Beyond technology: Can artificial intelligence support clinical decisions in the prediction of sepsis? / Más allá de la tecnología: ¿La inteligencia artificial puede apoyar la toma de decisiones clínicas en la predicción de la sepsis? / Para além da tecnologia: a inteligência artificial pode apoiar decisões clínicas na predição da sepse?

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the critical alarms predictors of clinical deterioration/sepsis for clinical decision making in patients admitted to a reference hospital complex. Methods: An observational retrospective cohort study. The Machine Learning (ML) tool, Robot Laura®, scores changes in vital parameters and lab tests, classifying them by severity. Inpatients and patients over 18 years of age were included. Results: A total of 122,703 alarms were extracted from the platform, classified as 2 to 9. The pre-selection of critical alarms (6 to 9) indicated 263 urgent alerts (0.2%), from which, after filtering exclusion criteria, 254 alerts were delimited for 61 inpatients. Patient mortality from sepsis was 75%, of which 52% was due to sepsis related to the new coronavirus. After the alarms were answered, 82% of the patients remained in the sectors. Conclusions: Far beyond technology, ML models can speed up assertive clinical decisions by nurses, optimizing time and specialized human resources.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar alarmas críticas predictoras de deterioración clínica/sepsis para toma de decisiones clínicas en pacientes internados en complejo hospitalario de referencia. Métodos: Estudio observacional de cohorte retrospectivo. La herramienta Machine Learning (ML), Robot Laura®, puntúa alteraciones en parámetros vitales y exámenes laboratoriales, clasificándolos por gravedad. Incluyeron pacientes internados y mayores de 18 años. Resultados: Extrajeron 122.703 alarmas de la plataforma, clasificadas de 2 hasta 9. La preselección de alarmas críticas (6 a 9) apuntó 263 alertas urgentes (0,2%), entre ellas, después del filtro de criterios de exclusión, delimitaron 254 alertas para 61 pacientes internados. La mortalidad de pacientes por sepsis fue de 75%, entre ellos 52% debido a sepsis relacionada al nuevo coronavirus. Después de las alarmas ser atendidas, 82% de los pacientes permanecieron en los sectores. Conclusiones: Más allá de la tecnología, modelos de ML pueden agilizar la decisión clínica asertiva de enfermeros, optimizando tiempos y recursos humanos especializados.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os alarmes críticos preditores de deterioração clínica/sepse para tomada de decisão clínica nos pacientes internados em complexo hospitalar de referência. Métodos: Estudo observacional de coorte retrospectivo. A ferramenta de Machine Learning (ML), Robô Laura®, pontua alterações nos parâmetros vitais e exames laboratoriais, classificando-os por gravidade. Incluíram-se pacientes internados e maiores de 18 anos. Resultados: Extraíram-se 122.703 alarmes da plataforma, classificados de 2 até 9. A pré-seleção dos alarmes críticos (6 a 9) apontou 263 alertas urgentes (0,2%), dos quais, após o filtro de critérios de exclusão, delimitaram se 254 alertas para 61 pacientes internados. A mortalidade dos pacientes por sepse foi de 75%, dos quais 52% devido à sepse relacionada ao novo coronavírus. Após os alarmes serem atendidos, 82% dos pacientes permaneceram nos setores. Conclusões: Muito além da tecnologia, modelos de ML podem agilizar a decisão clínica assertiva dos enfermeiros, otimizando tempos e recursos humanos especializados.

Hematological ratios as prognostic indicators in patients with triple-negative breast cancer in southern Brazil

Introduction: The heterogeneous nature and intrinsically aggressive tumor pathology of the triple negative breast cancer subtype results in an unfavorable prognosis and limited clinical success. The use of hematological components of the systemic inflammatory response for patients with triple-negative breast cancer can add important prognostic information to the criteria traditionally used for cancer patients, since inflammation can promote tumor progression support by affecting the stages of tumorigenesis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological parameters neutrophil/lymphocyte, monocyte/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios as prognostic indicators in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Methods: This was a singlecenter retrospective observational study in an oncology referral hospital in the South region of Brazil. Electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer from 2012 to 2016 were reviewed and analyzed using SPSS. Results: The low blood cell ratio groups had significantly higher overall survival than the high blood cell ratio groups. Univariate analysis also confirmed the correlation of patients in the high blood cell ratio groups with unfavorable results. Conclusions: Hematological components of the systemic inflammatory response are promising prognostic indicators. More studies on the subject should be carried out to assist in future medical decision-making so these parameters of easy assessment and low cost can be introduced in clinical practice.

