Prediction of metabolic syndrome: A machine learning approach to help primary prevention.

Aims: To describe the performance of machine learning (ML) applied to predict future metabolic syndrome (MS), and to estimate lifestyle changes effects in MS predictions.

Methods: We analyzed data from 17,182 adults attending a checkup program sequentially (37,999 visit pairs) over 17 years. Variables on sociodemographic attributes, clinical, laboratory, and lifestyle characteristics were used to develop ML models to predict MS [logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbors, decision trees, Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), Extreme Gradient Boosting].

Internal construct validity of the Brazilian version of a tool for assessing the population's knowledge of human papillomavirus.

Objective: To verify the internal construct validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of a tool for measuring the general population's knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Materials And Methods: A cross-culturally adapted Brazilian Portuguese version of a measurement tool originally designed for English speaking populations was administered to 330 adults in Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. After examining the overall suitability of the method, we performed investigations based on the item response theory and exploratory factor analysis.

Evaluation of knowledge about the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and its vaccination among Community Health Agents in the municipality of Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 2014.

Objective: to evaluate the knowledge of Community Health Agents (CHA) about the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and its vaccination.

Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with CHA who worked in Tubarão-SC, Brazil, in 2014; data were collected through an evaluation tool about HPV and its vaccination, validated for English language and translated and adapted into Portuguese.

Results: 124 CHA participated in this study; all of them had already heard about HPV, but only 25.

Preliminary stages of a cross-cultural Brazilian Portuguese adaptation of a measurement tool for assessing public understanding of human papillomavirus.

The objective of this study was to conduct the initial stages of the cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of a scale to measure the level of knowledge about HPV. The stages included: translation from English into the Portuguese spoken in Brazil; synthesis of the translated version; back-translation; analysis by an expert committee; and reliability analysis based on internal consistency and reproducibility. Cronbach's α coefficient for the instrument was 0.

[The position of the Brazilian Federal Board of Medicine on incentives for reimbursement of childbirth care and the impact on cesarean rates].

This study analyzed incentives for reimbursement of childbirth care advocated by the Brazilian Federal Board of Medicine (CFM) and their impact on cesarean rates. A consecutive sample of 600 postpartum women was surveyed. The overall cesarean rate was 59.

Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors among People Living with HIV/AIDS.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated variables among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in a specialized treatment center in a city located in southern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Beck Depression Inventory to assess the presence of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 53.