Principais motivos de descarte de córneas para transplante na Paraíba: por que o anti-HBc merece atenção?* / Main reasons for discarding corneas for transplant in Paraíba: why does anti-HBc deserve attention?*

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o perfil dos doadores de tecidos oculares humanos na área de atuação do Banco de Olhos da Paraíba, destacando o impacto da sorologia positiva para hepatite B no descarte dos tecidos para transplante. Métodos: O estudo é transversal e utilizou dados do Banco de Olhos da Paraíba entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2022. Dados sobre procedência, idade, sexo, causa do óbito, tempo entre óbito e enucleação, resultados sorológicos e motivo de descarte das córneas dos doadores foram coletados. Resultados: O maior motivo de descarte foi por sorologia positiva (56,5%), sendo positivadas as sorologias positivas para hepatite B e HBsAg em 11,1% e 4,75% dos pacientes, respectivamente. Conclusão: A sorologia positiva para hepatite B como um critério de descarte absoluto é responsável por grande parcela de descartes, apesar da pouca informação sobre suas repercussões e representação de infectividade nos receptores do transplante.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the profile of human ocular tissue donors in the area covered by the Eye Bank of Paraíba (PB), highlighting the impact of positive serology for hepatitis B (anti-HBc) in the disposal of tissues for transplantation. Methods: This is a cross-sectional that uses data from the Eye Bank of Paraíba (PB) between January 2013 and December 2022. Data on origin, age, sex, cause of death, time between death and enucleation, serological results, and reason for discarded donor corneas were collected. Results: The main reason for discarding was due to positive serology (56.5%), with positive anti-HBc and HBsAg serology in 11.1% and 4.75% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Anti-HBc positive serology as an absolute disposal criterion is responsible for great part of disposals, despite little information about its repercussions and representation of infectivity in transplant recipients.

Dos males o menor: representações de universitários sobre o uso das máscaras para prevenção da Covid-19 / The lesser evil: university students representations on the use of masks for Covid-19 prevention / El mal menor: representaciones de universitarios sobre el uso de máscaras para la prevención del Covid-19

Objetivo: conhecer as representações sociais de universitários brasileiros sobre o uso de máscaras para o controle da COVID-19. Método: estudo qualitativo, tipo survey, ancorado na Teoria das Representações Sociais. Participaram 283 universitários brasileiros, selecionados por conveniência. Os dados foram coletados por meio de formulário digital. Para análise, utilizou-se a Análise Temática. Resultados: elaborou-se um tema nomeado "A máscara para prevenção: materialização do medo de contágio", e três subtemas, intitulados respectivamente "A construção de um novo hábito: o mal necessário das máscaras"; "O macrossocial na modificação do eu" e "O uso da máscara no dia-a-dia: a individualização do social". Conclusão: observou-se a compreensão do uso de máscaras como um recurso para prevenção de uma condição ameaçadora à vida. Atitudes favoráveis parecem se organizar em contraposição ao medo causado pelo vírus e suas consequências.

Objective: to know the social representations of brazilian university students about the use of masks to control COVID-19. Method: qualitative survey, based on the Theory of Social Representations. 283 brazilian university students were selected by convenience. Data were collected through digital form. For analysis, the Thematic Analysis was used. Results: a theme named "The mask for prevention: materialization of the fear of contagion" was elaborated, and three sub-themes, respectively titled "The construction of a new habit: the necessary evil of masks"; "The macrosocial in the modification of the self" and "The use of the mask in everyday life: the individualization of the social". Conclusion: the understanding of the use of masks as a resource for preventing a life-threatening condition was observed. These favorable attitudes seem to be organized in contrast to the fear caused by virus and their consequences.

Objetivo: conocer las representaciones sociales de estudiantes universitarios brasileños sobre el uso de máscaras para el control de COVID-19. Método: estudio cualitativo, basado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Participaron 283 universitarios brasileños, seleccionados por conveniencia. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de un formulario digital. Para el análisis se utilizó el Análisis Temático. Resultados: se elaboró un tema denominado "La mascarilla para la prevención: materialización del miedo al contagio" y tres subtemas, respectivamente titulados "La construcción de un nuevo hábito: el mal necesario de las máscaras"; "Lo macrosocial en la modificación del yo" y "El uso de la mascarilla en la vida cotidiana: la individualización de lo social". Conclusión: se observó la comprensión del uso de máscaras como recurso para la prevención de una condición potencialmente mortal. Estas actitudes favorables parecen organizarse en contraste con el miedo provocado por el virus y sus consecuencias.

