Itinerários terapêuticos de pessoas hospitalizadas por covid-19 no SUS: um estudo quantiqualitativo no Distrito Federal / Therapeutic itineraries of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in the SUS: quantitative and qualitative study in the Federal District

RESUMO Os estudos sobre itinerários terapêuticos revelam modelos de cuidado e decisões tomadas pelas pessoas em situações de adoecimento e podem contribuir para o planejamento de políticas e serviços de saúde mais efetivos, especialmente em emergências como a pandemia de covid-19. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi descrever os itinerários terapêuticos de pacientes hospitalizados por covid-19 em um hospital público do Distrito Federal e explorar associações com determinantes sociais da saúde. Trata-se de um estudo de caso integrado, com triangulação de evidências quantitativas e qualitativas obtidas a partir da análise do banco de dados de um estudo observacional transversal com 233 adultos internados entre maio/2020 e dezembro/2021. A maioria homens, idosos, pretos ou pardos, com baixo nível de renda e escolaridade e múltiplas comorbidades, que procuraram atendimento na atenção especializada e conseguiram acesso rápido ao sistema de saúde. Os fatores que influenciaram a escolha do primeiro serviço foram: ocupação, região de moradia, classe econômica e escolaridade. Já os determinantes da facilidade de acesso foram: tipo de serviço buscado primeiro, gravidade do caso e contexto socioeconômico. Os resultados confirmam a influência de determinantes sociais nas experiências de adoecimento e podem subsidiar reflexões relacionadas à organização do acesso ao SUS em emergências sanitárias.

ABSTRACT Studies on therapeutic itineraries reveal models of care and decisions taken by people in situations of illness and can contribute to the planning of effective health policies and services, especially in emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this research was to describe the itineraries of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in a public hospital in the Federal District and explore associations with social determinants of health. This is an integrated case study, with triangulation of quantitative and qualitative evidence obtained from the analysis of raw data from a cross-sectional observational study with 233 adults hospitalized between May/2020 and December/2021. The majority were men, elderly, black or brown, with low income and education levels and multiple comorbidities, who sought care in specialized care and obtained quick access to the health system. The factors that influenced the choice of the first service sought were: occupation, region of residence, economic class and education. The determinants of ease of access were: type of service first sought, severity of the case and socioeconomic context. The results confirm the influence of social determinants on illness experiences and can support reflections related to the organization of access to the SUS in health emergencies.

Lista de verificación de enfermería para la orientación de cuidados domiciliarios a los cuidadores informales en la transición al alta hospitalaria / Nursing Checklist of Home Care Guidelines for Informal Caregivers in the Hospital Discharge Transition / Checklist de enfermagem para a orientação de cuidados domiciliares a cuidadores informais na transição de alta

Introducción: el uso de herramientas previas al alta permite al equipo de enfermería orientar a los cuidadores informales, promoviendo la continuidad de los cuidados en el domicilio, lo que puede minimizar los reingresos. Objetivo: construir y validar una lista de verificación para apoyar al equipo de enfermería en la orientación a los cuidadores informales sobre los cuidados domiciliarios durante el proceso de transición al alta. Materiales y método: investigación metodológica, aplicada a 14 enfermeros jueces, que evaluaron una lista de verificación de orientación de cuidados para cuidadores informales en la transición al alta, realizada en tres etapas: revisión de la literatura; construcción de la lista de verificación; validación por la técnica Delphi, que tuvo lugar de febrero de 2022 a enero de 2023, con los datos tratados por análisis de fiabilidad de la escala, índice de validez de contenido y coeficiente de correlación intraclase. Resultados: la lista de verificación estaba compuesta por 10 dominios: higiene y confort; traqueostomía; oxigenoterapia; nutrición; sonda vesical retrasada; ostomías; vendajes; riesgo de caídas; medicación; devoluciones y remisiones, totalizando 32 orientaciones para los cuidadores informales. La lista de verificación se sometió a dos fases de validación y, tras aplicar los cambios sugeridos por los jueces, se obtuvo un índice de validez de contenido del 100 % de concordancia entre los evaluadores, con un alfa de Cronbach de 0,84 y un índice de correlación intraclase de 0,80. Conclusiones: la lista de verificación presenta buena fiabilidad, correlación intraclase y validación de contenido, y puede ser aplicada en la práctica profesional y en el ambiente científico, en la transición del alta en pacientes críticos, ayudando a promover la continuidad de los cuidados en el domicilio.

