Prognostic role of inflammatory biomarkers in HIV-infected patients with a first diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) survival and to investigate the prognostic role of immunonutritional biomarkers, as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. METHODS: All HIV-positive patients diagnosed with HCC at our Department from January 2000 to December 2013 were included. The outcomes were overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and liver-related death (LRD). To examine the role of inflammatory biomarkers on the outcomes, univariate and multivariable Cox regression models were used. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were implemented to evaluate the prediction role of NLR, PLR, and PNI. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients (90% males) with a mean age of 48.3 years (SD = 5.6) were recruited. NLR ≥ 2.9 was associated with all causes mortality, as well as, PLR ≥ 126. NLR and PLR were predictors of OS, RFS, and LRD, while PNI did not emerge as a prognostic marker. According to the multivariate analysis, no HCC treatment was the only risk factor associated with risk of death. The areas under the ROC curves were 68.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.5-82.1) for PLR and 66.3 (95% CI, 54.3-78.2) for NLR at 3 years; similar results were found at 5 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although, if examined singularly, NLR and PLR are prognostic factors for HCC recurrence and survival in HIV-infected patients, at the multivariate analysis, "no HCC treatment" remains the only independent risk factor associated with fatal outcome.

Colitis during new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) therapy with sofosbuvir, simeprevir and ribavirin for genotype 1b hepatitis C.

Since 2014 several direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been made available, allowing interferon-free antiviral treatments with high sustained virological response rates. Side effects are, however, a real challenge during treatment. Sarkar et al. recently published a case of colitis following initiation of sofosbuvir and simeprevir for genotype 1 hepatitis C. We report the case of a patient with no prior history of inflammatory bowel disease, who developed significant bloody diarrhea within 3 weeks of sofosbuvir/simeprevir/ribavirin initiation. Colonoscopy and biopsy suggested a drug-induced colitis.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis is a dominant feature of hereditary apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis.

Apolipoprotein A-I is the main protein of high-density lipoprotein particles, and is encoded by the APOA1 gene. Several APOA1 mutations have been found, either affecting the lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity, determining familial HDL deficiency, or resulting in amyloid formation with prevalent deposits in the kidney and liver. Evaluation of familial tubulointerstitial nephritis in patients with the Leu75Pro APOA-I amyloidosis mutation resulted in the identification of 253 carriers belonging to 50 families from Brescia, Italy. A total of 219 mutation carriers underwent clinical, laboratory, and instrumental tests. Of these, 62% had renal, hepatic, and testicular disease; 38% were asymptomatic. The disease showed an age-dependent penetrance. Tubulointerstitial nephritis was diagnosed in 49% of the carriers, 13% of whom progressed to kidney failure requiring dialysis. Hepatic involvement with elevation of cholestasis indices was diagnosed in 30% of the carriers, 38% of whom developed portal hypertension. Impaired spermatogenesis and hypogonadism was found in 68% of male carriers. The cholesterol levels were lower than normal in 80% of the mutation carriers. Thus, tubulointerstitial nephritis was highly prevalent in this large series of patients with Leu75Pro apoA-I amyloidosis. Persistent elevation of alkaline phosphatase, reduced HDL cholesterol plasma levels, and hypogonadism in men are key diagnostic features of this form of amyloidosis.

HIV-related liver disease: ARV drugs, coinfection, and other risk factors.

Highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has proven remarkably effective for prolonging the life of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, while most HAART agents are safe, many have the potential to cause liver toxicity. Physicians must therefore consider the possibility of drug-induced liver injury in the management of HIV-infected patients, especially those with certain risk factors such as coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), female gender, alcohol abuse, older age, or obesity. Understanding how, when, and why drug-related liver damage occurs is key to managing these patients safely and effectively. Knowledge of HAART-related liver effects will help ensure that patients receive the most benefit with the least toxicity from any given drug regimen. As more information about the mechanisms of drug related liver injury is known, clinicians will be better able to tailor therapies to suit individual situations, resulting in greater patient safety and outcomes.

Spermatogenic and steroidogenic impairment of the testicle characterizes the hereditary leucine-75-proline apolipoprotein a-I amyloidosis.

