Establishing an autogenous vascular access program in a Guatemalan comprehensive pediatric nephrology center.

BACKGROUND: The Guatemalan Foundation for Children with Kidney Diseases collaborated with Bridge of Life, a not-for-profit charitable organization, to establish a vascular access program. We reviewed our experience with graded surgical responsibility and structured didactic training, creating arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) for Guatemalan children. METHODS: Pediatric vascular access missions were completed from 2015 to 2023 and analyzed retrospectively. Follow-up was completed by the Guatemalan pediatric surgeons, nephrologists, and nursing staff. AVF patency and patient survival were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis with univariate and multivariable association between patient demographic variables by Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Among a total of 153 vascular access operations, there were 139 new patient procedures, forming the study group for this review. The mean age was 13.6 years, 42.6% were female, and the mean BMI was 17.3. Radial or ulnar artery-based direct AVFs were established in 100 patients (71.9%) and ten of the 25 transposition procedures. Brachial artery inflow was required in 29 direct AVFs (20.9%). Two patients underwent femoral vein transpositions. Access-related distal ischemia was not encountered. Seven of the AVF patients later required access banding for arm edema; all had previous dialysis catheters (mean = 9, range 4-12). Primary and cumulative patency rates were 84% and 86% at 12 months and 64% and 81% at 24 months, respectively. The median follow-up was 12 months. Overall patient survival was 84% and 67% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. There were no deaths related to AVF access. CONCLUSIONS: Safe and functional AVFs were established in a teaching environment within a Guatemalan comprehensive pediatric nephrology center.

Dynamic evolution of kidney function in patients with STEC-hemolytic uremic syndrome followed for more than 15 years: unexpected changes.

BACKGROUND: Most studies regarding kidney outcomes in patients with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) focus on kidney status at last assessment. We aimed to describe patterns of changes in kidney function during follow-up and investigate associations between kidney function at 1st, 5th, and 10th year after onset and long-term kidney outcomes. METHODS: Data of patients with STEC-HUS followed for at least 15 years were analyzed. Kidney function patterns were constructed considering kidney status at 1st, 5th, 10th, and ≥ 15 years and defined as (1) progressive, if patients changed from complete recovery to any chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage or if CKD worsened; (2) improvement, if they shifted from any CKD stage to complete recovery or to a milder stage; and (3) stable, if remained unchanged. RESULTS: Of 152 patients included, after 1 year of follow-up, 47% had complete recovery, 22% CKD1, and 32% CKD2-5. At last assessment, 46% had complete recovery, 34% CKD1, and 19% CKD2-5. Despite percentages seeming similar, patients differed: 48% were stable, 27% improved, and 25% worsened. Further, 62% of patients with CKD2-4 in the 1st year normalized their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) thereafter. Comparison of kidney function between 1st, 5th, and 10th year to last assessment shows a stable pattern in 48, 59, and 69% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in kidney function showed a dynamic and complex behavior, with patients moving from one group to another. Consistently, kidney function neither at the 1st, 5th, or 10th year was representative of final outcome. Unexpectedly, two-thirds of patients with CKD2-4 after 1 year achieved normal eGFR later during follow-up.

The Management of Children and Adolescents with Overactive Bladder Refractory to Treatment with Parasacral Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Although parasacral TENS (pTENS) has been employed in various centers, there is a lack of studies on how children with overactive bladder (OAB) respond after failing to complete pTENS sessions. This study aimed to describe and assess treatments for OAB in children who did not respond to pTENS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective case series examined patients aged 4-17 years. Patients were given subsequent treatment options, including: behavioral therapies; oxybutynin; imipramine; a combination of oxybutynin and imipramine; parasacral percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS); or a repeat course of pTENS. Outcomes were evaluated using the Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System (DVSS) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Thirty children were included, with a median age of 7 years. Patients received one or more treatments. Of these, 70% underwent monotherapy. Among them, 57% experienced complete resolution of symptoms, 28% had partial resolution and were satisfied with the results, and 14% discontinued treatment. 30% out of the whole sample continued to experience bothersome symptoms. Complete response, according to initial subsequent, was achieved in: 54% with intensified behavioral therapies, 33% with oxybutynin, and 50% with imipramine alone. The median DVSS score decreased from 7.0 to 2.0 (p=0.025), while the median VAS score increased from 80 to 100 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Children with OAB refractory to pTENS who received structured subsequent treatments showed partial response in all cases, with complete symptom resolution in half of the patients. More intensive urotherapy, medications, or repeat pTENS in combination with oxybutinin can be effective for managing this challenging condition.

