Cognitive assessment in patients with Hepatitis C submitted to treatment with Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir or Daclatasvir.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C can be defined as an infectious disease that develops an inflammatory activity, which may cause an impairment in the central nervous system, may cause cognitive impairments and symptoms of depression. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify the cognitive performance of patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after treatment with simeprevir, sofosbuvir, and daclatasvir. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in three stages: before, right after treatment, and six months after. Fifty-eight patients under clinical follow-up were evaluated at the Emílio Ribas Infectology Institute, in São Paulo, Brazil. The following instruments were used: sociodemographic questionnaire, Lawton's Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory, and a battery of neuropsychological tests that evaluated: intellectual function, memory, attention, executive function, and motor and processing speed). For statistical analysis, the analyses described (mean, frequency, and standard deviation), chi-square, and ANOVA were used. RESULTS: Most of the participants were male (n=30, 51.7%), with a mean of 58.23±8.79 years, mean schooling of 9.75±4.43 years. Comparing the results of neuropsychological evaluations (before, just after completion of drugs, and six months), a significant improvement was observed in relation to the acquisition of new knowledge (p=0.03), late visual memory (p=0.01), and tendency towards alternate attention (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: The treatment of the hepatitis C virus improved cognitive performance, especially in relation to memory.

Neuropsychological Assessment of 412 HIV-Infected Individuals in São Paulo, Brazil.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain frequent even among individuals receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). In addition, HAND may adversely affect the quality of life and adherence to cART. There is scarce epidemiological information about HAND in Latin America. This cross-sectional study recruited HIV-infected patients from a tertiary teaching institution in São Paulo, Brazil, between May 2013 and February 2015. The patients were adults with at least 4 years of education and patients with current neurological or psychiatric diseases were excluded. HAND remain frequent even among individuals receiving cART, use of psychoactive substance, or inability to understand the content for neuropsychological evaluation. We used standardized tools to evaluate depression, use of psychoactive substances, and daily life activities, and we performed a comprehensive neuropsychological examination. HAND was classified using the Frascati criteria. Prevalence of HAND was estimated, and an associated variable of symptomatic HAND was identified by logistic regression. Four-hundred twelve HIV-infected patients were included [male: 281 (68%), mean age of 45.3 years]. Most of them [n = 340 (83.7%)] had an undetectable viral load. The prevalence of HAND was 73.6% (n = 303): 210 (50.9%) had asymptomatic neurocognitive involvement (ANI), 67 (16.2%) had mild neurocognitive disorder (MND), and 26 (6.3%) had HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The univariate logistic regression analysis showed that female gender, age older than 50 years, <11 years of schooling, CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3, presence of previous illnesses (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), opportunistic disease history, and a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score between 13 and 19 points were factors associated with symptomatic HAND (MND and HAD). However, a BDI score between 13 and 19 points was the single independent variable associated with symptomatic HAND. HAND was highly prevalent in São Paulo, Brazil, and ANI was the more frequent category of HAND. However, 22.5% of participants had symptomatic HAND. This finding constitutes a challenge in clinical practice. A BDI score between 13 and 19 points was the single independent variable associated with symptomatic HAND.

Risk of suicide in high risk pregnancy: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk of suicidal behavior in high-risk pregnant women at a public hospital in São Paulo. METHODS: We conducted a semi-structured interview with each of the participants (n = 268) through a previously prepared questionnaire. Risk of suicidal behavior was assessed by the Portuguese version of PRIME-MD. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 29 years (SD = 0.507) and gestation period was 30 weeks (SD = 0.556). Of the total sample, specific risk of suicide was found in 5% (n = 14). Of these, 85% have a stable relationship (married or cohabitating), the pregnancy was planned in 50% of cases, and 71% have no religion or professional activities. The correlation of risk of suicide with data from marital status, planned birth, age, education, professional practice, risk of prematurity, and religion showed that having a religion is statistically significant (p = 0.012). There were no positive associations for any of the other selected variables when compared with the risk of suicide. By correlating the risk of suicide with other characteristic symptoms of major depression, there was statistical significance in the sample with regard to insomnia or hypersomnia (p = 0.003), fatigue or loss of energy (p = 0.001), decreased or increased appetite (p = 0.005), less interest in daily activities (p = 0.000), depressed mood (p = 0.000), feelings of worthlessness or guilt (p = 0.000), decreased concentration (p = 0.002), and agitation or psychomotor retardation (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: We found that religion can be a protective factor against suicidal behavior. Besides providing a social support network needed by women during pregnancy, religion supports belief in life after death and in a loving God, giving purpose to life and self esteem and providing models for coping with crises. The results show the importance of prevention and early diagnosis of suicidal behavior, since suicide is an attempt to move from one sphere to another by force, seeking to solve what seems impossible.

