Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood donors in the extreme South of Brazil

ABSTRACT Background: We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Chagas disease among blood donors in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: The study was conducted from 2010 to 2019 based on data registered by the Hemocentro Regional de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Results: There were 106,320 blood donations, and the discard rate of blood bags, either due to positive reactions to anti-T. cruzi antibodies or inconclusive results was 0.27% (283 bags). Conclusions: The usage of methods that enable the safe identification of donors with positive serology for Chagas disease is fundamental to ensure transfusional safety.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes com disfagia neurogênica / Evaluation of quality of life in patients with neurogenic dysphagia

RESUMO: Objetivo: avaliar a qualidade de vida de pacientes com Acidente Vascular Encefálico e disfagia neurogênica. Métodos: estudo quantitativo, do tipo transversal, descritivo, realizado no Setor de Neurologia de um Hospital de Ensino, em Curitiba- Paraná. A amostra foi constituída de 35 indivíduos com Acidente Vascular Encefálico e queixa de disfagia. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário para avaliação da qualidade de vida em disfagia. Resultados: nas variáveis sociodemográficas houve predomínio de homens, idosos, brancos, casados e primeiro grau incompleto. A avaliação de qualidade de vida demonstrou que os domínios que apresentaram alterações foram os que investigam como a alteração da deglutição tem afetado o aspecto social dos participantes. A correlação de Mann-Whitney evidenciou significância estatística (p < 5) quando relacionou a deglutição como um fardo com o tempo de se alimentar (p 0,002), frequência dos sintomas (p <0,001), saúde mental (p <0,001) e fadiga (p <0,001). Conclusão: o levantamento estatístico comprovou o impacto causado pela disfagia neurogênica na qualidade de vida dos pacientes acometidos por Acidente Vascular Encefálico, representado pelas alterações encontradas nos resultados de avalição da qualidade de vida. Na correlação de Mann-Whitney, ao se realizar os cruzamentos entre os domínios do instrumento, os dados evidenciaram significância estatística quanto ao tempo de alimentação, medo de se alimentar, saúde mental, social e fadiga, que causam prejuízo na qualidade de vida dos pacientes com disfagia neurogênica.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: to assess quality of life in patients with cerebrovascular accident and neurogenic dysphagia. Methods: a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out by the Division of Neurology of a Teaching Hospital in Curitiba- Paraná State, Brazil. The sample consisted of 35 individuals with cerebrovascular accident and dysphagia. Data were collected through a questionnaire to assess quality of life in dysphagia. Results: as for the socio-demographic variables, predominantly males, elderly, white, married and incomplete primary education. The evaluation of quality of life showed that the domains that presented changes were the ones investigating how swallowing changes have affected participants' social aspect. Mann-Whitney correlation evidenced statistical significance (p <5) when related swallowing as a burden to feeding time (p 0.002), frequency of symptoms (p <0.001), mental health (p<0.001) and fatigue (p <0.001). Conclusion: the statistical survey confirmed the impact of neurogenic dysphagia on quality of life of patients suffering from cerebrovascular accident, represented by the changes found in the instrument used for rating the quality of life. In Mann-Whitney correlation, when performing intersections between the domains of the instrument, data showed statistical significance on feeding time, fear of eating, mental, social health and fatigue, which adversely affect the quality of life of patients with neurogenic dysphagia.

Program to Diagnose Probability of Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Introduction: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, with a strong economic and social impact. Approximately 40% of patients show motor, language, and swallowing disorders after stroke. Objective: To evaluate the use of software to infer the probability of pneumonia in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: Prospective and cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital from March 2010 to August 2012. After confirmation of ischemic stroke by computed axial tomography, a clinical and flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was performed within 72 hours of onset of symptoms. All patients received speech therapy poststroke, and the data were subsequently analyzed by the software. The patients were given medical treatment and speech therapy for 3 months. Results: The study examined 52 patients with a mean age of 62.05 ± 13.88 years, with 23 (44.2%) women. Of the 52 patients, only 3 (5.7%) had a probability of pneumonia between 80 and 100% as identified by the software. Of all patients, 32 (61.7%) had pneumonia probability between 0 and 19%, 5 (9.5%) between 20 and 49%, 3 (5.8%) between 50 and 79%, and 12 (23.0%) between 80 and 100%. Conclusion The computer program indicates the probability of patient having aspiration pneumonia after ischemic stroke...

Correlation between brain injury and dysphagia in adult patients with stroke

Introduction: In the literature, the incidence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with cerebrovascular accident (AVE) ranges 20-90%. Some studies correlate the location of a stroke with dysphagia, while others do not. Objective: To correlate brain injury with dysphagia in patients with stroke in relation to the type and location of stroke. Method: A prospective study conducted at the Hospital de Clinicas with 30 stroke patients: 18 women and 12 men. All patients underwent clinical evaluation and swallowing nasolaryngofibroscopy (FEES®), and were divided based on the location of the injury: cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, subcortical areas, and type: hemorrhagic or transient ischemic. Results: Of the 30 patients, 18 had ischemic stroke, 10 had hemorrhagic stroke, and 2 had transient stroke. Regarding the location, 10 lesions were in the cerebral cortex, 3 were in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, 3 were in the cerebral cortex and subcortical areas, and 3 were in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices and subcortical areas. Cerebral cortex and subcortical area ischemic strokes predominated in the clinical evaluation of dysphagia. In FEES®, decreased laryngeal sensitivity persisted following cerebral cortex and ischemic strokes. Waste in the pharyngeal recesses associated with epiglottic valleculae predominated in the piriform cortex in all lesion areas and in ischemic stroke. A patient with damage to the cerebral and cerebellar cortices from an ischemic stroke exhibited laryngeal penetration and tracheal aspiration of liquid and honey. Conclusion: Dysphagia was prevalent when a lesion was located in the cerebral cortex and was of the ischemic type...