Growth Velocity and Nutritional Status in Children Exposed to Zika Virus during Pregnancy from Amazonas Cohort, Brazil.

The high incidence of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in the period of 2015-2016 in Brazil may have affected linear height growth velocity (GV) in children exposed in utero to ZIKV. This study describes the growth velocity and nutritional status based on the World Organization (WHO) standards of children exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy and followed up in a tertiary unit, a reference for tropical and infectious diseases in the Amazon. Seventy-one children born between March 2016 and June 2018 were monitored for anthropometric indices: z-score for body mass index (BMI/A); weight (W/A); height (H/A) and head circumference (HC/A); and growth velocity. The mean age at the last assessment was 21.1 months (SD ± 8.93). Four children had congenital microcephaly and severe neurological impairment. The other 67 were non-microcephalic children (60 normocephalic and 7 macrocephalic); of these; 24.2% (16 children) had neurological alterations, and 28.8% (19 children) had altered neuropsychomotor development. Seventeen (24.2%) children had inadequate GV (low growth velocity). The frequencies of low growth among microcephalic and non-microcephalic patients are 25% (1 of 4 children) and 23.9% (16 of 67 children); respectively. Most children had normal BMI/A values during follow-up. Microcephalic patients showed low H/A and HC/A throughout the follow-up, with a significant reduction in the HC/A z-score. Non-microcephalic individuals are within the regular ranges for H/A; HC/A; and W/A, except for the H/A score for boys. This study showed low growth velocity in children with and without microcephaly, highlighting the need for continuous evaluation of all children born to mothers exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy.

Anal cancer precursor lesions in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients seen at a tertiary health institution in Brazil / Lesões precursoras do câncer anal em pacientes HIV-positivos e HIV-negativos atendidos numa instituição de saúde terciária no Brasil

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASIL) or anal cancer in patients attended at the Tropical Medicine Foundation of Amazonas. Methods: 344 patients consecutively attended at the institution, in 2007/2008, were distributed in the following strata according to presence/abscense of at risk conditions for anal cancer: Group 1 _ HIV-positive men-who-have-sex-with-men (101); Group 2 _ HIV-positive females (49); Group 3 _ patients without any at risk condition for anal cancer (53); Group 4 _ HIV-positive heterosexual men (38); Group 5 _ HIV-negative patients, without anoreceptive sexual habits, but with other at risk conditions for anal cancer (45); Group 6 _ HIV-negative men-who-have-sex-with-men (26); and Group 7 _ HIV-negative anoreceptive females (32). The histopathological results of biopsies guided by high-resolution anoscopy were analyzed by frequentist and bayesian statistics in order to calculate the point-prevalence of ASIL/cancer and observe any eventual preponderance of one group over the other. Results: The point-prevalence of ASIL for all the patients studied was 93/344 (27 percent), the difference between HIV-positive and negative patients being statistically significant (38.3 percent versus 13.5 percent; p < 0.0001). The prevalence of ASIL for each one of the groups studied was: Group 1 = 49.5 percent, Group 2 = 28.6 percent, Group 3 = 3.8 percent, Group 4 = 21.1 percent, Group 5 = 11.1 percent, Group 6 = 30.8 percent and Group 7 = 18.8 percent. Standard residual analysis demonstrated that ASIL was significantly prevalent in patients of Group 1 and high-grade ASIL in patients of Group 2. The odds for ASIL of Group 1 was significantly higher in comparison to Groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (p < 0.03). The odds for ASIL of Groups 2, 4 and 6 were significantly higher in comparison to Group 3 (p < 0.03). Conclusions: In the patients studied, ASIL (low and/or high-grade) tended to be significantly more prevalent in HIV-positive patients. Nonetheless, HIV-negative anoreceptive patients also presented great probability to have anal cancer precursor lesions, mainly those of the male gender.

Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência de lesões intraepiteliais escamosas anais (ASIL) ou câncer anal em pacientes atendidos na Fundação de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas. Métodos: 344 pacientes consecutivamente atendidos na instituição, em 2007/2008, foram distribuídos nos seguintes estratos conforme a presença/ausência de fatores de risco para o câncer anal: Grupo 1 _ homens-que-fazem-sexo-com-homens HIV-positivos (101); Grupo 2 _ mulheres HIV-positivas (49); Grupo 3 _ pacientes sem condição de risco para o câncer anal (53); Grupo 4 _ homens heterossexuais HIV-positivos (38); Grupo 5 _ pacientes HIV-negativos, sem hábitos sexuais anorreceptivos, mas com outras condições de risco para o câncer anal (45); Grupo 6 _ homens-que-fazem-sexo-com-homens HIV-negativos (26); e Grupo 7 _ mulheres HIV-negativas, com hábitos sexuais anorreceptivos (32). Os resultados histopatológicos das biópsias anais dirigidas pela colposcopia anal foram analisados por meio de estatística frequentista e bayesiana para a determinação da prevalência-ponto de ASIL/câncer e verificar eventual preponderância estatística de um grupo sobre o outro. Resultados: A prevalência-ponto de ASIL para todos os pacientes estudados foi de 93/344 (27 por cento), sendo significativa a diferença entre HIV-positivos e negativos (38,3 por cento versus 13,5 por cento; p < 0,0001). A prevalência de ASIL para cada um dos grupos estudados foi: Grupo 1 = 49,5 por cento, Grupo 2 = 28,6 por cento, Grupo 3 = 3,8 por cento, Grupo 4 = 21,1 por cento, Grupo 5 = 11,1 por cento, Grupo 6 = 30,8 por cento e Grupo 7 = 18,8 por cento. A análise de resíduos demonstrou prevalência significante de ASIL para o Grupo 1 e de ASIL de alto-grau para o Grupo 2. A razão-de-chances do Grupo 1 para ASIL foi significantemente maior em comparação com os Grupos 2, 3, 4, 5 e 7 (p < 0,03). A razão-de-chances para ASIL dos Grupos 2, 4 e 6 foi significantemente maior em comparação com o Grupo 3 (p < 0.03). Conclusões: Nos pacientes estudados, ASIL (baixo e/ou alto-grau) foi significantemente mais prevalente em pacientes HIV-positivos. Entretanto, pacientes HIV-negativos anorreceptivos também apresentaram grande probabilidade de possuir as lesões, especialmente os do gênero masculino.

Anal cancer precursor lesions in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients seen at a tertiary health institution in Brazil.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASIL) or anal cancer in patients attended at the Tropical Medicine Foundation of Amazonas. METHODS: 344 patients consecutively attended at the institution, in 2007/2008, were distributed in the following strata according to presence/abscense of at risk conditions for anal cancer: Group 1 - HIV-positive men-who-have-sex-with-men (101); Group 2 - HIV-positive females (49); Group 3 - patients without any at risk condition for anal cancer (53); Group 4 - HIV-positive heterosexual men (38); Group 5 - HIV-negative patients, without anoreceptive sexual habits, but with other at risk conditions for anal cancer (45); Group 6 - HIV-negative men-who-have-sex-with-men (26); and Group 7 - HIV-negative anoreceptive females (32). The histopathological results of biopsies guided by high-resolution anoscopy were analyzed by frequentist and bayesian statistics in order to calculate the point-prevalence of ASIL/cancer and observe any eventual preponderance of one group over the other. RESULTS: The point-prevalence of ASIL for all the patients studied was 93/344 (27%), the difference between HIV-positive and negative patients being statistically significant (38.3% versus 13.5%; p < 0.0001). The prevalence of ASIL for each one of the groups studied was: Group 1 = 49.5%, Group 2 = 28.6%, Group 3 = 3.8%, Group 4 = 21.1%, Group 5 = 11.1%, Group 6 = 30.8% and Group 7 = 18.8%. Standard residual analysis demonstrated that ASIL was significantly prevalent in patients of Group 1 and high-grade ASIL in patients of Group 2. The odds for ASIL of Group 1 was significantly higher in comparison to Groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (p < 0.03). The odds for ASIL of Groups 2, 4 and 6 were significantly higher in comparison to Group 3 (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the patients studied, ASIL (low and/or high-grade) tended to be significantly more prevalent in HIV-positive patients. Nonetheless, HIV-negative anoreceptive patients also presented great probability to have anal cancer precursor lesions, mainly those of the male gender.

