Comparison of pre- and posttransplant energy expenditure in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and evaluation of associated factors.

OBJECTIVES: Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may present with metabolic alterations that can have an effect on their energy expenditure and nutritional status. This project aimed to compare the pre- and posttransplant energy expenditures of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as related factors. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at a single center. Patients, undergoing autograft or allograft, were evaluated before transplantation and on the 10th and 17th d posttransplantation. Energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry. Diet intake was assessed by a 24-h dietary recall. Infectious and noninfectious complications were analyzed between days 1 to 10 after transplantation and days 11 to 17 after transplantation. Paired model analyses were carried out to identify the pretransplantation and posttransplantation periods. RESULTS: Twenty patients were evaluated with a mean age of 45.6 ± 17.2 y; a majority were male sex (65%), and the most frequent diagnoses were chronic myeloid leukemia (25%) and multiple myeloma (25%). Energy expenditure increased by 15% posttransplantation, and the energy requirement per kilogram of weight was 23 kcal/kg at day 10 after transplantation. Throughout the posttransplantation period, 45% of the patients required nutritional therapy. Negative energy and negative protein balance were observed at all analyzed times. Phase angle (P = 0.018), fever (P = 0.014), mucositis grades I to II (P = 0.018), and the total number of infectious and noninfectious events (P = 0.043) were associated with an increase in energy expenditure at day 10 after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Energy expenditure increased after transplantation compared with pretransplantation in 50% of patients. Phase angle, fever, grades I to II mucositis, and infectious and noninfectious events were associated with increased energy expenditure at day 10 after transplantation.

Association of dietary total antioxidant capacity with anthropometric indicators, C-reactive protein, and clinical outcomes in hospitalized oncologic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have shown an inverse association between higher dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and chronic non-communicable diseases, including cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the DTAC with anthropometric and biochemical indicators and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 196 hospitalized patients diagnosed with cancer. The DTAC, determined by the ferric-reducing antioxidant power method, was calculated using a validated standard spreadsheet. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the association, identifying anthropometric indicators that were associated with DTAC and the variables of interest. P < 0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: The individuals included in the last tertile of DTAC presented lower occurrences of death (P = 0.032), constipation (P = 0.010), dysphagia (P = 0.010), painful swallowing and chewing (P = 0.019), and dehydration (P = 0.032) than individuals in the first tertile. The C-reactive protein values were significantly lower (P = 0.010) and handgrip strength values were higher (P = 0.037) in individuals in the third tertile than in the other participants. CONCLUSIONS: DTAC was associated with a better prognosis of hospitalized cancer patients, considering signs and symptoms of nutritional impact, as well as the inflammatory state of the patients. These factors may influence the length of hospital stay and mortality. The findings of this research provide important information for a preventive and nutritional management perspective in this population.

Food preferences and aversions of patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This longitudinal, qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study aimed to identify and understand the food preferences and aversions arising from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy treatment. METHODS: An open and individual interview was carried out with patients diagnosed with hematological diseases or cancer, submitted to HSCT, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy treatment. The participants answered the following questions: "Have you experienced any changes in taste since the beginning of radiotherapy/chemotherapy?"; "Have you experienced any strange taste in your mouth, aversion or preference for a certain food that did not exist before the beginning of radiotherapy/chemotherapy?" The software IRAMUTEQ (R Interface for Multidimensional Analysis of Texts and Questionnaires) version 0.7 alpha 2 was used for textual analysis, with similarity analysis and word cloud. RESULTS: One hundred and forty six patients were included in the study, 50% (n = 73) female and 73% (n = 50) elderly. The main words reported by the participants in regards to food aversions were "meat", "beef" and "chicken", which are related to dysphagia. Regarding food preferences, the most mentioned words were "fruits", "juices" and "soups", whose consumption was associated with an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, especially nausea. CONCLUSION: Adjustments in the diet plan based on this information can contribute to a better acceptance of the diet, and clinical and nutritional prognosis.

