Human papillomaviruses in hand squamous cell carcinomas from Chilean patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 20% of all skin cancers and its incidence continues to increase globally. It represents 75% of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) mortality. Risk factors include ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, advanced age, chemical exposure, fair skin types, and immunosuppression. While most human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are associated with the development of warts, a subgroup is potentially implicated in the development of cutaneous SCC. The prevalence of alpha, beta, and gamma-HPV in Chilean patients with hand SCCs has not been previously addressed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of HPV and genotyping in hand SCC from Chilean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. Alpha (α), beta (ß) and gamma (γ)-HPV detection was performed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 52 patients diagnosed with hand SCC from Santiago, Chile. HPV genotyping was carried out via direct amplicon sequencing by Sanger method. RESULTS: The most frequent carcinoma site was the dorsum of the hands (52.5%). α-HPV was not detected in these specimens, whereas ß-HPV and γ-HPV were detected in 25% of the analyzed samples. The most frequent genotypes found were ß-HPV 100 (38%) and γ-HPV 178 (15%). Additionally, γ-HPV 101, 162, HPV-mSK_016, HPV-mSK_083, HPV-mSK_213 and HPV-mSK249nr genotypes were detected, none of which had been previously described in cutaneous SCC. CONCLUSION: ß-HPV and γ-HPV are detectable in 25% of hand SCCs from Chilean patients. It is important to conduct prospective studies to better elucidate the role of these viruses in the development of this disease.

Conocimiento y conductas de protección solar de pescadores en Chile / Knowledge and sun protection behaviors of fishermen in Chile

INTRODUCCIÓN: La sobreexposición a la radiación ultravioleta (RUV) es un factor de riesgo importante para el desarrollo de cáncer de piel (CP). Aquellos trabajadores que realizan labores al aire libre, como los pescadores, son un grupo de riesgo, por lo que es importante saber si tienen los conocimientos y realizan las conductas que les permitan protegerse de la RUV. OBJETIVO: Evaluar en un grupo de pescadores el conocimiento respecto a los riesgos de la exposición solar y sus conductas respecto a medidas de protección solar. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Los datos fueron obtenidos por encuestas a 133 pescadores. Se obtuvieron antecedentes sociodemográficos y se aplicó un cuestionario de 11 preguntas para evaluar conocimiento sobre riesgos de la RUV y conductas de fotoprotección. RESULTADOS: La cohorte incluyó a 133 pescadores, todos fueron hombres con edad promedio de 48 +/- 11,2 años. Un 86% de los pescadores conocía la relación entre exposición solar/CP. En cuanto al uso de filtro solar (FS), un 54,8% de los trabajadores reportó nunca haberlo utilizado y un 41% lo hacía solo una vez al día. Los pescadores con escolaridad incompleta presentan 2,6 veces menor probabilidad de utilizar FS (OR 2.6; p<0.05). Además, aquellos con conocimiento de la relación RUV y fotoenvejecimiento, presentaban 3,75 veces más probabilidad de utilizar FS (OR 3.75) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIÓN: Este primer estudio sobre protección solar en pescadores muestra que la mayoría están en conocimiento de los riesgos a la salud. Sin embargo, no utilizan las medidas de protección recomendadas y aquellos que las utilizan, no lo hacen de la manera adecuada.

INTRODUCTION: Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the main risk factor for the development of skin cancer (SC). Outdoor workers, such as fishermen are a risk group. Therefore, it is important to study if they have the knowledge towards sun exposure and also to know their solar protection behaviors. OBJETIVE: To evaluate in a group of fishermen if they have the knowledge about the risks of solar exposure and their behavior regarding sun protection measures. MATERIALS y METHODS: Data was obtained from a survey applied to 133 fishermen. Collected information included sociodemographic characteristics and 11 questions about knowledge and their sun protection measures. RESULTS: The cohort included 133 fishermen, all were male with an age average of 48 +/- 11,2 years. 86% knew about the relation between solar exposure and skin cancer. When asked about sunscreen use, 54.8% declared they never used it and 41,0% did only once a day. The fishermen who had incomplete secondary school studies were less likely to use sunscreen (OR 2.6) (p<0.05). Those who had knowledge of the relation between UVR and aging were 3,75 times more likely to use sunscreen. CONCLUSION: This is the first study about solar protection knowledge and photoprotection measures upon fishermen, performed in Chile. Most fishermen were aware of the health risks. However, they do not use the recommended protection measures, and those who use them, do not do it properly

