Quality of nutritional uptake of community-dwelling, care-dependent older adults in Zurich.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the quality of nutritional uptake of the care-dependent, community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Community-dwelling care-dependent elders were recruited in this study. The food items along with their nutritional content were extracted from the participants' refrigerators and categorized according to the NOVA classification (G1: unprocessed/minimally processed; G2: processed culinary ingredients; G3: processed; G4: ultra-processed). The nutritional information of food items was entered into a dietary analysis software that analyzed the content. Data was verified for and normal distribution and non-parametric tests were applied for statistical analysis (p<0.05). RESULTS: 100 subjects (mean age=81.1±9.5 y; mean MMSE: 26.6±6.8) participated in this study. The participants had significantly more G1 than G2, G3 or G4 (p<0.001) foods. Women had more G1 items in their refrigerators than men (rs=0.372, p<0.001). Higher socio-economic status indicated a presence of more G1 (rs=0.313, p=0.002), G2 (rs=0.342, p<0.001) and G4 (rs=0.237, p=0.024) foods. Higher cognitive scores revealed an increase in presence of G4 (rs=0.238, p=0.023) items. Participants with an increased need for assistance had less G2 (rs=-0.332, p = 0.001), and G4 (rs = -0.215, p = 0.041) foods; age had no influence. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study confirm that the majority of care-dependent, community-dwelling adults procured healthy dietary aliments for their daily living; however, whether this correlated to the actual nutritional state of these older adults needs to be further investigated. This highlights the need for further investigation and tailored interventions to ensure good nutrition, emphasizing regular assessments and comprehensive support beyond just food access. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians must recognize that access to healthy food alone may not ensure good nutrition in older adults. Regular nutritional assessments, personalized dietary interventions, and additional support services like meal preparation assistance, nutritional counseling, and tailored programs are essential to address specific dietary needs and preferences.

Preclinical evaluation of combined therapy with amiodarone and low-dose benznidazole in a mouse model of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Chagasic chronic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the primary clinical manifestation of Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Current therapeutic options for CD are limited to benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox. Amiodarone (AMD) has emerged as most effective drug for treating the arrhythmic form of CCC. To address the effects of Bz and AMD we used a preclinical model of CCC. Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with T. cruzi and subjected to oral treatment for 30 consecutive days, either as monotherapy or in combination. AMD in monotherapy decreased the prolonged QTc interval, the incidence of atrioventricular conduction disorders and cardiac hypertrophy. However, AMD monotherapy did not impact parasitemia, parasite load, TNF concentration and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiac tissue. Alike Bz therapy, the combination of Bz and AMD (Bz/AMD), improved cardiac electric abnormalities detected T. cruzi-infected mice such as decrease in heart rates, enlargement of PR and QTc intervals and increased incidence of atrioventricular block and sinus arrhythmia. Further, Bz/AMD therapy ameliorated the ventricular function and reduced parasite burden in the cardiac tissue and parasitemia to a degree comparable to Bz monotherapy. Importantly, Bz/AMD treatment efficiently reduced TNF concentration in the cardiac tissue and plasma and had beneficial effects on immunological abnormalities. Moreover, in the cardiac tissue Bz/AMD therapy reduced fibronectin and collagen deposition, mitochondrial damage and production of ROS, and improved sarcomeric and gap junction integrity. Our study underlines the potential of the Bz/AMD therapy, as we have shown that combination increased efficacy in the treatment of CCC.