Doppler Velocimetry of the Ophthalmic Artery Behavior in Twin Pregnancy.

Our main objective was to evaluate the ophthalmic artery Doppler behavior in twin pregnancies and compare with singleton pregnancies. We studied 64 healthy twin pregnant women between 12 to 38 weeks of gestation. Resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and peak ratio (PR) were determined. The control group consisted of 289 singletons. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between gestational age and the ophthalmic indexes. Student t test was used to compare the means and standard deviation of the Doppler indexes. There was a decrease in RI and PI and an increase in PR with advancing gestational age (ρ < 0.0001, 0.0052, and 0.0033). The means ± SDs for RI, PI, and PR were 0.77 ± 0.07, 1.79 ± 0.46, and 0.53 ± 0.12, in women with twin pregnancies and 0.75 ± 0.05, 1.88 ± 0.43, and 0.52 ± 0.10 in singletons. No significant difference was found between the PI and PR values, but significant difference was found in the RI values between the groups (P = 0.0332). We concluded that there are no significant differences in ophthalmic artery behavior in twins and the same reference values established in singleton pregnancies can be applied for PI and PR indexes in the evaluation of twin pregnancies. These indexes were the best to evaluate twin pregnancies.

Hand grip strength as predictor of undernutrition in hospitalized patients with cancer and a proposal of cut-off.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hand Grip Strength (HGS) has been proposed as an indicator of nutritional status, being an easy and non-invasive method and presenting high reliability among evaluators. However, there are no cut-off points. To compare HGS with objective methods of nutritional assessment and to propose a cut-off point for its use as a predictor of malnutrition in cancer patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study with 76 patients (52.6% females, 56.8 ± 16.6 years old) admitted with a diagnosis of cancer in hospitals of Belo Horizonte (MG, Brazil). We evaluated the HGS of the dominant hand, Body Mass Index (BMI), calf circumference (CC), and arm circumference (AC), using the Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, being the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) the reference method. Statistical tests were performed according to the distribution of the variables, verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The level of significance adopted was 5%. RESULTS: The HGS was higher in men (p = 0.001) and adults (p = 0.002). The HGS presented a better performance in the prediction of malnutrition (AUC = 0.766, 95% CI = 0.656-0.936) compared to the anthropometric indicators, with a cut-off point of 32.5 kg (sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 61.5%). The prevalence of malnutrition was 82.9% and 81.6% for PG-SGA and proposed cut-off point for HGS, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HGS was more sensitive to identify individuals at risk of malnutrition compared to other recognized indicators of nutritional status, indicating its application in a hospital setting with cancer patients.

Magnesium sulfate and ophthalmic artery Doppler velocimetry in patients with severe preeclampsia: a case series.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we used Doppler velocimetry in the ophthalmic artery to evaluate the hemodynamic status of the intracranial vasculature. This is the first time in the literature that indices of ophthalmic artery Doppler sonography of women with preeclampsia were evaluated before and after the use of magnesium sulfate to prevent eclampsia. CASE PRESENTATION: Indices of ophthalmic artery Doppler sonography of six women with severe preeclampsia at 27 to 33 weeks of gestational age were evaluated before and after the use of magnesium sulfate (10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes after the magnesium sulfate loading dosage. The patients' ages were 26 years (patient 01), 29 years (patient 02), 20 years (patient 03), 21 years (patient 04), 20 years (patient 05), and 19 years (patient 06). The ethnic group of patients 01 and 04 was white and the ethnic group of patients 02, 03, 05 and 06 was mulatto. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent increase in resistance index and pulsatility index values, although there is no statistical significance in this series of cases, and the decrease in peak ratio values after the administration of magnesium sulfate reflect an increase in the impedance to flow in the ophthalmic artery and consequently a reduction in cerebral perfusion after the use of magnesium sulfate. This may explain how magnesium sulfate protects women with severe preeclampsia against cerebral damage and prevents acute convulsions in these patients. We believe that this case series report may have a broader clinical impact across medicine because the mechanism of how magnesium sulfate can protect patients and prevent acute convulsions is controversial.

