Clinical, laboratory and tomographic characteristics associated with obesity and BMI at hospital admission in adult patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study / Características clínicas, laboratoriais e tomográficas associadas à obesidade e IMC na admissão hospitalar em pacientes adultos com COVID-19: um estudo transversal

INTRODUCTION: The pathological status of obesity can influence COVID-19 from its initial clinical presentation, therefore, the identification of clinical and laboratory parameters most affected in the presence of obesity can contribute to improving the treatment of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical, laboratory, and tomographic characteristics associated with obesity and BMI at t hospital admission in adult patients with COVID-19. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational study with a total of 315 participants with COVID-19 confirmed by rt-PCR. The participants were divided into non-Obese (n=203) and Obese (n=112). Physical examinations, laboratory tests, and computed tomography of the chest were performed during the first 2 days of hospitalization. RESULTS: Patients with obesity were younger, and they had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, higher frequency of alcoholism, fever, cough, and headache, higher ALT, LDH, and red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and percentage of lymphocytes. Also, they presented a lower value of leukocyte count and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio (RNL). The parameters positively correlated with BMI were alcoholism, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fever, cough, sore throat, number of symptoms, ALT in men, LDH, magnesium, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and percentage of lymphocytes. The parameters negatively correlated with the BMI were: age and RNL. CONCLUSION: Several parameters were associated with obesity at hospital admission, revealing better than expected results. However, these results should be interpreted with great caution, as there may be some influence of a phenomenon called the Obesity Paradox that can distort the severity and prognosis of the patient.

Clinical Aspects Of Hypertensive Patients With COVID-19 Hospitalized In A Campaign Hospital In Northeast Brazil

Abstract Background In view of the absence of effective therapy for COVID-19, many studies have been conducted seeking to identify determining factors for the development of severe forms, aiming to direct efforts to avoid the worst outcomes in patients susceptible to severe conditions. One of the main comorbidities associated with complicated forms of the disease is systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). Objective To assess aspects of the clinical, demographic, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of hypertensive patients with COVID-19 to contribute to the knowledge of the relationship between the presence of this comorbidity and the severity of the disease. Methods A total of 380 patients with a diagnosis of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized between June and August 2020 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a previous diagnosis of hypertension. For comparison between groups, a significant difference was established if p < 0.05. Results Of the total of 380 patients, 202 (53.16%) had a clinical diagnosis of SAH. Hypertensive patients were significantly older (p < 0.01) and had more comorbidities (p < 0.01) than the non-hypertensive group. In laboratory tests, hypertensive patients had higher levels of blood glucose (p = 0.014), creatinine (p = 0.002), and urea (p = 0.003), while values for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p = 0.006), and sodium (p = 0.024) were lower. There was no difference between groups in radiographic parameters. Conclusions This study showed that, although the hypertensive group had some laboratory alterations that elicited severe disease, these patients did not have worse outcomes.

Qualidade de vida de pacientes portadores de insuficiência renal crônica em tratamento de hemodiálise / Calidad de vida de pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica en tratamiento dialítico / Quality of life of patients with chronic renal insufficiency undergoing dyalisis treatment