Evaluación del impacto de la cuarentena por la pandemia de COVID-19 en la transmisión perinatal del VIH en Buenos Aires, Argentina / Assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on perinatal HIV transmission in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Objetivos: Describir variables epidemiológicas clave durante el año 2020 (pandemia de COVID-19) con respecto a la prevención de la transmisión perinatal (TP) del VIH en Ciudad de Buenos Aires (CABA), comparando con períodos previos.Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de los datos agregados de TP de las principales maternidades de CABA. El año pandémico (2020) se comparó con los años no pandémicos 2018 y 2019.Resultados: Se observó una reducción del total de nacimientos en 2020 en comparación con 2019 y 2018 (11.640 vs. 14.031 y 15,978, respectivamente). La proporción de nacidos vivos en madres VIH+ (MEV) fue 0,88% en 2020, sin diferencia con 2019 y 2018 (0,94% y 0,93%), p> 0,05 para todas las comparaciones. Entre las MEV, el diagnóstico intraparto fue del 2,9% para 2020, sin diferencias con 2019 (2,25%) y 2018 (9,3%), p> 0,05 (todas las comparaciones); el 8,8% comenzó el tratamiento antirretroviral con > 28 semanas de edad gestacional en 2020 frente al 16% y el 18,05% en 2018 y 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones). La prevalencia de la carga viral indetectable en el momento del parto fue del 67% en 2020 frente al 64% en 2018 y del 65,4% en 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones). La transmisión perinatal fue 0% en 2020 vs. 1,33% en 2018 y 2,25% 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones).Conclusiones: En la primera ola de la pandemia de COVID-19 no se observaron cambios en la proporción de MEV asistidas, diagnóstico intraparto de VIH, inicio tardío del TARV y TP en CABA

Background: To describe key epidemiological variables in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) regarding prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in Buenos Aires city (CABA) in comparison with previous periods. Methods: Retrospective analysis of aggregated MTCT data was gathered from six principal maternity hospitals in Buenos Aires city. Pandemic year (2020) was compared to non-pandemic years 2018-19 individually considering key epidemiological variables. Results: A reduction of total births was observed in 2020 compared to 2019 and 2018 (11640 vs. 14031 and 15978, respectively). Proportion of live births in HIV-infected women (HPW) was 0.88% in 2020 without difference with 2019 and 2018 (0.94% and 0.93%), p> 0.05 for all comparisons. Among HPW, intrapartum diagnosis was 2.9% for 2020, with no difference between 2019 (2.25%) and 2018 (9.3%), p>0.05 (all comparisons); 8.8% had antiretroviral therapy (ART) started > 28 weeks of gestational age in 2020 vs. 16% and 18.05% in 2018 and 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons). Prevalence of undetectable viral load at delivery was 67% in 2020 vs 64% in 2018 and 65.4% in 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons). Perinatal transmission was 0% in 2020 vs 1.33% in 2018 and 2.25% 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons) Conclusions: In first wave of COVID 19 pandemic no changes in the proportion of HPW assisted, HIV intrapartum diagnosis, late ART initiation and MTCT-rate was observed in CABA

Pregnancy Outcomes in COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study in Singapore

INTRODUCTION@#Pregnant women are reported to be at increased risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to underlying immunosuppression during pregnancy. However, the clinical course of COVID-19 in pregnancy and risk of vertical and horizontal transmission remain relatively unknown. We aim to describe and evaluate outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 in Singapore.@*METHODS@#Prospective observational study of 16 pregnant patients admitted for COVID-19 to 4 tertiary hospitals in Singapore. Outcomes included severe disease, pregnancy loss, and vertical and horizontal transmission.@*RESULTS@#Of the 16 patients, 37.5%, 43.8% and 18.7% were infected in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. Two gravidas aged ≥35 years (12.5%) developed severe pneumonia; one patient (body mass index 32.9kg/m2) required transfer to intensive care. The median duration of acute infection was 19 days; one patient remained reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive >11 weeks from diagnosis. There were no maternal mortalities. Five pregnancies produced term live-births while 2 spontaneous miscarriages occurred at 11 and 23 weeks. RT-PCR of breast milk and maternal and neonatal samples taken at birth were negative; placenta and cord histology showed non-specific inflammation; and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific immunoglobulins were elevated in paired maternal and umbilical cord blood (n=5).@*CONCLUSION@#The majority of COVID-19 infected pregnant women had mild disease and only 2 women with risk factors (obesity, older age) had severe infection; this represents a slightly higher incidence than observed in age-matched non-pregnant women. Among the women who delivered, there was no definitive evidence of mother-to-child transmission via breast milk or placenta.

