Tuberculosis preventive treatment in children and adolescents: an observational study of secondary data.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness, safety, outcomes, and associated factors of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) in children and adolescents in Paraná, southern Brazil. METHOD: This was an observational cohort study with a retrospective collection of secondary data from the TPT information systems of the state of Paraná from 2009 to 2016, and tuberculosis in Brazil from 2009 to 2018. RESULTS: In total, 1,397 people were included. In 95.4% of the individuals, the indication for TPT was a history of patient-index contact with pulmonary tuberculosis. Isoniazid was used in 99.9% of the cases with TPT, and 87.7% completed the treatment. The TPT protection was 98.7%. Among the 18 people who had TB, 14 (77.8%) became ill after the second year of treatment, and four (22.2%) in the first two years (p < 0.001). Adverse events were reported in 3.3% of cases, most of them were gastrointestinal and medication was discontinued in only 2 (0.1%) patients. No risk factors associated with the illness were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The authors observed a low rate of illness in pragmatics routine conditions in TPT for children and adolescents, especially within the first two years after the end of treatment, with good tolerability and a good percentage of adherence to the treatment. TPT should be encouraged to achieve the goals of the End TB Strategy of the World Health Organization as an essential strategy to reduce the incidence rate of the disease, but studies with new schemes must continue to be carried out in real-life scenarios.

Description of a specialized outpatient clinic as a reference center for children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in southern Brazil / Descrição de um ambulatório especializado referência em crianças e adolescentes vivendo com HIV/AIDS no sul do Brasil

Introduction: Children living with HIV/AIDS require specialized care. Objective: To describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: Observational, descriptive study using medical records data of patients with HIV/AIDS under 14 years of age. Approved by the institution's Ethics Committee under number 1,432,517. Results: 60 cases were included; the median follow-up duration was 6.8 years; 50.0% were male; 88.3% were white; 75.0% were from the capital and metropolitan region. Prenatal records were available for 51 cases, but only 44.6% received antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy (mean duration of 3.3 months). HIV diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms in 28.3% of the cases, occurring in similar proportions for both childhood common infections and opportunistic infections. According to the CDC clinical classification (1994), at the start of follow-up, 56.6% of patients had moderate or severe symptoms, which would be reduced to only 18.3% upon reclassification at the last visit (p=0.016). Initially, 41.7% showed evidence of immunosuppression, compared to 19.9% at the time of the study (p=0.5). Only 6.6% remained asymptomatic. A decrease in the average number of hospitalizations was observed during follow-up. Conclusion: Among the cases diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, half were attributed to common childhood infections and lacked immunosuppression

Introdução: Crianças que vivem com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana ­ HIV/AIDS requerem atendimento especializado. Objetivo: Descrever características clínicas e epidemiológicas de pacientes que vivem com HIV/AIDS. Métodos: Estudo observacional, descritivo, com dados de prontuários de pacientes com HIV/AIDS de até 14 anos de idade incompletos, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da instituição sob o número 1.432.517. Resultados: Foram incluídos 60 casos. A mediana de acompanhamento foi de 6,8 anos; 50,0% eram do sexo masculino; 88,3% brancos; 75,0% naturais da capital e região metropolitana. Em 51 prontuários havia descrição de pré-natal, porém apenas 44,6% fizeram uso de terapia antirretroviral (TARV) na gestação (tempo médio de 3,3 meses). Em 28,3% o HIV foi pesquisado por sintomas clínicos, que ocorreram em proporções similares tanto por infecções habituais da infância como por oportunistas. De acordo com a classificação clínica dos Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ­ CDC (1994), ao início do acompanhamento, 56,6% dos pacientes apresentavam sintomas moderados ou graves e, na última consulta, se fossem reclassificados, seriam apenas 18,3% (p=0,016). Incialmente, 41,7% apresentavam evidência de imunossupressão, comparativamente aos 19,9% na ocasião do estudo (p=0,5). Apenas 6,6% permaneceram assintomáticos. Com o acompanhamento, verificou-se diminuição na média do número de hospitalizações. Conclusão: Dos casos que apresentaram seu diagnóstico por sintomas clínicos, metade foi por infecções habituais da infância e sem imunossupressão