CONTEXT: The leucine-75-proline variant of apolipoprotein A-I leads to a new hereditary systemic amyloidosis involving mostly the liver and kidney. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the effects of this amyloidosis on testicular structure and function. DESIGN: This was an observational study in which patients with testicular amyloidosis were characterized. SETTING: The study was carried out at the Endocrinology Department of Brescia University. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Over a 13-yr period, 25 patients were found to be affected by leucine-75-proline apolipoprotein A-I testicular amyloidosis. Thirteen had the testicle as the first or only organ involved (group 1); in 12 testicular damage followed that of other organs (group 2). INTERVENTIONS: There were no interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hormone and lipidic profiles, semen analysis, echographic volume of testicles, testicular histology, and genetic analysis were carried out. RESULTS: Group 1 patients were younger than those of group 2. In group 1, eight had hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and five were normogonadic with high gonadotropins; in group 2 all subjects were hypogonadic. All men had low high-density lipoprotein values. Group 1 patients were macroorchid, whereas the testicular volume was at the highest limit in group 2 (group 1 vs. group 2, P < 0.05). All men in the first group and six in the second group were azoospermic; the remaining had oligoposia. Biopsies showed the germinal epithelium replaced by amyloid. Leydig cells were essentially preserved in normogonadic but not hypogonadic patients. CONCLUSIONS: This amyloidosis may determine infertility, macroorchidism, and hypogonadism. Endocrine impairment follows spermatogenic impairment.

Trichilemmal carcinoma: case report.

The trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare tumor that usually occurs on sun-exposed skin, especially on the face, scalp, neck and back of hands, mainly in elderly subjects but commonly between the 4th and 9th decades of life. It is not a gender-based illness. This study shows a difficult to treat case of recurrent trichilemmal carcinoma on the same location of a basal-cell carcinoma previously treated with surgery and radiotherapy.

Infertility and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism as first evidence of hereditary apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis.

PURPOSE: We report that primary infertility and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism in young patients may be caused by testicular amyloidosis and it is associated with the presence of a mutation in the apoA-I gene, resulting in the replacement of proline for leucine at residue 75 of the protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients presenting with infertility, gynecomastia, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction or a family history of amyloidosis underwent clinical evaluation, hormone assays, semen analysis, ultrasonographic investigation of the testicles, testicular biopsy and DNA sequencing of the apoA-I gene. RESULTS: All patients showed azoospermia and 9 had increased testicular volume. Massive amyloid deposition was observed in all testicular biopsies and the apoA-I mutation of replacement of proline for leucine at residue 75 of the protein was noted. Five patients showed hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and 5 had normal testosterone values with high gonadotropin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Nonobstructive azoospermia and macro-orchidism with or without hypogonadism may be caused by hereditary apoA-I amyloidosis in young patients. Testicular amyloidosis can be the first manifestation of this systemic disease. Specific staining for amyloid deposits and genetic analysis of apoA-I mutations are recommended in young, infertile patients with macro-orchidism. Finally, surveillance in asymptomatic mutation carriers is suggested to evaluate the opportunity to implement sperm retrieval and start androgen replacement therapy when necessary.

Carcinoma triquilemal: relato de caso / Trichilemmal carcinoma: case report

O carcinoma triquilemal é um tumor raro, que ocorre, geralmente, na pele exposta ao sol, principalmente face, couro cabeludo, pescoço e dorso das mãos, em indivíduos idosos, entre a 4ª e 9ª décadas de vida, sem predilação por sexo. O presente estudo mostra um caso de carcinoma triquilemal, recidivado, de difícil tratamento, em mesma topografia de um carcinoma basocelular tratado previamente com cirurgia e radioterapia.

The trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare tumor that usually occurs on sun-exposed skin, especially on the face, scalp, neck and back of hands, mainly in elderly subjects but commonly between the 4th and 9th decades of life. It is not a gender-based illness. This study shows a difficult to treat case of recurrent trichilemmal carcinoma on the same location of a basal-cell carcinoma previously treated with surgery and radiotherapy.