Environmental and socioeconomic analysis of malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon, 2010-2015

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the environmental and socioeconomic risk factors of malaria transmission at municipality level, from 2010 to 2015, in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS The municipalities were stratified into high, moderate, and low transmission based on the annual parasite incidence. A multinomial logistic regression that compared low with medium transmission and low with high transmission was performed. For each category, three models were analyzed: one only with socioeconomic risk factors (Gini index, illiteracy, number of mines and indigenous areas); a second with the environmental factors (forest coverage and length of the wet season); and a third with all covariates (full model). RESULTS The full model showed the best performance. The most important risks factors for high transmission were Gini index, length of the wet season and illiteracy, OR 2.06 (95%CI 1.19-3.56), 1.73 (95%CI 1.19-2.51) and 1.10 (95%CI 1.03-1.17), respectively. The medium transmission showed a weaker influence of the risk factors, being illiteracy, forest coverage and indigenous areas statistically significant but with marginal influence. CONCLUSIONS As a disease of poverty, the reduction in wealth inequalities and, therefore, health inequalities, could reduce the transmission considerably. Besides, environmental risk factors as length of the wet season should be considered in the planning, prevention and control. Municipality-level and fine-scale analysis should be done together to improve the knowledge of the local dynamics of transmission.

Persistência da hanseníase em redes de convívio domiciliar: sobreposição de casos e vulnerabilidade em regiões endêmicas no Brasil / Persistence of leprosy in household social networks: overlapping cases and vulnerability in endemic regions in Brazil / Persistencia de la hanseniasis en redes de convivencia domiciliaria: sobreposición de casos y vulnerabilidad en regiones endémicas en Brasil

O estudo tem como objetivo analisar a magnitude da ocorrência e os perfis sociodemográfico, econômico e clínico de casos de hanseníase vinculados à redes de convívio domiciliar (RCD) com sobreposição da doença em municípios dos estados da Bahia, do Piauí e de Rondônia, Brasil, no período de 2001 a 2014. Trata-se de estudo transversal, com dados primários e secundários de casos novos de hanseníase, notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e residentes nos municípios. Foram realizadas a aplicação de instrumento padronizado aos casos novos e a revisão de dados em prontuários e na base do SINAN. De um total de 1.032 (29,6%) casos de hanseníase abordados, 538 (52,1%) tinham mais de um caso em sua RCD. Maior frequência de pessoas do sexo feminino (292; 54,3%), com idade entre 41 a 60 anos (240; 44,6%), ensino fundamental (272; 50,6%), renda menor que um salário mínimo (265; 49,3%) e residindo com cinco pessoas ou mais (265; 49,3%). A ocorrência de sobreposição de casos na RCD foi associada, na análise multivariada, a residir em municípios do Estado de Rondônia (RP = 1,23; IC95%: 1,07-1,43; p = 0,003), assim como morar com três a quatro pessoas no mesmo domicílio (RP = 1,66; IC95%: 1,11-2,49; p = 0,014) e ter reação hansênica (RP = 1,31; IC95%: 0,99-1,70; p = 0,050). A repetição de casos de hanseníase em uma mesma RCD representa um evento frequente nos cenários abordados. Sua ocorrência deve ser considerada como indicador sentinela de maior gravidade epidemiológica para a vigilância na rede de atenção básica à saúde. Ressalta-se o caráter de vulnerabilidade das famílias acometidas.

