Epidemiology of pertussis among adolescents, adults, and older adults in selected countries of Latin American: a systematic review.

We aimed to describe the impact of pertussis on adolescents, adults, and older adults over 2007-2018 in selected Latin American countries by reviewing the literature. We searched the Medline, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, Scielo, Google Scholar, CAPES Journals Web-portal, and Cochrane databases for observational epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and systematic reviews of primary studies. Data were extracted and analyzed for all individuals aged ≥10 years. Of 6,891 studies identified only 25 were eligible. Studies were conducted in Brazil (14), Argentina (4), Colombia (4), Mexico (2) and Chile (1). Epidemiological data among target population were limited. No studies clearly assessed the status of asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic B. pertussis carriers in these age groups. Among all pertussis cases identified, the percentage of patients ≥10 years-old ranged between 2.1% and 66.7% depending on country and sample characteristics. The definition of cases, diagnostic methods, and age groups were not consistent across studies.

Evaluation of the Impact of Physical Exercise in Reducing Pain in Women Undergoing Mammography: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of exercise prior to mammography in reducing perceived postexamination pain. Methods: An open, randomized, and controlled clinical trial was conducted. The interventions consisted of warm-up and stretching exercises of the upper or lower limbs of women who consulted at Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo State, Brazil. The women were divided into three groups based on the intervention and its location: upper limbs (group 1), lower limbs (group 2), and no intervention (group 0). Quantitative variables were compared between and within groups using analysis of variance and Student's t test with a 5% significance level. Relative risk (RR) calculations and their derived measurements such as efficacy, number needed to treat (NNT), absolute risk reduction (ARR), and relative risk reduction (RRR) were taken. This study was approved by the Institutional Committee of Research Ethics. Results: A total of 198 (66 per group) women were evaluated. Sociodemographic data and level of physical activity were not found to be associated with perception of pain after mammogram. However, group 1 had the greatest reduction in postprocedure perception of pain compared with groups 2 (relative risk [RR] = 3.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.12-5.51, P < 0.05) and 0 (RR = 1.92 (95% CI = 1.08-3.42, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Pre-examination upper limb exercises were most effective in reducing the perception and sensation of pain. However, women who performed lower limb exercises also had a decreased perception of pain compared with the control group.

Prevalence of Obesity in Children and Adolescents in Brazil: A Meta-analysis of Cross-sectional Studies.

BACKGROUND: Obesity in children/adolescents is a major public health problem worldwide. In Brazil there is great variability in published data on the prevalence of obesity among children/adolescents. AIMS: To show a systematic review with meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, conducted in Brazil between 2008 and 2014. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted the outcome of which was obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 95th percentile for sex/age). A graphical presentation was done separately (Forest plot) for the results. Global and dichotomous outcomes were presented by employing, respectively the gross rates of prevalence and prevalence ratio (PR) and its confidence intervals at 95% (95% CI). The degree of heterogeneity was calculated employing the Q Cochran, while the I² test was used to describe the variation between studies. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies with a sample of 18,463 children/adolescents were included; the overall prevalence of obesity was 14.1%. Among boys it was 16.1% and in girls it was 14.95%. There was no difference in obesity prevalence between sexes (PR 1.06; 95%CI: 0.81 to 1.40; p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in Brazil is high and urgently needs measures to prevent consequences associated with the disease, as well as measures to reduce the impact, in the short term, the overweight and childhood obesity.