Ten years experience with Jorge Lobo's disease in the state of Acre, Amazon region, Brazil

Jorge Lobo's disease is a cutaneous and subcutaneous mycosis that affects patients in the Amazon region. The number of patients is relatively small, but the real situation of the disease as public health problem is not known, because Jorge Lobo's disease is not a notifiable disease. This study aims to report the clinical evolution in patients affected and to determine the prevalence and areas of occurrence of the disease. A retrospective study was carried out based on the analysis of the clinical records, which included a collection of photographs of patients in the Department of Sanitary Dermatology, in Rio Branco, and patients seen in the interior of the state. In a decade, in Rio Branco, 249 cases of the disease were reported, 30 were females and 219 males. Of these patients, 153 had localized lesions, 94 of them were on one ear, 55 had multifocal lesions and 41 had disseminated lesions. The average time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 19 years. The average age at the time of diagnosis was 53 years, and ages ranged from 14 to 96 years.

Cutaneous sporotrichosis treatment with potassium iodide: a 24 year experience in São Paulo state, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is a subacute or chronic disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. The first and most traditional treatment is potassium iodide in satured solution (SSKI) used by DE BEURMANN in 1907. For its effectiveness, it is still used for cutaneous sporotrichosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment of cutaneous sporotrichosis with SSKI in relation to clinical cure, side effects, length of treatment and reactivation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records over a 24-year period (1981-2005). Patients of all ages who were treated in the hospital´s division of dermatology were included in the study providing that they had a positive culture of S. schenckii. Satured solution of potassium iodide (3 to 6g per day) was the treatment prescribed. For children, half of the dose was prescribed. RESULTS: The lymphocutaneous disease was prevalent, the cure rate was 94.7%, side effects were described in 5.5% of the cases, mean length of treatment was 3.5 months and possible reactivation was observed in 11.1%. CONCLUSION: SSKI is an effective drug, with many side effects, but with low frequency. Resolution was for maximum six months of treatment. SSKI has been found to be a very effective drug in this retrospective study of culture-proven cases of cutaneous and lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. It should be used as first drug of choice especially in resource-limited settings.

Epidemiological profile of malaria in the state of Tocantins, Brazil, from 2003 to 2008

This study describes the epidemiological profile of malaria in the State of Tocantins, in the period 2003-2008, investigates the association between the frequency of malaria and population growth, classifies the cases by 'autochthonous' and 'imported', reports the indices of the disease and analyses the distribution of the cases by Plasmodium species, age and gender. The retrospective study was based on secondary data, stored in SIVEP-malaria and analyzed using the software Epi-Info 3.5.1. and Bioestat 5.0. 19,004 samples were investigated for malaria, 19% of them were positive, 73.32% with Plasmodium vivax, 21.80% with Plasmodium falciparum, 4.79% with mixed infections and only 0.08% with Plasmodium malariae. Male individuals accounted for 76.95% and predominated in all years and age groups, especially in the 15 to 49 years old group. From the overall cases, 34.27% were autochthonous and 65.73% were imported (χ2 = 356.8, p = 0.0001). The frequency of malaria decreased significantly during the entire series (rp = 0.96, p = 0.002) and the number of municipalities with autochthonous transmission also diminished. It was found that malaria is predominantly imported, related to land activities, which confirms the need for effective measures to maintain vigilance throughout the state and enhance educational activities in order to guide the population towards early treatment-seeking.

Benign and malignant neoplasias in 261 necropsies for HIV-positive patients in the period of 1989 to 2008

Considering that there are some studies with autopsies from AIDS describing only malignant neoplasias and that changes can occur after the introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), our objectives were to analyze the frequency of benign and malignant neoplasms in AIDS patients in the periods of both pre- and post-HAART. This is a retrospective study with 261 autopsies of HIV-positive patients between 1989 and 2008 in Uberaba, Brazil. Sixty-six neoplasms were found (39 benign, 21 malignant and six premalignant) in 58 patients. The most frequent malignant neoplasms were lymphoid, in 2.7% (four Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, one Hodgkin, one multiple myeloma and one plasmablastic plasmacytoma), and Kaposi's Sarcoma, in 2.3% (six cases). The most frequent benign neoplasms were hepatic hemangiomas in 11 (4.2%) of 261 cases and uterine leiomyoma in 11 (15.7%) of 70 woman. In the pre-HAART period eight (9.8%) benign neoplasias and four (4.9%) malignant occurred in 82 patients; in the post-HAART period, 29 (16.2%) benign and 17 (9.5%) malignant were present; however, the differences were not significant. We conclude that the introduction of HAART in our region doesn't look to have modified the frequency of neoplasms occurring in patients with HIV.

