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Background: People with dementia and their family caregivers may face a great burden through social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be manifested as various behavioral and clinical symptoms. Objective: To investigate the impacts of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with dementia and their family caregivers. Methods: Two semi-structured questionnaires were applied via telephone to family caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia in three cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, in order to assess clinical and behavioral changes in people with dementia and in their caregivers. Results: In general, 321 interviews were conducted. A significant decline in memory function has been reported among 53.0%of people with dementia. In addition, 31.2%of individuals with dementia felt sadder and 37.4%had increased anxiety symptoms. These symptoms of anxiety were greater in individuals with mild to moderate dementia, while symptoms of agitation were greater in individuals with severe dementia. Moreover, compulsive-obsessive behavior, hallucinations, increased forgetfulness, altered appetite, and increased difficulty in activities of daily living were reported more frequently among individuals with moderate to severe dementia. Caregivers reported feeling more tired and overwhelmed during this period and these symptoms were also influenced by the severity of dementia. Conclusion: Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a series of negative behavioral repercussions, both for people with dementia and for their family caregivers in these three South American countries.

Introdução: A granulomatose com poliangiite (GPA) é descrita como uma tríade de lesões, constituídas por granuloma necrosante do trato respiratório, vasculite disseminada de pequeno e médio calibre e glomerulonefrite. Representa a mais frequente das vasculites sistêmicas. Objetivo: Atualmente há uma escassez de dados relacionados ao perfil destes pacientes no país, com suas manifestações clínicas e epidemiológicas. Dessa forma, o caso apresentado visa contribuir com possíveis outros pacientes que se encontram na mesma situação por meio do conhecimento desta manifestação clínica e tentativa de abordagem terapêutica de complicações associadas à doença descrita. Relato de caso: O presente relato descreve o acometimento oral com formação de uma ulceração profunda, levando à comunicação entre a cavidade oral e a nasal. Conclusão: Diante do exposto, reforçamos a importância de um diagnóstico precoce, feito por uma equipe interdisciplinar, a fim de instituir a terapêutica adequada e proporcionar ao paciente uma maior sobrevida.

Aims Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) is an important diagnostic tool in the management of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the presence of mild-moderate perfu...

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) is an important diagnostic tool in the management of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the presence of mild-moderate perfusion defects can be challenging and may lead to unnecessary cardiac catheterization. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a method with excellent accuracy in the evaluation of CAD, but its role in this setting of patients has not been fully defined. This study aims to assess the potential of CCTA in the prediction of cardiac adverse events in patients with suspected CAD with non-significant perfusion defects by MPS.We conducted a cohort study in 292 patients presenting with non-significant perfusion defects by MPS undergoing a CCTA. The patients were followed for a mean of 34 months for occurrence of major cardiac adverse events - MACE. The majority of the patients (64.7%) were male, with a mean age of 57.9 ± 12.6 years. During the follow-up there were 37 MACE. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, hypertension and CCTA were independent predictors of MACE. The patients who presented a significant coronary obstruction by CCTA had a high risk of MACE (HR 15.3; 95% CI 4.06 to 57.90; P0.001). Kaplan-Meier curve showed a significant difference (log-rank χ²; P0.001) using CCTA in predicting MACE.CCTA carries a powerful prognostic value in predicting adverse events in patients with suspected CAD and MPS with mild-moderate perfusion defects and may be useful in risk stratification of these patients.