Liver immunopathogenesis in fatal cases of dengue in children: detection of viral antigen, cytokine profile and inflammatory mediators.

Introduction: Dengue virus (DENV), the etiologic agent of dengue fever illness, represents a global public health concern, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas across the globe. It is well known that this acute viral disease can progress to severe hemorrhagic stages in some individuals, however, the immunopathogenic basis of the development of more severe forms by these patients is yet to be fully understood. Objective: In this context, we investigated and characterized the histopathological features as well as the cytokine profile and cell subpopulations present in liver tissues from three fatal cases of DENV in children. Methods: Hematoxylin and Eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff and Picro Sirius Red staining were utilized for the histopathological analysis. Immunohistochemistry assay was performed to characterize the inflammatory response and cell expression patterns. Results: Vascular dysfunctions such as hemorrhage, vascular congestion and edema associated with a mononuclear infiltrate were observedin all three cases. Liver tissues exhibited increased presence of CD68+ and TCD8+ cells as well as high expression of MMP-9, TNF-a, RANTES, VEGFR-2 mediators. Viral replication was confirmed by the detection of NS3 protein. Conclusion: Taken together, these results evidenced key factors that may be involved in the development of severe alterations in liver tissues of children in response to DENV infection.

Cytokines and inflammatory mediators: Markers involved in interstitial damage to the pancreas in two dengue fever cases associated with acute pancreatitis.

Dengue viral (DENV) infections can lead to acute pancreatitis and associated tissue damage. This study examined the pancreas from two fatal cases of DENV for histopathological changes as well as for the detection of cytokines, and other inflammatory mediators. Tissue sections were prepared for examination by ultrastructural and histopathological techniques. Sections from the pancreas of non-infected individuals were prepared in parallel as a control. The presence of viral replication in macrophages was detected by co-staining for the proteins NS3 and CD68 by immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect cells that expressed cytokines and inflammatory mediators to characterize the inflammatory response. Edema, acinar necrosis and fibrosis areas associated with a mononuclear infiltrate were found in infected tissues. The major site of virus replication appeared to be macrophages based on their exclusive presentation of the viral protein NS3. Pancreatic tissues from the infected individuals also displayed increased levels of high mobility group box-1, caspase-3, gelatinase B and tumor necrosis factor alpha compared to controls. The presence of virus replicating macrophages in the pancreas was associated with multiple changes in tissue structure that included elevated levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers that may differentiate acute pancreatitis due to DENV infections from other causes.

Spontaneous Abortion and Chikungunya Infection: Pathological Findings.

Intrauterine transmission of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) during early pregnancy has rarely been reported, although vertical transmission has been observed in newborns. Here, we report four cases of spontaneous abortion in women who became infected with CHIKV between the 11th and 17th weeks of pregnancy. Laboratorial confirmation of the infection was conducted by RT-PCR on a urine sample for one case, and the other three were by detection of IgM anti-CHIKV antibodies. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and an electron microscopy assay allowed us to find histopathological, such as inflammatory infiltrate in the decidua and chorionic villi, as well as areas of calcification, edema and the deposition of fibrinoid material, and ultrastructural changes, such as mitochondria with fewer cristae and ruptured membranes, endoplasmic reticulum with dilated cisterns, dispersed chromatin in the nuclei and the presence of an apoptotic body in case 1. In addition, by immunohistochemistry (IHC), we found a positivity for the anti-CHIKV antibody in cells of the endometrial glands, decidual cells, syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblasts, Hofbauer cells and decidual macrophages. Electron microscopy also helped in identifying virus-like particles in the aborted material with a diameter of 40-50 nm, which was consistent with the size of CHIKV particles in the literature. Our findings in this study suggest early maternal fetal transmission, adding more evidence on the role of CHIKV in fetal death.

Antiretroviral therapy-induced paradoxical worsening of previously healed Mycobacterium haemophilum cutaneous lesions in advanced HIV infection.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a nontuberculous mycobacterium that causes localized or disseminated disease, mainly in immunocompromised hosts. We report the case of a 35-year-old HIV-infected woman who presented with several enlarging cutaneous lesions over the arms and legs. Histopathological examination revealed the diagnosis of a cutaneous mycobacterial disease. Mycobacterial analyses unveiled M. haemophilum infection. Six months after completion of a successful antimycobacterial treatment, she developed an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). This paradoxical relapse presented as tenderness, redness and swelling at the precise sites of the healed lesions and took place in the setting of significant recovery of the CD4 cell count (from 05 to 318 cells/mm 3 ). Microbiological analyses of these worsening lesions were negative, and they spontaneously remitted without the initiation of a novel antimycobacterial treatment cycle. M. haemophilum infection should always be considered as a cause of skin lesions in immunocompromised subjects. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of IRIS as a complication of successful antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients with M. haemophilum infection.

