A New Brazilian Device for Cervical Cancer Screening: Acceptability and Accuracy of Self-sampling / Um Novo Dispositivo Brasileiro para Diagnóstico de Câncer Cervical: Aceitabilidade e Precisão da Autoamostragem

Abstract Objective To evaluate the accuracy and patient acceptability toward self-sampling using a new device - SelfCervix® - for detecting HPV-DNA. Methods A total of 73 women aged 25-65 who underwent regular cervical cancer screening from March to October 2016 were included. Women performed self-sampling followed by a physician-sampling, and the samples were analyzed for HPV-DNA. After that, patients were surveyed about their acceptability of self-sampling. Results HPV-DNA detection rate of self-sampling presented high accuracy and was similar to physician-collection. Sixty-four (87.7%) patients answered the acceptability survey. Most patients (89%) considered the self-sampling comfortable, and 82.5% preferred self-sampling to physician-sampling. The reasons cited were time-saving and convenience. Fifty-one (79.7%) reported that they would recommend self-sampling. Conclusion Self-sampling using the new Brazilian device SelfCervix® is not inferior in HPV-DNA detection rate compared with physician-collection, and patients are supportive of the method. Therefore, it might be an option to reach under-screened populations in Brazil.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a acurácia e aceitabilidade da auto-coleta utilizando um novo coletor - SelfCervix® - para a detecção de DNA de HPV. Métodos Foram incluídas no estudo 73 mulheres com idade entre 25-65 anos que realizaram seu rastreamento regular do câncer de colo do útero entre Março e Outubro de 2016. Estas mulheres realizaram a auto-coleta, seguida de coleta profissional e as amostras foram analisadas paraa presença de DNA de HPV. Após, elas responderam um questionário sobre a experiência da auto-coleta. Resultados As taxas de detecção de DNA de HPV por auto-coleta foram altas e similares as da coleta profissional. Sessenta e quatro (87,7%) pacientes responderam o questionário de experiência. A maioria (89%) considerou a auto-coleta confortável, e 82,5% preferiram o método comparado a coleta profissional. As razões citadas foram economia de tempo e conveniência. Cinquenta e uma (79,7%) mulheres confirmaram que recomendariam a auto-coleta. Conclusão Auto-coleta utilizando o novo coletor desenvolvido no Brasil não é inferior na detecção de DNA de HPV quando comparada a coleta profissional, e apresenta uma boa aceitabilidade pelas mulheres. Desta maneira, pode ser uma opção para alcançar populações que não realizam o rastreamento padrão.

Toll-like Receptors 2, 3, and 4 in Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia / Receptores do Tipo Toll 2, 3 e 4 em Leucemia Linfocítica Aguda Infanti / Receptores Tipo Toll 2, 3 y 4 en la Leucemia Linfocítica Aguda Infantil

Introduction: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer type in children and accounts for 80% of pediatric leukemias. Novel targets are necessary to improve survival rates for refractory and relapsed disease. There is accumulating evidence that Toll-like Receptor (TLR) signaling may be associated with outcomes in cancer however little has been described in leukemias. Objective: Analyze the expression and contribution of TLRs to the development of childhood ALL. Method: To evaluate the effect of specific TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 agonists on the viability and proliferation of childhood ALL cell lines and to analyzed the mRNA expression of these types of TLR in bone marrow blast cells at diagnosis (D0) and induction (D35) in pediatric ALL patients. Results: Treatment with TLR agonists reduced the cell viability of Jurkat and Sup-B15 cell lines. Cell cycle distribution in Jurkat was altered, reducing polyploid cells and increasing sub-G1 phase. Conclusion: It was observed that the cell viability of the cell lines responded with different sensitivities to the agonists. The polyploidy associated with tumor malignancy was reduced, in addition to the increase in the sub-G1 phase indicating an increase in apoptosis. There were differences in TLR expression at D35 between groups at risk of the disease. Patients with high expression of TLR2 and low expression of TLR4 on D35 demonstrated a worse prognosis

