International collaboration among medical societies is an effective way to boost Latin American production of articles on tuberculosis / A colaboração internacional entre sociedades médicas é uma forma eficaz de aumentar a produção de artigos sobre tuberculose na América Latina

ABSTRACT Objective: Most studies of tuberculosis originate from high-income countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis. A review of the scientific production on tuberculosis in Latin American countries, most of which are low- or middle-income countries (some with high or intermediate tuberculosis incidence rates), would improve the understanding of public health challenges, clinical needs, and research priorities. The aims of this systematic review were to determine what has been published recently in Latin America, to identify the leading authors involved, and to quantify the impact of international collaborations. Methods: We used PubMed to identify relevant manuscripts on pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), published between 2013 and 2018. We selected only studies conducted in countries with an annual tuberculosis incidence of ≥ 10,000 reported cases and an annual MDR-TB incidence of ≥ 300 estimated cases, including Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina. Articles were stratified by country, type, and topic. Results: We identified as eligible 395 studies on PTB and 188 studies on DR/MDR-TB-of which 96.4% and 96.8%, respectively, were original studies; 35.5% and 32.4%, respectively, had an epidemiological focus; and 52.7% and 36.2%, respectively, were conducted in Brazil. The recent Latin American Thoracic Association/European Respiratory Society/Brazilian Thoracic Association collaborative project boosted the production of high-quality articles on PTB and DR/MDR-TB in Latin America. Conclusions: Most of the recent Latin American studies on tuberculosis were conducted in Brazil, Mexico, or Peru. Collaboration among medical societies facilitates the production of scientific papers on tuberculosis. Such initiatives are in support of the World Health Organization call for intensified research and innovation in tuberculosis.

RESUMO Objetivo: A maioria dos estudos sobre tuberculose é proveniente de países de alta renda com baixa incidência de tuberculose. Uma revisão da produção científica sobre tuberculose na América Latina, região onde a maioria dos países é de baixa ou média renda, alguns com alta ou média incidência de tuberculose, seria útil para entender as necessidades clínicas e de saúde pública, bem como as prioridades de pesquisa. O objetivo desta revisão sistemática foi identificar o que foi publicado recentemente na América Latina, os principais autores envolvidos e o impacto das colaborações internacionais. Métodos: O PubMed foi usado para identificar manuscritos relevantes sobre tuberculose pulmonar (TBP) e tuberculose resistente ou multirresistente publicados entre 2013 e 2018. Foram selecionados apenas os estudos realizados em países com incidência anual de tuberculose ≥ 10.000 casos notificados e incidência anual de tuberculose multirresistente ≥ 300 casos estimados, incluindo Brasil, Peru, México, Colômbia e Argentina. Os artigos foram estratificados por país, tipo e tópico. Resultados: Foram identificados 395 estudos sobre TBP e 188 sobre tuberculose resistente/multirresistente, dos quais 96,4% e 96,8%, respectivamente, eram estudos originais; 35,5% e 32,4%, respectivamente, concentravam-se em epidemiologia; 52,7% e 36,2%, respectivamente, haviam sido realizados no Brasil. O recente projeto colaborativo da Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax/European Respiratory Society/Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia impulsionou a produção de artigos de alta qualidade sobre TBP e tuberculose resistente/multirresistente na América Latina. Conclusões: A maioria dos estudos recentes sobre tuberculose na América Latina foi realizada no Brasil, México ou Peru. A colaboração entre sociedades médicas facilita a produção de artigos científicos sobre tuberculose. Iniciativas assim atendem ao pedido da Organização Mundial da Saúde de intensificação das pesquisas e inovações na área de tuberculose.

Demographics and spatial distribution of the Brazilian dermatologists

Abstract: The medical-dermatological demographics favors health planning and guides expansion of the specialty. We conducted an ecological study of dermatologists members of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD). We evaluated: gender, age, address; which were compared with population and human development index indicators of municipalities. We evaluated 8384 members, distributed in 527 (9.5%) municipalities throughout Brazil. The female sex represented 78.4% of the members and the median age was 43 (36-54) years. The median density of dermatologists was 0.35 (0.21-0.37) per 10,000 inhabitants. The correlation (Spearman's rho) between density of dermatologists and human development index was 0.39 (p <0.01). The Brazilian dermatologist is characterized as: female, age <50 years and presenting an heterogeneous distribution throught the country.