Predictors of ischemic stroke in Chagas disease: Insights into mechanisms beyond cardiomyopathy severity.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, which causes high mortality rates and significant disability. This study aims to determine the incidence and risk factors for ischemic strokes in a large cohort of Chagas cardiomyopathy patients, with a particular focus on the mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of stroke in this condition. METHODS: The study enrolled 517 patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy who were referred to our institution from March 2000 to December 2021. All patients underwent systematic cardiological and neurological assessments. The primary outcome was the occurrence of ischemic stroke during the follow-up period, classified based on the SSS-TOAST and CCS criteria. Natural cubic splines functions were applied to examine the potential nonlinear association between continuous variables and stroke risk. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 52 ± 13 years, and 299 (58 %) were men. During a mean follow-up period of 4.8 years (interquartile range-IQR 1.1 to 7.1 years), a total of 72 patients (14.8 %) had an ischemic stroke, being fatal in 10. The overall incidence rate of ischemic stroke was 3.0/100 patient-years (95 % confidence interval 2.4 to 3.8). The stroke subtypes were cardioembolic (n = 41), undetermined (n = 11), and other subtypes (n = 20). The predictors of stroke were age, left atrial volume, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), LV thrombus and prior stroke with thrombus. There was a nonlinear relationship between stroke risk, LVEF, and left atrial volume. A bimodal distribution of stroke occurrences was observed according to the severity of LV dysfunction, with a threshold for LVEF of 45 %. The final model for stroke risk prediction showed good discrimination, with a C statistic of 0.775. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary cohort of Chagas disease patients with a broad spectrum of disease severity, stroke incidence remains high despite anticoagulation. Stroke risk shows a nonlinear association with ventricular dysfunction and left atrial size, highlighting a distinct bimodal pattern of stroke occurrence in Chagas disease.

Overall survival and cause-specific mortality in a hospital-based cohort of retinoblastoma patients in São Paulo, Brazil.

Studies are lacking on long-term effects among retinoblastoma patients in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, we examined cause-specific mortality in a retrospective cohort of retinoblastoma patients treated at Antonio Candido de Camargo Cancer Center (ACCCC), São Paulo, Brazil from 1986 to 2003 and followed up through December 31, 2018. Vital status and cause of death were ascertained from medical records and multiple national databases. We estimated overall and cause-specific survival using the Kaplan-Meier survival method, and estimated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and absolute excess risk (AER) of death. This cohort study included 465 retinoblastoma patients (42% hereditary, 58% nonhereditary), with most (77%) patients diagnosed at advanced stages (IV or V). Over an 11-year average follow-up, 80 deaths occurred: 70% due to retinoblastoma, 22% due to subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) and 5% to non-cancer causes. The overall 5-year survival rate was 88% consistent across hereditary and nonhereditary patients (p = .67). Hereditary retinoblastoma patients faced an 86-fold higher risk of SMN-related death compared to the general population (N = 16, SMR = 86.1, 95% CI 52.7-140.5), corresponding to 42.4 excess deaths per 10,000 person-years. This risk remained consistent for those treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy (N = 10, SMR = 90.3, 95% CI 48.6-167.8) and chemotherapy alone (N = 6, SMR = 80.0, 95% CI 35.9-177.9). Nonhereditary patients had only two SMN-related deaths (SMR = 7.2, 95% CI 1.8-28.7). There was no excess risk of non-cancer-related deaths in either retinoblastoma form. Findings from this cohort with a high proportion of advanced-stage patients and extensive chemotherapy use may help guide policy and healthcare planning, emphasizing the need to enhance early diagnosis and treatment access in less developed countries.

Epidemiological characterization of clubfoot: a population-based study of a surveillance program in Colombia.

Clubfoot is a common musculoskeletal congenital abnormality, with a prevalence of 5-20 cases per 10 000 live births in low to middle-income countries. If left untreated, clubfoot causes severe consequences for the child: gait disturbances, reduced quality of life, and limited work opportunities. Our objective was to characterize clubfoot and determine its prevalence and associated risk factors in Bogotá and Cali, Colombia, from 2002 to 2020. A retrospective case-control study design was employed, analyzing data from birth defect reports provided by the Program for the Prevention and Follow-up of Congenital Defects and Orphan Diseases surveillance system. Cases included live births or stillbirths with clubfoot, while controls consisted of infants without congenital abnormalities, matched in terms of birth date and hospital. Prevalence was calculated considering a 95% confidence interval using Poisson distribution, and risk factors were assessed through adjusted odds ratios obtained by logistic regression model. Of 558 255 births, 861 cases of clubfoot were identified, 48.20% were postural clubfoot, and 15 cases were syndromic clubfoot. In Bogota, prevalence rate was 15.1 per 10 000 live births, whereas in Cali it was 17.29 per 10 000 live births. Family history of clubfoot within first-degree relatives was identified as a risk factor for clubfoot. Investigating risk factors for clubfoot holds significant importance in terms of preventing and reducing morbidity within this population. Helping to drive government and healthcare initiatives aimed at providing timely and effective treatment.