The study sought to analyze the magnitude of occurrence and the sociodemographic, economic and clinical profiles of leprosy associated with household social networks (HSN), with disease overlap in cities from the states of Bahia, Piauí and Rondônia, Brazil, from 2001 to 2014. This is a cross-sectional study using primary and secondary data regarding new cases of leprosy notified to the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN, in Portuguese) residing in the cities. We applied a standardized instrument to the new cases and reviewed data from charts and from SINAN. Of a total of 1,032 (29.6%) assessed cases, 538 (52.1%) had more than one case in their HSN. There were larger frequencies of female sex (292; 54.3%), age between 41 and 60 years (240; 44.6%), primary education (272; 50.6%), income lower than the minimum wage (265; 49.3%) and living with 5 or more people (265; 49.3%). The overlap of cases in the HSN was associated in the multivariate analysis with residing in cities in the state of Rondônia (PR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.07-1.43; p = 0.003), as well as living with 3 to 4 people in the same household (PR = 1.66; 95%CI: 1.11-2.49; p = 0.014) and having leprosy reaction (PR = 1.31; 95%CI: 0.99-1.70; p = 0.050). Case repetition within the same HSN is a frequent event in the situations we studied. Its occurrence must be considered as a sentinel indicator of greater epidemiological severity in primary health care surveillance. We highlight the vulnerability of affected families.

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la magnitud de la ocurrencia y los perfiles sociodemográficos, económicos y clínicos de casos de lepra, vinculados a las redes de convivencia domiciliaria (RCD), con sobreposición de la enfermedad, en municipios de los estados de Bahía, Piauí y Rondônia, Brasil, durante el período de 2001 a 2014. Se trata de un estudio transversal, con datos primarios y secundarios de casos nuevos de lepra, notificados en el Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Obligada Notificación (SINAN, por su sigla en portugués) y residentes en los municipios. Se procedió a la aplicación de un instrumento estandarizado a los casos nuevos y a la revisión de datos en prontuarios y base de datos del SINAN. De un total de 1.032 (29,6%) casos de lepra abordados, 538 (52,1%) tenían más de un caso en su RCD. Existía una mayor frecuencia de personas del sexo femenino (292; 54,3%), con edades comprendidas entre 41 y 60 años (240; 44,6%), enseñanza fundamental (272; 50,6%), renta menor a un salario mínimo (265; 49,3%) y residiendo con 5 personas o más (265; 49,3%). La ocurrencia de sobreposición de casos en la RCD se asoció en el análisis multivariado a residir en municipios del estado de Rondônia (RP = 1,23; IC95%: 1,07-1,43; p = 0,003), así como vivir con de 3 a 4 personas en el mismo domicilio (RP = 1,66; IC95%: 1,11-2,49; p = 0,014) y sufrir reacción leprótica (RP = 1,31; IC95%: 0,99-1,70; p = 0,050). La repetición de casos de lepra en una misma RCD representa un evento frecuente en los escenarios abordados. Su ocurrencia debe ser considerada como un indicador centinela de mayor gravedad epidemiológica para la vigilancia en la red de atención básica en la salud. Se resalta el carácter de vulnerabilidad de las familias participantes.

Dengue: Nuestra experiencia en el Hospital Dr Abel Zubizarreta / Dengue: Our experience at Dr. Abel Zubizarreta Hospital

Los mosquitos del género Aedes, presentes en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, pueden transmitir enfermedades virales que constituyen un problema creciente de Salud Pública a nivel mundial y en la región de las Américas: el Dengue, Fiebre Chikunguya, la enfermedad por virus Zika y la Fiebre Amarilla. Los factores que influyen en la incidencia de estas enfermedades vectoriales son múltiples: la presencia del vector, las condiciones climáticas (temperatura y precipitaciones), las epidemias en países vecinos y la circulación de personas. El objetivo principal de este informe es presentar la experiencia en la atención de pacientes con enfermedad trasmitida por mosquitos: Dengue, en el periodo de la SE 1 a la SE 26 de 2016 en el Servicio de Promoción y Protección de la Salud del Hospital Zubizarreta de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. (AU)

Vigilancia de Fiebre Chikungunya / Chikungunya fever surveillance

La Fiebre Chikungunya es una enfermedad provocada por el virus Chikungunya (CHIKV) que pertenece al género Alphavirus (familia Togaviridae). A partir de 2004 se produjeron epidemias en África, Asia y Europa, con las que se inició una expansión global de la infección. Desde finales de 2013 la enfermedad está presente en las Américas, y no existe hasta el momento vacuna ni tratamiento con medicamentos antivirales contra esta enfermedad. El presente informe analiza sus vías de transmisión, manifestaciones clínicas, la situación epidemiológica internacional, argentina, y en Ciudad de Buenos Aires

La dinámica de la transmisión de la enfermedad según la teoría de la complejidad / Disease transmission dynamics according to complexity theory

