RESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The most widely used staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the Barcelona Liver Clinic Cancer (BCLC) system, which considers tumor burden, performance status, and liver function. Tumor burden is assessed with cross sectional imaging of the abdomen and chest, controversy surrounds the routine use of bone scintigraphy (BS) for detecting extrahepatic metastases. This study evaluated the role of BS in staging HCC in Mexican patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study of all adults with HCC at a Mexican referral center from 2000 to 2018. Staging included abdominal computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging, chest CT, and BS. The main outcome was the impact of BS on staging and/or therapy plans. RESULTS: Among 238 patients, 2 with fibrolamellar variant and 44 with incomplete data were excluded. Median age was 66 years, 84 % had cirrhosis, and the predominant etiology was hepatitis C virus (43 %). BCLC stages were distributed as follows: A (14 %), B (7 %), C (68 %), and D (11 %). Extrahepatic disease was present in 18 %; only 8 % patients had a positive BS. Among the positive cases, 4 were true positives, but they did not alter staging or therapy plans. CONCLUSIONS: Routine BS in HCC staging demonstrated low yield, with a notable rate of false positives. Considering the implications of extrahepatic disease, BS may be justified for liver transplant candidates outside conventional criteria. Our study highlights the limited role of BS in early-stage HCC and advocates for a more selective utilization.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Sodium can be measured with direct or indirect methods; abnormal plasma total protein concentration can impact on sodium measured by indirect ion-selective electrodes (ISE). Serum sodium is an important item to determine the Model for End Stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) score, commonly used for liver graft allocation. Patients with cirrhosis usually have hypoproteinemia. The aim of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference between the MELD-Na scores calculated based on the results of two different serum sodium ISE: indirect and direct. METHODS: This was a retrospective study; we included 166 patients that underwent liver transplant assessment, and that had paired (i.e. same date and time) direct and indirect sodium determinations. We calculated the MELD-Na scores with both sodium determinations, and we compared them. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between MELD-Na scores; the mean difference was 0.4±1.3. If MELD-Na score had been determined by the sodium measured by the direct ISE, 69 patients (42%) would have stayed in the same place on the waiting list, 67 patients (40%) would have moved up, and 30 patients (18%) would have moved down. CONCLUSIONS: There was a statistically significant difference between the MELD-Na scores calculated based on the two different sodium concentrations, which would theoretically result in changes in the order of the waiting list. This finding should prompt studies to assess if MELD-Na calculated based on direct methods has a better performance to predict clinically relevant outcomes.
Assuntos
Doença Hepática Terminal , Transplante de Fígado , Humanos , Sódio , Doença Hepática Terminal/cirurgia , Estudos Transversais , Estudos Retrospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Cirrose Hepática/cirurgia , PrognósticoRESUMO
Background: The foot transit of migrant peoples originating from the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa through the Darién Forest (DF) in Eastern Panamá towards North America has increased in recent years from approximately 30,000 people/year to >133,000 in 2021. In the DF, there is no food/housing provision nor healthcare access. Very little is known of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among this population. This study used rapid epidemiological methods to describe the SRH situation among migrant peoples in transit through the DF. Methods: This cross-sectional study randomly selected migrant people in transit (men and women) at a Migrant Reception Station in Darién, Panamá, between January 4-11, 2022. Data collection included a self-applied questionnaire (≥18 years); clinical screening (≥12 years); and HCG, treponemal antibodies, and HIV(I/II) lateral-flow tests with blood samples (≥12 years). Descriptive analyses were used to report findings. Results: In all, 69 men and 55 women participated in the self-applied questionnaire, 70 men and 51 women in clinical screening; 78 men and 63 women in HCG, treponemal antibody and HIV testing. Overall, 26.1% (18/69) men and 36.4% (20/55) women reported sexual intercourse within the past month. The last sex partner was casual among 43.0% (21/49) of men and 27.8% (10/36) of women; of those, 42.9% (9/21) of men and 80.0% (8/10) of women reported this sex was condomless. Among women, 20.0% (11/55) tested positive for pregnancy; 5 of these pregnancies were planned. Of those screened, a reproductive tract infection symptom was reported by 5.7% (4/70) of men and 58.8% (30/51) of women. A total of 32.7% (18/55) of men and 18.2% (8/44) of women reported no prior HIV testing. Of 78 men, HIV and treponemal antibodies were found among 1.3% (n = 1) and 2.6% (n = 2), and among 63 women, 3.2% (n = 2) and 3.2% (n = 2), respectively. Conclusions: This rapid epidemiological assessment found high recent sexual activity, low condom use with casual partners, and a need for increased HIV and syphilis testing and treatment. There is a need for increased testing, condom provision, and SRH healthcare access at migrant reception stations that receive migrant peoples in transit through Panamá.