HIV prevalence among cervical (pre)cancer diagnoses in Suriname: a retrospective population study / Prevalencia del VIH en los casos diagnosticados de lesiones cervicouterinas (pre)cancerosas en Suriname: estudio poblacional retrospectivo / Prevalência de HIV em pacientes diagnosticadas com lesões cervicais (pré-) cancerosas no Suriname: estudo populacional retrospectivo

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To determine the prevalence of HIV in women with (pre)cancerous cervical lesions in Suriname and their retention in care. Methods. A retrospective population study including all women diagnosed with (pre)invasive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I to III or cervical cancer) in the only pathology department, during 2010–2020. The HIV test coverage and the HIV positivity ratio were determined through matching pathology data with the national HIV test database. The relation between retention in HIV care up to 2022 and different covariates was determined through Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests. Results. There were 2 901 (1 395 CIN I, 396 CIN II, 444 CIN III, and 666 cervical cancer) diagnoses of (pre) invasive cervical neoplasia. An overall HIV test coverage of 57.5% and a positivity ratio of 5.8% were found, with no difference among the (pre)cancer stages. The undiagnosed prevalence (women not previously known HIV-positive at cervical diagnosis) was 1.6% and 2.9% among precancer and cancer diagnoses, respectively. The median time in care of women with cervical cancer was 8 months for those not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 4 years for those starting ART. Among women with precancer stages this was 5 and 10 years, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions. HIV testing, followed by treatment initiation when found HIV-positive, should be prioritized in women diagnosed with cervical neoplasia. This will enhance the individual clinical outcomes and facilitate the control of the HIV epidemic in Suriname.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia del VIH en mujeres con lesiones cervicouterinas (pre)cancerosas en Suriname y su permanencia en la atención de salud. Métodos. Estudio poblacional retrospectivo en el que se incluyó a todas las mujeres a las que se diagnosticó una neoplasia intraepitelial cervicouterina (pre)invasiva (NIC I a III o cáncer cervicouterino) en el único departamento de anatomía patológica, entre el 2010 y el 2020. La cobertura de las pruebas del VIH y la tasa de positividad para el VIH se determinaron mediante el cotejo de los datos anatomopatológicos con la base de datos nacional de pruebas del VIH. La relación entre la permanencia en los servicios de atención a la infección por el VIH hasta el 2022 y las distintas covariables se determinó mediante un análisis de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier y pruebas de orden logarítmico. Resultados. Hubo 2901 diagnósticos de neoplasia cervicouterina (pre)invasiva (1395 de NIC I, 396 de NIC II, 444 de NIC III y 666 de cáncer cervicouterino). Se observó una cobertura general de las pruebas del VIH del 57,5% y una tasa de positividad del 5,8%, sin diferencias entre los estadios de las lesiones precancerosas. La prevalencia no diagnosticada (mujeres sin positividad conocida previa para el VIH en el momento del diagnóstico del cáncer cervicouterino) fue del 1,6% y el 2,9% en las diagnosticadas de lesiones precancerosas y cáncer, respectivamente. La mediana del tiempo de permanencia en la atención de salud de las mujeres con cáncer cervicouterino fue de 8 meses en las que no recibían tratamiento antirretroviral y de 4 años en las que lo iniciaban. En el caso de las mujeres en estadio precancerosos fue de 5 y 10 años, respectivamente (p <0,05). Conclusiones. La realización de las pruebas del VIH, seguidas de un inicio del tratamiento al detectar un resultado positivo para el VIH, debe ser una prioridad en el caso de las mujeres a las que se diagnostica una neoplasia cervicouterina. Esto permitirá mejorar los resultados clínicos individuales y contribuirá al control de la epidemia de la infección por el VIH en Suriname.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Determinar a prevalência de infecção pelo HIV em mulheres com lesões cervicais (pré-)cancerosas no Suriname e a retenção dessas pacientes no cuidado. Métodos. Estudo populacional retrospectivo incluindo todas as mulheres diagnosticadas com neoplasia intraepitelial cervical (pré-)invasiva (NIC I a III ou câncer do colo do útero) em um único serviço de patologia no período de 2010 a 2020. Os dados de patologia foram cruzados com a base nacional de dados de testes de HIV para determinar a cobertura de testagem do HIV e o índice de positividade. A relação entre a retenção no cuidado do HIV até 2022 e diferentes covariáveis foi determinada por meio da análise de sobrevivência de Kaplan-Meier e testes de log-rank. Resultados. Houve 2901 diagnósticos de neoplasia cervical (pré-)invasiva (1395 NIC I, 396 NIC II, 444 NIC III e 666 casos de câncer do colo do útero). A cobertura geral do teste de HIV foi de 57,5%, com um índice de positividade de 5,8%, e não houve diferença entre os estágios da lesão cervical. A prevalência não diagnosticada (mulheres que não sabiam ser soropositivas para o HIV no momento do diagnóstico da lesão cervical) foi de 1,6% e 2,9% para os diagnósticos de lesões pré-cancerosas e cancerosas, respectivamente. O tempo mediano de tratamento de mulheres com câncer do colo do útero foi de 8 meses entre as que não receberam terapia antirretroviral (TARV) e de 4 anos entre as que iniciaram TARV. Entre as mulheres com lesões précancerosas, esses períodos foram de 5 e 10 anos, respectivamente (p < 0,05). Conclusões. A testagem de HIV, seguida de início do tratamento em caso de resultado positivo, deve ser priorizada em mulheres diagnosticadas com neoplasia cervical. Isso melhorará os resultados clínicos individuais e facilitará o controle da epidemia de HIV no Suriname.