RESUMEN Objetivo Se ilustra el proceso de transmisión de una enfermedad, entendido como un sistema complejo a la luz de la teoría de la complejidad. Métodos Se simula el comportamiento de un modelo matemático SEIR que refleja el proceso de transmisión de una enfermedad a partir de la conexión de los estados de susceptibilidad, infección, enfermedad y recuperación y no linealidad en la interacción de susceptibles e infectados. Se asume una tasa de infección con oscilaciones en el tiempo, descrito por un mapeo logístico. Resultados La transmisión transcurre en el tiempo con la reducción de los susceptibles en la medida que estos se infectan y enferman y el aumento de la recuperación tras el diagnóstico y tratamiento. Con pequeños aumentos en el valor de la tasa de infección, se observan oscilaciones en el número de susceptibles y expuestos y aleatoriedad en la relación entre los susceptibles e infectados, hasta confluir a un patrón regular. Conclusión El modelo refleja la conexión entre los estados, la no linealidad y el comportamiento caótico tras pequeños aumentos del valor de la tasa de infección. Una perspectiva histórica y transdisciplinaria ayudaría a comprender la complejidad de la transmisión y a concertar opciones de control.

ABSTRACT Objective Illustrating disease transmission as a complex system according to complexity theory. Methods A SIR mathematical model (S=number susceptible, I=number infectious, and R=number recovered or immune) reflecting disease transmission from the connection between states of susceptibility, infection, disease, recovery and nonlinearity in the interaction between susceptible and infected was simulated. Infection rate temporal fluctuations were described by logistic mapping. Results Transmission occurs with the reduction of susceptible states as people become infected and sick, followed by an increase in individuals' recovery following diagnosis and treatment. Small increases in infection rate value led to fluctuations in the number of susceptible and exposed people and randomness in the relationship between being susceptible and infected, until converging towards a regular pattern. Conclusion The model reflected the connection between states of susceptibility, nonlinearity and chaotic behavior following small increases in infection rate. A historical and trans-disciplinary perspective could help in understanding transmission complexity and coordinating control options.

HIV serodiscordant relationships in India: Translating science to practice.

Over the past 30 years, several interventions have been identified to prevent HIV transmission from HIV-infected persons to uninfected persons in discordant relationships. Yet, transmissions continue to occur. Interventions such as voluntary counselling and testing, condom promotion and risk reduction counselling are very effective in preventing transmission among serodiscordant couples but are underutilized in India despite their widespread availability. New interventions such as pre-risk exposure prophylaxis and universal antiretroviral therapy (irrespective of CD4 count) have been newly identified but face several challenges that impede their widespread implementation in India. Discordant couples in India also face certain unique socio-cultural issues such as marital and fertility pressure. We briefly review the various interventions (existing and novel) available for persons in discordant relationships in India and socio-cultural issues faced by these individuals and make recommendations to maximize their implementation.

Prevalencia de positividad en la serología para enfermedad de Chagas en el banco de sangre: su correlación con datos demográficos y su posible utilidad epidemiológica / Prevalence of seroactivity to Trypanosoma Cruzi (Chagas' disease) in blood banks. Correlation with demographic data and possible epidemiological utility

La enfermedad de Chagas es una de las endemias más importantes de América Latina. Los datos muestran que en América Central y del Sur el número de personas afectadas llega a 17 millones. En la República Argentina la prevalencia general de la enfermedad fue disminuyendo en el transcurso de los años. Analizando datos serológicos de encuestas realizadas en Argentina a más de un millón de varones de 18 a 20 años se estimó en el año 1969 una prevalencia general del 10 por ciento, del 5,8 por ciento en 1981 y 1,9 por ciento en 1993 indicando esto un descenso sostenido en la transmisión de la infección. Los datos que muestran una disminución de la prevalencia en la población general del país contrastan con los resultados obtenidos en la serología del banco de sangre de un hospital de la Capital Federal como es el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Esta contraposición de los datos pueden ser explicados a través de una migración interna de la población desde las áreas donde la prevalencia es mayor hacia donde es menor. Tanto la migración interna como la desocupación estan relacionados con las profundas transformaciones que en términos de distribución, transferencias de ingresos entre estratos y modificaciones en la estratificación social trajo aparejado el eje de acumulación financiero en nuestro país a partir del año 1976. Este trabajo muestra como datos obtenidos de la serología que habitualmente se realiza en el banco de sangre pueden correlacionarse con datos demográficos que permiten explicar cambios significativos de la prevalencia de una enfermedad en diferentes áreas del país.