RESUMO
Severe COVID-19 is associated with a systemic hyperinflammatory response leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure, and death. Galectin-3 is a ß-galactoside binding lectin known to drive neutrophil infiltration and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines contributing to airway inflammation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the potential of galectin-3 as a biomarker of severe COVID-19 outcomes. We prospectively included 156 patients with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19. A severe outcome was defined as the requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and/or in-hospital death. A non-severe outcome was defined as discharge without IMV requirement. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the prognostic ability of serum galectin-3 for a severe outcome. Galectin-3 levels discriminated well between severe and non-severe outcomes and correlated with markers of COVID-19 severity, (CRP, NLR, D-dimer, and neutrophil count). Using a forward-stepwise logistic regression analysis we identified galectin-3 [odds ratio (OR) 3.68 (95% CI 1.47-9.20), p < 0.01] to be an independent predictor of severe outcome. Furthermore, galectin-3 in combination with CRP, albumin and CT pulmonary affection > 50%, had significantly improved ability to predict severe outcomes [AUC 0.85 (95% CI 0.79-0.91, p < 0.0001)]. Based on the evidence presented here, we recommend clinicians measure galectin-3 levels upon admission to facilitate allocation of appropriate resources in a timely manner to COVID-19 patients at highest risk of severe outcome.
Assuntos
COVID-19/diagnóstico , COVID-19/virologia , Galectinas/sangue , SARS-CoV-2 , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores/sangue , Proteínas Sanguíneas , COVID-19/complicações , COVID-19/imunologia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Inflamação , Mediadores da Inflamação/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infiltração de Neutrófilos , Gravidade do Paciente , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prognóstico , Estudos Prospectivos , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/etiologia , RiscoRESUMO
Resumen Una mujer de 40 años se internó de forma programada para recibir quimioterapia por una leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA) B común de alto riesgo, diagnosticada 10 meses antes a raíz de hemato mas y petequias en los miembros inferiores, y metrorragia. En ese momento, presentaba trombocitopenia y una ecografía ginecológica transvaginal normal. Al ingreso de la internación programada, se quejó de dolor inguinal izquierdo con irradiación al muslo e impotencia funcional de 3 meses de evolución, dolor en fosa ilíaca derecha y diarrea. En el examen físico tenía dolor a la palpación profunda en la fosa ilíaca derecha y signo del psoas positivo a la izquierda. La tomografía de abdomen y pelvis reveló una imagen compatible con un absceso del psoas izquierdo y signos de tiflitis. La biopsia del psoas izquierdo demostró infiltración por nidos y cordones de carcinoma escamoso queratinizante moderadamente diferenciado. El examen ginecológico dirigido evidenció anomalías macroscópicas del cuello uterino correlacionadas con el mismo diagnóstico histopatológico. Los se gundos cánceres primarios más frecuentemente asociados a LLA son linfoma de Hodgkin, cáncer escamoso de piel, tumores endocrinos, cáncer renal, linfoma no-Hodgkin y cáncer de mama. Las metástasis musculares de tumores sólidos son infrecuentes, y habitualmente provienen del pulmón, riñón, tiroides y melanoma. El síndrome del psoas maligno es causado por infiltración neoplásica del músculo. El diagnóstico diferencial debe realizarse con el absceso del psoas, que puede originarse en una tiflitis si es secundario. No hemos podido encontrar registros de cáncer de cuello uterino como segundo cáncer primario luego de LLA.
