Publications by authors named "Maria Guimaraes"

Article Synopsis
  • RF titers are significant in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vary in their clinical impact, with high RF titers linked to poorer health outcomes.
  • A study with 1,097 RA adults found a substantial portion had positive RF, with high titers prevalent, and identified associations of high RF with factors such as tobacco use and higher body mass index.
  • High RF levels correlated with increased disease activity, reduced functional capacity, and greater use of corticosteroids and biological drugs, indicating a need for careful monitoring in RA patients.
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Background: The 24-h urine protein (24-hUP) excretion is the gold standard for evaluating proteinuria. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of protein/creatinine ratio (PCR) for estimating 24-hUP at various levels of renal function and proteinuria levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and December 2023 in Salvador, Bahia-Brazil, as an extension of previously published data from the TUNARI study.

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Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly associated with a significant reduction in the Quality of Life (QoL) and is associated with deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system. Arterial stiffness is characterized by morphofunctional changes in the arteries and its assessment can be obtained non-invasively mainly through the measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV). Arterial stiffness has been proposed as a predictor of cardiovascular diseases.

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  • Clinical pathway recommendations (CPR) provide guidance on managing specific diagnoses, in this case, Pompe disease, a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in a specific enzyme.
  • The CPR document was created by a working group from MetabERN, which focuses on metabolic diseases, and involved systematic literature searches and quality assessments based on established methodologies.
  • This document aims to standardize care for Pompe disease patients by addressing various aspects including pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up strategies for healthcare providers.
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Physical and mental health are intricated, however, there is a paucity of studies investigating the association between self-reported global functioning and handgrip strength and functional capacity in people with mental disorders. This study investigated the association between functioning, handgrip strength, and functional capacity in outpatients with a range of mental disorders. This was a two-center, cross-sectional study.

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People with depression have increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to healthy subjects. Physical exercise can alleviate depressive symptoms and has anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of exercise on inflammatory biomarkers in people with depression.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined pediatric respiratory infections, specifically SARS and RSV, after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil, comparing characteristics of affected children.
  • Conducted between April 2020 and April 2021, it analyzed children under 48 months admitted to a pediatric hospital, collecting samples for viral testing and using logistic regression to identify clinical differences.
  • Results showed that children with RSV were generally younger, exhibited less fever, and had more upper airway symptoms compared to those with COVID-19, indicating distinct illness manifestations between the two viruses.
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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In Brazil, the leaves of Hancornia speciosa Gomes have a traditional use for treating hypertension and diabetes. Experimental investigations have confirmed the anti-hypertensive and hypoglycemic properties of extracts derived from H. speciosa leaves across various experimental models.

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The widespread use of petroleum-based fuels poses a significant environmental problem due to the risks associated with accidental spills. Among the treatments available, phytoremediation is increasingly accepted as an effective and low-cost solution. This study aimed to evaluate the degradation of the aromatic fraction of biodiesel B10 and the soil fertility analysis in artificially contaminated soils treated with phytoremediation.

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Rationale & Objective: The use of hemodiafiltration (HDF) as a kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has sparked a debate regarding its advantages over conventional hemodialysis (HD). The present study aims to shed light on this controversy by comparing mortality rates and cause-specific deaths between ESKD patients receiving HDF and those undergoing HD.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

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Objective: to present a 12-month follow-up with photographic and tomographic analyses of the effect of polymethyl methacrylate-based bone cement graft (PMMA) in gingival exposure (GE) in patients with excessive gingival display (EGD).

Methods: Twelve patients with EGD were included. The PMMA was surgically placed.

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 Smell is one of the senses of the human body, and it can be affected by several factors, such as viral infections, traumatic brain injury, iatrogenesis, smoking, and neurodegenerative and systemic diseases.  The main goal of the present study is to describe the epidemiology of olfactory disorders in Rio Grande do Norte (RN). More specifically, to determine the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and to identify the main risk factors related to these dysfunctions in the state's population.

