Fenofibrate attenuates renal lipotoxicity in uninephrectomized mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist, in obesity-induced kidney damage (lipotoxicity) in mice with uninephrectomy.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice underwent uninephrectomy and sham surgeries and were fed normocaloric or high-fat diets. After 10 weeks, obese mice were administered 0.

Driving pressure, as opposed to tidal volume based on predicted body weight, is associated with mortality: results from a prospective cohort of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.

Objective: To evaluate the association between driving pressure and tidal volume based on predicted body weight and mortality in a cohort of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study that included patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 admitted to two intensive care units. We performed multivariable analyses to determine whether driving pressure and tidal volume/kg predicted body weight on the first day of mechanical ventilation, as independent variables, are associated with hospital mortality.

Factors Associated with the Treatment Costs within the First Year after Pacemaker Implantation or Pulse Generator Replacement.

Background: The use of artificial cardiac pacemakers has grown steadily in line with the aging population.

Objectives: To determine the rates of hospital readmissions and complications after pacemaker implantation or pulse generator replacement and to assess the impact of these events on annual treatment costs from the perspective of the Unified Health System (SUS).

Methods: A prospective registry, with data derived from clinical practice, collected during index hospitalization and during the first 12 months after the surgical procedure.

Effect of a structured early mobilization protocol on the level of mobilization and muscle strength in critical care patients: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the effects of structured early mobilization (EM) protocols on the level of mobilization in critical care patients.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a structured EM protocol on the level of mobilization, muscle strength, and the level of activities of daily living (LADL) after intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital discharge.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial (U1111-1245-4840) included adults patients who were randomized into two groups: intervention ( = 40) and control ( = 45).

A proposal to analyze the progression of non-dialytic chronic kidney disease by surrogate endpoints: introducing parametric survival models.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CDK) progression studies increasingly use surrogate endpoints based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate. The clinical characteristics of these endpoints bring new challenges in comparing groups of patients, as traditional Cox models may lead to biased estimates mainly because they do not assume a hazard function.

Objective: This study proposes the use of parametric survival analysis models with the three most commonly used endpoints in nephrology based on a case study.

Effectiveness of a smoking cessation decision-making electronic tool (): A randomized clinical trial.

There is an underutilization of smoking cessation treatment among patients with chronic conditions, which indicates a need for new strategies to engage them. Web-based smoking cessation decision-making tools can be beneficial. This study assessed the effectiveness of the software at increasing engagement to smoking cessation counseling groups among Brazilian smokers with chronic conditions.

Management strategies for implementing a multicenter cross-sectional study: lessons from the ADHERE Brazil study.

Background: Epidemiological studies involving large samples usually face financial and operational challenges.

Objectives: To describe the planning and execution of ADHERE Brazil, an epidemiological study on 1,105 kidney transplant patients, and report on how the study was structured, difficulties faced and solutions found.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional multicenter study in 20 Brazilian kidney transplantation centers.

Impact of an educational intervention in the management of individuals with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus using insulin therapy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of problematizing intervention in the treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methodology: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 41 patients ages 18 to 64 with type 2 diabetes who were treated with insulin and had glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 7.0%.

COVID-19's intra-urban inequalities and social vulnerability in a medium-sized city.

Background: Social conditions are related to the impact of epidemics on human populations. This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 and its association with social vulnerability.

Methods: An ecological study was conducted in 81 urban regions (UR) of Juiz de Fora from March to November 2020.

Observing the Working Alliance in Videoconferencing Psychotherapy for Alcohol Addiction: Reliability and Validity of the Working Alliance Inventory Short Revised Observer.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the mental health and alcohol consumption of individuals. Videoconferencing psychotherapy has become a fundamental mode of treatment for people with alcohol use disorders. However, there are still doubts about its effectiveness and the therapeutic relationship.

Smoking Cessation Mobile Interventions in Latin America: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To systematically review published articles reporting the use of smoking cessation mobile health (mHealth) interventions in Latin America.

Methods: Five different databases were searched from database inception to 2020. Criteria: (1) the research was a smoking cessation randomized controlled trial (RCT), quasi-experimental research, or single-arm study; (2) the intervention used at least one type of mHealth intervention; (3) the research was conducted in Latin American; and (4) the research reported the cessation rate.

Abdominal ultrasound augments the medical students' ability to identify free intraabdominal fluid.

Objective: Free intra-abdominal fluid describes an accumulation of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. It has different etiologies, but it frequently constitutes a meaningful clinical sign. In this study, the authors interrogate whether abdominal ultrasound augments the medical students' ability to identify free intra-abdominal fluid.

Multidisciplinary treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease in pre-dialysis minimizes costs: a four-year retrospective cohort analysis.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and clinical studies show that this progression can be slowed. The objective of this study was to estimate the costs to Brazil's public health system (SUS) throughout the course of CKD in the pre-dialysis stage compared to the costs to the SUS of dialysis treatment (DT).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze clinical and laboratory variables; the outcome analyzed was need for DT.

The prevalence and associated factors of nonadherence to antihypertensive medication in secondary healthcare.

