Racial Disparities in Medication Use During Pregnancy: Results from the NISAMI Cohort.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate racial disparities in medication use and associated factors among pregnant women receiving prenatal care at Brazilian Unified Health System primary care health units in the northeast region.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1058 pregnant women in the NISAMI Cohort were interviewed between June 2012 and February 2014. Medicines used during pregnancy were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and ANVISA pregnancy risk categories.

Post-partum weight retention in Northeastern Brazilian women: a prospective NISAMI cohort study.

Background: Weight retention during the post-partum period is associated with excessive weight gain.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with maternal weight retention at six months post-partum (PPWR).

Design And Setting: A prospective cohort study was conducted with 127 women monitored using prenatal services.

Validation and calibration of the Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire for pregnant women.

Background: Few food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) have been validated for pregnant women, particularly those in small- and medium-sized cities in different regions of Brazil.

Objectives: To validate and calibrate a semiquantitative FFQ for pregnant women.

Design And Setting: The study was validated with a sample of 50 pregnant women (≥ 18 years) enrolled in Brazilian prenatal services.

Safety of biological therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in administrative health databases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial fluid of joints, tendons, and some extra-articular sites. Biologic agents have been highly effective and are comparable in reducing RA symptoms, slowing disease progression, and improving physical function; however, concerns have been raised about the risks of several potential adverse effects. Thus, this study aimed to assess the safety of biological therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in observational studies using administrative health databases.

Influence of conditional cash transfer program on prenatal care and nutrition during pregnancy: NISAMI cohort study.

Background: There are few studies on the influence of a cash transfer program on nutritional outcomes from pregnancy.

Objectives: To analyze how a Brazilian conditional cash transfer program (Bolsa Familia Program, BFP) was associated with changes in body mass index (BMI) and food consumption among pregnant women.

Design And Setting: Cohort study on 250 pregnant women (≥ 18 years of age) in Brazilian prenatal services.

Association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: Prospective NISAMI cohort.

Background: Paracetamol is widely used to manage fever and pain during pregnancy worldwide. However, paracetamol may affect the pregnant woman and fetus, once this drug crosses the placental barrier after therapeutic doses and may impair fetal liver function, affecting fetus growth and development. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes as preterm birth, low birth weight, and small for gestational age.

Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Concentrations and Association with Weight Gain in Pregnancy.

Lower concentrations of omega-3 (ω-3) and higher concentrations of omega-6 (ω-6) have been associated with excess weight in adults; however, the information on this relationship in pregnancy remains in its infancy. This study aimed to investigate the association between plasma levels of ω-3 and ω-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and weight gain during the gestational period. This is a prospective cohort study involving 185 pregnant women registered with the prenatal services of a municipality in the northeast of Brazil.

Associations between Maternal Dietary Patterns and Infant Birth Weight in the NISAMI Cohort: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

The mother's diet during pregnancy is associated with maternal and child health. However, there are few studies with moderation analysis on maternal dietary patterns and infant birth weight. We aim to analyse the association between dietary patterns during pregnancy and birth weight.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption and weight gain during pregnancy: NISAMI Cohort study.

Objectives: Few studies have investigated the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption on excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Thus, we analyzed the association between the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-6 and ω-3) and weight gain in women during pregnancy.

Methods: This is a cohort study of 250 pregnant women enrolled in municipal pre-natal services.

Investigation of maternal polymorphisms in genes related to glucose homeostasis and the influence on birth weight: a cohort study.

Objectives: To contribute to a better understanding of the maternal genetic mechanisms that influence obstetric outcomes and that are involved in maternal and child health, this study aimed to evaluate the association between maternal genetic variants and the offspring birth weight by analyzing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to glucose homeostasis.

Methods: Three polymorphisms were analyzed (GCK rs1799884, TCF7L2 rs7903146 and LEPR rs1137101) in 250 pregnant women who participated in a Brazilian prospective cohort study. Genotyping was performed by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) using pre-designed TaqMan® SNP genotyping assays.