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Background: Infections increase mortality and morbidity and often limit immunosuppressive treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: To analyze the occurrence of serious infections and the associated factors in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients under real-life conditions.

Methods: We analyzed data from the REAL, a prospective observational study, that evaluated Brazilian RA patients, with clinical and laboratory data collected over a year.

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Article Synopsis
  • Polycythemia is a condition affecting newborns, characterized by elevated red blood cells, with a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe, and requires careful diagnosis, especially in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
  • A study conducted in a Portuguese NICU from 1999 to 2019 identified 53 cases of polycythemia, showing a prevalence of 0.57%, with birth outside of the hospital as the only significant risk factor.
  • Most infants presented symptoms like hyperbilirubinemia and hypoglycemia, with a significant portion requiring treatment; identifying maternal health issues during pregnancy could crucially improve outcomes for affected newborns.
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 to report a myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1) subject with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome treated with oral appliance.  A review of individual's history and records, associated with a photographic register of all diagnostic methods and literature research about the topic were done.  This case depicts the therapeutical choices disposable to treat subjects with obstructive sleep apnea and DM1.

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Objectives: To evaluate the stability of periodontal tissues 3 (T), 6 (T), and 12 (T) months after esthetic crown lengthening (ACL) and the possible correlations between changes in those structures.

Materials And Methods: Twenty individuals were evaluated through clinical assessment, photography, and tomography. Measurements included gingival margin (GM), clinical crown length (CCL), interdental papilla height (PH) and width (PW), gingival thickness (GT), bone thickness (BT), probing depth (PD), distance between alveolar crest and GM, distance between alveolar crest and cementoenamel junction.

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Norovirus is a major cause of acute diarrheal disease (ADD) outbreaks worldwide. In the present study, we investigated an ADD outbreak caused by norovirus in several municipalities of Santa Catarina state during the summer season, southern Brazil in 2023. As of the 10th epidemiological week of 2023, approximately 87 000 ADD cases were reported, with the capital, Florianópolis, recording the highest number of cases throughout the weeks.

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Purpose: Oral appliances (OA) have become the main alternative to positive pressure airway devices (PAP) for the control of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Despite literature support, controversies about the mode of action and the effectiveness of these devices persist. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of modified mandibular advancement devices (MAD) in patients with OSA who failed treatment with MAD and to evaluate the role of the tongue as a factor in patients who failed treatment with MAD.

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Leprosy is an infectious and contagious disease of slow evolution, triggered by . Arthritis is its third most common manifestation, after cutaneous and peripheral nerve involvement. Since musculoskeletal symptoms may be the initial presentation of the disease, it is important for health professionals to recognize its rheumatic manifestations for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, especially in endemic areas.

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Background: Penile cancer is rising in most European countries. Several risk factors have been identified, namely human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, the exact role of HPV in penile cancer carcinogenesis is still unknown.

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Introduction: Although Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) extra-articular manifestations (ExtRA) occurrence has been decreasing over time, they are still a major mortality risk factor for patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of ExtRA in a large cohort, and its association with demographic and clinical variables.

Method: Cross-sectional and observational study, based on a multi-centric database from a prospective cohort, in which 11 public rheumatology centres enrolled RA patients (1987 ARA or 2010 ACR-EULAR).

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Background: Several systemic conditions can result in distinct degrees of salivary gland damage and consequent hypofunction. The development of successful management schemes is highly challenging due to the complexity of saliva. This study aimed to systematically map the literature on the physical stimulation of salivary glands for hyposalivation management and the response of individuals according to different systemic conditions causing salivary impairment.

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Background: With the increase in the older adult population, it is essential to identify the living and health conditions that can impact the quality of life of these individuals.

Objectives: To identify the domains and factors associated with the quality of life of older adults under the Family Health Strategy program.

Design And Setting: This was a cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the municipality of Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil.

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Background: Anemia is a common finding among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, especially those on dialysis. The recent introduction of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) has raised some concerns about the cardiovascular and thrombotic complications of this class of drugs.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the safety of HIF-PHIs in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) versus standard therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).

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