Introdução: A leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA) é o tipo de câncer mais comum em crianças e representa 80% das leucemias pediátricas. Novos alvos são necessários para melhorar as taxas de sobrevivência para doença refratária e recidivante. Há evidências acumuladas de que a sinalização de receptores Toll-Like (TLR) pode estar associada a resultados em câncer, embora pouco tenha sido descrito em leucemias. Objetivo: Analisar a expressão e a contribuição dos TLR para o desenvolvimento da LLA infantil. Método: Avaliar o efeito de agonistas específicos de TLR2, TLR3 e TLR4 na viabilidade e proliferação de linhagens celulares de LLA infantil e analisar a expressão do RNAm desses tipos de TLR em células blásticas da medula óssea no diagnóstico (D0) e na indução (D35) em pacientes LLA pediátricos. Resultados: O tratamento com agonistas de TLR reduziu a viabilidade celular das linhagens celulares Jurkat e Sup-B15. A distribuição do ciclo celular em Jurkat foi alterada, reduzindo as células poliploides e aumentando a fase sub-G1. Houve aumento na expressão dos receptores entre D0 e D35 em amostras de pacientes. Conclusão: Observou-se que a viabilidade celular das linhagens celulares respondeu com diferentes sensibilidades aos agonistas. A poliploidia associada à malignidade tumoral foi reduzida, além de o aumento da fase sub-G1 indicar aumento da apoptose. Houve diferenças na expressão de TLR em D35 entre os grupos de risco da doença. Pacientes com alta expressão de TLR2 e baixa expressão de TLR4 no D35 demonstraram pior prognóstico.

Introducción: La leucemia linfocítica aguda (LLA) es el tipo de cáncer más común en los niños y representa el 80 % de las leucemias pediátricas. Se necesitan nuevos objetivos para mejorar las tasas de supervivencia de la enfermedad refractaria y recidivante. Cada vez hay más pruebas de que la señalización del receptor Toll-Like (TLR) puede estar asociada con resultados en el cáncer, aunque se ha descrito poco en las leucemias. Objetivo: Analizar la expresión y la contribución de los TLR al desarrollo de la LLA infantil. Método: Evaluar el efecto de agonistas específicos de TLR2, TLR3 y TLR4 en la viabilidad y proliferación de líneas celulares de LLA infantil y analizar la expresión de ARNm de estos tipos de TLR en células blásticas de médula ósea en el momento del diagnóstico (D0) y la inducción (D35) en pacientes pediátricos con LLA. Resultados: El tratamiento con agonistas de TLR redujo la viabilidad celular de las líneas celulares Jurkat y sup-B15. Se alteró la distribución del ciclo celular en Jurkat, reduciendo las células poliploides y aumentando la fase sub-G1. Hubo un aumento en la expresión de los receptores entre D0 y D35 en muestras de pacientes. Conclusión: Se observó que la viabilidad celular de las líneas celulares respondía con distintas sensibilidades a los agonistas. Se redujo la poliploidía asociada con la malignidad del tumor, además de un aumento de la fase sub-G1 que indica un aumento de la apoptosis. Hubo diferencias en la expresión de TLR en D35 entre los grupos de riesgo de enfermedad. Los pacientes con alta expresión de TLR2 y baja expresión de TLR4 en D35 mostraron peor pronóstico

First case report of monkeypox in Brazil: clinical manifestations and differential diagnosis with sexually transmitted infections

