Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae among Brazilian children: Interplay with viral co-infection.

Nasopharyngeal transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a prerequisite for the development of pneumococcal diseases. Previous studies have reported a relationship between respiratory viruses and S. pneumoniae infections.

Effectiveness of a two-component nutritional strategy for blood pressure control in individuals with hypertension users of a public health system: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional strategy based on two components and adapted for the public health system on blood pressure, cardiometabolic features, self-care, qualify of life and diet quality in individuals with hypertension.

Methods: NUPRESS was an open-label, parallel-group, superiority randomized controlled clinical trial in which participants at least 21 years with hypertension and poorly controlled blood pressure were randomly assigned (1 : 1 allocation ratio) to either an individualized dietary prescription according to nutritional guidelines (control group, n  = 205); or a two-component nutrition strategy, including a goal-directed nutritional counseling and mindfulness techniques (NUPRESS [intervention] group, n  = 205). Primary outcomes were SBP (mmHg) after 24 weeks of follow up and blood pressure control, defined as either having SBP more than 140 mmHg at baseline and achieving 140 mmHg or less after follow-up or having SBP 140 mmHg or less at baseline and reducing the frequency of antihypertensive drugs in use after follow-up.

Determination of Vascular Age in Men Using the Coronary Calcium Score and its Impact on Restratification of Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Identifying asymptomatic individuals at risk of developing cardiovascular disease is one of the main goals of preventive cardiology. The coronary calcium score (CCS) makes it possible to estimate vascular age, which has shown to be more reliable than chronological age for determining cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: To reclassify cardiovascular risk based on arterial age and evaluate CCS progression during follow-up.

Factors associated with diet quality among Brazilian individuals with cardiovascular diseases.

Background: An individual's dietary pattern contributes in different ways to the prevention and control of recurrent cardiovascular events. However, the quality of the diet is influenced by several factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of the diet of individuals with cardiovascular diseases and determine whether there is an association between sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

Mortality was predicted by depression and functional dependence in a cohort of elderly adults of Italian descent from southern Brazil.

The older population has an increasing burden of non-communicable disease, which can potentially be associated with physical and mental disabilities and shorten life spam. To investigate whether depression, loss of functionality for activities of daily living, and lower social support are associated with all-cause mortality in the older population of Italian descent. This population-based cohort study was conducted in Veranópolis, a country city from southern Brazil, among individuals aged 60 years or older.