Medium-term mortality after hip fractures and COVID-19: A prospective multi-centre UK study / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#The COVID-19 pandemic has caused 1.4 million deaths globally and is associated with a 3-4 times increase in 30-day mortality after a fragility hip fracture with concurrent COVID-19 infection. Typically, death from COVID-19 infection occurs between 15 and 22 days after the onset of symptoms, but this period can extend up to 8 weeks. This study aimed to assess the impact of concurrent COVID-19 infection on 120-day mortality after a fragility hip fracture.@*METHODS@#A multi-centre prospective study across 10 hospitals treating 8% of the annual burden of hip fractures in England between 1st March and 30th April, 2020 was performed. Patients whose surgical treatment was payable through the National Health Service Best Practice Tariff mechanism for "fragility hip fractures" were included in the study. Patients' 120-day mortality was assessed relative to their peri-operative COVID-19 status. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.@*RESULTS@#A total of 746 patients were included in this study, of which 87 (11.7%) were COVID-19 positive. Mortality rates at 30- and 120-day were significantly higher for COVID-19 positive patients relative to COVID-19 negative patients (p < 0.001). However, mortality rates between 31 and 120-day were not significantly different (p = 0.107), 16.1% and 9.4% respectively for COVID-19 positive and negative patients, odds ratio 1.855 (95% CI 0.865-3.978).@*CONCLUSION@#Hip fracture patients with concurrent COVID-19 infection, provided that they are alive at day-31 after injury, have no significant difference in 120-day mortality. Despite the growing awareness and concern of "long-COVID" and its widespread prevalence, this does not appear to increase medium-term mortality rates after a hip fracture.

Performance Appraisal of Select Nations in Mitigation of COVID-19 Pandemic using Entropy based TOPSIS Method / Avaliação de desempenho de nações selecionadas na mitigação de pandemia de COVID-19 usando método TOPSIS baseado em entropia

Abstract The present study was an effort to assess the mitigation interventions carried out, so far, by the nations to fight the pandemic COVID-19. The novelty of the study was that it had considered the issue of pandemic mitigation strategy as a decision making problem. The performances of the twenty nations were to be ranked. The problem considered in the study was essentially a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) problem. The available alternatives were the 20 countries and the 8 traits were the criteria. The Technique of Order Preference Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used in the present study. The study used Entropy method for assignment of weights to all the criteria. The performance score obtained in respect of the countries considered in the study and the corresponding ranks indicated the relative performances of the countries in their efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that New Zealand is the best performing country and India is the worst one. Brazil ranked 17th, while the rank of UK was 15. The performance of the USA stood at 18th position.