Bibliometric Analysis of Botulinum Toxin and Bruxism: Impact, Visualization, and Collaborative Networks.

AIM: To analyze the scientific production related to the use of botulinum toxin (BTX-A) in the management of bruxism and evaluate its scope, impact, networks, and new research trends. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive and retrospective study of publications indexed in Scopus from January 2018 to May 2024 was conducted. The bibliometric indicators evaluated were a number of publications, citations, h-index, SCImago Journal Rank 2022, CiteScore 2022, Lotka's Law, Bradford's Law, and keyword co-occurrence analysis. Data were processed using SciVal and VOSviewer. RESULTS: We obtained 98 publications, including original articles, reviews, and other types of documents. Among the most productive authors, most were from South Korea and Turkey. Wonkwang University (South Korea) had the highest number of publications, while Baylor College of Medicine (USA) had the highest impact with 66.5 citations per publication. Toxins had the highest number of publications and the best Cite Score in 2022. Six main topics related to BTX-A in bruxism were identified, highlighting "reviews," "electromyography" and "controlled clinical trials". CONCLUSIONS: The use of BTX-A for the treatment of bruxism has generated increasing interest and scientific output in recent years, especially in South Korea and Brazil. However, there is a disparity in the productivity of authors, with most authors presenting only one publication. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the need for further research and collaborations to optimize clinical practice and better understand the efficacy and management of BTX-A for treating bruxism. How to cite this article: Villanueva-García M, Ruck-Sanchez N, Tinedo-López PL, et al. Bibliometric Analysis of Botulinum Toxin and Bruxism: Impact, Visualization, and Collaborative Networks. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(6):599-604.

Bedaquiline versus injectable containing regimens for rifampicin-resistant and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in a reference center in Brazil - a real-world evidence study using a retrospective design.

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance (DR) is one of the several challenges to global tuberculosis (TB) control. The implementation of bedaquiline (BED) for DR-TB after more than 40 years was expected to improve treatment outcomes as well as microbiologic conversion and adverse events (AE) occurrence. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study based on secondary data of patients with rifampicin-resistant (RR) or multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB reported to the Outpatient Clinic of Mycobacterial Diseases of the Thorax Diseases Institute - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, between 2016 and 2023. We aimed to evaluate microbiologic conversion, AE and TB treatment outcomes and compare them according to the treatment regimen used for RR/MDR-TB patients under routine conditions [Injectable Containing Regimens (ICR) versus BED Containing Regimens (BCR)]. Logistic regression and survival analysis using Cox regression and Kaplan Meier curve were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 463 DR-TB patients notified during the study period, 297 (64.1%) were included for analysis (ICR = 197 and BCR = 100). Overall AEs were more frequent (83.7 vs. 16.3%, p < 0.001) and occurred earlier in the ICR group (15 days vs. 65 days, p = 0.003). There were no cases of cardiotoxicity requiring interruption of BED treatment. None of the regimens of treatment tested were associated with smear or culture conversion on Cox regression analysis (p = 0.60 and 0.88, respectively). BED-containing regimens were also associated with favorable outcomes in multivariable logistic regression [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.63, 95% confidence interval (CI)1.36-5.07, p = 0.004], as higher years of schooling, primary drug resistance, and no previous TB treatment. In the survival analysis, BCR was inversely associated with the occurrence of AE during treatment follow-up (aHR 0.24, 95% CI 0.14-0.41, p < 0.001). In addition, TB treatment regimens with BED were also associated with favorable outcomes (aHR 2.41, 95% CI 1.62-3.57, p < 0.001), along with no illicit drug use and primary drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a fully oral treatment for RR/MDR-TB in a reference center in Brazil was safe and associated with favorable outcomes under routine conditions, despite social, demographic, and behavioral factors that may influence TB treatment completion.