Physician and patient-related factors associated with inappropriate prescribing to older patients within primary care: a cross-sectional study in Brazil.

Background: Physician and patient-related characteristics can influence prescription of medications to older patients within primary healthcare. Use of Brazilian criteria may indicate the real prevalence of prescription of potentially inappropriate medications to this population.

Objectives: To evaluate prescription of potentially inappropriate medications to older patients within primary care and identify patient-related and prescribing physician-related factors.

Administrative Data Linkage in Brazil: Potentials for Health Technology Assessment.

Health technology assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of the properties and impacts of health technologies and interventions. In this article, we presented a discussion of HTA and its evolution in Brazil, as well as a description of secondary data sources available in Brazil with potential applications to generate evidence for HTA and policy decisions. Furthermore, we highlighted record linkage, ongoing record linkage initiatives in Brazil, and the main linkage tools developed and/or used in Brazilian data.

Influence of vitamin D serum concentration, prenatal care and social determinants on birth weight: a northeastern Brazilian cohort study.

The relationship among social determinants, vitamin D serum concentration and the health and nutrition conditions is an important issue in the healthcare of pregnant women and newborns. Thus, the present study analyses how vitamin D, prenatal monitoring and social determinants are associated with birth weight. The cohort comprised 329 pregnant women, up to 34 weeks gestational age at the time of admission, who were receiving care through the prenatal services of Family Health Units.

Improving the comprehension of sarcopenic state determinants: An multivariate approach involving hormonal, nutritional, lifestyle and genetic variables.

It is known that sarcopenia is a multifaceted phenomenon, which involves genetic, nutritional, hormonal and living habits aspects. Then, an integrated analysis, as a multivariate approach, could improve the comprehension about the determinants of sarcopenic state in old adults. The present study aimed to investigate the interaction among serum vitamin D, daily caloric and protein intake, lifestyle habits, ACE I/D gene polymorphism and sarcopenic state in community-dwelling old adults.

Co-infection of sexually transmitted pathogens and Human Papillomavirus in cervical samples of women of Brazil.

Background: Some sexually transmitted infectious agents, such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes simplex, cause local inflammation, and could contribute to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical lesion progression. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine any association between the presence of microorganisms of gynecological importance, sexual behavior, clinical and demographical variables to the development and progress of cervical lesions.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-two women between 14 and 78 years and living at Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, were included (62 individuals with cervical lesions and 70 without lesions).

Pattern of asthma medication use among children from a large urban center in Brazil.

Purpose: Despite the advances in asthma therapeutics, there are few data on the use and determinants of anti-asthmatic drugs in the general population of children. This study describes the use of asthma medications among children in the general population and in children with current asthma, living in a large urban center in Brazil.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey, aimed at analyzing asthma determinants, was conducted with 1,382 children aged 4-11 years, between February and May 2006, in Salvador, Brazil.

Drug use and associated factors in children living in poor areas.

Objective: To describe drug use profile in children living in poor areas and associated factors.

Methods: Population-based, cross-sectional study, including 1,382 children aged between four and 11 years. These children were selected by random sampling of 24 micro-areas, representative of the poorest segments of the population living in the city of Salvador, Northeastern Brazil, in 2006.

Off-label and unlicensed drug utilization in hospitalized children in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Objectives: To investigate the use of drugs, the extent and pattern of unlicensed and off-label use, and the potential relationship between off-label drug use and adverse drug reactions in northeastern Brazil.

Methods: A follow-up study of drug utilization in a general ward of a pediatric reference hospital, involving patients hospitalized for more than 24 h. Prescriptions and medical records were reviewed daily from August to December 2001.

Adverse drug reactions in hospitalized children in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Purpose: To investigate the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and associated risk factors in a pediatric hospital in northeast Brazil, from August to December 2001.

Subjects/setting: Two hundred seventy two patients hospitalized for more than 24 hours.

Methods: Prospective cohort study.