Resumo O presente estudo foi um esforço para avaliar as intervenções de mitigação realizadas, até o momento, pelas nações para combater a pandemia COVID-19. A novidade do estudo é que considerou a questão da estratégia de mitigação da pandemia como um problema de tomada de decisão. As performances das vinte nações deveriam ser classificadas. O problema considerado no estudo era essencialmente um problema de Análise de Decisão Multi-Critério (MCDA). As alternativas disponíveis eram os 20 países e as 8 características eram os critérios. A Técnica de Similaridade de Preferência de Pedido com a Solução Ideal (TOPSIS) foi utilizada no presente estudo. O estudo utilizou o método da Entropia para atribuição de pesos a todos os critérios. A pontuação de desempenho obtida em relação aos países considerados no estudo e as classificações correspondentes indicaram os desempenhos relativos dos países em seus esforços para mitigar a pandemia COVID-19. Os resultados mostram que a Nova Zelândia é o país com melhor desempenho e a Índia o pior. O Brasil ficou em 17º, enquanto o Reino Unido ficou em 15. O desempenho dos EUA ficou na 18ª posição.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people: A comparison between China and the United Kingdom / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#As COVID-19 spreads globally and affects people's health, there are concerns that the pandemic and control policies may have psychological effects on young people (age from 17 to 35 years). This psychological impact might vary in different countries, and thus we compared the prevalence of self-reported psychological distress, loneliness and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) and China at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.@*METHODS@#Data of this study came from two sources. One source was the first wave of COVID-19 study in Understanding Society, a special wave of the UK household longitudinal study, which provided the high-quality, national-wide representative panel data. The sample comprised 1054 young people. The other source was an online survey on the mental health of 1003 young people from Shanghai, a highly developed area in China. The questionnaire included questions on the prevalence of common mental disorders (cut-off score ≥ 4), loneliness and potential PTSS (cut-off ≥ 33). Univariable analyses were conducted to test the differences in the self-reported prevalence of psychological distress and loneliness between the two groups. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were run to explore the predictors of psychological distress and loneliness among all the young people from England and Shanghai.@*RESULTS@#Among the samples with self-reported psychological distress, the UK sample accounted for 34.4% (n=1054) and the Chinese sample accounted for 14.1% (n=1003). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Additionally, 57.1% of people in the UK and 46.7% in China reported that they sometimes or often felt lonely, of which the difference is statistically significant (p < 0.001). Regression analysis of the entire samples showed that nationality, gender, psychotherapy and loneliness were significant predictors of 12-item General Health Questionnaire scores, while the variables of age and living alone were not. Significant predictors of self-reported loneliness were the nationality, gender, age, living alone and psychotherapy. In China, 123 (12.3%) young people, 49 men (11.3%) and 74 women (13.0%), met the criteria of PTSS symptoms (cut-off scores ≥ 33). These scores were only collected in China.@*CONCLUSION@#This evidence suggests that mental health and loneliness reported by young people were lower in China than that in the UK during the studied period. More research is needed to understand these differences. If the differential negative psychological impacts are confirmed, country-specific measures of prevention and intervention should be adopted to improve the mental health of young people under the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

Medidas de enfrentamento dos efeitos econômicos da Pandemia Covid-19: panorama internacional e análise dos casos dos Estados Unidos, do Reino Unido e da Espanha / Texto para Discussão (TD) 2559: Medidas de enfrentamento dos efeitos econômicos da Pandemia Covid-19: panorama internacional e análise dos casos dos Estados Unidos, do Reino Unido e da Espanha / Português

Este texto apresenta um panorama internacional das medidas econômicas adotadas para reduzir os graves efeitos econômicos da pandemia de Sars-COV-2 em três países: Estados Unidos, Reino Unido e Espanha. A análise toma como base primordialmente documentos governamentais que normatizaram as medidas de política econômica. São analisados os diversos canais por meio dos quais a crise sanitária afeta a economia. Por um lado, estão os fatores de oferta: oferta de trabalho, produtividade do trabalho e funcionamento das cadeias produtivas. Por outro lado, encontram-se os fatores de demanda: consumo das famílias, investimento privado e comércio exterior. O terceiro canal diz respeito aos fatores financeiros que incidem sobre as variáveis de demanda e, principalmente, sobre o grau de liquidez das empresas financeiras e não financeiras. As medidas adotadas nos três países apresentam como características comuns a mobilização de grande volume de recursos fiscais e financeiros, a adoção de uma grande diversidade de instrumentos de política econômica e o uso de arranjos institucionais sofisticados em termos de regras de focalização e de mecanismos de operacionalização das medidas adotadas.

This text presents an international overview of the economic measures adopted to reduce the serious economic effects of the Sars-COV-2 pandemic in three countries: the USA, the United Kingdom and Spain. The analysis is based primarily on government documents that regulated economic policy measures. The various channels through which the health crisis affects the economy are analyzed. On one hand, there are the supply factors: labor supply, labor productivity and the functioning of production chains. On the other hand, there are demand factors: household consumption, private investment and foreign trade. The third channel concerns the financial factors on demand variables and, mainly, on the degree of liquidity of financial and non-financial companies. The measures adopted in the three countries have as common characteristics the mobilization of large volumes of fiscal and financial resources, the adoption of a wide range of economic policy instruments and the use of sophisticated institutional arrangements in terms of targeting rules and mechanisms for operationalizing the measures adopted.