Morbidity associated with emergency surgery versus scheduled surgery in patients with placenta accreta spectrum.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of surgical management for placenta accreta spectrum in a Latin American reference hospital specializing in this condition. The evaluation involves a comparison between surgeries performed on an emergent and scheduled basis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with placenta accreta spectrum who underwent surgery between January 2011 and November 2021 at a hospital in Colombia, using data from the institutional PAS registry. The study included patients with intraoperative and/or histological confirmation of PAS, regardless of prenatal suspicion. Clinical outcomes were compared between patients who had emergent surgeries and those who had scheduled surgeries. Descriptive analysis involved summary measures and the Shapiro-Wilk test for quantitative variables, with comparisons made using Pearson's Chi-squared test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test, applying a significance level of 5%. Results: A total of 113 patients were included, 84 (74.3%) of them underwent scheduled surgery, and 29 (25.6%) underwent emergency surgery. The emergency surgery group required more transfusions (72.4% vs 48.8%, p=0.047). Patients with intraoperative diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (21 women, 19.5%) had a greater volume of blood loss than patients taken into surgery with known presence of placenta accreta spectrum (3500 ml, IQR 1700 - 4000 vs 1700 ml, IQR 1195-2135. p <0.001). Conclusion: Patients with placenta accreta spectrum undergoing emergency surgery require transfusions more frequently than those undergoing scheduled surgery.

Immediate prepectoral versus submuscular breast reconstruction in nipple-sparing mastectomy: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Objective: To evaluate early complications in prepectoral breast reconstruction. Methods: A retrospective cohort study including 180 consecutive cases of nipple-sparing mastectomy, comparing immediate breast reconstruction with subpectoral to prepectoral mammary implants in 2012-2022. Clinical and demographic characteristics and complications in the first three months following surgery were compared between the two techniques. Results: The prepectoral technique was used in 22 cases (12.2%) and the subpectoral in 158 (87.8%). Median age was higher in the prepectoral group (47 versus 43.8 years; p=0.038), as was body mass index (25.1 versus 23.8; p=0.002) and implant volume (447.5 versus 409 cc; p=0.001). The prepectoral technique was more associated with an inframammary fold (IMF) incision (19 cases, 86.4% versus 85, 53.8%) than with periareolar incisions (3 cases, 13.6% versus 73, 46.2%); (p=0.004). All cases in the prepectoral group underwent direct-to-implant reconstruction compared to 54 cases (34.2%) in the subpectoral group. Thirty-eight complications were recorded: 36 (22.8%) in the subpectoral group and 2 (9.1%) in the prepectoral group (p=0.24). Necrosis of the nipple-areola complex/skin flap occurred in 27 patients (17.1%) in the subpectoral group (prepectoral group: no cases; p=0.04). The groups were comparable regarding dehiscence, seroma, infection, and hematoma. Reconstruction failed in one case per group (p=0.230). In the multivariate analysis, IMF incision was associated with the prepectoral group (aOR: 34.72; 95%CI: 2.84-424.63). Conclusion: The incidence of early complications was comparable between the two techniques and compatible with previous reports. The clinical and demographic characteristics differed between the techniques. Randomized clinical trials are required.

Tubal ectopic pregnancy: comparative management between pre and Covid-19 pandemic periods.