Renal Injury in DENV-4 Fatal Cases: Viremia, Immune Response and Cytokine Profile.

Dengue virus (DENV) infections may result in asymptomatic cases or evolve into a severe disease, which involves multiple organ failure. Renal involvement in dengue can be potentially related to an increased mortality. Aiming to better understand the role of DENV in renal injury observed in human fatal cases, post-mortem investigations were performed in four DENV-4 renal autopsies during dengue epidemics in Brazil. Tissues were submitted to histopathology, immunohistochemistry, viral quantification, and characterization of cytokines and inflammatory mediators. Probably due the high viral load, several lesions were observed in the renal tissue, such as diffuse mononuclear infiltration around the glomerulus in the cortical region and in the medullary vessels, hyalinosis arteriolar, lymphocytic infiltrate, increased capsular fibrosis, proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) damage, edema, PCT debris formation, and thickening of the basal vessel membrane. These changes were associated with DENV-4 infection, as confirmed by the presence of DENV-specific NS3 protein, indicative of viral replication. The exacerbated presence of mononuclear cells at several renal tissue sites culminated in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, it can be suggested that the renal tissue injury observed here may have been due to the combination of both high viral load and exacerbated host immune response.

Lung in dengue: computed tomography findings.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. Dengue virus infection may be asymptomatic or lead to undifferentiated fever, dengue fever with or without warning signs, or severe dengue. Lower respiratory symptoms are unusual and lung-imaging data in patients with dengue are scarce. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To evaluate lung changes associated with dengue infection, we retrospectively analyzed 2,020 confirmed cases of dengue. Twenty-nine of these patients (11 females and 18 males aged 16-90 years) underwent chest computed tomography (CT), which yielded abnormal findings in 17 patients: 16 patients had pleural effusion (the sole finding in six patients) and 11 patients had pulmonary abnormalities. Lung parenchyma involvement ranged from subtle to moderate unilateral and bilateral abnormalities. The most common finding was ground-glass opacity in eight patients, followed by consolidation in six patients. Less common findings were airspace nodules (two patients), interlobular septal thickening (two patients), and peribronchovascular interstitial thickening (one patient). Lung histopathological findings in four fatal cases showed thickening of the alveolar septa, hemorrhage, and interstitial edema. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In this largest series involving the use of chest CT to evaluate lung involvement in patients with dengue, CT findings of lower respiratory tract involvement were uncommon. When abnormalities were present, pleural effusion was the most frequent finding and lung involvement was often mild or moderate and bilateral. Extensive lung abnormalities are infrequent even in severe disease and when present should lead physicians to consider other diagnostic possibilities.

O legado dos exames post-mortem para o estudo da relação entre forma clínica e substrato patológico na esclerose múltipla. Uma revisão sobre a anatomopatologia da doença / The legacy of post-mortem examination for the study of the relation between the clinical form and the pathological substrate in multiple sclerosis. A review on the anatomopathology of the disease