Tuberculosis preventive treatment in children and adolescents: an observational study of secondary data

Abstract Objective To analyze the effectiveness, safety, outcomes, and associated factors of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) in children and adolescents in Paraná, southern Brazil. Method This was an observational cohort study with a retrospective collection of secondary data from the TPT information systems of the state of Paraná from 2009 to 2016, and tuberculosis in Brazil from 2009 to 2018. Results In total, 1,397 people were included. In 95.4% of the individuals, the indication for TPT was a history of patient-index contact with pulmonary tuberculosis. Isoniazid was used in 99.9% of the cases with TPT, and 87.7% completed the treatment. The TPT protection was 98.7%. Among the 18 people who had TB, 14 (77.8%) became ill after the second year of treatment, and four (22.2%) in the first two years (p < 0.001). Adverse events were reported in 3.3% of cases, most of them were gastrointestinal and medication was discontinued in only 2 (0.1%) patients. No risk factors associated with the illness were observed. Conclusions The authors observed a low rate of illness in pragmatics routine conditions in TPT for children and adolescents, especially within the first two years after the end of treatment, with good tolerability and a good percentage of adherence to the treatment. TPT should be encouraged to achieve the goals of the End TB Strategy of the World Health Organization as an essential strategy to reduce the incidence rate of the disease, but studies with new schemes must continue to be carried out in real-life scenarios.

BNT162b2 against COVID-19 in Brazil using a test-negative design: Study protocol and statistical analysis plan.

INTRODUCTION: Real-world data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness are needed to validate evidence from randomized clinical trials. Accordingly, this study aims to evaluate, in a real-world setting in Brazil, the effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 against symptomatic COVID-19 and COVID-19-related complications across diverse populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A test-negative case-control study with follow-up of cases is currently being conducted in Toledo, a city in southern Brazil, following a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign with BNT162b2. The study is being conducted among patients aged 12 years or older seeking care in the public health system with acute respiratory symptoms and tested for SARS-CoV-2 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cases are RT-PCR positive and controls RT-PCR negative. Test-positive cases are prospectively followed through structured telephone interviews performed at 15 days post-enrollment, and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Baseline demographic, clinical, and vaccination data are being collected by means of structured interviews and medical registry records reviews at the time of enrollment. All RT-PCR-positive samples are screened for mutations to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol has been approved by the research ethics committee of all participant sites. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRAIL REGISTRATION: Clinicatrials.gov: NCT05052307.

Integração ensino-serviço na implantação de um curso de medicina no Paraná / Implementation of mental health care with the CIHP approach in primary care

Integrar o ensino de medicina e a rede municipal de saúde, segundo inúmeros estudos, contribui para a melhoria da formação médica e da assistência à saúde da comunidade atendida. O presente estudo analisou a integração ensino-serviço na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) entre o curso de medicina do Campus Toledo da Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) e a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde (SMS) de Toledo, também no Paraná. Foram realizadas doze entrevistas semiestruturadas com participantes da gestão municipal, coordenação do curso de medicina de Toledo, estudantes de medicina, professores que têm aulas práticas na APS e profissionais de saúde da APS que recebem alunos. A hermenêutica foi utilizada na análise dos dados. Entre as dificuldades apontadas observou-se: estrutura física inadequada das Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS), comunicação parcial entre a SMS e a universidade, falta de um Contrato Organizativo de Ação Pública de Ensino-Saúde (COAPES) pactuado etc. Como sugestões para a melhoria do processo de integração, destacaram-se a capacitação da equipe de saúde e o planejamento da infraestrutura física.