Objective: To evaluate whether there were differences in the presentation of patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all cases of tubal EP between March 2019 and March 2020 (pre-pandemic) and between March 2020 and March 2021 (pandemic). We compared between these two groups the risk factors, clinical characteristics, laboratory data, sonographic aspects, treatment applied and complications. Results: We had 150 EP diagnoses during the two years studied, of which 135 were tubal EP. Of these, 65 were included in the pre-pandemic and 70 in the pandemic period. The prevalence of lower abdominal pain was significantly higher in the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (91.4% vs. 78.1%, p=0.031). There was no significant difference in shock index, initial beta-hCG level, hemoglobin level at diagnosis, days of menstrual delay, aspect of the adnexal mass, amount of free fluid on ultrasound, and intact or ruptured presentation between the groups. Expectant management was significantly higher during the pandemic period (40.0% vs. 18.5%, p=0.008), surgical management was lower during the pandemic period (47.1% vs. 67.7%, p=0.023), and number of days hospitalized was lower in the pandemic period (1.3 vs. 2.0 days, p=0.003). Conclusion: We did not observe a significant difference in patient history, laboratory and ultrasound characteristics. Abdominal pain was more common during the pandemic period. Regarding treatment, we observed a significant increase in expectant and a decrease in surgical cases during the pandemic period.

The top hat procedure does not impact the management of women treated by LEEP in cervical cancer screening.

Objective: To describe Top-hat results and their association with margin status and disease relapse in a referral facility in Brazil. Methods: A retrospective study of 440 women submitted to LEEP to treat HSIL, in which 80 cases were complemented immediately by the top hat procedure (Top-hat Group - TH). TH Group was compared to women not submitted to Top-hat (NTH). The sample by convenience included all women that underwent LEEP from January 2017 to July 2020. The main outcome was the histological result. Other variables were margins, age, transformation zone (TZ), depth, and relapse. The analysis used the Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: The TH Group was predominantly 40 and older (NTH 23.1% vs. TH 65.0%, p<0.001). No difference was found in having CIN2/CIN3 as the final diagnosis (NTH 17.0% vs. TH 21.3%, p=0.362), or in the prevalence of relapse (NTH 12.0% vs. TH 9.0%, p=0.482). Of the 80 patients submitted to top hat, the histological result was CIN2/CIN3 in eight. A negative top hat result was related to a negative endocervical margin of 83.3%. A CIN2/CIN3 Top-hat result was related to CIN2/CIN3 margin in 62.5% (p=0.009). The chance of obtaining a top hat negative result was 22.4 times higher (2.4-211.0) when the endocervical margin was negative and 14.5 times higher (1.5-140.7) when the ectocervical margin was negative. Conclusion: The top hat procedure did not alter the final diagnosis of LEEP. No impact on relapse was observed. The procedure should be avoided in women of reproductive age.

Coinfections and In-Hospital Mortality in a Group of Patients With HIV/AIDS: A Longitudinal Study.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global public health problem. Coinfections in HIV patients are frequent complications that increase their mortality. The aim of this study was to assess coinfections and in-hospital mortality in a group of patients infected with HIV in Colombia. A retrospective longitudinal study was carried out. Patients treated in 4 highly complex clinics in Colombia between 2015 and 2023 were included. The cases were identified from International Classification of Diseases codes related to HIV. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory and pharmacological variables were collected. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were performed. Of the 249 patients identified, 79.1% were men, and the median age was 38.0 years. Approximately 81.1% had a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Coinfections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (24.1%) and Treponema pallidum (20.5%) were the most frequent. A total of 20.5% of the patients had sepsis, 12.4% had septic shock, and the fatality rate was 15.7%. Antibiotics and antifungals were used in 88.8% and 53.8%, respectively, of the patients. Patients with a diagnosis of HIV before admission, those infected with M. tuberculosis, and those who presented with sepsis were more likely to die, whereas patients who received antiretroviral agent treatment before admission presented a lower risk. In this study, most HIV patients were in an advanced stage of the disease. Coinfection with M. tuberculosis was common and was associated with an increased risk of death. Previous HIV diagnosis and sepsis also increased the risk. Approximately half of the patients with a previous HIV diagnosis were receiving antiretroviral therapy and had a better prognosis.

