Leukotriene receptor antagonists as adjuvant therapy of antihistamines in chronic urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Certain guidelines recommend a second-generation H1-antihistamine (AH) as first-line treatment for patients with chronic urticaria (CU). However, some patients show insufficient response to a standard dose of this therapy and might benefit from adding leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTA). Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing LTA plus antihistamines with antihistamines alone. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central for randomized clinical trial (RCT) data comparing LTA plus AH treatment to AH alone in patients with CU. Statistical analysis was performed using R Studio 4.3.2. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. Three studies comprising 234 patients with urticaria were included. The mean age was 37.23 years in the leukotriene antagonist + antihistamines (LTA + AH) group and 39.14 years in the antihistamines (AH) group. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 18 months between studies. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of TSS level (SMD: -74.82; 95% CI: -222.66 to 73.02; P = 0.32; I2 = 98%), neither in terms of pruritus (MD: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.42 to 0.28; P = 0.70; I2 = 74%). After sensitivity analysis, with the systematic exclusion of each study from the grouped estimates, the result for TSS level did not change. These findings suggest that leukotriene receptor antagonists with antihistamines do not have better outcomes than antihistamines alone regarding TSS and pruritus in patients with CU.

Is there a common pathophysiological mechanism between COVID-19 and depression?

COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and was initially considered to cause serious damage to the respiratory system. Over time, it has been found to affect other organs due to its ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor (type 2 angiotensin-converting enzyme), which can be found in various tissues, including the central nervous system. In addition, a large formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines responsible for various lesions was observed during the evolution of this disease. Our objective was to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms involved in the infection that may demonstrate the relationship between COVID-19 and the development of depressive conditions. Based on the main medical databases (LiLacs, SciELO, Bireme, Scopus, EBSCO, and PubMed) and using the terms 'coronavirus infections' AND 'Inflammation' AND 'depression' AND 'cytokines', we conducted an integrative review of articles published in 2020. Considering this stage of Covid-19 and the inflammatory component of depression, this review showed a relationship between these two conditions based on common pathophysiological mechanisms indicating possible depressive disorders in surviving patients, especially in the most severe cases. The role of inflammatory cytokines and the presence of ACE-2 receptors on the cell surface appear to be the common pathophysiological mechanism between COVID-19 and depression.

[Obesity and risk factors for the development of chronic non-transmissible diseases among consumers in a foodservice unit]. / Obesidade e fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre usuários de unidade de alimentação e nutrição.

This study aimed to assess nutritional status and risk factors for chronic non-transmissible diseases in 1,252 factory employees in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The following variables were studied: nutritional status, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, age, and schooling. Overweight and obesity were observed in 45% and 10% of the sample, respectively, with a significant association between nutritional status and gender, but not between nutritional status and schooling, adjusted for age. The proportion of high waist circumference was 33%, with a significant difference between genders. High systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were present in 18% and 11% of the employees, respectively, with a significant association between genders after adjusting for age. Type II diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 2% of the sample and altered glucose levels in 4%. After adjusting for age, the only variables significantly associated with waist circumference were SBP and DPB. The results allowed the implementation of preventive and educational activities to improve employees' quality of life and productivity.

Obesidade e fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre usuários de unidade de alimentação e nutrição / Obesity and risk factors for the development of chronic non-transmissible diseases among consumers in a foodservice unit

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o estado nutricional e fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre 1.252 funcionários de uma indústria em Santa Catarina, Brasil. Foram estudadas as variáveis: estado nutricional, circunferência da cintura, pressão arterial, glicemia, idade e escolaridade. Observou-se sobrepeso e obesidade em 45 por cento e 10 por cento da amostra, respectivamente, com associação significativa entre o estado nutricional e sexo, mas não entre estado nutricional e escolaridade, ajustados por idade. Verificaram-se valores de circunferência da cintura elevados em 33 por cento dos funcionários, com diferença significativa entre sexos. Observou-se pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e pressão arterial diastólica (PAD) elevadas em 18 por cento e 11 por cento dos funcionários, respectivamente, com associação significativa entre sexos após ajuste por idade. Diagnosticou-se diabetes mellitus tipo II em 2 por cento da amostra e glicemia alterada em 4 por cento. Após ajuste por idade, as únicas variáveis associadas à circunferência da cintura foram a PAS e a PAD. Estes resultados permitiram que atividades preventivas e educacionais fossem desenvolvidas pela empresa, de modo a melhorar a qualidade de vida e a produtividade dos funcionários.

This study aimed to assess nutritional status and risk factors for chronic non-transmissible diseases in 1,252 factory employees in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The following variables were studied: nutritional status, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, age, and schooling. Overweight and obesity were observed in 45 percent and 10 percent of the sample, respectively, with a significant association between nutritional status and gender, but not between nutritional status and schooling, adjusted for age. The proportion of high waist circumference was 33 percent, with a significant difference between genders. High systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were present in 18 percent and 11 percent of the employees, respectively, with a significant association between genders after adjusting for age. Type II diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 2 percent of the sample and altered glucose levels in 4 percent. After adjusting for age, the only variables significantly associated with waist circumference were SBP and DPB. The results allowed the implementation of preventive and educational activities to improve employees' quality of life and productivity.