Guidelines from the Brazilian society of surgical oncology regarding indications and technical aspects of neck dissection in papillary, follicular, and medullary thyroid cancers

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of these guidelines is to provide specific recommendations for the surgical treatment of neck metastases in patients with papillary, follicular, and medullary thyroid carcinomas. Materials and methods: Recommendations were developed based on research of scientific articles (preferentially meta-analyses) and guidelines issued by international medical specialty societies. The American College of Physicians' Guideline Grading System was used to determine the levels of evidence and grades of recommendations. The following questions were answered: A) Is elective neck dissection indicated in the treatment of papillary, follicular, and medullary thyroid carcinoma? B) When should central, lateral, and modified radical neck dissection be performed? C) Could molecular tests guide the extent of the neck dissection? Results/conclusion: Recommendation 1: Elective central neck dissection is not indicated in patients with cN0 well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma or in those with noninvasive T1 and T2 tumors but may be considered in T3-T4 tumors or in the presence of metastases in the lateral neck compartments. Recommendation 2: Elective central neck dissection is recommended in medullary thyroid carcinoma. Recommendation 3: Selective neck dissection of levels II-V should be indicated to treat neck metastases in papillary thyroid cancer, an approach that decreases the risk of recurrence and mortality. Recommendation 4: Compartmental neck dissection is indicated in the treatment of lymph node recurrence after elective or therapeutic neck dissection; "berry node picking" is not recommended. Recommendation 5: There are currently no recommendations regarding the use of molecular tests in guiding the extent of neck dissection in thyroid cancer.

Review on Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Introduction: An estimated 9.9 million people fell ill with tuberculosis globally in 2020 with India and China contribu?ng a major percentage to the burden of TB. India is grouped under high TB, high HIV associated TB and MDR TB burden countries and 1.24 lakh fell ill with drug resistant TB out of which 56000 were started on second line treatment in 2020. Annually India accounts for 27% of missing TB cases. Diagnosis: The major forms of drug resistant TB that are of clinical importance are INH monoresistant TB, mul?drug resistant TB, pre- XDR TB and XDR TB.WHO approved newer molecular tests for MTB detec?on and drug suscep?bility tests. Treatment: Few newer drugs and few previously used drugs are showing promise when used in combina?on which have come up in recent years. Bedaquiline based regimens are showing improved cure rates. Conclusion: Guidelines based regimens should be strictly adhered to by both public and private TB case trea?ng physicians.

Clinical Impact of the Line Probe Assay and Xpert® MTB/RIF Assay in the Presumptive Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Background: Rapid molecular methods such as the line probe assay (LPA) and Xpert® MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) have been recommended by the World Health Organization for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis. We conducted an interventional trial in DR-TB reference centers in Brazil to evaluate the impact of the use of LPA and Xpert. Methods: Patients with DR-TB were eligible if their drug susceptibility testing results were available to the treating physician at the time of consultation. The standard reference MGITTM 960 was compared with Xpert (arm 1) and LPA (arm 2). Effectiveness was considered as the start of the appropriate TB regimen that matched drug susceptibility testing (DST) and the proportions of culture conversion and favorable treatment outcomes after 6 months. Results: A higher rate of empirical treatment was observed with MGIT alone than with the Xpert assay (97.0% vs. 45.0%) and LPA (98.2% vs. 67.5%). Patients started appropriate TB treatment more quickly than those in the MGIT group (median 15.0 vs. 40.5 days; p<0.01) in arm 1. Compared to the MGIT group, culture conversion after 6 months was higher for Xpert in arm 1 (90.9% vs. 79.3%, p=0.39) and LPA in arm 2 (80.0% vs. 83.0%, p=0.81). Conclusions: In the Xpert arm, there was a significant reduction in days to the start of appropriate anti-TB treatment and a trend towards greater culture conversion in the sixth month.

Pruebas moleculares para la detección de SARS-CoV-2 / Molecular tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

