ABSTRACT
Abstract Objective: To describe the behavior of total alkaline phosphatase (tALP) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer receiving radium-223 therapy, in a real-world scenario, and to describe overall survival (OS) among such patients. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 97 patients treated between February 2017 and September 2020. Patients were stratified by the baseline tALP (normal/elevated). A tALP response was defined as a ≥ 30% reduction from baseline at week 12. For patients with elevated baseline tALP, we also evaluated treatment response as a ≥ 10% reduction in tALP after the first cycle of treatment. We defined OS as the time from the first treatment cycle to the date of death. Results: There was a significant reduction in the median tALP after each cycle of treatment (p < 0.05 for all). Data for tALP at week 12 were available for 71 of the 97 patients. Of those 71 patients, 26 (36.6%) responded. Elevated baseline tALP was observed in 47 patients, of whom 19 (40.4%) showed a response. Longer OS was observed in the patients with normal baseline tALP, in those with elevated baseline tALP that showed a response to treatment (≥ 10% reduction), and in those who received 5-6 cycles of therapy. Conclusion: The tALP may be used to predict which patients will benefit from treatment with a greater number of cycles of radium-223 therapy and will have longer OS.
Resumo Objetivo: Descrever o comportamento da fosfatase alcalina total (tALP) em pacientes com carcinoma de próstata metastático resistente a castração, submetidos a terapia com rádio-223 em um cenário do mundo real, e a sobrevida global (SG) desses pacientes. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo envolvento 97 pacientes, no período de fevereiro/2017 a setembro/2020. Os pacientes foram estratificados de acordo com a tALP basal (normal/elevada). A resposta à tALP foi definida como uma redução em relação à linha de base de ≥ 30% na semana-12. Para pacientes com tALP basal elevada, também foi avaliada a resposta ao tratamento como uma redução de ≥ 10% de tALP após o primeiro ciclo. A SG foi definida como o tempo entre o primeiro ciclo e a data do óbito. Resultados: A redução da tALP média após cada ciclo foi significativa (p < 0,05). A tALP na semana 12 estava disponível para 71 dos 97 pacientes. Desses 71 pacientes, 26 (36,6%) responderam. Dezenove (40,4%) dos 47 pacientes com tALP elevada apresentaram resposta. Foi observada uma SG mais longa nos pacientes com tALP basal normal, nos pacientes com tALP basal elevada que apresentaram resposta ao tratamento (redução de ≥ 10%) e nos pacientes que receberam 5-6 ciclos. Conclusão: A tALP pode ser usada para prever parte dos pacientes que se beneficiarão do tratamento com um maior número de ciclos e uma SG mais longa.
ABSTRACT
Abstract INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has infected more than 9,834,513 Brazilians up to February 2021. Knowledge of risk factors of coronavirus disease among Brazilians remains scarce, especially in the adult population. This study verified the risk factors for intensive care unit admission and mortality for coronavirus disease among 20-59-year-old Brazilians. METHODS: A Brazilian database on respiratory illness was analyzed on October 9, 2020, to gather data on age, sex, ethnicity, education, housing area, and comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for coronavirus disease. RESULTS: Overall, 1,048,575 persons were tested for coronavirus disease; among them, 43,662 were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 34,704 patients died. Male sex (odds ratio=1.235 and 1.193), obesity (odds ratio=1.941 and 1.889), living in rural areas (odds ratio=0.855 and 1.337), and peri-urban areas (odds ratio=1.253 and 1.577) were predictors of intensive care unit admission and mortality, respectively. Cardiovascular disease (odds ratio=1.552) was a risk factor for intensive care unit admission. Indigenous people had reduced chances (odds ratio=0.724) for intensive care unit admission, and black, mixed, East Asian, and indigenous ethnicity (odds ratio=1.756, 1.564, 1.679, and 1.613, respectively) were risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for intensive care unit admission and mortality among adult Brazilians were higher in men, obese individuals, and non-urban areas. Obesity was the strongest risk factor for intensive care unit admission and mortality.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Young Adult , Critical Illness , COVID-19 , Brazil/epidemiology , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2 , Hospitalization , Intensive Care Units , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Introdução: Placas de silicone e injeções de triancinolona melhoram o tamanho dos queloides e das cicatrizes hipertróficas, além do eritema, da elasticidade e de sintomas como dor e prurido. Esses tratamentos não são invasivos, têm um bom custo-beneficio e são amplamente utilizados como terapia inicial para queloides e cicatrizes hipertróficas; entretanto, faltam estudos comparativos dos dois tratamentos. Objetivo: Comparar o uso de placas de silicone, triancinolona intralesional, e a combinação de ambas as modalidades terapêuticas, no tratamento de cicatrizes hipertróficas na mesma área anatômica e causadas pelo mesmo mecanismo de lesão. Métodos e Materiais: Em um estudo prospectivo, 12 pacientes com cicatrizes de esternotomia mediana foram randomizados em 3 grupos (4 pacientes em cada grupo): Grupo 1. injeções mensais de triancinolona; Grupo 2. uma combinação de placas de silicone e injeções de triancinolona e Grupo 3. placas de silicone. Os pacientes foram avaliados em consultas clínicas mensais com o uso da Escala de Vancouver e durômetro. Foram realizadas imunohistoquímica e microscopia confocal para os colágenos de tipos I e VI em amostras de cicatriz. Os grupos foram comparados com os testes de Kruskall-Wallis e Friedman com significância de p< 0.05. Resultados: Os três tratamentos mostraram-se eficazes na melhora das cicatrizes, conforme demonstrado pela redução nos parâmetros da Escala de Vancouver. Foi observada uma diferença entre os três grupos no tempo 2, quando a triancinolona mostrou-se menos eficaz. O grupo 2 apresentou melhora na pigmentação (p = 0,042). Os colágenos de tipos I e VI apresentaram aumento de fluorescência em toda a derme superficial e profunda nas lesões não-tratadas, que diminuiu após do tratamento. Apesar do número pequeno de pacientes, este foi o primeiro estudo prospectivo que comparou estas modalidades de tratamento de cicatrizes, evitando vieses frequentemente vistos em publicações sobre tratamentos de cicatrizes
Introduction: Silicone dressings and Triamcinolone injections are known to improve keloids and hypertrophic scars size, erythema, flexibility, and symptoms such as pain and itching. These treatments are non-invasive, inexpensive, and widely used as first or second-line therapy; however, studies comparing them are still lacking. Objective: To compare silicone dressings, triamcinolone injections, and a combination group, to treat hypertrophic scars, at the same anatomical area, caused by the same mechanism of injury. Materials and methods: In a prospective study, 12 patients with median-sternotomy scars were randomized into 3 groups (n=4 patients each): group 1, monthly triamcinolone injections; group 2, a combination of silicone dressings and triamcinolone injections; and group 3, silicone dressings. Patients were evaluated in monthly clinical appointments using the Vancouver Scale and the durometer. Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy for collagen types I and VI were performed in scar samples. The groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests, with p<0,05 indicating significance. Results: The three treatments were effective in reducing the Vancouver scores. A difference between the three groups was observed at time 2 when triamcinolone was less effective. Group 2 showed an improvement on pigmentation (p = 0,042). Collagens types I and VI presented increased fluorescence throughout the superficial and deep dermis in untreated lesions, which decreased after the treatment. Although the number of patients is limited, this is the first prospective study addressing some of the major bias in scars treatment