Excess deaths among adults in the state of Santa Catarina: an ecological study during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil, 2020-2021.

Objective: to estimate excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Santa Catarina and its macro-regions, Brazil, 2020-2021.

Methods: this was an ecological study, using data from the Mortality Information System; excess deaths in adults were calculated by the difference between the observed number of deaths and expected number of deaths, taking into account the average of deaths that occurred between 2015 and 2019; the variables "macro-region of residence", "quarter", "month", "sex" and "age group" were analyzed; data were analyzed in a descriptive manner.

Results: a total of 6,315 excess deaths in 2020 and 17,391 in 2021, mostly in males (57.

Artificial Graphene Spin Polarized Electrode for Magnetic Tunnel Junctions.

2D materials offer the ability to expose their electronic structure to manipulations by a proximity effect. This could be harnessed to craft properties of 2D interfaces and van der Waals heterostructures in devices and quantum materials. We explore the possibility to create an artificial spin polarized electrode from graphene through proximity interaction with a ferromagnetic insulator to be used in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).

Prevalence of unprotected sexual activity in the Brazilian population and associated factors: National Health Survey, 2019.

Objective: To estimate prevalence of unprotected sexual activity and associated factors in the Brazilian population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 61,523 adults aged 18 years or older who took part in the 2019 National Health Survey. We estimated prevalence of unprotected sexual activity in the last year.

Tuberculosis incidence rate time series in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil: analysis of a decade, 2010-2019.

Objective: To describe the profile of tuberculosis cases and analyze the temporal trend of tuberculosis incidence rate in Santa Catarina, by sex, from 2010 to 2019.

Methods: This was a time series study conducted using data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (SINAN). The Prais-Winsten regression model was used.

Clinical Trials in Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery: Assessing Trial Characteristics, Early Discontinuation, Result Reporting, and Publication.

Background: Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) diseases carry high morbidity despite efforts aimed at their reduction. An assessment of their trial characteristics is paramount to determine trial design adequacy and highlight areas for improvement. As such, the aim of this study is to assess HPB surgery trial characteristics, summarize logistic, financial, and practical reasons behind early discontinuation, and propose potential interventions to prevent this in the future.

Distribution of international medical graduates across USA surgical training programs: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background: International medical graduates (IMGs) have been a critical part of the USA healthcare in the past 30 years, especially in small rural and poor counties. However, little to no publications are present on the distribution of these IMGs across general surgery residency programs.

Methods: All freely accessible information on current residents in accredited general surgery residency programs within the USA with at least a 5-year history was explored for IMGs in the current roster using the AMA residency and fellowship database in 2020.

Preoperative MELD score predicts adverse outcomes following gastrectomy: An ACS NSQIP analysis.

Background: The Model End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) has been widely used to predict the mortality and morbidity of various surgical procedures. We aimed to assess the impact of preoperative MELD score on adverse 30-day postoperative outcomes following gastrectomy.

Methods: Patients who underwent elective, non-emergent gastrectomy were identified from the ACS NSQIP 2014-2019 database.

Evolution of COVID-19 in Santa Catarina, Brazil: state decrees and epidemiological indicators up until August 2020.

Objective: To describe the evolution of decrees and indicators related to COVID-19 in Santa Catarina, Brazil, up until August 2020.

Methods: This was an ecological study that analyzed epidemiological indicators and state decrees on social distancing. The decrees were grouped into restriction, maintenance and relaxation.

Estimating underdiagnosis of COVID-19 with nowcasting and machine learning.

Objective: To analyze the underdiagnosis of COVID-19 through nowcasting with machine learning in a Southern Brazilian capital city.

Methods: Observational ecological design and data from 3916 notified cases of COVID-19 from April 14th to June 2nd, 2020 in Florianópolis, Brazil. A machine-learning algorithm was used to classify cases that had no diagnosis, producing the nowcast.

Rashba-Type Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction, Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy, and Skyrmion States at 2D Materials/Co Interfaces.

We report a significant Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) at interfaces comprising hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and Co. By comparing the behavior of these phenomena at graphene/Co and h-BN/Co interfaces, it is found that the DMI in the latter increases as a function of Co thickness and beyond three monolayers stabilizes with 1 order of magnitude larger values compared to those at graphene/Co, where the DMI shows opposite decreasing behavior. Meanwhile, the PMA for both systems shows similar trends with larger values for graphene/Co and no significant variations for all thickness ranges of Co.

Robotic pancreas surgery: an overview of history and update on technique, outcomes, and financials.

The use robotics in surgery is gaining momentum. This approach holds substantial promise in pancreas surgery. Robotic surgery for pancreatic lesions and malignancies has become well accepted and is expanding to more and more center annually.

Mass casualty management during a pandemic surge: The American University of Beirut Medical Center experience.

