Comparison of diuretics and fluid expansion in the initial treatment of patients with normotensive acute pulmonary embolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is the main cause of death in patients with normotensive acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The optimal management for this subset of patients remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis focused on the comparison of diuretics and fluid expansion in patients with acute PE presenting with RV dysfunction and haemodynamic stability. METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines considering only RTCs. The authors searched the traditional and grey literature through 1 November 2022. Meta-analysis used open source packages in R. Inverse variance fixed-effects models with OR as the effect measure were used for primary analyses. The main outcomes defined in this review protocol included pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), creatinine value changes and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide during the first 24 hours. RESULTS: Four studies with a total of 452 patients met the inclusion criteria. The baseline characteristics of patients were similar across all studies. Overall, patients receiving diuretics had a significant 24 hours reduction in pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (standard mean difference of -41.97; 95% CI -65.79 to -18.15), and PASP (standard mean difference of -5.96; 95% CI -8.06 to -3.86). This group had significantly higher creatinine levels (standard mean difference of 7.74; 95% CI 5.04 to 10.45). The quality of the studies was heterogeneous; two had a low risk of bias, and the other two had a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Very few studies have compared the efficacy and safety of diuretics and fluid expansion in normotensive patients with acute PE with RV failure. Overall, furosemide appears to reduce RV dysfunction in this subset of patients compared with fluid expansion. Further research is required to confirm these findings.

Acceso y prácticas de higiene menstrual en América Latina: revisión de alcance / Menstrual hygiene access and practices in Latin America: scoping review / Acesso e práticas de higiene menstrual na América Latina: revisão de escopo

Objetivo: sintetizar la evidencia disponible relacionada con el acceso y las prácticas de higiene menstrual en América Latina y el Caribe. Método: revisión de alcance de la literatura con protocolo de investigación registrado en el Open Science Framework, realizada en las bases de datos bibliográficas: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science y Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva simple y análisis temático. Resultados: se incluyeron 15 publicaciones, la mayoría de las cuales trataban sobre adolescentes en Brasil: 12 artículos, dos informes técnicos y una monografía de trabajo de conclusión de curso. Como temas recurrentes en las publicaciones se destacan: acceso a condiciones dignas para el manejo de la higiene menstrual; necesidad de acceso a información sobre el manejo de la higiene menstrual; y prácticas para el manejo de la higiene menstrual. Conclusión: adolescentes informan dificultades para acceder a baños, agua y materiales absorbentes, y falta de información sobre la salud menstrual, incluso en las escuelas, lo que lleva al ausentismo escolar. De esta manera, las lagunas en la literatura científica latinoamericana revelan desigualdades y diversidad en las experiencias menstruales interseccionadas por categorías como género, clase social y etnia.

Objective: to synthesize available evidence related to menstrual hygiene access and practices in Latin America and the Caribbean. Method: literature scoping review with research protocol registered in the Open Science Framework, carried out in the bibliographic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results: 15 publications were included, the majority of which addressed adolescents in Brazil: 12 articles, two technical reports and a course conclusion monograph. As recurring themes in the publications, the following stand out: Access to dignified conditions for managing menstrual hygiene; Need for access to information on menstrual hygiene management; and Practices for managing menstrual hygiene. Conclusion: adolescents report difficulties in accessing toilets, water and absorbent materials, and lack of information about menstrual health, including in schools, leading to school absenteeism. Thus, gaps in the Latin American scientific literature reveal inequalities and diversity in menstrual experiences intersected by categories such as gender, social class and ethnicity