Introdução: a utilização de ferramentas na pré-alta hospitalar capacita a equipe de enfermagem na orientação de cuidadores informais, promovendo a continuidade do cuidado no domicílio, o que pode minimizar reinternações. Objetivo: construir e validar um checklist para apoiar a equipe de enfermagem na orientação de cuidadores informais sobre os cuidados domiciliares no processo de transição de alta. Materiais e método: pesquisa metodológica, aplicada a 14 juízes enfermeiros, que avaliaram um checklist de orientação de cuidados para cuidadores informais na transição para a alta, realizada em três etapas: revisão da literatura; construção do checklist; validação pela técnica Delphi, ocorrida de fevereiro de 2022 a janeiro de 2023, sendo os dados tratados por análise de confiabilidade de escala, índice de validade de conteúdo e coeficiente de correlação intraclasses. Resultados: o checklist foi composto de 10 domínios: higiene e conforto; traqueostomia; oxigenoterapia; nutrição; sonda vesical de demora; ostomias; curativos; risco de quedas; medicações; retornos e encaminhamentos, totalizando 32 orientações aos cuidadores informais. O checklist passou por duas etapas de validação e, após a implementação das alterações sugeridas pelos juízes, obteve-se um índice de validade de conteúdo de 100 % de concordância entre os avaliadores, com um alfa de Cronbach de 0,84 e um índice de correlação intraclasses de 0,80. Conclusões: o checklist apresenta boa confiabilidade, correlação intraclasses e validação de conteúdo, podendo ser aplicado na prática profissional e no meio científico, na transição de alta em pacientes críticos, auxiliando na promoção da continuidade da assistência no domicílio.

Introduction: The use of pre-discharge tools enables the nursing team to guide informal caregivers, promoting continued care at home, which can minimize readmissions. Objective: To develop and validate a checklist to support the nursing team in guiding informal caregivers regarding home care during the discharge transition process. Materials and Methods: This is a methodological study, submitted to 14 nurse judges, who evaluated a checklist on care guidelines for informal caregivers in the hospital discharge transition. The study was performed in three stages: A literature review, the development of the checklist, and validation using the Delphi technique, which was conducted from February 2022 to January 2023, and the data was treated using scale reliability analysis, a content validity index, and an intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: The checklist was comprised of 10 domains: Hygiene and comfort; tracheostomy; oxygen therapy; nutrition; indwelling urinary catheter; ostomies; dressings; risk of falls; medication; returns and referrals, totaling 32 guidelines for informal caregivers. The checklist was submitted to two validation stages and, after implementing the changes suggested by the judges, a content validity index of 100% agreement was obtained between the evaluators, with a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.84 and an intraclass correlation index of 0.80. Conclusions: The checklist presents good reliability, intraclass correlation, and content validation, and can be applied in professional practice and scientific settings regarding the transition to hospital discharge of critically ill patients, helping to promote continued care at home.

Curcuminoid–Piperine Combination Improves Radical Scavenging Activity in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and Dysmenorrhea: A Post-hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Study / 전남의대학술지

Oxidative stress maybe involved in the patho-etiology of menstrual-associated complications. Curcuminoids, are polyphenolic natural compounds that have potentially important functional activities. This triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed to investigate the effects of a curcuminoids on oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in girls with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea.Eighty young girls with both PMS and dysmenorrhea were randomly given either curcuminoids (500 mg+5 mg piperine) or a placebo daily, for a period from 7 days pre- until 3 days post- initiation of menstrual bleeding for 3 successive menstrual cycles. The total antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity of serum and urine were quantified via ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods, respectively. There were no significant differences between the placebo and curcumin groups, with respect to the age, dietary intake and biochemical/anthropometric indices (p＞0.05). The curcumin treatment significantly increased the free-radical scavenging activity of serum compared to the treatment with placebo (p=0.031). Although, no significant changes were found in serum and urinary levels of FRAP, DPPH and MDA between the groups (p＞0.05). Curcumin treatment did increase free-radical scavenging activity and antioxidant potential in girls with PMS and dysmenorrhea. Investigations with higher doses and duration of curcumin are required to verify our findings.