Clinical profile of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical profile of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: HIV clinic at a pediatric tertiary care center in an urban metropolis. METHODS: From August 1994 onwards, 285 HIV positive children were referred to the HIV clinic. These included those intramural deliveries born to HIV positive mothers, those referred from other centers with a positive HIV ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test and those screened routinely at our center in view of transfusion dependence and found to be HIV positive. After informed consent from either parent, the HIV status of all referred patients was retested by ELISA. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirteen (74.73%) patients were below the age of five years. Vertical transmission as the route of infection was documented in 247 (86.66%), 33 (11.57%) were infected through blood and in 5 (1.75%), the mode of transmission could not be ascertained. The clinical features noted were protein energy malnutrition in 127 (44.56%), pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in 84 (29.47%), hepatosplenomegaly in 82 (28.77%), persistent generalized lymphadenopathy in 67 (23.50%), skin lesions in 63 (22.10%), chronic diarrhea in 43 (15.08%), oral thrush in 42 (14.73%), pyrexia of unknown origin in 36 (12.63%), chronic lung disease in 32 (11.22%), chronic hypertrophic parotitis in 27 (9.47%), chronic ottorrhea in 26 (9.12%), recurrent lower respiratory tract infection in 24 (8.42%), neurological manifestations of non-tuberculous origin in 13 (4.56%) and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in 11(3.88%). Forty-eight (16.84%) were asymptomatic, 30 (10.52%) died of AIDS during the study period and 39 (13.68%) have been lost to follow up. CONCLUSION: Vertical transmission was the commonest mode of infection. Perinatally infected children become symptomatic by five years of age. Protein energy malnutrition, hepatosplenomegaly and persistent generalized lymphadenopathy were common presenting features. Tuberculosis was the major co-infection. Chronic hypertrophic parotitis and chronic lung disease were distinguishing features of this study. Encephalopathy was associated with poor outcome.

Epidemiology of HIV infection in the Republic of Korea

Since the first case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the Republic of Korea (ROK) was detected in 1985, 876 HIV-infected patients have been reported, as of December 1998. The male to female ratio was 6.8:1, and 87% of the patients were between 20 and 49 years of age. The major modes of transmission were sexual contacts, accounting for 86% of the cases (65% heterosexuals and 21% homosexuals). Transmission through blood and blood products accounted for 28 cases (3.2%), and vertical transmission for one case. No cases among intravenous drug abusers were reported. The seroprevalence among the blood donors was approximately one in 100,000. Subtypes A, B, C, D, E, and G of HIV-1 have been introduced into the ROK, and subtype B is the most predominant subtype. The frequency of the a deletion in the CCR5 gene, a coreceptor of HIV-1, was less than 1% among Koreans.

HIV in intensive care--a 3 years experience.

A three year prospective study of a total of 62 critically ill HIV patients in MICU showed a rising percentage from 0.86 in 1992 to 3.17 in 1994. Four major presentations were observed, neurological-20 patients (32.5%), sepsis syndrome-18 (29%), poisoning-10 (16.1%) and miscellaneous-14 (22.6%). Acute poisoning emerged as the most important preventable indication for MICU admissions. Interventions like CVP and haemodynamic monitoring-25 patients, endotracheal intubation-18, mechanical ventilation-14, tracheostomy-3, haemodialysis-3 were done when indicated. The mortality of the 14 ventilated patients was high at 92.9% compared to the overall HIV mortality of 46.8%. This study shows that critically ill HIV patients do deserve intensive care management with optimum infection control precautions. Survival of 53.2% is noteworthy in a resource stretched set up.

El Papel del papiloma virus humano en las displasias del cuello uterino / Role of human papillomavirus in uterine cervix dysplasia

Partiendo del concepto de que el cáncer cérvico uterino es curable cuando se trata al inicio de su evolución, se ha insistido en la necesidad de efectuar un diagnóstico temprano, y hasta hoy la práctica de la prueba de Papanicolau -como método de rastreo- no ha sido superada y, mas bien, por el contrario el que una mujer no tenga los controles citológicos anuales constituye el principal factor de riesgo de desarrollar, primero las lesiones displasias y luego, el cáncer en todas sus etapas. Actualmente la responsabilidad del papiloma virus humano (HIP) esta siendo objeto de múltiples estudios, a fin de determinar su responsabilidad en la génesis de esta neoplasia.