Renal apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis: a rare and usually ignored cause of hereditary tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis is a rare, late-onset, autosomal dominant condition characterized by systemic deposition of amyloid in tissues, the major clinical problems being related to renal, hepatic, and cardiac involvement. Described is the clinical and histologic picture of renal involvement as a result of apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis in five families of Italian ancestry. In all of the affected family members, the disease was caused by the Leu75Pro heterozygous mutation in exon 4 of apolipoprotein A-I gene, as demonstrated by direct sequencing and RFLP analysis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that amyloid deposits were specifically stained with an anti-apolipoprotein A-I antibody. The clinical phenotype was mainly characterized by a variable combination of kidney and liver disturbance. The occurrence of renal involvement seemed to be almost universal, although its severity varied greatly ranging from subclinical organ damage to overt, slowly progressive renal dysfunction. The renal presentation was consistent with a tubulointerstitial disease, as suggested by the findings of defective urine-concentrating capacity, moderate polyuria, negative urinalysis, and mild tubular proteinuria. Histology confirmed tubulointerstitial nephritis. Surprising, amyloid was restricted to nonglomerular regions and limited to the renal medulla. This location of apolipoprotein A-I amyloid differs sharply from other systemic amyloidoses that are mainly characterized by glomerular and vascular deposits. The tubulointerstitial nephritis as a result of hereditary apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis is a rare disease and a challenging diagnosis to recognize. Patients who present with familial tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with liver disease require a high index of suspicion for apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis.

Eccrine porocarcinoma (malignant Eccrine poroma) with bone invasion and lymph node metastasis

Objective: Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare malignant sweat gland tumor. This skin neoplasm represents only 0.005% of epithelial cutaneous neoplasms. We have diagnosed and treated a case of eccrine porocarcinoma in a cancer center institution, which is a regional reference for skin cancer treatment in Curitiba, Brazil. We report the clinicopathological data of this case. Material and Methods: We reviewed the medical records and notes, including surgical specimens of the skin tumor excised from a patient treated at our institution. All microscopic slides in our files from this case were reviewed. Results: A 58-year-old woman with no previous disease presented with a 9-month history of a progressively enlarging lesion on the occipital region. It was partially fixed to periosteum and associated with retracted adjacent tissues. A soft tissue biopsy revealed an eccrine porocarcinoma of the scalp. Conclusions: Because of the aggressive progression of this neoplasm, the best treatment option includes associated surgical excision and no adjuvant therapy.

Uso do colposcópio (estomatoscópio) para exame de lesões da cavidade oral / The use of colposcope (stomatoscope) for the examination of the oral cavity lesions

Introdução: o câncer da cavidade oral está dentre os dez mais comuns cânceres no mundo. Apesar da facilidade para o acesso e o exame da cavidade oral, cerca de 50% desses tumores são diagnosticados tardiamente. Existe a necessidade de encontrar-se um método não invasivo para o diagnóstico precoce das lesões malignas. Objetivo: avaliar a colposcopia (estomatoscopia) no exame de lesões da cavidade oral, após a oroscopia. Método: Observou-se a mucosa orcal em geral, as bordas e a periferia das lesões, interessando as alterações da cor, as ulcerações superficiais e as alterações vasculares. Aplicou-se o teste do azul de toluidina. Foram incluídos 100 pacientes, com 130 lesões. Resultados: Foi diagnosticado carcinoma espinocelular em 57,4 % das eritroplasias, 66% das leuco-eritroplasias, 20% das leucoplasias, 65% das atipias vasculares e em 60 % das ulcerações superficiais. Das nove eritroplasias em salpicado, 55,5% eramcarcinomas. Conclusão: a estomatoscopia permite a identificação de lesões iniciais.

Introduction: The oral cavity cancer is one of the commonest cancers all over the world. In spite of the easy approach and examination of the oral cavity, some 50% out of those tumors are diagnosed in advanced stages. It is necessary to find a non invasive method for the early diagnosis of those malignant lesions. Objective: to evaluate the colposcopy (stomatoscopy) applied to the oral cavity lesions diagnosis. Methods: The oral mucosa in general, the edges and the lesions neighboring were examined, paying attention to colors changes, superficial ulcerations and vascular alterations. The toluidine blue test was performed. The casuistics included 100 patients with 130 lesions. Results: The carcinoma was diagnosed in 57.4% of the erytroplakias (55% when it was em salpicado), 66% of the leuco-erytroplasias, 20% of the leucoplasias, 65% of the vascular atypias and 60% of the superficial ulcerations. Conclusion: The stomatoscopy allows the identification of early lesions.