Prostate cancer in Brazil and Latin America: epidemiology and screening

ABSTRACT Introduction: Prostate cancer is one of the tumors with higher incidence and mortality among men in the World. Epidemiological data are influenced by life expectancy of population, available diagnostic methods, correct collection of data and quality of health services. Screening of the disease is not standardized around the World. Up till now there is no consensus about the risks versus benefits of early detection. There are still missing data about this pathology in Latin America. Objective: to revise current epidemiologic situation and early diagnosis policies of prostate cancer in Brazil and Latin America. Materials and Methods: Medline, Cochrane Library and SciELO databases were reviewed on the subject of epidemiology and screening of prostate cancer. Screening research was performed in websites on national public health organizations and Latin America. Screening recommendations were obtained from those governmental organizations and from Latin American urological societies and compared to the most prominent regulatory agencies and societies of specialists and generalists from around the World. Results: Brazil and Latin America have a special position in relation to incidence and mortality of prostate cancer. In Brazil, it occupies the first position regarding incidence of cancer in men and the second cause of mortality. Central America has the highest rate of mortality of the continent with lower incidence/mortality ratios. Screening recommendations are very distinct, mainly among regulatory organs and urological societies. Conclusion: prostate cancer epidemiology is an important health public topic. Data collection related to incidence and mortality is still precarious, especially in less developed countries. It is necessary to follow-up long term screening studies results in order to conclude its benefits.

Brazilian Abstracts Presented at the American Urological Association Annual Meetings: Contribution, Publication Rates, and Comparison with Oncology Abstracts

Purpose Scientific research originating from Brazil appears to be rising in several medical fields. Research results are often presented at scientific meetings before publication in peer-reviewed journals. We investigated the publication rate of Brazilian studies presented in American Urological Association (AUA) meetings and compared with the rate of publication of Brazilian oncological studies presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meetings. Materials and Methods a hand search of 12,454 abstracts presented at aua meetings 2001-2007 was conducted. abstracts for which at least two-thirds of institutions were from brazil were considered as brazilian. final publication was searched in pubmed and lilacs databases. oncological abstracts were also hand searched in the asco meetings proceedings in the same years. Results There was no significant temporal trend in the proportion of AUA studies originating from Brazil along those 7 years. A total of 195 abstracts (1.57%) were from Brazil. One hundred (51.3%) abstracts were published in full, and the estimated 5-year publication rate was 48.2%. There was a progressive increase in publication rates for studies categorized as video, poster, and podium presentations. Considering abstracts presented in years 2001-2005, urologic publication rate was significantly higher than for abstracts presented at the ASCO meeting. Conclusions Our results suggest that the Brazilian contribution to AUA meetings is at a plateau and that the Brazilian literature contribution is greater in urology than in oncology. Efforts must be invested towards raising this plateau and understanding qualitative aspects of the urology scientific output from Brazil. .

An international survey of screening and management of hypothyroidism during pregnancy in Latin America / Uma avaliação internacional do rastreio e manejo do hipotireoidismo durante a gestação na América Latina

Objective To determine how endocrinologists in Latin America deal with clinical case scenarios related to hypothyroidism and pregnancy. Materials and methods In January 2013, we sent an electronic questionnaire on current practice relating to management of hypothyroidism in pregnancy to 856 members of the Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS) who manage pregnant patients with thyroid disease. Subsequently, we have analyzed responses from physician members. Results Two hundred and ninety-three responders represent clinicians from 13 countries. All were directly involved in the management of maternal hypothyroidism and 90.7% were endocrinologists. The recommendation of a starting dose of L-thyoxine for a woman diagnosed with overt hypothyroidism in pregnancy, preconception management of euthyroid women with known thyroid autoimmunity and approach related to ovarian hyperstimulation in women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies were widely variable. For women with known hypothyroidism, 34.6% of responders would increase L-thyroxine dose by 30-50% as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. With regard to screening, 42.7% of responders perform universal evaluation and 70% recommend TSH < 2.5 mUI/L in the first trimester and TSH < 3 mUI/L in the second and third trimester as target results in known hypothyroid pregnant women. Conclusion Deficiencies in diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism during pregnancy were observed in our survey, highlighting the need for improvement of specialist education and quality of care offered to patients with thyroid disease during pregnancy in Latin America. Arq Bras Endocrinol ...