Evidence-Based Checklist to Delay Cardiac Arrest in Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donors: The DONORS Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The effectiveness of goal-directed care to reduce loss of brain-dead potential donors to cardiac arrest is unclear. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based, goal-directed checklist in the clinical management of brain-dead potential donors in the intensive care unit (ICU). Design, Setting, and Participants: The Donation Network to Optimize Organ Recovery Study (DONORS) was an open-label, parallel-group cluster randomized clinical trial in Brazil. Enrollment and follow-up were conducted from June 20, 2017, to November 30, 2019. Hospital ICUs that reported 10 or more brain deaths in the previous 2 years were included. Consecutive brain-dead potential donors in the ICU aged 14 to 90 years with a condition consistent with brain death after the first clinical examination were enrolled. Participants were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The intention-to-treat data analysis was conducted from June 15 to August 30, 2020. Interventions: Hospital staff in the intervention group were instructed to administer to brain-dead potential donors in the intervention group an evidence-based checklist with 13 clinical goals and 14 corresponding actions to guide care, every 6 hours, from study enrollment to organ retrieval. The control group provided or received usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was loss of brain-dead potential donors to cardiac arrest at the individual level. A prespecified sensitivity analysis assessed the effect of adherence to the checklist in the intervention group. Results: Among the 1771 brain-dead potential donors screened in 63 hospitals, 1535 were included. These patients included 673 males (59.2%) and had a median (IQR) age of 51 (36.3-62.0) years. The main cause of brain injury was stroke (877 [57.1%]), followed by trauma (485 [31.6%]). Of the 63 hospitals, 31 (49.2%) were assigned to the intervention group (743 [48.4%] brain-dead potential donors) and 32 (50.8%) to the control group (792 [51.6%] brain-dead potential donors). Seventy potential donors (9.4%) at intervention hospitals and 117 (14.8%) at control hospitals met the primary outcome (risk ratio [RR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.46-1.08; P = .11). The primary outcome rate was lower in those with adherence higher than 79.0% than in the control group (5.3% vs 14.8%; RR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.22-0.78; P = .006). Conclusions and Relevance: This cluster randomized clinical trial was inconclusive in determining whether the overall use of an evidence-based, goal-directed checklist reduced brain-dead potential donor loss to cardiac arrest. The findings suggest that use of such a checklist has limited effectiveness without adherence to the actions recommended in this checklist. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03179020.

Generation of an Obese Diabetic Mouse Model upon Conditional Atrx Disruption.

Atrx loss was recently ascertained as insufficient to drive pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PanNET) formation in mice islets. We have identified a preponderant role of Atrx in the endocrine dysfunction in a Rip-Cre;AtrxKO genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM). To validate the impact of a different Cre-driver line, we used similar methodologies and characterised the Pdx1-Cre;AtrxKO (P.AtrxKO) GEMM to search for PanNET formation and endocrine fitness disruption for a period of up to 24 months. Male and female mice presented different phenotypes. Compared to P.AtrxWT, P.AtrxHOM males were heavier during the entire study period, hyperglycaemic between 3 and 12 mo., and glucose intolerant only from 6 mo.; in contrast, P.AtrxHOM females started exhibiting increased weight gains later (after 6 mo.), but diabetes or glucose intolerance was detected by 3 mo. Overall, all studied mice were overweight or obese from early ages, which challenged the histopathological evaluation of the pancreas and liver, especially after 12 mo. Noteworthily, losing Atrx predisposed mice to an increase in intrapancreatic fatty infiltration (FI), peripancreatic fat deposition, and macrovesicular steatosis. As expected, no animal developed PanNETs. An obese diabetic GEMM of disrupted Atrx is presented as potentially useful for metabolic studies and as a putative candidate for inserting additional tumourigenic genetic events.

Effects of clopidogrel bisulfate on B16-F10 cells and tumor development in a murine model of melanoma.

Metastatic melanoma is a very aggressive skin cancer. Platelets are constituents of the tumor microenvironment and, when activated, contribute to cancer progression, especially metastasis and inflammation. P2Y12 is an adenosine diphosphate receptor that triggers platelet activation. Inhibition of P2Y12 by clopidogrel bisulfate (CB) decreases platelet activation, which is also controlled by the extracellular concentration and the metabolism of purines by purinergic enzymes. We evaluated the effects of CB on the viability and proliferation of cultured B16-F10 cells. We also used a metastatic melanoma model with C57BL-6 mice to evaluate cancer development and purine metabolism modulation in platelets. B16-F10 cells were administered intraperitoneally to the mice. Two days later, the animals underwent a 12-day treatment with CB (30 mg/kg by gavage). We have found that CB reduced cell viability and proliferation in B16-F10 culture in 72 h at concentrations above 30 µm. In vivo, CB decreased tumor nodule counts and lactate dehydrogenase levels and increased platelet purine metabolism. Our results showed that CB has significant effects on melanoma progression.

Hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in children, Rondônia, Brazil, 2008-2019. / Internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em crianças, Rondônia, Brasil, 2008-2019.

This study aimed to define the profile of hospitalizations of children in public hospitals of 52 municipalities of the state of Rondônia, Brazil. We performed an ecological time series study using secondary data provided by the Hospital Information System. The annual trend of Hospitalizations was presented by age group and health region. Linear regression was performed using the Prais-Winsten technique of the statistical package Stata, version 11.0. Hospitalizations for gastrointestinal diseases were found to be decreasing in all age groups, just as those for vaccine-preventable diseases in children aged between 1 and 9 years. Hospitalizations for skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases were increasing in all ages, as well as those caused by epilepsies in children aged 1 to 9 and those caused by diseases related to childbirth and puerperium. Health regions showed a varied hospitalization profile. A stable trend was found in the Cone Sul, Madeira-Mamoré, Café, Vale do Guaporé, and Vale do Jamari regions, whereas a declining trend was found in the Central and Zona da Mata regions. The high rates of hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in children show how inefficient strategies and investments in primary care have been in the state of Acre, Brazil.

Objetivou-se caracterizar o perfil de internações de crianças na rede pública dos 52 municípios do estado de Rondônia, Brasil, no período de 2008 a 2019. Trata-se de um estudo de série temporal do tipo ecológico, com dados secundários do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares. A tendência anual das internações foi apresentada por faixa etária e regional de saúde. Foi realizada regressão linear aplicando a técnica de Prais-Winsten no pacote estatístico Stata, versão 11.0. As internações por doenças gastrointestinais tiveram declínio em todas as faixas etárias, assim como pelas doenças previníveis por imunizantes entre 1 a 9 anos. As internações por doenças de pele e tecido subcutâneo foram crescentes em todas as idades, as epilepsias em idades de 1 a 9 anos e pelas doenças relacionadas ao parto e puerpério foi crescente. As regiões de saúde apresentaram perfil de internações variável, com tendência estável nas regiões Cone Sul, Madeira-Mamoré, Café, Vale do Guaporé, Vale do Jamari; e em declínio nas regiões Central e Zona da Mata. As elevadas taxas de internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em crianças refletem a pouca efetividade das estratégias e dos investimentos na esfera da atenção primária no estado.

Internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em crianças, Rondônia, Brasil, 2008-2019 / Hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in children, Rondônia, Brazil, 2008-2019

Resumo Objetivou-se caracterizar o perfil de internações de crianças na rede pública dos 52 municípios do estado de Rondônia, Brasil, no período de 2008 a 2019. Trata-se de um estudo de série temporal do tipo ecológico, com dados secundários do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares. A tendência anual das internações foi apresentada por faixa etária e regional de saúde. Foi realizada regressão linear aplicando a técnica de Prais-Winsten no pacote estatístico Stata, versão 11.0. As internações por doenças gastrointestinais tiveram declínio em todas as faixas etárias, assim como pelas doenças previníveis por imunizantes entre 1 a 9 anos. As internações por doenças de pele e tecido subcutâneo foram crescentes em todas as idades, as epilepsias em idades de 1 a 9 anos e pelas doenças relacionadas ao parto e puerpério foi crescente. As regiões de saúde apresentaram perfil de internações variável, com tendência estável nas regiões Cone Sul, Madeira-Mamoré, Café, Vale do Guaporé, Vale do Jamari; e em declínio nas regiões Central e Zona da Mata. As elevadas taxas de internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em crianças refletem a pouca efetividade das estratégias e dos investimentos na esfera da atenção primária no estado.

