Correction: Correlation between hospitalized patients' demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, and COVID-19 pandemic in Bahia, Brazil.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243966.].

Correlation between hospitalized patients' demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, and COVID-19 pandemic in Bahia, Brazil.

In this paper, we provide a retrospective cohort study with patients that have been hospitalized for general or intensive care unit admission due to COVID-19, between March 3 and July 29, 2020, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. We aim to correlate those patients' demographics, symptoms and comorbidities, with the risk of mortality from COVID-19, length of hospital stay, and time from diagnosis to definitive outcome. On the basis of a dataset provided by the Health Secretary of the State of Bahia, we selected 3,896 hospitalized patients from a total of 154,868 COVID-19 patients that included non-hospitalized patients and patients with invalid registration in the dataset. Then, we statistically analyzed whether there was a significant correlation between the patient record data and the COVID-19 pandemic, and our main findings reinforced by the use of a multivariable logistic regression were that older age (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.03, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.03-1.04, p-value (p) <0.001), an initial symptom of shortness of breath (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.60-2.20, p < 0.001), and the presence of comorbidities, mainly chronic kidney disease (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.67-3.48, p < 0.001) are related to an increased risk of mortality from COVID-19. On the other hand, sore throat (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.58-0.95, p = 0.02) and length of hospital stay (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.58-0.95, p < 0.001) are more related to a reduced risk of mortality from COVID-19. Moreover, a multivariable linear regression conducted with statistically significant variables (p < 0.05) showed that age (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95-0.98, p < 0.001) and time from diagnosis to definitive outcome (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.64-1.71, p < 0.001) are associated with the length of hospital stay.

Resistance Training in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Improves Uric Acid levels.

Resistance training (RT) can provide several benefits for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training on the strength levels and uric acid (UA) concentration in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. The study included 68 patients (57.7±9.0 years) that participated in an organized program of RT for 12 weeks. The volunteers were divided into two groups: an experimental group (EG; n=34) that performed the resistance training program consisting of seven exercises executed in an alternating order based on segments; and a control group (CG; n=34) that maintained their normal daily life activities. Muscle strength and uric acid were measured both pre- and post-experiment. The results showed a significant increase in strength of the subjects in the EG for all exercises included in the study (p<0.001). Comparing the strength levels of the post-test, intergroup differences were found in supine sitting (p<0.001), leg extension (p<0.001), shoulder press (p<0.001), leg curl (p=0.001), seated row (p<0.001), leg press (p=0.001) and high pulley (p<0.001). The measured uric acid was significantly increased in both experimental and control groups (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). The intergroup comparison showed a significant increase for the EG (p=0.024). We conclude that the training program was effective for strength gains despite an increase in uric acid in Type 2 diabetics.

Stroke-independent association between metabolic syndrome and functional dependence, depression, and low quality of life in elderly community-dwelling Brazilian people.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (Met.S) is a risk factor for stroke, dementia, and ischemic heart disease (IHD). It is unclear whether Met.S is an independent risk factor for functional dependence, depression, cognitive impairment, and low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a population free of clinical stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Two communities in southern Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred twenty people aged 60 and older. MEASUREMENTS: An adapted (body mass index > or =30 kg/m(2) and blood pressure > or =140/90) Adult Treatment Panel III definition was used in diagnosing Met.S. Depression (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Revised) and Mini-Mental State Examination were evaluated along with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). HRQoL was measured using a visual analogue scale (0-10). All values were adjusted for age, sex, and presence of IHD. RESULTS: Forty (9.5%) subjects had a stroke and were excluded from the final analysis. Met.S was present in 37.4% of the stroke-free population. Met.S was significantly and independently associated with 2.24 times as much ADL dependence, 2.39 times as much IADL dependence, a 2.12 times higher risk of depression, a 2.27 times higher likelihood of cognitive impairment, and a 1.62 times higher chance of low self-perceived HRQoL (all P<0.05). Adjustment for its own components reduced the strength of the above associations but did not eliminate their statistical significance. If Met.S were removed from this population, dependence, depression, cognitive impairment, and low QoL would be reduced 15.0% to 21.4%. CONCLUSION: Met.S was significantly associated with functional dependence, depression, cognitive impairment, and low HRQoL, and its effects were independent of clinical stroke, IHD, and its own individual components.

Cognitive impairment and frontal-subcortical geriatric syndrome are associated with metabolic syndrome in a stroke-free population.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (Met.S) consists of a conglomeration of obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and dislipidemia. Frontal-subcortical geriatric syndrome (FSCS) is caused by ischemic disruption of the frontal-subcortical network. It is unknown if Met.S is associated with FSCS. METHODS: We evaluated 422 community-dwelling elderly (> or =60) in Brazil. FSCS was defined as the presence of at least one frontal release sign (grasping, palmomental, snout, or glabellar) plus coexistence of > or =3 the following criteria: (1) cognitive impairment, (2) late-onset depression, (3) neuromotor dysfunction, and (4) urgency incontinence. All values were adjusted to age and gender. RESULTS: Met.S was present in 39.3% of all subjects. Cases without any of the FSCS components represented 37.2% ('successful neuroaging' group). People with 1-3 of the FSCS components ('borderline pathological neuroaging' group) were majority (52.6%), whereas those with 4-5 of these components (FSCS group) were minority (10.2%). Met.S was significantly associated with FSCS (OR=5.9; CI: 1.5-23.4) and cognitive impairment (OR=2.2; CI: 1.1-4.6) among stroke-free subjects. Number of Met.S components explained 30.7% of the variance on the number of FSCS criteria (P<0.001). If Met.S were theoretically removed from this population, prevalence of FSCS would decline by 31.6% and that of cognitive impairment by 21.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Met.S was significantly associated with a 5.9 and 2.2 times higher chance of FSCS and cognitive impairment, respectively. Met.S might be a major determinant of 'successful' or 'pathological' neuroaging in western societies.