Molecular detection of oncogenic subtypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) in a group of women in the Amazon region of Brazil

The natural history of cervical cancer is strongly related to the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with its relationship with cervical cancer being a matter of concern. It is estimated that 70% of all cervical cancers worldwide are caused by HPV 16 and 18. Accordingly, the present study aimed to contribute to the identification of HPV subtypes circulating in a group of women of Manaus-Brazil. Cervical samples were collected from 49 women, following the eligibility criteria of the study, and DNA was then extracted from the samples, which were analyzed for the presence of the virus in the genetic material through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using generic primers (GP05/06). Finally, identification of the viral subtypes was performed using specific primers for the detection of the main subtypes already examined (16 and 18). Positive HPV DNA was detected in 100% of the samples included in the study. Human papillomavirus 16 was the most prevalent subtype in the majority of lesions, accounting for 29 (59.2%) of the positive cases, and HPV 18 was detected in four (8.2%) women. In these 4 cases there was co-infection, with the presence of both HPV 18 and HPV 16. Therefore, 40.8% (20 cases) in which HPV DNA was detected presented infection with other subtypes of HPV not included in the study. This data has clinical implications related to cervical cancer prevention, as the current prophylactic HPV vaccines are only effective against high-risk HPV 16 and 18 subtypes.

Prognostic impact of MYD88 mutation, proliferative index and cell origin in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Abstract Background Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, among non-Hodgkin lymphomas, is one of the most frequent subtypes. Clinical laboratory data and post-treatment outcomes are scarce in the Brazilian population. Objective The main objective of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of tumor markers, including the Myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88) mutation. Method Eighty-three patients were included and treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like regimens. Results Median age was 64-years old and 58% were female patients. The median follow-up was 42 months. The progression free survival (PFS) at this time was 63% and overall survival (OS), 66%. In the patients with tumors expressing Myc proto-oncogene protein (MYC) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), known as dual protein expressers, median post-progression survival was 31 (15-45) months. An increased proliferative index were associated with a high rate of progression (hazard ratio 2.31 [95% confidence interval [1.05-5.12]; p = 0.04). The cell of origin (COO), identified by IHC, was not able to predict PFS (p = 0.76). The MYD88 L265P mutation was present in 10.8% (9/83) of patients and did not show a prognostic correlation. Conclusion In conclusion, the MYD88 mutation, although an important tool for diagnosis and a possible target drug, presented at a low frequency and was not a prognostic marker in this population.

Evaluation of Kindlin-1 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical expression in primary cutaneous malignant melanoma: a clinical series

Background: The capacity for prognostic prediction of cutaneous melanoma, one of the most aggressive cancers, is still difficult due to the tumor heterogeneity and lack of reliable tumor markers. The objective of this study is to correlate, through immunohistochemistry, a Ki-67 and Kindlin-1 staining in malignant melanomas with the prognosis of the disease. Methods: A historical cohort study. Immunohistochemistry, using mouse anti-human Kindlin-1 and Ki-67 monoclonal antibodies, was performed using tissue blocks from primary cutaneous melanoma patients treated between 2006 and 2014 at our institution. Information regarding pathological data and outcomes were retrieved from medical records. Statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS version 18.0. Results: Thirty patients were included. The median age was from 50.93 ± 15.31 years old. The expression of Ki-67 was detected in all patients with primary cutaneous melanoma, while Kindlin-1 was negative in two. Kindlin expression was not significantly correlated with Ki-67 expression by Spearman's rank correlation analysis (P = 0.46), as well as the expression of both markers and the clinical stage (P = 0.34 and 0.18, respectively). Breslow, Clark and mitotic rate were significantly correlated with AJCC stage (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Other studies investigating clinical evolution are needed to further test the potential of these markers as possible prognostic markers (AU)

Ethics Requirement Score: new tool for evaluating ethics in publications / Escore de Exigência Ética: nova ferramenta para avaliação da ética em publicações