Após a dissecção de cérebro de uma paciente em 1868, Charcot definiu uma evidência histopatológica mais assertiva para a esclerose múltipla (EM): "sclerose en plaque". Entretanto, mais de um século depois, poucos estudos examinando o substrato patológico específico de fenótipos clínicos diferentes da EM são encontrados na literatura. O objetivo deste estudo é uma revisão da literatura sobre achados post-mortem (autopsia, exame histopatológico e técnicas imuno-histoquímicas) em pacientes com EM. Utilizando os termos "autopsy", "necropsy", "pathology", "post-mortem" e "multiple sclerosis", a pesquisa foi desenvolvida sobre a literatura e recursos presentes no MEDLINE no período janeiro 1990 a agosto 2012. Artigos relevantes baseados em análise macro/microscópica das lesões da EM e o uso de técnicas imuno-histoquímicas (marcadores imunológicos e neurobiológicos) foram revistos. Tratados de patologia cirúrgica e neuropatologia em suas últimas edições foram também consultados. Além dos estudos no início dos anos 2000 que identificaram padrões diferentes de desmielinização em casos de autópsia, considerando a perda de mielina, a geografia e extensão das lesões, a destruição dos oligodendrócitos e a evidência do dano imunopatológico, estudos mais detalhados e baseados em aspectos anatomopatológicos e implicações patogênicas são raros. A maioria destes poucos e específicos estudos reportam que as lesões da EM tipicamente aparecem na substância branca, mas são também abundantes na substância cinza, heterogeneidade de lesões inter-paciente e homogeneidade intra-paciente, graus diferentes para perda de mielina e estágios de atividade, foco de atividade inflamatória que origina gliose fibrilar, distrofia de oligodendrócitos e densidade axonal central diminuída. Desmielinização é um importante indicador de progressão clínica e a remielinização pode ser incompleta ou decresce com a cronicidade da doença. A importância das lesões na substância branca de aparência normal e na substância cinzenta tem sido cada vez mais reconhecida em recentes estudos com técnicas imuno-histoquímicas. Não há ainda um consenso se as diferenças entre as formas clínicas são fundamentalmente quantitativas ou qualitativas em relação ao substrato patológico e mais estudos sobre autopsias utilizando exame histopatológico e técnicas modernas de imuno-histoquímica são necessários para dirimir esta questão. Um melhor entendimento sobre a heterogeneidade das lesões da esclerose múltipla proporcionará o desenvolvimento de métodos terapêuticos mais direcionados e eficazes.

After dissection of a female brain in 1868, Charcot outlined a more assertive histopathological evidence of Multiple Sclerosis: "sclerose en plaque". However, more than a century later, very few studies examining the specific underlying pathology of a defined MS clinical phenotype are found in literature. The purpose of this study is to provide a literature review of post-mortem findings (histopathology and immunohistochemical techniques) in MS patients. The literature in MEDLINE was searched from January 1990 to August 2012 using the terms "autopsy", "necropsy", "pathology", "postmortem" and "multiple sclerosis". Relevant papers based on macroscopic/microscopic analysis of the MS lesions and the use of broad spectrum of immunological and neurobiological markers (immunohistochemistry) were reviewed. Textbooks of Surgical Pathology and Neuropathology in latest editions were also consulted.Besides the studies in the early 2000s that identified different patterns of demyelination in autopsy cases, consider the myelin impairment, the geography and extension of lesions, the oligodendrocyte destruction and the evidence of immunopathological damage, more detailed studies based on anatomopathological aspects and pathogenic implications are rare. Most of these few specific studies reported that MS lesions typically appear in the white matter, but are also abundant in grey matter, inter-patient lesions heterogeneity with intra-patient homogeneity, different degree of myelin loss and stage of activity, focus of inflammatory activity that gives way to fibrillary gliosis, oligodendrocyte dystrophy and decreased central axonal density. Demyelination is an important pathological correlate of clinical progression and remyelination could be incomplete or decreases with disease chronicity. The importance of healthy-appearing white matter damage and grey matter demyelination has been increasingly recognized in recent studies using immunohistochemical techniques. There is still no consensus on whether the differences between the clinical forms of MS are fundamentally quantitative or qualitative in relation to the pathological substrate, and more detailed studies with data on autopsies is required to resolve this issue. A better understanding of the pathogenetic heterogeneity of MS lesions will lead the development of more effective treatment methods.

A historical note on an imported case of loiasis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1964.

Loiasis is a filarial disease transmitted by the Chrysops spp. tabanid flies in West and Central Africa. It is most commonly diagnosed by the clinical manifestations of Calabar swellings (transient localized inflammatory edema) or, most dramatically, by the appearance of a migrating worm through the conjunctival tissues or the bridge of the nose. We report the case of a 35-year-old resident in the city of Rio de Janeiro who displayed a moving Loa loa in the bulbar conjunctival tissue two years after returning from a six-month trip to Uganda. Surgical removal of the worm was performed.

A historical note on an imported case of loiasis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1964 / Nota histórica sobre caso importado de loíase no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 1964

Loiasis is a filarial disease transmitted by the Chrysops spp. tabanid flies in West and Central Africa. It is most commonly diagnosed by the clinical manifestations of Calabar swellings (transient localized inflammatory edema) or, most dramatically, by the appearance of a migrating worm through the conjunctival tissues or the bridge of the nose. We report the case of a 35-year-old resident in the city of Rio de Janeiro who displayed a moving Loa loa in the bulbar conjunctival tissue two years after returning from a six-month trip to Uganda. Surgical removal of the worm was performed.

