Satisfaction and burden of mental health personnel: data from healthcare services for substance users and their families.

Objective: To evaluate satisfaction and burden of mental health personnel providing mental health services for substance users and their families.

Method: Five hundred twenty-seven mental health workers who provide treatment for substance users in five Brazilian states were interviewed. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and measures of satisfaction (SATIS-BR) and burden of mental health personnel (IMPACTO-BR) were collected.

Mechanical ventilation in patients in the intensive care unit of a general university hospital in southern Brazil: an epidemiological study.

Objectives: To determine the characteristics, the frequency and the mortality rates of patients needing mechanical ventilation and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a general university hospital in southern Brazil.

Method: Prospective cohort study in patients admitted to the ICU who needed mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours between March 2004 and April 2007.

Results: A total of 1,115 patients admitted to the ICU needed mechanical ventilation.

The epidemiology of cancer in Angola-results from the cancer registry of the national oncology centre of Luanda, Angola.

Knowledge of the epidemiological profile of cancer is a key step in planning national cancer policy. The main objective of this study was to characterize the epidemiological profile of cancer in Angola based on cases of cancer registered at the National Oncology Centre (NOC) of Luanda, the only Angolan hospital to specialize in cancer treatment and diagnosis. The study consisted of a cross-sectional historical review of cases treated at the NOC between 2007 and 2011.

Regional differences associated with drinking and driving in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate regional differences and similarities associated with drinking and driving (DUI) in the five Brazilian macro-regions.

Method: A roadside survey was conducted in the 27 Brazilian state capitals. A total of 3,398 drivers were randomly selected and given a structured interview and a breathalyzer test.

Predictors of positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in a sample of Brazilian drivers.

Objective: To verify the frequency of positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) among drivers and to examine associated factors in a cross-sectional study of Brazilian state capitals.

Methods: 3,398 drivers were approached on highways crossing all 27 Brazilian capitals from 12 p.m.

[Use of medication by the elderly in urban and rural areas in southern Brazil: a population-based study].

The study aimed to measure use of medication and polypharmacy among the elderly in Carlos Barbosa, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, and to compare socio-demographic, economic, and health characteristics in relation to area of residence (urban versus rural) in a random sample of 811 persons 60 year of age or older. Interviews were used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, chronic illnesses, and self-reported use of medications. The association between area of residence and medication or polypharmacy was adjusted for confounders using Poisson regression with robust variance.

Association of interleukin-6 in women with persistence of DNA-HPV: a nested case-control study.

Objective: To identify the role of Interleukin-6, IL-10 and their epidemiological association in women with persistence of DNA-HPV.

Design And Methods: A nested case-control study within a longitudinal cohort study. Cervical specimens and blood samples were collected at enrolment from asymptomatic women who looked for a service of public health in a district of Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Factors associated with alcohol and drug use among traffic crash victims in southern Brazil.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with alcohol- or drug-related traffic crashes (TC) in a sample of TC victims who were admitted to the two emergency rooms of Porto Alegre in southern Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with consecutive samples was used. Victims of non-fatal TCs (as drivers, passengers or pedestrians) who had presented at emergency rooms during the 45 days of data collection were selected.

Chlamydia trachomatis and human papillomavirus coinfection: association with p16INK4a and Ki67 expression in biopsies of patients with pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions.

The objective of this study was to identify the frequency of coinfection by human papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in cervical lesions and relate it with immunohistochemical expression of p16INK4a and Ki67, both oncogenicity markers. A cross-sectional study with 86 women from primary care units in southern Brazil was conducted. Cervical swabs were collected for HPV-DNA and CT-DNA detection, through the polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR).

Malnutrition and associated variables in an elderly population of Criciúma, SC.

Objective: Determining malnutrition and associated variables in the elderly.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly people vaccinated against influenza in order to evaluate their nutritional status. Nutritional assessment was performed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment.

Accuracy of ultrasonography with color Doppler in ovarian tumor: a systematic quantitative review.

A quantitative systematic review was performed to estimate the accuracy ultrasonography with color Doppler in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Studies that compared color Doppler ultrasonography with paraffin-embedded sections parameters for the diagnosis of ovarian tumors were included. Twelve studies were analyzed, which included 2398 women.

Efficacy of human papillomavirus vaccines: a systematic quantitative review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types cause approximately 70% of cervical cancer worldwide. Two vaccines have been recently evaluated in randomized controlled trials: the bivalent vaccine for HPV 16 and 18 (Cervarix, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium) and the quadrivalent vaccine for HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 (Gardasil, Merck and Co, Inc, Whitehouse Station, NJ). We have performed a systematic review of all randomized controlled trials in which vaccines against HPV were compared with placebo regarding efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity.

Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for early stage cervical cancer.

Background: Patients with early stage cervical cancer (stages IA2, IB1 or IIA) with risk factors such as lymph node metastasis, lympho vascular space invasion, depth invasion of more than 10mm, microscopic parametrial invasion, non-squamous histology and positive surgical margins have a high risk of recurrence when compared to patients with early stage cervical cancer with no risk factors for recurrence.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy after radical hysterectomy, radiotherapy, or both in the treatment of early stage cervical cancer (stages IA2, IB1 or IIA).

Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group Trials Register, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2009), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, BIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS and Cancerlit, the National Research Register and Clinical Trials register, with no language restriction.

Antibody anti-p16(INK4a) in cervical cytology.

Objective: To evaluate sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of anti-p16(INK4a) in cervical cytology.

Study Design: A case-control study was conducted in a reference center for cervical pathology. Cytology slides were collected in a standard way with Ayre spatula and Cytobrush.

Accuracy of ultrasonography with color Doppler in ovarian tumor: a systematic quantitative review.

A quantitative systematic review was performed to estimate the accuracy ultrasonography with color Doppler in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Studies that compared color Doppler ultrasonography with paraffin-embedded sections parameters for the diagnosis of ovarian tumors were included. Twelve studies were analyzed, which included 2398 women.

Laparoscopy versus laparotomy for benign ovarian tumour.

Background: Over the last 10 years laparoscopy and minilaparotomy have become increasingly common approaches for the surgical removal of benign ovarian tumours. However, in the event that a tumour is found to be malignant, laparotomy is the appropriate procedure. Careful preoperative assessment including transvaginal ultrasound with morphological scoring, colour doppler assessment of vascular quality, and serum cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) level is desirable.

Accuracy of CA 125 in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors: a quantitative systematic review.

A quantitative systematic review was performed to estimate the accuracy of CA 125 assay in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Studies that evaluated CA 125 levels for the diagnosis of ovarian tumors and compared them with paraffin-embedded sections as the diagnostic standard were included. Seventeen studies were analyzed, which included 2374 women.

Laparoscopy versus laparotomy for FIGO Stage I ovarian cancer.

Background: Over the past ten years laparoscopy has become an increasingly common approach for the surgical removal of early stage ovarian tumours. There remains uncertainty about the value of this intervention. This review has been undertaken to assess the available evidence of the benefits and harms of laparoscopic surgery for the management of early stage ovarian cancer compared to laparotomy.

Persistence and clearance of human papillomavirus infection: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify epidemiological correlates for persistence and clearance of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Study Design: Cervical smears collected in a prospective cohort study to perform Papanicoloau cytology and HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection at baseline and during the follow-up. Outcomes analyzed were: (1) persistence of HPV DNA; (2) conversion; and (3) clearance of HPV.

Oral status and its association with obesity in Southern Brazilian older people.

Background And Objective: The loss of a functional dentition imposes eating difficulties and food avoidance, which may be detrimental in terms of nutritional status and health. The objective of this study was to investigate whether tooth loss and edentulism that were not rehabilitated with dental prostheses were associated with obesity among elderly in Southern Brazil.

Materials And Methods: A random sample of 872 independently living elderly was evaluated by means of a cross-sectional study.

Association of chronic stress, depression symptoms and cortisol with low saliva flow in a sample of south-Brazilians aged 50 years and older.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the relationship between depression symptoms, chronic stress or physiological measures of stress such as cortisol levels and saliva secretion.

Objective: To evaluate the association of low saliva flow with chronic stress, depression symptoms and cortisol in a population aged 50 years and older.

Methods: Participants (n = 227) were recruited from community clubhouses and among dementia caregivers.

[Increase in breast cancer mortality in Southern Brazil from 1980 to 2002].

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the world. Breast cancer mortality rates are high in Brazil and show striking variations between geographic regions. A time-trend ecological study was performed in Southern Brazil from 1980 to 2002.

Community-acquired pneumonia by Chlamydophila pneumoniae: a clinical and incidence study in Brazil.

As there was not any data on Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) infections in Brazil so far, a prospective cohort study of adult patients hospitalized due to CAP was carried out for one year in a Brazilian university general hospital to detect the incidence of CAP by Chlamydophila pneumoniae (TWAR) for one year. During a whole year 645 consecutive patients hospitalized due to an initial presumptive diagnosis of respiratory diseases by ICD-10 (J00-J99), excluding upper respiratory diseases, were screened; 59 consecutive patients with CAP were diagnosed. They had determinations of serum antibodies to C.

Neutrophil apoptosis: a marker of disease severity in sepsis and sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Introduction: Apoptosis of neutrophils (polymorphonuclear neutrophils [PMNs]) may limit inflammatory injury in sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but the relationship between the severity of sepsis and extent of PMN apoptosis and the effect of superimposed ARDS is unknown. The objective of this study was to correlate neutrophil apoptosis with the severity of sepsis and sepsis-induced ARDS.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in intensive care units of three tertiary hospitals in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil.

Chronic stress, depression, and cortisol levels as risk indicators of elevated plaque and gingivitis levels in individuals aged 50 years and older.

Background: The role of psychoneuroimmunological factors in oral hygiene has been overlooked in the dental literature. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of stress, depression, and cortisol levels in dental plaque accumulation and gingivitis in a population of individuals aged >or=50 years.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 230 subjects, selected from caregivers of demented patient groups and from social activities groups of Porto Alegre, Brazil, were evaluated.