Feasibility of transnasal endoscopy in screening for esophageal and gastric varices in patients with chronic liver disease.

Background And Study Aims:  Screening for esophageal and gastric varices is indicated for patients with portal hypertension or cirrhosis. Typically, conventional endoscopy is used; however, the need for sedation increases the costs and risks, especially in cirrhotic patients. Use of transnasal endoscopy with an ultrathin endoscope enables study of the upper gastrointestinal tract without the need for sedation.

Prevalence of the use of homeopathy by the population of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Context And Objective: Homeopathy is a therapeutic system that uses small doses of substances to stimulate autoregulatory and self-healing processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the use of homeopathy by the population of Montes Claros, Brazil, and the socioeconomic profile of users.

Design And Setting: Probabilistic cross-sectional study with cluster sampling, in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais.

Hospitalizations sensitive to primary care as an evaluation indicator for the Family Health Strategy.

Objective: To identify variables associated with hospitalizations sensitive to primary care.

Methods: A hospital morbidity survey was conducted using a random sample of 660 patients hospitalized in clinical and surgical wards of hospitals that had service agreements with the Brazilian National Health System (SUS), in the municipality of Montes Claros, Southeastern Brazil, between 2007 and 2008. Interviews were held with patients and members of their families using a specific form, and the patients' medical files were investigated.

[Complementary and alternative medicine: use in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais].

Objective: To determine prevalence of utilization and social and economic profile of those using complementary and alternative medicine in the medium sized Brazilian city of Montes Claros, MG.

Methods: A transversal descriptive study was conducted. The sample of 3090 people was probabilistic, by clusters using the household as the sample unit for interview of both genders, older than 18 years.