Objetivo: sintetizar evidências disponíveis relacionadas ao acesso e práticas de higiene menstrual na América Latina e Caribe. Método: revisão de escopo da literatura com protocolo de pesquisa registrado no Open Science Framework, realizada nas bases de dados bibliográficas: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science e Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva simples e análise temática. Resultados: foram incluídas 15 publicações, cuja maioria abordava adolescentes no Brasil: 12 artigos, dois relatórios técnicos e uma monografia de trabalho de conclusão de curso. Como temas recorrentes nas publicações, destacam-se: acesso a condições dignas para o manejo da higiene menstrual; necessidade de acesso à informação sobre manejo da higiene menstrual; e práticas para manejo da higiene menstrual. Conclusão: adolescentes relatam dificuldades de acesso a sanitários, água e materiais absorventes, e falta de informação sobre saúde menstrual, inclusive nas escolas, levando ao absenteísmo escolar. Assim, lacunas na literatura científica latino-americana revelam desigualdades e diversidade nas experiências menstruais interseccionadas por categorias como gênero, classe social e etnia.

Self-rated health of Brazilian women of childbearing age: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate sociodemographic factors, non-communicable diseases and conditions, and behavioral risk factors associated with negative self-rated health among Brazilian women of childbearing age. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 26,071 Brazilian women of reproductive age. Estimated prevalence of self-rated health according to sociodemographic characteristics, non-communicable diseases and conditions, and behavioral risk factors. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted and unadjusted prevalence ratios. RESULTS: Occurrence of two or more of the diseases and conditions presented a prevalence of negative self-rated health almost three times higher than none. There was a positive association between negative self-rated health and older age groups, lower education, black or brown skin color/race, living in the north and northeast regions, physical inactivity, being a smoker, and presence of one or more of the diseases and conditions. CONCLUSION: There are differences in self-rated health, reflecting social inequalities.

Awareness of the diagnosis, treatment, and control of diabetes mellitus in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportions of awareness, treatment, and control of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Brazilian adult population. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study, with data from a representative sample of the Brazilian population, taken from the National Health Survey(PNS 2014/2015). Outcomes were defined based on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements, self-reported DM diagnosis, and use of hypoglycemic agents or insulin. The proportion of DM awareness, treatment, and control was estimated according to sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and access to health services, and their respective 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: DM prevalence in the Brazilian population was of 8.6% (95%CI: 7.8-9.3): 68.2% (95%CI: 63.9-72.3) were aware of their diagnosis, 92.2% (95%CI: 88.6-94.7) of those who were aware were undergoing drug treatments, and, of these, 35.8% (95%CI: 30.5-41.6) had controlled HbA1c levels. The proportions of DM awareness, control, and treatment were lower in men aged 18 to 39 years, individuals with low education, without health insurance, and beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família program. CONCLUSION: Approximately one in ten Brazilians has DM. A little more than half of this population is aware of their diagnosis, a condition measured by HbA1c dosage and clinical diagnosis. Among those who know, the vast majority are undergoing drug treatments. However, less than half of these have their HbA1c levels controlled. Worse scenarios were found in subgroups with high social vulnerability.

Prevalence of preconception health indicators among Brazilian women of reproductive age. / Prevalência dos indicadores de saúde pré-concepcional das mulheres brasileiras em idade reprodutiva.

This article aims to evaluate the performance of preconception health indicators according to sociodemographic characteristics among Brazilian women of reproductive age. We conducted a descriptive epidemiological study using data from 21,645 and 25,228 women, respectively, who responded the 2013 and 2019 national health surveys, and data for the period 2010 to 2020 derived from the national health system's Department of Informatics (DATASUS). We calculated the prevalence of indicators according to sociodemographic characteristics and statistical significance of differences was measured using Pearson's chi-squared test. Syphilis and HIV incidence rates were also calculated. There was an increase in the prevalence of access to health service indicators (medical and dental consultations and recent Pap smear). However, there was an increase in the prevalence of hypertension, alcohol use, and obesity. The prevalence of use of contraceptive methods and fertility treatment remained stable. Syphilis incidence increased sevenfold between 2010 and 2020. Black/brown women with a low level of education, higher parity, and living in the North or Northeast performed worse for preconception health indicators. Despite the increase in access to health services, performance on preconception health indicators declined and health inequities continued.

