Epidemiology and control of trachoma in the state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil, 2007-2021

ABSTRACT Background: To analyze the epidemiology, surveillance, and control strategies for trachoma in the state of Ceará, northeast Brazil, from 2007 to 2021. Methods: This ecological study was based on secondary data from the Information System on Notifiable Diseases of the Secretary of Health of the state of Ceará. Data from school and home surveys for trachoma detection obtained during the study period were analyzed, the percentage of positivity was estimated, and sociodemographic and clinico-epidemiological factors were investigated. Results: The coverage of trachoma surveillance and control actions in Ceará municipalities increased from 12.5% in 2007 to 55.9% in 2019, but with an average restriction of 8.0% during the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated trachoma positivity (mean overall positivity) was less than 5.0% (2.76%, 95% CI 1.2-5.2), with a higher proportion of cases in the 5-9-year age group (45.0%, 95% CI 44.6-45.4), in females (53.2%, 95% CI 52.8-53.6), and rural areas (52.6%, 95% CI 52.2-53.0). Positivity above 10.0% was observed in the Litoral Leste/Jaguaribe and Sertão Central regions, with a higher occurrence of the follicular inflammatory clinical form (98.1%, 95% CI 98.0-98.2). Conclusions: Trachoma remains in the state of Ceará and is likely underreported. Despite recent advances, the fragility of health surveillance activities compromises the recognition of the actual magnitude and distribution of trachoma in the state. Accurate information is fundamental for planning, monitoring, and evaluating surveillance and disease control.

Scientometric analysis of research on trachoma in Brazil, 2000-2020 / Análise cienciométrica da pesquisa sobre tracoma no Brasil, 2000-2020

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the scientometric profile of research on trachoma in Brazil. METHODS Bibliographic research of publications on trachoma in Brazil indexed by the Scopus database from 2000 to 2020, based on specific criteria. Data on authorship, country of origin, institutions, and keywords were collected and analyzed with analysis of time trends. Bibliographic networks were constructed via a scientometric visualization software—VOSviewer® 1.6.16. RESULTS We analyzed 42 publications on trachoma in Brazil. The annual average was two articles, with an increase of about 50% during the period. The average number of authors was three per document and school surveys were the most common subject category. Most published articles came from Brazilian institutions (95.2%), mainly those based in Southeast and North Brazil. Of the most productive authors, 10 were mentioned as first author in 26.2% of publications (11/42) and the predominant institutions are based in the state of São Paulo. The term "trachoma" (n = 18) was the most recurrent keyword. CONCLUSION This first scientometric analysis of research on trachoma in Brazil showed a limited number of studies on this disease. The scientific production slightly increased, although the origin of many studies is geographical areas with lower endemicity of this disease. Greater investments are needed for a better understanding and control of this neglected tropical disease. The analysis of bibliographic production on this topic is important to strengthen the development of research and strategic planning of programs for the control of trachoma and neglected tropical diseases in general.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Analisar o perfil cienciométrico das pesquisas sobre tracoma no Brasil. MÉTODOS Pesquisa bibliográfica de publicações sobre tracoma no Brasil indexadas pela base de dados da Scopus, a partir de critérios específicos no período de 2000 a 2020. Foram extraídos e analisados dados sobre autoria, país de origem, instituições e descritores, com análises de tendências temporais. As redes bibliográficas foram construídas via software de visualização cienciométrica VOSviewer® 1.6.16. RESULTADOS Do total de 42 publicações analisadas sobre tracoma no Brasil, observou-se média anual de dois artigos, com incremento de aproximadamente 50% no período. Verificou-se média de três autores por documento e os inquéritos escolares foram a categoria de assunto mais comum. Os artigos publicados provêm majoritariamente de instituições brasileiras (95,2%), principalmente das sediadas nas regiões Sudeste e Norte. Dez autores mais produtivos estão mencionados nas primeiras autorias em 26,2% (11/42) das publicações e as instituições predominantes estão afiliadas ao estado de São Paulo. O termo Trachoma (n = 18) apresenta maior recorrência como descritor. CONCLUSÃO Esta primeira análise cienciométrica sobre tracoma no Brasil evidencia limitado número de pesquisas sobre essa doença. Há discreto incremento da produção científica, apesar da concentração da origem em áreas geográficas com menor endemicidade da doença. Maiores investimentos são necessários para o melhor entendimento e controle dessa doença tropical negligenciada. A análise da produção bibliográfica tem papel relevante para fortalecimento do desenvolvimento de pesquisas e planejamento estratégico de programas para o controle de tracoma e doenças tropicais negligenciadas em geral.

