Utilidade da estesiometria corneal na triagem da retinopatia diabética

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of corneal esthesiometry for screening diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 575 patients attending a diabetic retinopathy-screening program in the city of São Paulo. Corneal esthesiometry was assessed with the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. The presence of diabetic retinopathy was detected with indirect fundoscopy. The validity of corneal esthesiometry in identifying diabetic retinopathy was evaluated by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity analyses of the corneal esthesiometry for detecting the stages of diabetic retinopathy using different cut-offs showed values less than 80%. The best indices (72.2% sensitivity and 57.4% specificity) were obtained for the identification of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: In the study series, corneal esthesiometry was not a good indicator of diabetic retinopathy.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a utilidade da estesiometria corneal na triagem da retinopatia diabética. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal (N=575) em um programa de triagem de retinopatia diabética da Cidade de São Paulo, SP. A sensibilidade corneal foi aferida utilizando-se o estesiômetro de Cochet-Bonnet. A avaliação da retinopatia diabética foi obtida por meio da fundoscopia indireta. A validade do uso da estesiometria corneal na identificação de pacientes com retinopatia diabética foi avaliada por meio de curvas de sensibilidade e especificidade (Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve). RESULTADOS: A análise da sensibilidade e da especificidade da estesiometria corneal na detecção dos diferentes graus de retinopatia, utilizando-se diferentes pontos de corte, mostrou resultados inferiores a 80%. O melhor resultado obtido ocorreu na identificação de pacientes com retinopatia diabética proliferativa, mostrando sensibilidade de 72,2% e especificidade de 57,4%. CONCLUSÕES: Na série analisada, a estesiometria corneal não se mostrou um bom indicador da presença da retinopatia diabética.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de OftalmologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de OftalmologiaSciEL

Utilidade da estesiometria corneal na triagem da retinopatia diabética

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a utilidade da estesiometria corneal na triagem da retinopatia diabética. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal (N=575) em um programa de triagem de retinopatia diabética da Cidade de São Paulo, SP. A sensibilidade corneal foi aferida utilizando-se o estesiômetro de Cochet-Bonnet. A avaliação da retinopatia diabética foi obtida por meio da fundoscopia indireta. A validade do uso da estesiometria corneal na identificação de pacientes com retinopatia diabética foi avaliada por meio de curvas de sensibilidade e especificidade (Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve). RESULTADOS: A análise da sensibilidade e da especificidade da estesiometria corneal na detecção dos diferentes graus de retinopatia, utilizando-se diferentes pontos de corte, mostrou resultados inferiores a 80%. O melhor resultado obtido ocorreu na identificação de pacientes com retinopatia diabética proliferativa, mostrando sensibilidade de 72,2% e especificidade de 57,4%. CONCLUSÕES: Na série analisada, a estesiometria corneal não se mostrou um bom indicador da presença da retinopatia diabética.OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of corneal esthesiometry for screening diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 575 patients attending a diabetic retinopathy-screening program in the city of São Paulo. Corneal esthesiometry was assessed with the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. The presence of diabetic retinopathy was detected with indirect fundoscopy. The validity of corneal esthesiometry in identifying diabetic retinopathy was evaluated by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity analyses of the corneal esthesiometry for detecting the stages of diabetic retinopathy using different cut-offs showed values less than 80%. The best indices (72.2% sensitivity and 57.4% specificity) were obtained for the identification of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: In the study series, corneal esthesiometry was not a good indicator of diabetic retinopathy

Non-disulfide-Bridge peptide 5.5 from the Scorpion Hadrurus gertschi Inhibits the growth of mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense

Multi-drug resistant microorganisms have been a growing concern during the last decades due to their contribution in mortality rates worldwide. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are broad spectrum antimicrobial agents that display potent microbicidal activity against a wide range of microorganisms. AMPs generally have a rapid mode of action that reduces the risk of resistance developing among pathogens. In this study, an AMP derived from scorpion venom, NDBP-5.5, was evaluated against Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense, a rapidly growing and emerging pathogen associated with healthcare infections. The minimal bactericidal concentration of NDBP-5.5, AMP quantity necessary to stop bacteria visible growth, against M. abscessus subsp. massiliense was 200 μM, a concentration that did not induce hemolysis of human red blood cells. The therapeutic index was 3.05 indicating a drug with low toxicity and therefore good clinical potential. Treatment of infected macrophages with NDBP-5.5 or clarithromycin presented similar results, reducing the bacterial load. M. abscessus subsp. massiliense-infected animals showed a decrease in the bacterial load of up to 70% when treated with NDBP-5.5. These results revealed the effective microbicidal activity of NDBP-5.5 against Mycobacterium, indicating its potential as an antimycobacterial agent

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Ensaios clínicos globais patrocinados pela indústria biofarmacêutica em países emergentes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate biopharmaceutical industry-sponsored clinical trials placed in countries previously described as emerging regions for clinical research, and potential differences for those placed in Brazil. METHODS: Data regarding recruitment of subjects for clinical trials were retrieved from www.clinicaltrials.gov on February 2nd 2009. Proportions of sites in each country were compared among emerging countries. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to evaluate whether trial placement in Brazil could be predicted by trial location in other countries and/or by trial features. RESULTS: A total of 8,501 trials were then active and 1,170 (13.8%) included sites in emerging countries (i.e., Argentina, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Korea, and South Africa). South Korea and China presented a significantly higher proportion of sites when compared to other countries (p<0.05). Multiple logistic regressions detected no negative correlation between placement in other countries when compared to Brazil. Trials involving subjects with less than 15 years of age, those with targeted recruitment of at least 1,000 subjects, and seven sponsors were identified as significant predictors of trial placement in Brazil. CONCLUSION: No clear direct competition between Brazil and other emerging countries was detected. South Korea showed the higher proportion of sites and ranked third in total number of trials, appearing as a major player in attractiveness for biopharmaceutical industry-sponsored clinical trials.OBJETIVO: Avaliar ensaios clínicos patrocinados pela indústria biofarmacêutica alocados em países previamente definidos como emergentes em pesquisa clínica e possíveis diferenças naqueles alocados no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Dados de ensaios clínicos recrutando pacientes foram obtidos (www.clinicaltrials.gov) em 2 de fevereiro de 2009. As proporções de centros em cada país foram comparadas entre os países emergentes. Regressões logísticas múltiplas foram realizadas para avaliar a alocação do ensaio em outros países emergentes e as características do ensaio como preditores da presença de algum centro no Brasil RESULTADOS: No total, 8.501 ensaios clínicos estavam ativos à época, e 13,8% destes (N=1.170) incluíam centros em países emergentes (i.e., Argentina, Brasil, China, República Tcheca, Hungria, Índia, México, Polônia, Rússia, Coreia do Sul, e África do Sul). Coreia do Sul e China apresentaram uma proporção de centros significativamente superior aos outros países (p<0,05). Não se detectou correlação negativa na alocação de ensaios no Brasil quando comparada com outros países. Ensaios envolvendo sujeitos com idade menor que 15 anos, com o recrutamento planejado de pelo menos 1.000 sujeitos e sete patrocinadores, foram identificados como preditores significativos da alocação de centros no Brasil. CONCLUSÃO: Não se detectou competição direta entre o Brasil e outro país emergente. A Coreia do Sul apresentou a maior proporção de centros e foi o terceiro país em número total de ensaios, demonstrando ser um importante país em termos de atratividade para ensaios clínicos patrocinados pela indústria biofarmacêutica.Laboratório PfizerUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Hospital São Paulo Departamento de OftalmologiaUNIFESP, Hospital São Paulo Depto. de OftalmologiaSciEL