Brazilian recommendations on the safety and effectiveness of the yellow fever vaccination in patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Abstract Background: In Brazil, we are facing an alarming epidemic scenario of Yellow fever (YF), which is reaching the most populous areas of the country in unvaccinated people. Vaccination is the only effective tool to prevent YF. In special situations, such as patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (CIMID), undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, as a higher risk of severe adverse events may occur, assessment of the risk-benefit ratio of the yellow fever vaccine (YFV) should be performed on an individual level. Main body of the abstract: Faced with the scarcity of specific orientation on YFV for this special group of patients, the Brazilian Rheumatology Society (BRS) endorsed a project aiming the development of individualized YFV recommendations for patients with CIMID, guided by questions addressed by both medical professionals and patients, followed an internationally validated methodology (GIN-McMaster Guideline Development). Firstly, a systematic review was carried out and an expert panel formed to take part of the decision process, comprising BRS clinical practitioners, as well as individuals from the Brazilian Dermatology Society (BDS), Brazilian Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Study Group (GEDIIB), and specialists on infectious diseases and vaccination (from Tropical Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Immunizations National Societies); in addition, two representatives of patient groups were included as members of the panel. When the quality of the evidence was low or there was a lack of evidence to determine the recommendations, the decisions were based on the expert opinion panel and a Delphi approach was performed. A recommendation was accepted upon achieving ≥80% agreement among the panel, including the patient representatives. As a result, eight recommendations were developed regarding the safety of YFV in patients with CIMID, considering the immunosuppression degree conferred by the treatment used. It was not possible to establish recommendations on the effectiveness of YFV in these patients as there is no consistent evidence to support these recommendations. Conclusion: This paper approaches a real need, assessed by clinicians and patient care groups, to address specific questions on the management of YFV in patients with CIMID living or traveling to YF endemic areas, involving specialists from many areas together with patients, and might have global applicability, contributing to and supporting vaccination practices. We recommended a shared decision-making approach on taking or not the YFV.

Tratamento cirúrgico do câncer de pele pelo cirurgião plástico / Surgical treatment of skin cancer by the plastic surgeon

Introdução: O câncer de pele é a neoplasia mais frequente no Brasil e corresponde a 25% de todos os tumores malignos. O melhor tratamento é a ressecção cirúrgica em fases iniciais. O cirurgião plástico, juntamente com uma equipe multiprofissional, participa no tratamento desta doença. O objetivo é analisar a eficácia dos procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados pelo cirurgião plástico no tratamento do câncer de pele. Método: Foram analisados 404 prontuários de pacientes operados no período de fevereiro de 2009 a dezembro de 2012 e analisados gênero, idade, diagnóstico, localização e evolução. Resultados: Faixa etária com média de 62 anos. 53% de casos de carcinoma basocelular, 25,5% melanoma e 15,1% carcinoma espinocelular. Houve predomínio de mulheres nos carcinomas basocelulares (56%) e no melanoma (54%) e de homens nos carcinomas espinocelulares (61%). Os carcinomas basocelulares (92,99%) e espinocelulares (72,13%) tiveram sua predominância na região de cabeça e pescoço; enquanto o melanoma predominou em região de tronco (36,89%) e membros inferiores (24,27%). Foram realizadas 67 cirurgias com pesquisa de linfonodo sentinela, com positividade em 14,93%. 7,76% dos pacientes de melanoma apresentaram metástases e 2,91% vieram a óbito. Conclusão: O cirurgião plástico é um dos profissionais importantes para o tratamento do câncer de pele, sendo o mais apto para realizar as reconstruções após as ressecções tumorais, pois tem em sua formação os conceitos de reparação, utilizando-se de enxertos e retalhos e considerando o aspecto estético dos pacientes. Cabe-lhe também a realização da cirurgia de pesquisa de linfonodo sentinela e o seguimento dos pacientes com câncer de pele.

Introduction: Skin cancer is the most common neoplasm in Brazil and it corresponds to 25% of all diagnosed malignant tumors. The best treatment is surgical resection in early stages. The disease is treated by a plastic surgeon along with a multidisciplinary team. The objective is to assess the effectiveness of surgical procedures performed by plastic surgeons to treat skin cancer. Methods: We analyzed medical records of 404 patients operated on between February 2009 and December 2012. Data analyzed included gender, age, diagnosis, localization and evolution. Results: Patients' mean age was 62 years. A total of 53% of patients had basal cell carcinoma, 25.5% melanoma and 15.1% squamous cell carcinoma. There was a predominance of women in basal cell carcinomas (56%) and melanoma (54%) and predominance of men in squamous cell carcinomas (61%). Basal cell carcinomas (92.99%) and squamous (72.13%) were predominant in the head and neck, melanoma predominated in the trunk region (36.89%) and in lower limbs (24.27%). We performed 67 surgeries with sentinel lymph node, with positivity in 14.93%. Patients with melanoma who had metastasis accounted for 7.76% and 2.91% patients died. Conclusion: Plastic surgeons are one of the important professionals for skin cancer treatment. These professionals are the most skilled one to perform reconstructions after tumor resections, because during education they learn repair concepts using grafts and flaps especially focused on aesthetic appearance of patients. They can also perform surgery for sentinel lymph node and offer follow-up to patients with skin cancer.