Abstract A 40-year-old woman was scheduled to receive chemotherapy for a high-risk common B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diagnosed 10 months earlier in the wake of lower limb bruising and petechiae, and metrorrhagia. At that time, she had thrombocytopenia and a normal transvaginal gynecological ultrasound. Upon admission, she complained of a 3-month history of incapacitating left groin pain radiated to the thigh, and right lower quadrant abdominal pain associated with diarrhea. On physical examination, she had tenderness in the right iliac fossa and a positive psoas sign on the left. Computerized scan of the abdomen and pelvis reported an image compatible with a left psoas abscess and signs of typhlitis. The biopsy of the left psoas muscle demonstrated infiltration by nests and cords of moderately differentiated keratinizing squamous carcinoma. Gynecological examination revealed macroscopic abnormalities of the cervix correlated with the same histopathological diagnosis. The second primary cancers most frequently associated with ALL are Hodgkin lymphoma, squamous skin cancer, endocrine tumors, kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and breast cancer. Muscle metastases from solid tumors are rare, and usually arise from the lung, kidney, thyroid, and melanoma. Malignant psoas syndrome is caused by neoplastic infiltration of the muscle. The differential diagnosis should be made with a psoas abscess, which may arise from typhlitis if secondary. We have not been able to find records of cervical cancer as second primary cancer after ALL.
RESUMO
A 40-year-old woman was scheduled to receive chemotherapy for a high-risk common B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diagnosed 10 months earlier in the wake of lower limb bruising and petechiae, and metrorrhagia. At that time, she had thrombocytopenia and a normal transvaginal gynecological ultrasound. Upon admission, she complained of a 3-month history of incapacitating left groin pain radiated to the thigh, and right lower quadrant abdominal pain associated with diarrhea. On physical examination, she had tenderness in the right iliac fossa and a positive psoas sign on the left. Computerized scan of the abdomen and pelvis reported an image compatible with a left psoas abscess and signs of typhlitis. The biopsy of the left psoas muscle demonstrated infiltration by nests and cords of moderately differentiated keratinizing squamous carcinoma. Gynecological examination revealed macroscopic abnormalities of the cervix correlated with the same histopathological diagnosis. The second primary cancers most frequently associated with ALL are Hodgkin lymphoma, squamous skin cancer, endocrine tumors, kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and breast cancer. Muscle metastases from solid tumors are rare, and usually arise from the lung, kidney, thyroid, and melanoma. Malignant psoas syndrome is caused by neoplastic infiltration of the muscle. The differential diagnosis should be made with a psoas abscess, which may arise from typhlitis if secondary. We have not been able to find records of cervical cancer as second primary cancer after ALL.
Una mujer de 40 años se internó de forma programada para recibir quimioterapia por una leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA) B común de alto riesgo, diagnosticada 10 meses antes a raíz de hematomas y petequias en los miembros inferiores, y metrorragia. En ese momento, presentaba trombocitopenia y una ecografía ginecológica transvaginal normal. Al ingreso de la internación programada, se quejó de dolor inguinal izquierdo con irradiación al muslo e impotencia funcional de 3 meses de evolución, dolor en fosa ilíaca derecha y diarrea. En el examen físico tenía dolor a la palpación profunda en la fosa ilíaca derecha y signo del psoas positivo a la izquierda. La tomografía de abdomen y pelvis reveló una imagen compatible con un absceso del psoas izquierdo y signos de tiflitis. La biopsia del psoas izquierdo demostró infiltración por nidos y cordones de carcinoma escamoso queratinizante moderadamente diferenciado. El examen ginecológico dirigido evidenció anomalías macroscópicas del cuello uterino correlacionadas con el mismo diagnóstico histopatológico. Los segundos cánceres primarios más frecuentemente asociados a LLA son linfoma de Hodgkin, cáncer escamoso de piel, tumores endocrinos, cáncer renal, linfoma no-Hodgkin y cáncer de mama. Las metástasis musculares de tumores sólidos son infrecuentes, y habitualmente provienen del pulmón, riñón, tiroides y melanoma. El síndrome del psoas maligno es causado por infiltración neoplásica del músculo. El diagnóstico diferencial debe realizarse con el absceso del psoas, que puede originarse en una tiflitis si es secundario. No hemos podido encontrar registros de cáncer de cuello uterino como segundo cáncer primario luego de LLA.