EMACO for treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: A multinational multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D alternating with cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMACO) for treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, and for factors independently associated with EMACO resistance and disease-specific death in an international cohort. METHODS: Medical records of GTN patients who received EMACO during 1986-2019 from gestational trophoblastic disease centers from four countries including the USA, Thailand, Hungary, and Brazil, were retrospectively reviewed. Among 335 GTN patients, 266 patients who received EMACO as primary chemotherapy were included in the primary treatment group, and 69 patients who received EMACO after relapse/resistance to single-agent chemotherapy were included in the prior treatment group. RESULTS: Three-quarters (76.1%) of all patients achieved remission, and the survival rate was 89%. The prior treatment group had better outcomes than the primary treatment group relative to remission rate (87.0% vs. 73.3%, p = 0.014) and number of EMACO cycles to achieve remission (3 vs. 6 cycles, p < 0.001). Sustained remission increased to 87.2% in EMACO-resistant patients treated with later-line chemotherapy. Number of metastatic organs ≥2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.33, p = 0.049) was the only independent predictor of EMACO resistance among overall patients. Interval from index pregnancy ≥7 months (aOR: 4.34, p = 0.001), and pretreatment hCG >100,000 IU/L (aOR: 2.85, p = 0.028) were independent predictors of EMACO resistance in the high-risk subgroup. The only factor independently associated with disease-specific death was EMACO resistance (aOR: 176.04, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EMACO is an effective treatment for GTN. Number of metastatic organs and EMACO resistance were the independent predictors of EMACO resistance and disease-specific death, respectively.

Clinical Presentation, Treatment Outcomes, and Resistance-related Factors in South American Women with Low-risk Postmolar Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia / Apresentação clínica, resultados do tratamento e fatores relacionados à resistência em mulheres sul-americanas com neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional pós-molar de baixo risco

Abstract Objective There are few multinational studies on gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) treatment outcomes in South America. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical presentation, treatment outcomes, and factors associated with chemoresistance in low-risk postmolar GTN treated with first-line single-agent chemotherapy in three South American centers. Methods Multicentric, historical cohort study including women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)-staged low-risk postmolar GTN attending centers in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia between 1990 and 2014. Data were obtained on patient characteristics, disease presentation, and treatment response. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between clinical factors and resistance to first-line single-agent treatment. A multivariate analysis of the clinical factors significant in univariate analysis was performed. Results A total of 163 women with low-risk GTN were included in the analysis. The overall rate of complete response to first-line chemotherapy was 80% (130/163). The rates of complete response to methotrexate or actinomycin-D as first-line treatment, and actinomycin-D as second-line treatment postmethotrexate failure were 79% (125/157), 83% (⅚), and 70% (23/33), respectively. Switching to second-line treatment due to chemoresistance occurred in 20.2% of cases (33/163). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with a 5 to 6 FIGO risk score were 4.2-fold more likely to develop resistance to first-line single-agent treatment (p= 0.019). Conclusion 1) At presentation, most women showed clinical characteristics favorable to a good outcome, 2) the overall rate of sustained complete remission after first-line single-agent treatment was comparable to that observed in developed countries, 3) a FIGO risk score of 5 or 6 is associated with development of resistance to first-line single-agent chemotherapy.

