A biomarker for tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis based on a recombinant Leishmania hypothetical protein.

The measures for leishmaniasis control include the precise diagnosis of disease. However, although several recombinant antigens have been tested with this biotechnological purpose, no effective product exists, which could detects patients with the active disease, as well as differentiates them from cured and treated patients. In this study, a conserved Leishmania hypothetical protein, which was identified in Leishmania infantum parasites, but evaluated to presents high homology in the amino acid sequences between distinct parasite species, was evaluated for the diagnosis of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis.

Screening diagnostic candidates from proteins for human visceral leishmaniasis using an immunoproteomics approach.

There is no suitable vaccine against human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and available drugs are toxic and/or present high cost. In this context, diagnostic tools should be improved for clinical management and epidemiological evaluation of disease. However, the variable sensitivity and/or specificity of the used antigens are limitations, showing the necessity to identify new molecules to be tested in a more sensitive and specific serology.

Development and Evaluation of a Continuing Education Program for Nursing Technicians at a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit in a Developing Country.

Background: The nursing profession faces continuous transformations demonstrating the importance of professional continuing education to extend knowledge following technological development without impairing quality of care. Nursing assistants and technicians account for nearly 80% of nursing professionals in Brazil and are responsible for uninterrupted patient care. Extensive knowledge improvement is needed to achieve excellence in nursing care.

External validation of risk stratification strategy in the use of renal ultrasonography in the evaluation of acute kidney injury.

Background: Per the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria, renal ultrasound is the most appropriate imaging examination to evaluate patients with acute kidney injury. However, recent studies suggest that renal ultrasound may be more selectively performed, which could lead to reductions in the use of medical imaging.

Objective: Evaluate a published risk stratification prediction model (the Licurse model) for using renal ultrasound in hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury.

Impact of a clinical decision support tool on adherence to the Ottawa Ankle Rules.

Objective: The objective of the study is to determine impact of a clinical decision support (CDS) tool on documented adherence to the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) and utilization and yield of ankle/foot radiography, for emergency department patients with acute ankle injury.

Methods: This is a before-and-after intervention study conducted at a 793-bed, quaternary care, academic hospital from August 2012 to October 2013. Emergency department visits from adults with acute ankle injury 6 months before and 8 months after the intervention were included.

Impact of a Structured Report Template on the Quality of MRI Reports for Rectal Cancer Staging.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of implementing a structured report template on the quality of MRI reports for rectal cancer staging.

Materials And Methods: After excluding examinations performed after surgery or neoadjuvant therapy, we analyzed all rectal cancer staging MRI reports finalized at an academic medical center 12 months before and after an intervention consisting of implementing a structured report template integrated into the institution's speech recognition system. The primary outcome measure was the quality of rectal cancer staging MRI reports classified as optimal, satisfactory, or unsatisfactory, on the basis of the documentation of 14 quality measures predefined by a consensus of the institution's abdominal radiology subspecialists.

Performance of Wells Score for Deep Vein Thrombosis in the Inpatient Setting.

Importance: The Wells score to determine the pretest probability of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was validated in outpatient settings, but it is unclear whether it applies to inpatients.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of the Wells score for risk stratification of inpatients with suspected DVT.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A prospective study was conducted in a 793-bed quaternary care, academic hospital using Wells score clinical predictor findings entered by health care professionals in a computerized physician order entry system at the time lower-extremity venous duplex ultrasound studies were ordered.

Impact of an Information Technology-Enabled Initiative on the Quality of Prostate Multiparametric MRI Reports.

Rationale And Objectives: Assess the impact of implementing a structured report template and a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tool on the quality of prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) reports.

Materials And Methods: Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant study performed at an academic medical center. The study cohort included all prostate mp-MRI reports (n = 385) finalized 6 months before and after implementation of a structured report template and a CAD tool (collectively the information technology [IT] tools) integrated into the picture archiving and communication system workstation.

Serum ferritin correlates with Glasgow coma scale scores and fatal outcome after severe traumatic brain injury.

Objectives: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a 30-70% mortality rate. Nevertheless, in clinical practice there are no effective biomarkers for the prediction of fatal outcome following severe TBI. Therefore, the aim was to determine whether ferritin serum levels are associated with ICU mortality in patients with severe TBI.

Glycemic control and diabetes management in hospitalized patients in Brazil.

Background: The importance of tight blood glucose control among outpatients with diabetes mellitus is well established, however, the management of diabetes in the hospital setting is generally considered secondary in importance. This study sought to assess glycemic control and diabetes management in adult patients admitted to hospitals in Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional and nationwide survey was conducted from July 2010 to January 2012.

Lack of association between interleukin-1 gene polymorphism and prognosis in severe traumatic brain injury patients.

Objective: Traumatic brain injury is the major cause of death among individuals between 1-45 years-old. The outcome of traumatic brain injury may be related to brain susceptibility to the injury and genetic factors. Genes that may affect traumatic brain injury outcome are being investigated, however there is still few data concerning the association between genetic polymorphisms and traumatic brain injury outcome.