Prevalence of symptoms of COVID-19 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul: results of a population-based study with 18,000 participants.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of reports of symptoms of COVID-19 among individuals with and without antibodies and identify those with greater capability to predict the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: The study uses data collected in phases 5 to 8 of Epicovid-19-RS. The presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated by a rapid test.

Slow Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Southern Brazil Over a 6-Month Period: Report on 8 Sequential Statewide Serological Surveys Including 35 611 Participants.

To evaluate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) over 6 months in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul (population 11.3 million), based on 8 serological surveys. In each survey, 4151 participants in round 1 and 4460 participants in round 2 were randomly sampled from all state regions.

High prevalence of symptoms among Brazilian subjects with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Since the beginning of the pandemic of COVID-19, there has been a widespread assumption that most infected persons are asymptomatic. Using data from the recent wave of the EPICOVID19 study, a nationwide household-based survey including 133 cities from all states of Brazil, we estimated the proportion of people with and without antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 who were asymptomatic, which symptoms were most frequently reported, number of symptoms and the association with socio-demographic characteristics. We tested 33,205 subjects using a rapid antibody test previously validated.

Social Distancing, Mask Use, and Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Brazil, April-June 2020.

We assessed the associations of social distancing and mask use with symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in Porto Alegre, Brazil. We conducted a population-based case-control study during April-June 2020. Municipal authorities furnished case-patients, and controls were taken from representative household surveys.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Brazilian adolescents over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To estimate the burden of excess weight in Brazilian adolescents.

Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Setting: We searched the literature in four databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, SciELO and LILACS).

SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in Brazil: results from two successive nationwide serological household surveys.

Background: Population-based data on COVID-19 are essential for guiding policies. There are few such studies, particularly from low or middle-income countries. Brazil is currently a hotspot for COVID-19 globally.

EPICOVID19 protocol: repeated serological surveys on SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Brazil.

The first case of COVID-19 was reported in China in December 2019, and, as the virus has spread worldwide, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. Estimates on the number of COVID-19 cases do not reflect it real magnitude as testing is limited. Population based data on the proportion of the population with antibodies is relevant for planning public health policies.

Nursing Guidelines on Cardiac Surgery and Parents' Anxiety: Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: The preparation of parents of children who should undergo cardiac surgery requires special treatment such as the explanations about the event. This study aims to compare the effects of standardized nursing guidelines with routine institutional orientation on the anxiety of parents of children undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for congenital heart disease instrument into Brazilian Portuguese.

Objective: To translate the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for Congenital Heart Disease into Brazilian Portuguese and to validate its psychometric properties with parents and family caregivers of children with congenital heart disease.

Method: This was a six-step methodological study, including the translation, synthesis, back-translation, evaluation of the version translated by the committee of experts, pre-testing, and validation, for which two pilot tests were used including the think-aloud protocol. The content validity index and the frequency of socioeconomic data were calculated in a statistical programming environment.

Social distancing patterns in nine municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: the Epicovid19/RS study.

OBJECTIVE To describe social distancing practices in nine municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, stratified by gender, age, and educational attainment. METHODS Two sequential cross-sectional studies were conducted in the municipalities of Canoas, Caxias do Sul, Ijuí, Passo Fundo, Pelotas, Porto Alegre, Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Maria, and Uruguaiana to estimate the population prevalence of COVID-19. The study was designed to be representative of the urban population of these municipalities.

Population-based surveys of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Southern Brazil.

Population-based data on COVID-19 are urgently needed. We report on three rounds of probability sample household surveys in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), carried out in nine large municipalities using the Wondfo lateral flow point-of-care test for immunoglobulin M and G antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (https://en.wondfo.

Ocular Alterations Associated with Primary Congenital Heart Disease - A Cross-sectional Study.

Objective: The objective of the study was to asses ocular findings' prevalence in children with primary congenital heart disease (CHD).

Patients And Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study of children with CHD treated at a specialized center in the South of Brazil between 2013 and 2015. They underwent a complete ocular examination, including measurement of visual acuity, refraction test, external motility, anterior and posterior biomicroscopy, and binocular indirect fundoscopy with retinal photographs.

