Publications by authors named "Thais M Vasconcelos"

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in the pediatric population (children and infants), with high rates of hospitalization and death. This study aimed to create and validate a classifier for serotyping using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy as a rapid alternative to the classical serotyping technique. In this study, a database comprising 76 clinical isolates, including 18 serotypes (predominantly serotypes 19A, 6C, and 3) of from pediatric patients with IPD, was tested at a tertiary pediatric hospital in southern Brazil during 2016-2023.

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This study aimed to estimate the association of time of energy intake with weight status, diet quality, and sociodemographic characteristics in Brazil. This cross-sectional study used data from a nationally representative survey with 44.744 individuals (≥10 years old).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aims to analyze where households in Brazil obtain food and beverages, focusing on urban versus rural locations and the level of food processing.
  • Data from 49,489 households collected through the Household Budget Survey revealed that over half of the households purchase food from supermarkets, with notable differences in food acquisition patterns between urban and rural areas.
  • The research highlights how community food environments influence food consumption habits, particularly in relation to ultra-processed foods, varying significantly between urban and rural settings.
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Article Synopsis
  • Invasive candidiasis (IC) caused by non-albicans Candida is on the rise globally, especially in pediatrics, but there is limited data on its characteristics and treatment responses in children.
  • A study in a southern Brazilian children's hospital analyzed 123 non-duplicate Candida isolates from 2016 to 2021, finding a range of IC incidence between 0.88-1.55 cases per 1000 hospitalized patients and a mortality rate of 20.3%, with many cases occurring in patients under 13 months and linked to ICU admissions.
  • The research noted that the predominant species were non-albicans Candida (70.8%), with most isolates producing biofilm, but there was no significant clonal
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Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) exhibit high mortality rates in pediatric patients and usually belong to international high-risk clones. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology and carbapenem resistance mechanisms of K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from pediatric patients, and correlate them with phenotypical data.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on the meal patterns of the Brazilian population, analyzing data from over 46,000 individuals aged 10 and older, as part of the Brazilian National Dietary Survey.
  • - Researchers used a week-long method of two 24-hour food recalls to identify common meal combinations, finding that most people followed patterns of three main meals with varying numbers of snacks throughout the day.
  • - The analysis revealed eight distinct meal patterns influenced by factors like gender and age, with about 80% of participants consuming three main meals daily and 13% not having any snacks, highlighting the relevance of meal habits for health promotion efforts.
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Objectives: We aimed to investigate an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) in paediatric patients from Hospital Pequeno Príncipe. The susceptibility profile was determined, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to analyse the genetic context of the strains.

Methods: Five VREfm isolates were recovered from sterile sites and surveillance cultures of two paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

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Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has been increasingly observed in children, but there is a lack of epidemiological and molecular data on CDI in Latin America. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the role of CDI in children with diarrhea. It included 105 children with antimicrobial-associated diarrhea (AAD) and analyzed the molecular characteristics of strains isolated from two hospitals in southern Brazil between 2017 and 2020.

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Objective: To describe the evolution of beverage portion sizes consumed in Brazil between 2008 and 2018.

Methods: Data from the dietary surveys of 2008-2009 and 2017-2018 Brazilian Household Budget Surveys, conducted with 34,003 and 46,164 individuals, respectively, were used to analyze the portion size of beverages. Food consumption data were used to group beverages according to nutritional characteristics, type and size of portions into eight groups: high-calorie soft drinks, fruit refreshments, alcoholic beverages, coffee/tea, fruit juices, milk and milk substitutes and ultra-processed milk-based beverages.

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This study aimed at assessing the association between psychosocial aspects and fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents. Cross-sectional study developed with 327 adolescents from a public school in Brazil. A questionnaire developed for adolescents was applied to assess the influence of self-efficacy, family, peers, and body image on the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

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Invasive candidiasis (IC) contributes to the morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients and represents a significant burden to the healthcare system. Previous Brazilian studies have reported the presence of endemic sensu stricto genotypes causing candidemia and clonal transmission involving fluconazole-resistant isolates. We performed a 5-year retrospective analysis of IC cases in a Brazilian tertiary pediatric hospital and conducted a molecular investigation of sensu stricto.

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This study was aimed at describing the snack consumption among Brazilian adolescents. The Brazilian National Dietary Survey (2017-2018) is a nationwide representative cross-sectional study that collected food consumption data from 8264 adolescents (10 to 19 years old); data from one 24-h recall were used, in which all foods and beverages consumed throughout the day prior to the interview were described along with the amount, unit of measurement, time, place and occasion of consumption (breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack). Snacks were classified as follows: (a) Morning snack: "Snacks" consumed between 6 AM and 12 PM; (b) Afternoon snack: "Snacks" consumed between 1 PM and 5 PM; (c) Evening snack: "Snacks" consumed between 6 PM and 5 AM.

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene that leads to respiratory complications and mortality. Studies have shown shifts in the respiratory microbiota during disease progression in individuals with CF. In addition, CF patients experience short cycles of acute intermittent aggravations of symptoms called pulmonary exacerbations, which may be characterized by a decrease in lung function and weight loss.

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The aim of the study was to assess the evolution of food acquisition for away from home consumption in Brazil from 2002 to 2018. The trend of food purchases for out-of-home consumption in Brazil was evaluated by comparing food purchase data from the Household Budget Surveys (HBS) of 2002-2003, 2008-2009, and 2017-2018. The frequency of food acquisition was estimated according to sociodemographic variables and the mean cost.

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Objective: To describe the evolution of out-of-home food consumption in Brazil in 2008-2018.

Methods: We used the 2008-2009 and 2017-2018 data from the Inquéritos Nacionais de Alimentação (INA - National Food Surveys), conducted amid 34,003 and 46,164 individuals, to estimate the frequency of out-of-home food consumption and the contribution of this consumption to specific foods. Food consumption was analyzed using food records in the 2008-2009 INA and 24-hour recalls in 2017-2018.

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The objective of this study was to determine the association between common mental disorders (CMD) and dietary intake among Brazilian undergraduate students doing health-related courses. We interviewed 432 students enrolled at a public university in Fortaleza, the capital of the State of Ceará, between April and December 2018. The students were screened for CMD using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20).

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Background: Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a major cause of morbimortality in children. Previous studies described the clinical characteristics and risk factors for this infection; however, limited data are available on the predictors of mortality in these patients. In this context, we evaluated the risk factors associated with death due to IC in a pediatric tertiary care hospital in South of Brazil.

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The study analyzed variations in energy and nutrient intake by adolescents enrolled in public schools, examined in two school-based cross-sectional surveys, in 2003 and 2008. Food consumption was assessed with three food records. Weight was classified according to World Health Organization criteria.

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Objective: To evaluate the changes in beverage consumption among adolescents between 2003 and 2008.

Methods: Two school-based cross-sectional studies were carried out with public school students (12 to 19 years-old) from Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data from three food records were used to estimate daily, weekdays and weekend average consumption (volume and percent contribution for total daily energy intake) of milk and milk-based beverages, sugar sweetened beverages, fresh squeezed fruit juices, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.

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