A peptide fraction from hardened common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) induces endothelium-dependent antihypertensive and renal effects in rats.

Beans reached the research spotlight as a source of bioactive compounds capable of modulating different functions. Recently, we reported antioxidant and oxidonitrergic effect of a low molecular weight peptide fraction (<3 kDa) from hardened bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in vitro and ex vivo, which necessitate further in vivo assessments. This work aimed to evaluate the hypotensive effect and the involved physiological mechanisms of the hardened common bean peptide (Phaseolus vulgaris) in normotensive (Wistar) and hypertensive (SHR) animals. Bean flour was combined with a solution containing acetonitrile, water and formic acid (25: 24: 1). Protein extract (PV3) was fractioned (3 kDa membrane). We assessed PV3 effects on renal function and hemodynamics of wistar (WT-normotensive) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and measured systemic arterial pressure and flow in aortic and renal beds. The potential endothelial and oxidonitrergic involvements were tested in isolated renal artery rings. As results, we found that PV3: I) decreased food consumption in SHR, increased water intake and urinary volume in WT, increased glomerular filtration rate in WT and SHR, caused natriuresis in SHR; II) caused NO- and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in renal artery rings; III) reduced arterial pressure and resistance in aortic and renal vascular beds; IV) caused antihypertensive effects in a dose-dependent manner. Current findings support PV3 as a source of bioactive peptides and raise the potential of composing nutraceutical formulations to treat renal and cardiovascular diseases.

Avaliação de programas de controle de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde: perspectiva crítica da RDC N°48/2000 da ANVISA / Assessment of healthcare-associated infection control programs: a critical perspective of ANVISA's RDC Nº 48/2000 / Evaluación de los programas de control de las infecciones asociadas a la atención de salud: perspectiva crítica del RDC Nº 48/2000 de la ANVISA

Objetivo: avaliar criticamente Programas de Controle de Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência à Saúde (PCIRAS) em hospitais de médio-extra portes, quanto ao cumprimento dos critérios sanitários nacionais. Métodos: estudo transversal realizado em 18 hospitais com Comissões de Controle de Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência à Saúde (CCIRAS) dos estados de Goiás e São Paulo, Brasil. Para coleta de dados aplicou-se formulário online fundamentado nos itens de avaliação preconizados pela Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada (RDC) Nº 48/2000 - ANVISA. Para análise estatística utilizou-se exame da frequência e distribuição das variáveis (média e desvio padrão - DP). Resultados: as CCIRAS atenderam 100% dos itens imprescindíveis, 93,0% (DP = 5,8) dos necessários e 64,8% (DP = 32,5) dos recomendados. Os Serviços de Controle de IRAS atenderam 90,2% (DP = 16,1) dos itens necessários, e 77,8% (DP = 19,2) dos recomendáveis. Conclusão: itens imprescindíveis foram cumpridos, porém os necessários e recomendados apresentam diferentes graus de inconformidades, podendo comprometer a prevenção e controle de IRAS. A aplicação de roteiro baseado na RDC N° 48/2000 contribui para conhecer a realidade dos PCIRAS dos hospitais, contudo, essa normativa não estabelece percentual mínimo de conformidade, dificultando a interpretação dos resultados. Há necessidade de atualizá-la para instrumentalizar os órgãos fiscalizadores.

Objective: to critically evaluate Healthcare-Associated Infection Control Programs (HAICP) in medium to extra-large hospitals, as to compliance with national health criteria. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted in 18 hospitals with Healthcare-Associated Infection Control Committees (HAICC) in the states of Goiás and São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected using online form based on the evaluation items from Directors' Collegiate Resolution (RDC) Nº 48/2000 ­ ANVISA. For statistical analysis, frequency, and distribution of variables (mean; standard deviation - SD) were examined. Results:HAICC met 100% of the indispensable items, 93.0% (SD = 5.8) of the required, and 64.8% (SD = 32.5) of the recommended. Healthcare-Associated Infection Control Services complied with 90.2% (SD = 16.1) of the necessary items, and 77.8% (SD = 19.2) of those recommended. Conclusion: indispensable items were met, but the necessary and recommended ones present different degrees of noncompliance, which may compromise the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. The application of a script based on the RDC Nº 48/2000 contributes to identify the reality of the hospitals' HAICP, however, this normative does not establish a minimum percentage of compliance, making it difficult to interpret the results. It is necessary to update it in order to provide tools to surveillance agencies.

