Oral Kaposi sarcoma development is associated with HIV viral load, CD4+ count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an uncommon, multifocal and angioproliferative lesion, which demonstrates a poor prognosis. The aim of the present research was to explore the association of HIV viral load, CD4+ and CD8+ counts and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio on the risk of oral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) development. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients were retrieved from March 2008 to October 2020 from the files of two oral pathology centres. Clinical, laboratory and follow-up data were retrieved from their medical files. Poisson regression was used to explore the role of history of immunosuppression and its association with oral KS development. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included in the present study (32 with oral KS and 30 with no presentation of lesions anywhere on the body). Patients with oral KS presented a mean age of 32.6 years, and male patients were more affected. The hard palate (15 cases; 46.8%) was the main anatomical site affected. The lesions were mostly presented as swellings (13 cases; 40.6%) and nodules (12 cases; 37.5%). Systemic manifestations were also observed, including candidiasis (4 cases; 12.5%), bacterial infection (3 cases; 9.3%), tuberculosis (3 cases; 9.3%), herpes simplex (3 cases; 9.3%) and pneumonia (3 cases; 9.3%). A significant correlation was observed between HIV viral load, CD4+ count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio with oral KS development. CONCLUSIONS: HIV viral load, CD4+ count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio are associated with oral KS development.

Breast feeding among Brazilian adolescents: practice and needs.

OBJECTIVES: to characterise breast feeding practices among Brazilian adolescents and identify their breast feeding needs. METHODS: the study was undertaken in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil in two stages. The first stage analysed data from the Second National Survey of Breast-feeding Prevalence, held in August 2008, which included 229 adolescent mothers. The second stage was a qualitative approach, and involved interviews with 10 adolescent mothers in a primary care unit. The data from the first stage were analysed in June 2010 based on descriptive statistics. The data obtained from the interviews were transcribed and organised using thematic content analysis. FINDINGS: breast feeding was reported by 75% of the adolescent mothers. Of the 144 mothers with infants aged <180 days, 84% reported that they were breast feeding: 19% were breast feeding exclusively, 17% were breast feeding predominantly, 49% were providing complementary feeding, and 16% had weaned their infants. Analysis of the interviews led to the identification of three thematic units: concern for the child's health; breast feeding difficulties; and health team and family support. CONCLUSIONS: the majority of the adolescent mothers presented conditions that were favourable to breast feeding (e.g. did not work outside the home, only had one child, breast fed in the first hour post partum). However, the practice of breast feeding still failed to meet the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The interviews led to identification of the breast feeding needs and demands of adolescent mothers, many of which were related to the needs of their infants. It is important to know what adolescent mothers think about breast feeding, in order to encourage the establishment of practices to keep breastfeeding as longer as possible in a satisfactory way for both mothers and infants.

Relationship between body mass index with dietary fiber intake and skinfolds--differences among bodybuilders who train during morning and nocturne period.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight individuals has increased in recent years. Moreover, the importance of a healthy diet is associated with the practice of physical activity and attempt to verify the achievement of physical exercise influences on food choice. However, it relationship between food intake and physical activity have not been studied. AIM: To evaluate if the period in which the trainings are conducted, morning and nocturne, interfere qualitatively and quantitatively in food consumption as well as verify possible associations between anthropometric profiles and dietary habits. METHODS: We collected data from 33 adult volunteers, between men and women, practitioners of bodybuilding. RESULTS: A total of 33 volunteers were interviewed (18 (54.5%) were men and 15 (45.5%) were women). Regarding anthropometric data, it turns out that that the volunteers of the two periods had similar characteristics, differentiating only weight. The consumption of nutritional supplements was observed in 30.77% of the practitioners in the morning period vs. 35% for the nocturne. Considering macronutrient intake, there was a significant difference in the consumption of protein between the periods. The consumption during nocturne period was greater (126 ± 5% of the daily requirement) than the morning period (115.7 ± 2%). As for micro-nutrients, calcium intake was greater among men when compared to women. There was a positive correlation between the BMI, and arm circumference for practitioners of the morning period. CONCLUSION: This study show that the practitioners who train in the morning have quietly better eating habits than those in the nocturne period, however both are inappropriate.