Resumo Objetivo Existem poucos estudos multinacionais sobre os resultados do tratamento da neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional (NTG) na América do Sul. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a apresentação clínica, os resultados do tratamento e os fatores associados a casos de quimiorresistência em NTG pós-molar de baixo risco tratados com quimioterapia de agente único de primeira linha em três centros sul-americanos. Métodos Estudo multicêntrico de coorte histórica incluindo mulheres com NTG pós-molar de baixo risco com estadiamento International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) em centros de atendimento na Argentina, Brasil e Colômbia entre 1990 e 2014. Foram obtidos dados sobre as características do paciente, apresentação da doença e resposta ao tratamento. A regressão logística foi usada para avaliar a relação entre fatores clínicos e resistência ao tratamento de primeira linha com agente único. Foi realizada uma análise multivariada dos fatores clínicos significativos na análise univariada. Resultados Cento e sessenta e três mulheres com NTG de baixo risco foram incluídas na análise. A taxa global de resposta completa à quimioterapia de primeira linha foi de 80% (130/163). As taxas de resposta completa ao metotrexato ou actinomicina-D como tratamento de primeira linha e actinomicina-D como tratamento de segunda linha após falha do metotrexato foram 79% (125/157), 83% (⅚) e 70% (23/33), respectivamente. A mudança para o tratamento de segunda linha por quimiorresistência ocorreu em 20,2% dos casos (33/163). A análise multivariada demonstrou que pacientes com pontuação de risco FIGO de 5 a 6 foram 4,2 vezes mais propensos a desenvolver resistência ao tratamento com agente único de primeira linha (p= 0,019). Conclusão 1) Na apresentação, a maioria das mulheres demonstrou características clínicas favoráveis a um bom resultado, 2) a taxa geral de remissão completa sustentada após o tratamento de primeira linha com agente único foi comparável à de países desenvolvidos, 3) um escore de risco FIGO de 5 ou 6 está associado ao desenvolvimento de resistência à quimioterapia de agente único de primeira linha.

Clinical Presentation, Treatment Outcomes, and Resistance-related Factors in South American Women with Low-risk Postmolar Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: There are few multinational studies on gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) treatment outcomes in South America. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical presentation, treatment outcomes, and factors associated with chemoresistance in low-risk postmolar GTN treated with first-line single-agent chemotherapy in three South American centers. METHODS: Multicentric, historical cohort study including women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)-staged low-risk postmolar GTN attending centers in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia between 1990 and 2014. Data were obtained on patient characteristics, disease presentation, and treatment response. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between clinical factors and resistance to first-line single-agent treatment. A multivariate analysis of the clinical factors significant in univariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 163 women with low-risk GTN were included in the analysis. The overall rate of complete response to first-line chemotherapy was 80% (130/163). The rates of complete response to methotrexate or actinomycin-D as first-line treatment, and actinomycin-D as second-line treatment postmethotrexate failure were 79% (125/157), 83% (⅚), and 70% (23/33), respectively. Switching to second-line treatment due to chemoresistance occurred in 20.2% of cases (33/163). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with a 5 to 6 FIGO risk score were 4.2-fold more likely to develop resistance to first-line single-agent treatment (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: 1) At presentation, most women showed clinical characteristics favorable to a good outcome, 2) the overall rate of sustained complete remission after first-line single-agent treatment was comparable to that observed in developed countries, 3) a FIGO risk score of 5 or 6 is associated with development of resistance to first-line single-agent chemotherapy.

OBJETIVO: Existem poucos estudos multinacionais sobre os resultados do tratamento da neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional (NTG) na América do Sul. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a apresentação clínica, os resultados do tratamento e os fatores associados a casos de quimiorresistência em NTG pós-molar de baixo risco tratados com quimioterapia de agente único de primeira linha em três centros sul-americanos. MéTODOS: Estudo multicêntrico de coorte histórica incluindo mulheres com NTG pós-molar de baixo risco com estadiamento International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) em centros de atendimento na Argentina, Brasil e Colômbia entre 1990 e 2014. Foram obtidos dados sobre as características do paciente, apresentação da doença e resposta ao tratamento. A regressão logística foi usada para avaliar a relação entre fatores clínicos e resistência ao tratamento de primeira linha com agente único. Foi realizada uma análise multivariada dos fatores clínicos significativos na análise univariada. RESULTADOS: Cento e sessenta e três mulheres com NTG de baixo risco foram incluídas na análise. A taxa global de resposta completa à quimioterapia de primeira linha foi de 80% (130/163). As taxas de resposta completa ao metotrexato ou actinomicina-D como tratamento de primeira linha e actinomicina-D como tratamento de segunda linha após falha do metotrexato foram 79% (125/157), 83% (⅚) e 70% (23/33), respectivamente. A mudança para o tratamento de segunda linha por quimiorresistência ocorreu em 20,2% dos casos (33/163). A análise multivariada demonstrou que pacientes com pontuação de risco FIGO de 5 a 6 foram 4,2 vezes mais propensos a desenvolver resistência ao tratamento com agente único de primeira linha (p = 0,019). CONCLUSãO: 1) Na apresentação, a maioria das mulheres demonstrou características clínicas favoráveis a um bom resultado, 2) a taxa geral de remissão completa sustentada após o tratamento de primeira linha com agente único foi comparável à de países desenvolvidos, 3) um escore de risco FIGO de 5 ou 6 está associado ao desenvolvimento de resistência à quimioterapia de agente único de primeira linha.

