Measurements of Impoverishing and Catastrophic Surgical Health Expenditures in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Reduction Interventions in the Last 30 Years: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Approximately 33 million people suffer catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) from surgery and/or anesthesia costs. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate catastrophic and impoverishing expenditure associated with surgery and anesthesia in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: We performed a systematic review of all studies from 1990 to 2021 that reported CHE in LMICs for treatment of a condition requiring surgical intervention, including cesarean section, trauma care, and other surgery.

Epidemiology of immune thrombocytopenia: study of adult patients at a referral hematology service in Northeastern Brazil.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired bleeding disorder observed in the clinical practice. Little is known about its epidemiology in Brazil. The present study was conducted at a hematology referral center which covers a population of over 8 million in 184 municipalities in the state of Ceará.

Capacity Building in Peer-review: A Student-Led Journal Report.

Peer-review optimizes the quality of research articles; however, new strategies need to be implemented to enhance peer-review capacity. This report comprises the peer-review process of a medical student-led journal editorial board, detailing its challenges and the students' role. The peer education approach conducted a capacity-building activity, developing guidelines, and practicing critical appraisal and constructive feedback in manners that classroom research training cannot.

Rift Valley fever during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: A double burden for Africa's healthcare system.

A new rising incidence of Rift Valley fever (RVF) among livestock and humans in the African continent during the COVID-19 pandemic has become of increasing concern. We analyzed the different ways COVID-19 has contributed to the increase in RVF cases and how it has impacted the interventions allocated to the disease by comparing it with the status of the disease before the pandemic. There is enough evidence to conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the efforts being taken to prevent outbreaks of RVF.

Proposal of treatment algorithm for immune thromocytopenia in adult patients of a hematology service at a referral center in Northeastern Brazil.

Introduction: The management of adult (≥18 years) immune thrombocytopenia patients relies on platelet count, the risk of bleeding and presence of bleeding.

Objective: Confirming the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia and the start of therapy, our hematology service, a referral center, favors the establishment of this algorithm to treat those patients.

Results: Presentation, recently diagnosed or recurrence - group 1: life-threatening bleeding: high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins with methylprednisolone or dexamethasone.