Transplante renal e gestação / Kidney transplantation and pregnancy

O transplante renal é considerado o melhor tratamento para a doença renal terminal. Essa terapia tem avançado em diversos aspectos, contribuindo para que pacientes transplantadas em idade fértil possam ter uma gestação bem-sucedida. Foi conduzida revisão da literatura nas bases de dados Periódico Capes e PubMed/MEDLINE no período entre 1998 e 2013, visando melhor compreensão e acompanhamento de gestantes submetidas a transplante renal.O sucesso dessas gestações depende de vários fatores, incluindo planejamento pré-concepção minucioso baseado na saúde geral da paciente, função do enxerto, história de rejeição, pressão arterial sistêmica, proteinúria e ultrassom do enxerto. Há relatos de nascidos vivos em torno de 70% dessas gestações, com mortalidade perinatal de 10%, deterioração do enxerto em 5% dos casos, e média temporal entre o transplante e a gestação de aproximadamente três anos. As principais complicações foram maiores taxas de parto cesáreo, hipertensão arterial sistêmica e parto pré-termo. Embora a frequência de complicações perinatais descrita nessa população seja elevada, o transplante renal não é considerado uma contraindicação para a gestação. É necessário melhor avaliação dos efeitos dos agentes imunossupressores sobre o feto e o recém-nato para garantir segurança do uso dessas drogas durante a gestação e a amamentação.(AU)

Renal transplantation is considered the best treatment for end-stage renal disease. This therapy has advanced in many ways, contributing to transplanted patients of childbearing age can have a successful pregnancy. It was conducted a literature review in Capes Journal and PubMed/MEDLINE database between the period of 1998 and 2013, aiming at better understanding and monitoring of pregnant women who underwent renal transplantation. The success of these gestations depends on diverse factors, including a thorough preconception planning based on the patient general health, graft function, history of rejection, systemic blood pressure, proteinuria and graft ultrasound. There are reports of live births in about 70% of the gestations, with a perinatal mortality of 10%, graft deterioration in 5% of the cases, and temporal average between the transplantation and the gestation of approximately three years. The main complications were higher rates of cesarean delivery, systemic arterial hypertension and preterm birth. Although the frequency of perinatal complications described in this population is high, renal transplantation is not considered a contraindication to pregnancy. It is necessary better assessment of the imunossupressors agents effects on the fetus and newborns to ensure safety of the use of these drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding.(AU)

Changes in ophthalmic artery Doppler indices in hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the ophthalmic artery Doppler indices observed in women with singleton pregnancies complicated by hypertension and to correlate the indices observed in hypertensive pregnant women with those observed in healthy pregnant women. METHODS: Ophthalmic artery Doppler indices were compared between 30 women with mild preeclampsia, 30 women with severe preeclampsia, and 30 women with chronic hypertension at 20 to 40 weeks' gestation. The control group consisted of 289 normotensive pregnant women. The resistive index, pulsatility index, and peak ratio were measured in the right eye. The mean and standard deviation were calculated for each group. Analysis of variance and the Tukey method were used to compare the means of the Doppler indices between groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the predictive power of the Doppler indices for identification of women with severe preeclampsia. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the resistive index, pulsatility index, and peak ratio in women with severe preeclampsia compared to the other groups. The means ± SDs for the resistive index, pulsatility index, and pulse ratio in women with severe preeclampsia were 0.63 ± 0.09, 1.13 ± 0.31, and 0.89 ± 0.12, respectively. The optimal cutoff values for the resistive index, pulsatility index and the peak ratio for identification of women with severe preeclampsia were determined by the receiver operating characteristic curves to be 0.657, 1.318, and 0.784. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler imaging of the ophthalmic artery showed central overperfusion among pregnant women with severe preeclampsia. The peak ratio was the best index for discriminating between severe and mild preeclampsia or chronic hypertension.

