ABSTRACT MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression in cells. These small molecules comprise 17 to 25 nucleotides and are able to recognize target messenger RNAs by sequence complementarity and regulate their protein translation. Different microRNAs are expressed in all human cells. There is over 2,500 microRNAs described in humans that are involved in virtually all biological processes. Given their role as gene expression regulators, these molecules have been widely investigated and are thought to be associated with […]

Today there are large databases (Big Data) of electronic records and digital images that allow pattern recognition in large volumes of information in a short period of time, contributing to the creation of a personalized Medicine with the aid of artificial intelligence.(,) The algorithms used in medical diagnosis software are formed by a deep neural network, consisting of several layers that resemble the biological processes of the human cortex. Each neuron corresponds to a specific stimulus for a region within […]

Neurodegeneration The pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy is related to the apoptosis of ganglion and amacrine and Müller cells of the retina, due to an accumulation of glutamate, which leads to a picture of neurodegeneration and reduction of the layer of nerve fibers and ganglion cells.() The pathophysiology of glutamate accumulation is related to dysfunction of the glutamine-synthetase enzyme of Müller cells, which reduces its ability to oxidize glutamate and to remove retinal glutamate by the glia cells. An increase in […]

In Brazil, the first patient with coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) was diagnosed on February 26, 2020. He lived in the city of São Paulo (SP), Brazil, and had recently returned from a trip to Europe. Over the next couple of weeks, most of the new cases of COVID-19 had an identifiable epidemiological risk factor – either having travelled abroad or been in contact with a patient known to have severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, as initial […]

THE CURRENT SITUATION IN AMERICA AND EUROPE Latin America improved access to higher education at universities by using different strategies such as funding for public universities, scholarships for students, and educational loans.( ) Ecuador, after had been the country with the least cover and educational quality,( ) adopted these strategies to rose the access to university by offering 55.56% and the gross and net rate of enrollment to 31.86% and 21.23%, respectively. Likewise, Argentina is currently known for its high […]

At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began to spread in the city of Wuhan, China, causing an outbreak of a highly transmissible and potentially severe viral pneumonia. This novel coronavirus disease, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), rapidly advanced all over the globe and was considered a pandemic in March 2020.( , ) However, in a recent article, COVID-19 has been redefined as a syndemic, since a background of social […]

Melanoma accounts for only approximately 5% of all skin cancer diagnoses worldwide, but it is very important due to its metastatic potential and the fact that it can lead to death.() In Brazil, in 2019, there were 1,978 deaths from the disease, and the estimate was 8,450 new cases for 2020.() A recently published study with Brazilian data showed that the mean incidence in men increased from 2.52 to 4.84, and in women, from 1.33 to 3.22 cases/100,000 inhabitants in […]

Assessment of new health technologies in the context of off-label use and repurposing of drugs for treatment and prevention of COVID-19 Some medications are used for purposes that are not described in the package insert; therefore, they are not analyzed in controlled studies, neither submitted to evaluation by regulatory processes, such as HTA, or official agencies, such as CONITEC, the National Health Agency (ANS – Agência Nacional de Saúde) and Anvisa. This practice is generally known as off-label use.() The […]

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries in individuals aged over 50 years.( ) Aiming to better diagnose and monitor the disease, algorithms have been developed to detect lesions in optical coherence tomography (OCT). The ability of machine learning algorithms to detect OCT lesions may already be comparable to that of retina specialists.( ) The theory of machine learning consists of simulating tiny synapses of a human brain. Neural networks were inspired by human synapses […]

ABSTRACT The Brazilian Nutritional Consensus in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Children and Adolescents was developed by dietitians, physicians, and pediatric hematologists from 10 Brazilian reference centers in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The aim was to emphasize the importance of nutritional status and body composition during treatment, as well as the main characteristics related to patient´s nutritional assessment. This consensus is intended to improve and standardize nutrition therapy during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The consensus was approved by the Brazilian Society […]