The link between ankylosing spondylitis and oral health conditions: two nested case-control studies using data of the UK Biobank

Abstract Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects the axial skeleton and the sacroiliac joints. Recent studies investigated the link between AS and oral diseases, particularly periodontitis. Others suggested that periodontitis may have a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between AS and oral conditions. Material and Methods: This research was conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number 26307. The UK Biobank recruited around 500000 participants throughout Great Britain. Clinical records were available for 2734 participants. Two case-control studies were conducted based on whether AS was self-reported or clinically diagnosed. Oral conditions were identified using self-reported reports of oral ulcers, painful gums, bleeding gums, loose teeth, toothache, and dentures. The association between AS and oral conditions was assessed using logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, educational level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and body mass index. Results: A total of 1307 cases and 491503 control participants were eligible for the self-reported AS study. The mean age was 58 years for the cases [7.5 standard deviation (SD)] and 57 years for the control groups (8.1 SD). Also, 37.1% of the cases and 54.2% of the control participants were females. Among the oral conditions, only oral ulcers were strongly associated with AS [1.57 adjusted odds ratio (OR); 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31 to 1.88]. For the study of clinically diagnosed AS, 153 cases and 490351 control participants were identified. The mean age for both cases and control groups was 57 years; 7.6 SD for the cases and 8.1 for the control group. Females corresponded to 26.1% of the cases, and 54.2% of the control participants. Clinically diagnosed AS was associated with self-reported oral ulcers (2.17 adjusted OR; 95% CI 1.33 to 3.53). Conclusion: Self-reported and clinically diagnosed AS populations have increased risk of reporting oral ulcers. Further investigations are required to assess the link between a specific type of oral condition and AS.

Public policies on healthcare-associated infections: a Brazil and UK case study

ABSTRACT To summarize the historical events and drivers underlying public policy for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections in Brazil and in the United Kingdom. In doing so, the article aims to identify lessons and recommendations for future development of public policy. The analysis is based on a historical overview of national healthcare-associated infections programs taken from previously published sources. Findings highlight how the development of healthcare-associated infections prevention and control policies followed similar trajectories in Brazil and the United Kingdom. This can be conceptualized around four sequential phases: Formation, Consolidation, Standardization, and Monitoring and Evaluation. However, while we identified similar phases of development in Brazil and the United Kingdom, it can be seen that the former entered each stage around 20 years after the latter.

Adjunctive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or Alone Antibiotherapy? Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Mediastinitis in a Rat Model

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: In the post-sternotomy mediastinitis patients, Staphylococcus aureus is the pathogenic microorganism encountered most often. In our study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of antibiotic treatment with vancomycin and tigecycline, alone or in combination with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, on bacterial elimination in experimental S. aureus mediastinitis. METHODS: Forty-nine adult female Wistar rats were used. They were randomly divided into seven groups, as follows: non-contaminated, contaminated control, vancomycin, tigecycline, hyperbaric oxygen, hyperbaric oxygen + vancomycin and hyperbaric oxygen + tigecycline. The vancomycin rat group received 10 mg/kg/day of vancomycin twice a day through intramuscular injection. The tigecycline group rats received 7 mg/kg/day of tigecycline twice a day through intraperitoneal injection. The hyperbaric oxygen group underwent 90 min sessions of 100% oxygen at 2.5 atm pressure. Treatment continued for 7 days. Twelve hours after the end of treatment, tissue samples were obtained from the upper part of the sternum for bacterial count assessment. RESULTS: When the quantitative bacterial counts of the untreated contaminated group were compared with those of the treated groups, a significant decrease was observed. However, comparing the antibiotic groups with the same antibiotic combined with hyperbaric oxygen, there was a significant reduction in microorganisms identified (P<0.05). Comparing hyperbaric oxygen used alone with the vancomycin and tigecycline groups, it was seen that the effect was not significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We believe that the combination of hyperbaric oxygen with antibiotics had a significant effect on mediastinitis resulting from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus mediastinitis can be treated without requiring a multidrug combination, thereby reducing the medication dose and concomitantly decreasing the side effects.