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar o desempenho de indicadores de saúde pré-concepcional das mulheres brasileiras em idade reprodutiva segundo as características sociodemográficas. Estudo epidemiológico e descritivo com dados de 21.645 e 25.228 mulheres que responderam à Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde de 2013 e 2019 e provenientes do DATASUS de 2010 a 2020. Estimou-se a prevalência de indicadores, segundo características sociodemográficas, e as diferenças estatísticas por meio do teste qui-quadrado de Pearson. Calculou-se a taxa de incidência dos indicadores de sífilis e HIV. Houve aumento da prevalência de indicadores que se referem ao acesso aos serviços de saúde (consultas médica, odontológica e realização de Papanicolau recente). Contudo, houve aumento da hipertensão, do consumo de álcool e da obesidade. Observou-se manutenção da prevalência do uso de contraceptivo e tratamento de fertilidade. Além disso, a taxa de incidência da sífilis aumentou sete vezes entre 2010-2020. Os resultados foram ainda piores entre mulheres de baixa escolaridade, pretas/pardas, com maior paridade e do Norte/Nordeste. Apesar do aumento no acesso aos serviços de saúde, houve piora do desempenho de indicadores de saúde pré-concepcional, e manutenção das iniquidades em saúde.

Prevalência dos indicadores de saúde pré-concepcional das mulheres brasileiras em idade reprodutiva / Prevalence of preconception health indicators among Brazilian women of reproductive age

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar o desempenho de indicadores de saúde pré-concepcional das mulheres brasileiras em idade reprodutiva segundo as características sociodemográficas. Estudo epidemiológico e descritivo com dados de 21.645 e 25.228 mulheres que responderam à Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde de 2013 e 2019 e provenientes do DATASUS de 2010 a 2020. Estimou-se a prevalência de indicadores, segundo características sociodemográficas, e as diferenças estatísticas por meio do teste qui-quadrado de Pearson. Calculou-se a taxa de incidência dos indicadores de sífilis e HIV. Houve aumento da prevalência de indicadores que se referem ao acesso aos serviços de saúde (consultas médica, odontológica e realização de Papanicolau recente). Contudo, houve aumento da hipertensão, do consumo de álcool e da obesidade. Observou-se manutenção da prevalência do uso de contraceptivo e tratamento de fertilidade. Além disso, a taxa de incidência da sífilis aumentou sete vezes entre 2010-2020. Os resultados foram ainda piores entre mulheres de baixa escolaridade, pretas/pardas, com maior paridade e do Norte/Nordeste. Apesar do aumento no acesso aos serviços de saúde, houve piora do desempenho de indicadores de saúde pré-concepcional, e manutenção das iniquidades em saúde.

Abstract This article aims to evaluate the performance of preconception health indicators according to sociodemographic characteristics among Brazilian women of reproductive age. We conducted a descriptive epidemiological study using data from 21,645 and 25,228 women, respectively, who responded the 2013 and 2019 national health surveys, and data for the period 2010 to 2020 derived from the national health system's Department of Informatics (DATASUS). We calculated the prevalence of indicators according to sociodemographic characteristics and statistical significance of differences was measured using Pearson's chi-squared test. Syphilis and HIV incidence rates were also calculated. There was an increase in the prevalence of access to health service indicators (medical and dental consultations and recent Pap smear). However, there was an increase in the prevalence of hypertension, alcohol use, and obesity. The prevalence of use of contraceptive methods and fertility treatment remained stable. Syphilis incidence increased sevenfold between 2010 and 2020. Black/brown women with a low level of education, higher parity, and living in the North or Northeast performed worse for preconception health indicators. Despite the increase in access to health services, performance on preconception health indicators declined and health inequities continued.

Menstrual hygiene access and practices in Latin America: scoping review. / Acceso y prácticas de higiene menstrual en América Latina: revisión de alcance.

