Epidemiological profile of human toxocariasis in patients examined at Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC/SVSA/MS) between 2014 and 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Toxocariasis is caused by nematodes of Toxocara genus, which infest dogs and cats, with humans serving as paratenic hosts. METHODS: The epidemiological profile of patients examined for toxocariasis between October 2014 and October 2019 at Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) was outlined. The frequency of anti-T. canis IgG antibodies were evaluated using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: From a total of 734 samples, 56% were from male (p < 0.05). Regarding age, the group with the most solicitations were from ≤11 years old individuals (p < 0.05). Pará state had the highest number of exams requested (92%), with the majority from residents of urban areas, accounting for 81.5% of samples (p < 0.05). The overall toxocariasis seroprevalence was 41.8%, the male sex being the most frequent with 60.9% (p < 0.05). The most affected age group was ≤11 years old, with a total of 67.8% of positive samples (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The high rates obtained emphasize the need for complementary studies on toxocariasis in Brazil, especially in Pará state, contributing to epidemiological surveillance actions in the control of this infection. Besides, health campaigns for domestic and stray animals, also can contribute to a more effective surveillance in controlling parasitic infections and encourages the One Health approach.

Síndrome de Kearns Sayre - relato de caso / Kearns Sayre Syndrome - case report

A Síndrome de Kearns Sayre (SKS) é uma miopatia de origem mitocondrial rara. Caracterizase pela tríade de oftalmoplegia externa, retinose pigmentar e acometimento do sistema de condução cardíaco, descrita em 1958. O objetivo deste relato de caso é descrever um caso de SKS e discutir achados clínicos com ênfase no acometimento cardíaco. Paciente J.A., masculino, 35 anos, com sintomas iniciais de diplopia, estrabismo e ptose. Evoluiu com alteração da motricidade ocular extrínseca, retinopatia pigmentosa e fraqueza muscular difusa o que levou à hipótese de SKS. O diagnóstico definitivo foi feito através de biópsia do bíceps que revelou padrão miopático mitocondrial. Em seguida, encaminhado para investigação de distúrbio de condução. Em primeira consulta evidenciado eletrocardiograma com ritmo sinusal, BAV 1° grau, bloqueio de ramo esquerdo, pausa sinusal e ritmo juncional de 40 bpm. Ecocardiograma com FE 62% e contratilidade preservada. Indicado implante de marcapasso (MP) atrioventricular. Atualmente, com necessidade de 100% de pacing ventricular sem escape ventricular e fibrilação atrial paroxística em anticoagulação. Desde então, segue em acompanhamento ambulatorial. A SKS é uma doença genética relacionada a mutação do DNA mitocondrial. As mitocôndrias são responsáveis pela produção de ATP e fornecimento de energia para diversas funções metabólicas. Por isso, tecidos com alto gasto energético, são os mais acometidos em tais anomalias genéticas. As manifestações cardiológicas ocorrem em 57% dos casos. As alterações eletrocardiográficas mais comuns são bloqueio divisional anterossuperior e bloqueio de ramo direito. Tipicamente ocorre progressão para bloqueio atrioventricular avançado. Morte súbita está associada em até 20% dos casos. A Sociedade Europeia, em sua diretriz de estimulação cardíaca artificial 2021, orienta implante de MP diante do achado de prolongamento de intervalo PR e evidência de bloqueio atrioventricular de qualquer grau, bloqueio de ramo ou bloqueio fascicular. A SKS é uma doença incomum e com repercussão clínica importante. Se negligenciada, o acometimento cardíaco é potencialmente fatal. Assim, cabe ao cardiologista estar atento ao momento ideal de indicação de MP.

The use of the circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) urine cassette assay for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of Schistosoma mansoni infections in an endemic area of the Amazon region.