Endogenous endophthalmitis due to Kingella Kingae infectious endocarditis / Endoftalmite endógena por endocardite infecciosa devido a Kingella Kingae

Abstract This report presents a rare case of endogenous endophthalmitis due to Kingella kingae infectious endocarditis. Endogenous endophthalmitis is a rare condition that has a systemic underlying cause, with hematogenic dissemination of a pathogen that will eventually reach and infect the eye. In this article, we present a case of a 54-year-old woman with fever, chills and decreased visual acuity and pain in the right eye. The slit-lamp exam showed conjunctival injection, anterior chamber reaction with a great amount of fibrinous material obscuring her visual axis. Ultrasound echography revealed profuse exudates and scarce membranous formation in the posterior segment. Blood culture was positive for Kingella kingae, and the patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, along with topic dexamethasone and mydriatic. After 15 days of intravenous antibiotic therapy, the patient exhibited best visual acuity of 20/60. Endogenous endophthalmitis is an ocular emergency that demands quick diagnosis and aggressive intervention in order to preserve vision. Therefore, it is important to recognize its signs and symptoms with no retard.

Resumo O presente relato apresenta um raro caso de endoftalmite endógena por endocardite devido à Kingella kingae. Endoftalmite endógena é uma doença pouco comum com uma causa sistêmica subjacente. A disseminação hematogênica de um microrganismo infeccioso leva à infecção ocular. Nesse artigo, apresentamos o caso de uma mulher com 54 anos, febre, calafrios, baixa da acuidade visual e dor em olho direito. Ao exame na lâmpada de fenda apresentava injeção conjuntival, reação de câmara anterior e acúmulo de fibrina no eixo visual. Ultrassonografia revelou exsudatos profusos e escassa formação membranosa em segmento posterior.A hemocultura foi positiva para Kingella kingae e a paciente foi tratada com ceftriaxone venoso conjuntamente com dexametasona e midriático tópicos. Após 15 dias de terapia antibiótica endovenosa, a paciente apresentou acuidade visual corrigida de 20/60. Endoftalmite endógena é uma emergência ocular que demanda rápido diagnóstico e intervenção agressiva para preservar a visão. Portanto, é importante o reconhecimento precoce dos sinais e sintomas.

Detection of schistosomiasis in an area directly affected by the São Francisco River large-scale water transposition project in the Northeast of Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The development of the São Francisco River Integration Project [Projeto de Integração do Rio São Francisco (PISF)] in the State of Ceará, Brazil, has resulted in environmental and socioeconomic changes with potential risks to public health. We aimed to determine the presence of Schistosoma mansoni infections in schoolchildren (aged 7-14 years) and workers from the construction site in an area under the direct influence of the PISF in the municipality of Brejo Santo-CE, to aid in the prevention and control of schistosomiasis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using two S. mansoni-detection methods: detection of S. mansoni eggs by the Kato-Katz parasitological method in stool samples (assessed in triplicate for each sample) and S. mansoni circulating cathodic antigen by the point-of-care immunochromatographic rapid test (POC-CCA) in urine. RESULTS In general, the positivity rates for S. mansoni detection were 1.9% (2/106) among schoolchildren and 2.9% (4/138) among workers. No child had evidence of S. mansoni eggs in their stools; 1.9% tested positive by the POC-CCA method. Among workers, two (1.4%) tested positive by the Kato-Katz test and three (2.2%) by the POC-CCA test. If the POC-CCA test results that were scored as traces were considered negative, then the positivity rates dropped to 0.9% and 0.7% for schoolchildren and workers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The active transmission of schistosomiasis in a region covered by the PISF was recognized, reinforcing the necessity to consolidate surveillance and control actions, as well as structural sanitation measures to reverse the social determinants of the disease.

Estudo retrospectivo das afecções locomotoras em ruminantes atendidos na Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo entre 2000 e 2012 / Retrospective study of locomotor disorders in ruminants attended in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo from 2000 to 2012

Foi realizado o estudo retrospectivo das afecções do sistema locomotor de ruminantes atendidos no Serviço de Clínica de Bovinos e Pequenos Ruminantes da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo (FMVZ-USP), no período de 2000 a 2012. Nesse período, foram atendidos 209 casos de animais com problemas lo- comotores, dos quais 62,7% localizados na região distal dos membros e 37,3% na região proximal. Na espécie bovina, com 121 (57,9%) casos atendidos, o comprometimento da região distal dos membros foi observado em 86 (71,07%) e da região proximal em 35 (28,93%) dos casos, respectivamente. A afecção mais frequente observada em bovinos foi a hiperplasia interdigital com 26,74% (23) dos casos atendidos. Entre as afecções na região proximal, houve maior ocor- rência de fraturas, com 48,6% (17) dos casos. Foram atendidos 88 (42,1%) pequenos ruminantes, apresentando lesões na região distal em 51,1% (45) dos casos e 48,9% (43) com lesões na região proximal. Nessas espécies, as lesões de maior ocorrência nas regiões distais e proximais foram, respectivamente, o foot-rot (60%) e as fraturas (77,4%). As afecções do sistema locomotor dos ruminantes foram pouco frequentes entre os animais atendidos no período estudado. Quanto ao prognóstico, foi bom nos animais acometidos com doenças podais, diferentemente das afecções proximais dos bovinos, principalmente fraturas, que apresentaram prognóstico mau.

