Epidemiological report on the treatment of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease in 10 Brazilian referral centers: results after 12 years since International FIGO 2000 Consensus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment of Brazilian patients with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study with analysis of medical reports performed in 10 Brazilian referral centers from January 2000 to December 2011. RESULTS: Of 5,250 patients 3 died (0.06%) at the time of uterine evacuation. Spontaneous remission of GTD (group G1) was observed in 4,103 cases, and 1,144 (21.8%) progressed to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) (G2). In G1 2,716 (66.2%) had complete hydatidiform mole (HM) and 1,210, partial HM (29.5%); 3,772 patients (92.7%) recovered as noted in December 2012. In G2, of 1,118 patients treated, initial histopathological results of previous gestation were complete HM (77.5% [n = 886]), partial HM (8.8% [n = 100]), and choriocarcinoma (8.0% [n = 92]); 930 (81.3%) were low-risk, 200 (17.5%) were high-risk GTN, and 14 had placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) (1.2%); cure was achieved in 1,078 cases (96.4%), but 26 patients (2.3%) died (4 low-risk [0.4%], 19 high-risk [9.5%], and 3 PSTT [21.4%]). CONCLUSION: The highest death rates were due to high-risk GTN and PSTT. Patients with molar pregnancy should be referred to a referral center for an early diagnosis and prompt treatment of GTN in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality found in advanced stages.

HELLP syndrome and COVID-19: A minor revision of a possible new "COVID-19-linked HELLP-like syndrome".

To report the characteristics described in the literature on a possible new "COVID-19-linked HELLP-like syndrome" in pregnant women with COVID-19: its association with the severity; prevalence; clinical; laboratory; pathophysiological and therapeutic management differences from the classic HELLP syndrome and their impact on outcomes. Observational, cohort, case-control, case-series and case-report studies were included. Data were extracted independently by the authors of the study, to ensure accuracy, consistency and performed the quality assessment. The database search resulted in 77 references, of which two satisfied the eligibility criteria. In these 2 studies we found a possible "COVID-19-linked HELLP-like syndrome", associated with severe COVID-19. There is a high possibility of the existence of "COVID-19-linked HELLP-like syndrome" and its association with severe COVID-19 in pregnant women, with a prevalence of 28,6%. Some characteristics of "COVID-19-linked HELLP-like syndrome" and the classic HELLP syndrome are similar. Differential diagnosis indicated two different types of therapeutic management: conservative for "COVID-19-linked HELLP-like syndrome" and delivery for the HELLP syndrome. HELLP clinical management is mandatory for both.

Oral Antineoplastics: Treatment Adherence and Medication Beliefs / Antineoplásicos Orais: Adesão ao Tratamento e Crenças sobre os Medicamentos / Agentes Antineoplásicos Orales: Adherencia al Tratamiento y Creencias sobre los Medicamentos

Introduction: Adherence to oral antineoplastics (OA) is an important indicator of therapeutic response related to personal, social, and structural factors. Objective: To determine rates of adherence to OA, investigating possible risk factors for nonadherence and to assess patient beliefs about medication, identifying opportunities for pharmaceutical intervention. Method: An analytical study was conducted with cancer patients using OA in 2015. Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale (ARMS) and Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) were applied to assess adherence and beliefs about medication and treatment. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and Fisher's Exact tests were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 222 patients were interviewed, with a 92.8% adherence rate according to ARMS and 84.7% according to BMQ, in which the necessity-beliefs exceeded the concerns with the treatment and use of OA. Family income, treatment interruption, number and causes of interruptions, depression, and medication possession ratio were the risk factors identified. Comparison of BMQ domains showed that, in the adherent group, patient beliefs in the necessity of the medication exceeded their concerns about it. Conclusion: Understanding the patient's beliefs is a decisive factor in comprehending the risks related to nonadherence as well as in defining strategies to deal with it.

Introdução: A adesão aos antineoplásicos orais (AO) é um importante indicador de resposta terapêutica relacionada a fatores pessoais, sociais e estruturais. Objetivo: Determinar as taxas de adesão aos AO, investigando possíveis fatores de risco para a não adesão, e avaliar as crenças dos pacientes sobre medicamentos, identificando oportunidades de intervenção farmacêutica. Método: Estudo analítico realizado com pacientes com câncer em uso de AO em 2015. Escala de Adesão e Recarga dos Medicamentos (ARMS) e Questionário de Crenças sobre Medicamentos (BMQ) foram aplicados para avaliar a adesão e crenças sobre medicamentos e tratamento. Os testes de Mann-Whitney, qui-quadrado e exato de Fisher foram usados para análise de dados. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 222 pacientes, com taxa de adesão de 92,8%, segundo o ARMS e 84,7%, segundo o BMQ, no qual as crenças de necessidade excederam as preocupações com o tratamento e o uso de AO. Renda familiar, interrupção do tratamento, número e causas das interrupções, depressão e razão de posse de medicamentos foram os fatores de risco identificados. A comparação dos domínios do BMQ demostrou que, no grupo aderente, as crenças dos pacientes sobre a necessidade do medicamento excederam suas preocupações quanto a isso. Conclusão: Considerar as crenças do paciente é um fator decisivo para compreender os riscos relacionados à não adesão, bem como para definir estratégias para lidar com ela.