Beneficial effects of oral antioxidant supplementation on semen quality parameters, reproductive hormones, and sperm DNA integrity in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#Recently, oral antioxidants in combined forms have been used to treat men with idiopathic infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, arginine, L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10 on sperm quality parameters, DNA integrity, reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). @*Methods@#A prospective study was conducted on 420 men with infertility and idiopathic OAT who took an oral supplement of antioxidant SP-Power tablets twice daily for 6 months. Semen quality, reproductive hormones, and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after supplementation, using the World Health Organization 2021 guidelines. @*Results@#No significant difference was observed in volume or the percentage of typical morphology during treatment. A significant improvement in sperm concentration was observed after supplementation (8.67±1.41, 12.17±1.91, and 19.01±0.86 at baseline, 3, and 6 months respectively, p<0.01). The total motility, progressive motility, and total motile sperm count also increased significantly (p<0.01), whereas the DFI decreased after 6 months. There was an increase in normal FSH levels and testosterone levels after 6 months of supplementation of antioxidant SP-Power but these differences were not statistically significant (p=not significant and p=0.06, respectively). @*Conclusion@#Supplementation with SP-Power tablets improved sperm quality parameters, sperm DFI, some reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic OAT, which could be attributed to the supplement’s synergistic antioxidant action. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of supplementation on oxidative stress markers.

Technological Challenges and Solutions in Emergency Remote Teaching for Nursing: An International Cross-Sectional Survey / 대한의료정보학회지

Objectives@#With the sudden global shift to online learning modalities, this study aimed to understand the unique challenges and experiences of emergency remote teaching (ERT) in nursing education. @*Methods@#We conducted a comprehensive online international cross-sectional survey to capture the current state and firsthand experiences of ERT in the nursing discipline. Our analytical methods included a combination of traditional statistical analysis, advanced natural language processing techniques, latent Dirichlet allocation using Python, and a thorough qualitative assessment of feedback from open-ended questions. @*Results@#We received responses from 328 nursing educators from 18 different countries. The data revealed generally positive satisfaction levels, strong technological self-efficacy, and significant support from their institutions. Notably, the characteristics of professors, such as age (p = 0.02) and position (p = 0.03), influenced satisfaction levels. The ERT experience varied significantly by country, as evidenced by satisfaction (p = 0.05), delivery (p = 0.001), teacher-student interaction (p = 0.04), and willingness to use ERT in the future (p = 0.04). However, concerns were raised about the depth of content, the transition to online delivery, teacher-student interaction, and the technology gap. @*Conclusions@#Our findings can help advance nursing education. Nevertheless, collaborative efforts from all stakeholders are essential to address current challenges, achieve digital equity, and develop a standardized curriculum for nursing education.

Prevalence and Determinants of Catastrophic Healthcare Expenditures in Iran From 2013 to 2019 / 예방의학회지

Objectives@#Protecting people against financial hardship caused by illness stands as a fundamental obligation within healthcare systems and constitutes a pivotal component in achieving universal health coverage. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and determinants of catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) in Iran, over the period of 2013 to 2019. @*Methods@#Data were obtained from 7 annual national surveys conducted between 2013 and 2019 on the income and expenditures of Iranian households. The prevalence of CHE was determined using a threshold of 40% of household capacity to pay for healthcare. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants influencing CHE. @*Results@#The prevalence of CHE increased from 3.60% in 2013 to 3.95% in 2019. In all the years analyzed, the extent of CHE occurrence among rural populations exceeded that of urban populations. Living in an urban area, having a higher wealth index, possessing health insurance coverage, and having employed family members, an employed household head, and a literate household head are all associated with a reduced likelihood of CHE (p<0.05). Conversely, the use of dental, outpatient, and inpatient care, and the presence of elderly members in the household, are associated with an increased probability of facing CHE (p<0.05). @*Conclusions@#Throughout the study period, CHE consistently exceeded the 1% threshold designated in the national development plan. Continuous monitoring of CHE and its determinants at both household and health system levels is essential for the implementation of effective strategies aimed at enhancing financial protection.

Treatment of Traumatic Direct Carotid-Cavernous Fistula with a BeGraft-Covered Stent / 신경중재치료의학

The widely accepted option for treating traumatic direct carotid-cavernous fistula (dCCF) has been endovascular treatment using detachable balloons, coils, or embolic agents. Covered stent deployment has been applied by a few operators and has shown promising results. This is a retrospective study on patients with dCCF treated by an endovascular approach using BeGraft, a covered stent. In 4 cases, this device was successfully deployed without any complications. Immediate complete occlusion was achieved in 3 patients (75%) after deployment of the covered stents. One patient required transvenous coiling for occlusion of the remaining endoleak. Follow-up imaging demonstrated 100% fistula occlusion with complete internal carotid artery patency. No early or late complications occurred following treatment. In conclusion, the BeGraft-covered stent could be a promising safe and effective alternative option for the endovascular treatment of dCCF.