Trends in the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: repeated serological surveys.

COVID-19, the disease produced by the virus SARS-CoV-2, has spread quickly throughout the world, leading the World Health Organization to first classify it as an international health emergency and, subsequently, declaring it pandemic. The number of confirmed cases, as April 11, surpassed 1,700,000, but this figure does not reflect the prevalence of COVID-19 in the population as, in many countries, tests are almost exclusively performed in people with symptoms, particularly severe cases. To properly assess the magnitude of the problem and to contribute to the design of evidence-based policies for fighting COVID-19, one must accurately estimate the population prevalence of infection.

Knowledge about the Disease and the Practice of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Knowledge about the disease itself can be important for self-care in patients with several problems and comprehends information about the diagnosis up to the most important clinical implications.

Objective: To identify the level of knowledge of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) about their illness, and to analyze the association between the level of knowledge and the practice of physical activity.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with 335 patients with CHD, aged 8 to 13 years, followed at a referral pediatric cardiology service in Southern Brazil.

Knowledge and food practices questionnaire: construction and validation.

Objectives: To develop and validate an instrument about nutritional knowledge and feeding practices to be used in children aged 7-11 years, based on the latest Brazilian Food Guide.

Methods: Review on the subject; instrument creation; content validity with two groups of judges: first, nutritionists and, after adjustments, a multidisciplinary group (content validity index [CVI]); FACE validity; reproducibility analysis (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC], level of agreement, and kappa [k]); internal consistency analysis (Cronbach's alpha[α]) and construct validity (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and exploratory factorial analysis). The sample was calculated, considering at least ten subjects for each question of the questionnaire.

Treating periodontal disease in patients with myocardial infarction: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Periodontitis has been associated with coronary artery disease, but the impact of a periodontal treatment on the endothelial function of patients with a recent ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was not investigated.

Methods: Randomized controlled trial (NCT02543502). Patients admitted between August 2012 and January 2015 were included.

Stress and Food Consumption Relationship in Hypertensive Patients.

Background: Stress is a state of threat to the balance of the organism, which can cause biological and psychological changes. In hypertensive patients, stress can interfere with blood pressure levels, influence on food choices and neglect of the diet.

Objective: This study aims to describe the relationship between stress and dietary intake of hypertensive patients.

Positive Psychology and Gratitude Interventions: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a gratitude intervention on a community sample of adults in relation to aspects involving well-being and mental health. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 1,337 participants, composed of an intervention group (Gratitude group, = 446), and two control groups (Hassles group, = 444 and Neutral Events group, = 447). Participants assigned to the intervention condition were asked to write daily gratitude lists for 14 days, listing moments they had been grateful for during the day.

Effect of yerba mate and green tea on paraoxonase and leptin levels in patients affected by overweight or obesity and dyslipidemia: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the intake of yerba mate (YM) and green tea (GT) on serum levels of leptin and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), compared to control.

Methods: Controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) that evaluated 142 men and women affected by overweight or obesity aged 35-60 years, untreated dyslipidemia and no history of coronary artery disease. Participants were randomized to ingest 1000 mL GT, YM or apple tea (AT, control group) daily, during eight weeks.

FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE.

Objective: To evaluate the physical activity level and functional capacity of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and to describe correlations between functionality, surgical and echocardiographic findings, metabolic and inflammatory profile and differences between acyanotic and cyanotic heart defects.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including children and adolescents with congenital heart disease between six and 18 years old that were evaluated with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) to assess functional capacity. The short version form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was performed to evaluate physical activity levels.

Agreement between retinal images obtained via smartphones and images obtained with retinal cameras or fundoscopic exams - systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Smartphone fundoscopy is a new option for visualizing the ocular fundus but must be validated before being included in population-based examinations. Our aim was to evaluate the quality of fundoscopic images obtained via smartphone and to compare their agreement with retinal camera images or clinical examination.

Methods: The database for this study included all observational studies with smartphone fundoscopy that have comparative analyses with the gold standard methods.