Brain manifestations secondary to auricular myxoma.

Cardiac myxoma is the most common benign tumor of the heart. In most cases, it is in the left atrium, which can generate neurological embolization; that can manifest as an ischemic event, aneurysm formation and less frequently as brain metastases. This is a case report of a 56-year-old male patient with cerebral embolisms secondary to a left cardiac myxoma. In these patients, the role of neurologic imaging is to detect the firsts complications and avoid secondary complications.

Outcomes in the management of high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in trophoblastic disease centers in South America.

BACKGROUND: South America has a higher incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease than North America or Europe, but whether this impacts chemotherapy outcomes is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes among women with high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) treated at trophoblastic disease centers in developing South American countries. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with high-risk GTN treated in three trophoblastic disease centers in South America (Botucatu and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina) from January 1990 to December 2014. Data evaluated included demographics, clinical presentation, FIGO stage, WHO prognostic risk score, and treatment-related information. The primary treatment outcome was complete sustained remission by 18 months following completion of therapy or death. RESULTS: Among 1264 patients with GTN, 191 (15.1%) patients had high-risk GTN and 147 were eligible for the study. Complete sustained remission was ultimately achieved in 87.1% of cases overall, including 68.4% of ultra high-risk GTN (score ≥12). Early death (within 4 weeks of initiating therapy) was significantly associated with ultra high-risk GTN, occurring in 13.8% of these patients (p=0.003). By Cox's proportional hazards regression, factors most strongly related to death were non-molar antecedent pregnancy (RR 4.35, 95% CI 1.71 to 11.05), presence of liver, brain, or kidney metastases (RR 4.99, 95% CI 1.96 to 12.71), FIGO stage (RR 3.14, 95% CI 1.52 to 6.53), and an ultra-high-risk prognostic risk score (RR 7.86, 95% CI 2.99 to 20.71). Median follow-up after completion of chemotherapy was 4 years. Among patients followed to that timepoint, the probability of survival was 90% for patients with high-risk GTN (score 7-11) and 60% for patients with ultra-high-risk GTN (score ≥12). CONCLUSION: Trophoblastic disease centers in developing South American countries have achieved high remission rates in high-risk GTN, but early deaths remain an important problem, particularly in ultra-high-risk GTN.

Relationship between race and clinical characteristics, extent of disease, and response to chemotherapy in patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential effects of race on clinical characteristics, extent of disease, and response to chemotherapy in women with postmolar low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). METHODS: This non-concurrent cohort study was undertaken including patients with FIGO-defined postmolar low-risk GTN treated with comparable doses and schedules of chemotherapy at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center (NETDC) between 1973 and 2012. Racial groups investigated included whites, African American and Asians. Information on patient characteristics and response to chemotherapy (need for second line chemotherapy, reason for changing to an alternative chemotherapy, number of cycles/regimens, need for combination chemotherapy, and time to hCG remission) was obtained. RESULTS: Of 316 women, 274 (86.7%) were white, 19 (6%) African American, and 23 (7.3%) Asian. African Americans were significantly younger than white and Asian women (p=0.008). Disease presentation, and extent of disease, including antecedent molar histology, median time to persistence, median hCG level at persistence, rate of D&C at persistence, presence of metastatic disease, and FIGO stage and risk score were similar among races. Need for second line chemotherapy (p=0.023), and median number of regimens (p=0.035) were greater in Asian women than in other races. CONCLUSIONS: Low-risk GTN was more aggressive in Asian women, who were significantly more likely to need second line chemotherapy and a higher number of chemotherapy regimens to achieve complete remission than women of African American and Asian descent. Further studies involving racial differences related to clinical, biological and environmental characteristics are needed.