A loaíase é uma filaríase transmitida por tabanídeos (mutucas) do gênero Chrysops na África central e ocidental, comumente diagnosticada pela apresentação clínica de edema de Calabar (edema inflamatório transitório e localizado) ou, mais dramaticamente, pela migração de um verme adulto pelo tecido conjuntival ou asa do nariz. Descrevemos o caso clínico de um paciente do sexo masculino, 35 anos, residente no Rio de Janeiro, que se apresentou com um verme adulto de Loa loa migrando sobre o tecido conjuntival bulbar dois anos após retornar de uma viagem de seis meses de duração a Uganda. Procedeu-se a remoção cirúrgica do verme.

Pregnancy outcomes following rubella vaccination: a prospective study in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2001-2002.

BACKGROUND: A rubella mass vaccination campaign targeting 15-29-year-old women was performed in Brazil in 2001-2002. Rubella vaccination was contraindicated during pregnancy. A follow-up protocol was implemented for pregnant women who were vaccinated as well as their newborns. The risks of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) and congenital rubella infection (CRI) after vaccination were assessed according to the pregnant women's immune status. METHODS: This was a prospective, noncontrolled study of pregnancy outcomes in women vaccinated against rubella in the state of Rio de Janeiro, including clinical and laboratory evaluations. RESULTS: Of 2292 reported pregnant women who were vaccinated, 1636 had known outcomes: there were 1577 newborns (96.4%), 52 miscarriages (3.2%), and 7 stillbirths (0.4%). Gestational age at vaccination was ≤ 5 weeks in 75% of the susceptible, vaccinated pregnant women. Nine newborns were positive for immunoglobulin M; 4 were born to susceptible pregnant women, for a 2.0% CRI rate (95% confidence interval, .5%-4.9%); 4 were born to vaccinated pregnant women with indeterminate or unknown status; and 1 had CRS, with a wild-type virus infection. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of vaccine-related CRS cases further supports recommendations to not interrupt a pregnancy exposed to rubella vaccine virus. Monitoring pregnancy outcomes and CRI with vaccine virus can distinguish between wild-type and vaccine virus infections, especially in situations of viral circulation.

Primary spleen lymphoma associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

Lymphoproliferative disorders associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) make up a heterogeneous group of diseases, including lymphomas. It was only recently that HCV was recognised as being a potential cause for the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The authors report a case of an older woman with chronic hepatitis C who developed primary spleen lymphoma. This case report points out the pathophysiological mechanisms of this disease and the importance of considering this disease in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic HCV infection.

Hepatic damage associated with dengue-2 virus replication in liver cells of BALB/c mice.

One difficulty in studying dengue virus (DENV) is the lack of an experimental model that reproduces the human disease. In a previous work, we have shown that BALB/c mice intraperitoneally inoculated with a DENV-2 isolate presented viremia and mild focal areas of liver injuries. In this study, mice were inoculated by the intravenous route and presented extensive damage areas in the liver tissue, which were evaluated by histopathological and ultrastructural analysis. Hepatic injury was noted mainly around the central vein and portal tracts. Damages consist of hepatocyte injury, including steatosis, swelling and necrosis. Further, erythrophagocytosis, intercellular edema and vascular damages were evident, including hemorrhage, which is characteristic of the dengue-induced hepatitis in human liver. Hepatic lesions were already noted 2 days post infection (p.i.), although effects were more extensive after the seventh day p.i. An increase in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase serum levels was detected 7 and 14 days p.i., respectively, and had correlation to hepatic lesions. Alterations caused by the DENV infection were self-limiting, with a remarkable reduction of all liver damages 49 days p.i. Virus antigens were detected in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and vascular endothelium, suggesting virus replication in these cells. In situ hybridization, using a probe that anneals in the virus negative RNA strand, showed positive reaction in hepatocytes and vascular endothelium cells of infected mice, thus confirming virus replication in such cells. In general, results revealed that this mouse model reproduces some histopathological effects observed in humans and supports previous findings indicating virus replication in the hepatic tissue.