ABSTRACT In 2022, an outbreak of monkeypox is being reported in non-endemic areas, with unusual clinical manifestations. The detailed clinical description of the first patient that received the diagnosis of monkeypox in Brazil is reported here, whose clinical manifestations can easily lead to misdiagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. A 41 years old male presented to an emergency room with a vesicular rash with eight days of evolution. He had traveled to Portugal and Spain and reported non-penetrative sexual involvement with three different male individuals. On the third day of symptoms, he sought medical care and received empirical treatment directed to sexually transmitted infections. As the symptoms did not improve, he sought medical attention at an infectious disease referral center presenting, on admission, an ulcerated penile lesion with central necrotic crusts, a disseminated pleomorphic skin rash and an oropharyngeal ulcer. The monkeypox diagnosis was suspected due to the characteristics of the lesions and the history of intimate contact with casual partners, and it was later confirmed by sequencing the almost complete monkeypox genome. The patient was hospitalized for pain control, which required opiate administration. He developed a secondary bacterial infection on the penile lesions, which were treated with oral antibiotics. He was discharged after 14 days, with lesions in process of re-epithelialization. Given the current outbreak, we must consider the possibility of monkeypox in patients with suggestive lesions, anywhere on the body (including the genitals), added to an epidemiological link or history of intimate contact with strangers or casual partners.

Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of the first case of monkeypox virus in Brazil, 2022

ABSTRACT Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a zoonotic virus endemic to the African continent, has been reported in 33 non-endemic countries since May 2022. We report an almost complete genome of the first confirmed case of MPXV in Brazil. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was completed in 18 hours, from DNA extraction to consensus sequence generation.

A associação dos níveis séricos de TSH com o risco de câncer bem diferenciado de tireoide e sua relação com a agressividade da doença / The association of serum TSH with the risk of well-differentiated thyroid cancer and its relation with disease aggressiveness

Introdução: O câncer de tireoide é a neoplasia endócrina de maior prevalência, e sua incidência vem aumentando nos últimos anos. Estudos anteriores sugeriram que o nível sérico de Hormônio Estimulante de Tireoide (TSH) é um fator de risco independente para o desenvolvimento de cânceres bem diferenciados de tireoide. Além disso, alguns desses estudos demonstraram que altos níveis de TSH estão relacionados a estágios mais avançados de doença. Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo é averiguar se os níveis de TSH, mesmo dentro da faixa da normalidade, se correlacionam com maior incidência e maior agressividade dos carcinomas bem diferenciados de tireoide. Métodos: Analisamos os dados de 1180 pacientes submetidos a tireoidectomia total pela equipe da Disciplina de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do HC-FMUSP, sendo 57,9% devido a doenças benignas e 42,1% a neoplasias malignas de tireoide. Para cada paciente, adotamos os valores absolutos de TSH referentes à última coleta antes da cirurgia, e os resultados dos exames anatomopatológicos (AP). Resultados: A comparação dos níveis de TSH estratificado nos pacientes com doenças benignas e com neoplasias malignas demonstrou uma associação estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,0001), nos permitindo inferir que pacientes com valor de TSH sérico maior de 1,16 µIU/mL tem maior risco de serem portadores de câncer bem diferenciado de tireoide do que aqueles que tem níveis de TSH menor ou igual a este valor. Porém, quando comparamos o estadio final dos CBT com os níveis de THS estratificado não houve associação significativa (p = 0,585), e assim pelos nossos resultados não podemos afirmar que valores de TSH maiores de 1,16 µIU/mL estão associados a maior gravidade no câncer de tireoide.

Introduction: The thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, and its incidence has increased in recent years. Previous studies have suggested that serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is an independent risk factor for the development of well differentiated thyroid cancer. Furthermore, some of these studies showed that high TSH levels are related to more advanced stages of disease. Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate if serum THS levels, even whitin the normal range, are related with higher incidence and increased aggressiveness of well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Methods: We analyzed data of 1180 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy by the Discipline of Head and Neck Surgery from Hospital das Clinicas of University of São Paulo (HC-FMUSP). 57.9% was due to benign diseases and 42,1% was due to malignant neoplasms. For each patient, we adopted the value of serum TSH reference to the last collection before surgery, and the results of the pathologic exams. Results: The comparison of the stratified TSH levels in the patients with benign diseases and malignant neoplasms showed a statistically significant association (p < 0,0001), allowing us to infer that patients with TSH levels higher than 1,16 µIU/mL have higher risk of being carriers of well differentiated thyroid cancer than those who TSH levels less than or equal to this value. But when we compared the final stage of CBT with the stratified TSH levels, there was no significant association (p = 0,585), and so by our results we cannot say that THS levels higher then 1,16 µIU/mL are associated with more advanced stage of disease.