Doppler velocimetry of the ophthalmic artery: reproducibility of blood flow velocity measurements.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the interobserver reliability for measuring ophthalmic artery Doppler indices. METHODS: Healthy women (n = 30) were evaluated. The resistive index, pulsatility index, and peak ratio were determined by two independent observers who were blind to each other. A paired t test was used for the comparison of paired samples in the cases of replication between observers. Pearson product-moment correlation was used to study the relationship between the samples. The Bland-Altman graphic approach was used to investigate the agreement between observers. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the values obtained by the two independent observers for the resistive index and pulsatility index. The difference observed between the values obtained by the observers for the peak ratio was 0.02. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler velocimetry is a reproducible technique for evaluation of the resistive index and pulsatility index. For analysis of the peak ratio, an interval of ±0.02 should be considered for the measurement.

Métodos de vigilância fetal intraparto / Methods of intrapartum fetal surveillance

A avaliação do bem-estar fetal durante assistência ao trabalho de parto é um dos principais objetivos da Obstetrícia. O método mais utilizado para essa avaliação é a monitorização eletrônica fetal contínua. Em razão de sua limitada capacidade diagnóstica, outros métodos complementares têm sido investigados para esse fim, como a ausculta intermitente, a estimulação digital no escalpe fetal, a oximetria de pulso, o eletrocardiograma fetal e a coleta de amostras de sangue do couro cabeludo fetal. Após revisão da literatura, foi concluído que são necessários mais estudos para determinar a verdadeira utilidade, na prática clínica, dos métodos complementares à monitorização eletrônica fetal contínua para avaliação fetal intraparto.

The evaluation of intrapartum fetal well-being is one of the main objectives of Obstetrics. The most used method for this assessment is the continuous electronic fetal monitoring. Because of their limited diagnostic capabilities, other complementary methods have been investigated for evaluation of intrapartum surveillance, as intermittent auscultation, digital fetal scalp stimulation, pulse oximetry, fetal electrocardiogram and fetal scalp blood sample. After a review of articles, we concluded that more studies are needed to determine the true usefulness in clinical practice of complementary methods to continuous electronic fetal monitoring for intrapartum fetal monitoring.

Práticas de aleitamento materno: lacuna entre o conhecimento e a incorporação do saber / Practices of breastfeeding: A gap between knowledge and knowledge application

Introdução: a Organização Mundial da Saúde recomenda a prática de aleitamento materno exclusivo por seis meses e a partir dessa idade introduzir alimentos complementares até os dois anos. Objetivo: avaliar o nível de conhecimento e incorporação do saber sobre aleitamento materno de gestantes e nutrizes usuárias da Estratégia Saúde da Família, Teixeiras-MG. Casuística e método: foi realizado estudo transversal descritivo cuja coleta de dados se deu por meio de entrevistas individuais utilizando-se questionário semiestruturado, nas Unidades de Atenção Primária de Saúde, antes das consultas pré-natais e puericulturas e em visitas domiciliares. Resultados: a duração de aleitamento materno exclusivo relatado foi de quatro meses. Destaca-se que 66% das entrevistadas já haviam recebido algum tipo de orientação, 34% por meio de consultas pré-natais e 31% por palestras realizadas pela equipe de Nutrição da Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Observou-se que as mulheres que receberam orientação acerca do aleitamento materno apresentaram 99,93% menos de chance de responder que o leite é fraco, obtendo resultado estatisticamente significante. Conclusão: ressalta-se a importância das informações sobre aleitamento materno serem transmitidas à população de modo eficaz, estimulando a prática do aleitamento em todas as classes sociais.

