Bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin (BPaLM) for multidrug- or rifampin-resistant tuberculosis: a systematic review.

Objective: To evaluate the available evidence comparing the use of the bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin (BPaLM) regimen for 6 months with that of standard-of-care regimens for patients with multidrug-resistant or rifampin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB).

Methods: This was a systematic review of clinical trials comparing the use of the BPaLM regimen with the standard of care in patients with MDR/RR-TB. The main outcome measure was an unfavorable endpoint (a composite of death, treatment failure, treatment discontinuation, loss to follow-up, and recurrence), and secondary outcome measures included adverse events and serious adverse events.

Assessment of severity and avoidability of adverse drug reactions in neonates: a reproducibility study of the Hartwig tool and LAAT.

Objective: Tools for classifying adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have not yet been validated in the context of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study aims to investigate the inter-rater reliability of the Hartwig tool and the Liverpool avoidability assessment tool (LAAT) in assessing the severity and avoidability of ADR cases in hospitalized neonates.

Methods: An observational and prospective study was conducted in the NICU of a maternity hospital in Natal, Brazil.

Health Literacy and Adherence to Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal.

Background: Therapy adherence is a key factor in the control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Optimal self-care requires skills in health literacy (HL).

Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between HL and adherence to therapy and to understand the possible influence of other sociodemographic and disease variables.

Gut-related molecules as potential biomarkers in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Introduction And Objectives: Microbial translocation contributes to cirrhosis progression and complications. This study aims to investigate whether molecules related to intestinal permeability or microbial translocation can serve as prognostic biomarkers in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively evaluated hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis for liver function, complications during hospitalization, in-hospital mortality, composite outcomes of in-hospital mortality and complications, 12-month mortality, and survival rates.

Impact of COVID-19 infection on lung function and nutritional status amongst individuals with cystic fibrosis: A global cohort study.

Background: Factors associated with severe COVID-19 infection have been identified; however, the impact of infection on longer-term outcomes is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 infection on the trajectory of lung function and nutritional status in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF).

Methods: This is a retrospective global cohort study of pwCF who had confirmed COVID-19 infection diagnosed between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.

Relative incidence of interstitial lung diseases in Brazil.

Objective: To assess the relative frequency of incident cases of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) in Brazil.

Methods: This was a retrospective survey of new cases of ILD in six referral centers between January of 2013 and January of 2020. The diagnosis of ILD followed the criteria suggested by international bodies or was made through multidisciplinary discussion (MDD).

Year in review 2023 - Back to the future.

This review synthesizes articles published in 2023, focusing on the impact of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ETI) in cystic fibrosis (CF) care. Real-world data highlights sustained benefits of ETI across age groups, while challenges like neuropsychological side effects persist. Beyond CFTR modulators, research explores telemedicine and novel therapies.

Radiation Therapy Skin Marking with Lancets Versus Electric Marking Pen (COMFORTATTOO)-6 Months Results on Cosmesis, Fading, and Patients' Satisfaction From a Randomized, Double-Blind Trial.

Purpose: Most of radiation oncology centers rely on set-up skin markings for patient setup during treatment delivery. Permanent dark-ink tattooing is the most popular marking method. COMFORTATTOO is a unicentric, randomized trial testing 2 permanent methods: lancets against an electric marking pen (Comfort Marker 2.

Temporal profile of adverse drug reactions and associated clinical factors: a prospective observational study in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: Although adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are quite common in hospitalised neonates, pharmacovigilance activities in this public are still incipient. This study aims to characterise ADRs in neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), identifying causative drugs, temporal profile and associated factors.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhotic Patients With Bacterial Infections: Frequency, Clinical Characteristics, and Prognostic Relevance.

Background/objectives: Bacterial infections (BIs) are well-recognized precipitants of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data in patients with HE associated with BI. Our aim was to describe clinical characteristics, recurrence, and prognosis of HE in patients with BI.

Genetic Ancestry, Race, and Severity of Acutely Decompensated Cirrhosis in Latin America.

Background & Aims: Genetic ancestry or racial differences in health outcomes exist in diseases associated with systemic inflammation (eg, COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate the association of genetic ancestry and race with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which is characterized by acute systemic inflammation, multi-organ failure, and high risk of short-term death.

Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed a comprehensive set of data, including genetic ancestry and race among several others, in 1274 patients with acutely decompensated cirrhosis who were nonelectively admitted to 44 hospitals from 7 Latin American countries.

Causality assessment of adverse drug reactions in neonates: a comparative study between Naranjo's algorithm and Du's tool.

Background: Algorithms for causality assessment of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are important in the management of adverse events, however, it is inconclusive which tool best suits pharmacovigilance in neonates.

