Lung function and quality of life one year after severe COVID-19 in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate symptoms, lung function, and quality of life of a cohort of patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 12 months after hospital admission.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. We included severe COVID-19 survivors hospitalized in one of three tertiary referral hospitals for COVID-19 in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Lung function six months after severe COVID-19: Does time, in fact, heal all wounds?

Background: COVID-19 has been associated with persistent symptoms and functional changes, especially in those surviving severe disease.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter study in patients with severe COVID-19 to determine respiratory sequelae. Patients were stratified into two groups: ward admission (WA) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Lung function of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at 45 days after hospital discharge: first report of a prospective multicenter study in Brazil.

Objective: Because SARS-CoV-2 infection can severely affect the lungs and persistent functional changes can occur after severe disease, we aimed to determine lung function parameters of COVID-19 patients at 45 days after hospital discharge and compare changes according to the severity of the disease.

Methods: This was a prospective descriptive analytical multicenter study. The participants were allocated into three groups: ward admission (WA) group; ICU admission not on mechanical ventilation (ICU/MV-) group; and ICU admission on MV (ICU/MV+) group.

Evaluation of the quality of information available on the internet on vaginal meshes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of information on the internet about vaginal meshes available to the general population.

Study Design: The terms "vaginal sling," "sling vagina," "vaginal mesh," "mesh vagina," "vaginal tape," and "tape vagina" were used every time on three major search engines, and the first 10 websites retrieved by each search engine were selected and evaluated using the DISCERN questionnaire. The websites were divided into four categories based on the type of agency that created the website.

An expert review on breaking barriers in severe asthma in Brazil: Time to act.

Currently, Brazil lacks a national asthma management program and is burdened with nearly 200,000 hospitalizations due to the disease per year and approximately 5 deaths per day. The purpose of this article was to analyze the current issues surrounding severe asthma in Brazil, as the status of diagnosis and treatment is largely unknown, and to provide feasible recommendations to elicit imminent action. A panel of Brazilian medical experts in the field of severe asthma was provided with a series of relevant questions to address prior to a multi-day conference.

Clínical Audit of Primary Treatment of Open Fractures: Antibiotic Treatment and Tetanus Prophylaxis.

 To evaluate whether the conducts involving antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis against tetanus have been performed according to the Clinical Protocol of the Institution.  Descriptive and retrospective study conducted in patients of both genders, > 18 years old admitted to a public hospital specialized in emergency and trauma, to treat primary open fracture. The data of interest were surveyed in medical records, drug prescriptions, report of patients admitted in the Surgical Block and tetanus prophylaxis requests.

Timely care linkage of people living with HIV in a reference health service, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.

Introduction: Linkage is a critical step in the ongoing care of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/aids) infection and is essential for providing access to antiretroviral therapy, as well as comprehensive care.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study on people living with HIV (PLHIV), aged ≥ 18 years old, linked between January and December 2015, in a referral service for outpatient and hospital care specialized in HIV/AIDS in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Linkage time was defined as the time from diagnosis to service linkage.

Costs of topical treatment of pressure ulcer patients.

Objective: To evaluate the costs of a topical treatment of pressure ulcer (PU) patients in a hospital unit for treatment of chronic patients in 2014.

Method: This is an activity-based costing study. This method encompasses the identification, measurement and pricing of physical and human resources consumed for dressings.

Defining and treating acute kidney injury patients in Brazilian intensive care units: Results from a cross-sectional nationwide survey.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to characterize the practices of Brazilian intensivists toward acute kidney injury (AKI) definition and management.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 36 Brazilian hospitals.

Results: Of 731 ICU physicians invited to participate, 310 (42%) responded to the survey.

Epidemiologic profile, survival, and maternal prognosis factors among women at an obstetric intensive care unit.

Objective: To identify the epidemiologic profile, maternal survival, and prognosis factors that might affect survival rates in the obstetric intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2007 and February 2009 in a tertiary referral ICU, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Critical patients during pregnancy and puerperium were followed from admission until discharge or death.

Validity and reproducibility of the revised oral assessment guide applied by community health workers.

Objective: To determine the validity and reproducibility of the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG) as pre-diagnostic tool used in elderly citizens by community health workers (CHWs) of the Family Health Strategy (FHS).

Material And Methods: Initially, we adjusted the English version to Portuguese and then developed a training program for use of ROAG, with the participation of CHWs, in selected districts that had the highest enrolled number of elderly people in the city. The elderly persons were distributed among 10 previously trained CHWs.

Utilization of bacteriological culture for increased diagnostic performance at a tuberculosis reference center hospital.

The purpose of this study was to assess the increase in positive results of bacteriological diagnostic tests for tuberculosis with the utilization of culture at a referral hospital for tuberculosis (TB). A retrospective analysis was conducted based on the positive bacteriological results obtained at the Júlia Kubistchek Hospital. The number of bacteriological diagnoses was increased by 24.

[Evaluation of prenatal screening for toxoplasmosis in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil: a cross-sectional study of postpartum women in two maternity hospitals].

This cross-sectional study of 420 women in two public maternity hospitals from August 2004 to May 2005 evaluated the application of a prenatal toxoplasmosis serological screening protocol in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, and the information provided to susceptible pregnant women. Ninety-eight percent of women received prenatal care and 97% underwent the initial serological screening test, at an average of 16 weeks gestational age. The initial testing identified 163 women as susceptible to toxoplasmosis: 44% of these did not undergo repeat serological testing, and 42% of them did not remember having received information on the prevention of toxoplasmosis infection.

PCR identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in a clinical sample from a patient with symptoms of tuberculous spondylodiscitis.

A 42-year-old male complaining of thoracic spine pain was admitted to the hospital for evaluation. An X-ray and computer tomography of the thoracic spine showed spondylodiscitis of the L3 lumbar and L2-L3 intervertebral disk. The tuberculin skin test (PPD) was strongly positive.

Factors associated with safe sex among public school students in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate factors associated with safe sex among sexually active public school students in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The study focused on correlations between the variables gender, age, schooling, current grade, ethnicity, religion, importance attributed to religion, mothers' education, prior exposure to any sex education, promotion of juvenile protagonism, and participation by health professionals in school activities and consistent condom use with casual or stable partners and with use of other modern contraceptive methods. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used.