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy as a major cause of preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes: findings from a Brazilian National Survey

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy among Brazilian women with preterm births and to compare the epidemiological characteristics and perinatal outcomes among preterm births of women with and without hypertension. Methods This was a secondary cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian Multicenter Study on Preterm Birth. During the study period, all women with preterm births were included and further split into two groups according to the occurrence of any hypertensive disorder during pregnancy. Prevalence ratios were calculated for each variable. Maternal characteristics, prenatal care, and gestational and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups using χ2 and t-tests. Results A total of 4,150 women with preterm births were included, and 1,169 (28.2%) were identified as having hypertensive disorders. Advanced maternal age (prevalence ratio (PR) 2.49) and obesity (PR= 2.64) were more common in the hypertensive group. The gestational outcomes were worse in women with hypertension. Early preterm births were also more frequent in women with hypertension. Conclusion Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were frequent among women with preterm births, and provider-initiated preterm births were the leading causes of premature births in this group. The factors significantly associated with hypertensive disorders among women with preterm births were obesity, excessive weight gain, and higher maternal age.

Clinical Manifestations of Wegener Granulomatosis in Iranian Ethnicities Using the K-Means Algorithm: A Descriptive Study

Abstract Introduction Wegener granulomatosis (WG) appears with clinical symptoms, including recurrent respiratory infection, renal manifestations, and nonspecific systemic symptoms. Objective To study the clinical manifestations of WG in Iranian ethnicities, and data on 164 patients were recorded from 2013 to 2018. Methods The data included demographics, symptoms, and the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). The symptoms involved the following sites: the nose, sinus, glottis, ears, lungs, kidneys, eyes, central nervous system, mucous membranes, skin, heart, stomach, intestine, as well as general symptoms. The clinical manifestations of nine ethnicities were analyzed. Results In total, 48% of the patients were male and 51% were female, with a median age of 51 years. The BVAS was of 15.4, the sites most involved were the sinus (n =155), nose (n = 126), lungs (n = 125), and ears (n =107). Gastrointestinal (n = 14) and cardiac (n = 7) involvement were less common. Among the patients, 48.17% were Persian, 13.41% were Azari, 11.17% were Gilaki, 11.17% were Kurd, and 10.9% were Lor. Conclusion Our findings indicated that the sinus, nose, lungs, and ears were the sites most involved, and gastrointestinal and cardiac involvement were less common. In the present study, involvement of the upper and lower respiratory tract was higher than that reported in Western and Asian case series. Moreover, we report for the first time that, in all patients with ear involvement, the left ear was the first to be affected. The clinical manifestations among Iranian ethnicities were not different, and the Gilaki ethnicity had the highest BVAS, mostly because the weather was humid; therefore, in Iran, in areas with humidity, the rate of the disease was higher.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Persian Version of the M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory

Abstract Introduction Dysphagia is a common issue in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and is known to negatively impact their quality of life. To evaluate the impact of dysphagia on the quality of life of HNC patients, the M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) questionnaire was developed. Objective The present study aimed to culturally adapt and validate the MDADI for Persian-speaking individuals. The MDADI is a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess the impact of dysphagia on the quality of life of HNC patients. Methods The original MDADI questionnaire was translated into Persian using the forward-backward method, following the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) for cultural adaptation. The content validity of the Persian version, MDADI-P, was assessed by 10 speech-language pathologists using the content validity index (CVI). Seventy-five HNC patients completed the MDADI-P to evaluate its convergent validity, which was determined by comparing the results with the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach α coefficient and intraclass correlation (ICC), respectively. Results The scale content validity index (S-CVI) for the MDADI-P was 0.90, indicating good content validity. The MDADI-P demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach α coefficient = 0.728) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.91). The total MDADI-P score exhibited a significant correlation with the physical and mental components of the SF-36 (0.456 and 0.349, respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusion The findings of the present study confirm the suitability of the MDADI-P in terms of content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability.