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Abscesso do Psoas , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero , Adulto , Biópsia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Humanos , Abscesso do Psoas/diagnósticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Human cases of Madariaga virus (MADV) infection were first detected during an outbreak in 2010 in eastern Panama, where Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) also circulates. Little is known about the long-term consequences of either alphavirus infection. METHODS: A follow-up study of the 2010 outbreak was undertaken in 2015. An additional survey was carried out 2 weeks after a separate 2017 alphavirus outbreak in a neighboring population in eastern Panama. Serological studies and statistical analyses were undertaken in both populations. RESULTS: Among the originally alphavirus-seronegative participants (n = 35 of 65), seroconversion was observed at a rate of 14.3% (95% CI, 4.8%-30.3%) for MADV and 8.6% (95% CI, 1.8%-23.1%) for VEEV over 5 years. Among the originally MADV-seropositive participants (n = 14 of 65), VEEV seroconversion occurred in 35.7% (95% CI, 12.8%-64.9%). In the VEEV-seropositive participants (n = 16 of 65), MADV seroconversion occurred in 6.3% (95% CI, 0.2%-30.2%). MADV seroreversion was observed in 14.3% (95% CI, 1.8%-42.8%) of those who were originally seropositive in 2010. VEEV seroconversion in the baseline MADV-seropositive participants was significantly higher than in alphavirus-negative participants. In the population sampled in 2017, MADV and VEEV seroprevalence was 13.2% and 16.8%, respectively. Memory loss, insomnia, irritability, and seizures were reported significantly more frequently in alphavirus-seropositive participants than in seronegative participants. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of seroconversion to MADV and VEEV over 5 years suggest frequent circulation of both viruses in Panama. Enhanced susceptibility to VEEV infection may be conferred by MADV infection. We provide evidence of persistent neurologic symptoms up to 5 years following MADV and VEEV exposure.
RESUMO
Praziquantel (PZQ), a broad spectrum anthelmintic drug, cannot be found in acceptable dosage forms for elderly patients, paediatric patients, and for veterinary use. In fact, very little has been done up to now in the formulation of liquid dosage forms, being they always formulated for parenteral administration. To beat this important challenge, it was accomplished a comprehensive analysis of the influence of two elementary physicochemical aspects, i.e. surface thermodynamic and electrokinetic properties, on the colloidal stability of PZQ nanosuspensions. The hydrophobic character of the drug, intensely determining the flocculation curves, was confirmed by the thermodynamic characterization. The electrophoretic characterization, in combination with the sedimentation and relative absorbance versus time curves, highlighted that the electrical double layer thickness and the surface charge can play an essential role in the stability of the pharmaceutical colloid. Finally, it was demonstrated that controlling the pH values and the incorporation of electrolytes can help in formulating PZQ aqueous nanosuspensions with appropriate stability and redispersibility behaviours for pharmaceutical use.
Assuntos
Anti-Helmínticos/síntese química , Composição de Medicamentos/métodos , Nanosferas/química , Praziquantel/síntese química , Anti-Helmínticos/farmacocinética , Química Farmacêutica/métodos , Eletrólitos/síntese química , Eletrólitos/farmacocinética , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Nanosferas/metabolismo , Praziquantel/farmacocinética , Água/química , Água/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We undertook this study to assess the correlation between the results of simple tests of spatial orientation and the occurrence of common psychological symptoms during the first 3 months after an acute, unilateral, peripheral, vestibular lesion. METHODS: Ten vestibular patients were selected and accepted to participate in the study. During a 3-month follow-up, we recorded the static visual vertical (VV), the estimation error of reorientation in the yaw plane and the responses to a standardized questionnaire of balance symptoms, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the depersonalization/derealization inventory by Cox and Swinson (DD), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Zung Instrument for Anxiety Disorders and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: At week 1, all patients showed a VV >2° and failed to reorient themselves effectively. They reported several balance symptoms and handicap as well as DD symptoms, including attention/concentration difficulties; 80% of the patients had a Hamilton score ≥8. At this time the balance symptom score correlated with the DHI. After 3 months, all scores decreased. Multiple regression analysis of the differences from baseline showed that the DD score difference was related to the difference on the balance score, the reorientation error and the DHI score (p <0.01). No other linear relationships were observed (p >0.5). CONCLUSIONS: During the acute phase of a unilateral, peripheral, vestibular lesion, patients may show poor spatial orientation concurrent with DD symptoms including attention/concentration difficulties, and somatic depression symptoms. After vestibular rehabilitation, DD symptoms decrease as the spatial orientation improves, even if somatic symptoms of depression persist.