GIST: avaliações morfológica e imuno-histoquímica do prognóstico / GIST: morphological and immunohistochemical prognostic evaluation

INTRODUÇÃO: os tumores estromais gastrointestinais possuem amplo espectro biológico, variando desde lesões de comportamento benigno até aquelas de caráter maligno, capazes de ampla disseminação e frequentes metástases viscerais. Atualmente, o prognóstico está baseado num escore, denominado grau de risco. Entretanto, este sistema apresenta falhas, com tumores classificados como de riscos intermediário e baixo associados ao desenvolvimento de metástases. Desta forma, são necessários estudos que visem ao aprimoramento desse sistema de classificação, destacando-se nesse campo, nos últimos anos, o índice de proliferação celular que tem mostrado valor prognóstico na predição da agressividade tumoral. OBJETIVOS: analisar critérios morfológicos (tamanho macroscópico, topografia do tumor, índice mitótico, necrose, subtipo histológico), verificar o grau de risco e pesquisar a aplicabilidade dos marcadores imuno-histoquímicos (actina músculo-específico, proteína S-100, Ki67 e p16ink4a) como fatores prognósticos do tumor estromal gastrointestinal (GIST). RESULTADOS: a análise univariada mostrou significância com tumores maiores que 5 cm, número de mitoses maior que 5/50 CGA, presença de necrose, de grau de risco alto e índice de proliferação celular (Ki67) maior que 5 por cento com relação à redução da sobrevida global dos pacientes (p = 0,017; 0,01; 0,001; 0,016; < 0,001 respectivamente). Os outros fatores analisados (subtipo histológico, imunofenótipo e p16ink4a) não mostraram significância. CONCLUSÃO: o grau de risco, o tamanho tumoral, o índice mitótico e a presença de necrose corroboram evidências prévias da sua utilização, como fatores morfológicos prognósticos e o emprego do índice de proliferação celular (Ki67) associado ao grau de risco para melhor esclarecimento do comportamento biológico dos GIST.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have a wide biological spectrum, ranging from benign to malignant lesions, which are prone to wide spread and frequent visceral metastasis. Currently, the prognosis is based on a score system known as risk level. However, this system has some drawbacks. For instance, tumors classified as low or intermediate risk may be associated with the development of metastasis. Therefore, studies are required to improve this classification system and incorporate recent developments such as cellular proliferation index, which has shown prognostic value in the prediction of tumor aggressiveness. OBJECTIVES: To analyze morphological criteria (macroscopic size, tumor topography, mitotic index, necrosis, histological subtype), observe risk and investigate the usefulness of immunohistochemical markers (muscle-specific actin, S-100 protein, Ki67 and p16ink4a) as prognostic markers of GIST. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that a reduced global survival was significantly associated with tumor size greater than 5cm, mitotic index greater than 5/50 CGA, presence of necrosis, a high risk level, and a cellular proliferation index (Ki67) higher than 5 percent on the reduction of overall survivel of patients (p = 0.017, 0.010, 0.001, 0.016 and 0.0005, respectively). Other factors such as histological subtype, immunophenotype and p16ink4a were not significant. CONCLUSION: According to our data, risk level, tumor size, mitotic index and the presence of necrosis stood as morphological predictors of reduced survival, which underpins previous evidence of their application. The cellular proliferation marker Ki67 associated with risk level also proved to be a useful predictor of tumor aggressiveness.

Tumores do plexo lombossacral. Relato de dois casos e revisão da literatura / Lumbosacral plexus tumors. Report of two cases and literature review

Introdução: Tumores do plexo lombossacral(TPLS)são raros. Entre estes, neurofibromas e schwannomas são os mais comuns. Em geral, atingem grandes proporções, sendo, na maioria das vezes, detectados incidentalmente durnate investigações de sintomas inespecíficos, tais como dor abdominal, dor lombar e constipação. Por vezes, comprometem a coluna vertebral, provocando destruição dos corpos vertebrais e/ou alargamento dos farames intervertebrais, podendo haver invasão do canal vertebral. Objetivo: Relatar os casos de dois pacientes que apresentavam volumosas massas retroperitoneais revomidas cirurgicamente. O acesso cirúrgico foi realizado pela equipe da cirurgia geral, e a equipe de neurocirurgia procedeu a ressecção de ambos os tumores por meio de dissecção microcirúrgica no interior do músculo psoas maior. o exame histopatológico diagnosticou neurofibroma e schwannoma, não relacionados à neurofibromatose tipo 1(NF1).Conclusão: Os TPLS são lesões cujo tratamento deve ser cirúrgico, realizado por equipe multidisciplinar, utilizando técnicas de microcirurgia para obtenção de um bom resultado funcional com possibilidade de ressecção total sem déficit neurológico.