Avaliação da citologia e do teste do azul de toluidina no diagnóstico dos tumores malignos da mucosa oral / Evaluation of the cytology and the toluidine blue test in the diagnosis of oral malignant tumors

Introdução: a morte causada pelas neoplasias malignas está dentre as três mais comuns no Brasil (acidentes, doenças cardiovasculares e câncer). A maioria é diagnosticada em fases avançadas (estádios III e IV) e apenas 7% como carcinoma in situ. O diagnóstico precoce aumenta de maneira diretamente proporcional a fatores como: formação e informaçãodos profissionais da saúde, sistema de saúde amplo e a educação profissional da população. Objetivo: fornecer informa;áo para os profissionais no que diz respeito aos exames de citologia exfoliativa e teste do azul de toluidina para o diagnóstico do carcinoma oral, tendo com padrão-ouro o exame histopatológico. Pacientes e métodos: a pesquisa foi prospectiva, coletando-se dados referentes a 100 pacientes atendidos no ambulatório do Serviço de Cirurgia da Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital Erasto Gaetner, em Curitiba, Paraná. Procedeu-se a coleta de material para exame citológico a Papanicolaou (das áreas de declive da boca, lavado da cavidade bucal e o raspado da lesão, nessa seqüência), aplicou-se o teste do azul de toluidina e realizou-se a biópsia ("saca-bocado") das áreas suspeitas (teste positivo ou não). Resultados: o teste do azul de toluidina teve sensibilidade de 80.9% e valor preditivo negativo de 70.30%. A citologia do raspado da lesão teve uma especificidade de 80.7%. Conclusão: a utilização do teste do azul de toluidina e do exame citológico do raspado da lesão em paralelo pode ser de valia para a detecçao de lesões malignas.

Introduction: the deaths caused by malignant neoplasms are among the three commonest causes in Brazil (trauma, cardiovascular diseases and cancer). The majority of cancer cases are diagnosesd in advanced stages (clinical stages III and IV) and only 7% are in situ carcinoma. The early diagnosis is directly related to factors such as: formation and information of health staff, wide health system and people education. Objective: to provide information to professionals regarding the exfoliative cytology and the toluidine blue stain test fro the oral cancer diagnosis, compared to the gold standard 0 the histopathological evaluation. Patients and methods: a prospective study was developed at the Erasto Gaertner hospital, in the ambulatory of the Head and Neck Surgery Service (Curitiba-Paraná), a hundred patients were included. , the cytologic exam (Papanicolaou staining) of the material collected (from the lower parts of the mouth and the lesion exfoliations, and from a mothwashing technic) was performed. The toluidine blue staining test was applied and the biopsy was collected from the suspicious areas (posistive test or not). Results: the toluidine blue test presented a 80,9% of sensibility and a negative predictive value of 70,3%, whereas the lesion exfoliative cytology presented a specificity of 80,7%. Conclusion: the association (at same time) of the toluidine blue test and the exfoliative cytologic exam can be effective and useful concerning the oral malignant lesions detection

Análise econômico-financeira do Erasto Gaertner / Economic and financial analysis of Erasto Gaertner

Atualmente, é comum constatar o intenso processo de modernização e profissionalização no sistema de gestão das instituições de saúde, filantrópicas ou não. Este fato deve-se, em grande parte, às políticas de destinação orçamentária adotadas pelo governo, em todas as suas esferas, o reajuste dos repasses referentes à realização de procedimentos médico-hospitalares não vem acompanhando a evolução dos demais indicadores econômicos dos pais. As instituições de saúde, neste caso principalmente as filantrópicas, visualizado um cenário que pode comprometer suas operações, impactando inclusive suas políticas de expansão e crescimento, necessitando adotar estratégias que garantam a manutenção de posições no mercado. Assim sendo, uma eficiente e eficaz gestão financeira torna-se requisito básico e essencial. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho acadêmico faz em uma análise ambiental - micro e macro - em que se insere a Liga Paranaense de Combate ao Câncer, trazendo os fatores que mais têm influenciado a instituição em seus mais diversos aspectos, focando em dados econômico-financeiros, bem como apresenta, de forma detalhada, os resultados obtidos pela instituição ao longo dos anos compreendidos entre 1998 e 2004.