Effects of programmed physical activity on body composition in post-pubertal schoolchildren / Efeito da atividade física programada sobre a composição corporal em escolares pós-púberes

OBJECTIVE: To assess body composition modifications in post-pubertal schoolchildren after practice of a physical activity program during one school year. METHODS: The sample consisted of 386 students aged between 15 and 17 years and divided into two groups: the study group (SG) comprised 195 students and the control group (CG), 191. The SG was submitted to a physical activity program and the CG attended conventional physical education classes. Body composition was assessed using body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (%BF), fat mass (FM), and lean mass (LM). RESULTS: A positive effect of the physical activity program on body composition in the SG (p < 0.001) was observed, as well as on the interaction time x group in all the variables analyzed in both genders. A reduction in %BF (mean of differences = -5.58%) and waist circumference (-2.33 cm), as well as an increase in LM (+2.05 kg) were observed in the SG for both genders, whereas the opposite was observed in the CG. CONCLUSION: The practice of programmed physical activity promotes significant reduction of body fat in post-pubertal schoolchildren. .

OBJETIVO: Verificar as modificações da composição corporal de escolares pós-púberes após a prática da atividade física programada durante um ano letivo. MÉTODO: Amostra composta de 386 alunos, divididos em dois grupos: estudo 195 e controle 191, entre 15 e 17 anos. O grupo estudo (GE) foi submetido a atividade física programada e o grupo controle (GC) a aulas convencionais de educação física. A composição corporal foi avaliada pelo índice de massa corporal (IMC), percentual de gordura (%G) e massa gorda (MG) e magra (MM). RESULTADOS: Foi possível observar um efeito positivo do programa de atividade física sobre a composição corporal no GE (p < 0,001) do grupo e da interação tempo x grupo em todas as variáveis analisadas em ambos os sexos. Foram observados reduções na %G (média das diferenças = -5,58%) e no perímetro da cintura (-2,33 cm) e aumento da MM (+2,05 kg) no GE em ambos os sexos. O contrário foi observado no GC. CONCLUSÃO: A prática de atividade física programada promove redução significativa de gordura corporal em escolares pós-púberes. .

Toxicological profile of deltamethrin in Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in State of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Triatoma brasiliensis is the species of greatest epidemiological relevance in the semi-arid region of Brazil. This species is predominantly found in domestic environments, and it has the ability to build large colonies with high levels of natural infection via Trypanosoma cruzi. Thus, T. brasiliensis is one of the most efficient transmitters of Chagas disease (CD) to humans. Despite household spraying with residual insecticides, many areas report persistent reinfestations for reasons that remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study sought to characterize the toxicological profile of deltamethrin in T. brasiliensis from areas with persistent reinfestation in State of Ceará, Brazil. METHODS: The susceptibility reference lineage (SRL) was derived from Umari. Serial dilutions of deltamethrin were prepared and applied to the dorsal abdomen of first instar nymphs. The control group received only pure acetone. Mortality was evaluated after 72h. Qualitative tests assessed mortality in response to a diagnostic dose of 1xLD99 (0.851 nanograms of active ingredient per treated nymph) of the SRL. RESULTS: The susceptibility profile characterization of the T. brasiliensis populations revealed 50% resistance ratios (RR50) that ranged from 0.32 to 1.21. The percentage of mortality in response to the diagnostic dose was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that T. brasiliensis was highly susceptible to deltamethrin. The control difficulties found might be related to the recolonization of the triatomines originating from neighboring environments and the possible operational failures related to the process of spraying that enabled specimens less susceptible to deltamethrin to survive. .