Efeitos de um Programa de Reabilitação Respiratória em Indivíduos Operados a Cancro do Pulmão

O tratamento cirúrgico e os tratamentos coadjuvantes do cancro do pulmão de não pequenas células (CPNPC), como a quimioterapia, afetam negativamente a saúde física e psicológica dos pacientes. Um programa de reabilitação respiratória (PRR) pode ajudar no controlo de sintomas, melhorar a capacidade funcional e a qualidade de vida desta população. Objetivo: verificar a influência de um programa de reabilitação respiratória composto por fisioterapia torácica, treino aeróbio, treino de força e educação para a saúde, em parâmetros como a qualidade de vida, a ansiedade e depressão, a dispneia, a capacidade funcional para realizar exercício e a força muscular, em 6 doentes operados a CPNPC. Métodos: estudo retrospetivo, do tipo série de estudos de caso, que incluiu 6 casos clínicos. As medidas de resultados utilizadas foram: qualidade de vida; dispneia; ansiedade e depressão; capacidade funcional para a marcha; e força muscular. Resultados: no final do PRR, os 6 participantes apresentaram melhoria nos níveis de qualidade de vida, uma diminuição nos valores de ansiedade e depressão e um grau de dispneia inferior ao avaliado inicialmente. Foi ainda verificado um aumento da capacidade funcional para o exercício e da força muscular em todos os casos clínicos. Conclusão: O PRR pareceu produzir efeitos positivos na diminuição dos sintomas, assim como melhorou a qualidade de vida, a capacidade funcional para a marcha e a força muscular dos 6 participantes.

Cirurgia Obliterativa do Prolapso dos Órgãos Pélvicos - uma Opção ainda Válida?

Objective: To investigate the results of vaginal obliterate surgery in elderly women with pelvic organ prolapse. Design: observational retrospective study. Material and Methods: a total of 69 women with the diagnosis of pelvic prolapse were submitted to obliterative surgery in the urogynecology unit of a tertiary care hospital centre over the course of 8 years (2001 to 2008). The following data were collected from their clinical records: age, number of vaginal births, body mass index (BMI), hormone therapy, other existing diseases, type of prolapse and stage, anaesthetic risk score, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, and short-term complications. Results: Of the 69 women studied, 31 were submitted to colpocleisis and the remaining 38 were managed by the LeFort technique. Mean age was 74.8 years with a standard deviation (sd) of 7.14 years. Average BMI was 26.2 (sd =3.76). Vaginal births were recorded in all patients. Only three patients were taking hormone therapy at the time of surgery. Sixty-three women were classified as having and anesthetic risk of II or III and 55 underwent local-regional anesthesia. Complications were reported in five cases, four of which in the first days after surgery. Nearly all were mild and resolved within the first 6 weeks. Conclusion: Complication rates appear to be low after obliterative surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in elderly women.

Evaluation of the ELISA-F29 test as an early marker of therapeutic efficacy in adults with chronic Chagas disease

This work compared the time at which negative seroconversion was detected by conventional serology (CS) and by the ELISA-F29 test on a cohort of chronic chagasic patients treated with nifurtimox or benznidazole. A retrospective study was performed using preserved serum from 66 asymptomatic chagasic adults under clinical supervision, and bi-annual serological examinations over a mean follow-up of 23 years. Twenty nine patients received trypanocide treatment and 37 remained untreated. The ELISA-F29 test used a recombinant antigen which was obtained by expressing the Trypanosoma cruzi flagellar calcium-binding protein gene in Escherichia coli. Among the untreated patients, 36 maintained CS titers. One patient showed a doubtful serology in some check-ups. ELISA-F29 showed constant reactivity in 35 out of 37 patients and was negative for the patient with fluctuating CS. The treated patients were divided into three groups according to the CS titers: in 13 they became negative; in 12 they decreased and in four they remained unchanged. ELISA-F29 was negative for the first two groups. The time at which negativization was detected was significantly lower for the ELISA-F29 test than for CS, 14.5 ± 5.7 and 22 ± 4.9 years respectively. Negative seroconversion was observed in treated patients only. The results obtained confirm that the ELISA-F29 test is useful as an early indicator of negative seroconversion in treated chronic patients.