Aim: To compare the performance of the algorithms of Du and Naranjo in determining causality in cases of ADRs in neonates in a NICU.

Method: This observational and prospective study was conducted in a NICU of a Brazilian maternity school between January 2019 and December 2020.

Natural History of Hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis (HSS) Non-Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension (NCPH): Influence of Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Decompensation in Prognosis.

Background: Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS) is a peculiar form of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). Although HSS patients present normal hepatic function, some evolve signs of hepatocellular failure and features of decompensated cirrhosis. The natural history of HSS-NCPH is unknown.

Accuracy and concordance of two-dimensional shear-wave elastography using transient elastography as the reference in chronic viral hepatitis and HIV infection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objectives: Evaluate the accuracy and agreement of two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) LOGIQ-S8 with transient elastography in patients from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Method: This retrospective study compared liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) using transient elastography (M and XL probes) and 2D-SWE GE-LOGIQ-S8 performed by a single experienced operator on the same day in 348 consecutive individuals with viral hepatitis or HIV infection. Suggestive and highly suggestive compensated-advanced chronic liver disease (c-ACLD) were defined by transient elastography-LSM ≥10 kPa and ≥15 kPa, respectively.

Validation of the Baveno VI criteria to rule out high-risk varices using hepatic shear-wave elastography.

Introduction And Objectives: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography has been validated to predict high-risk varices (HRV). We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of shear-wave elastography (SWE) and platelet count (Baveno VI criteria) to rule out HRV in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (c-ACLD).

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of patients with c-ACLD (transient elastography ≥ 10 kPa) submitted to two-dimensional SWE (2D-SWE) (GE-LOGIQ-S8) and/or point SWE (p-SWE) (ElastPQ) who had a gastrointestinal endoscopy within 24 months.

Frequency and predictive factors of minimal hepatic encephalopathy before and after sustained virological response in HCV cirrhosis.

Introduction: Data of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) before and after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment remain scarce. We aimed to describe the prevalence, evolution and predictive factors of MHE before and after a sustained virological response (SVR).

Material And Methods: It was a prospective study that included adults with cirrhosis due to HCV treated by direct-acting agents (DAA).

Selection-driven adaptation to the extreme Antarctic environment in the Emperor penguin.

The eco-evolutionary history of penguins is characterised by shifting from temperate to cold environments. Breeding in Antarctica, the Emperor penguin appears as an extreme outcome of this process, with unique features related to insulation, heat production and energy management. However, whether this species actually diverged from a less cold-adapted ancestor, more ecologically similar to its sister species, the King penguin, is still an open question.

Pneumomediastinum: A Brief Review Of Literature Apropos Of A Case Report.

The authors present a case of a 72-year-old man diagnosed with pneumomediastinum in a positron emission tomography scan (18F-FDG PET-CT) to assess the tumor response to palliative chemotherapy. The patient was asymptomatic and had no special findings in physical examination. Conservative approach was decided by the multidisciplinary team.

Results of interferon-free treatment for HCV-infected patients with decompensated cirrhosis from a Brazilian real-life cohort.

Real-life data on the HCV treatment with direct-acting agents in patients with decompensated cirrhosis are scarce. Study to investigate the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir-containing regimens in a prospective cohort of patients with HCV decompensated cirrhosis. A total of 150 patients were enrolled (64% male, 84% genotype 1 with a mean age of 61 ± 9 years).

Long-term survival and clinical outcomes following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in HCV decompensated cirrhosis in Brazil: a real-world study.

Introduction: The outcomes regarding portal hypertension-related complications and infections after HCV cure in decompensated cirrhosis are scarcely reported. We aimed to identify the predictors of survival and to evaluate the frequency of decompensation events of cirrhosis, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), portal hypertension complications and infections in a cohort of decompensated cirrhotic with sustained virological response (SVR) in a real-world scenario.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective study in consecutive HCV-infected patients with decompensated cirrhosis who achieved SVR after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment.

Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (Anti-HBs) Kinetics during Rituximab Chemotherapy and Performance of Hepatitis B Vaccine before Immunosuppression: Two Prospective Studies.

Rituximab promotes strong immunosuppression leading to a high risk of hepatitis B reactivation (HBV-R) and chronic infection. Current recommendations on HBV-R prevention are expensive and poorly individualized. In resolved hepatitis B patients, previous studies suggest that anti-HBs titers before immunosuppression can predict HBV-R risk.

Noninvasive predictors of esophageal varices in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni.

Background: No previous study have evaluated transient elastography for predicting esophageal varices in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

Aim: To investigate noninvasive methods of predicting esophageal varices in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni.

Methods: Cross-sectional multicentric study included 51 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.