Papillary carcinoma with nodular fasciitis-like stroma--a case report in pregnancy.

We report a case of Papillary carcinoma with nodular fasciitis-like stroma that is a rare variant of Papillary carcinoma characterized by a prominent stromal cell proliferation that causes difficulties in cytologic and histologic diagnosis. The patient was a 34-year-old woman, pregnant, presented with a 1-year history of a growing mass in neck, dysphagia, and hoarseness. Physical examination revealed a firm nodular mass in thyroid gland. The fine needle aspiration biopsy specimen contained, besides diagnostic epithelial features of Papillary thyroid carcinoma, discohesive arrangement of bland spindle cells. Macroscopically, the specimen consisted of nodular tumor measuring 10 x 6 x 6 cm. Histologically the tumor was composed of small foci of neoplastic epithelial component distributed in abundant stroma. In immunohistochemistry, spindle cells in the stroma were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and the neoplastic cells showed positive staining for TTF-1 and progesterone receptor.

Epidemiologic features of HIV infection in three municipalities of inner Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

In Brazil relatively little attention is being paid to the study of the features of the spread of the AIDS epidemic towards small cities and rural areas. We report a descriptive study on the epidemiological features of HIV infection among 208 adult patients seen between July 1999 and May 2006 in the municipal HIV/AIDS Programs of three cities of inner Rio de Janeiro State: Saquarema, Santo Antonio de Pádua and Miracema. A portrait of a heterosexual epidemic emerged, with an overall male to female ratio of 1.1. More than 90% were residents of the studied cities, demonstrating a local demand for HIV-related assistance and the importance of municipal HIV/AIDS Programs. Past or current use of snorted cocaine was reported by a quarter of the patients. Older age and male gender were independent predictors of having a diagnosis of AIDS at presentation. The latter is in accordance with a more recent wave of epidemic spread towards female gender. A low frequency of male circumcision, an important determinant of heterosexual HIV transmission, was recorded. Almost 60% of the patients first presented in advanced stages of HIV infection, suggesting the existence of a large pool of undiagnosed cases in the community.

Epidemiologic features of HIV infection in three municipalities of inner Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

In Brazil relatively little attention is being paid to the study of the features of the spread of the AIDS epidemic towards small cities and rural areas. We report a descriptive study on the epidemiological features of HIV infection among 208 adult patients seen between July 1999 and May 2006 in the municipal HIV/AIDS Programs of three cities of inner Rio de Janeiro State: Saquarema, Santo Antonio de Pádua and Miracema. A portrait of a heterosexual epidemic emerged, with an overall male to female ratio of 1.1. More than 90 percent were residents of the studied cities, demonstrating a local demand for HIV-related assistance and the importance of municipal HIV/AIDS Programs. Past or current use of snorted cocaine was reported by a quarter of the patients. Older age and male gender were independent predictors of having a diagnosis of AIDS at presentation. The latter is in accordance with a more recent wave of epidemic spread towards female gender. A low frequency of male circumcision, an important determinant of heterosexual HIV transmission, was recorded. Almost 60 percent of the patients first presented in advanced stages of HIV infection, suggesting the existence of a large pool of undiagnosed cases in the community.

No Brasil, relativamente pouca atenção vem sendo dispensada ao estudo das características do avanço da epidemia de Aids em direção aos pequenos municípios e áreas rurais. Apresentamos um estudo descritivo sobre as características epidemiológicas da infecção pelo HIV entre 208 pacientes adultos atendidos entre julho de 1999 e maio de 2006 pelos Programas Municipais de HIV/Aids de três municípios do interior do Estado do Rio de Janeiro: Saquarema, Santo Antonio de Pádua, e Miracema. Os resultados delineiam uma epidemia de perfil heterossexual, com uma razão de sexos homem-mulher de 1,1. Mais de 90 por cento eram residentes das cidades estudadas, demonstrando uma demanda local por assistência relacionada ao HIV e a importância dos Programas Municipais de HIV/Aids. Um quarto dos pacientes referiu antecedentes de uso de cocaína inalada. Variáveis idade e gênero masculino mostraram-se independentemente associadas a um diagnóstico de Aids quando da apresentação. Esta última mostra-se de acordo com um mais recente avanço da epidemia em direção às mulheres. Registramos uma baixa freqüência de circuncisão masculina, um importante determinante da transmissão heterossexual do HIV. Quase 60 por cento dos pacientes se apresentaram em estágios avançados de infecção HIV, o que sugere a existência de um grande reservatório de casos não diagnosticados na comunidade.