Evaluation of the Implant Success Rate of Titanium-based Implant Materials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the success of implants, the increase of bone integration, and the effect of nanostructure/nanoparticles as Titanium-based implant materials on the success of implants. The present study evaluated the implant success rate of Titanium-based implant materials. Material and Methods: PICO: Population (dental implant), intervention (coated titanium implant surface), comparison (uncoated titanium implant surface), and outcome (bone-implant contact) were considered as a search strategy tool and study inclusion criteria. Searches for systematic literature were conducted on databases from Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, ISI, Web of Knowledge, and Embase until 12 December 2022. Modified CONSORT Criteria (Reporting guidelines for preclinical in vitro studies on dental materials) were used to evaluate the quality of studies. The fixed effect model and inverse-variance method were used to calculate the 95% confidence interval for mean differences. Stata/MP V. 17 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Results: After reviewing the abstracts of 97 articles, studies not related to the inclusion criteria were excluded, and ten studies were selected from the remaining 39 studies after reviewing the full text. The mean difference in boneimplant contact between coated and uncoated dental implants was 0.25 (MD, 0.25 95% CI 0.01, 0.49;p=0.04). Conclusion: The titanium implant surface with nano coating can increase bone-implant contact and cause bone integration.

Beliefs and attitudes about chronic pain among public health professionals: cross-sectional study / Crenças e atitudes sobre dor crônica de profissionais de saúde pública: estudo transversal

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The barriers of scientific knowledge and adequate training can influence the skills of health professionals in the management of chronic pain in non-specialized environments. The aim of this study was to assess the beliefs and attitudes of the Brazilian public health care system's (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS) professionals who work in the care of patients with chronic pain in the clinical routine. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with non-specialized pain professionals from primary and medium-complexity care, assessed by the Inventory of Attitudes towards Pain. Participants were grouped by place of work and length of training for comparison analysis using the t-test for independent samples. Effect sizes were calculated (η² generalized), and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Seventy health professionals took part in this study. They presented undesirable beliefs about curing pain and caring behaviors. They also had desirable beliefs about the influence of emotions, the relationship between pain and tissue damage and the possibility of control by those who feel it. An effect of place of practice was also observed, with undesirable beliefs among primary care professionals about pain-related disability, and also an effect on length of training for the control domain, with less desirable beliefs among those with less than ten years of training. CONCLUSION: The undesirable beliefs presented by the health professionals allow for a situational diagnosis that indicates the need for continuing education in chronic pain in order to implement training with evidence-based practices in the SUS care routine.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As barreiras do conhecimento científico e do treinamento adequado podem influenciar as competências dos profissionais de saúde no manejo da dor crônica em ambientes não especializados. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as crenças e atitudes de profissionais do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que atuam no cuidado de pacientes com dor crônica na rotina clínica. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado com profissionais não especialistas em dor da atenção primária e média complexidade, avaliados pelo Inventário de Atitudes frente à dor. Os participantes foram agrupados por local de atuação e tempo de formação para a análise de comparação através do teste t para amostras independentes. Foram calculados os tamanhos de efeito (η² generalizado) e o nível de significância estatística foi definido em p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Participaram deste estudo 70 profissionais de saúde, que apresentaram crenças indesejáveis a respeito da cura da dor e de comportamentos de solicitude. Esses profissionais também apresentaram crenças desejáveis quanto a influência das emoções, relação da dor com lesão tecidual e possibilidade de controle por quem a sente. Foi observado um efeito do local de atuação, com crenças indesejáveis dos profissionais da atenção primária sobre incapacidade relativa à dor, além de um efeito sobre o tempo de formação para o domínio controle, com crenças menos desejáveis entre aqueles com menos de 10 anos de formação. CONCLUSÃO: As crenças indesejáveis apresentadas pelos profissionais permitem um diagnóstico situacional que indica a necessidade de educação continuada em dor crônica para implementar treinamentos com práticas baseadas em evidências na rotina de cuidado do SUS.

Suicide Crisis Inventory-2: factor structure, internal consistency, and validity in a Brazilian sample

Objective: To evaluate the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Brazilian version of the Suicide Crisis Inventory-2 (SCI-2) among Brazilian adults. Methods: The SCI-2 was cross-culturally adapted into Portuguese and administered to 2,265 Brazilian participants. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity, and criterion validity by using measures such as suicidal narratives, stressful life events, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Results: The revised one-factor model of the SCI-2 demonstrated an adequate, although not optimal, model fit (χ2[1539] = 31,442.79, p < 0.001, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.99, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.09, standardized root mean residual [SRMR] = 0.05). The revised five-factor model, on the other hand, demonstrated good fit (χ2[1529] = 14,174.86, p < 0.001, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.04). Comparison of these two models indicated that the five-factor model had a better fit than the one-factor model. Both the total and subscale scores of the SCI-2 showed strong internal consistency and good convergent and criterion validity in relation to stressful life events, suicidal narratives (excluding the goal disengagement subscale), suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the Brazilian version of the SCI-2 is a valid tool for assessing symptoms of suicidal crisis syndrome.