Two port video-assisted gastrostomy and jejunostomy: technical simplification and clinical results / Gastrostomia e jejunostomia videoassistidas com dois portais: simplificação técnica e resultados clínicos

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting upper gastrointestinal obstruction, difficulty or inability in swallowing, may need nutritional support which can be obtained through gastrostomy and jejunostomy. AIM: To describe the methods of gastrostomy and jejunostomy video-assisted, and to compare surgical approaches for video-assisted laparoscopy and laparotomy in patients with advanced cancer of the esophagus and stomach, to establish enteral nutritional access. METHODS: Were used the video-assisted laparoscopic techniques for jejunostomy and gastrostomy and the same procedures performed by laparotomies. Comparatively, were analyzed the distribution of patients according to demographics, diagnosis and type of procedure. RESULTS: There were 36 jejunostomies (18 by laparotomy and 17 laparoscopy) and 42 gastrostomies (21 on each side). In jejunostomy, relevant data were operating time of 132 min vs. 106 min (p=0.021); reintroduction of diet: 3.3 days vs 2.1 days (p=0.009); discharge: 5.8 days vs 4.3 days (p= 0.044). In gastrostomy, relevant data were operative time of 122.6 min vs 86.2 min (p= 0.012 and hospital discharge: 5.1 days vs 3.7 days (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: The comparative analysis of laparotomy and video-assisted access to jejunostomies and gastrostomies concluded that video-assisted approach is feasible method, safe, fast, simple and easy, requires shorter operative time compared to laparotomy, enables diet start soon in compared to laparotomy, and also enables lower length of stay compared to laparotomy. .

RACIONAL: Enfermos que apresentam obstrução digestiva alta, com dificuldade ou impossibilidade de deglutição, podem necessitar suporte nutricional provisório ou permanente16, que pode ser obtido através de gastrostomias e jejunostomias. OBJETIVO: descrever os métodos de gastrostomia e jejunostomia videoassistidas, bem como comparar os acessos cirúrgicos por laparotomia e por laparoscopia videoassistida, em pacientes portadores de neoplasias avançadas de esôfago e estômago, para estabelecimento de acesso nutricional enteral. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizadas as técnicas laparoscópics video-assistidas para a jejunostomia e gastrostomia e os mesmo procedimentos realizados por laparotomia. Foram analisados comparativamente a distribuição dos pacientes quanto à demografia, diagnóstico e tipo de procedimento. RESULTADOS: Foram 36 jejunostomias (18 por laparotomia e 17 por laparoscopia) e 42 gastrostomias (21 de cada lado). Na jejunostomia os dados relevantes foram: tempo operatório de 132 min vs 106 min (p=0,021); reintrodução da dieta: 3,3 dias vs 2,1 dias (p=0,009); alta hospitalar: 5,8 dias vs 4,3 dias (p=0,044). Na gastrostomia os dados relevantes foram: tempo operatório de 122,6 min vs 86,2 min (p=0,012 e alta hospitalar: 5,1 dias vs 3,7 dias (p=0,016). CONCLUSÃO: A análise comparativa das vias de acesso laparotômica e videoassistida para jejunostomias e gastrostomias conclui que a via videoassistida é método factível, segura, rápida, simples e fácil, necessita menor tempo operatório em relação à laparotomia, possibilita início de dieta mais rapidamente na jejunostomia em relação à laparotomia, e possibilita menor tempo de internação em relação à laparotomia. .

Patella Resurfacing during Total Knee Arthroplasty: Have We Got the Issue Covered?

