Strengthening research networks: Insights from a clinical research network in Brazil.

Clinical Research Networks (CRNs) are means to improve healthcare delivery, quality of care and patient outcomes. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Latin America's leading health research organization, has established a CRN to promote interaction and collaboration among its clinical research experts. After a decade of operation, a revitalization process was undertaken out of the need to improve its functionality.

Equal rates of bone healing and reduced surgical time with iliac crest allograft compared to autograft in medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Iliac crest autograft is frequently used to fill in bone defects after osteotomies. Nonetheless, surgery for bone autograft procurement is associated with morbidity and pain at the donor site. Alternatives to it have been explored, but there is no consensus to guide their application as a routine practice in several orthopedic procedures.

Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis of Corneal Donor Characteristics at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics Eye Bank (2013-2021).

Background: Corneal transplantation success depends on good practices in tissue selection and preservation. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the time from the donor's death to the end of processing and corneal cellularity provided by the Eye Bank.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 839 donor records (2013-2021) from the Eye Bank of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, totaling 1445 corneas.

The Effect of Sedating Agents on Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Findings.

Objective: Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) has gained interest for upper airway evaluation in patients with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and different drugs have been used to induce sedation. Nevertheless, all drugs have presented specific advantages and disadvantages with differential effects on respiratory physiology. This study evaluated and compared the effects of midazolam, propofol and dexmedetomidine on DISE findings, O nadir, and bispectral index (BIS) in the same sample of patients.

Nocturnal Hypoxemia is Associated With Low Testosterone Levels in Overweight Males and Older Men With Normal Weight.

Study Objectives: The relationship among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), body mass index (BMI), and testosterone levels has long been suggested. Obese men have shown a negative correlation between testosterone level and sleep apnea severity. Yet, little is known about the association between testosterone levels and sleep apnea in men who are not obese.

Maternal Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy and Early Age Leukemia Risk in Brazil.

Objectives. To investigate the association between the maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and early age leukemia (EAL) in offspring. Methods.

Pregnancy, maternal exposure to analgesic medicines, and leukemia in Brazilian children below 2 years of age.

Childhood leukemia etiology, and mainly the interactions of genetic and environmental risk factors, remains largely unexplored. This national hospital-based case-control study was carried out in Brazil among children aged 0-23 months who were recruited at cancer and general hospitals in 13 states. Maternal medicine intake during pregnancy, including analgesic intake, was assessed by face-to-face interviews with the mothers of 231 leukemia patients and 411 controls.

Pregnancy, maternal exposure to hair dyes and hair straightening cosmetics, and early age leukemia.

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal exposure to hair dyes and hair straightening cosmetics (HDSC) during pregnancy and leukemia at an early age (<2yr., EAL).

Methods: A multicenter hospital-based case-control study was carried out in 13 states in Brazil between 1999 and 2007.

Pregnancy, maternal tobacco smoking, and early age leukemia in Brazil.

Background: Cigarette smoking has been associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but hypothesis on the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood leukemia remains unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the association between maternal exposure to tobacco smoking during pregnancy and early age (<2 year) leukemia (EAL).

Methods: A hospital-based multicenter case-control study aiming to explore EAL risk factors was carried out in Brazil during 1999-2007.

In utero pesticide exposure and leukemia in Brazilian children < 2 years of age.

Background: An association between pesticide exposure and cancer has been suggested. Infant leukemia is a rare neoplasm and its association with maternal pesticide exposure has been poorly explored.

Objectives: We investigated the association between pesticide exposure during pregnancy and leukemia in children < 2 years of age.

Familial history of cancer and leukemia in children younger than 2 years of age in Brazil.

The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of a familial history of cancer (FHC) to the development of leukemia in children below 2 years of age. This is a national hospital-based case-control study of children 0-24 months of age recruited from 15 Brazilian hospitals from several regions providing oncological care and local general hospitals. Participants' FHC antecedents were obtained through face-to-face interviews with the mothers of cases and controls using a standardized questionnaire.

Trends in childhood leukemia mortality over a 25-year period.

Objective: To analyze trends in childhood leukemia mortality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 1980 and 2006.

Method: Gender-stratified leukemia mortality data for children aged < 15 years from 1980 to 2006 were retrieved from the Brazilian Mortality Information System for the state of Rio de Janeiro. Data were stratified by place of death (city of Rio de Janeiro proper, the state capital; Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region, excluding the capital; and rest of the state).