Introduction: The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding over the six months after birth, and complementary food should be provided after this period until age of 2 years. Objective: To assess breastfeeding knowledge and knowledge application among women assisted by the Family Health Strategy in Teixeiras, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Casuistics and method: A descriptive cross-sectional study of data collected by means of individual semi-structured interviews carried out before prenatal and childcare appointments at Primary Health Care Units as well as in domiciliary visits. Results: Exclusive breastfeeding was reported to take place for four months. Among the interviewees, 66% had had some orientation: 34% at prenatal appointments, and 31% at lectures organized by the Nutrition team of the Federal University of Viþosa. Women that had had breastfeeding orientation were 99,93% less likely to report that breast milk is weak ? a figure that is statistically significant. Conclusion: It is important that information on breastfeeding be given to population efficiently in order to encourage breastfeeding among all the social classes.

Predição e prevenção do crescimento intrauterino restrito / Prediction and prevention of intrauterine growth restriction

O termo pequeno para a idade gestacional (PIG) define o concepto que, ao nascer, apresenta peso inferior ao percentil 10 para a idade gestacional. Na maioria das vezes, esta alteração decorre do crescimento intrauterino restrito (CIUR), entendido como disfunção no crescimento que não permite ao feto atingir, em massa corporal, seu alvo genético. As razões para o crescimento fetal dificultado podem ser: desordens genéticas, infecções e insuficiência placentária. Os autores fizeram uma revisão das evidências atuais sobre a predição do CIUR por meio de métodos clínicos e laboratoriais. As evidências sobre prevenção do CIUR inluindo métodos comportamentais, drogas e controle da hipertensão também foram abordadas.

The term small for gestational age (SGA) defines the concept that gives birth weight below the 10 percentile for gestational age. In most of the time, this change follows by the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), perceived as dysfunction in growth that does not allow the fetus reaches genetic target in body mass. The reasons for the impaired fetal growth must be: genetic disorders, infections and placental insufficiency. The authors performed a revision with the objective to review the current evidence on the prediction of IUGR through clinical and laboratory methods. The evidences on prevention of IUGR including behavioral methods, drugs and hypertension control were approached.

Doppler velocimetry of the ophthalmic artery in normal pregnancy: reference values.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at analyzing the correlation between ophthalmic Doppler indices and gestational age (GA) in healthy patients with singleton pregnancies. Intraobserver reproducibility and right-to-left eye correlation were also evaluated. METHODS: Healthy pregnant women (n = 289) at 20 to 40 weeks' GA were evaluated. The resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and peak ratio (PR) were determined by 2 measurements in each eye. Comparisons were performed first between the 2 measurements in each eye and later between the right and left eyes. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the relationship of the RI, PI, and PR with GA. Linear regression analysis was also performed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the values obtained for the first and the second measurements in each eye and those for the RI, PI, and PR in the right and left eyes. There was a significant decrease in RI and PI values with advancing GA, however (rho = -0.264 and -0.1192, respectively), with low R(2) values for both. Thus, only a small proportion of the variations observed in the RI and PI was associated with changes in GA. No significant difference was found between the PR values with regard to GA intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler velocimetry is a reproducible technique for evaluation of the RI, PI, and PR in the ophthalmic artery. Unilateral analysis of these indices can be used. Linear regression analysis indicated that other factors were associated with a decrease in the RI and PI values with advancing GA. No significant change was observed in the PR values throughout normal pregnancy.

Cirurgia fetal nas complicações da gestação gemelar monocoriônica / Fetal surgery in complications of monochorionic twin pregnancies

As gestações múltiplas estão tornando-se cada vez mais freqüentes devido ao uso mais alargado de tratamentos de fertilidade. Estas gestações apresentam risco significativo para algumas complicações que são próprias das gestações monocoriônicas, tais como o feto acárdico e a síndrome da transfusão feto-fetal. Tais complicações obstétricas se constituem em desafios únicos. Este artigo revisa a conduta cirúrgica pré-natal nessas complicações