Abstract This study aimed to define the profile of hospitalizations of children in public hospitals of 52 municipalities of the state of Rondônia, Brazil. We performed an ecological time series study using secondary data provided by the Hospital Information System. The annual trend of Hospitalizations was presented by age group and health region. Linear regression was performed using the Prais-Winsten technique of the statistical package Stata, version 11.0. Hospitalizations for gastrointestinal diseases were found to be decreasing in all age groups, just as those for vaccine-preventable diseases in children aged between 1 and 9 years. Hospitalizations for skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases were increasing in all ages, as well as those caused by epilepsies in children aged 1 to 9 and those caused by diseases related to childbirth and puerperium. Health regions showed a varied hospitalization profile. A stable trend was found in the Cone Sul, Madeira-Mamoré, Café, Vale do Guaporé, and Vale do Jamari regions, whereas a declining trend was found in the Central and Zona da Mata regions. The high rates of hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in children show how inefficient strategies and investments in primary care have been in the state of Acre, Brazil.

Low cost and easy acquisition: corn grain in microsurgery training.

OBJECTIVES: develop an easily accessible model for training the initial motor practice in microsurgery using corn kernels. METHODS: ten corn kernels (Zea mays) were used. A 7mm longitudinal cut was made on one side of the corn grain. The training consisted of performing 4 simple knots between the edges of the incision, using 10-0 mononylon thread. The parameters analyzed were 1) cost of the model; 2) assembly time of the model test system; 3) time for performing the knots; 4) distance between the knots. RESULTS: in all corn kernels tested, it was possible to perform the proposed microsurgical suture training, without any difficulty in the procedure. The average time to perform the 4 knots was 6.51±1.18 minutes. The total cost of the simulator model was R$3.59. The average distance between the knots was 1.7±0.3mm. The model developed from corn grains has an extremely low cost when compared to the use of animals or high-tech simulators. Other advantages are the easy availability of canned corn kernels and the possibility of making more than four knots along the 7mm incision. CONCLUSION: the training model developed has low cost, is easy to acquire and viable for training basic manual skills in microsurgery.

Istradefylline modulates purinergic enzymes and reduces malignancy-associated factors in B16F10 melanoma cells.

ATP and adenosine exert pivotal roles in the development, maintenance, and metastatic spreading of melanoma. The action of such key melanoma tumor microenvironment (TME) constituents might be complementary or opposed, and their effects are not exclusive to immune cells but also to other host cells and tumor cells. The effects of ATP are controlled by the axis CD39/73, resulting in adenosine, the main actor in the TME, and A2A is the crucial mediator of its effects. We evaluated ATP and adenosine signaling through A2A on B16F10 melanoma cells using istradefylline (IST) (antiparkinsonian A2A antagonist) and caffeine (CAF) treatments after exposure to ATP and adenosine. Adenosine increased melanoma cell viability and proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. ATP increases viability only as a substrate by CD39 to produce adenosine. Both IST and CAF are toxic to B16F10 cells, but only IST potentialized paclitaxel-induced cytotoxic effects, even decreasing its IC50 value. IST positively modulated CD39 and CD73 expression. CD39 activity was increased, and E-ADA was reduced, indicating that the melanoma cells promoted compensatory feedback in the production and maintenance of adenosine levels. A2A antagonism by IST reduced the factors associated with malignancy, like migration, adhesion, colony formation, and the capacity to produce melanin. Moreover, IST significantly increases nitric oxide (NO) production, which correlates to a decline in melanoma cell viability by apoptotic events. Altogether, our results suggest that adenosine signaling through A2A is essential for B16F10 cells, and its inhibition by IST causes compensatory purinergic enzymatic modulations. Furthermore, IST is a promising therapy that provides new ways to improve current melanoma treatments.