Integrating medical education and the municipal health network, according to numerous studies, contributes to improving medical training and health care in the community served. This study analyzed the teaching-service integration in primary health care (PHC) between the medical course at the Toledo Campus of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and the Municipal Health Department (SMS) of Toledo, PR. Twelve semi-structured interviews were carried out with participants from the municipal administration, the coordination of the Toledo medicine course, medicine students, teachers who teach practical classes at PHC, and health professionals from PHC who receive students. Hermeneutics was used in the data analysis. Among the difficulties pointed out, it was observed: the inadequate physical structure of the Basic Health Units (UBS), partial communication between the SMS and the university, thelack of an Organizational Contract for Public Education-Health Action (COAPES) agreed upon, etc. As suggestions for improving the integration process, the training of the health team and the planning of the physical infrastructure were highlighted.

Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children and adolescents: comparison of two versions of the Brazilian Ministry of Health scoring system.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between two versions of the scoring system (2011 and 2019), recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in children and adolescents. A retrospective descriptive study was performed to assess the medical records of children and adolescents with PTB, in TB units from Brazilian cities located in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Parana States, from January 1 st , 2004, to December 1 st , 2018. Patients aged 0 to 18 years old with a diagnosis of PTB were included. The comparison between the two scoring systems showed a moderate concordance according to the κ coefficient value = 0.625. Fourteen patients showed a reduction in the TB score, going from 30 points in the 2011, to 25 points or less in the 2019 one. Seventy one percent of these 14 patients had radiological changes suggestive of PTB and 86% had tuberculin skin tests greater than 10 mm. The study concluded that a moderate agreement was observed between the 2011 and 2019 scoring systems, with an increase in the number of patients scoring 25 points or less in 2019, which can eventually hinder the diagnosis of PTB.

Auditory-perceptual and acoustic analysis of voices of HIV-infected children. / Análises perceptivo-auditiva e acústica das vozes de crianças infectadas pelo HIV.

PURPOSE: To compare vocal and acoustic parameters of HIV-infected children and non-HIV-infected children. METHODS: Vocal samples were submitted to auditory-perceptual and acoustic analysis. Samples of the sustained vowel /ε/ and continuous speech of 74 children between 6 and incomplete 12 years old were analyzed, divided into two groups: 37 HIV-infected children (GHIV) and 37 non-HIV-infected children, the control group (CG), age and gender-matched and without previous vocal evaluation; they were all prepubescent by the Tanner Stages (MS, 2014). The children had their voices recorded and analyzed by VoxMetria 5.1, in the period between 2014 and 2015. The auditory-perceptual analysis assessed the overall degree of the vocal quality and was performed using a 100-point visual analogue scale, transformed into a 4 point numerical scale (0 = no vocal deviation and 4 = severe vocal deviation). The acoustic evaluation was based on the analysis of the vocal sample distribution in the Phonatory Deviation Diagram (PDD). The research was approved by the Ethics Committee under the number 122.746. RESULTS: In the auditory-perceptual analysis, most children of both groups were evaluated as with no vocal deviation. No difference between the groups was found in the acoustic analysis using the PDD; most voice samples were within the normality area, in the quadrant 1, with a spread density distribution and a vertical shape. CONCLUSION: HIV-infected children presented similar vocal quality to children without the illness, both for the perceptual-auditory and acoustic evaluation.

OBJETIVO: Comparar parâmetros vocais e acústicos de crianças infectadas e não infectadas pelo HIV (Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana). MÉTODO: Amostras vocais foram submetidas às análises perceptivo-auditiva e acústica. Foram analisadas amostras da vogal sustentada /ε/ e da fala encadeada de 74 crianças entre seis e 12 anos incompletos, divididas em dois grupos: 37 crianças infectadas pelo HIV (GHIV) e 37 crianças não infectadas pelo HIV (Grupo Controle=GC), pareadas por idade e gênero, e sem avaliação vocal prévia; todas as crianças eram pré-púberes, pelos Critérios de Tanner (MS, 2014). As crianças tiveram suas vozes gravadas e analisadas pelo programa VoxMetria 5.1, no período de 2014 a 2015. A análise perceptivo-auditiva avaliou o grau geral da qualidade vocal e foi realizada utilizando-se a escala analógico-visual (EAV) de 100 pontos, transformada em escala numérica de 4 pontos (0- ausência de desvio e 4- desvio intenso). A avaliação acústica constou da análise da distribuição da amostra vocal no Diagrama de Desvio Fonatório (DDF). A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa em Seres Humanos, sob o número 122.746. RESULTADOS: Na análise perceptivo-auditiva, a maioria das crianças de ambos os grupos foi avaliada como apresentando vozes sem desvio, grau 0 na escala numérica. Na análise acústica, não houve diferença entre os grupos na distribuição das amostras no DDF, com a maioria das amostras na área de normalidade, no primeiro quadrante, com distribuição de densidade ampliada e forma vertical. CONCLUSÃO: Crianças infectadas pelo HIV apresentaram vozes semelhantes às de crianças sem a doença, tanto do ponto de vista auditivo quanto acústico.