INTRODUCTION: Schistosomiasis is a poverty-related disease that affects people in 78 countries worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test performance using sensitive parasitological methods as a reference standard (RS) in individuals before and after treatment. METHODS: The RS was established by combining the results of 16 Kato-Katz slides and the Helmintex® method. Positivity rates of the POC-CCA test and Kato-Katz and Helmintex® methods were calculated before treatment and 30 days afterward. Furthermore, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and kappa coefficient before treatment were determined by comparing the methods. The cure rate was defined 30 days after treatment. RESULTS: Among the 217 participants, the RS detected a total of 63 (29.0%) positive individuals. The POC-CCA test identified 79 (36.4%) infections. The evaluation of POC-CCA test performance in relation to the RS revealed a sensitivity of 61.9%, specificity of 74.0%, accuracy of 70.5%, and kappa coefficient of 0.33. Out of the 53 remaining participants after treatment, a total of 45 (81.1%) showed egg negative results, and 8 (18.9%) were egg positive according to the RS. A total of 5 (9.4%) egg-positive and 37 (69.8%) egg-negative individuals were positive by the POC-CCA test. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the POC-CCA test has potential as an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection, yielding better results than 16 Kato-Katz slides from three different stool samples. However, the immunochromatographic test lacks sufficient specificity and sensitivity for verifying the cure rate after treatment.

Prática de exercícios em indivíduo com transposição de grandes artérias submetido à cirurgia de Jatene / Exercise practice in an individual with transposition of large arteries who underwent Jatene surgery

INTRODUÇÃO: Historicamente, a cardiopatia congênita traz redução da qualidade de vida da criança portadora da patologia. Com o aprimoramento das formas de correção, estes pacientes apresentam melhor sobrevida, de forma que hoje há mais adultos com cardiopatia congênita. A prática de atividade física vem sendo encorajada nesses pacientes. Relatamos um caso de um paciente portador de cardiopatia congênita cianótica corrigida nos primeiros dias de vida, atualmente praticante de atividade física. Relato de caso: Paciente masculino, 26 anos, com dextro transposição de grandes artérias (DTGA), comunicação interatrial e persistência do canal arterial. Aos 09 dias de vida, submetido a procedimento para correção da cardiopatia, por meio da cirurgia de Jatene (CJ) com manobra de Lecompte. Aos 18 anos manifestou desejo de praticar atividade física, sendo feita avaliação pré-participação. Cintilografia do Miocárdio com ausência de sinais de isquemia; Teste ergométrico (TE) com boa capacidade funcional, Extras sístoles ventriculares isoladas e raras; ecocardiograma transtorácico dentro da normalidade. Atualmente realiza atividade física resistida (musculação 80 min por dia, 6 dias por semana), sem sintomas durante a prática ou o repouso. Em exames atuais observa--se: TE em ritmo atrial multifocal, sem alterações sugestivas de isquemia, com boa capacidade aeróbica (16,2 METs e VO2 56 mL/kg. min); Ressonância miocárdica com câmaras cardíacas de dimensões preservadas, função sistólica biventricular preservada, ausência de áreas de edema, gordura ou fibrose. DISCUSSÃO e CONCLUSÃO: A DTGA corresponde a cerca de 8% de todas as cardiopatias congênitas, com alto índice de letalidade antes do surgimento de correções cirúrgicas, chegando a 90% de mortalidade no primeiro ano de vida. Inicialmente reduzia-se danos da DTGA através de correção atrial. Com o desenvolvimento da CJ (ou switch arterial) houve melhora progressiva do prognóstico e qualidade de vida, principalmente se realizada nos primeiros dias de vida. Devido a isso, muitos pacientes submetidos à CJ praticam exercícios físicos ou atividades competitivas, tornando o acompanhamento um desafio para o cardiologista, visto que não há evidências robustas sobre os impactos de tais atividades a longo prazo. Conclui-se a importância de seguimento com exames periódicos de tais pacientes, com coleta de dados e a necessidade de mais estudos para este cenário.

