Clinical effectiveness of screening for age-related macular degeneration: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that occurs in patients over 50 years old. Early diagnosis enables timely treatment to stabilize disease progression. However, the fact that the disease is asymptomatic in its early stages can delay treatment until it progresses. As such, screening in specific contexts can be an early detection tool to reduce the clinical and social impact of the disease. OBJECTIVE: Assess the effectiveness of screening methods for early detection of AMD in adults aged 50 years or older. METHODS: A systematic review of comparative observational studies on AMD screening methods in those aged 50 years or older, compared with no screening or any other strategy. A literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library and Lilacs database. RESULTS: A total of 5,290 studies were identified, three of which met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the systematic review. A total of 8,733 individuals (16,780 eyes) were included in the analysis. The screening methods assessed were based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) compared with color fundus photography, and OCT and telemedicine testing compared to a standard eye exam. CONCLUSION: The systematized data are limited and only suggest satisfactory performance in early screening of the population at risk of developing AMD. OCT and the telemedicine technique showed promising results in AMD screening. However, methodological problems were identified in the studies selected and the level of evidence was considered low.

Big Data e Inteligência Artificial para pesquisa translacional na Covid-19: revisão rápida / Big Data and artificial intelligence for translational research in COVID-19: a rapid review

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar como a Inteligência Artificial (IA) vem sendo utilizada para a pesquisa translacional no contexto da Covid-19. Foi realizada uma revisão rápida para identificar o uso de técnicas de IA na translação de tecnologias para o enfrentamento da Covid-19. Empregou-se estratégia de busca com base em termos MeSH e seus respectivos sinônimos em sete bases de dados. Dos 59 artigos identificados, oito foram incluídos. Foram identificadas 11 experiências que usaram IA para a pesquisa translacional em Covid-19: predição de eficácia medicamentosa; predição de patogenicidade do Sars-CoV-2; diagnóstico de imagem para Covid-19; predição de incidência de Covid-19; estimativas de impacto da Covid-19 na sociedade; automatização de sanitização de ambientes hospitalares e clínicos; rastreio de pessoas infectadas e possivelmente infectadas; monitoramento do uso de máscaras; predição de gravidade de pacientes; estratificação de risco do paciente; e predição de recursos hospitalares. A pesquisa translacional pode ajudar no desenvolvimento produtivo e industrial em saúde, especialmente quando apoiada em métodos de IA, uma ferramenta cada vez mais importante, sobretudo quando se discute a Quarta Revolução Industrial e suas aplicações na saúde.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to identify how Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used for translational research in the context of COVID-19. A rapid review was carried out to identify the use of AI techniques in the translation of technologies to face COVID-19. A search strategy was used based on MeSH terms and their respective synonyms in seven databases. Of the 59 articles identified, eight were included. We identified 11 experiments that used AI for translational research in Covid-19: prediction of drug efficacy; predicting the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2; imaging diagnosis for COVID-19; predicting the incidence of COVID-19; estimates of the impact of COVID-19 on society; automation of sanitizing hospital and clinical environments; screening of infected and possibly infected people; monitoring the use of masks; prediction of patient severity; patient risk stratification; and prediction of hospital resources. Translational research can help in productive and industrial development in health, especially when supported by AI methods, an increasingly important tool, especially when discussing the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its applications in health.

Direct cost of systemic arterial hypertension and its complications in the circulatory system from the perspective of the Brazilian public health system in 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), a global public health problem and the primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, has a significant financial impact on health systems. In Brazil, the prevalence of SAH is 23.7%, which caused 203,000 deaths and 3.9 million DALYs in 2015. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost of SAH and circulatory system diseases attributable to SAH from the perspective of the Brazilian public health system in 2019. METHODS: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness was conducted using a top-down approach. The population attributable risk (PAR) was used to estimate the proportion of circulatory system diseases attributable to SAH. The direct medical costs were obtained from official Ministry of Health of Brazil records and literature parameters, including the three levels of care (primary, secondary, and tertiary). Deterministic univariate analyses were also conducted. RESULTS: The total cost of SAH and the proportion of circulatory system diseases attributable to SAH was Int$ 581,135,374.73, varying between Int$ 501,553,022.21 and Int$ 776,183,338.06. In terms only of SAH costs at all healthcare levels (Int$ 493,776,445.89), 97.3% were incurred in primary care, especially for antihypertensive drugs provided free of charge by the Brazilian public health system (Int$ 363,888,540.14). Stroke accounted for the highest cost attributable to SAH and the third highest PAR, representing 47% of the total cost of circulatory diseases attributable to SAH. Prevalence was the parameter that most affected sensitivity analyses, accounting for 36% of all the cost variation. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the main Brazilian strategy to combat SAH was implemented in primary care, namely access to free antihypertensive drugs and multiprofessional teams, acting jointly to promote care and prevent and control SAH.

