Frequency of Oral Lesions, Olfactory, and Gustatory Disorders and Xerostomia in Patients with COVID-19.

COVID-19, a respiratory illness with a global impact on millions, has recently been linked to manifestations affecting various bodily systems, including the oral cavity. Studies highlight oral issues, like ulcers, blisters, and white patches, alongside olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, influencing an individual's quality of life. In this context, our study aimed to assess the frequency of oral lesions, olfactory and gustatory disorders, and xerostomia resulting from COVID-19.

Machine learning algorithms to predict outcomes in children and adolescents with COVID-19: A systematic review.

Background And Objectives: We aimed to analyze the study designs, modeling approaches, and performance evaluation metrics in studies using machine learning techniques to develop clinical prediction models for children and adolescents with COVID-19.

Methods: We searched four databases for articles published between 01/01/2020 and 10/25/2023, describing the development of multivariable prediction models using any machine learning technique for predicting several outcomes in children and adolescents who had COVID-19.

Results: We included ten articles, six (60 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.

Effectiveness of oseltamivir in reducing COVID-19-related in-hospital deaths: A pharmacoepidemiological study.

Background: Oseltamivir is a low-cost antiviral agent that could support or complement treatment of COVID-19. This study assessed whether oseltamivir is effective in reducing COVID-19-related mortality.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated real-world data from a nationwide database of hospitalisation due to severe acute respiratory syndrome in Brazil.

Strong protective effect of the APOL1 p.N264K variant against G2-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and kidney disease.

African Americans have a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease, especially focal segmental glomerulosclerosis -, than European Americans. Two coding variants (G1 and G2) in the APOL1 gene play a major role in this disparity. While 13% of African Americans carry the high-risk recessive genotypes, only a fraction of these individuals develops FSGS or kidney failure, indicating the involvement of additional disease modifiers.

Dynamic and static ultrasound features predictive of vesicoureteral reflux and renal damage in children and adolescents with neurogenic bladder.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of dynamic and static ultrasound (DSUS) in detecting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and renal scarring in a cohort of children with neurogenic bladder (NB).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal, observational study was conducted using the Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies guideline. The DSUS (index test) data were compared with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and renal scintigraphy 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic (reference tests).

Strong protective effect of the p.N264K variant against G2-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and kidney disease.

Black Americans have a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), than European Americans. Two coding variants (G1 and G2) in the gene play a major role in this disparity. While 13% of Black Americans carry the high-risk recessive genotypes, only a fraction of these individuals develops FSGS or kidney failure, indicating the involvement of additional disease modifiers.

The continuous increase in the number of systemic lupus erythematosus cases in Brazil in the COVID-19 era.

This study aims to reevaluate and compare the data from the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) on the number of diagnoses of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the pre-pandemic period with those in the pandemic period, as well as to compare the first year (2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil with the last year (2021), to update the data, and to verify whether SLE disease control measures were effective in 2021. There was a consistent and significant increase in the incidence of SLE cases all over Brazil between the first and second pandemic years and between the pre-pandemic triennium and the second pandemic year. Therefore, it is inescapable to have larger clinical studies with different populations to better understand the relationship between these two conditions and find measures to improve the control of this disease.

Social Determinants in Self-Protective Behavior Related to COVID-19: Association Rule-Mining Study.

Background: Human behavior is crucial in health outcomes. Particularly, individual behavior is a determinant of the success of measures to overcome critical conditions, such as a pandemic. In addition to intrinsic public health challenges associated with COVID-19, in many countries, some individuals decided not to get vaccinated, streets were crowded, parties were happening, and businesses struggling to survive were partially open, despite lockdown or stay-at-home instructions.

Evaluation of insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms of ACE gene and circulating levels of angiotensin II in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract.

Background: Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and the Urinary Tract (CAKUT) are defined as a heterogeneous group of anomalies that resulted from defects in kidney and urinary tract embryogenesis. CAKUT have a complex etiology. Genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors have been investigated in this context.

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 on the diagnoses of Hansen's disease in Brazil.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the access of patients with Hansen's disease (HD) to care due to changes in routine health services.

Methods: To ascertain this, we compared the number of HD cases diagnosed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: The decrease in HD cases in Brazil reached 18,223 (-48.

Profile and scientific output of researchers recipients of CNPq productivity grant in the field of medicine.

Background.: This study aimed to evaluate the scientific production of researchers in the field of Medicine who receive a productivity grant from the CNPq.

Methods: The curriculum Lattes of 542 researchers with active grants from 2012 to 2014 were included in the analysis.

Is CD44 in glomerular parietal epithelial cells a pathological marker of renal function deterioration in primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis?

Background: The search for risk factors for chronic kidney disease in children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is important in defining prognosis and individualized treatment. This study preliminarily investigated whether CD44 immunostaining in glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs) is a prognostic marker in pediatric FSGS.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 26 patients with FSGS, biopsied from 1985 to 2010, were evaluated.

Mesangial C4d deposition may predict progression of kidney disease in pediatric patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: Data on the risk factors for chronic kidney disease in children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) are scarce. This study was aimed at investigating whether glomerular C4d immunostaining is a prognostic marker in pediatric IgAN.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 47 patients with IgAN biopsied from 1982 to 2010 were evaluated.

Posterior urethral valve in fetuses: evidence for the role of inflammatory molecules.

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate inflammatory biomarkers in urine samples of 24 fetuses with posterior urethral valve (PUV) collected at 22 ± 4 weeks of gestation and to compare the findings with measurements in urine samples of 22 male healthy preterm neonates at 23 ± 4 weeks (control group).

Methods: Inflammatory biomarkers in urine were measured using a cytometric bead array [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, soluable tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 1, sTNFR2, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/chemokine ligand 2 (MCP-1/CCL2), eotaxin/CCL11 and interferon gamma-induced protein/10/C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (IP-10/CXCL10)] and ELISA assays [TNF, IL-8/CXCL8 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)]. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare medians.

Mental disorders in children and adolescents with lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) affects about 2-25% of the pediatric population and is associated with the presence of emotional and behavioral disorders. The purpose of this literature review was to identify studies focusing on mental disorders in children and adolescents with LUTD. The prevalence of these disorders is high - ranging from about 20 to 40% - in children with symptoms of LUTD and comorbidities.

Update on the approach of urinary tract infection in childhood.

Objective: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection in childhood. UTI may be the sentinel event for underlying renal abnormality. There are still many controversies regarding proper management of UTI.

Whole-exome sequencing as a diagnostic tool for distal renal tubular acidosis.

Objective: Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is characterized by metabolic acidosis due to impaired renal acid excretion. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the genetic diagnosis of four children with dRTA through use of whole-exome sequencing.

Methods: Two unrelated families were selected; a total of four children with dRTA and their parents, in order to perform whole-exome sequencing.

A predictive model of progressive chronic kidney disease in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Background: There are limited data on the risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). This retrospective cohort study aimed to develop a predictive model for CKD progression in children with INS.

Methods: Between 1970 and 2012, a total of 294 patients with INS were followed up.

Impact of an interdisciplinary approach in children and adolescents with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD).

Introduction: The lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) corresponds to changes in the filling or emptying of urine caused by neurogenic, anatomical and functional alterations.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of treatment in children and adolescents with LUTD.

Methods: Historical cohort of 15 year follow-up with the participation of 192 patients (123F, 69M), aged 0.