The use of the circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) urine cassette assay for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of Schistosoma mansoni infections in an endemic area of the Amazon region

Abstract INTRODUCTION Schistosomiasis is a poverty-related disease that affects people in 78 countries worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test performance using sensitive parasitological methods as a reference standard (RS) in individuals before and after treatment. METHODS The RS was established by combining the results of 16 Kato-Katz slides and the Helmintex® method. Positivity rates of the POC-CCA test and Kato-Katz and Helmintex® methods were calculated before treatment and 30 days afterward. Furthermore, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and kappa coefficient before treatment were determined by comparing the methods. The cure rate was defined 30 days after treatment. RESULTS Among the 217 participants, the RS detected a total of 63 (29.0%) positive individuals. The POC-CCA test identified 79 (36.4%) infections. The evaluation of POC-CCA test performance in relation to the RS revealed a sensitivity of 61.9%, specificity of 74.0%, accuracy of 70.5%, and kappa coefficient of 0.33. Out of the 53 remaining participants after treatment, a total of 45 (81.1%) showed egg negative results, and 8 (18.9%) were egg positive according to the RS. A total of 5 (9.4%) egg-positive and 37 (69.8%) egg-negative individuals were positive by the POC-CCA test. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that the POC-CCA test has potential as an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection, yielding better results than 16 Kato-Katz slides from three different stool samples. However, the immunochromatographic test lacks sufficient specificity and sensitivity for verifying the cure rate after treatment.

Concordance of the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen test for the diagnosis of intestinal schistosomiasis in a low endemicity area.

BACKGROUND: The Kato-Katz technique is recommended worldwide for the diagnosis of intestinal schistosomiasis, detecting parasite eggs in feces of infected people. However, new tests have been developed in order to facilitate diagnosis, e.g. by detection of specific antigens secreted by schistosomes, such as the circulating cathodic antigen (CCA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen test (POC-CCA) compared to the Kato-Katz technique in a low prevalence area in the Amazon Region, located in the municipality of Primavera, State of Pará, Brazil. METHODS: Positivity rates of the POC-CCA test and the Kato-Katz technique were calculated. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and kappa coefficient were determined by comparing both methods. The reference standard was established using 16 Kato-Katz slides, 12 of the first fecal sample, two of the second and two of the third one. The study also included the concordance between POC-CCA results and different numbers and combinations of Kato-Katz slides. RESULTS: The prevalence of schistosomiasis according to the reference standard or POC-CCA test reached a rate of 9.4% or 23.9%, respectively, among a total of 372 participants. The positivity rates by the Kato-Katz technique increased from 2.4 to 9.4%, according to the increase in the number of slides examined and fecal samples collected. A sensitivity of 55.6%, specificity 76.9%, accuracy 76% and κ coefficient of 0.06 was observed by comparing one slide of the first sample and POC-CCA. Comparing 6 slides from three different samples, two slides of each, with POC-CCA resulted in a sensitivity of 58.3%, specificity 78.4%, accuracy 77% and κ coefficient of 0.16. Finally, the comparison of 16 slides from three different samples with POC-CCA revealed a sensitivity of 65.7%, specificity 80.4%, accuracy 79%, and κ coefficient of 0.27. CONCLUSIONS: The immunochromatographic test has the potential to be an important tool to combat schistosomiasis because of its practicality and applicability but should be applied with caution in low prevalence areas and in programs that aim to eliminate this disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CAAE#21824513.9.0000.5091 . January 31st, 2014.