Mass casualty incidents can be devastating events associated with a large number of fatalities, morbidities, and long-lasting sequelae. The negative outcomes can be further amplified if the incident occurred during a pandemic surge, such as what occurred in Beirut, Lebanon with the August 4, 2020 Beirut Port explosion. To decrease the mortality and morbidity and avoid inefficiency, management depends on having an established coordinated multidisciplinary approach from transport and triage to emergency department care and in-hospital management.

Correlation of overweight condition and obesity with mortality by COVID-19 in Brazil's state capitals.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the prevalence of overweight condition and obesity with mortality rates due to COVID-19 in Brazil's state capitals.

Methods: This is an ecological study, whose units of analysis were the 26 state capitals and the Federal District of Brazil. Prevalence was estimated by the results of the 2019 (VIGITEL).

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and health-related quality of life in untreated adults: a systematic review.

Purpose: The objective of this systematic review was to answer the question: "Is there association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in untreated adults?"

Methods: We included observational studies that evaluated the health-related quality of life of patients with OSA vs control groups, through generic and disease-specific questionnaires. The searches were conducted in six databases: Embase, Lilacs, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additional search in the grey literature and hand search were performed, and also experts were consulted.

Current-Driven Domain Wall Dynamics in Ferrimagnetic Nickel-Doped MnN Films: Very Large Domain Wall Velocities and Reversal of Motion Direction across the Magnetic Compensation Point.

Spin-transfer torque (STT) and spin-orbit torque (SOT) are spintronic phenomena allowing magnetization manipulation using electrical currents. Beyond their fundamental interest, they allow developing new classes of magnetic memories and logic devices, in particular based on domain wall (DW) motion. In this work, we report the study of STT-driven DW motion in ferrimagnetic manganese nickel nitride (MnNiN) films, in which magnetization and angular momentum compensation can be obtained by the fine adjustment of the Ni content.

Association Between Sleep Bruxism and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review.

Aims: To evaluate the association between sleep bruxism (SB) and quality of life (QoL) in the general population.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted, and studies were included with no restrictions regarding age, gender, or language. SB and general health-related QoL and/or oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL) measures in the included studies needed to be based on validated tools.

Comparison of the Oxygenation Factor and the Oxygenation Ratio in Subjects With ARDS.

Background: The oxygenation ratio (ie, [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]) remains the most commonly used index for assessing oxygenation and disease severity in patients with acute ARDS. However, the oxygenation ratio does not account for mechanical ventilation settings. We hypothesized that the oxygenation factor (ie, oxygenation ratio/mean airway pressure) is superior to the oxygenation ratio in reflecting oxygenation in patients with ARDS and results in a different classification of ARDS severity.

Splenic Artery Aneurysm (SAA) Rupture in Pregnancy: A Case Report of a Rare but Life-Threatening Obstetrical Complication.

This is the case of a 38 year-old Lebanese woman G2P1, history of previous cesarean section, presenting at 30+5 weeks of gestation with acute left-sided flank pain and a two-day history of chills and dysuria. In light of the clinical presentation, the patient was initially diagnosed with pyelonephritis and managed accordingly; however, her clinical status deteriorated with worsening hypotension and lethargy despite resuscitative measures and a normal abdominal ultrasound. Failure to revive the patient eventually led to a cardiac arrest for which a peri-mortem cesarean section was performed at bedside.

Large esophageal schwannoma: En-bloc resection with primary closure by esophagoplasty.

Background: Gastrointestinal schwannomas are submucosal tumors accounting for 2-7% of mesenchymal gastro-intestinal neoplasms; the stomach being the most common site. Esophageal schwannomas are more frequent in women, and are usually located in the upper to mid portion. Dysphagia is the main presenting symptom.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables and association with life habits and nutritional status: a prospective study in a cohort of the elderly.

The aim of this study was to estimate the association between life habits and adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) after four years of follow-up among elderly of a cohort in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. This is a longitudinal population-based study, the sample being composed of individuals 60 years of age or older living in the urban area of the city of Florianópolis-SC. The baseline study took place in 2009-2010 and the second wave in 2013-2014.

Establishing an ECMO program in a developing country: challenges and lessons learned.

Aim: The ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) Program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center was established in November 2015 as the first program serving adult and pediatric population in a low-resource setting. The aim of the study is to describe the challenges faced during the establishment of the program and factors leading to its success.

Methods: The program establishment is described.

Association between dietary pattern and metabolic disorders in children and adolescents with urolithiasis.

Objective: To describe the dietary patterns and occurrence of metabolic disorders in children and adolescents with urolithiasis treatment at a referral hospital in southern Brazil in order to learn the features of urolithiasis in this population to better develop preventive actions.

Methods: Descriptive study conducted between 2016 and 2017 in a tertiary care referral hospital. Fourty patients aged 2-19 years old with urolithiasis proven by imaging were included.