Cyclosporin A causes impairment of the ventral prostate tissue structure of Wistar rats.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an immunosuppressive drug widely used in medicine to reduce the immune system activity and, therefore, the risk of organ rejection after transplantation. However, many side effects can be related to its use, such as, reduction in serum testosterone levels due to damage of the testis structure and, consequently, male infertility. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of chronic CsA administration on the ventral prostate tissue (15 mg/kg per d, for 56 days). Stereological, morphometrical, morphological and ultrastructural observations were employed. The plasmatic testosterone and glucose levels were measured. An androgen receptor (AR) immunohistochemical method was applied on ventral prostate sections. Apoptosis was detected with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling technique. CsA treatment caused reduction in plasmatic testosterone levels and an increase in glycemia. The volume of all ventral prostate tissue components (lumen, epithelium and muscular and nonmuscular stroma) and ventral prostate weight were reduced in the CsA-treated group. Light and transmission electron microscopy confirmed epithelium atrophy of treated animals. There was no alteration of AR expression or apoptotic index. CsA chronic treatment in the therapeutic doses caused damage to prostate tissue of adult Wistar rats, probably due to increase in the glucose levels and reduction in the plasmatic testosterone levels.

Influence of ascorbic acid and glutathione antioxidants on frozen-thawed canine semen.

Poor sperm viability post-thaw has resulted in constant research into methods of cryopreservation of canine semen. One factor that may be involved in poor viability is sperm oxidative stress caused by excessive formation of reactive oxygen species. The present study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) and glutathione (Glu) added to an extender for the freeze-thawing of dog sperm. Semen from five mature dogs was collected and frozen in two studies. Prior to and after freezing, sperm motility, morphology and membrane status were examined. In addition, sperm motility was examined up to 120 min after thawing to evaluate thermo-resistance. In study I, semen was collected twice from each dog. On both occasions, semen was divided into three aliquots: control, Glu 1 mM and Glu 5 mM. In study II, semen was collected twice and divided into three aliquots; control, AA 50 microM and AA 250 microM. Initial sperm motility was significantly higher in sperm diluted with AA 50 microM; sperm longevity, however, measured by a thermal-resistance test (TRT), was higher for Glu treatments. Higher concentration of Glu produced significant improvement in TRT and membrane status, whereas higher concentration of AA had a negative impact in sperm longevity. Antioxidant supplementation to semen freezing extenders improved semen quality post-thaw. Moreover, Glu had the most beneficial effect when supplemented at 5 mM.

Comparative morphology of Astraea latispina (Philippi, 1844) and Astraea olfersii (Philippi, 1846) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Turbinidae).

The present study examines comparatively the soft parts of turbinids Astraea latispina and Astraea olfersii. The characters of soft parts of these species, in agreement with Trochoidea organization, allow a differential diagnosis on the cefalic lappets, appendix of eye-stalk, hypobranchial glands, jaws, radulae, and stomach spiral caecum, which information will be helpful in taxonomic studies.

Comparative morphology of Astraea latispina (Philippi, 1844) and Astraea olfersii (Philippi, 1846) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Turbinidae)

The present study examines comparatively the soft parts of turbinids Astraea latispina and Astraea olfersii. The characters of soft parts of these species, in agreement with Trochoidea organization, allow a differencial diagnosis on the cefalic lappets, appendix of eye-stalk, hypobranchial glands, jaws, radulae, and stomach spiral caecum, which information will be helpful in taxonomic studies

The Rio de Janeiro HIV vaccine site-II. Recruitment strategies and socio-demographic data of a HIV negative homosexual and bisexual male cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The initial effort of the Brazilian Ministry of Health to be an active partner in the world effort in the preparation of future accurate human immune deficiency virus (HIV) efficacy trials was the establishment of a multi-centered cohort of homosexual and bisexual men. An open cohort was established to determine the HIV incidence and the socio-behavioral aspects involved in Rio de Janeiro. A total of 318 potential participants, originated from multiple sources (health units, public information, snowball recruitment), were screened and recruitment became effective through the direct involvement of target communities (with the support of Non Governmental Organizations) and the population. Among this group, seropositivity for sexually transmitted diseases was high with 23, 32 and 46% for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, respectively. The socio-demographic data from the first 200 participants of this HIV negative cohort suggests that the cohort volunteers are an appropriate sample of the general male population of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Effect of perioperative blood transfusions on survival of patients after radical surgery for colorectal cancer.

The effect of perioperative blood transfusion on the survival of patients with colorectal cancer was evaluated in 128 patients undergoing curative surgery between 1980 and 1988. The following clinical and histopathological variables were also studied: age, sex, duration of symptoms, presence of intestinal obstruction, tumour site, extent of spread through the bowel wall, lymph node involvement, Dukes' stage, grade of differentiation, venous invasion and type of surgical procedure performed. The need for perioperative blood transfusion was unrelated to the stage of disease. In the transfused patients (n = 73) the 5-year recurrence-free survival, calculated by the Kaplan-Meyer technique, was 37% and in the non-transfused (n = 55) was 60% (P = 0.0027, Mantel-Cox). Similar differences were found in the comparison of the groups with (n = 68) and without (n = 60) transfusions on the day of operation. The deleterious effect of transfusion was evident in patients who received only one unit of blood (n = 19)--these had a 5-year survival rate of 45% compared those who had more than one unit of blood (n = 54) (5-year survival rate 35%) (P = 0.0062). With a multivariate analysis, using a Cox proportional hazard model, taking into account all the variables studied, a significant and independent effect on survival was found for lymph node involvement (beta coefficient = 3.97), blood transfusion (beta coefficient = 2.16) and extent of bowel wall spread (beta coefficient = 1.75).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumors]. / Níveis plasmáticos da alfa-fetoproteína e do antigénico carcino-embrionário em doentes com tumores malignos gastro-intestinais.

Levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AEP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were determined in the plasma of 142 patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumours. AEP was raised in only four patients (2.8%); two patients with carcinoma of the stomach showed relatively elevated levels. Abnormal CEA levels were found in 82 patients (57.7%). The patients' age with positive CEA levels was a greater than that of the patients with normal levels (p less than 0.05). In patients with gastric tumours CEA positivity was correlated with clinico-pathological stage (pTNM) and with the resectability rate (p less than 0.05). In patients with carcinoma of colon and rectum a greater incidence of elevated plasma CEA levels, as well as higher levels, were found in patients with carcinoma of the left colon than in those with right colon tumours. Statistically significant differences were found between the positivity rate and Dukes' grading (p less than 0.05), as well as between CEA levels in Dukes' stages C and 'D' (p less than 0.005). It is concluded that AFP has a very limited clinical role in patients with malignant extra-hepatic gastrointestinal tumours and that CEA may have a clinical role in tumours of the digestive tract, other than carcinoma of colon and rectum.

Value of nutritional parameters in the prediction of postoperative complications in elective gastrointestinal surgery.

The following nutritional parameters were assessed in 117 patients before major gastrointestinal surgery: percentage recent weight loss: percentage ideal body weight; tricipital skinfold; arm muscular area; grip strength dynamometry; serum albumin (ALB); serum transferrin (TFN); delayed hypersensitivity skin tests (DH); total lymphocyte count; prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and clinical assessment of malnutrition. Comparing the results in patients without complications (n = 99) with those in patients with complications (n = 18) and the results in patients who survived (n = 109) with those who died (n = 8), we found that only ALB, DH, TFN and PNI showed significant differences in both comparisons. Correlations of complications with combined parameters was made by multiple linear regression analysis; a modified PNI (mPNI), including these three single variables, has emerged. Considering its risk values, the nutritional parameters showed the following sensitivity and specificity, respectively: ALB less than 3.2 g/dl (72 and 71 per cent), anergy (67 and 64 per cent), TFN less than 205 mg/dl (67 and 55 per cent) and mPNI less than 20 (72 and 70 per cent). Using Bayes' theorems, ALB, DH and calculated indices showed the same predictive capacity and we conclude that single or multiple association of nutritional parameters have no additive effect. To predict complications of nutritional origin it seems only necessary to consider ALB, taking into account the type of operation and the normal duration of postoperative hospital stay without oral intake.

Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotrophin-like material by breast cancer.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is a placental protein whose ectopic secretion by nontrophoblast tumors has been claimed to be of clinical relevance. Serum levels of hCG were measured in 570 patients with breast disease. A double-antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) using antisera to hCG-beta was employed. Approximately 14% of patients with breast cancer were found to have elevated serum hCG levels. Such raised titers were not stage- or tumor-type-related, but occurred only in postmenopausal subjects. Further study showed that those patients with elevated hCG levels also had raised levels of human luteinizing hormone (hLH). Assay cross-reactivity was shown to account for the "spurious" hCG elevations. An immunocytochemical study also failed to find hCG an ectopic breast tumor constituent and/or product. It is concluded that hCG is not produced by breast tumors and has no clinical utility.

Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) by ovarian carcinoma.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) are placental proteins whose ectopic secretion by non-trophoblast tumours has been claimed to be of clinical relevance. Radioimmunoassays for hCG and hPL, together with human luteinising hormone (hLH), have been established and plasma levels were measured in 61 patients with carcinoma of the ovary. Approximately 51% of the patients were found to have raised plasma hCG levels. Such raised titres were not stage or tumour-type related but occurred only in post-menopausal subjects. The majority of patients with raised hCG levels also had raised plasma hLH levels. Assay cross-reactivity was shown to account for the 'spurious' hCG elevations. However, hCG may be an ectopic product in a minority of tumours; elevated plasma hCG levels were shown to coexist with low hLH levels. Although such lesions did not show morphologically identifiable choriocarcinomatous elements, all were poorly differentiated carcinomas. In some cells hCG was demonstrated by immunocytochemical methods. No patients had a raised plasma hPL level. It is concluded that these placental proteins are of no clinical use in the management of ovarian carcinoma patients.