Time series analysis of in-hospital maternal case fatality ratio in the postpartum period according to pregnancy risks and route of delivery in the regions of Brazil, 2010-2019. / Análise temporal da letalidade materna hospitalar no pós-parto segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, nas regiões do Brasil, 2010-2019.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze in-hospital maternal case fatality ratio in the postpartum period according to pregnancy risks and route of delivery, within the Brazilian National Health System, Brazil and macro-regions, 2010-2019. METHODS: this was an ecological time-series study, using data from the Hospital Information System; in-hospital maternal case fatality ratio in the postpartum period took into consideration maternal hospitalizations with outcome 'death' over the total number of hospitalizations per year, according to pregnancy risks and route of delivery, in the regions. RESULTS: there were 19,158,167 hospitalizations for childbirth and 5,110 deaths in the period analyzed; maternal case fatality ratio increased from 1.1 (2010) to 1.9 death/10,000 hospitalizations (2019), in usual-risk pregnancies after vaginal deliveries, and decreased from 10.5 (2010) to 7.0 deaths/10,000 hospitalizations (2019) in high-risk pregnancies after cesarean sections; the Midwest region presented the highest and the South region the lowest case fatality ratio for high-risk pregnancies. CONCLUSION: in-hospital case fatality ratio was higher for high-risk pregnancies, showing differences according to route of delivery and regions.

Incisional hernia repair in rats: description of the sublay technique under videomagnification system.

PURPOSE: To describe the technique of sublay correction of incisional hernia in Wistar rats under videomagnification system. METHODS: Five male rats of the species Rattus norvegicus, of the Wistar lineage, with body weight between 250-350 g and 60 days old were used. Incisional hernia was inducted in all animals. After that, the incisional hernia was immediately corrected by the sublay method. RESULTS: There were no cases of recurrence of the incisional hernia after placement of the polypropylene mesh using the sublay technique. No postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The technique is suitable for execution in Wistar rats.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Solid Organ Transplant and Rejection Episodes in Brazil's Unified Healthcare System.

BACKGROUND: Brazil has the world's largest public organ transplant program, which was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate differences in solid organ transplants and rejection episodes during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the five years before the pandemic in the country. METHODS: A seven-year database was built by downloading data from the DATASUS server. The pandemic period was defined as March 2020 to December 2021. The pre-pandemic period was from January 2015 to March 2020. RESULTS: During the pandemic, the number of solid organ transplants decreased by 19.3% in 2020 and 22.6% in 2021 compared to 2019. We found a decrease for each evaluated organ, which was more pronounced for lung, pancreas, and kidney transplants. The seasonal plot of rejection data indicated a high rejection rate between 2018 and 2021. There was also an 18% (IRR 1.18 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.37), p = 0.04) increase in the rejection rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The total number of organ transplants performed in 2021 represents a setback of six years. Transplant procedures were concentrated in the Southeast region of the country, and a higher proportion of rejections occurred during the pandemic. Together, these findings could have an impact on transplant procedures and outcomes in Brazil.

Time series analysis of Postpartum maternal lethality according to pregnancy risk and the mode of delivery in regions of Brazil, 2010-2019 / Análisis de series temporales de letalidad materna posparto según riesgo gestacional y forma de parto en regiones del Brasil, 2010-2019 / Análise temporal da letalidade materna hospitalar no pós-parto segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, nas regiões do Brasil, 2010-2019

Objective: to analyze temporal series of postpartum maternal lethality according to gestational risk and mode of delivery by the Unified Health System in Brazil and regions, 2010-2019. Methods: ecological time series study with data from the Hospital Information System; the hospital postpartum maternal lethality rate considered maternal hospitalizations with hospital discharge due to death, by the total hospitalizations, per year according to gestational risk and mode of delivery, in the regions of Brazil. Results: there were 19.158.167 admissions for childbirth and 5.110 deaths in the period; maternal lethality rose from 1.10 in 2010 to 1.9 deaths/10.000 in 2019 in low-risk pregnancies after vaginal deliveries and decreased from 10,5 to 7,0 deaths/10.000 in high-risk pregnancies after cesarean sections; Midwest expressed the highest and the South the lowest fatality rate for high-risk pregnancies. Conclusion: Hospital lethality was higher in high-risk pregnancies, with differences according to mode of delivery and regions of Brazil.