Late relapses in leprosy patients in Brazil: 10-year post-trial of uniform multidrug therapy (U-MDT/CT-BR)

ABSTRACT Background: Leprosy is a neglected dermato-neurologic, infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis. Leprosy is treatable and curable by multidrug therapy/MDT, consisting of 12 months rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine for multibacillary/MB patients and for 6 months for paucibacillary/PB patients. The relapse rate is considered a crucial treatment outcome. A randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (U-MDT/CT-BR) conducted from 2007‒2012 compared clinical outcomes in MB patients after 12 months regular MDT/R-MDT and 6 months uniform MDT/U-MDT in two highly endemic Brazilian areas. Objectives: To estimate the 10 years relapse rate of MB patients treated with 6 months U-MDT. Methods: The statistical analyses treated the data as a case-control study, sampled from the cohort generated for the randomized trial. Analyses estimated univariate odds ratio and applied logistic regression for multivariate analysis, controlling the confounding variables. Results: The overall relapse rate was 4.08 %: 4.95 % (16 out of 323) in the U-MDT group and 3.10 % (9 out of 290) in the regular/R-MDT group. The difference in relapse proportion between U-MDT and R-MDT groups was 1.85 %, not statistically significant (Odds Ratio = 1.63, 95 % CI 0.71 to 3.74). However, misdiagnosis of relapses, may have introduced bias, underestimating the force of the association represented by the odds ratio. Conclusions: The relapse estimate of 10 years follow-up study of the first randomized, controlled study on U-MDT/CT-BR was similar to the R-MDT group, supporting strong evidence that 6 months U-MDT for MB patients is an acceptable option to be adopted by leprosy endemic countries worldwide. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00669643.

Histoplasmosis in a fingolimod-treated patient: case report and scoping review

ABSTRACT Fingolimod is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator used to treat multiple sclerosis. While fingolimod has been associated with an increased risk of cryptococcal meningitis, its correlation with other deep mycoses remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a scoping review of fingolimod associated with histoplasmosis, based on a case report, a literature review, and data from the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) as of January 24th, 2023. A 30-year-old Brazilian woman diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, receiving a daily dose of 0.5 mg of fingolimod, presented with a two-month history of fever and unintended weight loss, accompanied by lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and lung involvement was investigated. Biopsy of a lung nodule revealed fungal structures suggestive of Histoplasma sp. Additionally, serological testing yielded positive for Histoplasma capsulatum. Disseminated histoplasmosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile syndromes in patients undergoing fingolimod therapy for multiple sclerosis, particularly in the Americas, where this mycosis is endemic. Treatment with itraconazole and modification of immunotherapy can achieve excellent clinical outcomes.

Prevalence and parasite burden of oocysts in captive and free-living saffron finches, Sicalis flaveola / Prevalência e carga parasitária de oocistos em canários-da-terra, Sicalis flaveola, de cativeiro e vida livre

Abstract The saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola, a passerine bird, can be found in nearly all Brazilian territory and is also raised in captivity. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence and load of oocysts in captive saffron finches in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, state of Rio de Janeiro and in free-living saffron finches in the municipality of Eugenopolis, state of Minas Gerais. In this analysis, 30 captive and 30 wild birds were assessed. Feces eliminated in a 24-hour period were collected and weighed to determine the number of oocysts per gram of feces (OoPG). Statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism Software. All birds in the present study were positive for one or more species of coccidia. Captive birds had a mean total oocyst count higher than that of wild birds. No significant differences in OoPG counts were observed when comparing males and females or captive and wild birds. We can conclude that due to the fact that birds both eat and defecate in their cages, it is essential to keep them as clean as possible, since captive birds have a higher prevalence of coccidia.