OBJECTIVE: to synthesize available evidence related to menstrual hygiene access and practices in Latin America and the Caribbean. METHOD: literature scoping review with research protocol registered in the Open Science Framework, carried out in the bibliographic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. RESULTS: 15 publications were included, the majority of which addressed adolescents in Brazil: 12 articles, two technical reports and a course conclusion monograph. As recurring themes in the publications, the following stand out: Access to dignified conditions for managing menstrual hygiene; Need for access to information on menstrual hygiene management; and Practices for managing menstrual hygiene. CONCLUSION: adolescents report difficulties in accessing toilets, water and absorbent materials, and lack of information about menstrual health, including in schools, leading to school absenteeism. Thus, gaps in the Latin American scientific literature reveal inequalities and diversity in menstrual experiences intersected by categories such as gender, social class and ethnicity. HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Lack of access to hygiene products, toilets and water for personal hygiene. (2) Invisibility of the problem of period poverty in Latin America. (3) Lack of physical structure in schools aggravates and leads to school absenteeism. (4) Menstrual health literacy was insufficient for the demands of adolescents. (5) Primary studies on menstrual hygiene in Latin America are scarce.

Ethical problems in nursing teleconsultations for people living with HIV during the Covid-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: to understand the ethical problems experienced by primary health care nurses in using nursing teleconsultations for people living with the human immunodeficiency virus during the coronavirus pandemic. METHODS: qualitative research, anchored in Constructivist Grounded Theory. Data was collected between July and September 2020, with 17 participants. RESULTS: the first category highlights the ethical problems in conducting teleconsultations, managing high demand, communication barriers, and risks related to data security. The second emphasizes the potential of teleconsultations in communication and access, by generating changes in the work process and the use of protocols to guide clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: nurses' work in digital mode requires professional qualification, with a view to stimulating reflection on teleconsultation practice, ethical-moral deliberation and combating stigma, and also adopting data security-centered conduct.

[Contraceptive mix and factors associated with the type of method used by Brazilian women: a population-based cross-sectional study]. / Mix contraceptivo e fatores associados ao tipo de método usado pelas mulheres brasileiras: estudo transversal de base populacional.

This study aims to describe the contraceptive mix and analyze the factors associated with the type of contraceptive used by Brazilian women of reproductive age. This is a cross-sectional, population-based study with data from 19,962 women aged 15 to 49 years. The outcomes were use and type of contraceptive, classified as: short-acting reversible contraceptives (SARC), long-acting (LARC), and permanent. The explanatory variables were characteristics of reproductive history, sociodemographic history, and access to health services. Multinomial logistic regression was used for odds ratio (OR) estimates, with SARC being the reference category. The analyses were performed in the Survey module of the Stata software, which considered the effect of the complex sampling plan of the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey. The prevalence of contraceptive use was 83.7%. Of the total number of users, 72% used SARC, 23.2% permanent methods, and 4.8% LARC. Women with higher education, health insurance, who had deliveries, and who participated in reproductive planning groups had a higher chance of using LARC when compared with the use of SARC, while registration at the basic health unit was associated with a lower chance of use. Still, the higher the age and parity, in addition to living with the partner, the greater the chance of using permanent methods in relation to the use of SARC. Despite the high coverage of contraception, the contraceptive mix remains obsolete, with a predominance of the use of SARC. In addition, important inequalities in access were observed, with LARC being accessible only to women with better socioeconomic conditions, while permanent methods were associated with a profile of greater social vulnerability.