Objetivo: analizar la letalidad materna hospitalaria posparto según riesgo gestacional y modalidad de parto por el Sistema Único de Salud en Brasil y regiones, 2010-2019. Métodos: estudio de serie temporal ecológica con datos del Sistema de Información Hospitalario; la tasa de letalidad materna hospitalaria posparto consideró las hospitalizaciones maternas con resultado de muerte, por el total de hospitalizaciones por año. Resultados: hubo 19.158.167 admisiones por parto y 5.110 óbitos en el período; la letalidad materna aumentó de 1,10 (2010) a 1,9 muertes/10.000 (2019) en embarazos de riesgo habitual posparto vaginal y disminuyó de 10,5 a 7,0 muertes/10.000 en embarazos de alto riesgo después de cesáreas; Medio Oeste expresó la tasa de letalidad más alta y el Sur la más baja para embarazos de alto riesgo. Conclusión: la letalidad hospitalaria fue mayor en los embarazos de alto riesgo, con diferencias según el modo de parto y las regiones de Brasil.

Objetivo: analisar a letalidade materna hospitalar pós-parto segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, no Sistema Único de Saúde, Brasil e regiões nacionais, 2010-2019. Métodos: estudo ecológico de série temporal, com dados do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares; a taxa de letalidade materna hospitalar pós-parto considerou internações maternas com desfecho 'óbito' sobre o total de internações/ano, segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, nas regiões. Resultados: foram 19.158.167 internações para parto e 5.110 óbitos no período analisado; a letalidade materna subiu de 1,1 (2010) para 1,9 óbitos/10 mil internações (2019), em gestações de risco habitual após partos vaginais, e reduziu-se de 10,5 (2010) para 7,0 óbitos/10 mil internações (2019) em gestações de alto risco após cesarianas; Centro-Oeste expressou a maior e Sul a menor taxa de letalidade para gestações de alto risco. Conclusão: a letalidade hospitalar foi maior em gestações de alto risco, com diferenças segundo via de parto e regiões.

Characterisation of an Atrx Conditional Knockout Mouse Model: Atrx Loss Causes Endocrine Dysfunction Rather Than Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumour.

ATRX is a chromatin remodeller that maintains telomere homeostasis. Loss of ATRX is described in approximately 10% of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNETs) and associated with poorer prognostic features. Here, we present a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) addressing the role of Atrx loss (AtrxKO) in pancreatic ß cells, evaluating a large cohort of ageing mice (for up to 24 months (mo.)). Atrx loss did not cause PanNET formation but rather resulted in worsening of ageing-related pancreatic inflammation and endocrine dysfunction in the first year of life. Histopathological evaluation highlighted an exacerbated prevalence and intensity of pancreatic inflammation, ageing features, and hepatic steatosis in AtrxKO mice. Homozygous floxed mice presented hyperglycaemia, increased weights, and glucose intolerance after 6 months, but alterations in insulinaemia were not detected. Floxed individuals presented an improper growth of their pancreatic endocrine fraction that may explain such an endocrine imbalance. A pilot study of BRACO-19 administration to AtrxKO mice resulted in telomere instability, reinforcing the involvement of Atrx in the maintenance of ß cell telomere homeostasis. Thereby, a non-obese dysglycaemic GEMM of disrupted Atrx is here presented as potentially useful for metabolic studies and putative candidate for inserting additional tumourigenic genetic events.

Increment of Maternal Mortality Among Admissions for Childbirth in Low-risk Pregnant Women in Brazil: Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic? / Aumento da taxa de mortalidade materna entre as admissões para parto em gestantes de baixo risco gestacional no Brasil: Efeito da pandemia do COVID-19?

