of patient-to-patient transmission of the strain within the same unit. This case illustrates the difficulties in treating MRSA IE in the setting of a multidrug-resistant phenotype.

Methicillin-Susceptible, Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Brazil.

We report characterization of a methicillin-susceptible, vancomycin-resistant bloodstream isolate of Staphylococcus aureus recovered from a patient in Brazil. Emergence of vancomycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus would indicate that this resistance trait might be poised to disseminate more rapidly among S. aureus and represents a major public health threat.

Resistencia a antibióticos de última línea en cocos Gram positivos: la era posterior a la vancomicina / Resistance to "last resort" antibiotics in Gram-positive cocci: The post-vancomycin era

En los últimos años se han desarrollado nuevas alternativas para el tratamiento de infecciones por patógenos Gram positivos multirresistentes, entre los cuales Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (SARM) y los enterococos resistentes a la vancomicina (ERV) se consideran un verdadero reto terapéutico, y aunque el uso de la vancomicina en infecciones graves causadas por SARM ha generado serias dudas en los últimos años, continúa siendo escasa la información clínica de respaldo al uso de agentes terapéuticos que la superen en eficacia. El linezolid, la daptomicina y la tigeciclina son agentes que tienen actividad contra los cocos Gram positivos y que fueron aprobados e introducidos en la terapia clínica en la década pasada. Además, se han probado o están en las fases finales de desarrollo otros agentes como las cefalosporinas de última generación (ceftarolina y ceftobiprol). El propósito de esta revisión fue describir las nuevas alternativas terapéuticas, particularmente en la era posterior a la vancomicina, y repasar las características químicas más relevantes de los compuestos y su espectro de actividad, haciendo énfasis en sus mecanismos de acción y resistencia.

New therapeutic alternatives have been developed in the last years for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive infections. Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are considered a therapeutic challenge due to failures and lack of reliable antimicrobial options. Despite concerns related to the use of vancomycin in the treatment of severe MRSA infections in specific clinical scenarios, there is a paucity of solid clinical evidence that support the use of alternative agents (when compared to vancomycin). Linezolid, daptomycin and tigecycline are antibiotics approved in the last decade and newer cephalosporins (such as ceftaroline and ceftobiprole) and novel glycopeptides (dalvavancin, telavancin and oritavancin) have reached clinical approval or are in the late stages of clinical development. This review focuses on discussing these newer antibiotics used in the "post-vancomycin" era with emphasis on relevant chemical characteristics, spectrum of antimicrobial activity, mechanisms of action and resistance, as well as their clinical utility.

Whole-genome analysis of a daptomycin-susceptible enterococcus faecium strain and its daptomycin-resistant variant arising during therapy.

Development of daptomycin (DAP) resistance in Enterococcus faecalis has recently been associated with mutations in genes encoding proteins with two main functions: (i) control of the cell envelope stress response to antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides (LiaFSR system) and (ii) cell membrane phospholipid metabolism (glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase and cardiolipin synthase [cls]). However, the genetic bases for DAP resistance in Enterococcus faecium are unclear. We performed whole-genome comparative analysis of a clinical strain pair, DAP-susceptible E. faecium S447 and its DAP-resistant derivative R446, which was recovered from a single patient during DAP therapy. By comparative whole-genome sequencing, DAP resistance in R446 was associated with changes in 8 genes. Two of these genes encoded proteins involved in phospholipid metabolism: (i) an R218Q substitution in Cls and (ii) an A292G reversion in a putative cyclopropane fatty acid synthase enzyme. The DAP-resistant derivative R446 also exhibited an S333L substitution in the putative histidine kinase YycG, a member of the YycFG system, which, similar to LiaFSR, has been involved in cell envelope homeostasis and DAP resistance in other Gram-positive cocci. Additional changes identified in E. faecium R446 (DAP resistant) included two putative proteins involved in transport (one for carbohydrate and one for sulfate) and three enzymes predicted to play a role in general metabolism. Exchange of the "susceptible" cls allele from S447 for the "resistant" one belonging to R446 did not affect DAP susceptibility. Our results suggest that, apart from the LiaFSR system, the essential YycFG system is likely to be an important mediator of DAP resistance in some E. faecium strains.

Genetic basis for in vivo daptomycin resistance in enterococci.

BACKGROUND: Daptomycin is a lipopeptide with bactericidal activity that acts on the cell membrane of enterococci and is often used off-label to treat patients infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci. However, the emergence of resistance to daptomycin during therapy threatens its usefulness. METHODS: We performed whole-genome sequencing and characterization of the cell envelope of a clinical pair of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis isolates from the blood of a patient with fatal bacteremia; one isolate (S613) was from blood drawn before treatment and the other isolate (R712) was from blood drawn after treatment with daptomycin. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these two isolates were 1 and 12 µg per milliliter, respectively. Gene replacements were made to exchange the alleles found in isolate S613 with those in isolate R712. RESULTS: Isolate R712 had in-frame deletions in three genes. Two genes encoded putative enzymes involved in phospholipid metabolism, GdpD (which denotes glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase) and Cls (which denotes cardiolipin synthetase), and one gene encoded a putative membrane protein, LiaF (which denotes lipid II cycle-interfering antibiotics protein but whose exact function is not known). LiaF is predicted to be a member of a three-component regulatory system (LiaFSR) involved in the stress-sensing response of the cell envelope to antibiotics. Replacement of the liaF allele of isolate S613 with the liaF allele from isolate R712 quadrupled the MIC of daptomycin, whereas replacement of the gdpD allele had no effect on MIC. Replacement of both the liaF and gdpD alleles of isolate S613 with the liaF and gdpD alleles of isolate R712 raised the daptomycin MIC for isolate S613 to 12 µg per milliliter. As compared with isolate S613, isolate R712--the daptomycin-resistant isolate--had changes in the structure of the cell envelope and alterations in membrane permeability and membrane potential. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in genes encoding LiaF and a GdpD-family protein were necessary and sufficient for the development of resistance to daptomycin during the treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institutes of Health.).

Actividad bactericida y fungicida de algunas plantas utilizadas en la medicina tradicional venezolana / Activity bactericide and fungicide of some plant utilization in the medicine traditional venezuelan

La region tropical es muy rica en especies vegetales y animales, muchas de ellas con potenciales aplicaciones aún desconocidas para la ciencia a pesar del uso tradicional que se les a dado a través de los siglos. En este estudio se realizó una evaluación de la actividad antibacteriana y fungicida presente en las plantas: Plantago australis Lam. (llantén); Petiveria alliacea L. (mapurite); Mangifera indica L. (mango); Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. (esponjilla); Psidium guineense Sw. (guayabo agrio) y Phthirusa sp. (pajarito); sobre las cepas microbianas Escherichia coli enterotoxigénica, Escherichia coli enteroinvasiva y Escherichia coli enteropatógena; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Candida Krusei y Candida albicans. Los resultados indican que el extracto de Mangifera indica presentó la mayor actividad fungicida y bactericida, seguido del extracto de Psidium guineense Sw