Atividade antimicrobiana de produtos fluoretados sobre bacterias formadoras do biofilme dentario: estudo in vitro / Antimicrobial activity of fluoridated products on biofi lm-forming bacteria: an in vitro study

Objetivo: Avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana de produtos fluoretados sobre cepas de referencia de Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis e Lactobacillus casei. Metodo: Comparou-se os produtos a base de diaminofluoreto de prata (Cariestop© a 12%, Cariostal© a 16% e o Cariestop© a 30%), gel acidulado (Flutop©) e espuma acidulada (Fluor Care©), sob a forma pura e em seis diluicoes (1:2 a 1:64), determinando-se a Diluicao Inibitoria Maxima (DIM) com a clorexidina (controle positivo). Para verificacao a DIM, utilizou-se o metodo da difusao em agar e a tecnica do agar recortado, posterior incubacao em microaerofilia por 48 horas, seguindo-se da mensuracao dos halos de inibicao. Os testes foram realizados em duplicata, procedendo-se a analise descritiva dos dados.Resultados: O Cariostal a 16% teve sua DIM de 25% sobre o S. mutans, evidenciando-se inibicao sobre o S. oralis na sua forma pura. Em relacao ao Cariestop a 30%, constatou-se que ele inibiu o S. mutans e o S. oralis na sua forma pura e na diluicao de ate 1:2, sendo o unico produto testado a formar halo de inibicao para o L. casei (forma pura). A espuma acida nao demonstrou atividade antimicrobiana sobre as cepas testadas enquanto o gel de fluorfosfato acidulado inibiu o crescimento de S. mutans e S. oralis apresentando a DIM de 50% sobre estas bacterias. Conclusao: A maioria dos cariostaticos apresentou atividade antimicrobiana sobre S. mutans e S. oralis. O gel demonstrou acao antimicrobiana sobre S. mutans e S. oralis, nao sendo evidenciado efeito sobre o L. casei enquanto tal atividade nao foi verificada para a espuma sobre as cepas testadas.

Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of fluoridated products on reference strains of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis and Lactobacillus casei. Method: The antibacterial activity of products based on silver diamine fluoride at 12% (Cariestop©), 16% (Cariostal©) and30% (Cariestop©), acidulated phosphate fluoride gel (Flutop©) and acidulated phosphate fluoride foam (Fluor Care©) in their pure form and in 6 dilutions (1:2 to 1:64) was evaluated bydetermination of the maximum inhibitory dilution (MID), having chlorhexidine as the positive control. For determination of the MID, the agar difuusion method and the agar well techniquewere performed, followed by incubation in microaerophilia for 48 hours. The analysis of MID data was based on the measurement of the zones of bacterial growth inhibition (inmm) formed around the wells. All tests were performed in duplicate and the data were analyzed descriptively. Results: Cariostal© presented 25% MID against S. mutans, inhibited of S.oralis in its pure form. Cariestop© inhibited S. mutans and S. oralis in its a form and in dilutions up to 1:2,being the only product that formed an inhibition zone against L. casei (pure form). The acidulated phosphate fluoride foam did not show antimicrobial activity against the tested strains, thewhile acidulated phosphate fluoride gel inhibited the growth of S. mutans and S. oralis, presenting 50% MID against the bacteria Conclusion: Most cariostatic agents presented antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and S. oralis. The acidulated phosphate fluoride gel showed antimicrobial action against S. mutans and S. oralis, but had not effect against L. casei. The acidulated phosphate fluoride foam showed no antimicrobial activity against the tested strains.