Objective To analyze ethical standards considered by health-related scientific journals, and to prepare the Ethics Requirement Score, a bibliometric index to be applied to scientific healthcare journals in order to evaluate criteria for ethics in scientific publication. Methods Journals related to healthcare selected by the Journal of Citation Reports™ 2010 database were considered as experimental units. Parameters related to publication ethics were analyzed for each journal. These parameters were acquired by analyzing the author’s guidelines or instructions in each journal website. The parameters considered were approval by an Internal Review Board, Declaration of Helsinki or Resolution 196/96, recommendations on plagiarism, need for application of Informed Consent Forms with the volunteers, declaration of confidentiality of patients, record in the database for clinical trials (if applicable), conflict of interest disclosure, and funding sources statement. Each item was analyzed considering their presence or absence. Result The foreign journals had a significantly higher Impact Factor than the Brazilian journals, however, no significant results were observed in relation to the Ethics Requirement Score. There was no correlation between the Ethics Requirement Score and the Impact Factor. Conclusion Although the Impact Factor of foreigner journals was considerably higher than that of the Brazilian publications, the results showed that the Impact Factor has no correlation with the proposed score. This allows us to state that the ethical requirements for publication in biomedical journals are not related to the comprehensiveness or scope of the journal. .

Objetivo Analisar os padrões éticos adotados por periódicos científicos da área da saúde para publicação de artigos e elaborar o Escore de Exigência Ética, um índice bibliométrico a ser aplicado aos periódicos científicos da área da saúde visando avaliar critérios aplicáveis à ética na publicação científica. Métodos Este trabalho considerou como unidades experimentais publicações científicas da área da saúde que foram selecionadas pelo banco de dados do Journal of Citation Reports® 2010. Parâmetros relacionados à ética na publicação foram analisados para cada revista. Para isso, foram analisados guias, normas e instruções aos autores, disponíveis no website de cada revista. Os parâmetros analisados foram: aprovação de um Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa, referência à Declaração de Helsinque e/ou à Resolução 196/96, recomendações sobre plágio, necessidade de aplicação do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido, declaração de garantia de sigilo dos pacientes, registro em base de dados para ensaios clínicos (quando aplicável), declaração de conflito de interesses e declaração de fontes de financiamento. Cada item foi analisado considerando sua presença ou ausência. Resultados Revistas estrangeiras possuíam Fator de Impacto significativamente maior que as revistas nacionais, contudo não foi observado resultado significativo em relação ao Escore de Exigência Ética. Conclusão Ainda que o Fator de Impacto das ...

Fatores clínicos e anatomopatológicos que influenciam a sobrevida de pacientes com câncer de mama e derrame pleural neoplásico / Clinical and pathological factors influencing the survival of breast cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os fatores clínicos e anatomopatológicos que possam influenciar o prognóstico de pacientes com câncer de mama e sintomas clínicos de derrame pleural neoplásico. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo clínico de coorte, no qual foram analisados os prontuários médicos de pacientes que receberam diagnóstico de derrame pleural neoplásico entre 2006 e 2010. Por meio da análise dos prontuários, identificamos as pacientes com história de câncer de mama. Para essas pacientes, coletamos dados anatomopatológicos relacionados ao tumor primário e dados citopatológicos relacionados à metástase pleural. RESULTADOS: Das 145 pacientes avaliadas, 87 (60%) apresentaram, no exame citológico, resultado positivo para células neoplásicas no líquido pleural; além disso, 119 (82%) apresentaram tipo histológico ductal. O fenótipo triplo-negativo foi observado em 25 pacientes (17%), as quais apresentaram o pior prognóstico, com queda acentuada na curva de sobrevida. Das 25 pacientes, 20 (80%) evoluíram a óbito durante o período de seguimento (até junho de 2011). A sobrevida média após a identificação de derrame pleural neoplásico foi de 6 meses. CONCLUSÕES: Em pacientes com câncer de mama triplo-negativo e exame citológico com resultado positivo para células neoplásicas no líquido pleural, o prognóstico é ruim e a sobrevida é menor.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the clinical and pathological factors that can influence the prognosis of breast cancer patients with clinical symptoms of malignant pleural effusion. METHODS: This was a clinical cohort study, in which we analyzed the medical charts of patients diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion between 2006 and 2010. By examining the charts, we identified the female patients with a history of breast cancer. For those patients, we collected pathology data related to the primary tumor and cytopathology data related to the pleural metastasis. RESULTS: We evaluated 145 patients, 87 (60%) of whom had tested positive for malignant cells in the pleural fluid. Ductal histology was observed in 119 (82%). The triple-negative breast cancer phenotype was seen in 25 cases (17%). Those patients had the worst prognosis (with a sharp decline in the survival curve), and 20 of the 25 (80%) died during the follow-up period (through June of 2011). The mean survival after the identification of malignant pleural effusion was 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with triple-negative breast cancer who test positive for malignant cells in the pleural fluid, the prognosis is poor and survival is reduced.