O objetivo deste estudo é descrever o mix contraceptivo e analisar os fatores associados ao tipo de contraceptivo usado pelas mulheres brasileiras em idade reprodutiva. Trata-se de estudo transversal, de base populacional, com dados de 19.962 mulheres de 15 a 49 anos. Os desfechos foram uso e tipo de contraceptivo, classificados em: contraceptivos reversíveis de curta duração (SARC), longa duração (LARC) e permanentes. As variáveis explicativas foram: características da história reprodutiva, sociodemográficas e de acesso aos serviços de saúde. Utilizou-se a regressão logística multinomial para estimativas da odds ratio (OR), tendo os SARC como categoria de referência. As análises foram realizadas no módulo survey do software Stata, que considerou o efeito do plano amostral complexo da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde de 2019. A prevalência do uso de contraceptivos foi de 83,7%. Do total de usuárias, 72% usavam SARC, 23,2% métodos permanentes e 4,8%, LARC. Mulheres com maior escolaridade, plano de saúde, que tiveram partos e participaram de grupos de planejamento reprodutivo tiveram maior chance de usar LARC na comparação com o uso de SARC, enquanto o cadastro na unidade básica de saúde se associou a menor chance de uso. Ainda, quanto maior a idade e paridade, além de viver com o companheiro, maior a chance de usar métodos permanentes em relação ao uso de SARC. Apesar da elevada cobertura de contracepção, o mix contraceptivo permanece obsoleto, com predomínio do uso de SARC. Além disso, observou-se importante desigualdade de acesso, sendo os LARC acessíveis apenas por mulheres com melhores condições socioeconômicas, enquanto os métodos permanentes foram associados a um perfil de maior vulnerabilidade social.

El objetivo fue describir la combinación anticonceptiva y analizar los factores asociados al tipo de anticonceptivo usado por las mujeres brasileñas en edad reproductiva. Estudio transversal, de base poblacional, con datos de 19.962 mujeres de 15 a 49 años. Los resultados fueron el uso y el tipo de anticonceptivo, clasificados en: anticonceptivos reversibles de corta duración (SARC), de larga duración (LARC) y permanentes. Las variables explicativas fueron características de la historia reproductiva, sociodemográficas y de acceso a los servicios de salud. Se utilizó la regresión logística multinomial para las estimaciones de la odds ratio (OR), siendo los SARC la categoría de referencia. Los análisis fueron realizados en el módulo survey, del software Stata, que consideró el efecto del sistema de muestreo complejo de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud de 2019. La prevalencia del uso de anticonceptivos fue del 83,7%. Del total de usuarias, 72% usaban SARC, el 23,2% métodos permanentes y el 4,8% LARC. Las mujeres con mayor educación, plan de salud, que tuvieron partos y participaron de grupos de planificación reproductiva tuvieron mayor posibilidad de usar LARC cuando comparados al uso de SARC, mientras que el registro en la unidad básica de salud se asoció con una menor posibilidad de uso. Además, cuanto mayor sea la edad y la paridad, además de vivir con el compañero, mayor será la posibilidad de utilizar métodos permanentes en relación con el uso de SARC. A pesar de la alta cobertura de anticoncepción, la combinación anticonceptiva sigue siendo obsoleta, con un uso predominante de SARC. Además, se observaron importantes desigualdades en el acceso, siendo los LARC accesibles solo para mujeres con mejores condiciones socioeconómicas, mientras que los métodos permanentes se asociaron con un perfil de mayor vulnerabilidad social.

Association between contextual factors and coverage of the Acwy meningococcal vaccine, after three years of its overdue, in the vaccination calendar of adolescents in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: global space regressions.

The objective of the study was to analyze the spatial distribution of vaccination coverage of bacterial meningitis vaccine: A, C, W and Y (menacwy) and identify the association between socioeconomic and social environment factors with menacwy vaccine coverage among adolescents in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. This is an ecological, mixed study, conducted with secondary data from the 853 municipalities of the State of MG, Brazil, from 2020 to 2022, provided by the information system of the National Immunization Program. For spatial statistical analysis, spatial dependence and the presence of spatial clusters formed by municipalities with high and low vaccination coverage of Menacwy were evaluated. In the year 2021, MG presented the largest vaccination coverage (60.58%) since the introduction of the Menacwy vaccine by the PNI. Regarding the analysis of global regressions, it is observed that for the year 2020, as the MG Index of Social Responsibility-Health increased and MG Index of Social Responsibility-Public Security increased, increased the vaccination coverage of the municipalities of the Menacwy vaccine. Finally, compared to 2021, similar association was observed in relation to the proportion of the population served by the Family Health Strategy of the municipalities of the state of MG and per capita spending on education activities: as this indicator increased, with increased coverage of the Vaccine of the Menacwy vaccine of the state municipalities. They reinforce the importance of assessing the quality-of-care management and health surveillance system, professional training, and damage reduction to populations, especially adolescents.