RESUMEN Introducción: Los coronavirus generan enfermedades respiratorias, hepáticas o neurológicas, con gravedad variable en su huésped. La reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa en tiempo real es la metodología de referencia para confirmar la detección del virus SARS-CoV-2. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en el periodo de julio a noviembre de 2021, en los recursos disponibles en MEDLINE, SciELO, Pubmed y Elsevier. Del total de consultas se citaron 35 referencias. Objetivo: Describir las pruebas moleculares para la detección de SARS-CoV-2. Desarrollo: Se han diseñado tres tipos de ensayos de rRT-PCR, para la detección de SARS-CoV-2. Las pruebas descritas son específicas para genes ARN (polymerase dependent RNA - RdRp), genes E (upE) y genes Nnes (N). Los Centros para la Prevención y Control de Enfermedades (CDC) de los EE.UU., han desarrollado la rRT-PCR dirigidos a la proteína N de la nucleocápside del material genético SARS-CoV-2, los ensayos genes E (upE) y gen de la proteína 1b (ORF 1b) se pueden complementar para la detección y confirmación. Conclusiones: Las dianas que se emplean para la detección específica del genoma del SARS-CoV-2 por RT-PCR en tiempo real, se encuentran en las regiones ORF1a y 1b, RdRp, N, S y E del ARN viral.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Coronaviruses cause respiratory, hepatic or neurological diseases, with variable severity in their host. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction is the reference methodology to confirm the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A bibliographic review was carried out in the period from July to November 2021, in the resources available in MEDLINE, SciELO, Pubmed and Elsevier. Of the total queries, 35 references were cited. Objective: Describe molecular tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Development: Three types of rRT-PCR assays have been designed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The tests described are specific for RNA polymerase dependent RNA (RdRp) genes, E (upE) genes, and Nnes (N) genes. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed rRT-PCR directed at the N protein of the nucleocapsid of the SARS-CoV-2 genetic material, the gene E assays (upE) and protein gene 1b (ORF 1b) can be complemented for detection and confirmation. Conclusions: The targets used for the specific detection of the SARS-CoV-2 genome by real-time RT-PCR are found in the ORF1a and 1b, RdRp, N, S and E regions of the viral RNA.

PERSONALIZED MEDICINE FUTURE PERSPECTIVE APPROACH FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infectious illness that is spread mostly by communicable droplets from one person to another. Drug-resistant patients and substandard drug authorization Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the two major obstacles to tuberculosis (TB) management in endemic areas, such as India and the rest of the world. Precision medicine, also known as customized medicine, is based on the diversity of systems biology and using predictive techniques to assess health risk and build tailored health plans to assist patients in reducing risk, preventing disease, and treating it with precision. Only active pulmonary tuberculosis is contagious. TB continues to be a significant source of illness and mortality in many low- and middle-income nations, and drug-resistant TB is a major problem in many areas. Furthermore, several novel TB diagnostics methods, such as quick molecular testing, have been developed, and there is a demand for simpler point-of-care tests. Personalized medicine ushers in a new age in healthcare. In the subject of Mycobacteriology, personalized medicine may be used in a variety of ways, including prevention, diagnosis, improved therapy, and prognosis. To change an independent proposition in mycobacterial disorders, a genetic inclination and a protein affliction investigation are presented. Patients' results should be turned into accurate diagnostic tests and focused therapy in order for personalized medicine to be used successfully by the healthcare system.

Are the anatomical, clinical, and ultrasound characteristics of thyroid nodules with Bethesda III or IV cytology and ACR TI-RADS 3, 4, or 5 able to refine the indications for molecular diagnostic tests?

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association of clinical, anatomical, and ultrasound (US) characteristics of malignancies in Bethesda III or IV (III-B or IV-B) thyroid nodules. Subjects and methods: The association between malignancies and the following variables were analyzed: III-B or IV-B, age < 55 years and ≥ 55 years, sex, family history of thyroid cancer, history of irradiation, nodule size, and ACR TI-RADS classification in 62 participants who underwent thyroidectomy. Results: Of the 62 participants, 87.1% (54/62) were women, 74.2% were < 55 years old, 95.2% had no family history of thyroid cancer, 56.5% had nodules < 2 cm in size, 62.9% were IV-B, and 69.4% were ACR TI-RADS 4. Thirty-two patients had thyroid carcinoma, and 30 had benign histology. Among all factors associated with malignancy, only ACR TI-RADS 5 classification on US was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.014), while III-B with architectural atypia cytological classification was the only one significantly associated with benign status (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Only a high risk of malignancy as assessed using US was able to refine the indication for molecular tests in a group of patients with indeterminate nodules. We found 85% (53/62) of III-B or IV-B thyroid nodules would benefit from available molecular diagnostic tests.

Identification of dengue viruses in naturally infected Aedes aegypti females captured with BioGents (BG)-Sentinel traps in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Introduction In Manaus, the first autochthonous cases of dengue fever were registered in 1998. Since then, dengue cases were diagnosed by the isolation of viruses 1, 2, 3, and 4. Methods One hundred eighty-seven mosquitoes were collected with BioGents (BG)-Sentinel traps in 15 urban residential areas in the Northern Zone of Manaus and processed by molecular tests. Results Infections with dengue viruses 1, 2, 3, and 4 and a case of co-infection with dengue viruses 2 and 3 were identified. Conclusions These findings corroborate the detection of dengue in clinical samples and reinforce the need for epidemiological surveillance by the Health authorities. .