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.

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.

Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and APOE Polymorphism with Mortality in the Oldest Old: A 21-Year Cohort Study.

Background: Knowledge of environmental and genetic factors for healthy aging in elderly people is controversial. In addition to this evidence, few studies have been designed for this population.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the most frequent apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes and mortality in very elderly individuals living in a community and to evaluate survival according to cardiovascular risk factors.

Implementation of a Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program for improvement on quality of diet and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: A randomized, multicenter trial.

Background: Appropriate dietary recommendations represent a key part of secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the effectiveness of the implementation of a nutritional program on quality of diet, cardiovascular events, and death in patients with established CVD.

Methods: In this open-label, multicenter trial conducted in 35 sites in Brazil, we randomly assigned (1:1) patients aged 45 years or older to receive either the BALANCE Program (experimental group) or conventional nutrition advice (control group).

Cohort study of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic young adults: subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary calcium score.

Coronary artery calcification is an early marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, but little research has been done in asymptomatic individuals under 45 years. In this cohort study with 17 years of follow-up, 155 participants were assessed in 2016 with a coronary calcium score for the association with cardiovascular risk factors. During follow-up, there was a significant increase in anthropometric measurements, cholesterol and fractions, and diastolic pressure.

Active aging is associated with low prevalence of depressive symptoms among Brazilian older adults.

Introduction: Active aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security, aiming to improve quality of life as people age. A series of studies had demonstrated that a lower prevalence of depression is found among more active elderly.

Objective: To evaluate the association between indicators of active aging and depressive symptoms among the elderly (aged 60 years or more).

The Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional Program to reduce events and risk factors in secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease: study protocol (The BALANCE Program Trial).

This article reports the rationale for the Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional Program (BALANCE Program) Trial. This pragmatic, multicenter, nationwide, randomized, concealed, controlled trial was designed to investigate the effects of the BALANCE Program in reducing cardiovascular events. The BALANCE Program consists of a prescribed diet guided by nutritional content recommendations from Brazilian national guidelines using a unique nutritional education strategy, which includes suggestions of affordable foods.

Waist circumference in children and adolescents correlate with metabolic syndrome and fat deposits in young adults.

Background & Aims: To determine the relevance of waist circumference (WC) measurement and monitoring in children and adolescents as an early indicator of overweight, metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular problems in young adults in comparison with visceral and subcutaneous adiposity.

Methods: A cohort study with 159 subjects (51.6% female) started in 1999 with an average age of 13.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the very elderly: results of a cohort study in a city in southern Brazil.

Background: Risk factors for cardiovascular mortality have barely been investigated in very elderly persons and there may be differences compared with younger individuals.

Methods: This is a cohort study of all inhabitants over 80 years of age in the city of Veranópolis, Brazil. The association of demographic, anthropometric, physical, and medical characteristics with mortality by any cause and by cardiovascular disease (CVD) was investigated by means of Cox regression models.

Dietary intake is not associated to the metabolic syndrome in elderly women.

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a complex metabolic disturbance due to an interaction between genetic factors, poor dietary habits and physical inactivity.

Aims: To investigate the role of dietary intake on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in a population of elderly, socially active women in Brazil.

Patients And Methods: A total of 284 women with mean age 69.