Caracterização dos Casos Observados numa Equipa de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência. Um Estudo Retrospectivo

Ao longo das últimas décadas tem-se assistido a um crescente número de crianças que necessita de avaliação e acompanhamento em Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência. Actualmente estima-se que entre 10 a 20% das crianças tenham um ou mais problemas de Saúde Mental, sendo que apenas um quinto destas recebem o tratamento apropriado. Assim, no sentido de se poder proceder a uma melhor planificação e gestão de recursos realizou-se uma análise do movimento assistencial de uma Equipa de Pedopsiquiatria entre 2004 e 2007 bem como uma análise descritiva detalhada da população de utentes do ano 2007. No período de quatro anos estudado foram observadas 1923 crianças num total de 9609 consultas. Verificou-se um predomínio claro de crianças e adolescentes do sexo masculino e a média etária observada foi de 9,89 anos. A caracterização da população consultada no ano de 2007 (480 utentes), revelou também uma preponderância das estruturas familiares nucleare e, ao nível da área de residência destaca-se um predomínio de crianças do concelho de Sintra (71%). Quanto à origem do pedido, em 29% os casos foram referenciados pelo Médico Assistente e em 26% pela Escola; os motivos de consulta mais frequentes foram os problemas de comportamento (30%) e as dificuldades de aprendizagem escolar (15%). Foi possível ainda caracterizar os pedidos de consulta por fonte de referenciação. No que concerne ao diagnóstico, a nível psicodinâmico, a Organização Depressiva predomina (56%) enquanto, quando analisados os diagnósticos do Eixo I de acordo com a DSM-IV-TR, se verifica um predomínio das Perturbações do Humor (30%) seguindo-se as Perturbações do Comportamento e Défice de Atenção (24,8%). Os tempos de espera médios entre o pedido e a primeira consulta variaram entre 55 dias (casos provenientes do Serviço de Urgência) e os 141 dias (casos sinalizados pela escola). Apenas com uma análise aprofundada da realidade assistencial nesta área permitirá a planificação e implementação de medidas que visem optimizar os Serviços e a resposta que estes dão às crianças, adolescentes e famílias.

Mastocitose Cutânea na Infância. Estudo Retrospectivo de 32 Doentes

Introdução: A designação de mastocitose engloba várias entidades clinicamente distintas caracterizadas pela acumulação tissular de mastócitos. A pele é o órgão mais frequentemente envolvido. Consideram-se 4 padrões clínicos de mastocitose cutânea: urticária pigmentosa (UP), mastocitose cutânea difusa, mastocitoma e telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans. Na infância, a doença é habitualmente autolimitada e exclusivamente cutânea. Material e Métodos: Apresenta-se um estudo retrospetivo dos doentes com mastocitose cutânea observados na Consulta de Dermatologia Pediátrica do Hospital de Curry Cabral entre 2001 e 2010. Resultados: Foram englobados 32 doentes (20 do sexo masculino e 12 do sexo feminino). Em 90.6% dos casos, as manifestações surgiram antes dos 2 anos. Apenas foram observadas UP (53,1%) e mastocitomas (46,9%). O tronco e a raíz dos membros foram as localizações preferenciais. O sinal de Darier estava presente em 87,5% dos casos (94,1% das UP e 80% dos mastocitomas). As manifestações associadas foram: prurido (40,6%), formação de bolha (28,1%), flushing (18,8%) e dermografismo(12,5%). Não foram documentados casos de mastocitose sistémica. Dois doentes tinham história familiar de mastocitose cutânea. Não foram detetadas alterações laboratoriais significativas. Nos 16 casos determinados, os níveis séricos de Triptase-alfa foram normais. Discussão: Estes resultados estão de acordo com a literatura, nomeadamente em relação às formas clínicas mais frequentes, localizações habituais, elevada frequência do sinal de Darier e idade precoce de início. Quando determinados, os níveis séricos de Triptase-alfa foram normais, o que está de acordo com a ausência de envolvimento sistémico. A maior prevalência no sexo masculino tem sido relatada em alguns estudos.

