The Correlation between Hand Grip Strength and Nutritional Variables in Ambulatory Cancer Patients.

Among the methods used in the nutritional assessment of cancer patients, handgrip strength (HGS), an important indicator of malnutrition, was chosen in this study. An observational cross-sectional study with the prospective collection. We analyzed 100 patients from the Oncology Department of Santa Rita Hospital, in Maringá city, Paraná, Brazil. To determine the clinical-pathological staging was used the Cancer Staging Manual. In the objective nutritional assessment, data to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), arm muscle circumference (AMC), corrected arm muscle area (cAMA) and measurement of HGS were measured. In connection with the subjective method used, a Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) has been selected. Arm Circumference (AC) presents a significant association with the left hand HGS classification. The right hand HGS does not show a significant correlation with the analyzed variables. However, the results showed that patients with higher left hand HGS tend to present lower PG-SGA and higher AMC. HGS, as a predictor of nutritional vulnerability, has proved superiority for predicting clinical results in cancer patients. However, it requires more studies that investigate other nutritional variables to determine the nutritional risk in this population.

Nanotechnology in Improving the Treatment of Huntington's Disease: a Systematic Review.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a degenerative genetic condition characterized by cognitive, motor, and psychiatric disturbance. It is caused by a dominantly inherited alteration in the huntingtin gene. Even though symptomatic management is the mainstay of HD treatment, in the thesis, one of the leading causes of the low success of current therapy is their low efficacy for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The improvement in drug delivery through the BBB may be achieved by some endogenous uptake mechanisms and nanocarrier systems, increasing the bioavailability and slow-release of macromolecular drugs in the central nervous system. In the present study, we present state-of-the-art scientific production on nanotechnology in the treatment of HD symptoms. Here, we discussed the benefits of nanotechnology pharmacological therapy tested in rodent animal models and in vitro specific analyses. We presented why we could apply nanotechnology to improve the transport of drugs through BBB based on already postulated hypotheses about potential pharmacological therapy against some HD symptoms.

Rare Presentations of Frontal Sinus Fungus Ball: A Systematic Review.

Introduction The sinus fungus ball is an agglomeration of debris and hyphae, mainly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus , within the paranasal sinus, commonly affecting a single sinus, and it only rarely affects the frontal sinus. Objective To identify the state of the art of fungus ball in paranasal sinuses, especially related to the epidemiology of the disease in the frontal sinus. Additionally, this article reports a rare case of fungus ball in the frontal sinus in an adult male, and discusses the variables of this condition related to the patient. Data Synthesis All of the 8 cases of fungus ball in the frontal sinus reported in this study affected male patients: 40% had unilateral disease, and 60%, bilateral disease, contrary to the incidence data of fungus ball in the other paranasal sinuses, which reports unilateral prevalence. However, in the present study, this index changes, with 50% of unilateral and 50% of bilateral incidence regarding frontal sinus involvement. The average age of the patients was 65.36 years (range: 60-74 years). The etiologic agent was Aspergillus spp., and the endonasal endoscopic therapeutic approach corresponded to 80% of cases, while frontal osteoplasty accounted for 20% of cases, reaffirming the prevalence data from other studies. Conclusion Despite being a low-incidence entity, frontal sinus fungus ball should be considered in patients with pain in the frontal region refractory to the usual clinical treatments.

Capacity Building in Peer-review: A Student-Led Journal Report.

Peer-review optimizes the quality of research articles; however, new strategies need to be implemented to enhance peer-review capacity. This report comprises the peer-review process of a medical student-led journal editorial board, detailing its challenges and the students' role. The peer education approach conducted a capacity-building activity, developing guidelines, and practicing critical appraisal and constructive feedback in manners that classroom research training cannot. Understandings of an effective peer-review brought to discussion from standardization and blinding to ethical and scientific competencies essential in researchers. All parties, including students, should be allowed to extend their capabilities to enhance scholarly publishing.

