Abstract Background: Ultra-low-dose Spinal Anesthesia (SA) is the practice of employing minimal doses of intrathecal agents so that only the roots that supply a specific area are anesthetized. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of ultra-low-dose spinal anesthesia with that of Perineal Blocks (PB). Methods: A two-arm, parallel, double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing two anesthetic techniques (SA and PB) for hemorrhoidectomy and anal fistula surgery was performed. The primary outcomes were postoperative pain, complementation and/or conversion of anesthesia, and hemodynamic changes. Results: Fifty-nine patients were included in the final analysis. The mean pain values were similar in the first 48 h in both groups (p > 0.05). The individuals allocated to the SA group did not need anesthetic complementation; however, those in the PB group required it considerably (SA group, 0% vs. PB group, 25%; p = 0.005). Hemodynamic changes were more pronounced after PB: during all surgical times, the PB group showed lower MAP values and higher HR values (p < 0.05). Postoperative urinary retention rates were similar between both groups (SA group 0% vs. PB group 3.1%, p = 0.354). Conclusion: SA and PB are similarly effective in pain control during the first 48 h after hemorrhoidec-tomy and anal fistula surgery. Although surgical time was shorter among patients in the PB group, the SA technique may be preferable as it avoids the need for additional anesthesia. Furthermore, the group that received perineal blocks was under sedation with a considerable dose of propofol.

The present prospective work of scientific articles related to foods and natural products with anti-Covid activity in databases in order to present a scientific community, to governments and society as main foods, nutraceuticals and medicinal plants as strategies used by countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. A review of articles on food, medicinal plants and biotechnology was carried out in databases of scientific articles such as: CAPES journals, PubMed, Elsevier's Science Direct, Willey on library library, Taylor &amp; Francis Springer-Nature database, BMC, Hindawi, Scielo, ACS - American Chemical Society, Google Scholar, in addition to the Patent Database “The LENS” and “Questel-Orbit”. Foods used in daily life such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, sour orange, vegetables, lactobacilli demonstrate proven anti-virus action. Medicinal plants used by Traditional Chinese, Korean and Indian Medicine also demonstrate anti-Covid activity and used during the coronavirus outbreak. Some medicinal plants, green propolis extract, red propolis extract, royal gelly, polen, honey have also been cited as anti-covid, natural anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory products.

O presente trabalho prospectou artigos científicos relacionadas à alimentos e produtos naturais com atividade anti-Covid com o intuito de apresentar, à comunidade científica, aos governos e à sociedade, dados sobre as principais estratégias nutracêuticas, biotecnológicas e plantas medicinais utilizadas em alguns países durante o enfrentamento da pandemia COVID-19. A revisão de artigos sobre alimentos, plantas medicinais e produtos biotecnológicos foi realizada nas bases de dados periódicos da CAPES, PubMed, Science Direct, Willey on line library, Springer-Nature, Taylor &amp; Francis, BMC, Hindawi, Scielo, ACS – American Chemical Society, Google acadêmico, “The LENS” e Questel-Orbit. Alimentos de uso frequente como alho, gengibre, cúrcuma, laranja azeda, vegetais e lactobacilos demonstraram ação anti-coronavirus comprovada. Foram descritos usos de plantas medicinais da Medicina tradicional Chinesa, Coreana, Indiana bastante utilizadas durante a pandemia. Algumas plantas medicinais e nutracêuticos como: extrato de própolis verde e extrato de própolis vermelha brasileiras, geleia real, pólen e mel também foram citados como produtos anti-covid, antiinflamatórios naturais e imunomodulatórios.

Introdução: A hipertrofia ventricular esquerda (HVE) é um fator preditor independente de risco cardiovascular em pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC) em hemodiálise (HD). Objetivo: Mostrar a utilidade da radiografia de tórax no diagnóstico de HVE em pacientes com DRC em HD. Métodos: Estudo transversal que incluiu 100 pacientes (58 homens e 42 mulheres), idade média de 46,2 ± 14,0 anos, com DRC de todas as etiologias, há pelo menos seis meses em HD. Foram obtidos ecocardiograma e radiografia de tórax dos pacientes, sempre até uma hora após o término das sessões de HD. Resultados: A HVE foi detectada em 83 pacientes (83%), dos quais 56 (67,4%) apresentavam o padrão concêntrico e 27 (32,6%) a padrão excêntrico de HVE. Cardiomegalia - definida por índice cardiotorácico (ICT) > 0,5 - esteve presente em 61 pacientes (61%). Foram os seguintes os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia, respectivamente, para a variável ICT: 66,2%, 70,5% e 68,0%. A correlação de Pearson entre ICT e índice de massa do ventrículo esquerdo (IMVE) foi de 0,552 (p < 0,05) e razão de verossimilhança positivo de 2,2. Conclusão: A radiografia de tórax é um exame seguro e útil como ferramenta diagnóstica de HVE em pacientes com DRC em HD.