Recém-nascidos no serviço de urgência pediátrica: casuística de um ano

Introdução: Os serviços de urgência pediátrica são ambientes particularmente deletérios para os recém-nascidos. A identifica - ção precoce da doença neste grupo é fundamental, uma vez que o atraso diagnóstico pode estar associado a consequências graves. A maioria dos sistemas de triagem utilizados nos serviços de urgência pediátrica não possui algoritmos específicos para os recém-nascidos. Este estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar os recém-nascidos que recorreram ao serviço de urgência pediátrica, analisar a sua categorização pelo Sistema de Triagem de Manchester e identificar fatores de risco associados ao internamento. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo efetuado pela análise dos dados de recém-nascidos admitidos no serviço de urgência pediátrica no ano de 2012. Resultados: Foram incluídos 779 recém-nascidos com idade média de 16,78 dias. Os principais diagnósticos de admissão foram as infeções respiratórias (21,9%) e a cólica do lactente (21%). Ficaram internados 22,2%, sendo os principais motivos as infe - ções respiratórias baixas (19,7%), os episódios de apparent life threatening event (15%) e as gastroenterites agudas (10,8%). A presença de hipoxemia e a realização de exames complementares no serviço de urgência pediátrica associaram-se a maior taxa de internamento (p = 0,001), assim como a atribuição de nível de prioridade “urgente”, “muito urgente” ou “emergente” pelo Sistema de Triagem de Manchester (p = 0,001). Discussão: O recurso dos recém-nascidos ao serviço de urgência pediátrica neste hospital ocorre maioritariamente por situa- ções de doença aguda. Os diagnósticos de admissão mais frequentes apresentam pouca gravidade clínica, já que contribuem pouco para o número de internamentos. Verifica-se uma correlação entre o nível de prioridade atribuído pelo Sistema de Triagem de Manchester e a necessidade de internamento neste grupo etário.

Resultados clínicos de doentes referenciados a Centro Oncológico

Os tumores da cabeça e pescoço (TCP) associam-se a elevada morbilidade e mortalidade. A referenciação atempada assume particular importância na evolução clínica. No intuito de avaliar a evolução dos doentes observados em consulta de Otorrinolaringologia “Oncológica”, procedeu-se a um estudo dos doentes com TCP referenciados ao Instituto Português de Oncologia (IPO) de Lisboa no ano 2008. Dos 454 doentes observados, a maioria era do sexo masculino (86%) com idade média 60 anos. Os tumores mais comuns foram laríngeos (36%), a maioria (69%) em estadio avançado. A cirurgia foi o tratamento primário em 60%. O intervalo médio de tempo entre primeira consulta e tratamento foi 75 dias, e a sobrevida global aos 2 anos 66%. A maioria dos doentes apresentava tumores avançados aquando da referenciação, o que comprometeu a sobrevida e o controlo locorregional, apesar do início rápido dos tratamentos. Políticas de saúde pública deveriam ser implementadas para melhoria da educação para a saúde, prevenção e referenciação destes doentes.

Implante Contraceptivo Não Palpável - Estratégias para a sua Localização e Remoção

Overview and Aims: The contraceptive implant is frequently used to provide contraceptive protection over three years. The implant is inserted into the subcutaneous tissue of the upper arm, and should be palpable and easily removed. We evaluated the best imaging strategy for non-palpable implant (Implanon®) localization and removal. Study Design: Retrospective study. Population: A total of 11 women referred to a tertiary care hospital, between October 2009 and January 2012, for localization and removal of their non-palpable implants. Methods: Different localization methods (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging) were evaluated for non-palpable rod. Results: Seven of the nonpalpable implants were inserted in a health care center, three in a district hospital and one in a private clinic. In three women, the reasons for requesting removal were the end of the implant validity, two wanted to become pregnant, two had weight gain, one had weight loss, one referred irregular bleeding, one had two implants and one did a hysterectomy. In 81.8% (9) of the women, the implants were identified and localized by ultrasound, and successfully removed. In two patients the implant was not found and therefore not removed. Conclusions: In our study, high resolution ultrasound proved to be a sensitive method in implants localization, being the primary choice for determining the location of nonpalpable implants.