Needlescopic versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A prospective study of 60 patients.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that needlescopic cholecystectomies (NC) offer superior outcomes in comparison to common laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC). METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with gallbladder disease undergoing either LC or NC were evaluated with respect to differences in operative time, frequency of per-operative incidents, post-operative pain, late postoperative symptoms, length of scars and level of postoperative satisfaction. RESULTS: Mean operative time was similar in both groups. Most of the patients, irrespective of the technique, informed mild postoperative pain. NC patients had lower levels of pain on the 7th postoperative day (PO7) (p<0.01) and decreased need for additional analgesia. Less frequency of epigastric wound pain was observed in NC patients until PO4 (p<0.01). Aesthetic result was far superior after NC (total length of scars less than half after LC). No differences regarding postoperative satisfaction with the operation were observed between the studied groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques were safe and effective, presenting similar operative times and low levels of postoperative pain. Downsizing the ports to 2-3 mm was associated with significantly less frequency of postoperative pain only in the epigastric wound until PO4. Aesthetic outcome of NC was significantly superior to LC, although this advantage did not influence patient level of satisfaction.

[Anal cytology as a screening method for early detection of anal cancer: are hydrophilic cotton smears really unsatisfactory?]. / Citologia anal como método de rastreamento para a detecção precoce do cancer anal: esfregaços com algodão hidrófilo são mesmo insatisfatórios?

PURPOSE: To test the ability of analpaps performed with cotton swab smears to produce satisfactory cytologic readings as compared to traditional sampling materials. METHODS: 318 consecutive patients were examined at the Ambulatório Araújo Lima of Hospital Universitario Getúlio Vargas in the Anal Cancer Prevention Week and were sampled for the performance of analpap. 180 of these patients were randomly sorted to be sampled by either one of the following materials: cytologic brush, dacron swab or cotton swab. The ability of cotton in producing satisfactory anal cytologic readings as compared to dacron and cytologic brush was analised. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference among the materials employed in the ability to produce satisfactory citological readings in analpaps. (p > 0.05) CONCLUSION: Our results showed that cotton swabs were as efficient as dacron swabs or cytologic brushes in the ability to produce satisfactory analpap readings.

Citologia anal como método de rastreamento para a detecção precoce do câncer anal: esfregaços com algodão hidrófilo são mesmo insatisfatórios? / Anal cytology as a screening method for early detection of anal cancer: are hydrophilic cotton smears really unsatisfactory?

OBJETIVO: Testar se swabs de algodão hidrófilo são capazes de produzir esfregaços de secreção anal que permitam leituras citológicas satisfatórias ao Pap-a em comparação a métodos tradicionais de coleta. MÉTODOS: 318 pacientes sofreram coleta de material anal para a realização do Pap-a. 180 deles realizaram a captura de células anais com material sorteado (escova citológica, swab de poliéster ou cotonete de algodão). Foram comparados entre si os materiais usados para a coleta de secreção anal segundo a capacidade de produção de leitura citológica satisfatória. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença estatística entre o algodão hidrófilo, o poliéster e a escova na capacidade de produzir leituras citológicas satisfatórias (p>0,05). CONCLUSAO: No material estudado, o algodão hidrófilo foi tão bom quanto o poliéster ou a escova citológica na produção de leituras citológicas adequadas no Pap-a.