Objetivo Determinar, na América Latina, como os endocrinologistas lidam com cenários clínicos relacionados ao hipotireoidismo durante a gravidez. Materiais e métodos Em Janeiro de 2013, foi enviado, para 856 membros da Sociedade Latino-Americana de Tireoide (LATS), um questionário eletrônico sobre práticas relacionadas ao manejo do hipotireoidismo durante a gestação. Subsequentemente, as respostas foram analisadas. Resultados Duzentos e noventa e três médicos, de 13 países, responderam ao questionário. Todos estavam diretamente envolvidos no manejo de hipotireoidismo materno e 90,7% eram endocrinologistas. As recomendações de iniciar terapia com levotiroxina para uma mulher com hipotireoidismo franco durante a gravidez e o manejo na fase de pré-concepção de pacientes eutireoidianas com conhecida autoimunidade em hiperestimulação ovariana variaram amplamente. Para mulheres com hipotireoidismo conhecido, apenas 34,6% dos respondedores aumentariam a dose de levotiroxina em 30-50% assim que a gravidez fosse confirmada. Em relação ao rastreamento, 42,7% dos respondedores realizam avaliação universal. Setenta por cento recomendam TSH < 2,5 mUI/L no primeiro trimestre e TSH < 3 mUI/L no terceiro trimestre como alvos. Conclusão Observamos problemas no diagnóstico e manejo do hipotireoidismo durante a gestação, enfatizando a necessidade, na América Latina, de melhoria na educação médica continuada em áreas como tireoiodopatias na gestação. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. ...

Perioperative management of anticoagulant users scheduled for glaucoma surgery: a survey among the Brazilian Glaucoma Society members / Condução de pacientes usuários de anticoagulantes no perioperatório de cirurgia antiglaucomatosa: uma pesquisa entre os membros da Sociedade Brasileira de Glaucoma

PURPOSE: To investigate and describe, among the members of the Brazilian Glaucoma Society (BGS), the practices regarding the perioperative management of anticoagulants (warfarin and aspirin) use in patients scheduled for glaucoma surgery. METHODS: The active members of the Brazilian Glaucoma Society answered a questionnaire evaluating different aspects of their current perioperative management of glaucomatous patients taking warfarin or aspirin. RESULTS: A total of 52 participants returned a complete questionnaire. Warfarin or aspirin was routinely interrupted prior to glaucoma surgery by 82.7% of the respondents. The majority of the surgeons who discontinued these medications reported doing so 7 days prior to surgery and resumed their use the day after the procedure. Almost half of our interviewees reported hemorrhagic complications that could be related to anticoagulant therapy. A large number of the surgeons (86.5%) preferred a particular surgical technique for anticoagulated patients; however, most of them (88.5%) do not change the anesthetic planning in such patients. Finally, the majority of the participants (90.4%) refer their anticoagulated patients to a preoperative appointment with a cardiologist or a general practitioner before the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of Brazilian Glaucoma Society members participating in this study interrupt either warfarin or aspirin prior to glaucoma surgery. Although there is scant information available in the literature to offer definitive guidance, most participants from the Brazilian Glaucoma Society seem to share the same opinion when it comes to perioperative management of anticoagulant users.

OBJETIVO: Investigar e descrever, entre os membros da Sociedade Brasileira de Glaucoma (SBG), as práticas relativas ao manejo de anticoagulantes (varfarina e aspirina) em pacientes agendados para cirurgia antiglaucomatosa. MÉTODOS: Foi enviado um questionário objetivo aos membros ativos da Sociedade Brasileira de Glaucoma avaliando diferentes aspectos da forma como conduzem seus pacientes em uso de varfarina ou aspirina durante o período perioperatório de uma cirurgia antiglaucomatosa. RESULTADOS: Cinquenta e dois participantes retornaram o questionário preenchido adequadamente. O uso de varfarina ou aspirina foi rotineiramente interrompido antes da cirurgia antiglaucomatosa por 82,7% dos entrevistados. A maior parte dos cirurgiões, quando interromperam o uso destes medicamentos, o fez sete dias antes da cirurgia e os reintroduziram no dia seguinte ao procedimento. Aproximadamente metade dos entrevistados disse ter observado complicações hemorrágicas que poderiam ser relacionados à terapia anticoagulante. Embora a maioria dos cirurgiões (86,5%) referiu utilizar alguma técnica cirúrgica em particular para esses pacientes anticoagulados, quase todos (88,5%) não alteram seu planejamento anestésico de rotina nesses mesmos casos. Finalmente, a maior parte dos participantes (90,4%) relatou referir seus pacientes anticoagulados para uma avaliação pré-operatória com um cardiologista ou um clínico geral. CONCLUSÃO: A maior parte dos membros da Sociedade Brasileira de Glaucoma que participou desse estudo refere interromper o uso de anticoagulantes (varfarina ou aspirina) antes de uma cirurgia antiglaucomatosa. Embora existam poucas informações disponíveis na literatura para oferecer uma orientação definitiva, a maioria dos participantes parece compartilhar da mesma opinião quando se trata do manejo perioperatório de anticoagulantes.

