High red blood cell distribution width is associated with a risk of short-term mortality in hospitalized surgical, but not clinical patients.

Background & Aims: The distribution width of red blood cells (RDW) is a known factor risk for mortality. However, the association between high RDW and short-term mortality in surgical patients is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of high RDW with all-cause in-hospital mortality, in surgical and non-surgical patients.

Failure to achieve proteic goals in non-critical patients increases risk for death: Old discussion, ongoing problem.

Objectives: Providing adequate nutritional support for hospitalized patients continues to be a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of energy and protein provision with in-hospital mortality in non-critically ill patients.

Methods: A retrospective study (2014-2016) was performed with all patients >18 y of age who were admitted to medical and surgical clinic wards and given exclusive enteral therapy.

Combination of red blood cell distribution width and body mass index (COR-BMI) predicts in-hospital mortality in patients with different diagnoses?

Background: The combination of red blood cell distribution width and body mass index (COR-BMI) is indicated as a new prognostic index of survival in patients with laryngeal cancer. However, the ability of this prediction in other types of cancer or whether its use can be expanded to non-oncological patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prediction of prognosis of in-hospital mortality of the COR-BMI in oncological and non-oncological patients.

Primary health care quality and hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in the public health system in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Purpose: To investigate the relation of hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) with the quality of public primary care health services in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Methods: Cohort study constructed by probabilistic record linkage performed from August 2006 to December 2011 in a population ≥18 years of age that attended public primary care health services. The Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool-Brazil) was used for evaluation of primary care services.

A real-time PCR signature to discriminate between tuberculosis and other pulmonary diseases.

The goal of this study was to identify a host gene signature that can distinguish tuberculosis (TB) from other pulmonary diseases (OPD). We conducted real-time PCR on whole blood samples from patients in Brazil. TB and OPD patients (asthma and non-TB pneumonia) differentially expressed granzyme A (GZMA), guanylate binding protein 5 (GBP5) and Fc gamma receptor 1A (CD64).

Smear plus Detect-TB for a sensitive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis: a cost-effectiveness analysis in an incarcerated population.

Background: Prison conditions can favor the spread of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to evaluate in a Brazilian prison: the performance and accuracy of smear, culture and Detect-TB; performance of smear plus culture and smear plus Detect-TB, according to different TB prevalence rates; and the cost-effectiveness of these procedures for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) diagnosis.

Methods: This paper describes a cost-effectiveness study.

Dialysis for end stage renal disease financed through the Brazilian National Health System, 2000 to 2012.

Background: Chronic kidney disease has become a public health problem worldwide. Its terminal stage requires renal replacement therapy--dialysis or transplantation--for the maintenance of life, resulting in high economic and social costs. Though the number of patients with end-stage renal disease treated by dialysis in Brazil is among the highest in the world, current estimates of incidence and prevalence are imprecise.

Impact of gestational diabetes mellitus screening strategies on perinatal outcomes: a simulation study.

Aims: To evaluate the impact on perinatal outcomes of universal gestational diabetes (GDM) screening based on 1999 WHO and IADPSG diagnostic criteria; to assess the quality of the evidence (GRADE) to support GDM screening.

Methods: Simulation of a hypothetical cohort of community-based pregnant women with 10% GDM prevalence (1999 WHO). Most parameters were obtained from recent systematic reviews.