Resumo Canário-da-terra, Sicalis flaveola, uma ave passeriforme, está presente na natureza em praticamente todo o território brasileiro, além de ser criada em cativeiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a prevalência e carga de oocistos em canários-da-terra de cativeiro, no município de Campos dos Goytacazes, estado do Rio de Janeiro. E de canários-da-terra de vida livre no município Eugenopolis, estado de Minas Gerais. Para isso, foram utilizadas 30 aves de cativeiro e 30 de vida livre. Fezes eliminadas durante 24h foram coletadas e pesadas para a realização da contagem de oocistos por grama de fezes (OoPG). Análises estatísticas foram feitas com o auxílio do Software Microsoft Excel e Graphpad Prism. Todas as aves do presente estudo estavam positivas para uma ou mais espécie de coccídio. As aves de cativeiro apresentaram média de contagem total de oocistos maior do que as aves de vida livre. Não foi observada diferença significativa nas contagens de OoPG com relação ao sexo e à origem das aves de cativeiro ou de vida livre. Pode-se concluir que, devido ao fato das aves comerem e defecarem em suas gaiolas, é essencial mantê-las as mais limpas possíveis, uma vez que as aves em cativeiro apresentam maior prevalência de coccídios.

Reliability across content areas in progress tests assessing medical knowledge: a Brazilian cross-sectional study with implications for medical education assessments

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Brazilian medical schools equitably divide their medical education assessments into five content areas: internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health. However, this division does not follow international patterns and may threaten the examinations' reliability and validity. OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability indices of the content areas of serial, cross-institutional progress test examinations. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: This was an analytical, observational, and cross-sectional study conducted at nine public medical schools (mainly from the state of São Paulo) with progress test examinations conducted between 2017 and 2023. METHODS: The examinations covered the areas of basic sciences, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health. We calculated reliability indices using Cronbach's α, which indicates the internal consistency of a test. We used simple linear regressions to analyze temporal trends. RESULTS: The results showed that the Cronbach's α for basic sciences and internal medicine presented lower values, whereas gynecology, obstetrics, and public health presented higher values. After changes in the number of items and the exclusion of basic sciences as a separate content area, internal medicine ranked highest in 2023. Individually, all content areas except pediatrics remained stable over time. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining an equitable division in assessment content may lead to suboptimal results in terms of assessment reliability, especially for internal medicine. Therefore, content sampling of medical knowledge for general assessments should be reappraised.

Relação entre atenção primária e secundária em saúde no cuidado integral aos pacientes encaminhados para a especialidade de estomatologia / Relation between primary and secondary health care in the comprehensive care for patients referred to the oral medicine specialty

Objetivo: Avaliar o processo de referência e contrarreferência dos pacientes encaminhados por uma US do município de Porto Alegre, para tratamento na Especialidades de Estomatologia. Materiais e métodos: Pesquisa de caráter transversal retrospectivo, realizada a partir da análise de dados secundários, dos sistemas de informação E-SUS e Gercon. Foram avaliados 236 encaminhamentos em relação aos dados dos usuários e do serviço/profissional, realizou-se análise de frequência absoluta e relativa, além do teste qui-quadrado de todas as variáveis categóricas. Resultados: Mais da metade dos casos, 51,3%, encaminhados para a especialidade não tiveram retorno com dentista da APS e apenas 15,3% tinham algum registro nos sistemas com orientação de retorno para APS. Encontrou-se diferença estatisticamente significativa apenas entre as variáveis de idade e classificação de prioridade. Discussão: O Manual de Especialidades em Saúde Bucal estabelece critérios de referência e contra referência entre APS e CEOs, em que a preservação dos casos mais complexos deve ser realizada no nível secundário sem que se perca a continuidade do cuidado na APS. Porém mais da metade dos casos encaminhados não tiveram retorno com dentista da APS. Ressalta-se, que a relação entre APS e Atenção Secundária à saúde não deve limitar-se a fluxos, tem que envolver processos dinâmicos, democráticos e baseado na integralidade do acesso a assistência. Conclusão: É possível perceber a fragilidade presente na interface da APS e Secundária no cuidado integral dos pacientes encaminhados para os serviços especializados de Estomatologia.