Utilização de diretrizes clínicas em cardiologia na saúde suplementar no Brasil / Utilization of clinical guidelines by health plan operators in the Brazilian health system

OBJETIVO: Apresentar resultados da área cardiovascular de um estudo nacional sobre a utilização de diretrizes clínicas na saúde suplementar. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, baseado em amostra representativa das 1573 operadoras de planos de saúde do Brasil, estratificada por macrorregião e segmento do mercado, subdividida em estratos certos e amostrados pelo método de Hedlin, com seleção eqüiprovável feita pelo algoritmo de Hájek em cada estrato amostrado, resultando em 90 operadoras entrevistadas com questionário estruturado; estimação pontual de porcentagens, totais e médias através de fatores de expansão, relativas a uma população N=1572. RESULTADOS: Para 61,2 por cento das operadoras a utilização de diretrizes clínicas deve ser conduzida por órgãos reguladores governamentais, com participação de operadoras, prestadores de saúde e associações médicas. Apenas 32,3 por cento das operadoras conduzem a utilização de diretrizes clínicas, variando de 6,5 por cento (filantrópicas) a 38,2 por cento (autogestão). Entre as operadoras que conduzem o uso de diretrizes, a área cardiovascular apresenta uma das maiores utilizações: infarto agudo do miocárdio (87 por cento); insuficiência cardíaca (85 por cento); procedimentos invasivos em cardiologia (81,1 por cento); hipertensão arterial (74,1 por cento); acidente vascular encefálico (72,2 por cento); diabetes (65,4 por cento). As sociedades médicas são a fonte mais comum dessas diretrizes. 64,1 por cento das operadoras monitoram indicadores de processo/resultado dos prestadores, mas apenas 10,5 por cento monitoram o uso de reperfusão coronariana no IAM de forma sistemática. 73,2 por cento promovem campanhas de promoção/prevenção de agravos: hipertensão arterial (97 por cento), diabetes (93,3 por cento), obesidade (70,7 por cento) e tabagismo (60,8 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Implementação baixa e incipiente de diretrizes, com variação regional e por segmentos do mercado. De uma forma geral, a área cardiovascular...

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to present cardiovascular results of a national study about the implementation of clinical guidelines and other instruments and practices for clinical care management among health plan operators in Brasil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of the 1,573 Brazilian health plan operators, stratified by macro region and market segment. Each stratum was subdivided in take-all and take-some strata by Hedlin's method, with equiprobability selection in each take-some stratum. The resulting sample size was of 90 health plan operators who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The study had a descriptive nature and, to obtain estimates for percents and total number of health plan operators relative to a population size of N=1572., sample weights were taken into account. RESULTS: Of the health plan operators, 61.2 percent considered that the implementation of clinical guidelines should be conducted by administrative and regulatory government organizations, involving a partnership with health plan operators, health service providers and medical societies. It was shown that only 32.3 percent of the health plan operators in the country enforce clinical guidelines. With regard to cardiovascular disease, the reported utilization of guidelines was one of the highest among all diseases analyzed. The percentages for acute myocardial infarction (87 percent), congestive heart failure (85 percent) and the use of invasive procedures (81.1 percent) were higher than for arterial hypertension (74.1 percent) and cerebrovascular disease (72.2 percent). CONCLUSION: This study indicated the incipient utilization of clinical guidelines among health plan operators in the Brazilian health system. In general, the cardiovascular area showed one of the highest rates of utilization reported in the study.

Yavatmal District Blindness Control Society: a case study.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively study the records and reports available at the District Blindness Control Society (DBCS), Yavatmal in terms of target fixation, performance and utilisation of manpower and equipment. METHODS: All the available records, reports, correspondence, and proceedings of meetings from 1981-98 were scrutinized and analyzed. RESULTS: The performance records and reports showed that over the last 10 years the target achievement of DBCS is close to 100%. However, the fixed facility (District hospital/Tertiary hospital where cataract surgeries are being performed under strict aseptic conditions) performance does not match the targets. The district mobile unit camp performance achieved 35-40% of the target in the last quarter of the financial year. CONCLUSION: The target fixation is irrational and needs improvement, and it is necessary for the program managers in the district to undertake analysis of the available data to ensure performance improvement.

Perfil del nuevo socio activo de la Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría / Profile of the new active member of the Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría

Se describen las características principales de 102 recientes socios activos de la Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría, destacando una tardanza postítulo de alrededor de 10 años (mediana) en ingresar, período en el cual asisten a cursos cortos de perfeccionamiento, realizan actividades de investigación en menor grado y adquieren formación como pediatras, estando certificado el 78,4 por ciento por universidad o CONACEM