Caracterización de sífilis en embarazadas controladas en la unidad de atención y control en salud sexual del hospital San José (HSJ), Santiago de Chile (2010-2016) / Characterization of syphilis in controlled pregnant women in the sexual health care and control unit of hospital San José (HSJ), Santiago de Chile (2010-2016)

Introducción: La sífilis gestacional continúa sien-do un problema de salud pública en el mundo. Produce severos efectos adversos en la madre y en el feto de no ser tratada. En Chile, el Ministerio de Salud ha establecido un tamizaje para esta infección cada 3 meses en el embarazo y al momento del parto. Un tratamiento adecuado y oportuno es capaz de prevenir todos los efectos adversos de la sífilis en el embarazo. Métodos: Este fue un estudio transversal retrospectivo que incluyó a 406 embarazadas controladas en la Unidad de Atención y Control en Salud Sexual (UNACESS) del Hospital San José (HSJ) entre los años 2010-2016. Resultados: Los resultados del estudio fueron que un 87,7% de las embarazadas eran chilenas y un 12,3% de otras nacionalidades. Las nacionalidades más frecuentes para el grupo de extranjeras fueron: 54% peruanas y 18% haitianas. Al ingreso al estudio, 47,5% de las embarazadas se encontraban en el segundo trimestre de embarazo. De todas las participantes, un 38,7% se encontraba en riesgo de sífilis congénita. Discusión: En total, un 23% de las participantes presentó un falso positivo biológico, cifra similar a la reportada en otros estudios. En este estudio encontramos que, en gestantes extranjeras, había mayor proporción de diagnóstico tardío en que chilenas. Esto podría deberse a dificultades para ingresar a la atención en salud. Conclusión: Pese a que en Chile contamos con buenas tasas de diagnóstico, el manejo de la sífilis gestacional podría ser mejorado con una detección y tratamiento temprano. Las extranjeras buscaron atención en salud más tarde que las chilenas, por lo tanto, recibieron tratamiento más tardío y con mayor riesgo de sífilis congénita. Esto se puede explicar por dificultades para ingresar al sistema de salud.

Introduction: Syphilis in pregnancy remains a global public health problem with severe outcomes if it is not treated properly. The Chilean Ministry of Health has established syphilis screening at three times during pregnancy, with a final retest is during labor. An adequate treatment can prevent all side effects of syphilis in pregnancy. Methods: This was a descriptive, transversal study which included 406 pregnant women who consulted for potential syphilis at the Control and Treatment of Sexual Health Unit (UNACESS in Spanish) of San José Hospital (HSJ) in Santiago, Chile from 2010 to 2016.Results: A 87,7% of the pregnant women were Chilean, while 12,3% had a different nationality. Among immigrants, the most frequent nationalities were: peruvian 54% and Haitian 18%. At enrol-ment, 47,5% of the pregnant women were in their second trimester. 38,4% was at risk of congenital syphilis.Discussion: Overall, 23,1% of the participants had a false positive test, which is congruent with pre-viously reported data. In this study, we found a higher rate of late diagnosis, mainly in the immigrant pregnant women, which could be due to difficulties in accessing healthcare and cultural matters. Conclusion: Despite a high overall treatment rate, antenatal syphilis management in this population could be improved by earlier detection and treatment. Immigrant women sought attention later in pregnancy, thus receiving delayed treatment with higher risk of congenital syphilis. This could be explained by obstacles in their access to healthcare.