Refugees and access to employment in Brazil: implications for health and sociability.

This is a reflective study with the objective of analyzing the possibilities of access to employment by refugees in the Brazilian territory, in view of the socio-legal conditions in Brazil, understanding the relationship between work and health. Refugees experience the penalty of restricted access to employment, which has a significant impact on their lives. By remaining disconnected from work, they are pushed to the margins of society. In addition to this, they face difficulties in accessing adequate housing, healthcare services, education, healthy food, among others, all of which deeply affect their way of life in a foreign country with a different culture. The work becomes relevant in the discussion about access to health, goods and services necessary to live with dignity, and its implications in the work-health-disease relationship. Collaborative actions at a global level are necessary to ensure that employment opportunities are available for refugees. In this regard, this reflection articulates two basic ideas: the recognition of the importance of work in social life and living conditions, and the understanding that the determination of the health-disease process goes beyond the biological and individual choices, having historicity and a social and cultural character.

Effects of Exercise on Quality of Life in Subjects with Alzheimer's Disease: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that progressively affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It can interfere with daily activities and lead to a decline in cognitive abilities over time. Exercise-based interventions can complement Alzheimer's disease treatment. Exercise is a valuable tool in all healthcare settings and has shown promise as an effective cognitive improvement intervention for people with cognitive impairments. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyze the effect of physical exercise on the QoL of subjects with Alzheimer's disease. A search was performed with the help of the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials with exercise-based interventions were selected. Four studies met the inclusion criteria, which included interventions based on exercise. The effects were summarized using standardized mean differences (95% confidence intervals) using random-effect models. The results showed that exercise had no significant effect on the QoL of subjects with Alzheimer. Thus, the effect of exercise interventions on the QoL of patients with Alzheimer's disease is not conclusive. More research is needed about this topic and the way in which the QoL is assessed; the necessity to conduct an objective way to assess the QoL in this population is mandatory.

Global meta-analysis of urbanization stressors on insect abundance, richness, and traits.

Anthropic stressors are among the greatest concerns in nature conservation. Among these, deforestation and urban expansion are major drivers of habitat loss, which is a major threat to biodiversity. Insects, the largest and most abundant group of animals, are declining at alarming rates. However, global estimates of the impact of anthropic stressors on insect abundance, richness, and traits are still lacking. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the impact of urbanization stressors on insect abundance, diversity, and traits. Our design focused on the effects of urbanization on moderators such as insects' activity periods, climatic zones, development stages, ecosystem, functional roles, mobility, orders, and life history. We found that insects are negatively affected by urban stressors across most moderators evaluated. Our research estimated that in insects, urbanization resulted in a mean decrease of 42 % in abundance, 40 % in richness, and 24 % in trait effects, compared to a conserved area. Even though in general there was greater loss in abundance than in richness, each moderator was affected by different means and to varying degrees, which results from artificial lighting at night as well as land use. Our study highlights the importance of promoting better protection of insect biodiversity in the future from the enormous loss in biodiversity reported in >500 papers assessed.

Clinical evolution of equine leishmaniasis with self-limiting cutaneous disease caused by Leishmania infantum in northeastern Brazil: A case report.