Transmissão vertical tardia do vírus da imunodeficiência humana via aleitamento materno: análise de casos de infecção pediátrica com história materna soronegativa durante a gestação / Late postnatal mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus through breastfeeding: analysis of infant cases of previously seronegative mothers infected during lactation

Na faixa etária de 0 a 5 anos, considera-se a transmissão vertical o indicador da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). A principal via de exposição pós-natal ocorre pelo aleitamento materno. Quando a infecção aguda materna se dá no período puerperal, há maior risco de infecção infantil, devido à elevada carga viral materna. Objetivo: Avaliar as formas de infecção pediátrica pelo HIV no serviço de Infectologia Pediátrica do Complexo do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), com ênfase na transmissão vertical tardia via aleitamento materno. Métodos: Estudo transversal e analítico, com coleta de dados retrospectiva, avaliando pacientes de 0 a 16 anos infectados pelo vírus HIV, acompanhados de 2010 a 2015. Realizada análise da categoria de exposição por protocolo geral, seguida de protocolo específico para casos sugestivos de transmissão vertical tardia via aleitamento materno, objetivando compreender as características maternas e pediátricas. Resultados: Dos 122 pacientes incluídos, 95,0% foram infectados via transmissão vertical. Desses, 11 (9,5%) casos foram de infecção tardia ­ possível ou confirmada ­ via aleitamento materno. Ao diagnóstico da criança, 72,7% apresentaram sintomas decorrentes da infecção pelo HIV. Em 45,4% desses casos, mães e filhos foram diagnosticados concomitantemente e 72,7% das mães apresentaram categoria de exposição sexual. Conclusão: A transmissão vertical confirmou-se como a principal forma de contaminação pelo vírus HIV, com importante prevalência da infecção tardia pelo aleitamento materno. Essa observação, a gravidade dos sintomas pediátricos, o momento do diagnóstico e categoria de exposição maternos destacam a importância da busca de medidas profiláticas e avanços científicos que objetivem a redução da transmissão do HIV via leite materno

Vertical transmission is considered an indication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children aged below five years. The main postnatal category of exposure is through breastfeeding. When maternal infection occurs in early postnatal period, the risk of infant infection is even higher, due to a high maternal viral rate in this period. Objective: To evaluate HIV infection in infants assisted by the Pediatric Infectology Service of Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, emphasizing the cases where vertical transmission occurred postnatally through breastfeeding. Methods: Transversal, analytical and descriptive study, with quantitative and qualitative approach, analyzing all HIV-infected patients aged 0 to 16 years, assisted between 2010 and 2015. The analysis of category of exposure was carried out by a general protocol, followed by a specific protocol for cases where transmission was suspected to have occurred due to late postnatal transmission through breastfeeding, aiming at understanding pediatric and maternal characteristics. Results: Records from 122 patients were analyzed, with 95.0% of mother-to-child-transmission cases. Between these cases, 11 (9.5%) were considered possible or confirmed late postnatal transmission through breastfeeding, having the presence of breastfeeding as a requirement. By the time of diagnosis, 72.7% presented symptoms of HIV infection. In 45.4% of these cases, mother and children were diagnosed at the same time, and 72.7% of mothers were infected sexually. Conclusion: Mother­to­childtransmission was the main responsible for infant infection and there was a significant prevalence of late postnatal transmission through breastfeeding in our sample. Moreover, the severity of infant symptoms, the moment of diagnosis and mother's category of exposure highlight a gap on HIV prevention, and the importance of finding prophylactic measures and scientific improvement in order to reduce HIV transmission through breastfeeding

