Clinics
-
Evaluate the cognitive function and its relationship with balance, history of falls, and fear of falling in the elderly. ⋯ Elderly persons with cognitive decline have lower balance, greater fear of falling, and greater recurrence of falls.
-
Progressive renal disease is characterized by histological changes in the kidney and fibrosis is a common outcome. Renal biopsy is the only diagnostic tool to evaluate these histopathological changes. Pentraxin-2 (PTX-2) is an anti-inflammatory constitutive plasma protein associated with the innate immune system. Recently, as a biomarker, the circulating level of PTX-2 is shown to be decreased in chronic fibrotic diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between renal fibrosis severity and serum PTX-2 levels in patients undergoing renal biopsy. ⋯ The results indicated that PTX-2 levels are significantly lower in patients with renal fibrosis than HIs, and declining further in patients with severe fibrosis.
-
To assess the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity and its association with functionality, lifestyle, biomarkers, and morbidities in older adults. ⋯ The study showed a high prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in non-institutionalized older adults in Brazil. The finding that this condition was associated with modifiable risk factors may provide insights into measures directed at prevention and reduction of the risk of sarcopenic obesity in this population subgroup.
-
Observational Study
Quality of life among total laryngectomized patients undergoing speech rehabilitation: correlation between several instruments.
The aim of this study was to correlate several instruments currently used for the assessment of the quality of life of patients who underwent total laryngectomy and speech rehabilitation. ⋯ The EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-H&N35 and UW-QOL were the instruments that most correlated with the remaining instruments, indicating that any of the three can be used to assess the quality of life of the target population regardless of oesophageal voice development.
-
To evaluate the diagnostic value of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS), and determine a possible association with the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and myocardial injury. ⋯ MMP-9, TIMP-1, and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio revealed a certain diagnostic value for FIRS; combined with gestational age, these parameters were effective for predicting cardiopulmonary injury.