Pseudoaneurisma traumático de ramo frontal da artéria temporal superficial: relato de caso / Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal arteri frontal branch: case report

Pseudianeurismas da artéria temporal superficial são raros. A etilogia mais frequente é a traumática e o tratamento de escolha, cirúrgico. Relata-se um caso de pseudianeurisma traumático, parcialmente trombosado, do ramo frontal da artéria temporal superficial esquerda em paciente do sexo masculino, vítima de acidente automobilístico com traumatismo craniencefálico grave, 14 dias antes do surgimento da lesão. O diagnóstico, sugerido por meio da história clínica, exame físico, ultra-sonografia e ressonância magnética, foi seguido de ressecção cirúrgica. Aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos e terapêuticos relacionados são discutidos.

HIV infection and AIDS in a small municipality in Southeast Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on the aspects of HIV infection in small Brazilian municipalities are invaluable to appropriately design control strategies, better allocate resources, and improve health care services. The objective of the study was to assess the clinical and epidemiological aspects of HIV infection in a small municipality. METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out in Miracema, a small municipality in the northwestern area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between July 1999 and December 2003. All HIV-infected adult patients followed up at the local HIV/AIDS Program were included. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics were prospectively assessed through standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 65 adult patients who attended the local HIV/AIDS Program were analyzed. Most (34) were women (male to female ratio: 0.9). An absolute predominance of patients who were born in Miracema or neighboring municipalities (94%), lived in Miracema (90.7%), were single (70.8%), attributed the acquisition of HIV infection to unprotected heterosexual intercourse (72.3%) and had a past history of snorting cocaine (27.7) was found Central nervous system disorders (including five cases of cryptococcal meningitis) and acute pulmonary pneumocystosis-like respiratory failure were major causes of morbidity. Most patients (56.9%) were at presented in advanced stages of HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The predominance of patients on advanced stages of HIV infection suggest the existence of a large pool of undiagnosed cases in the community. A major feature of the cohort was an inverted male to female ratio. Further investigations over a broader geographic area are urgently needed for better understanding the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection in small Brazilian municipalities and rural areas.

HIV infection and AIDS in a small municipality in Southeast Brazil

OBJETIVO: Estudos sobre as características da infecção pelo HIV em pequenos municípios brasileiros são de grande importância para o desenho de estratégias de intervenção, para a alocação apropriada de recursos e melhoria da assistência. O objetivo foi investigar as características clínicas e epidemiológicas da infecção pelo HIV em um pequeno município. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo descritivo em Miracema, município do noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, entre julho de 1999 e dezembro de 2003. Foram analisados todos os pacientes adultos com diagnóstico de infecção pelo HIV atendidos no Programa Municipal de HIV/Aids. Dados clínicos e epidemiológicos foram coletados prospectivamente por meio de questionário padronizado. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados no total 65 pacientes adultos que receberam atendimento no Programa Municipal de HIV/Aids. A maioria (34) eram mulheres (razão de sexos homem-mulher de 0,9). Encontrou-se preponderância absoluta de pacientes que nasceram em Miracema ou municípios vizinhos (94 por cento), moravam em Miracema (90,7 por cento), eram solteiros (70,8 por cento), atribuíam a aquisição da infecção ao contato heterossexual desprotegido (72,3 por cento) e tinham antecedentes de uso de cocaína inalada (27,7 por cento). Desordens do sistema nervoso central (incluindo cinco casos de neurocriptococose) e insuficiência respiratória aguda semelhante à pneumocistose pulmonar foram as principais causas de morbidade. A maioria dos pacientes (56,9 por cento) iniciou acompanhamento em estágios avançados de infecção pelo HIV. CONCLUSÕES: A preponderância de pacientes em estágios avançados de infecção pelo HIV sugere a existência de um grande reservatório de casos não diagnosticados na comunidade. Uma característica marcante da casuística foi a inversão da razão de sexos homem-mulher. Investigações adicionais cobrindo áreas geográficas maiores são urgentemente necessárias para o melhor entendimento do espectro clínico e epidemiológico da infecção pelo HIV em pequenos municípios brasileiros e áreas rurais.