Are home-based exercises effective to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive adults? A systematic review.

Sedentarism and chronic non-communicable diseases have been a worldwide health problem that is drastically exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic social impacts. Home-based exercises are widely encouraged during social isolation to counterbalance the physical inactive impacts. Although, in the context of hypertension, are home-based exercises effective in blood pressure controlling? Our objective is to conduct a systematic review of high-quality controlled trials comparing the possible effects of different types of home-based exercises in hypertensive patients. The literature search was carried out in three scientific databases: Medline, Europe PMC, and Lilacs. Articles were included following three criteria: analyzing the effect of home-based exercise programs on blood pressure in treated and untreated hypertensive patients; exercises must perform at home and on the frequency, intensity, time, and type (FITT) principle, and the articles were published in English. From the qualitative analysis of 27 original trials screened through 451 identified studies, the main results are the following: 1) both endurance, isometric strength, and respiratory home-based exercise programs were efficient to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients; 2) differences in methodological approaches regarding FITT components, distinct blood pressure values at baseline and specific underlying mechanisms must be considered as a potential bias of each home-based interventions. In conclusion, endurance, isometric strength, and breathing home-based programs seems to be effective to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients. However, further randomized controlled trials and mechanistic studies must be performing to guide evidence-based recommendations of home-based exercises as antihypertensive therapy.

Retinal vascular impairment in patients newly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate retinal morphological and vascular parameters in patients recently diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and determine the correlation between retinal vascular density and the severity of OSAS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on the retinal vasculature of patients with OSAS and age-match healthy controls. OSAS was confirmed by full-night cardiorespiratory polygraphy. Patients were divided into three groups according to disease severity given by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) i.e., mild, moderate or severe. Retinal thicknesses and vascular density were compared among groups, for both the macula and optic disc. Correlation between vascular density and clinical features were also assessed. RESULTS: The study included 30 eyes of patients with OSAS and 12 controls. No differences were found regarding retinal thickness in both the macula and the optic disc between OSAS patients and controls. In contrast, significant differences were found in the peripapillary vessel density between groups versus control patients. The greatest difference being between severe OSAS and controls (49.4% ± 2.1 versus 40.4% ± 4.2 respectively, p=0.01). Peripapillary vessel density was found to significantly and negatively correlate with AHI (p=0.02; r= -0.74) and directly correlate with the lowest percutaneous oxygen saturation (p=0.02; r= 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that OSAS is associated with retinal microvasculature impairment, that seems to mainly affect the optic disc. This suggests that microvascular damage increases with the increasing severity of OSAS. As such, prospective trials are needed to clarify if this vascular peripapillary damage precedes glaucomatous optic neuropathy in OSAS patients.

Isolated posterior scleritis associated with tuberculosis.

Ocular tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be rare, although its incidence has varied widely over time and in different populations. Latent TB is diagnosed when a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but does not have active TB. During the last decade, interferon-gamma release assay tests have been developed that allow identification of patients with latent TB infection with better specificity than the tuberculin skin test and can differentiate between infection and prior vaccination. Although rare, tuberculous scleritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of posterior scleritis. Here we describe a patient with posterior scleritis and severe visual loss associated with latent TB without uveitis, anterior scleritis, keratitis, or any other previous ocular disease history. The patient responded well to a combined treatment of antitubercular therapy and oral corticosteroids.

Isolated posterior scleritis associated with tuberculosis / Esclerite posterior isolada associada à tuberculose

ABSTRACT Ocular tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be rare, although its incidence has varied widely over time and in different populations. Latent TB is diagnosed when a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but does not have active TB. During the last decade, interferon-gamma release assay tests have been developed that allow identification of patients with latent TB infection with better specificity than the tuberculin skin test and can differentiate between infection and prior vaccination. Although rare, tuberculous scleritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of posterior scleritis. Here we describe a patient with posterior scleritis and severe visual loss associated with latent TB without uveitis, anterior scleritis, keratitis, or any other previous ocular disease history. The patient responded well to a combined treatment of antitubercular therapy and oral corticosteroids.

RESUMO A tuberculose (TB) ocular foi considerada rara, embora a sua incidência tenha variado significativamente ao longo do tempo e nas diferentes populações. A TB latente é diagnosticada quando alguém é infetado com Mycobacterium tuberculosis sem possuir doença ativa. Durante a última década, testes tendo por base interferon gamma release assay foram desenvolvidos, permitindo a identificação de pacientes com infeção por tuberculose latente com maior especificidade que o teste tuberculínico e diferenciar infeção e vacinação prévia. Embora rara, a esclerite tuberculosa deve ser tida em consideração no diagnóstico diferencial de esclerite posterior. Reportamos um paciente com esclerite posterior e baixa grave de acuidade visual associada a TB latente, sem uveíte, esclerite anterior, ceratite ou história de doença ocular prévia. O paciente respondeu favoravelmente a um tratamento combinado de fármacos antituberculose e corticoides orais.

