Factors associated with deaths from COVID-19 in a region of northeastern Brazil.

Introduction: There is a need to improve knowledge and understanding of the factors associated with mortality from COVID-19 so that managers and decision-makers can implement strategies to mitigate and control the severe forms of the disease. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with deaths from COVID-19 in the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study with patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who died from March 2020 to January 2022.

Leprosy prevalence spatial distribution and trend in a health region in Northeast Brazil, 2008-2017: an ecological study.

Main Results: A total of 4,029 leprosy cases were notified. Mean prevalence varied between 2.0 and 11.

Clinical-epidemiological characteristics and temporal trend of new cases of grade 2 disability leprosy in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, 2011- 2020.

Main Results: Out of 2,147 grade 2 disability leprosy cases, the majority were male, of mixed race/skin color, multibacillary and borderline. The São Luís regional health unit showed a falling trend.

Implications For Services: The results can guide strategies for the leprosy control program in the state, aiming at new approaches towards early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disabilities.

Factors associated with multibacillary leprosy in a region of northeastern Brazil.

Introduction: The analysis of factors associated with multibacillary leprosy is important for the development of strategies to mitigate the disease, which persists as a public health problem in Brazil and the world. The objective of this study was to verify the associations between sociodemographic and clinical-epidemiological variables and multibacillary leprosy in the state of northeastern Brazil.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, analytical, and retrospective study, with a quantitative approach, carried out in 16 municipalities in the southwest of Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil.

Spatiotemporal risk assessment and COVID-19 trend estimation in a federative unit in northeastern Brazil.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, causing a high burden of morbidity and mortality, and has affected the various health service systems in the world, demanding disease monitoring and control strategies. The objective of this study was to identify risk areas using spatiotemporal models and determine the COVID-19 time trend in a federative unit of northeastern Brazil.

Methods: An ecological study using spatial analysis techniques and time series was carried out in the state of Maranhão, Brazil.

Tuberculosis/HIV co-infection in Northeastern Brazil: Prevalence trends, spatial distribution, and associated factors.

Introduction: The objective was to analyze the prevalence trend, spatial distribution, and TB-HIV co-infection-associated factors in an endemic scenario for TB in Northeastern Brazil.

Methods: An ecological and temporal series study was conducted based on secondary data obtained from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System between January 2008 and December 2019. The prevalence rates were determined for each year and the average for the period.

Visceral leishmaniasis and HIV coinfection in Brazil: epidemiological profile and spatial patterns.

Background: Geographical overlap of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and HIV infection favors occurrences of HVL/HIV coinfection. The increasing numbers of cases of HVL/HIV coinfection are a worldwide concern and knowledge of the factors involved can help in developing preventive measures.

Methods: We aimed to identify spatial patterns and describe the epidemiological profile of HVL/HIV coinfection in Brazil from 2007 to 2015.

Serum Levels of Ficolin-3 and Mannose-Binding Lectin in Patients with Leprosy and Their Family Contacts in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Brazil.

The present study aimed at analyzing the serum levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolin-3 (FCN3) in leprosy patients and their healthy family contacts in a hyperendemic region in northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 90 patients who had been diagnosed with leprosy and 79 healthy family contacts. Serum levels of the MBL and FCN3 proteins were measured using the immunofluorometric assay (ELISA).

Trend and factors associated with Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus comorbidity in a Northeastern Brazilian municipality.

Objectives: to identify the trend and factors associated with Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus comorbidity in Imperatriz, Maranhão.

Methods: epidemiological temporal-series study, conducted in a Northeastern Brazilian municipality. The population consisted of Tuberculosis cases with Diabetes Mellitus-associated aggravation notified in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) between 2009 and 2018.

Deaths due to COVID-19 in a state of northeastern Brazil: spatiotemporal distribution, sociodemographic and clinical and operational characteristics.

Background: The detection of spatiotemporal clusters of deaths by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential for health systems and services, as it contributes to the allocation of resources and helps in effective decision making aimed at disease control and surveillance. Thus we aim to analyse the spatiotemporal distribution and describe sociodemographic and clinical and operational characteristics of COVID-19-related deaths in a Brazilian state.

Methods: A descriptive and ecological study was carried out in the state of Maranhão.

Assessment of tissular integrity in patients with diabetic foot.

Objective: Evaluate the impairment of tissue integrity in patients with diabetic foot and verify its association with time of diagnosis of the disease.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with 134 patients in an outpatient clinic located in the Northeast region of Brazil. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection, which was subjected to descriptive analysis and the Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test.

Leprosy in children under 15 years of age in a municipality in northeastern Brazil: evolutionary aspects from 2003 to 2015.

Introduction: The Integrated Program of Leprosy Control was initiated in 2003 in the municipality of Buriticupu, Maranhão, Brazil, an area considered hyperendemic for leprosy. Here, we present the evolution of the indicators of leprosy within the established period in children aged <15 years.

Methods: This is a descriptive study based on an active search for cases and spontaneous healthcare demand for leprosy, with an evolutionary analysis of the detection coefficient of new cases.

Epidemiological aspects and spatial patterns of human visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) cases are important public health problems due to their zoonotic aspect, with high rates of morbidity and mortality in Brazil. The aim of this this study was to identify spatial patterns in both rates of HVL cases in Brazilian states during the period from 2006 to 2015. This is an ecological study, using geoprocessing tools to create choropleth maps, based on secondary data from open access platforms, to identify priority areas for control actions of the disease.

Factors associated with leprosy in a municipality of the Pre-Amazon region, state of Maranhão, Brazil.

Introduction: The Integrated Program of Leprosy Control was initiated in the municipality of Buriticupu, Maranhão, Brazil, an area considered hyperendemic for leprosy in 2003. It aims at assessing the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the disease to reduce the detection rate of new cases until 2015. Here, we present the evolution of the indicators of leprosy within the period from 2003 to 2015.

Medicinal Plants from Northeastern Brazil against Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been linked with oxidative stress, acetylcholine deficiency in the brain, and inflammatory processes. In the northeast region of Brazil, various plants are used to treat several diseases associated with these processes; then an antioxidant test was performed with those plants in a previous work and twelve species with higher antioxidant activity were selected for AChE inhibition evaluation. The phenolic compounds content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu test and flavonoid content with AlCl reagent using UV-visible spectrophotometry.

Breastfeeding and protection against diarrhea: an integrative review of literature.

Objective: To identify, in national and international journals, the studies conducted in Brazil related to breast feeding and reducing cases of diarrhea in children under 2 years of age, featuring health interventions more used.

Methods: Descriptive study, based on an integrative review of literature from PubMed and LILACS data published between January 1992 and August 2011. The keywords "breastfeeding AND diarrhea" was searched in Portuguese, English and Spanish in PubMed and LILACS.