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the impact of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior among Brazilians residents aged ≥18 years. Methods An online survey was distributed through a social media platform between May 5 and 17, 2020. Participants completed a structured questionnaire in Google Forms, which assessed the physical activity level and sedentary behavior of adults in Brazil during the pandemic. Results Age (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99), chronic disease (OR: 1.29; 95%CI: 1.03-1.63), physical inactivity before […]

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association between climate changes in the macroregions in the state of São Paulo and testicular torsion treated cases. Methods: The cases were selected in the Brazilian Public Health Data System Database from January 2008 to November 2016. All surgical procedure records were identified by the Hospital Admission Authorization document. Two codes were selected to process the search: testicular torsion (surgical cure code) and acute scrotum (exploratory scrototomy code). The macroregions were grouped in five areas […]

ABSTRACT Objective Humidity and temperature are fundamental for the balance in the life cycle of living beings and, consequently, for maintaining the well-being of the human population and reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases. Thus, in order to mitigate the impact of climate change, especially in the period when humidity is not the ideal, it is necessary to adopt some assistance measures. The present experimental study aims to elucidate what would be the recommended option to improve the quality of […]

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the use of psychotropic drugs among civil servants with registered absenteeism due to mental disorders, and to investigate associations with duration of leave of absence. Methods A cross-sectional study with civil servants on leave of absence due to mental disorders, between January and December 2017. Demographic, occupational and clinical variables were extracted from secondary data. Non-parametric tests were used to investigate correlations between use of psychotropic drugs and leave duration. Cluster analysis was used to investigate […]

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed foods among children, and to investigate associations with socioeconomic and demographic factors. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study with 599 children aged 6 months to 2 years, and listed as users of Family Health Units, in a medium-size city. Mothers were approached at home by researchers and community health workers from the Family Health Units, for data collection. Two questionnaires were used: the socioeconomic and demographic questionnaire, and the form Sistema de Vigilância […]

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the factors associated with the high complexity of medication regimen in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a multiprofessional cardiology outpatient clinic, in the Secondary Care of the Unified Health System, where sociodemographic (age, sex, and education), clinical (number of health conditions, cardiovascular diagnoses, and comorbidities) and pharmacotherapeutic (adherence, polypharmacy, and cardiovascular polypharmacy) characteristics were collected. These were related to complexity of medication regimen, measured through the medication regimen […]

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate whether the carbohydrate-restricted diet leads to higher levels of food cravings in individuals with binge eating. Methods A total of 146 individuals with binge eating participated in the Low-Carb Diet Group (n=48) and Control Group (n=98). The Binge Eating Scale, Hay’s questionnaire, Food Cravings Questionnaire – Trait and State, Cognitive restraint subscale and its adapted version for the cognitive restraint toward carbohydrates, were used as measures. Parametric tests were used for comparison between groups (Student’s t […]

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the prevalence of leprosy cases using as parameters the number of diagnosed cases, age group, sex, clinical form of the disease, degree of physical disability, affected nerves, and therapeutic methods. Methods This was a descriptive study. Data were collected in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sistema de Informações de Agravos de Notificação) from 2014 to 2017 in the state of Mato Grosso (MT), Brazil. Results In the studied period, 11,388 cases were notified in the […]

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the morphology and morphometry of the muscles extensor digitorium longus and soleus of C57BL/6 females, who were exposed to glyphosate during pregnancy and lactation. Methods Twelve female mice from the C57BL/6 lineage were used. After detection of pregnancy, they were divided into a Control Group, which received only water, and a Glyphosate Group, which received water with 0.5% glyphosate during pregnancy and lactation. Both groups received ad libitum standard diet. After weaning, the females were euthanized […]

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the impact of risk factors on infant mortality in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo according to maternal and neonate characteristics, as well as mode of delivery. Methods An ecological, quantitative study based on secondary data retrieved from infant mortality and live birth data systems. Data from 39 municipalities located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo were analyzed. Newborn and maternal variables were extracted from the Information Technology Department of the Unified Health System. Absolute […]