Knee pain prevalence and associated factors in a Brazilian population study.

Objectives: To estimate the association among knee pain and central obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Salvador, Brazil, with a sample of 2,297 individuals ≥20 years of age. A standardized questionnaire was applied at home to collect data about pain, sociodemographic characteristics and abdominal circumference measurement.

Comparison between Ponseti's and Kite's clubfoot treatment methods: a meta-analysis.

The objective of our study was to compare both Kite's and Ponseti's methods to evidence which one is the most efficient technique in the treatment of congenital idiopathic clubfoot, based on a meta-analysis of current scientific literature. We performed a search of the past 20 years of literature (1986 to 2006) on MEDLINE, LILACS, and EMBASE databases for clinical trials that compared both Kite's and Ponseti's methods. The search in the literature provided 4 selected papers for the meta-analysis.

Clinical outcomes of thirteen patients with acute chagas disease acquired through oral transmission from two urban outbreaks in northeastern Brazil.

Background: Outbreaks of orally transmitted Trypanosoma cruzi continue to be reported in Brazil and are associated with a high mortality rate, mainly due to myocarditis.

Methods: This study is a detailed report on the disease progression of acute Chagas disease in 13 patients who were infected during two micro-outbreaks in two northeastern Brazilian towns. Clinical outcomes as well as EKG and ECHO results are described, both before and after benznidazole treatment.

The effect of zoledronate during bone healing.

Background: Bisphosphonates have become the treatment of choice for a variety of bone diseases in which excessive osteoclastic activity is an important pathologic feature. However, inhibition of osteoclastic activity could lead to inhibition of remodeling during bone healing or repair. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of zoledronate (the most potent bisphosphonate) in the biological process of bone healing.

Clinical and functional profile of patients with the Painful Shoulder Syndrome (PSS).

Background: The Painful Shoulder Syndrome (PSS) is characterized by varying degrees of pain and functional limitation. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and functional profile of these patients.

Material And Methods: 136 patients undergoing clinical treatment for PSS were evaluated by a questionnaire regarding the following variables: sex, age, occupation, affected shoulder and its dominance, image diagnosis, pain location, intensity and characteristics, physical activity involving the shoulder, preferential position of upper limbs during occupational activity, limitation of movements during activities o daily living, and job absenteeism.

The role of protein C deficiency in the etiology of Perthes disease.

Background: Recent reports support the hypothesis that thrombophilia plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Perthes disease (PD) and the objective of this report is to show evidence of the role of protein C deficiency in the etiology of PD, based on a meta-analysis of current scientific literature.

Material And Methods: Studies were selected in all languages over the last twenty years (1986 to 2006) in MEDLINE, LILACS and EMBASE data bases. The inclusion criteria involved controlled studies, those that presented protein C as a continuous variable, and studies conducted in children with Perthes disease.

C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome in youth: a strong relationship?

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is on the rise in youth. As high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is associated with cardiovascular/metabolic disorders, we evaluated the association between MS and its components and hs-CRP in a sample of Brazilian overweight and obese youth.

Methods And Procedures: A total of 407 students (229 girls, 273 with excessive weight, 11.

Alanine aminotransferase and high sensitivity C-reactive protein: correlates of cardiovascular risk factors in youth.

Objective: The association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with clinical/metabolic variables was evaluated in overweight Brazilian children and adolescents.

Study Design: Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 407 students (273 overweight/obese, 11.3 +/- 3.

Cross-sectional study of endothelial function in HIV-infected patients in Brazil.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study evaluates vascular endothelial dysfunction of the peripheral circulation in Brazilian HIV-infected subjects on ART or naive to ART compared to a control group matched for age and body mass index (BMI). We performed a cross-sectional comparative study to measure postischemic peak flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and the response to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in HIV-infected patients and healthy controls in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Incidence and predictors of development of acute renal failure related to treatment of congestive heart failure with ACE inhibitors.

Background/aims: Recent studies have shown high rates of morbimortality associated with hyperkalemia in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) plus spironolactone and the best predictor of this electrolytic disorder was a decrease in renal function. We aim to identify the incidence and predictors of acute renal failure (ARF) related to treatment with ACEI associated or not with spironolactone.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study and followed 114 consecutive cases of CHF patients treated with ACEI at admission to a University Hospital.