Highlights ■ The elderly had higher severity, more comorbidities, and longer intensive care unit and hospital stays than adults. ■ They required more assistance resources and had higher hospital mortality. ■ Independent mortality predictors: age ≥60, frailty, arrhythmia, transplant, acute kidney injury, vasopressors and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidities, therapeutic resources, and mortality rates of elderly patients with COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients […]

Highlights ■ A single session of self-selected intensity walking reduced systolic blood pressure in individuals with peripheral artery disease. ■ Heart rate recovery responses after self-selected-intensity walking were similar to those following the guidelineprescribed exercise. ■ Self-selected intensity exercise may offer a feasible strategy for patients with claudication, balancing comfort and cardiovascular benefits. ■ These findings support flexible exercise prescriptions tailored to individual comfort without compromising the cardiovascular benefits. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the post-exercise effects of self-selected exercise intensity […]

Highlights ■ Calf circumference is a well-established indicator of all-cause mortality. ■ In women with peripheral artery disease, calf circumference was inversely associated with arterial stiffness. ■ Among men with peripheral artery disease, calf circumference was not associated with cardiovascular indicators. ■ Calf circumference may be a useful screening tool for cardiovascular risk in women. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association between calf circumference and cardiovascular indicators in men and women with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study […]

Highlights ■ More than 2 million procedures were analyzed in the public health system from 2019 to 2023. ■ A total of 13 types of procedures were performed across 7 different specialties. ■ A 35% reduction in the total number of surgeries was observed. ■ There was no recovery of surgeries postponed during the pandemic. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze changes in surgical volume across different specialties in Brazil before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive observational study […]

Highlights ■ HPV+ is associated with improved overall survival in oropharyngeal cancer ■ HPV+ tumors tend to recur earlier than HPV- tumors. ■ Metastasis is a key prognostic factor for mortality and recurrence regardless of HPV status. ■ Smoking and alcohol consumption reduce the favorable prognosis of HPV+. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the overall and disease-free survival of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Sociodemographic and clinical data, HPV status, and alcohol/tobacco consumption were assessed among patients treated at […]

Highlights ■ Intranasal midazolam with an atomizer is a treatment for pediatric status epilepticus. ■ In Brazil, the atomizer is often replaced with a syringe owing to the cost of the device. ■ We compared midazolam plasma levels with and without an atomizer in children with epilepsy. ■ No significant difference was found, supporting the syringe-only use in emergencies. ABSTRACT Objective: Convulsive status epilepticus is the most common neurological emergency in children with high morbidity and mortality rates. Intranasal midazolam […]

Highlights ■ Hyperprolactinemia can be present in non-functioning pituitary adenomas because of the stalk effect. ■ Absolute prolactin levels may not always be reliable in discriminating non-functioning pituitary adenomas from prolactinomas. ■ Prolactin normalization after 48 h of 0.25mg cabergoline intake could be a strong predictor of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (100% sensitivity and specificity). ABSTRACT Objective: Clinical, imaging, and laboratory differentiation between non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) and prolactinomas can be challenging in clinical practice because of their similar presentation and […]

Highlights High fatigue and nutritional risk at discharge improved over one year in cancer survivors. Psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, remained prevalent for one year. 66% of patients had lasting symptoms or impairments after 12 months of follow-up. Nutritional risk was resolved in the following year. ABSTRACT Objective: Post-COVID symptoms are frequent and can be debilitating, particularly in individuals with cancer. However, their impact on this population remains unclear. This study aimed to prospectively assess […]

Highlights ■ Immersive virtual reality reduced heart rate, pain, agitation, and crying during pediatric venipuncture. ■ This technology effectively reduced pain during repeated invasive procedures, including catheter punctures. ■ The serious game strategy is low-cost, easy to implement, and well-suited for pediatric oncology care. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the impact of a serious immersive virtual reality game on the physiological and behavioral aspects of pain during peripheral venous access or central catheter puncture in children and adolescents with cancer. Methods: […]

Highlights ■ This prospective cohort study assessed prostate biopsy complications in 1,043 men. ■ The major outcomes included bleeding (Clavien-Dindo Grades 2–3 = 1.5%), infections (4.7%), and urinary retention (4.1%). ■ The key risk factors for infection were recent quinolone use, indwelling catheters, and high PSA levels. ■ Acute urinary retention was linked to untreated lower urinary tract symptoms, prostate volume, intravesical prostatic protrusion, and bladder wall thickness. ABSTRACT Objective: To identify complications following transrectal posterior biopsies in a public […]