Epidemiology of acute childhood poisoning in pediatric emergencies in Western Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: The increase in the production of substances to enhance the quality of life, the biodiversity of the different ecosystems in Mexico, and the unique characteristics of pediatric patients, contribute to intoxications within this population. METHOD: Analytical retrospective study of admissions to pediatric emergency care due to poisoning in < 16-year-old (2016 to 2020). Included variables were age, gender, type of toxic substance, exposure characteristics, and the season of the year. Frequencies, percentages, range, average and standard deviation were obteined. In the bivariate análisis, the Chi square test was used. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Over 5 years, there were 459 cases, with a prevalence of 3.16%. No gender predominance was observed. The most common was caused by venomous animals (28.5%), followed by medication ingestion (27.6%). Only 5% of cases were suicide attempts, the rest were accidental (95%). Children up to 5 years old were more commonly by medication ingestion, hydrocarbons, or household products (p = 0.03, p = 0.0001), while the causes in older children were contact with venomous animals and ingestion of stimulants drugs (alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine) (p = 0.0001, p = 0.006). Intoxication with quaternary ammonium herbicides was lethal in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Children under the age of 5 are more susceptible to intoxication from common household products. Older kids tend to be more frequently a combination of stimulants drugs.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El aumento en la producción de sustancias para mejorar la calidad de vida, la biodiversidad de los diferentes ecosistemas en México, así como las características propias de los pacientes pediátricos, contribuyen a la intoxicación dentro de esta población. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo analítico de los ingresos por envenenamiento en niños menores de 16 años en urgencias pediátricas (2016 a 2020). Se analizaron la edad, el sexo, el tipo de xenobiótico, las características de exposición y la estación del año. Se obtuvieron frecuencias, porcentajes, rango, promedio y desviación estándar. En el análisis bivariado se utilizó la prueba chi al cuadrado, considerando estadísticamente significativo un valor p < 0.05. RESULTADOS: En el periodo de 5 años se atendieron 459 casos, con una prevalencia del 3.16%. No se observó predominio de sexo. La intoxicación más frecuente fue por animales venenosos (28.5%), seguida de la ingesta de medicamentos (27.6%). El 95% de los casos fueron accidentales y el 5% por intento de suicidio. En los menores de 5 años, lo más frecuente fue la ingesta de medicamentos, hidrocarburos o productos de uso doméstico (p = 0.03, p = 0.0001), mientras que en los mayores de 6 años fue por contacto con animales venenosos e ingesta de drogas estimulantes (alcohol, anfetaminas, cannabis, cocaína) (p = 0.0001, p = 0.006). El 100% de los intoxicados por herbicida cuaternario de amonio fallecieron. CONCLUSIONES: Los menores de 5 años son más propensos a la intoxicación con productos que se utilizan en sus propios domicilios. En los mayores de 6 años es más frecuente la combinación de drogas estimulantes.

Versatility in the use of cadaveric skin grafts for wound management.

BACKGROUND: Cadaveric skin grafts were initially used for the management of acute burn wounds. The biological coverage of the wound improves the quality of the wound bed, which prepares it to receive an autologous skin graft. The benefits of cadaveric skin graft in burn wounds have led to its use in the management of acute and chronic wounds of diverse etiologies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of cadaveric skin graft and subsequent autologous split-thickness skin graft (STSG) in the management of wounds of diverse etiologies at a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with wounds of different etiologies managed with cadaveric skin grafts followed by a second procedure in which autologous STSG was performed from May 2017 through May 2022 in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of German Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients with wounds of different etiologies were included. The mean affected body surface area (BSA) was 1.87%. The mean engraftment percentage of the cadaveric skin graft was 96.6%. The mean engraftment percentage of the STSG was 90.6%. All patients demonstrated improvement in local edema and inflammation, reduced secretions, and reduced pain after treatment. Two patients (8%) had complications, with 1 case of delayed healing of the donor site and 1 case of hypertrophic scarring. CONCLUSIONS: Cadaveric skin graft with subsequent STSG is a simple, safe, and effective alternative for the management of complex wounds of diverse etiologies. This technique is particularly useful in patients with multiple comorbidities who are at risk of recurrence and of developing multiple wounds during their lifetime.

Gram-Negative Bacilli Blood Stream Infection in Patients with Severe Burns: Microbiological and Clinical Evidence from a 9-Year Cohort.

Bloodstream infection is one of the most important and increasing complications in patients with severe burns. Most of the species affecting this population are Gram-negative bacilli that exhibit antimicrobial resistance. We conducted this study to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and resistance mechanisms of these bacterial infections and their clinical associations on morbidity and mortality. We analyzed a retrospective cohort of burn patients. All patients included in this study had monobacterial blood stream infections during their hospital stay. We performed phenotypic and genotypic tests to determine the antimicrobial resistance mechanism and profile of each strain. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed between variables. We found 109 patients with monobacterial bacteremia. Pseudomonas spp. (50.7%), A. baumannii (46.4%), and Klebsiella spp. (13.8%) were the most common causative microorganisms. The Pseudomonas spp. isolates showed resistance to imipenem (81.5%), mainly by class A and class B carbapenemases. The A. baumannii isolates conferred resistance to imipenem (56.2%), mainly by class D carbapenemases. One quarter of Klebsiella spp. showed resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins. We also observed that a total body surface area greater than 40% and three or more different types of invasive procedures might be related to increased mortality. Multidrug resistance is highly present. The extent of the burned area and a high number of different types of invasive procedures had an impact in decreasing survivorship in burn patients with bacteremia.