Aim: To assess the process of referral and counter-referral of patients referred by health unit from the city of Porto Alegre to treatment in the Oral Medicine Specialty. Material and methods: Cross-retrospective study analyzing secondary data from the information systems E-SUS and Gercon. We assessed 236 referrals regarding data of users and service/professionals and analyzed absolute and relative frequency, besides the chi-squared test of all categorical variables. Results: More than half the cases, 51.3%, referred to the specialty did not have a follow-up appointment with the Primary Health Care dentist and only 15.3% had been registered in the systems with orientation of follow-up appointments in the Primary Health Care. We found a statistically significant difference between the age and priority classification variables only. Discussion: The Manual of Specialization on Oral Health establishes referral and counter-referral criteria between Primary Health Care and Dental Specialty Centers, in which the preservation of the most complex cases must be carried out on a secondary level with recurring care in the Primary Health Care. We highlight that the relation between the Primary Health Care and Secondary Health Care must not be limited by flows; there must be dynamic, democratic processes that rely on the entirety of access to health care. Conclusion: It is possible to notice the fragility that is present in the interface of Primary and Secondary Health Care in the comprehensive care for patients referred to the Oral Medicine specialized services.

Empreendedorismo na Enfermagem em Estomaterapia: Aspectos Potencializadores de Atuação no Mercado de Trabalho / Entrepreneurship in Stomal Therapy Nursing: Potential Aspects of Performance in the Labor Market / Emprendimiento en Enfermería Estomaterápica: Aspectos Potenciales de Desempeño en el Mercado Laboral

Objetivo:Analisar os aspectos potencializadores descritos por enfermeiros estomaterapeutas para realização de atividades empreendedoras. Método: Estudo de natureza qualitativa, do tipo descritivo-exploratório, realizado por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, entre os meses de janeiro e abril de 2020, com 26 estomaterapeutas empreendedores, apoiado na técnica não probabilística conhecida como snowball, ou bola de neve. Os dados coletados foram transcritos de forma integral e, posteriormente, tratados, aplicando-se a técnica de análise temática de conteúdo. Resultados: Foram relacionados temas que perpassaram pela percepção de potencializadores do empreendedorismo na estomaterapia, como a demanda do mercado e o vasto campo empreendedor da especialidade; a experiência clínica; a importância da indicação por outros pacientes e profissionais; a influência das mídias sociais e o sentimento de satisfação com o desenvolvimento da atividade laboral. Conclusão: A análise dos dados permitiu concluir que os potencializadores citados podem ser reflexo da reduzida oferta de serviços públicos especializados à população, ampliando-se a busca por tais especialistas de forma particular, tanto pela indicação de outros pacientes e profissionais quanto pela busca nas mídias sociais, o que expande os campos de atuação do estomaterapeuta e pode trazer maior satisfação com seu trabalho enquanto especialistas

Objective:To analyze the potentiating aspects of entrepreneurial activities described by stomal therapist nurses. Method: Qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study, carried out through semi-structured interviews, between January and April 2020, with 26 enterprising stoma therapists, supported by the non-probabilistic technique known as snowball. The collected data were fully transcribed and subsequently treated, applying the thematic content analysis technique. Results: Topics that pervaded the perception of entrepreneurship potential in stomatherapy were related, such as market demand and the vast entrepreneurial field of the specialty; clinical experience; the importance of indication by other patients and professionals; the influence of social media and the feeling of satisfaction with the development of the work activity. Conclusion: The analysis of the data allowed us to conclude that the cited potentiators may be a reflection of the reduced supply of specialized public services to the population, expanding the search for such specialists in a particular way, both by referring other patients and professionals and by searching through the social media, which expands the fields of action of the stoma therapist and can bring more satisfaction with their work as specialists.

Objetivo:Analizar los aspectos potenciadores de las actividades emprendedoras descritos por enfermeros estomaterapeutas. Método: Estudio cualitativo, descriptivo-exploratorio, realizado a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, entre enero y abril de 2020, con 26 estomaterapeutas emprendedores, apoyados en la técnica no probabilística conocida como "Bola de Nieve". Los datos recogidos fueron transcritos íntegramente y posteriormente tratados, aplicando la técnica de análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: Se relacionaron temas que impregnaron la percepción de los potenciadores del emprendimiento en estomaterapia, como la demanda del mercado y el vasto campo empresarial de la especialidad, la experiencia clínica, la importancia de la indicación por parte de otros pacientes y profesionales, la influencia de las redes sociales y el sentimiento de satisfacción con lo que haces. Conclusión: El análisis de los datos permite concluir que los citados potenciadores pueden ser reflejo de la reducida oferta de servicios públicos especializados a la población, ampliando de manera particular la búsqueda de estos profesionales, tanto por la derivación de otros pacientes y profesionales como por la búsqueda a través de las redes sociales, que amplían los campos de actuación del profesional y pueden traer más satisfacción con su trabajo como especialistas.