Purpose: Non-adherence (NA) to medication is a major contributor to treatment failure in hypertensive patients. Factors of the ecological model, at family/healthcare professional, service, and system levels, are rarely evaluated as correlates of NA in hypertensive patients.

Methods: This crossectional study assessed the prevalence of and associated factors of NA to antihypertensive medication among 485 hypertensive patients upon receiving secondary healthcare.

Similar quality in chronic kidney disease multidisciplinary follow-up between kidney.

Introduction: Multidisciplinary clinics are the best approach towards Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients in pre-dialysis phases. The few studies regarding kidney transplant recipients (KTR) compare multidisciplinary and non-multidisciplinary clinics.

Methods: In this study, we compared the quality of multidisciplinary CKD care between 101 KTR and 101 propensity score-matched non-transplant pre-dialysis patients (PDP).

Factors Associated with Functional Capacity in CKD Patients.

To evaluate the factors associated with functional capacity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). All patients were submitted to six-minute walk test (6MWT), 10-repetition sit-to-stand test (STS-10) and SF-36 health-related quality of life questionnaire (HRQoL). Patients with functional capacity ≥80% exhibited higher education level, family income, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and lower age and STS-10 time.

Screening of family members of chronic kidney disease patients with Fabry disease mutations: a very important and underrated task.

Introduction: Fabry disease is a chronic, progressive, and multi-system hereditary condition, related to an Xq22 mutation in X chromosome, which results in deficiency of alpha-galactosidase enzyme, hence reduced capacity of globotriaosylceramide degradation.

Objectives: to evaluate the prevalence of Fabry disease (FD) mutations, as well as its signs and symptoms, among relatives of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients diagnosed with FD during a previously conducted study, named "Clinical and epidemiological analysis of Fabry disease in dialysis centers in Brazil".

Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out, and data was collected by interviewing the relatives of patients enrolled in the Brazil Fabry Kidney Project and blood tests for both Gb3 dosage and genetic testing.

A prospective evaluation of inter-rater agreement of routine medical records audits at a large general hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: The quality of patient medical records is intrinsically related to patient safety, clinical decision-making, communication between health providers, and continuity of care. Additionally, its data are widely used in observational studies. However, the reliability of the information extracted from the records is a matter of concern in audit processes to ensure inter-rater agreement (IRA).

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Program as an Adjunct to the Standard Treatment for Smoking: A Pragmatic Design Pilot Study.

Introduction: Posttreatment relapse is a major roadblock to stemming the global epidemic of tobacco-related illness. This article presents results from a pilot trial evaluating the feasibility and initial efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) as an adjunct to standard relapse prevention treatment (ST) for smoking cessation.

Aims And Methods: Smokers (n = 86) in the maintenance phase of treatment were randomized to receive either ST plus MBRP (MBRP) (n = 44) or ST alone (ST) (n = 42).

Web-based decision-making tool for smoking cessation (Pare de fumar conosco) among patients with chronic conditions in Brazil : one-arm feasibility study.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of Pare de fumar conosco, a web-based smoking cessation decision-making tool, among patients with chronic conditions in Brazil.

Methods: We recruited 85 Brazilian smokers in two clinical centres for chronic conditions to complete Pare de fumar conosco. Outcome measures included interest in using smoking cessation resources and self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence 12 weeks following the intervention.

Diet Quality Index associated with Digital Food Guide: update and validation.

Monitoring and assessing dietary intake may favor the promotion of healthy choices and the indexes that assess the quality of the diet contribute to this purpose. The Diet Quality Index associated with the Digital Food Guide (DQI-DFG) was developed from guidelines of the School of Public Health at Harvard University, adjusted for the Brazilian food habits. Based on new studies on prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, the objective of this study was to improve and validate the DQI-DFG for a second version.

Effects of the implementation of a hand hygiene education program among ICU professionals: an interrupted time-series analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the effects that a hand hygiene education program has on the compliance of health professionals in an ICU.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with an interrupted time-series design, conducted over a 12-month period: the 5 months preceding the implementation of a hand hygiene education program (baseline period); the 2 months of the intensive (intervention) phase of the program; and the first 5 months thereafter (post-intervention phase). Hand hygiene compliance was monitored by one of the researchers, unbeknownst to the ICU team.

Dialogue between primary and secondary health care providers in a Brazilian hypertensive population.

Objective: To describe clinical and epidemiological profiles of patients with hypertension referred to a secondary care unit and to assess the adequacy of the referral criteria.

Method: This descriptive transversal study analysed 943 hypertensive patients referred to a secondary healthcare unit from September 2010 to August 2012. Clinical and sociodemographic data as well as data regarding the liaison between secondary and primary care services were collected.

[There was a CAPSad in the middle of the road: care logic and centrality of the care network for drug users].

By applying Social Network Analysis (ARS), this study seeks to evaluate the role of the Center for Psychosocial Care - Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPSad) in the care network for drug users. It involves an exploratory, cross-sectional and quantitative approach of the Juiz de Fora city network in the state of Minas Gerais. One hundred and eighty-seven care services were identified in the city.