Saúde Sexual e Reprodutiva das Adolescentes - a Nossa Realidade

Overview and Aims: Several behavioral and biological factors can make adolescents particularly vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual behavior and contraceptive use patterns of a population of adolescents. Study Design: Retrospective study. Population: 163 female adolescents attending an Adolescence Unit for the first time, during 2010. Methods: Analysis of clinical charts and assessment of demographic data, smoking and drinking habits, drug use, gynecologic and obstetric history, sexual behavior and contraceptive use. Results: The mean age was 16.04 years (±1.32). 71.7% were students (of these, 70% had failed one or more years and were behind in their studies), 2.5% were working and 23.9% were neither studying or working. 95.1% had already had sexual intercourse and the mean age of first coitus was 14.53 years (±1.24). There was a history of at least one previous pregnancy in 77.3% of the cases. Before the first appointment at the AU, the contraceptive methods used were: the pill (33.2%, but 41.3% of these reported inconsistent use), and the condom (23.9%, with inconsistent use in 28.3% of these cases). 19.6% did not use any contraceptive method.. After counseling at the AU, 54% of the teenagers chose the contraceptive implant and 35% preferred the pill. Adolescents who had already been pregnant preferred a long acting method (namely, the contraceptive implant)in 61.9% of cases; those who had never been pregnant decided to use an oral contraceptive in 67.6% of cases (p<0.001). Conclusions: After counseling the number of teenagers using contraception increased. In this population there were a high number of adolescents with a previous pregnancy. This factor seems to have influenced the choice of the contraceptive method, with most of these adolescents choosing a long-acting method.

Stress-Related Mucosal Disease: Incidence of Bleeding and the Role of Omeprazole in its Prophylaxis

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is the severe complication of stress-related mucosal disease in hospitalized patients. In intensive care units (ICU), risk factors are well defined and only mechanical ventilation and coagulopathy proved to be relevant for significant bleeding. On the contrary, in non-ICU settings there is no consensus about this issue. Nevertheless, omeprazole is still widely used in prophylaxis of bleeding. The objective of our study was to evaluate the relevance of stress-related mucosal disease bleeding in patients admitted to an internal medicine ward, and the role of omeprazole in its prophylaxis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in which we analysed consecutive patients who were admitted to our ward over a year. We recorded demographic characteristics of the patients, potential risk factors for stress-related mucosal disease (clinical data, laboratory, and medication), administration of prophylactic omeprazole, and total cost of this prophylaxis. Patients with active gastrointestinal bleeding on the admission were excluded. We recorded every upper gastrointestinal bleeding event with clinical relevance. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty-five patients, mean age 70 years, mean length of stay 9.6+/-7.7 days; 140 (26.2%) patients were treated with 40 mg of omeprazole intravenously, 193 (36.1%) with 20mg of omeprazole orally, and 202 (37.8%) patients had no prophylaxis. There was only one episode (0.2%) of clinically relevant bleeding. CONCLUSION: In patients admitted to an internal medicine ward, incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding as a complication of stress-related mucosal disease is low. We found that there is no advantage in prophylaxis with omeprazole.

SIXTEEN YEARS OF DERMATOMYCOSIS CAUSED BY Candida spp. IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF PORTO ALEGRE, SOUTHERN BRAZIL

The yeasts of the genus Candida infect skin, nails, and mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal and the genitourinary tract. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dermatomycoses caused by Candida spp., and their etiological aspects in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. A retrospective study with data obtained from tertiary hospital patients, from 1996 to 2011, was performed. The analyzed parameters were date, age, gender, ethnicity, anatomical region of lesions, and the direct examination results. For all the statistical analyses, a = 0.05 was considered. Among positive results in the direct mycological examination, 12.5% of the total of 4,815 cases were positive for Candida spp. The angular coefficient (B) was -0.7%/ year, showing a decrease over the years. The genus Candida was more prevalent in women (15.9% of women versus 5.84% of men), and in addition, women were older than men (54 versus 47 years old, respectively). There was no difference between ethnic groups. The nails were more affected than the skin, with 80.37% of the infections in the nails (72.9% in fingernails and 7.47% in toenails). Our study corroborates the literature regarding the preference for gender, age, and place of injury. Moreover, we found a decrease in infection over the studied period.