Cutoff Values of Aldosterone and the Aldosterone-Renin Ratio for Predicting Primary Aldosteronism in Patients with Resistant Hypertension: A Real-Life Study.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is commonly associated with resistant hypertension. Biochemical tests can be clinically useful in the screening and diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. This study aimed to identify the cutoff values of aldosterone levels (A) and the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) for an accurate prediction of PA in patients with apparent resistant hypertension in a real-life scenario.

Polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications and associated factors among older adults with hypertension in primary care.

Objective: to identify the prevalence and associations of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use among older adults with hypertension treated in primary care.

Methods: a cross-sectional study carried out with older adults with hypertension treated at a Family Health Strategy unit. Data collection included analysis of medical records, interviews and multidimensional assessment of older adults.

Evaluation of IL-6, FoxP3 Treg lymphocytes, intestinal barrier biomarkers and the use of synbiotics in obese adolescents: a pilot study.

Aim: This prospective pilot study evaluated inflammatory and intestinal barrier biomarkers and the effects of a synbiotic in obese adolescents.

Methods: Eighteen obese and 20 eutrophic adolescents were evaluated for body composition using bioimpedance analysis (BIA), body mass index (BMI), IL-6 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) serum levels, CD4 and FoxP3 Treg lymphocytes and monocytes. Synbiotic supplementation for 60 days was also evaluated for these parameters only in obese adolescents.

Brief periods of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improve autonomic balance and alter circulating monocytes and endothelial cells in patients with metabolic syndrome: a pilot study.

Background: There is emerging evidence that the nervous system regulates immune and metabolic alterations mediating Metabolic syndrome (MetS) pathogenesis via the vagus nerve. This study evaluated the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TAVNS) on key cardiovascular and inflammatory components of MetS.

Methods: We conducted an open label, randomized (2:1), two-arm, parallel-group controlled trial in MetS patients.

Effects of Citric Acid on the Healing Process of Chronic Wound due to Leprosy.

The aim was to describe the effects of the use of citric acid in the healing process of chronic leprosy wounds. This is a case series, carried out with 5 people with chronic leprosy wounds, under continuous care in an outpatient center wound care in the center-south region of Brazil. The intervention protocol consisted of topical application of 3% citric acid (ointment), on the wound bed, in a thin layer of approximately 2 mm, on alternate days, and followed up for a total period of 8 weeks and secondary coverage rayon and gauze.

The Cholinergic Drug Galantamine Alleviates Oxidative Stress Alongside Anti-inflammatory and Cardio-Metabolic Effects in Subjects With the Metabolic Syndrome in a Randomized Trial.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an obesity-associated disorder of pandemic proportions and limited treatment options. Oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation and altered neural autonomic regulation, are important components and drivers of pathogenesis. Galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and a cholinergic drug that is clinically-approved (for Alzheimer's disease) has been implicated in neural cholinergic regulation of inflammation in several conditions characterized with immune and metabolic derangements.

Waist Circumference Percentiles and Cut-Off Values for Obesity in a Large Sample of Students from 6 To 10 Years Old Of The São Paulo State, Brazil.

Backgroud: The prevalence of obesity has systematically been increased in the population, including children and adolescents, around the world.

Objectives: To describe reference percentile curves for waist circumference (WC) in Brazilian children and provide cut-off values of WC to identify children at risk for obesity.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional study was performed with children aged from 6 to 10 years old, enrolled in public and private elementary schools from 13 cities of the São Paulo State.

Experiences and shared meaning of teamwork and interprofessional collaboration among health care professionals in primary health care settings: a systematic review.

Background: During the last decade, teamwork has been addressed under the rationale of interprofessional practice or collaboration, highlighted by the attributes of this practice such as: interdependence of professional actions, focus on user needs, negotiation between professionals, shared decision making, mutual respect and trust among professionals, and acknowledgment of the role and work of the different professional groups. Teamwork and interprofessional collaboration have been pointed out as astrategy for effective organization of health care services as the complexity of healthcare requires integration of knowledge and practices from differente professional groups. This integration has a qualitative dimension that can be identified through the experiences of health professionals and to the meaning they give to teamwork.

Galantamine alleviates inflammation and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome in a randomized trial.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an obesity-driven condition of pandemic proportions that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood, though inflammation has been implicated in MetS pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of galantamine, a centrally acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitor with antiinflammatory properties, on markers of inflammation implicated in insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk, and other metabolic and cardiovascular indices in subjects with MetS.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the teamwork climate scale.

Objective: To adapt and validate the Team Climate Inventory scale, of teamwork climate measurement, for the Portuguese language, in the context of primary health care in Brazil.

Methods: Methodological study with quantitative approach of cross-cultural adaptation (translation, back-translation, synthesis, expert committee, and pretest) and validation with 497 employees from 72 teams of the Family Health Strategy in the city of Campinas, SP, Southeastern Brazil. We verified reliability by the Cronbach's alpha, construct validity by the confirmatory factor analysis with SmartPLS software, and correlation by the job satisfaction scale.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among truck drivers in the South of Brazil.

Background: Truck drivers work under conditions that predispose them to a high prevalence of risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, these factors have not been fully evaluated and are not usually considered to be within the scope of health or labor services.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 long-distance truck drivers; the drivers were all male and were aged 18-60 years. The clinical evaluation consisted of an assessment of social habits and demographic data and an evaluation of risk factors for CVD at 3 time points separated by a one-week interval.

[Integrative review: concepts and methods used in nursing].

Unlabelled: Integrative review (IR) has an international reputation in nursing research and evidence-based practice. This IR aimed at identifying and analyzing the concepts and methods recommended to undertaking IR in nursing. Nine information resources,including electronic databases and grey literature were searched.

Statin restores cardiac autonomic response to acute hypoxia in hypercholesterolaemia.

Background: Hypercholesterolaemia may alter cardiovascular autonomic function. We investigated the autonomic cardiovascular regulation during normoxia and hypoxia in familial isolated HC patients with or without statin treatment.

Materials And Methods: Low (LF-RR) and high (HF-RR) components of spectral analysis of RR interval and systolic arterial pressure (LF-SAP) were obtained during 5 min of normoxia and isocapnic hypoxia (10% O(2) ) in 10 normotensive familial HC patients without medication, in seven HC patients after a 12-week treatment period with 40 mg of simvastatin (HC + SVT) and in eight matched normal volunteers (CO).

Endogenous angiotensin and pressure modulate brain angiotensinogen and AT1A mRNA expression.

In the coarctation hypertension model, we showed both dissociation of plasma renin activity from cardiovascular-induced effects and the reversal of hypertension-induced responses by losartan. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypertension on the expression of brain renin-angiotensin system components and the simultaneous functional responses and effects of long-term angiotensin II (AT) receptor blockade on these responses. Rats were given vehicle or losartan for 9 days and subjected to subdiaphragmatic aortic constriction or sham surgery after 4 days of treatment.