Avaliação de acidentes de trabalho com materiais biológicos em médicos residentes, acadêmicos e estagiários de um hospital-escola de Porto Alegre / Evaluation of occupational accidents with biological materials in medical residents, academics and interns of school hospital of Porto Alegre

Os acidentes ocupacionais são fenômenos socialmente determinados, indicativos da intensa rotina de trabalho à qual é submetida grande parte dos trabalhadores das áreas da saúde e culminam por constituir importante problema de saúde pública no Brasil, atingindo principalmente adultos jovens e causando elevado número de casos de invalidez e óbitos. No período do estudo, foram relatados no hospital escola 166 acidentes de trabalho, o que corresponde a 2,23% da população de estudo. Ao caracterizarmos os acidentes levando em consideração a categoria estudantil ou profissional, constatamos que os "Cursos Técnicos" são os que mais se envolvem em acidentes (31%), seguidos dos "Médicos Residentes" (28%) e dos "Acadêmicos de Medicina" (26%). A faixa etária mais relacionada a acidentes foi a de 20 a 29 anos, na qual está incluída a maioria dos estudantes, estagiários e médicos residentes, e o principal motivo relatado pelos acidentados foi o descuido próprio. As categorias profissionais, idade e causa do acidente evidenciam que medidas educativas devem ser tomadas para prevenção efetiva destes acidentes.

The occupational accidents are socially determined phenomenon, indicative of the intense work schedule in which it is submitted most of the areas of health workers, culminating be important for public health problem in Brazil, affects mainly young adults and causes a large number of cases of disability and even death. During the study period were reported in the teaching hospital 166 accidents, accounting for 2.23% of the study population. By characterizing the accident taking into account the student category, we saw that the most significant number of accidents happened with "Trainees Nursing Technicians" (31%), followed by "Medical Residents" (28%) and "Medical Students" (26%). The majority of the accidents happened in students with ages between 20 and 29 years old, in that group are included most health sciences students, trainees and residents, and the main reason for the accident was negligence of its own. The professional categories, age and cause of the accident show that educational measures should be taken for effective prevention of accidents.

Deteção de Mycobacterium tuberculosis em amostras clínicas por reação em cadeia da polimerase utilizando primers baseados na região intergênica plcB-plcC / Using polymerase chain reaction with primers based on the plcB-plcC intergenic region to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples

OBJECTIVE: To develop a system for the molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), constructing primers based on the difference in gene organization of the intergenic region of phospholipase C (plcB-plcC region), which differentiates Mycobacterium tuberculosis from other mycobacteria. METHODS: A PCR product of the expected size (432 bp) was obtained from M. tuberculosis and M. africanum only. A total of 33 mycobacterial isolates and 273 clinical samples from patients suspected of having tuberculosis were examined. These were used in the comparative study of the PCR technique versus culture. RESULTS: For PCR versus culture, the data showed 93.8 percent accuracy (p < 0.0001), 93.1 percent sensitivity (CI: 88.7-96.0), and 96.4 percent specificity (CI: 96.1-99.4). The Kappa value (0.82) shows that there was a near-perfect concordance between the two tests. CONCLUSION: The use of the plcB-plcC region in PCR amplification was found to be an important and reliable tool for the specific diagnosis of tuberculosis in the samples analyzed.