Multiple pregnancies are becoming increasingly common due to the expanded use of fertility treatments. Multifetal gestations constitute significant risk for complications that are unique to monochorionic gestations, such as Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and acardiac twin. These complications pose a number of unique challenges. This article reviews the surgical management of these complications

Síndromes hipertensivas da gestação e repercussões perinatais / Hypertensive syndromes during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes

OBJETIVOS: avaliar repercussões perinatais nas síndromes hipertensivas em gestações. MÉTODOS: estudo observacional e retrospectivo, realizado em hospital terciário, entre janeiro de 1996 e outubro de 2003. Um total de 12.272 gestações preencheu critérios de inclusão. Dois tipos de hipertensão foram considerados: hipertensão gestacional (HG) e hipertensão arterial crônica (HAC). Variáveis estudadas: fetos pequenos para idade gestacional (PIG), Apgar baixo no 1° e 5° minutos, infecção neonatal, síndrome de aspiração meconial (SAM), prematuridade, síndrome de angústia respiratória (SAR). RESULTADOS: 1259 (10,26 por cento) gestantes tinham hipertensão; 344 (2,80 por cento) foram classificadas como HG, 915 (7,45 por cento) como HAC, havendo 11.013 (89,74 por cento) gestantes normotensas. HG constituiu risco elevado para: PIG, Apgar baixo no 1° e 5° minutos, infecção neonatal e prematuridade, mas não para SAM e SAR. HAC constituiu risco elevado para: PIG, Apgar baixo no 1° minuto, SAM, prematuridade e SAR, mas não para Apgar baixo no 5° minuto e infecção neonatal. Quando comparamos os riscos relativos dos grupos de HAC e HG, houve maior risco de prematuridade no grupo de HAC. CONCLUSÕES: dados sugerem que tanto HAC quanto HG aumentaram risco para PIG, Apgar baixo no 1° e 5° minutos, infecção neonatal, SAM, prematuridade e SAR. HAC apresentou maior risco relativo para prematuridade.

Gestação e doenças parasitárias / Pregnancy and parasitic diseases

Parasitismo é toda relação desenvolvida entre indivíduos de espécies diferentes, em que se observa dependência metabólica de grau variado. Há maior prevalência de indivíduos infectados por parasitos na população brasileira do que está descrito. O efeito das infecções parasitárias na nutrição materna pode comprometer o desenvolvimento fetal. Mulheres que engravidam com desnutrição, anemia ou infecções crônicas apresentam risco maior de terem filhos com baixo-peso ao nascimento e no parto pré-termo. O diagnóstico e o tratamento de pacientes com essas condições deveriam ser realizados antes da gestação. Nenhuma droga antiparasitária é considerada segura na gestação. Pacientes com parasitos intestinais só devem ser tratados na gravidez quando o quadro clínico é exuberante ou as infecções maciças. Não se recomenda o tratamento durante o primeiro trimestre da gestação. Medidas profiláticas, como educação sanitária, higiene correta das mãos, controle da água, alimentos e solo, devem ser encorajadas devido ao impacto positivo que geram sobre a ocorrência de parasitoses intestinais. Enfocaremos os aspectos clínicos das infecções parasitárias na gestação e seus tratamentos.

Fatores endócrinos associados a abortamento recorrente / Endocrine factors associated with recurrent abortion

O abortamento recorrente é condição heterogênea que acomete 0,5 a 3 porcento das mulheres em idade reprodutiva. Em aproximadamente 50 porcento dos casos a causa de abortamento recorrente não é definida e o conhecimento da fisiopatologia ainda é limitado. Entre as causas propostas de abortamento recorrente, os fatores endócrinos permanecem entre os mais controversos. Foram associados ao abortamento de repetição: diabetes mellitus, resistência à insulina, doenças da tireóide, síndrome de ovários policísticos, aumento de hormônio luteinizante, entre outros. A insuficiência da fase lútea perdeu atualmente sua importância como causa de abortamento de repetição