This study aimed to perform a retrospective study of ruminants attended at the Clinic for Cattle and Small Ruminants (CBPR) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMVZ), University of São Paulo (USP) with locomotor diseases from 2000 to 2012. During this period 209 cases were treated. It was found that cases located in the distal limb and in the proximal region were 62.7% and 33.7%, respectively. In bovines, 121 (57.9%) cases were treated, with 86 (71.07%) cases presented in the distal limb and 35 (28.93%) cases in the proximal region. The most common disease was interdigital hyperplasia with 23 (26.74%) cases treated. Fractures were the most frequent disease related to the proximal regioncorresponding to 17 (48.6%) occurrences. In small ruminants, 88 animals (42.1%) were treated with 45 (51.1%) cases in the distal region and the other 43 (48.9%) in the proximal region. In these species, the foot-rot (60%) and fractures (77.4%) was the most common diseases found in the distal and the proximal region, respectively. The disorders of the locomotor system of ruminants were uncommon in the CBPR. While the affected animals with claw diseases have a good prognosis, disorders affecting the upper limb in cattle, mainly fracture, have a poor prognosis.

Metástase oculta em linfonodo sentinela no câncer de mama em estádios iniciais / Occult metastasis in sentinel lymph node in early-stage breast cancer

OBJETIVO: a identificação e biópsia do linfonodo sentinela (LS) no câncer de mama em estádio inicial vêm substituindo a dissecção axilar total. Neste estudo, será apresentada a técnica de processamento do LS, visando o diagnóstico de metástase oculta com base no exame histológico e imuno-histoquímico. MÉTODOS: entre os anos de 2002 e 2005, 266 linfonodos sentinelas foram dissecados em 170 pacientes com câncer de mama em estádio inicial. Foram incluídos apenas os linfonodos considerados negativos durante análise intra-operatória por citologia. Os linfonodos foram seccionados tranversalmente em quatro ou cinco fatias e incluídos em parafina. Em cada bloco de parafina, dois cortes histológicos com 4 µm de espessura foram montados em lâminas para microscopia de luz e corados pela técnica da hematoxilina-eosina e imunoperoxidase (citoqueratina AE1/AE3). RESULTADOS: a avaliação histológica convencional identificou metástase no LS de 22 pacientes (12,9 por cento). Em seis destas (3,5 por cento), o acometimento foi do tipo micrometástase. Já a metástase oculta diagnosticada exclusivamente pela imuno-histoquímica ocorreu em 16 pacientes (9,4 por cento). Em 11 destas (6,5 por cento) foram detectadas células tumorais isoladas e em cinco (2,9 por cento), micrometástases. CONCLUSÕES: a associação do exame histológico de parafina e imuno-histoquímica aumenta a capacidade de identificar metástase oculta no LS de pacientes com câncer de mama em estádios iniciais.

PURPOSE: sentinel lymph node biopsy in early-stage breast cancer patients has been substituting the total axillary lymph node is presented dissection. The technique of processing the sentinel lymph node and the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of occult metastasis identification based on the standard histological and immunohistochemical examination. METHODS: between 2002 and 2005, 266 sentinel lymph nodes were harvested from axillary biopsy of 170 patients with early stage breast cancer. All lymph nodes were considered to be negative according to standard intra-operative cytological assessment. Lymph nodes were transversally sectioned in four or five slices and embedded in paraffin blocks. Two paraffin-embedded tissue sections with 4 µm in thickness were mounted on glass slides and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and immunoperoxidase (cytokeratin AE1/AE3) techniques. RESULTS: standard histological examination identified metastasis in 22 patients (12.9 percent) and micrometastatic disease was observed in six of these patients (3.5 percent). The immunohistochemical examination identified metastatic disease in 16 patients (9.4 percent). Among them, isolated tumor cells were observed in 11 (6.5 percent) and micrometastases were identified in five (2.9 percent). CONCLUSIONS: the association of the standard histological examination and immunohistochemical technique increases the chances of sentinel lymph node metastasis identification.