Abstract Objective To assess the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mortality among admissions for childbirth in 2020 in relation of the last 10 years. Methods An ecological study with pregnant women who underwent hospital births at the Brazilian unified public health service (SUS, in the Portuguese acronym) in Brazil from 2010 to 2020. The mortality among admissions for childbirth was obtained based on the number of admissions for childbirth with reported death as outcome divided by the total number of admissions. The underlying gestational risk and route of delivery were considered based on the national surveillance system. The average mortality for the period between 2010 and 2019 (baseline) was compared with the rate of deaths in 2020 (1st pandemic year); the rate ratio was interpreted as the risk of death in 2020 in relation to the average of the previous period (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results In 2020, the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1,821,775 pregnant women were hospitalized for childbirth and 651 deaths were reported, which represents 8.7% of the total hospitalizations and 11.3% of maternal deaths between 2010 and 2020. There was an increase in maternal mortality after births in 2020 compared with the average for the period between 2010 and 2019, specially in low-risk pregnancies, both in vaginal (RR = 1.60; 95%CI:1.39-1.85) and cesarean births (RR = 1.18; 95%CI:1.04-1.34). Conclusion Maternal mortality among admissions for childbirth according to SUS data increased in 2020 compared with the average between 2010 and 2019, with an increment of 40% in low-risk pregnancies. The increase was of 18% after cesarean section and of 60% after vaginal delivery.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar os possíveis impactos da pandemia de COVID-19 na mortalidade materna nas admissões para o parto em 2020 em relação ao histórico dos últimos 10 anos. Métodos Estudo ecológico com gestantes que realizaram parto hospitalar pelo Sistema Unificado de Saúde do Brasil (SUS) de 2010 a 2020. Para obter-se a taxa de mortalidade entre as admissões para o parto, foi utilizado o número de internações para parto que tiveram óbito como desfecho dividido pelo total de internações. O risco gestacional e o tipo de parto foram considerados a partir do sistema de vigilância nacional. A média de mortalidade no período de 2010 a 2019 (linha de base) foi comparada com a taxa de mortalidade pós-parto de 2020 (1° ano pandêmico); a razão das taxas foi interpretada como risco de óbito em 2020 em relação à média no período anterior (RR), com intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95%. Resultados Em 2020, 1° ano da pandemia de COVID-19, 1.821.775 gestantes foram internadas para o parto e 651 óbitos foram registrados, o que representa 8,7% do total de internações e 11,3% das mortes maternas entre 2010 e 2020. Houve aumento na mortalidade materna após partos em 2020 em relação à média do período entre 2010 e 2019, especialmente em gestações de baixo risco, tanto em partos normais (RR = 1.60; IC95%: 1.39-185) quanto em cesáreas (RR = 1.18; IC95%: 1.04-1.34). Conclusão A mortalidade entre as admissões para o parto pelo SUS aumentou em 2020 em relação à média de óbitos entre 2010 e 2019, com um incremento de 40% em mulheres de baixo risco gestacional. O aumento verificado foi de 18% após cesárea e de 60% após parto vaginal.

