Cost-effectiveness in transient hypocalcemia post-thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Three different strategies to manage transient hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy were compared to evaluate cost-effectiveness. The reliability of total serum calcium (TSCa), ionized calcium (ICa), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were investigated to achieve this goal. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective randomized study was carried out with 169 patients. The strategies were "preventive" (oral calcium + vitamin D supplementation), "reactive" (therapy in hypocalcemia), and "predictive" (therapy if iPTH <10 pg/mL). RESULTS: TSCa had higher accuracy in identifying patients who developed hypocalcemia-related symptoms than ICa (84.6% vs 50.0%). TSCa 24 h after surgery showed 24.8% of patients with hypocalcemia, whereas TSCa 48 h after surgery identified a further 10.6% with hypocalcemia (only in the "reactive" and "predictive" groups). iPTH showed low sensitivity as a predictor of hypocalcemia. Between the 3 groups, there was no significant difference in hospitalization time or number of symptomatic hypocalcemic patients. Interestingly, the cost-per-patient was significantly different among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: None of the discussed strategies allowed for early discharge of patients without any risk of transient hypocalcemia. The "preventive" strategy was the most cost-effective, despite overtreatment.

Prevalence and determinants of oral infection by Human Papillomavirus in HIV-infected and uninfected men who have sex with men.

BACKGROUND: Oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is rare in the general population but common in high-risk individuals. Recent data indicate that oral HPV is associated with the development of head and neck carcinomas. HPV16 infection, in particular, increases the risk of oropharyngeal cancer. METHODS: We evaluated oral HPV prevalence and determinants of infection in cancer-free HIV-infected and uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited among attendees of an STI/HIV centre. Oral rinse and gargles were collected using a mouthwash and analyzed with the Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test. Socio-demographic and behavioral data were collected through face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: Overall, 170 MSM participated: 98 HIV-uninfected and 72 HIV-infected (91.7% under cART). Oral HPV was detected in 17.3% and 27.8% of the subjects, respectively (p = 0.13). Non-carcinogenic HPVs were significantly more common among HIV-infected MSM (18.1% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.01). Prevalence of the HPV types included in the quadrivalent HPV vaccine was similar (6.1% vs. 8.3% for the HIV-negative and positive MSM, respectively, p = 0.76). HPV16 was the most frequent type in HIV-negative (5.1%), and HIV-positive individuals, in the latter group together with HPV18, 72 and 84 (4.2% each). Older age at first sex (AOR: 4.02, 95% CI: 1.17-13.86 for those older than 18 years of age at first intercourse, p = 0.027) and a higher lifetime number of receptive oral sex partners (AOR: 9.14, 95% CI: 2.49-33.62 for those with >50 compared to ≤50 partners, p<0.001) were determinants of oral HPV among HIV-infected MSM. CONCLUSION: Oral HPV infection among MSM attending an urban STI center is very frequent compared to the general population. Sexual behavior appears to be the major determinant of infection among the HIV-infected individuals.