Prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer among patients with unsatisfactory colposcopic examination, without visible lesion / Prevalência de lesão intra-epitelial escamosa de alto grau e câncer cervical em pacientes sem lesão visível à colposcopia insatisfatória

Context and objetive: Cervical cancer is a serious public health problem in Brazil. For patients with unsatisfactory colposcopic examinations without visible lesions, but with cervical cytological tests suggesting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), the national recommendation is to repeat cervical cytological tests after three months. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of HSIL and cancer among patients with initial cervical cytological tests suggestive of HSIL but with unsatisfactory colposcopic examinations without visible lesions, in order to contribute towards the discussion regarding a more effective clinical approach that might diminish the likelihood of patient abandonment of follow-up before appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study in Colposcopy Clinic of IFF/Fiocruz. Method: Patients admitted between December 1989 and April 2007 with cytological diagnoses of HSIL but with unsatisfactory colposcopic examinations without visible lesions underwent cervical cone biopsy. Results: Sixty-five such patients were included, comprising 33.8 percent with HSIL and 4.6 percent with cancer, confirmed histologically. The other patients presented low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (26.1 percent), glandular dysplasia (1.5 percent) and absence of disease (33.8 percent). Cpnclusion: The observed prevalence of cancer and HSIL does not seem to be enough to justify immediate referral for cone biopsies to investigate the cervical canal in these cases. The findings suggest that the recommendation of repeated cytological tests following an initial one with HSIL, among patients with unsatisfactory colposcopic examinations without visible lesions, is appropriate in our setting. Efforts are needed to ensure adherence to follow-up protocols in order to reduce the chances of losses.

Introdução: O câncer de colo uterino é um grave problema de saúde pública no Brasil. Em pacientes com colpocitologias sugestivas de lesão intra-epitelial escamosa de alto grau (HSIL) e colposcopia insatisfatória sem lesão visível, a recomendação nacional é repetir a colpocitologia após três meses. Nosso objetivo foi medir a prevalência de HSIL e câncer em pacientes com a primeira colpocitologia sugestiva de HSIL e colposcopia insatisfatória sem lesão visível, no intuito de contribuir para a discussão sobre uma conduta clínica mais efetiva e que diminua a probabilidade de perdas de acompanhamento antes do diagnóstico e tratamento adequados. Tipo de estudo e local: Estudo transversal no Ambulatório de Colposcopia do IFF/Fiocruz. MÉTODO: Pacientes recebidas no período de dezembro de 1989 a abril de 2007 com diagnóstico citológico de HSIL sem lesão visível em colposcopias insatisfatórias foram submetidas a conização do colo uterino. Resultados: Foram incluídas 65 pacientes na situação descrita e encontrados 33,8 por cento de HSIL e 4,6 por cento de câncer confirmados histologicamente. Os demais casos apresentaram lesão intra-epitelial escamosa de baixo grau (26,1 por cento), displasia glandular (1,5 por cento) e ausência de doença (33,8 por cento). Conclusão: A prevalência de HSIL ou câncer encontrada não parece suficiente para defender a conduta de encaminhar as pacientes de imediato para conização a fim de investigar o canal cervical. Os achados sugerem que a recomendação de repetir a citologia após uma primeira com HSIL sem lesão visível e colposcopia insatisfatória é apropriada no nosso cenário. Devem ser implementados esforços para adesão às recomendações de acompanhamento e reduzir a chance de perdas.

A review of Hib epidemiology in Asia.

Meningitis due to an invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection, has been previously perceived to be relatively uncommon in Asia. However, the incidence of disease and its impact may have been underestimated. In addition to a lack of microbiological facilities in some hospitals, difficulties in culturing the organism and the widespread use of antibiotics may have hidden the true incidence of the disease in some countries. Furthermore, the reported disease burden probably underestimates the incidence of Hib pneumonia. The epidemiology of invasive Hib disease for various Asian nations is reviewed in this paper. Hospital-based studies show that Hib is a major cause of bacterial meningitis and/or pneumonia in the Philippines, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Singapore and Hong Kong have a low incidence of infection compared with Western and other Asian nations. This low incidence is not due to a higher level of natural protective antibodies, but may be related to an interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Therefore the widespread belief that Hib infection is unimportant in Asia does not refer to Asia as a whole and possibly to Chinese patients only, and failure to recognize this has serious implications. The inclusion of Hib vaccine in the routine infant immunization schedule in many industrialized nations has significantly reduced the incidence of invasive disease. Recent studies have shown Hib vaccination is also effective in preventing invasive disease in children in developing countries. While population-based data may be required to confirm the need for public-funded infant Hib immunization in Asia, its introduction in countries with a high incidence of Hib meningitis and/or pneumonia has the potential to significantly improve pediatric health and survival.