Demografia médica em municípios em extrema pobreza no Brasil / Medical demographics in municipalities in extreme poverty in Brazil / Demografía médica en municipios de extrema pobreza en Brasil

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo foi analisar a distribuição de profissionais médicos vinculados ao Sistema Único de Saúde em municípios em extrema pobreza do Brasil. Trata-se de estudo observacional, longitudinal e retrospectivo, desenvolvido com base em dados secundários disponibilizados pelo Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde. Foram contabilizados 16.267 médicos, dos quais 1.360 atendiam na rede privada e 14.907 na rede pública. Dentre estes, 1.284 atendem na região Norte; 9.186, no Nordeste; 3.071, no Sudeste; 837, no Sul; e 529, no Centro-Oeste. Entre os municípios brasileiros em extrema pobreza, 12,2% dispõem de três médicos; 10,7%, de dois médicos; e 9,2%, de apenas um médico. Os desfechos primários relativos à demografia médica dos municípios em extrema pobreza afirmam a desproporção na distribuição de profissionais entre as cidades brasileiras. Sugere-se a implementação de políticas em saúde que promovam a equidade da demografia médica no país.

Abstract This article aimed to analyze the distribution of medical professionals linked to the Brazilian Unified Health System in municipalities in extreme poverty in the country. This is an observational, longitudinal and retrospective study based on secondary data provided by the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System. In total, 16,267 physicians were identified, of which 1,360 worked in the private network and 14,907 in the public network. The regional distribution is as follows: 1,284 in the North; 9,186 in the Northeast; 3,071 in the Southeast; 837 in the South; and 529 in the Midwest. Among Brazilian municipalities in extreme poverty, 12.2% have three physicians; 10.7% of two physicians; and 9.2% of only one. The primary outcomes related to the demographics of medical personnel municipalities in extreme poverty show the disproportion in the distribution of professionals among Brazilian cities. The implementation of health policies that promote the equity of such demographics in the country is suggested.

Resumen Este artículo analizó la distribución de los profesionales médicos vinculados al Sistema Único de Salud en municipios en extrema pobreza en Brasil. Se trató de un estudio observacional, longitudinal y retrospectivo, realizado con datos secundarios provenientes del Departamento de Informática del Sistema Único de Salud. De un total de 16.267 médicos; 1.360 estaban en la red privada y 14.907 en la red pública. De estos, 1.284 trabajaban en la región Norte; 9.186, en el Nordeste; 3.071, en el Sudeste; 837 en el Sur; y 529, en el Centro-Oeste. En tal condición, el 12,2% de los municipios tenía tres médicos; el 10,7%, dos; y el 9,2% solo uno. Los resultados primarios relacionados con el tema permiten atestar la desproporción en la distribución de profesionales entre las ciudades brasileñas. Se sugiere implementar políticas de salud que promuevan la equidad en la demografía médica en el país.

Rare Presentations of Frontal Sinus Fungus Ball: A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction The sinus fungus ball is an agglomeration of debris and hyphae, mainly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, within the paranasal sinus, commonly affecting a single sinus, and it only rarely affects the frontal sinus. Objective To identify the state of the art of fungus ball in paranasal sinuses, especially related to the epidemiology of the disease in the frontal sinus. Additionally, this article reports a rare case of fungus ball in the frontal sinus in an adult male, and discusses the variables of this condition related to the patient. Data Synthesis All of the 8 cases of fungus ball in the frontal sinus reported in this study affected male patients: 40% had unilateral disease, and 60%, bilateral disease, contrary to the incidence data of fungus ball in the other paranasal sinuses, which reports unilateral prevalence. However, in the present study, this index changes, with 50% of unilateral and 50% of bilateral incidence regarding frontal sinus involvement. The average age of the patients was 65.36 years (range: 60-74 years). The etiologic agent was Aspergillus spp., and the endonasal endoscopic therapeutic approach corresponded to 80% of cases, while frontal osteoplasty accounted for 20% of cases, reaffirming the prevalence data from other studies. Conclusion Despite being a low-incidence entity, frontal sinus fungus ball should be considered in patients with pain in the frontal region refractory to the usual clinical treatments.