Vitamin A and D deficiencies: Perspectives for COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: Considering the rapid spread of COVID-19, the scientific community has been looking for ways to recognize factors that may interfere with the outcome of viral infection. Despite the lack of studies with the new coronavirus, it is known that adequate serum levels of micronutrients are essential for the organic response to infectious diseases. Thus, we aim to review the effects of vitamin A, D, iron, zinc, or folate deficiency on the prognosis of patients with respiratory infections with manifestations similar to COVID-19 and discuss about supplementation of the nutrients analyzed in this review. METHODS: The search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Lilacs, and SciELO, including observational studies published between 2010-2020, with results for individuals with respiratory tract infections with manifestations similar to COVID-19. RESULTS: Six articles met the inclusion criteria, all of which were related to deficiencies of vitamins A and D. In general, vitamin A deficiency was associated with cough, fever, and greater total respiratory resistance. Regarding vitamin D, the lack of this nutrient led to higher rates of ICU admission, the need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Evidence linking specific relationships between nutritional deficiencies and COVID-19 remain lacking due to the small number of studies and heterogeneities in population subgroups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, deficiencies of vitamins A and D seem to negatively affect the prognosis of respiratory tract infections. Supplementation of these nutrients for prevention or treatment of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 should respect serum levels, nutritional status and housing conditions (e.g.,endemic location) of individuals

Knowledge of nursing students about the care provided to people with neoplastic wounds

Objective: To investigate the knowledge of nursing students about the care provided to patients with neoplastic wound. Method: This is an exploratory research of a qualitative nature, which was attended by 15 students of the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the Center of Education and Health of the Federal University of Campina Grande, campus Cuité - PB, in the period from October to November 2015. For data collection, we used a form for an interview. The data were analyzed through the Technique of Thematic Analysis of Minayo. Results: From the analysis of the empirical material emerged the following thematic categories: Category 1 - Defining neoplastic wounds; Category 2 - Knowledge incipient on ‘neoplastic wounds’ for academic and professional practice; Category 3 - Envisioning the theme "neoplastic wound" in the Academy; Category 4 - Knowledge about methods of evaluation of neoplastic wounds and Category 5 - Knowledge of therapeutic modalities of neoplastic wounds. Conclusions: The academics know the evaluative method of a patient with neoplastic wound as integralizadora unit of care process; recognize palliative care as the best therapeutic modality for these customers, especially when they are in completion and indicate the products contraindicated in the treatment of these lesions; however, do not mention the covers and recommended substances for the control of the signs and symptoms of these injuries. In this context, it is believed that the creation of academic projects of extension, with the aim of creating opportunities for integration between theory and practice, is one of the ways to improve the knowledge.   Keywords: Knowledge; Students of Nursing; Skin Neoplasms

Antibodies to ribossomal P proteins in lúpus nephritis: a surrogate marker for a better renal survival?

O anticorpo anti-proteína P ribossomal é um dos marcadores sorológicos do lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, previamente associado a glomerulonefrite lúpica classe V (ISN-RPS). Neste trabalho foi avaliado o prognóstico renal em pacientes que possuem positividade para este anticorpo. Sessenta pacientes foram avaliados para parâmetros de sobrevida renal. Onze pacientes (18%) apresentaram positividade sorológica exclusiva para anticorpo anti-P ribossomal e vinte e oito pacientes (47%) para anti-dsDNA. Ao final do período de seguimento, foi observado que os pacientes anti-P positivos apresentaram uma maior sobrevida renal (11,0 ± 4,5 vs. 9,2 ± 4,5 anos, p=0,03) quando comparados aqueles anti-P negativos, assim como menor frequência de necessidade de terapia substitutiva renal (0 vs. 35% p = 0,025). Pacientes anti-P positivos apresentaram também maior frequência de classe V (91% vs. 31%, p < 0.001) e menor incidência de alterações proliferativas (45% vs. 82%, p = 0,021) na avaliação da biópsia renal quando comparados aos pacientes sem a positividade para este anticorpo. Os dados reforçam a hipótese de que o anticorpo anti-P é um marcador útil de um melhor prognóstico renal em pacientes portadores de lúpus eritematoso sistêmicoAntibodies to ribossomal P proteins are one of the serologic markers of systemic lupus erythematosus, previously described as associated to class V lupus glomerulonephritis (ISN-RPS). Our study assessed renal prognosis in patients with anti-P antibodies. Sixty consecutive SLE patients with biopsyproven nephritis (2004 ISN/RPS) were evaluated for renal survival parameters. Eleven patients (18%) had exclusive anti-P positivity and 28 (47%) patients anti-dsDNA. The post-biopsy follow-up analysis demonstrated that anti-P positive patients disclosed better renal survival (11.0 ± 4.5 vs. 9.2 ± 4.5 years, p = 0.03) as well as lower frequency of patients requiring dialysis (0 vs. 35% p = 0.025). The frequency of class V nephritis was higher in anti-P positive patients (91% vs. 31%, p < 0.001) and the occurrence of proliferative lesions at biopsy was lower in these patients (45% vs. 82%, p=0.021). Our data supports the notion that anti-P antibody is a valuable marker to predict a better long-term renal outcome in lupus patient

