Preoperative management in octogenarian patients with rectal cancer.

Background: In recent years, the rise in average lifespan has been linked to an increase in the occurrence of diseases associated with aging worldwide. Rectal tumors often occur in elderly patients.

Methods: Between January and August 2024, 6 experts in colorectal cancer met to develop an algorithm to organize the interdisciplinary and multimodal preoperative approaches in the octogenarian population with rectal cancer.

Etiology and Phenotypes of Cardiomyopathy in Southern Africa: The IMHOTEP Multicenter Pilot Study.

Background: Cardiomyopathies are an important cause of heart failure in Africa yet there are limited data on etiology and clinical phenotypes.

Objectives: The IMHOTEP (African Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Registry Program) was designed to systematically collect data on individuals diagnosed with cardiomyopathy living in Africa.

Methods: In this multicenter pilot study, patients (age ≥13 years) were eligible for inclusion if they had a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy or myocarditis.

Pre-eclampsia as a predictor of early-onset cardiovascular impairment among young women (PREECARDIA study): protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-related complication estimated to affect up to 8% of pregnancies worldwide. It is associated with an increased risk of postpartum sustained hypertension, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease and cardiovascular-related mortality. Nevertheless, these associations have seldom been addressed in younger women from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Patterns of cognitive decline across different multiple sclerosis clinical courses.

Background: It is still unclear whether patients with progressive MS (PMS) present a distinct pattern of cognitive impairment (CI) and different trajectories of cognitive and clinical decline compared to patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) with similar age. In addition, the role of reserve (cognitive and cerebral) in cognitive decline in the different forms of MS is not fully understood, and some studies suggest that its effects reduce in the progressive forms.

Objective: To assess the trajectories of cognitive decline in RRMS and PMS patients with similar age, also evaluating the predictive power of baseline clinical and MRI features on cognitive outcomes at follow-up.

Hyperkeratotic gastritis in two-toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus) from wildlife rescue.

Xenarthran mammals of the suborder Folivora are arboreal species that feed mainly on leaves and Cecropia spp, an abundant plant in the Brazilian Amazon region, is favoured. The stomach of sloths represents 20-30% of their body weight and is adapted to gastric fermentation of plant material. These anatomical and physiological adaptations can be altered by many factors when confined to captivity, which favours fatal gastric conditions.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH TIBIA DIAPHYSIS FRACTURE TREATED AT A TERTIARY LEVEL HOSPITAL.

Objective: To outline the epidemiological profile of tibial fractures treated in a tertiary hospital and explore associations between the characteristics of the fractures and the clinical outcome of postoperative complications.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study involving adult patients diagnosed with tibial fractures who underwent surgical and/or conservative treatment in a tertiary hospital between January 2019 and December 2021. The variables sex, age, mechanism of injury, type and classification of fracture, associated injuries, personal history, length of hospital stay, surgical treatment, post-surgical complications (infections, loss of synthesis material, surgical wound dehiscence) and death.

Accuracy of urinary dipstick for glucose and protein determination in canine cerebrospinal fluid.

Objective: To evaluate the precision of urinary dipstick (UD) to assess protein and glucose concentrations in canine CSF samples compared to the standard methods.

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid protein and glucose were measured in 22 samples from dogs with neurological diseases affecting the CNS using UD and biochemistry (pyrogallol red and glucose oxidase reaction, respectively). Results were converted into scores to allow comparison between methods.

Carbonated Beverage, Fruit Drink, and Water Consumption and Risk of Acute Stroke: the INTERSTROKE Case-Control Study.

Background And Purpose: Cold beverage intake (carbonated drinks, fruit juice/drinks, and water) may be important population-level exposures relevant to stroke risk and prevention. We sought to explore the association between intake of these beverages and stroke.

Methods: INTERSTROKE is an international matched case-control study of first stroke.

Association between paramagnetic rim lesions with cognitive impairment in pediatric multiple sclerosis.

Background: Pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) patients are at risk for cognitive impairment (CI). Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms and relationship with paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) are not fully understood. We aimed to explore CI with clinical and neuroimaging correlates in POMS.

Rapid Uptitration of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapies in Acute Heart Failure With and Without Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Rapid uptitration of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) before and after discharge in hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients is feasible, is safe, and improves outcomes; whether this is also true in patients with coexistent atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) is not known.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate whether rapid GDMT uptitration before and after discharge for HF is feasible, safe and beneficial in patients with and without AF/AFL.

Methods: In this secondary analysis of the STRONG-HF (Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Rapid Optimization, Helped by NT-proBNP Testing, of Heart Failure Therapies) trial, GDMT uptitration and patient outcomes were analyzed by AF/AFL status and type (permanent, persistent, paroxysmal).

Evaluating the Effectiveness of African School of Hypertension for Non-Physician Health Workers, a Qualitative Study: QuASH Hypertension Study.

Background: The implementation of task sharing and shifting (TSTS) policy as a way of addressing the shortage of physicians and reducing the burden of hypertension in Africa birthed the idea of the African School of Hypertension (ASH). The ASH is saddled with the responsibility of training non-physician health workers across Africa continent in the management of uncomplicated hypertension.

Aim: To get feedback from some faculty members and students who participated in the first ASH programme.

Hypertension among people living with human immunodeficiency virus in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of hypertension in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, African Index Medicus, and Embase databases to identify studies published from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021. We used a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of hypertension and mean SBP/DBP level on a sex-specific basis.

Effectiveness of the Hypertension Screening Corner in Enhancing the Cascade of Care at Primary Healthcare Center Level: Evidence from Zambezia, Mozambique.

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, whose death burden is dramatically increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. To curb its effects, early diagnosis and effective follow-up are essential. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a hypertension screening corner on the hypertension care cascade at the primary healthcare level.

Tea and coffee consumption and risk of acute stroke: The INTERSTROKE Study.

Background: Stroke is a leading global cause of death and disability. Daily tea/coffee intake is consumed by > 50% of populations and may represent an important population-level exposure. Therefore, it is first essential that we better understand the associations between the tea/coffee intake and stroke.

Mortality and Morbidity in Adults With Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Importance: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a public health issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, there are few large studies enrolling individuals from multiple endemic countries.

Objective: To assess the risk and predictors of major patient-important clinical outcomes in patients with clinical RHD.

Technology for nursing care in a Maternal Intensive Care Unit: a methodological study.

Objectives: to develop and validate a nursing care plan in a Maternal Intensive Care Unit.

Methods: a methodological study, developed in stages: integrative review; Nursing History construction; care plan restructuring; appearance and content validity by judges.

Results: the history was organized into sections: Identification; Basic Human Needs; Physical Examination; and Assessment of Basic Human Needs.

Characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of early vs. late enrollees of the STRONG-HF trial.

Background: The STRONG-HF trial showed that high-intensity care (HIC) consisting of rapid up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and close follow-up reduced all-cause death or heart failure (HF) readmission at 180 days compared to usual care (UC). We hypothesized that significant differences in patient characteristics, management, and outcomes over the enrolment period may exist.

Methods: Two groups of the 1,078 patients enrolled in STRONG-HF were created according to the order of enrolment within center.