Objetivo: evaluar críticamente los Programas de Control de Infecciones Relacionadas con la Atención de Salud (PCIRAA) en hospitales medianos y grandes para determinar si cumplen con los criterios nacionales de salud. Métodos: estudio transversal realizado en 18 hospitales con Comisiones de Control de las Infecciones Asociadas a la Atención de Salud (CCIAAS) en los estados de Goiás y São Paulo, Brasil. Para la recolección de datos se aplicó un formulario online, desarrollado con base en los ítems de evaluación recomendados por la Resolución Directiva Colegiada (RDC) Nº 48/2000 de la ANVISA. Para el análisis estadístico, se utilizó el examen de la frecuencia y distribución de las variables (media y desvío estándar - DE). Resultados:las CCIAAS cumplieron en promedio el 100% de los ítems indispensables, el 93,0% (DE = 5,8) de los necesarios y el 64,8% (DE = 32,5) de los recomendados. Los Servicios de Control de las Infecciones Asociadas a la Atención de Salud cumplieron en promedio el 90,2% (DE = 16,1) de los ítems necesarios y el 77,8% (DE = 19,2) de los recomendados. Conclusión: se cumplieron los ítems imprescindibles, pero los necesarios y los recomendados presentan diferentes grados de disconformidad, que pueden comprometer la prevención y el control de las infecciones asociadas a la atención de salud. La aplicación de la rutina basada en la RDC Nº 48/2000 contribuyó a conocer la realidad de los PCIRAA en los hospitales, pero esta normativa no establece un porcentaje mínimo de conformidad, lo que dificulta la interpretación de los resultados. Se hace necesario actualizarla para dotar de herramientas a los organismos supervisores

Mortality Risk Factors for Coronavirus Infection in Hospitalized Adults in Brazil: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented high morbidity and mortality, with associated high socioeconomic costs. Brazil ranks third in the number of COVID-19 cases, behind only India and the United States. OBJECTIVE: To analyze risk factors for mortality in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Brazil. METHODS: Observational retrospective cohort study including data from all Brazilian states and regions. The study included information from 468,226 in-hospital patients from all regions of Brazil from 1 January 2021 to 31 July 2021. Data from the influenza epidemiological surveillance system were used. The participants were adults hospitalized with COVID-19. A Cox regression model was used to analyze factors associated with mortality in adults with COVID-19. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality lethality was 37.5%. The risk factors associated with COVID-19 mortality were older age, with a linear increase with increments in age, male sex, black or mixed race, low education level, comorbidities, use of ventilatory support, and living in the southeast, north, or northeast regions of the country. CONCLUSIONS: Our results illustrate the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and reinforce that policies and practices to deal with this disease should focus on groups and regions with higher risk, whereas public policies should promote nonpharmacological measures and vaccination in the Brazilian population.

Analysis of the impact of coronavirus disease 19 on hospitalization rates for chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted health services and healthcare systems worldwide. Studies have shown that hospital admissions for causes related to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have decreased significantly during peak pandemic periods. An analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions for NCDs is essential to implement disability and mortality mitigation strategies for these groups. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions for NCDs in Brazil according to the type of NCD, sex, age group, and region of Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological study conducted in Brazil. Data on hospital admissions from January 1, 2017 to May 31, 2021 were extracted from the Unified Health System's Hospital Admissions Information System. The hospital admission rates per 100,000 thousand inhabitants were calculated monthly according to the type of NCD, sex, age group, and region of Brazil. Poisson regression models were used to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of hospital admissions. In this study, the pre-pandemic period was set from January 1, 2017 to February 29, 2020 and the during-pandemic from March 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. RESULTS: There was a 27.0% (95.0%CI: -29.0; -25.0%) decrease in hospital admissions for NCDs after the onset of the pandemic compared to that during the pre-pandemic period. Decreases were found for all types of NCDs-cancer (-23.0%; 95.0%CI: -26.0; -21.0%), diabetes mellitus (-24.0%; 95.0%CI: -25.0%; -22.0%), cardiovascular diseases (-30.0%; 95.0%CI: -31.0%; -28.0%), and chronic respiratory diseases (-29.0%; 95.0%CI: -30.0%; -27.0%). In addition, there was a decrease in the number of admissions, regardless of the age group, sex, and region of Brazil. The Northern and Southern regions demonstrated the largest decrease in the percentage of hospital admissions during the pandemic period. CONCLUSIONS: There was a decrease in the hospitalization rate for NCDs in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic in a scenario of social distancing measures and overload of health services.

Cashew Gum Polysaccharide Nanoparticles Grafted with Polypropylene Glycol as Carriers for Diclofenac Sodium.

This investigation focuses on the development and optimization of cashew gum polysaccharide (CGP) nanoparticles grafted with polypropylene glycol (PPG) as carriers for diclofenac sodium. The optimization of parameters affecting nanoparticles formulation was performed using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). It was demonstrated that the best formulation was achieved when 10 mg of CGP was mixed with 10 µL of PPG and homogenized at 22,000 rpm for 15 min. The physicochemical characterization evidenced that diclofenac was efficiently entrapped, as increases in the thermal stability of the drug were observed. The CGP-PPG@diclofenac nanoparticles showed a globular shape, with smooth surfaces, a hydrodynamic diameter around 275 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.342, and a zeta potential of -5.98 mV. The kinetic studies evidenced that diclofenac release followed an anomalous transport mechanism, with a sustained release up to 68 h. These results indicated that CGP-PPG nanoparticles are an effective material for the loading/release of drugs with similar structures to diclofenac sodium.