Introduction: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic renal disease (CRD) on hemodialysis (HD). Objective: To show the usefulness of chest radiography in the diagnosis of LVH in CRD patients on HD. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 100 patients (58 men and 42 women), mean age 46.2 ± 14.0 years, with CRD of all causes, for at least six months on HD. Were obtained echocardiogram and chest x-rays of patients, always up to one hour after the end of HD sessions. Results: LVH was detected in 83 patients (83%), of whom 56 (67.4%) had the concentric pattern and 27 (32.6%) with eccentric pattern of LVH. Cardiomegaly - defined by cardiothoracic index (CTI) > 0.5 - was present in 61 patients (61%). The following were the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, respectively, for the variable ICT: 66.2%, 70.5% and 68.0%. The Pearson correlation between ICT and index of left ventricular mass (LVMI) was 0.552 (p < 0.05) and positive likelihood ratio of 2.2. Conclusion: Chest radiography is a safe and useful as a diagnostic tool of LVH in CKD patients on HD.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a adesão terapêutica autorreferida durante a gestação em amostra de mulheres brasileiras. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal com puérperas internadas no serviço de obstetrícia de um hospital universitário, entre agosto e novembro de 2010. Foram incluídas puérperas com 18 anos ou mais, idade gestacional superior a 22 semanas e peso do feto igual ou maior que 500 g. Foram excluídas puérperas em uso de sedativos e/ou outros medicamentos capazes de alterar o estado de consciência. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista face a face, com uso de questionário estruturado contendo perguntas sobre características sociodemográficas, uso de medicamentos, número de gestações anteriores, métodos contraceptivos utilizados, atendimento pré-natal e adesão terapêutica. Para a determinação da adesão, foi utilizada a escala de adesão terapêutica de Morisky - MMAS-4 de quatro itens. Foram utilizados o Teste H de Kruskal-Wallis e o Teste de Χ2 de Pearson e exato de Fisher para análise estatística. RESULTADOS: A média de idade das gestantes foi de 22,5 anos (DP=6,5), das quais 53,8% iniciaram acompanhamento pré-natal no primeiro trimestre da gravidez. Das 130 pacientes entrevistadas, 96,9% fizeram uso de algum medicamento durante o período gestacional, com média de 2,8 medicamentos por paciente. As principais classes prescritas foram: antianêmicos (55,1%); analgésicos, anti-inflamatórios e antipiréticos (19,0%); e anti-infecciosos (7,2%). Fizeram uso de dois a quatro medicamentos 71,6% das pacientes. Apenas 19,2% das pacientes foram consideradas aderentes. As pacientes com menores taxas de adesão foram aquelas com maior escolaridade, renda própria, início do acompanhamento pré-natal no primeiro trimestre de gravidez e aborto prévio. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de a maioria das gestantes fazer uso de medicamentos prescritos durante a gestação, a taxa de adesão ao tratamento foi baixa, indicando uma necessidade de investigações adicionais sobre o impacto da não adesão durante a gestação e suas causas.

PURPOSE: To assess medication adherence therapeutic during pregnancy in a sample of Brazilian women during the post-partum period. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the obstetric unit of a university hospital, Brazil, between August and November 2010. We recruited patients aged 18 years or more, with a gestational age of more than 22 weeks whose newborns weighed more than 500 g. Patients were excluded if they used sedatives or other mind-altering drugs. Data were collected after labor using a structured questionnaire containing questions about sociodemographic characteristics, medication use, number of previous pregnancies, contraceptive methods, prenatal care, and medication adherence. Medication adherence was assessed using the four-item Morisky medication adherence scale - MMAS-4, groups were compared by the Fisher exact Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test and Χ2 de Pearson Test. RESULTS: Mean age was 22.5 years (SD=6.5), and 53.8% of the pregnant women had initiated prenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy. Of the 130 patients interviewed, 96.9% had used at least one prescribed drug during pregnancy, with an average of 2.8 drugs per patient. The major classes prescribed were antianemics (55.1%), analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and antipyretics (19.0%) and anti-infectives (7.2%). 71.6% took two to four drugs. Only 19.2% of patients were considered adherent. The variables that showed a negative influence on adherence were: higher level of education, having one's own income, earlier prenatal care and previous abortion. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that, although most of the patients used prescribed drugs during pregnancy, the rate of medication adherence was low, which indicates the need for further investigation about the impact of non-adherence during pregnancy and its causes.