Self-efficacy and consistent condom use by people living with HIV and seroconcordant and serodiscordant sexual partners in the Ceará, Brazil.

The objectives were to assess the self-efficacy and consistent condom use by people living with HIV (PLHIV). A cross-sectional, comparative study was carried out in outpatient clinics in Ceará State, Brazil, with a sample of 190 PLHIV, 95 serodiscordant and 95 seroconcordant. Interviews were conducted using the Socio-Demographic, Clinical, Epidemiological and Vulnerability Form and the Condom Use Self-Efficacy Scale. Descriptive analysis, associations between variables, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were determined. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the sample, 43.1% consistently used condoms (50.5% serodiscordant and 35.7% seroconcordant). Serodiscordant PLHIV without guidance on HIV prevention (P = 0.027) and without access to testing (P = 0.002) had lower self-efficacy and 11.5 times more chances for inconsistent condom use (P = 0.006), while those satisfied with follow-up in health were less likely to use condoms inconsistently (P = 0.011). We conclude that there is low consistent use of condoms among PLHIV, which increases the risk of HIV transmission and the acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections. Consistent condom use was greater among serodiscordant individuals, although there was no difference in self-efficacy in condom use between the groups.

Diabetes mellitus in people living with HIV/AIDS: prevalence and associated risk factors.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in people with HIV/AIDS and to assess the associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study with 168 patients treated at an infectious disease outpatient. Were investigated sociodemographic, epidemiological and clinical variables through interview using forms. Casual plasma glucose, blood pressure and anthropometric data were recorded. For the analysis, we used descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The results showed that most patients were male, single, with 9-12 years of schooling, in the category of sexual exposure and heterosexual. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 7.14%, and risk factors were smoking, alcohol use, inadequate diet, increased abdominal circumference, overweight, age over 45 years, family history of diabetes and personal history of hypertension. Women were 5.29 times more likely to have increased abdominal circumference (P < 0.001). Men (P = 0.003), married (P = 0.035), with monthly income greater than two times the minimum wage (P = 0.035) were more likely to be hypertensive. Diabetes occurred in older patients (P = 0.008). In conclusion, the prevalence of people with HIV/AIDS and diabetes mellitus was 7.14%, and most had modifiable risk factors for diabetes, including smoking, alcohol use, inadequate diet and overweight, needing health education interventions for diabetes prevention.

[Hygiene practices for patients with HIV/AIDS]. / Práticas de higiene para pacientes com HIV/AIDS.

The objective of this study was to analyze the scientific production on health interventions related to hygiene for adults with HIV/AIDS. An integrative literature review was performed using six databases in June 2013. The descriptors AIDS and Hygiene were used, in Portuguese, English or Spanish. A total of 682 articles were found and 16 were selected. Personal hygiene practices were identified, such as hand washing, showers, tooth brushing and quitting smoking. Food hygiene practices involved washing food and kitchen utensils, using treated water, conserving and cooking food. Environmental hygiene took into account raising domestic animals, control of disease vectors, household cleanliness, waste disposal and basic sanitation. In conclusion, these specific hygiene interventions can be applied to the general population and, especially, to people with HIV/AIDS, due to immunosuppression.

[Dilemmas and conflitcs of being a mother with HIV/AIDS]. / Dilemas e conflitos de ser mãe na vigência do HIV/Aids.

This study aimed to apprehend the dilemmas and conflicts revealed by women infected with HIV/Aids who got pregnant. This qualitative study involved eight women attended at an outpatient clinic in Fortaleza-CE. Through interviews, it was observed that the women go through their pregnancy with expectations about their child's serological status; after birth, they live with uncertainties and overprotect the child. They report on inadequate ways of communicating the diagnosis and lack of advice about pregnancy in cases of HIV. These women transform the desire of motherhood into reality. According to them, dealing with a child with the possibility of catching HIV goes beyond their capacity. In conclusion, it is essential to offer emotional and social support to these women, independently of the phase in life they are in.

Risk Factors Associated With New-Onset Diabetes After Liver Transplant: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: New-onset diabetes after transplant is a severe complication that can present in liver transplant recipients, negatively impacting quality of life and graft survival. It also contributes to increased risk of infection, cardiovascular disease, and rejection, which are the main causes of death among liver transplant recipients. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk factors associated with new-onset diabetes after transplant. METHOD: This was a case control study based on the data from 146 liver transplant patients at a reference hospital. The data from the charts were collected using a 2-part form: Part I (sociodemographic variables) and Part II (clinical variables). RESULTS: Multiple analysis showed that pre-existing systemic arterial hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 2.65; 95% CI, 1.12-6.28) and the use of sodium mycophenolate associated with tacrolimus (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.02-7.06) increased the risk of new-onset diabetes after transplant. On comparing the anthropometric variables, lipid panel, and blood glucose levels of liver transplant patients with and without diabetes, higher glycemic levels were found in the group with diabetes (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Pre-existing systemic arterial hypertension and the associated use of sodium mycophenolate and tacrolimus increased the risk of new-onset diabetes after transplant.

Quality of life of men with AIDS and the model of social determinants of health.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the quality of life (QoL) of men with AIDS from the perspective of the model of social determinants of health (MSDH). METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted in an outpatient infectious diseases clinic from a Brazilian university hospital over the course of one year with a sample of 138 patients. A form based on the MSDH was used to collect sociodemographic data addressing individual, proximal, intermediate determinants and the influence of social networks together with an instrument used to assess the QoL of people with HIV/AIDS. The project was approved by the Institutional Review Board (Protocol No. 040.06.12). RESULTS: according to MSDH, most men with AIDS were between 30 and 49 years old (68.1%), mixed race (59.4%), heterosexual (46.4%), single (64.5%), Catholic (68.8%), had a bachelor's degree (39.2%), had no children (61.6%), and had a formal job (71.0%). The perception of QoL in the physical, level of independence, environment, and spirituality domains was intermediate, while QoL was perceived to be superior in the domains of psychological and social relationship. A perception of lower QoL was presented by homosexual (p=0.037) and married men (p=0.077), and those with income below one times the minimum wage (p=0.042). A perception of greater QoL was presented by those without a religion (p=0.005), living with a partner (p=0.049), and those who had a formal job (p=0.045). CONCLUSION: social determinants influence the QoL of men with AIDS.

Vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects of methanolic fraction of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet.

Alpinia zerumbet is used in folk medicine in Brazil to treat hypertension. However, several pathways involved in the mechanism of vasorelaxation are still unclear. This study was designed to verify the antihypertensive effect of the methanolic fraction of the essential oil of A. zerumbet (MFEOAz) and to characterize its mechanism of action. The thoracic aortic rings from the Wistar rats were perfused in the organ chambers filled with Kreb's solution, where the tension of each ring was measured. The antihypertensive effect of MFEOAz was assessed in rats submitted to chronic hypertension by inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by indirect measurement of blood pressure with indirect tail cuff method. MFEOAz relaxed phenylephrine and KCl-induced contraction of either endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings in a concentration-dependent manner. Pre-incubation with MFEOAz (100 and 300 µg/mL) in Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution attenuated phenylephrine- or caffeine-induced contraction. Pre-incubation with L-NAME, ODQ, wortmannin, atropine, indomethacin, catalase, SOD, TEA, 4-aminopyridine, glibenclamide, apamin, charybdotoxin, or iberiotoxin did not affect MFEOAz-induced relaxation. The intragastric administration of MFEOAz induced an antihypertensive effect. MFEOAz it seems inhibited the calcium influx via voltage-operated calcium channels and receptor-operated calcium channels, as well as inhibition of calcium mobilization from intracellular stores.