Anthropometric trajectory in the course of life and occurrence of sarcopenia in men and women: results from the ELSA-Brasil cohort.

This study aimed to identify patterns of anthropometric trajectories throughout life and to analyse their association with the occurrence of sarcopenia in people from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). It is a cross-sectional study involving 9670 public servants, aged 38-79 years, who answered the call for new data collection and exams, conducted approximately 4 years after the study baseline (2012-2014). Data sequence analysis was used to identify patterns of anthropometric trajectory.

Hormone therapy and Hypertension in Postmenopausal Women: Results from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in post-menopausal women. Although menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is a very effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms during this period, the influence of this therapy on blood pressure is not yet clear.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the use of MHT and hypertension in participants of the ELSA-Brasil.

Performance of Chimeric Antigens in Serological Screening for Chagas Disease in Blood Banks.

Chagas disease (CD) is among the top 10 causes of inability to blood donation. Blood donation centers screen for anti- antibodies using highly sensitive immunoenzymatic (ELISA) or chemiluminescent methods, which can lead to false positive results. Since positive samples cannot be used, to avoid the loss of valuable blood donations, it is necessary to improve specificity without reducing the sensitivity of the tests used for blood screening.

Distribution of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Human T-Leukemia Virus Co-infection in Bahia, Brazil.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Human T-Leukemia Virus (HTLV) are retroviruses that share similar routes of transmission. In Brazil, the prevalence of HIV and HTLV varies according to geographic region. The state of Bahia, located in the Northeast region, is considered endemic for both retroviruses.

Prognostic value of electrocardiographic abnormalities in adults from the Brazilian longitudinal study of adults' health.

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are highly preventable non-communicable diseases. ECG is a potential tool for risk stratification with respect to CVD. Our aim was to evaluate ECG's role in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality prediction.

Evidence of New Endemic Clusters of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV) Infection in Bahia, Brazil.

Background: Salvador, Bahia (northeastern Brazil), has been identified as the epicenter of Human T-cell leukemia virus Human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) type 1 infection in the country. This study aims to estimate the rate of HTLV infection and the geographical distribution of this virus in this state.

Methods: All HTLV tests (chemiluminescence/ELISA assays/Western Blotting) performed in the Central Laboratory of Public Health of Bahia (LACEN) from 2004 to 2013 were included.

Correction: Gender, time use and overweight and obesity in adults: Results of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Gender, time use and overweight and obesity in adults: Results of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Perceived time constraints have been highlighted in sociological studies as representing a core issue in determining quality of life. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that gender inequalities regarding insufficiency of time play a role in the development of overweight and obesity in adults. The study used baseline data (2008-2010) from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), which monitors a cohort of 15,105 civil servants of 35 to 74 years of age.

Tuberculosis incidence in a cohort of individuals infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in Salvador, Brazil.

Background: Few reports have investigated the association between human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and tuberculosis (TB) in countries where both infections are endemic. This study estimates the incidence of TB in a cohort infected with HTLV-1, compared with non-infected individuals, over a ten-year period.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study involving the cross-matching of records of individuals for whom a HTLV serology was performed at a referral center for HTLV (CHTLV) with a database of TB cases from Sinan-the Information System on Diseases of Compulsory Declaration between 2002 and 2012.

Proposed criteria for the identification of polycystic ovary syndrome following menopause: An ancillary study of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Objectives: To propose plausible criteria with which to identify menopausal women with PCOS.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study involving the baseline data of 713 menopausal women at admission to the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Main Outcome Measures: PCOS was identified by the presence of two of three criteria.

HTLV-1 in pregnant women from the Southern Bahia, Brazil: a neglected condition despite the high prevalence.

Background: As the most frequent pathway of vertical transmission of HTLV-1 is breast-feeding, and considering the higher prevalence in women, it is very important to perform screening examinations for anti-HTLV-1 antibodies as part of routine prenatal care. So far, no studies of HTLV-1 seroprevalence in pregnant women in the Southern region of Bahia, Brazil, have been described.

Methods: Pregnant women were selected at the two regional reference centers for health care from Southern Bahia.

[Quality of abortion care in the Unified Health System of Northeastern Brazil: what do women say?].

Abortion is a serious health problem in Brazil and complications can be avoided by adequate and timely care. The article evaluates the quality of care given to women admitted for abortion in hospitals operated by the Unified Health System, in Salvador, Recife and São Luis, the benchmarks being Ministry of Health norms and user satisfaction. The article analyzes 2804 women admitted to hospital for abortion complications in 19 hospitals, between August and December 2010.

The role of education level in the intergenerational pattern of adolescent pregnancy in Brazil.

Context: Adolescent pregnancy has been associated with the early childbearing experience of the mothers of adolescents, and young people's education level is believed to be an important factor in this phenomenon.

Methods: In 2002, a representative household survey collected data from 3,050 young men and women aged 20-24 in three Brazilian cities. The main measures were mother's age at first birth, daughter's age at first pregnancy and son's age when he first impregnated a partner; ages were dichotomized as younger than 20 and 20 or older.

[Contraceptive use among adolescents at public schools in Brazil].

Objective: There has been a growing interest in patterns of contraceptive use among adolescents, due, in particular, to the social relevance attached to pregnancy in this age group. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods among female and male adolescent students.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted, by means of self-applied questionnaires, among 4,774 students ranging from 11 to 19 years of age.