Análises perceptivo-auditiva e acústica das vozes de crianças infectadas pelo HIV / Auditory-perceptual and acoustic analysis of voices of HIV-infected children

RESUMO Objetivo Comparar parâmetros vocais e acústicos de crianças infectadas e não infectadas pelo HIV (Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana). Método Amostras vocais foram submetidas às análises perceptivo-auditiva e acústica. Foram analisadas amostras da vogal sustentada /ε/ e da fala encadeada de 74 crianças entre seis e 12 anos incompletos, divididas em dois grupos: 37 crianças infectadas pelo HIV (GHIV) e 37 crianças não infectadas pelo HIV (Grupo Controle=GC), pareadas por idade e gênero, e sem avaliação vocal prévia; todas as crianças eram pré-púberes, pelos Critérios de Tanner (MS, 2014). As crianças tiveram suas vozes gravadas e analisadas pelo programa VoxMetria 5.1, no período de 2014 a 2015. A análise perceptivo-auditiva avaliou o grau geral da qualidade vocal e foi realizada utilizando-se a escala analógico-visual (EAV) de 100 pontos, transformada em escala numérica de 4 pontos (0- ausência de desvio e 4- desvio intenso). A avaliação acústica constou da análise da distribuição da amostra vocal no Diagrama de Desvio Fonatório (DDF). A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa em Seres Humanos, sob o número 122.746. Resultados Na análise perceptivo-auditiva, a maioria das crianças de ambos os grupos foi avaliada como apresentando vozes sem desvio, grau 0 na escala numérica. Na análise acústica, não houve diferença entre os grupos na distribuição das amostras no DDF, com a maioria das amostras na área de normalidade, no primeiro quadrante, com distribuição de densidade ampliada e forma vertical. Conclusão Crianças infectadas pelo HIV apresentaram vozes semelhantes às de crianças sem a doença, tanto do ponto de vista auditivo quanto acústico.

ABSTRACT Purpose To compare vocal and acoustic parameters of HIV-infected children and non-HIV-infected children. Methods Vocal samples were submitted to auditory-perceptual and acoustic analysis. Samples of the sustained vowel /ε/ and continuous speech of 74 children between 6 and incomplete 12 years old were analyzed, divided into two groups: 37 HIV-infected children (GHIV) and 37 non-HIV-infected children, the control group (CG), age and gender-matched and without previous vocal evaluation; they were all prepubescent by the Tanner Stages (MS, 2014). The children had their voices recorded and analyzed by VoxMetria 5.1, in the period between 2014 and 2015. The auditory-perceptual analysis assessed the overall degree of the vocal quality and was performed using a 100-point visual analogue scale, transformed into a 4 point numerical scale (0 = no vocal deviation and 4 = severe vocal deviation). The acoustic evaluation was based on the analysis of the vocal sample distribution in the Phonatory Deviation Diagram (PDD). The research was approved by the Ethics Committee under the number 122.746. Results In the auditory-perceptual analysis, most children of both groups were evaluated as with no vocal deviation. No difference between the groups was found in the acoustic analysis using the PDD; most voice samples were within the normality area, in the quadrant 1, with a spread density distribution and a vertical shape. Conclusion HIV-infected children presented similar vocal quality to children without the illness, both for the perceptual-auditory and acoustic evaluation.

Síndrome da mäo rígida em pacientes diabéticos / The stiff hand syndrome in diabetic patients

A síndrome da Mäo Rígida acomete pacientes diabéticos fazendo rigidez, fraqueza e diminuiçäo da capacidade para realizar movimentos finos. Foram estudados 105 pacientes portadores de diabetes, visando avaliar a ocorrência da SMR nesta populaçäo, tendo encontrado 56 por cento de portadores da mesma. Näo se encontrou correlaçäo entre a ocorrência da síndrome com controle, tempo e tipo de DM, idade e sexo do paciente. Destaca-se o pouco reconhecimento desta entidade, bem como sua importância social