BACKGROUND: Management of the patella during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial. Multiple studies have examined mechanical and clinical results of TKA with native and resurfaced patellae with no clear consensus. METHODS: We surveyed a large cohort of consultant surgeons in a questionnaire based study in order to assess the indications for patella resurfacing and to correlate practice with degree of specialization, experience and volume of procedures performed. RESULTS: Six hundred and nineteen surgeons were included. The main indication for patella resurfacing was patellofemoral arthritis. The ratio of those who always:sometimes:never resurfaced was 1:2:1 irrespective of experience or volume performed. There was no difference between knee specialists and non-specialists (p = 0.977) or between high and lower volume surgeons (p = 0.826). Senior and high volume surgeons tended to always resurface. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of surgeons only sometimes resurfaced the patella. The number who always and never resurfaced were similar. There was a tendency for more experienced and high volume surgeons to always resurface.

Use of epidemiological data as the basis for developing a medical curriculum / O uso de dados epidemiológicos como base para o desenvolvimento de um currículo médico

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Epidemiology may help educators to face the challenge of establishing content guidelines for the curricula in medical schools. The aim was to develop learning objectives for a medical curriculum from an epidemiology database. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study assessing morbidity and mortality data, conducted in a private university in São Paulo. METHODS: An epidemiology database was used, with mortality and morbidity recorded as summaries of deaths and the World Health Organization's Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY). The scoring took into consideration probabilities for mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: The scoring presented a classification of health conditions to be used by a curriculum design committee, taking into consideration its highest and lowest quartiles, which corresponded respectively to the highest and lowest impact on morbidity and mortality. Data from three countries were used for international comparison and showed distinct results. The resulting scores indicated topics to be developed through educational taxonomy. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of the health conditions and their statistical treatment made it possible to identify topics that should be fully developed within medical education. The classification also suggested limits between topics that should be developed in depth, including knowledge and development of skills and attitudes, regarding topics that can be concisely presented at the level of knowledge.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A epidemiologia pode auxiliar os educadores a enfrentar o desafio de estabelecer diretrizes para o conteúdo dos currículos em escolas médicas. O objetivo foi desenvolver objetivos de aprendizagem para um currículo médico por meio de um banco de dados epidemiológicos. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo descritivo avaliando dados de morbidade e mortalidade, realizado por universidade particular em São Paulo. MÉTODOS: O banco de dados epidemiológicos com morbidade e mortalidade registrados como resumo de causas de morte e o Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) da Organização Mundial de Saúde foi utilizado. A pontuação desenvolvida considerou probabilidades de mortalidade e morbidade. RESULTADOS: A pontuação apresenta uma classificação dessas condições de saúde para ser utilizada por uma comissão responsável pelo desenho curricular, considerando seus quartis superior e inferior, designando, respectivamente, maior e menor impacto na morbidade e mortalidade. Dados de três países foram utilizados para comparação internacional, mostrando resultados distintos. As pontuações resultantes indicaram temas a serem desenvolvidos pela taxonomia educacional. CONCLUSÃO: A frequência das condições de saúde e seu tratamento estatístico possibilitaram a identificação de temas que devem ser plenamente desenvolvidos em educação médica. A classificação sugere também limites entre tópicos que devem ser desenvolvidos em profundidade, incluindo o conhecimento e o desenvolvimento de habilidades e atitudes, a respeito de tópicos que podem ser concisamente apresentados ao nível de conhecimento.

Hypotension in preterm infants.

PURPOSE: Hypotension is a frequent occurrence in sick preterm neonates. It is important to appropriately recognise and treat hypotension in preterm infants due to the possible association with short and long term adverse outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY: An extensive search for relevant articles was carried out on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane database of systematic reviews. Cross references were hand searched. CONCLUSIONS: The pathophysiology hypotension in preterm infants is multifactorial. Hypovolemia plays only a minor role in the absence of overt fluid losses. Cardiac dysfunction seems to be a factor in some neonates. Assessment of hypotension should be based on an overall clinical condition. Overzealous fluid administration seems to be associated with adverse outcomes and should be avoided in the absence of obvious fluid losses. Inotropes should be used if fluid boluses fail to correct hypotension. Dopamine is the most effective inotrope. Dobutamine can be used as add on therapy or as first line if cardiac dysfunction is an obvious cause. Evidence points to hypocortisolism in at least some hypotensive infants. Steroids have been used successfully in inotrope-resistant hypotension in some infants. Steroids should be used judiciously since there have been concerns about adverse neurological outcome in preterm infants who received steroids in the neonatal period.