Biofilm formation and increased mortality among cancer patients with candidemia in a Peruvian reference center.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia is an invasive mycosis with an increasing global incidence and high mortality rates in cancer patients. The production of biofilms by some strains of Candida constitutes a mechanism that limits the action of antifungal agents; however, there is limited and conflicting evidence about its role in the risk of death. This study aimed to determine whether biofilm formation is associated with mortality in cancer patients with candidemia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients treated at Peru's oncologic reference center between June 2015 and October 2017. Data were collected by monitoring patients for 30 days from the diagnosis of candidemia until the date of death or hospital discharge. Statistical analyses evaluated the association between biofilm production determined by XTT reduction and mortality, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and microbiological factors assessed by the hospital routinary activities. Survival analysis and bivariate and multivariate Cox regression were used, estimating the hazard ratio (HR) as a measure of association with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients with candidemia were included in the study. The high mortality observed on the first day of post-diagnosis follow-up (81.0%) among 21 patients who were not treated with either antifungal or antimicrobial drugs led to stratification of the analyses according to whether they received treatment. In untreated patients, there was a mortality gradient in patients infected with non-biofilm-forming strains vs. low/medium and high-level biofilm-forming strains (25.0%, 66.7% and 82.3%, respectively, p = 0.049). In treated patients, a high level of biofilm formation was associated with increased mortality (HR, 3.92; 95% p = 0.022), and this association persisted after adjusting for age, comorbidities, and hospital emergency admission (HR, 6.59; CI: 1.87-23.24, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The association between candidemia with in vitro biofilm formation and an increased risk of death consistently observed both in patients with and without treatment, provides another level of evidence for a possible causal association. The presence of comorbidities and the origin of the hospital emergency, which reflect the fragile clinical condition of the patients, and increasing age above 15 years were associated with a higher risk of death.

Postoperative surgical margin results of the phyllodes tumors from a tertiary hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Phyllodes tumors in the breast are exceptionally uncommon fibroepithelial tumors. In the literature, they are typically categorized as benign phyllodes tumor, borderline phyllodes tumor, and malignant phyllodes tumor. This study aims to assess and present the clinical and surgical outcomes of patients diagnosed with phyllodes tumor. METHODS: The outcomes of patients aged 18 years and above diagnosed with phyllodes tumor between 2006 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped as benign phyllodes tumor and borderline/malignant phyllodes tumor and compared by clinical and surgical results. RESULTS: Of all 57 patients with phyllodes tumor, 64.9% (n=37) were benign phyllodes tumor and 35.1% (n=20) were borderline/malignant phyllodes tumor [22.8% (n=13) borderline phyllodes tumor and 12.3% (n=7) malignant phyllodes tumor]. When the patients were divided into two groups as benign phyllodes tumor and borderline/malignant phyllodes tumor and compared, our cumulative (total) recurrence rate was 14.0%, with final surgical margin width between groups [(0

Time to death from cervical cancer and its predictors in hospitalized patients: a survival approach study in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is a serious public health concern, being the fourth most common cancer among women and a leading cause of cancer mortality. In Brazil, many women are diagnosed late, and in Mato Grosso, with its geographical diversity, there are specific challenges. This study analyzed hospital survival and its predictors using data from the Hospital Information System (SIH) of the Unified Health System (SUS) in Mato Grosso from 2011 to 2023. METHODS: Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier models were applied to determine survival time and identify mortality predictors. The adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to measure the association between the factors analyzed. RESULTS: The hospital mortality rate was 9.88%. The median duration of hospitalization was 33 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 12-36), with a median survival of 43.7%. Patients were followed up for up to 70 days. In the multivariable Cox model, after adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of death during hospitalization was higher in patients aged 40-59 years (AHR = 1.39, p = 0.027) and 60-74 years (AHR = 1.54, p = 0.007), in the absence of surgical procedures (AHR = 4.48, p < 0.001), in patients with medium service complexity (AHR = 2.40, p = 0.037), and in the use of ICU (AHR = 4.97, p < 0.001). On the other hand, patients with hospital expenses above the median (152.971 USD) showed a reduced risk of death (AHR = 0.21, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights that hospitalized CC patients have reduced survival, underscoring the need for interventions to improve care, including strategies for early diagnosis and expanded access to adequately resourced health services.