Linfadenopatia e lúpus eritematoso sistêmico

A linfadenopatia no lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) é um achado benigno encontrado comumente em jovens, com atividade cutânea e sintomas constitucionais, apresentando boa resposta à corticoterapia. O achado mais frequente à biópsia é a hiperplasia folicular reacional. Relatamos o caso de um paciente que, desde os 13 anos de idade, apresentava surtos recorrentes de linfadenopatia, acompanhados de hepatoesplenomegalia, febre e emagrecimento. Na evolução, apareceram artrite, hipertensão arterial, proteinúria, miocardiopatia e neuropatia periférica. Foi amplamente investigado sem esclarecimento diagnóstico e submetido a tratamento empírico de tuberculose. Somente após cinco anos de evolução firmou-se o diagnóstico de LES e recebeu tratamento específico. O diagnóstico precoce nestes casos é difícil, pois a investigação laboratorial pode ainda não demonstrar presença de autoanticorpos ou hipocomplementemia

EXCESSIVE WEIGHT – MUSCLE DEPLETION PARADOX AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN OUTPATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Background Evidence suggests a nutritional transition process in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Obesity, which was once an uncommon occurrence in such patients, has grown in this population at the same prevalence rate as that found in the general population, bringing with it an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the nutritional status and occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods A case-series cross-sectional study was conducted involving male and female adult outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease. Data were collected on demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and anthropometric variables as well as the following cardiovascular risk factors: sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, abdominal obesity, medications in use, comorbidities, alcohol intake and smoking habits. The significance level for all statistical tests was set to 5% (P< 0.05). Results The sample comprised 80 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 56 of whom (70.0%) had ulcerative colitis and 24 of whom (30.0%) had Crohn's disease. Mean age was 40.3±11 years and the female genre accounted for 66.2% of the sample. High frequencies of excess weight (48.8%) and abdominal obesity (52.5%) were identified based on the body mass index and waist circumference, respectively, in both groups, especially among those with ulcerative colitis. Muscle depletion was found in 52.5% of the sample based on arm muscle circumference, with greater depletion among patients with Crohn’s disease (P=0.008). The most frequent risk factors for cardiovascular disease were a sedentary lifestyle (83.8%), abdominal obesity (52.5%) and excess weight (48.8%). Conclusion The results of the complete anthropometric evaluation draw one’s attention to a nutritional paradox, with high frequencies of both - muscle depletion, as well as excess weight and abdominal obesity

Pharmacist-participated medication review in different practice settings: Service or intervention? An overview of systematic reviews.

IntroductionMedication review (MR) is a pharmacy practice conducted in different settings that has a positive impact on patient health outcomes. In this context, systematic reviews on MR have restricted the assessment of this practice using criteria such as methodological quality, practice settings, and patient outcomes. Therefore, expanding research on this subject is necessary to facilitate the understanding of the effectiveness of MR and the comparison of its results.AimTo examine the panorama of systematic reviews on pharmacist-participated MR in different practice settings.MethodsA literature search was undertaken in Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), Embase, PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases through January 2018 using keywords for "medication review", "systematic review", and "pharmacist". Two independents investigators screened titles, abstracts, full texts; assessed methodological quality; and, extracted data from the included reviews.ResultsSeventeen systematic reviews were included, of which sixteen presented low to moderate methodological quality. Most of reviews were conducted in Europe (n = 7), included controlled primary studies (n = 16), elderly patients (n = 9), and long-term care facilities (n = 8). Seven reviews addressed MR as an intervention and thirteen reviews cited collaboration between physicians and pharmacists in the practice of MR. In addition, thirteen terminologies for MR were used and the main objective was to identify and solve drug-related problems and/or optimize the drug use (n = 11).ConclusionThere is considerable heterogeneity in practice settings, population, definitions, terminologies, and approach of MR as well as poor description of patient care process in the systematic reviews. These facts may limit the comparison, summarization and understanding of the results of MR. Furthermore, the methodological quality of most systematic reviews was below ideal. Thus, international agreement on the MR process is necessary to assess, compare and optimize the quality of care provided

Knowledge of nursing students about the care provided to people with neoplastic wounds

Objective: To investigate the knowledge of nursing students about the care provided to patients with neoplastic wound. Method: This is an exploratory research of a qualitative nature, which was attended by 15 students of the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the Center of Education and Health of the Federal University of Campina Grande, campus Cuité - PB, in the period from October to November 2015. For data collection, we used a form for an interview. The data were analyzed through the Technique of Thematic Analysis of Minayo. Results: From the analysis of the empirical material emerged the following thematic categories: Category 1 - Defining neoplastic wounds; Category 2 - Knowledge incipient on ‘neoplastic wounds’ for academic and professional practice; Category 3 - Envisioning the theme "neoplastic wound" in the Academy; Category 4 - Knowledge about methods of evaluation of neoplastic wounds and Category 5 - Knowledge of therapeutic modalities of neoplastic wounds. Conclusions: The academics know the evaluative method of a patient with neoplastic wound as integralizadora unit of care process; recognize palliative care as the best therapeutic modality for these customers, especially when they are in completion and indicate the products contraindicated in the treatment of these lesions; however, do not mention the covers and recommended substances for the control of the signs and symptoms of these injuries. In this context, it is believed that the creation of academic projects of extension, with the aim of creating opportunities for integration between theory and practice, is one of the ways to improve the knowledge.   Keywords: Knowledge; Students of Nursing; Skin Neoplasms