Hepatitis A virus: declining seroprevalence in children and adolescents in Southeast Asia.

The prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in a country largely reflects its standards of hygiene and socioeconomic conditions. Countries which undergo socioeconomic development show major change in HAV prevalence from high to low endemicity, and this is largely reflected in patterns of age-related seroprevalence. This paper presents age-related HAV seroprevalence patterns of SE Asian countries, and highlights how these patterns have changed over recent decades. Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia have experienced a decline in childhood and adolescent HAV seroprevalence, typical of countries which undergo socioeconomic development. By contrast, India has remained a country of high endemicity, with almost universal seroconversion in childhood. The Philippines and Vietnam show age-related seroprevalence patterns typical of high to moderate endemicity, while Indonesia shows significant regional variation in HAV seroprevalence. Populations within countries which exhibit major improvements in endemicity and age related HAV seroprevalence patterns are at risk of HAV epidemics, and a paradoxical increase in incidence tends to occur as seroconversion shifts from children to adults. The residents of these countries, a significant number of whom are at-risk, would benefit from a program of vaccination, as would non-infected individuals visiting high-risk areas.

Evaluación del metabolismo hepático de drogas en la diabetes experimental / Drug hepatic metabolism evaluation in experimental diabetes

Se desarrolló un modelo de diabetes experimental en ratas , analizaron los parámetros fisiológicos, el contenido de citocromo p-450 hepático y el metabolismo in vitro Fase I y II de estructuras moleculares modelos. Se observaron alteraciones significativas en el contenido de proteína microsomal hepática en las ratas diabéticas en tanto el tratamiento con insulina a estas ratas determinó una disminución del contenido de citocromo p-450 hepático. Las ratas diabéticas presentaron una capacidad metabólica in vitro Fase 1 mayor que las ratas controles y la administración de insulina produjo diversos efectos según sustrato empleado. El metabolismo in vitro Fase II de las ratas diabéticas resultó similar al obtenido en las ratas controles, en cambio el tratamiento con insulina produjo variaciones en la afinidad de la enzima por el sustrato y en la cantidad de la enzima que cataliza la reacción. Los resultados sugieren que el estado de diabetes y su tratamiento con insulina, modifica en forma diferente las isoenzimas citocromo P-450 y reduce selectivamente algunas enzimas UDP glucuronil transferasas.

Colestasia intrahepatica del embarazo influencia de los niveles sanguineos de diazepam. / Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: influence of diazepam serum levels

En embarazadas del tecer trimestre se estudio la influencia de la colestasia intrahepatica del embarazo (CIE) sobre los niveles sanguineos del diazepam, asi como los efectos de este farmaco sobre esa patologia.Las concentraciones plasmaticas de diazepam se determinaron a diversos tiempos despues de administraciones orales unicas o repetidas del farmaco en 12 embarazadas que presentaron CIE, y en 6 pacientes testigos sin esa patologia. En las pacientes con CIE los niveles plasmaticos de diazepam fueron significativamente superiores y de curso mas prolongado que en los controles. Se observo una relacion directa entre la severidad de la CIE y los niveles plasmaticos de diazepam alcanzados asi la correlacion entre diazepam y los niveles de fosfatasas alcalinas tuvo un valor R = 0,68 p < 0,05, y aquella entre diazepam con la bilirrubina fue r = 0,88, p < 0,01. La administracion de diazepam, sin embargo, no aumento ni redujo los indices de laboratorio de la CIE.Se discuten los posibles mecanismos que determinan un aumento de los niveles plasmaticos de diazepam en la CIE y los efectos que pueden tener estos cambios en el recien nacido