Is it ethical to use placebos in osteoporosis trials?

The use of placebo control groups (e.g., subjects using calcium and vitamin D) in osteoporosis trials with subjects at high risk for fracture has been systematically questioned by institutional review boards (IRBs). Regulatory agencies, on the other hand, continue to not only recommend but also require that placebo-controlled trials be presented for the registration of new drugs for osteoporosis treatment. The Declaration of Helsinki and its updates have upheld the principle that protection of research subjects' rights is of primary concern. Nevertheless, even the Declaration keeps clearly opening the possibility of using placebo-control designs if it is justified for "compelling and scientifically sound methodological reasons." The use of intermediary endpoints or surrogates to establish the efficacy or safety of new medications in the management of osteoporosis is currently considered scientifically insufficient. This concept has led regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and the European Medicines Agency in the European Union, to require "fragility fracture reduction" as the primary endpoint in clinical trials for the registration of new drugs. Superiority or noninferiority trials are alternatives to placebo-controlled designs. However, factors such as sample size, cost, and statistical limitations render these models impractical for the registration of new medications for osteoporosis. We recommend collaboration among regulatory agencies, IRBs, scientists, and ethicists on the design of clinical trials for the registration of new medications for reduction of fracture risk. Delay in developing mutually acceptable models may impair scientific development in the field and possibly deprive patients of potentially beneficial treatments.

Avaliação de funções estomatognáticas em idosos institucionalizados e independentes em uma instituição geriátrica de Porto Alegre / Stomatognathic function evaluation in the institutionalized independent elderly in a geriatric institution of Porto Alegre

Este estudo investigou as características de funções do sistema estomatognático em idosos institucionalizados e independentes em Porto Alegre a fim de identificar características das funções mastigatória, da deglutição e da respiração em idosos. Os idosos foram examinados com materiais que consistiram em um protocolo com dados básicos e a avaliação fonoaudiológica. Verificou-se que 46,7 apresentaram problema de deglutição, 60 tinha mastigação bilateral e 40 tinha mastigação unilateral. Estes resultados revelaram que orientações sistemáticas podem prevenir incapacidades e promover bem estar físico e emocional no contexto pessoal e social.

Acesso venoso central de longa duraçäo. Experiência com 79 cateteres em 66 pacientes / Long-term central venous access. Experience with 79 catheteres in 66 patients

Procedimentos, como o transplante de medula óssea, a quimioterapia, a nutriçäo parenteral total e a hemodiálise, exigem a necessidade cada vez maior do acesso venoso central de longa duraçäo (AVCLD). Utilizam-se, de acordo com a indicaçäo, cateteres totalmente implantáveis (com reservatório) e parcialmente implantáveis (Broviac-Hickman). Foram avaliados setenta e nove (79) cateteres implantados, consecutivamente, em sessenta e seis (66) pacientes, tratados no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeiräo Preto da USP, no período de janeiro de 1993 a junho de 1997. Avaliaram-se os seguintes parâmetros: indicaçäo do acesso venoso, tipo de cateter implantado, técnica utilizada, complicaçöes precoces e tardias e duraçäo do implante. Dos sessenta e seis (66) pacientes, trinta e quatro (34) (51,5 por cento) eram homens. A idade média foi de 28,2 anos. Houve predomínio de indicaçäo de implante de cateter para realizar-se a quimioterapia em cinquenta e cinco (55) (69,5 por cento) pacientes e transplante de medula óssea em doze (12) (15,2 por cento). Foram implantados vinte e oito (28) (35,5 por cento) cateteres com reservatório e cinquenta e um (51) (64,5 por cento) parcialmente implantáveis. Quanto à técnica utilizada, 71,4 por cento foram implantados por punçäo percutânea e os demais por dissecçäo e cateterizaçäo venosa, a céu aberto. Ocorreram duas complicaçöes relacionadas à tecnica, nove (9) infecçöes e oito (8) oclusöes tardias. A duraçäo média da implantaçäo dos cateteres foi trezentos e setenta e um (371) dias para os cateteres Broviac-Hickman e trezentos e noventa e cinco (395) para o totalmente implantável. Näo houve óbito associado aos implantes. Os índices de complicaçöes precoces e tardias, observadas nesta casuística, assemelham-se aos dados encontrados na literatura.

Cranial bone mineral density in yuong hypogonadal patients and menopausal women

Bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced in the distal radius, proximal femur and lumbar spine of hypogonadal individuals. The objective of the present cross-sectional study was to assess cranial BMD by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in patients with hypogonadism arising during the first two decades of life, submitted or not to hormone replacement, as well as in menopausal women not submitted to hormone replacement. Cranial BMD was significantly lower in hypogonadal without treatment (1.656 + 0.24 g/cm2; mean + SD) when compared to normal young individuals (1.996 + 0.17). The cranial bone mass did not differ significantly between untreated and treated young hypogonadal individuals (1.779 + 0.32 g/cm2). The values detected in both groups were significantly lower than those detected in the menopausal women (2.146 + 0.29 g/cm2; p<0.01). The cranial BMD of patients with primary hypogonadism did not differ from that of patients with central hypogonadism and confirmed growth hormone deficiency (1.654 + 0.23 versus 1.601 + 0.16 g/cm2). We conclude that hypogonadism of early onset is associated with a marked reduction in cranial BMD, a finding probably due to the high sensitivity of trobecular bone to sex steroid deficiency and to the interference of this deficiency with the achievement of bone mass peak.