Revisão sistemática como ferramenta para propor uma terminologia de erros pré-analíticos em medicina laboratorial / Systematic review as a tool to propose a terminology of preanalytical errors in laboratory medicine

Os erros pré-analíticos de laboratório são reconhecidos como um risco a segurança do paciente e grande parte dos erros causam impacto sobre a qualidade dos exames. Incorporando a Tecnologia da informação e Comunicação (TIC) ao Sistema de Informação Laboratorial (LIS), propôs-se reduzir esse tipo de erro, mas isso exige um nível de interoperabilidade entre os LIS e Registros de Saúde Eletrônicos (EHR) que ainda irá ser alcançado. As terminologias destinam-se a facilitar a informação e o intercâmbio. Conteúdo: A metodologia de revisão sistemática foi adotada para a elaboração da terminologia. As pesquisas na área resultaram em um total de 1.527 manuscritos, com 37 artigos incluídos na revisão. A tipologia dos erros pré-analíticos incluiu: Total de Erros, Erros de Informação, Erros de Coleção, Erros de Manuseio, Outros Erros, Erros e subcategorias não especificados. Uma terminologia de erros pré-analíticos foi proposta com base nesses parâmetros. Resumo: O estudo realizou uma revisão sistemática sobre erros pré-analíticos para propor uma terminologia adotada para uso em LIS ou monitoramento em laboratório. Perspectivas: Este estudo contribui para a sistematização do conhecimento científico existente sobre erros pré-analíticos, a fim de melhorar a qualidade dos exames de laboratório.

Ecotourism as a source of infection with Schistosoma mansoni in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, a new pattern of schistosomiasis transmission has been described which is related to recreational activities associated with rural or ecological tourism and migratory flows and accompanying changes in social dynamics in Brazil. The objective of this report is to describe two schistosomiasis outbreaks that occurred during the practice of rural tourism in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and review this pattern of transmission within the wider context of schistosomiasis control. FINDINGS: The first outbreak was characterized by its high infection rate, showing that 59 % of the exposed eco-tourists became positive for infection with Schistosoma mansoni. In addition, all three disease transmitting species of intermediate host snails were found in the area. In the second outbreak, all members of one tourist family were infected and reported contact with water in a well-known tourist area. The malacological survey in the region revealed an infection rate with S. mansoni of 8.3 % among the collected snails. CONCLUSIONS: Infection of urban dwellers that report contact with contaminated water associated with ecotourism represents a new pattern of disease transmission and dissemination. The infection with the disease at these occasions finds its expression in outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis among internal tourists to rural areas. Therefore, epidemiological surveillance in endemic areas should be aware of this schistosomiasis transmission pattern, and a multidisciplinary approach, most of all sanitation and health education measures, is required in order increase the efficiency of control strategies.

Estudo de caso sobre o uso da modelagem multinível para a harmonização de terminologias de enfermagem / A case study on the use of multilevel modeling for the harmonization of nursing terminologies

Objetivos: Este trabalho apresenta um caso de harmonização de terminologias de enfermagem seguidapela representação de conceitos clínicos de acordo com os princípios de modelagem multinível. Materiais e métodos: O modelo Fehring de diagnóstico da diminuição do débito cardíaco baseado na terminologia da North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) foi mapeado a termos da Classificação Internacional para a Prática de Enfermagem (CIPE). Os conceitos mapeados foram modelados como arquétipos e Concept Constraint Definitions (CCDs), de acordo, respectivamente, com as especificações openEHR e MLHIM. Resultados: Apesar de o mapeamento entre as terminologiasresultar incompleto, todos os conceitos do modelo Fehring foram modelados em arquétipos e CCDs. Conclusão: Este trabalho demonstrou a capacidade da modelagem multinível de harmonizar terminologias de enfermagem que não são totalmente compatíveis.

Aims: This paper presents a case for harmonization of nursing terminologies followed by the representation of clinical concepts in accordance with the principles of multilevel modeling. Materials and Methods: The Fehring model for the diagnosis of decreased cardiac output based on the terminology of the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) was mapped to the terms of the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP). The concepts were mapped and modeled as archetypesandConcept Constraint Definitions (CCDs), in accordance, respectively, to the MLHIM and openEHR specifications. Results: Despite the incompleteness of the resulting terminology mapping, all the Fehring model concepts were modeled in archetypes and CCDs. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the ability of multilevel modeling to harmonize nursing terminologies that are not fully compatible.