Risco de suicídio em gestantes de alto risco: um estudo exploratório / Risk of suicide in high risk pregnancy: an exploratory study

OBJETIVO: Identificar o risco para comportamento suicida em gestantes de alto risco em um hospital público de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada entrevista semiestruturada com questionário previamente elaborado com cada uma das participantes (n = 268). O risco para suicídio foi identificado por meio da versão em português do PRIME-MD. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 29 anos (SD = 0,507) e 30 semanas gestacionais (SD = 0,556). Constatou-se risco específico para suicídio em 5 por cento (n = 14) do total da amostra. Destas gestantes, 85 por cento têm relacionamento estável (casada ou amasiada), em 50 por cento dos casos a gestação foi planejada, 71 por cento têm religião e não exercem atividade profissional. Quando correlacionados os dados de estado civil, planejamento da gestação, idade, escolaridade, atividade profissional, risco de prematuridade e religião com risco para suicídio, constatou-se que ter uma religião apresentou significância estatística (p = 0,012). Não foram encontradas associações positivas para nenhum dos outros itens selecionados, quando comparados com o risco para suicídio. Ao correlacionar o risco de suicídio com os demais sintomas característicos de depressão maior, observou-se significância estatística em relação à insônia ou hipersonia (p = 0,003), fadiga ou perda de energia (p = 0,001), diminuição ou aumento do apetite (p = 0,005), menor interesse nas atividades diárias (p = 0,000), humor deprimido (p = 0,000), sentimento de inutilidade ou culpa (p = 0,000), diminuição da concentração (p = 0,002), agitação ou retardo psicomotor (p = 0,002). CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se que a religião pode ser um fator protetor com relação ao comportamento suicida. Além de propiciar uma rede social de apoio da qual as mulheres necessitam no período gravídico, as religiões apoiam as crenças na vida após a morte e em um Deus amoroso, propiciando objetivos a vida e autoestima e fornecendo modelos de enfrentamento de crises. Os resultados sugerem a importância da prevenção e diagnóstico precoce do risco para suicídio, pois ocasionar a própria morte é uma tentativa de mudar de uma esfera para outra à força, buscando solução para o que parece impossível.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk of suicidal behavior in high-risk pregnant women at a public hospital in São Paulo. METHODS: We conducted a semi-structured interview with each of the participants (n = 268) through a previously prepared questionnaire. Risk of suicidal behavior was assessed by the Portuguese version of PRIME-MD. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 29 years (SD = 0.507) and gestation period was 30 weeks (SD = 0.556). Of the total sample, specific risk of suicide was found in 5 percent (n = 14). Of these, 85 percent have a stable relationship (married or cohabitating), the pregnancy was planned in 50 percent of cases, and 71 percent have no religion or professional activities. The correlation of risk of suicide with data from marital status, planned birth, age, education, professional practice, risk of prematurity, and religion showed that having a religion is statistically significant (p = 0.012). There were no positive associations for any of the other selected variables when compared with the risk of suicide. By correlating the risk of suicide with other characteristic symptoms of major depression, there was statistical significance in the sample with regard to insomnia or hypersomnia (p = 0.003), fatigue or loss of energy (p = 0.001), decreased or increased appetite (p = 0.005), less interest in daily activities (p = 0.000), depressed mood (p = 0.000), feelings of worthlessness or guilt (p = 0.000), decreased concentration (p = 0.002), and agitation or psychomotor retardation (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: We found that religion can be a protective factor against suicidal behavior. Besides providing a social support network needed by women during pregnancy, religion supports belief in life after death and in a loving God, giving purpose to life and self esteem and providing models for coping with crises. The results show the importance of prevention and early diagnosis of suicidal behavior, since suicide is an attempt to move from one sphere to another by force, seeking to solve what seems impossible.