Clinical effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy with galsulfase in mucopolysaccharidosis type VI treatment: Systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Mucopolysaccharidosis VI is a rare disease characterized by the arylsulfatase B enzyme deficiency, which is responsible for different clinical manifestations. The treatment consists of enzyme replacement therapy with intravenous administration of galsulfase. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effectiveness of the enzyme replacement therapy with galsulfase for the mucopolysaccharidosis VI treatment. METHOD: Systematic review of observational studies. The databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, and Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease were reviewed. The selection of studies, data mining, and methodological quality assessment were independently conducted by two authors. RESULTS: Eighteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two studies were cohorts, one was longitudinal study, one was cross-sectional, one was a case-control, eight were case series, and five were case reports. A total of 362 participants with mucopolysaccharidosis type VI were evaluated, and 14 different outcomes related to the treatment effect were identified. Seven outcomes showed positive results, characterized by the patient survival, quality of life, respiratory function, joint mobility, physical resistance, reduction of urinary glycosaminoglycans, and growth. The hearing function and the cognitive development were stable after the treatment. Other outcomes related to the cardiac function, visual acuity, sleep apnea, and the size of the liver and spleen presented inconclusive outcomes. Concerning safety, light adverse reactions of hypersensitivity were reported. CONCLUSION: This review provided a broader panoramic view of the outcomes related to mucopolysaccharidosis type VI. Regardless of the inherent limitations of observational studies, the outcomes indicate that the enzyme replacement therapy has a positive effect on most of the outcomes associated to the disease.

Políticas públicas de assistência social para população em situação de rua: análise documental / Public policies of social assistance for homeless people: document analysis

Introdução: Indivíduos e grupos em situação de risco e vulnerabilidade social requerem medidas socioassistenciais específicas para a garantia de direitos, orientação, acolhimento institucional e reintegração social. A partir dos anos 2000, ações e serviços socioassistencias ganharam visibilidade nas discussões de agendas de governo. Objetivo: Identificar as ações e serviços socioassistencias para a população em situação de rua no Brasil, em âmbito do governo federal. Metodologia: Pesquisa documental em normas técnicas, decretos, portarias, leis e políticas que abordam o tema. Resultados e Discussão: Diante à complexidade da população em situação de rua e a diversidade de serviços ofertados pela assistência social, diferentes vias de acesso aos serviços são asseguradas a essa população. A rede de serviços assistenciais é formada por serviços destinados a pessoas em situação de vulnerabilidade social e serviços específicos destinados à população em situação de rua. Conclusão: A ampliação e fortalecimento da rede assistencial trouxe novas perspectivas para a população em situação de rua. Contudo, a integração de ações intersetoriais ainda é necessária para promover uma melhor qualidade de vida a esse grupo..

Indroduction: Individuals and groups in danger situation and social vulnerability require specific social assistance measures to guarantee rights, guidance, residential care and social reintegration. From the 2000s, social assistance actions and services have gained visibility in discussions of government agendas. Objective: Identify the social assistance programs and services for homeless persons in Brazil, within federal rules. Methodology: Documentary research on technical standards, decrees, ordinances, laws and policies that address the issue. Results and Discussion: Given the complexity of the homeless persons and the diversity of services offered by social assistance, different access routes to services are assured to this population. The network of care services is made up for services for people in situations of social vulnerability and specific services for the homeless persons. Conclusion: The expansion and strengthening of the care network has brought new perspectives to the homeless persons. However, an integration of intersectoral actions is still useful to promote a better quality of life for this group.