OBJETIVO: Desenvolver um sistema para o diagnóstico molecular da tuberculose por reação em cadeia da polimerase, do inglês polymerase chain reaction (PCR), pela construção de primers baseados na diferença da organização de uma região intergênica da fosfolipase (phospholipase) C (região plcB-plcC), que diferencia Mycobacterium tuberculosis das outras micobactérias. MÉTODOS: Um produto de PCR com o tamanho esperado (432 pb) foi obtido somente de M. tuberculosis e M. africanum. Um total de 33 isolados micobacterianos e 273 amostras clínicas de pacientes com suspeita de tuberculose foram examinados. Estes foram submetidos ao estudo comparativo da técnica de PCR contra o cultivo. RESULTADOS: Os dados mostraram 93,8 por cento de exatidão para PCR contra o cultivo (p < 0,0001), 93,1 por cento de sensibilidade (IC: 88,7-96,0) e especificidade de 96,4 por cento (IC: 96,1-99,4). O valor de Kappa foi de 0,82, demonstrando um alinhamento perfeito para a verificação do grau de concordância entre os testes. CONCLUSÃO: O uso da região plcB-plcC para a amplificação por PCR é mostrado como uma ferramenta importante e de confiança para o diagnóstico específico de tuberculose nas amostras clínicas analisadas.

Association of manganese superoxide dismutase gene polymorphism (Ala-9Val) and breast cancer in males and females / Associação do polimorfismo do gene da superóxido dismutase dependente de manganês (Ala-9Val) em homens e mulheres com câncer de mama

INTRODUCTION: One of the several metabolic pathways involved in breast carcinogenesis is the human polymorphism in the mitochondrial targeting sequence Ala-9Val of the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene, which has been previously associated with increased risk of breast cancer in females. Since there is no previous report on this polymorphism in male breast cancer, the objective of this study is to analyze MnSOD polymorphism in a population of males and females with breast cancer from the southernmost state of Brazil, compared to healthy controls. METHODS: A case-control study of one hundred patients affected by breast cancer (11 men and 89 women) and 370 healthy age-adjusted database controls was performed. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tumoral tissue. MnSOD polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP techniques using restriction enzyme Hae III. Chi-square test was used to compare MnSOD frequency distribution. RESULTS: MnSOD genotypic frequencies in all patients with breast cancer were AA = 15 percent; AV = 56 percent; VV = 29 percent and controls AA = 6.5 percent; AV = 68.1 percent and VV = 25.4 percent. Both male and female patients with breast cancer presented significantly higher AA frequencies compared to controls (p = 0.035), suggesting strong association of this genotype with breast cancer. A 2.15-fold (95 percent confidence interval [CI] 1.393-4.541) risk of breast cancer was found among individuals carrying the MnSOD AA allele-containing genotypes compared with the MnSOD VV and AV genotypes. DISCUSSION: These results confirm the already established association of MnSOD AA genotype with female breast cancer and further indicate a similar frequency distribution and increased risk in the male population.

INTRODUÇÃO: Uma das diversas rotas metabólicas envolvidas no processo de carcinogênese da mama é o polimorfismo Ala-9Val do gene da superóxido dismutase dependente de manganês, cuja associação com o aumento do risco de câncer de mama em mulheres já é bem estabelecida na literatura. Contudo, não existem estudos envolvendo esse polimorfismo no carcinoma de mama em homens, principalmente devido à baixa prevalência dessa neoplasia. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o polimorfismo da MnSOD em uma população de homens e mulheres com câncer de mama no sul do Brasil, comparando tais achados com controles saudáveis. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de caso-controle em cem pacientes com câncer de mama (11 homens e 89 mulheres) e 370 controles saudáveis. O DNA foi extraído do tecido tumoral emblocado em parafina. O polimorfismo da MnSOD foi determinado por técnicas de PCR-RFLP usando a enzima de restrição Hae III. O teste do qui quadrado foi usado para comparar a distribuição das freqüências dos polimorfismos. RESULTADOS: As freqüências genotípicas dos pacientes com câncer de mama foram AA = 15 por cento; AV = 56 por cento; VV = 29 por cento e dos controles AA = 6,5 por cento; AV = 68,1 por cento e VV = 25,4 por cento. Os pacientes com câncer de mama, tanto as mulheres como os homens, apresentaram freqüências significativamente mais elevadas do genótipo AA quando comparadas aos controles (p = 0,035), sugerindo associação forte desse genótipo com o câncer de mama. O intervalo de confiança foi de 1,393-4,541 (95 por cento) e o risco encontrado foi de 2,15 para indivíduos portadores do genótipo AA, quando comparados com os controles que tinham os genótipos VV e AV da MnSOD. DISCUSSÃO: Esses resultados confirmam a associação já estabelecida do genótipo da MnSOD AA com câncer de mama em mulheres e indicam distribuição de freqüência similar e risco aumentado na população masculina.