Life Course Socioeconomic Position, Intergenerational Social Mobility, and Hypertension Incidence in ELSA-Brasil.

Background: Life course epidemiology is a powerful framework to unravel the role of socioeconomic position (SEP) disparities in hypertension (HTN). This study investigated whether life course SEP is associated with HTN incidence. Specifically, to test whether cumulative low SEP throughout life and unfavorable intergenerational social mobility increased HTN incidence.

Comparison of an intravenous pulse of methylprednisolone versus oral corticosteroid in severe acute rheumatic carditis: a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To compare the short-term prognosis of patients with severe acute rheumatic carditis when treated with an intravenous pulse of methylprednisolone in comparison with conventional treatment using oral prednisone.

Methods: We designed a randomized clinical trial in the setting of a university general hospital in Brazil. We randomly allocated 18 patients with the diagnosis of severe acute rheumatic carditis and congestive heart failure to receive an intravenous pulse as opposed to oral prednisolone.