OBJETIVO: Analisar a qualidade de vida de pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica, em tratamento de hemodiálise. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de pesquisa quantitativa, realizada em uma clínica de diálise em Campinas, SP, através dos dados de identificação gerais dos sujeitos e aplicação do questionário WHOQOL-breve dividido em quatro domínios: físico, psicológico, social e meio ambiente. Foram analisados 20 sujeitos escolhidos aleatoriamente. RESULTADOS: 75% homens e 25% mulheres, com predominância de pacientes na faixa etária de 40 - 60 anos, passando por hemodiálise, e índice menor entre os 20 e 40 anos. Observou-se, pela análise geral das médias dos domínios, que os pacientes lidavam melhor com os aspectos psicológicos, quando comparados aos demais âmbitos pesquisados. CONCLUSÃO: Os melhores resultados obtidos pertencem aos domínios psicológico e social, relacionados à crença na cura para a insuficiência renal crônica através de um transplante renal, proporcionando aos pacientes confiança no processo dialítico.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the quality of life of patients with chronic renal insufficiency undergoing dialysis treatment. METHODS: a quantitative research carried out in a dialysis service clinic in Campinas, São Paulo State, through the analysis of patients' general identification data and application of the WHOQOL-brief questionnaire, divided in four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environment. Twenty subjects were randomly chosen and analyzed. RESULTS: Male (75%) and female (25%) patients, most patients in the age group 40 - 60 years, undergoing dialysis treatment, with lower index for 20 to 40 year-olds. The analysis of the domains showed that the patients dealt better with the psychological aspects when compared to the other analyzes aspects (physical, psychological, and environment). CONCLUSION: The best results, concerning psychological and social domains, regard the belief in the cure for the chronic renal insufficiency through a renal transplant, providing patients with confidence in the dialysis process.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la calidad de vida de pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica, en tratamiento de hemodiálisis. MÉTODOS: Se trata de una investigación cuantitativa, realizada en una clínica de diálisis en Campinas, SP, a través de los datos de identificación general de los sujetos y la aplicación del cuestionario WHOQOL-brief dividido en cuatro dominios: físico, psicológico, social y medio ambiente. Fueron analizados 20 sujetos escogidos aleatoriamente. RESULTADOS: el 75% fueron hombres y el 25% mujeres, con predominio de pacientes en el grupo etáreo de 40 - 60 años, pasando por hemodiálisis, e índice menor entre los 20 y 40 años. Se observó, por el análisis general de los promedios de los dominios, que los pacientes lidiaban mejor con los aspectos psicológicos, cuando fueron comparados con los demás ámbitos investigados. CONCLUSIÓN: Los mejores resultados obtenidos pertenecen a los dominios psicológico y social, relacionados a la creencia en la curación de la insuficiencia renal crónica a través de un transplante renal, proporcionando a los pacientes confianza en el proceso dialítico.

As Organizações de Procura de Órgãos (OPOs) são efetivas? Análise de sete anos de atividade de uma OPO brasileira / Are the Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO) effective? A sevenyear

Introdução: A falta de órgãos humanos é o princial fator que limita o aumento do número dos transplantes (Tx) no Brasil. O governo do estado implantou as Organizações de Procura de Órgãos (OPOs) para aumentar a oferta de órgãos para Tx, entretanto ainda são escassos os relatos que demonstram a efetividade dessas OPOs. Objetivo: Esse trabalho teve o objetivo de analisar a evolução de uma OPO regional (OPO-SJRP) e avaliar seu desempenho em 7 anos (1997 a 2003). Casuística e método: Foram analisadas retrospectivamente as causas de não-efetivação das doações de MO / C e 1781 notificações de potenciais doadores (PD), sendo n= 1323 para córneas (C) e 458 para múltiplos órgãos (MO), que resultaram em 745 doadores de C e 166 de MO. Resultados: A análise mostrou redução de 25% nas notificações de PD. Entretanto, ocorreu aumento dos doadores efetivos de MO de 5 pmp/ano para 19 pmp/ano e nos de C de 36 pmp/ano para 63 pmp/ano. Na OPOSJRP as causas de não-efetivação das doações de MO foram principalmente a recusa familiar (RF) (20%) e a contra-indicação médica (CIM) (38%). Para as doações de C, a RF ocorreu em 35% e a CIM em 13%. A OPOSJRP apresenta taxas médias anuais de notificação para MO e de doação efetiva de 34 pmp e 12 pmp respectivamente, maiores que as demais OPOs do estado. Conclusão: A OPO-SJRP aumentou significativamente nos últimos 7 anos o número de doadores efetivos para transplantes de MO e de C e possui taxas de notificação e de doação pmp/ano similares ou maiores do que às das outras OPOs do Estado de S. Paulo

Subacute toxicology studies on the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae) in dogs

Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae) has been investigated about its botanical, chemical, pharmacological and toxicological aspects in our laboratory. Previous acute toxicology studies demonstrated that in dogs as well as in Wistar rats, 5 g/kg, p.o., and 2 g/kg, i.p. of the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis (AFL), induced a significant increase in the phosphatase alkaline and gama glutamil tranferase (GGT) levels, that were completely reversed in 15 days after interruption of AFL treatment. The aim of the present work was to investigate the subacute toxicology effects induced by AFL in dogs. We used the methods proposed by Portaria 116/96 of the Secretaria Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, which regulates studies of toxicity for phytomedicines in Brazil. Daily administration (p.o.) of AFL, 45 mg/kg/day (5 times the dose used by human beings), during 4 weeks, was devoid of any effect on haematological (haemogram and platelets) and on blood biochemical parametes. In conclusion, the present study, using dogs, demonstrated that AFL, in a popularly used dose, by human beings, was devoid of any toxicological effect.