Análise da prevalência de carcinoma de células escamosas da cavidade bucal no Serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital Metropolitano Odilon Behrens em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais / Analysis of the prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in the Stomatology Service of Hospital Metropolitano Odilon Behrens in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

O objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar a prevalência de carcinoma de células escamosas (CCE) em pacientes atendidos no serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital Metropolitano Odilon Behrens (HMOB) de Belo Horizonte (BH) no período de maio de 2012 a maio de 2014. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico transversal, fundamentado na análise retrospectiva e descritiva de prontuários de pacientes atendidos no serviço de Estomatologia do HMOB, com abordagem quantitativa dos dados. Resultados: Foram avaliados 139 prontuários de pacientes diagnosticados com CCE. Quanto à faixa etária dos pacientes diagnosticados, houve maior prevalência em torno da 5ª e 6ª década de vida. Em relação ao gênero, o sexo masculino foi o mais atingido em todas as faixas etárias. Com relação aos principais fatores de risco, 60 pacientes (75,94%) relataram ser tabagistas e etilistas. Quanto à classificação dos pacientes em relação ao consumo diário de tabaco, 33 (50%) foram considerados tabagista grave (mais de 20 cigarros/ dia). Em relação ao tamanho das lesões, uma larga parcela dos pacientes (48,51%) diagnosticados com CCE de cavidade bucal, apresentaram lesão medindo de 30 a 60 mm. Na distribuição dos pacientes segundo a localização anatômica e sexo, a língua foi o sítio mais acometido (32,82%), seguido do assoalho bucal (29,95%), em ambos os gêneros. Conclusão: Este estudo mostrou, de forma pioneira, o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes diagnosticados com câncer da cavidade bucal no Serviço de Estomatologia do HMOB, referência na região de Belo Horizonte. Percebe-se que houve uma preponderância de pacientes do sexo masculino, faixa etária acima dos 50 anos e que faz uso frequente de tabaco e\ou álcool.(AU)

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients who received dental care at the Stomatology Service of Hospital Metropolitano Odilon Behrens (HMOB) in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, from May 2012 to May 2014. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, epidemiological study based on the retrospective and descriptive analysis of the medical records of patients who received dental care at the HMOB Stomatology Service, using a quantitative data approach. Results: This study evaluated 139 medical records of patients diagnosed with SCC. Regarding the age of the diagnosed patients, a higher incidence was observed around the fifth and sixth decades of life. Regarding gender, males were the most affected in all age groups. Regarding the main risk factors, 60 patients (75.94%) reported being smokers and drinkers. The classification of patients in relation to daily tobacco consumption, 33 (50%) were considered severe smokers (more than 20 cigarettes/day). Regarding the size of the lesions, a large portion of the patient (49 patients = 48.51%) diagnosed with oral cavity SCC presented lesions measuring 30 to 60 mm. In the distribution of patients according to gender and anatomical location, the tongue was the most commonly affected site (43 patients = 32.82 %), followed by the floor of the mouth (34 patients = 29.95%) in both genders. Conclusion: This unprecedented study showed the epidemiological profile of patients diagnosed with oral cavity cancer in the HMOB Stomatology Service, a reference hospital in the Belo Horizonte region. It was observed that there was a preponderance of male patients, who are 50 years of age or older and who frequently use of tobacco and/ or alcohol.(AU)

Preanalytical conditions for broth microdilution antifungal susceptibility of Microsporum spp.

Dermatophytoses caused by the genus Microsporum require a long-duration therapy compared to infections caused by other genera. Treatment of these cutaneous infections includes topical and systemic antifungal agents. Tinea capitis and tinea unguium caused by M. canis and M. gypseum are the most difficult-to-treat dermatophytoses. There are few specific studies about corresponding antifungal susceptibility in vitro. Recently, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute proposed the M38A document as standard to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of several antifungal agents against conidium-forming filamentous fungi; however, dermatophytes were not included in this document. This study aimed to contribute to continuing investigations concerning the optimal antifungal susceptibility testing conditions of Microsporum spp. to terbinafine, ciclopiroxolamine and griseofulvin. The results pointed out potato dextrose agar as the best culture medium for inducing conidia sporulation, inoculum density amounting to 1 x 10(3) conidia ml(-1), containing only microconidia, with an incubation time of 7 days at 28 degrees C and 100% growth inhibition serving as an endpoint. The minimum fungicidal concentration values were in accordance with the MICs values, showing a fungicidal activity of these drugs towards the tested strains. According to our results, in general, terbinafine was more active than griseofulvin and ciclopiroxolamine.