Introducción: La adherencia a antineoplásicos orales (AO) es un indicador importante de la respuesta terapéutica relacionada con factores personales, sociales y estructurales. Objetivo: Determinar tasas de adherencia a AO, investigar posibles factores de riesgo de incumplimiento y evaluar creencias de los pacientes sobre la medicación, identificando oportunidades para intervención farmacéutica. Método: Estudio analítico con pacientes con cáncer que usaban AO en 2015. Se aplicó Adherencia a la Recogida y Administración de la Medicación (ARMS) y Cuestionario de Creencias sobre Medicación (BMQ) para evaluar el cumplimiento y las creencias sobre medicación y tratamiento. Las pruebas de Mann-Whitney, Chi-cuadrado y Exacto de Fisher se utilizaron para análisis de datos. Resultados: Se entrevistó un total de 222 pacientes, con una tasa de adherencia de 92,8% según ARMS y 84,7% según BMQ, en la cual las creencias de necesidad excedieron preocupaciones con el tratamiento y uso de AO. Ingreso familiar, interrupción del tratamiento, número y causas de interrupciones, depresión y proporción de posesión de medicamentos fueron los factores de riesgo identificados. La comparación de los dominios de BMQ mostró que, en el grupo adherente, las creencias sobre necesidad de la medicación excedieron preocupaciones. Conclusión: La consideración de las creencias del paciente es un factor decisivo para comprender los riesgos relacionados con la no adherencia, así como para definir estrategias para afrontarla.

Acute myeloid leukemia: survival analysis of patients at a university hospital of Paraná.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic factors correlated with survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia at the Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná between 2003 and 2009, as well as to investigate the clinical and epidemiological profile. METHODS: The overall survival and disease-free survival were statistically evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test and multivariate evaluation by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The study population was predominantly younger than 60 years old (81,6%), had intermediate cytogenetic risk (40.8%), in first complete remission after induction chemotherapy (46.9%), with a white blood count at diagnosis of less than 30×10(9)/L (57.1%) and de novo acute myeloid leukemia (62.2%). Survival curves showed that better prognosis was related to age below 60 years (median:12,4 months; p-value=0,2227; Odds Ratio=0,6676), good prognostic cytogenetic markers (median: 97.7 months; p-value=0.0037; Odds Ratio=0.4239) and white blood cell count at diagnosis of less than 30×10(9)/L (median survival: 23.6 months; p-value=0.0001; Odds Ratio=0.3651). Regarding the French-American-British subgroups, the median overall survival was 23.5 months for M0, M1 and M2, 97.7 months for M3 and 7.4 months for M4, M5, M6, and M7 (p-value=0.0288). CONCLUSION: Prognostic factors strongly influenced patient survival, as well as guided treatment. Moreover, these factors were consistent with the available literature adjusted for the population in question.

Acute myeloid leukemia: survival analysisof patients at a university hospital of Paraná

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic factors correlated with survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia at the Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná between 2003 and 2009, as well as to investigate the clinical and epidemiological profile. Methods: The overall survival and disease-free survival were statistically evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test and multivariate evaluation by Cox regression analysis. Results: The study population was predominantly younger than 60 years old (81,6%), had intermediate cytogenetic risk (40.8%), in first complete remission after induction chemotherapy (46.9%), with a white blood count at diagnosis of less than 30 × 109 /L (57.1%) and de novo acute myeloid leukemia (62.2%). Survival curves showed that better prognosis was related to age below 60 years (median:12,4 months; p-value = 0,2227; Odds Ratio = 0,6676), good pro- gnostic cytogenetic markers (median: 97.7 months; p-value = 0.0037; Odds Ratio = 0.4239) and white blood cell count at diagnosis of less than 30 × 109 /L (median survival: 23.6 months; p- value = 0.0001; Odds Ratio = 0.3651). Regarding the French-American-British subgroups, the median overall survival was 23.5 months for M0, M1 and M2, 97.7 months for M3 and 7.4 months for M4, M5, M6, and M7 (p-value = 0.0288). Conclusion: Prognostic factors strongly influenced patient survival, as well as guided treat- ment. Moreover, these factors were consistent with the available literature adjusted for the population in question. .

Tumor estromal gastrointestinal: experiência no tratamento da doença localizada e avançada no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná / Gastrointestinal stromal tumor: experience in the treatment of localized and advanced disease at the Clinical Hospital of Parana Federal University

Introdução: Tumores estromais gastrointestinais (GIST) são neoplasias raras que se originam das células intersticiais de Cajal. Objetivo: Descrever a experiência do Hospital de Clínicas de Curitiba no tratamento do GIST localizado e avançado, com análise das características clínicas e anatomopatológicas e uso do imatinibe. Método: Estudo retrospectivo com 32 pacientes com diagnóstico por imuno-histoquímica, c-Kit positivo, no período de 2003 a 2008. Resultados: Idade mediana: 66 anos; tamanho mediano do tumor de 8,4 cm; e as localizações mais frequentes foram estômago em 46,9 por cento e intestino delgado em 40,9 por cento. Pacientes com alto risco de agressividade: 37,5 por cento; apresentavam doença localizada no diagnóstico 23 pacientes: 39,1 por cento recaíram e 9 com doença avançada. O seguimento mediano foi de 43,7 meses, com sobrevida global em 5 anos no grupo total de 56,2 por cento. Na doença localizada, a sobrevida global em 5 anos foi de 73,8 por cento e na avançada de 37,5 por cento (p=0,03). Não ocorreu impacto dos fatores prognósticos na sobrevida. Utilizou-se omesilato de imatinibe em 16 pacientes: 43,8 por cento por metástase inicial, 37,5 por cento recaída a distância, 12,5 por cento recaída local e 6,2 por cento margem comprometida. A sobrevida global com uso do imatinibe mediana foi de 53 meses e a sobrevida livre de primeira progressão de 32,9 meses. Houve boa tolerabilidade ao imatinibe e apenas dois pacientes utilizaram osunitinibe. Conclusão: A maioria dos tumores era grande, de localização gástrica e de alto risco de agressividade. A taxa de recaída na doença localizada foi alta. E a sobrevida global dos pacientes de doença localizada e que utilizaram o imatinibe foi considerada satisfatória.