Leishmania infantum infections have long been described in humans and dogs worldwide, but characterization of equine cases remains scarce. We describe the clinical evolution of a natural L. infantum infection to contribute to the diagnostic knowledge and epidemiology of equine leishmaniasis (EL). An auction-acquired four-year-old Mangalarga Marchador mare from Pernambuco state, presented a few subcutaneous nodules on the head and neck upon arrival at the purchaser's stud at Bahia state, in November of 2019. They progressed to multiple ulcerated and non-ulcerated nodules and spread to both right limbs in seven weeks. Hematology revealed anemia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis, and elevated plasma fibrinogen. Histopathology of the biopsied nodules identified a granulomatous dermatitis with macrophages containing Leishmania amastigotes. PCR detected Leishmania in skin lesions, but not in blood or spleen aspirate samples; ITS1 PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing confirmed L. infantum species. A topical antiseptic and insect-repellent therapy and a monthly follow-up were established. All lesions improved progressively, without specific anti-Leishmania treatment, and 14 months later there was a consistent resolution. This first description of EL by L. infantum in an endemic area is relevant to emphasize the need for epidemiological studies, and to enhance clinicians' awareness for differential diagnosis.

Time trends and social inequalities in infant and young child feeding practices: national estimates from Brazil's Food and Nutrition Surveillance System, 2008-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the time trends and socio-economic inequalities in infant and young child feeding practices in accordance with the Brazilian deprivation index (BDI). DESIGN: This time-series study analysed the prevalence of multiple breast-feeding and complementary feeding indicators based on data from the Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System, 2008-2019. Prais-Winsten regression models were used to analyse time trends. Annual percent change (APC) and 95 % CI were calculated. SETTING: Primary health care services, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 911 735 Brazilian children under 2 years old. RESULTS: Breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices differed between the extreme BDI quintiles. Overall, the results were more favourable in the municipalities with less deprivation (Q1). Improvements in some complementary feeding indicators were observed over time and evidenced such disparities: minimum dietary diversity (Q1: Δ 47·8-52·2 %, APC + 1·44, P = 0·006), minimum acceptable diet (Q1: Δ 34·5-40·5 %, APC + 5·17, P = 0·004) and consumption of meat and/or eggs (Q1: Δ 59·7-80·3 %, APC + 6·26, P < 0·001; and Q5: Δ 65·7-70·7 %, APC + 2·20, P = 0·041). Stable trends in exclusive breast-feeding and decreasing trends in the consumption of sweetened drinks and ultra-processed foods were also observed regardless the level of the deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in some complementary food indicators were observed over time. However, the improvements were not equally distributed among the BDI quintiles, with children from the municipalities with less deprivation benefiting the most.

The Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep scale: Dimensions of the European Portuguese DBAS-30 and development of a new short version (DBAS-SF-16).

OBJECTIVES: The Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS) is the most widely validated instrument for assessing sleep-related cognitions. This study aimed to examine the reliability of the DBAS-30 European Portuguese version, explore its dimensionality, and develop a new short version suitable for differentiating the presence/absence of insomnia. METHODS: From 824 participants aged 18-85 years, the Insomnia Group (IG, n = 355, 261 females and 94 males) and Normal Sleepers Group (NSG, n = 292, 237 females, 54 males and 1 with no response) were constituted. Thirty-one patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome were also recruited. For the DBAS 16-items version, the ability to differentiate dysfunctional beliefs between people with and without insomnia was used as the main criterion for item retention. RESULTS: DBAS-30 PT demonstrated good internal consistency and significantly discriminated IG from NSG. Based on a robust EFA (RDWLS), a three-dimensional structure was determined for IG (Ageing and Hopelessness, Sleep Expectations, and Consequences and Helplessness). DBAS-SF-16 presented as an internally-consistent measure with a reliable two-factor structure (Consequences and Helplessness, Medication and Hopelessness) and showed construct and known groups validity. ROC analysis demonstrated DBAS-SF-16's relevant clinical accuracy, and 4.3 provides the best cut-off score in detecting the level of dysfunctional beliefs associated with clinical insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: A new and meaningful dimensionality of the DBAS-30 was found. DBAS-SF-16 showed to be a reliable, valid, and robust tool for evaluating dysfunctional beliefs about insomnia in clinical and non-clinical populations.

Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on labor and childbirth care practices in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have changed the conduct of obstetric practices at the time of labor, delivery, and birth. In Brazil, many practices lacking scientific evidence are implemented in this care, which is charcaterized by excessive use of unnecessary interventions. This scenario may have been worsened by the pandemic. Thus, we analyzed the effects of the pandemic on care during prenatal care and delivery by comparing the results of two surveys (one was administered before the pandemic and the other during the pandemic) in public hospitals in Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional and comparative study analyzed preliminary data from the study "Childbirth and breastfeeding in children of mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2", which was conducted in three referral maternity hospitals in Belo Horizonte - MG during the pandemic in the first half of 2020 in Brazil. The final sample consisted of 1532 eligible women. These results were compared with data from 390 puerperae who gave birth in the three public hospitals in the study "Birth in Belo Horizonte: labor and birth survey", conducted before the pandemic to investigate the changes in practices of labor and delivery care for the mother and her newborn, with or without COVID-19 infection, before and during the pandemic. In this research, "Birth in Belo Horizonte: labor and birth survey", data collection was performed between November 2011 and March 2013 by previously trained nurses. Between study comparisons were performed using Pearson's chi-square test, with a confidence level of 95%, and using Stata statistical program. RESULTS: We found a significant increase in practices recommended by the World Health Organization during the pandemic including the following: diet offering (48.90 to 98.65%), non-pharmacological pain relief (43.84 to 67.57%), and breastfeeding in the newborn´s first hour of life (60.31 to 77.98%) (p < 0.001). We found a significant reduction of non-recommended interventions, such as routine use of episiotomy (15.73 to 2.09%), the Kristeller maneuver (16.55 to 0.94%), oxytocin infusion misused (45.55 to 28.07%), amniotomy (30.81 to 15.08%), and lithotomy position during labor (71.23 to 6.54%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a statistically significant increase in the proportion of use of recommended practices and a reduction in non-recommended practices during labor and delivery. However, despite advances in the establishment of World Health Organization recommended practices in labor, delivery, and birth, the predominance of interventionist and medicalized practices persists, which is worsened by events, such as the pandemic.

Arterial hypertension and associated factors: National Health Survey, 2019.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors associated with self-reported arterial hypertension, as well as its prevalence in the Brazilian adult population. METHODS: Data from 88,531 individuals aged 18 years or older who responded to the 2019 National Health Survey were analyzed. The outcome studied was self-reported arterial hypertension. Sociodemographic variables and clinical and lifestyle conditions were considered as exposures. The prevalence ratio (PR), crude and adjusted for sex, age, and schooling was used as a measure of association to verify the factors related to its prevalence, obtained by Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported arterial hypertension was of 23.9% (95%CI: 23.4-24.4). When adjusting for age, sex, and schooling, the adjusted Prevalence Ratios (APR) were higher among: regular health self-assessment (APR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.5-1.6) and bad health self-assessment (APR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.6-1.8); self-reference to heart disease (APR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.6-1.7), diabetes (APR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.6-1.8), high cholesterol (APR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.6-1.7), overweight (APR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.4-1.5), and obesity (APR = 2.0; 95%CI: 1.9-2.1); high salt intake (APR = 1.1; 95%CI: 1.0-1.1); higher among former smokers (APR = 1.1; 95%CI: 1.1-1.2) and lower among smokers (APR = 0.9; 95%CI: 0.8-0.9); and consumption of ultra-processed foods (APR = 0.9; 95%CI: 0.8-0.9). CONCLUSION: A quarter of the Brazilian adult population claims to have arterial hypertension, more prevalent among women and associated with older age groups, Black, mixed-race, and others, low schooling, high salt intake, former smoking, presence of comorbidities, and worse health self-assessment.