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation for end-stage renal failure secondary to diabetic nephropathy : principles and practice.

Diabetic nephropathy is the second most common cause of renal failure in the United Kingdom where majority of the patients were managed by renal transplantation and insulin therapy in the past. Over the last three decades, increasing number of patients are undergoing simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPKT) because of its advantages, which renders the patient both dialysis and insulin-independent, halts the progression of complications of diabetes, thereby improves the quality of life, survival and has proven to be cost-effective. This article presents a review on the principles and contemporary practice of SPKT worldwide and highlights the future directions.

Vacinas meningocócicas conjugadas: eficácia e novas combinações / Meningococcal conjugate vaccines: efficacy and new combinations

OBJETIVO: A doença meningocócica é, ainda hoje, um sério problema de saúde pública, estando associada a elevadas taxas de morbidade e letalidade no mundo e, em especial, no Brasil. Além de discutir as recentes mudanças na epidemiologia da doença meningocócica no mundo, analisamos o desenvolvimento e o impacto das novas vacinas conjugadas na prevenção da doença meningocócica, com ênfase nas diferentes estratégias de imunização utilizadas com essas vacinas. FONTE DOS DADOS: Foram pesquisadas as bases de dados MEDLINE no período de 1996 a 2006, com destaque para artigos de revisão, ensaios clínicos e epidemiológicos. Também foi realizada busca de informações nos portais do Centro de Controle de Doenças, Ministério da Saúde do Brasil e Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica do Estado de São Paulo. SíNTESE DOS DADOS: Cinco sorogrupos (A, B, C, W135 e Y) respondem por virtualmente todos os casos da doença no mundo, com marcantes diferenças regionais e temporais. As novas vacinas conjugadas contra o meningococo C apresentam inequívocas vantagens em relação às vacinas polissacarídicas. Induzem uma resposta de anticorpos mais eficiente e duradoura, propiciando memória imunológica e redução da incidência de portadores. Os resultados imediatos da introdução dessas vacinas nos programas de imunização foram animadores, com dramática redução da incidência de doença, inclusive em não-vacinados (imunidade de rebanho). Entretanto, recentemente constatou-se perda da eficácia após alguns anos da aplicação da vacina, especialmente entre os lactentes vacinados. CONCLUSÕES:A perda de efetividade das vacinas conjugadas contra o meningococo C, observada após alguns anos da imunização de lactentes jovens, justifica a mudança dos esquemas de vacinação, com a incorporação de uma dose de reforço entre 12 e 18 meses de idade para garantir uma proteção mais duradoura. O recente licenciamento da vacina quadrivalente meningocócica conjugada representa, enfim, a real possibilidade de uma proteção mais abrangente contra a doença meningocócica, restando ainda a necessidade de se desenvolver uma vacina eficaz contra o meningococo B.

Neurological status of low-risk Vietnamese newborns: a comparison with a British newborn cohort.

A shortened version of the Dubowitz newborn neurological examination, recently reassessed in rural Thailand, was applied to a group of 58 Vietnamese newborns. The aim was to establish the neurological status of newborns in this population for use in further studies and to compare with groups previously studied. Compared to the original British cohort, the Vietnamese newborns showed significantly lower scores in 10 of 25 items, including several related to truncal tone. Evidence was sought of thiamine and long-chain fatty acid deficiency as a possible cause for these findings, but no correlation was found between the neurological status and the maternal or infant blood levels of these nutritional indicators. The findings suggest that the neurological status of low-risk Vietnamese newborns appears to lie between that of British newborns and those ethnic minority Karen newborns in refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese border tested previously. Although no specific nutritional cause has been identified in the study, the findings may still reflect sub-optimal intake of some important nutrients.