Increment of Maternal Mortality Among Admissions for Childbirth in Low-risk Pregnant Women in Brazil: Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mortality among admissions for childbirth in 2020 in relation of the last 10 years. METHODS: An ecological study with pregnant women who underwent hospital births at the Brazilian unified public health service (SUS, in the Portuguese acronym) in Brazil from 2010 to 2020. The mortality among admissions for childbirth was obtained based on the number of admissions for childbirth with reported death as outcome divided by the total number of admissions. The underlying gestational risk and route of delivery were considered based on the national surveillance system. The average mortality for the period between 2010 and 2019 (baseline) was compared with the rate of deaths in 2020 (1st pandemic year); the rate ratio was interpreted as the risk of death in 2020 in relation to the average of the previous period (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In 2020, the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1,821,775 pregnant women were hospitalized for childbirth and 651 deaths were reported, which represents 8.7% of the total hospitalizations and 11.3% of maternal deaths between 2010 and 2020. There was an increase in maternal mortality after births in 2020 compared with the average for the period between 2010 and 2019, specially in low-risk pregnancies, both in vaginal (RR = 1.60; 95%CI:1.39-1.85) and cesarean births (RR = 1.18; 95%CI:1.04-1.34). CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality among admissions for childbirth according to SUS data increased in 2020 compared with the average between 2010 and 2019, with an increment of 40% in low-risk pregnancies. The increase was of 18% after cesarean section and of 60% after vaginal delivery.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os possíveis impactos da pandemia de COVID-19 na mortalidade materna nas admissões para o parto em 2020 em relação ao histórico dos últimos 10 anos. MéTODOS: Estudo ecológico com gestantes que realizaram parto hospitalar pelo Sistema Unificado de Saúde do Brasil (SUS) de 2010 a 2020. Para obter-se a taxa de mortalidade entre as admissões para o parto, foi utilizado o número de internações para parto que tiveram óbito como desfecho dividido pelo total de internações. O risco gestacional e o tipo de parto foram considerados a partir do sistema de vigilância nacional. A média de mortalidade no período de 2010 a 2019 (linha de base) foi comparada com a taxa de mortalidade pós-parto de 2020 (1° ano pandêmico); a razão das taxas foi interpretada como risco de óbito em 2020 em relação à média no período anterior (RR), com intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95%. RESULTADOS: Em 2020, 1° ano da pandemia de COVID-19, 1.821.775 gestantes foram internadas para o parto e 651 óbitos foram registrados, o que representa 8,7% do total de internações e 11,3% das mortes maternas entre 2010 e 2020. Houve aumento na mortalidade materna após partos em 2020 em relação à média do período entre 2010 e 2019, especialmente em gestações de baixo risco, tanto em partos normais (RR = 1.60; IC95%: 1.39­185) quanto em cesáreas (RR = 1.18; IC95%: 1.04­1.34). CONCLUSãO: A mortalidade entre as admissões para o parto pelo SUS aumentou em 2020 em relação à média de óbitos entre 2010 e 2019, com um incremento de 40% em mulheres de baixo risco gestacional. O aumento verificado foi de 18% após cesárea e de 60% após parto vaginal.

Do Brazilian medical journals reference Brazilian articles? A cross-sectional study.

Background: The quantity and quality of Brazilian scientific output increases decade by decade. However, there is a tendency to undervalue Brazilian journals, illustrated by the low number of citations compared with texts in international journals, with the tacit justification that foreign articles are of superior quality. Objectives: To investigate the differences in numbers of citations of Brazilian and international periodicals in three Brazilian journals from 2016 to 2020. Methods: All articles published in the Journal of the Brazilian College of Surgeons, in the Jornal Vascular Brasileiro, and in Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira from 2016 to 2020 were analyzed. The references of these studies were analyzed, summing the total number of citations and classifying them as published in Brazilian or foreign journals. Results: A total of 902 articles were analyzed, totaling 23,394 references, with a mean of 25.81 ± 8.59 references per article. Of these, 2,680 (11.45%) were Brazilian, equating to a mean of 2.95 ± 3.79 Brazilian references per article. Conclusions: It is necessary to improve appreciation of Brazilian periodicals, especially among Brazilian researchers and institutions responsible for science funding.

Community Health Agents and child health care: implications for continuing education.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the main situations faced by community health agents in relation to children's health in the light of permanent education actions. METHOD: This is a research of qualitative approach, which used the Arc of Maguerez. Ten community health agents from a Primary Health Care Unit participated in the study. The following steps were addressed: observation of reality; identification of key points, and theorization. The speeches were recorded, transcribed, and their textual content was processed in the IRAMUTEQ software, using the Descending Hierarchical Classification. RESULTS: Five classes were formed, which composed three thematic blocks named as follows: child's social vulnerability in the territory; handling the child's health record, and vaccination schedule. CONCLUSION: Unveiling situations that influence the work of community health agents is essential for continuing education, as this favors assumptions applicable to daily work with resoluteness in child health.