Response to chemotherapy in overweight/obese patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Despite rising global obesity rates, the impact of obesity on gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) remains uninvestigated. This study aimed at investigating whether overweight/obesity relates to response to chemotherapy in low-risk GTN patients. METHODS: This nonconcurrent cohort study included 300 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics-defined postmolar low-risk GTN treated with a single-agent chemotherapy­methotrexate or actinomycin-D (actD)­between 1973 and 2012 at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center. Chemotherapy dosing was based on actual body weight regardless of obesity status, except for 5-day courses or pulse regimens of actD. Patients were classified as overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m²) or non-overweight/obese (BMI <25 kg/m²). Information on patient characteristics and response to chemotherapy (need for second-line chemotherapy, reason for changing to an alternative chemotherapy, number of cycles, need for combination chemotherapy, and time to human chorionic gonadotropin remission) was obtained. RESULTS: Of 300 low-risk GTN patients, 81 (27%) were overweight/obese. Overweight/obese patients were older than the non-overweight/obese patients (median age: 30 vs 28 years, P = 0.004). First-line therapy using actD was more frequent in overweight/obese patients (6.2% vs 1.4%, P = 0.036). Resistance and toxicity were similar between groups. No significant difference in the number of chemotherapy cycles needed for remission or time required to achieve remission was found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: No association between overweight/obesity and low-risk GTN outcomes was found. Current chemotherapy dosing using BMI seems to be appropriate for overweight/obese patients with low-risk GTN.

Frecuencia de mamografía y examen clínico de mama en mujeres del régimen subsidiado - Manizales (Caldas) / Mammogram frequency and clinical breast exam in women under the subsidized health regime- Manizales (Caldas) / Frequencia de mamografía e exame clínico de mama em muheres do régime subsidiado - Manizales (Caldas)

Objetivo: Determinar la cobertura del examen clínico y mamografía de tamización para cáncer de mama en un grupo de mujeres del régimen subsidiado en el municipio de Manizales. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio observacional de tipo transversal. Se efectuó una encuesta telefónica a 352 mujeres con edades comprendidas entre 50 y 69 años, residentes en el área urbana y rural del municipio de Manizales durante el cuarto trimestre de 2010. La cobertura de tamización se valoró como la proporción de mujeres con antecedente de mamografía y examen clínico de la mama, fueron excluidas las mujeres con antecedente personal de cáncer de mama. Se estimó frecuencia de vida, frecuencia en los últimos dos años y en el último año. Se analizaron factores asociados a la práctica de tamización mediante el cálculo de OR ajustados. Resultados: La frecuencia de vida de uso de examen clínico fue de 56% y de mamografía 42,3%, de los cuales el 3 y el 7% fueron diagnósticos respectivamente (mujeres sintomáticas), el resto lo hizo con fines de cribado. Por tamización 53,1% tenían examen clínico en el último año y 24,7% mamografías en los últimos dos años. No se halló relación de las diferentes variables con la no realización de la mamografía. Conclusiones: Existe una baja cobertura de la mamografía y el examen clínico de mama por tamización en las mujeres del régimen subsidiado, a pesar de las recomendaciones generadas por el Ministerio de la Protección Social y el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología.

Objective: To determine the scope of breast clinical exam and screening for cancer mammogram in a group of women under the subsidized health regime in the municipality of Manizales. Materials and Methods: Observational, transversal type study. Telephone interviews were carried out with 352 women in ages between 50 and 69 years old, resident in the urban and rural areas of the municipality of Manizales during the fourth trimester in 2010. The scope of screening was assessed as the proportion of women with mammogram and clinical breast exam history and women with personal record of breast cancer were excluded. Life frequency, frequency in the last two years and in the previous year was estimated. Factors associated with the screening practice were analyzed using the adjusted OR calculation. Results: Frequency of useful life of the clinical exam was 56% and mammogram was 42.3% from which 3 and 7% were diagnoses respectively (asymptomatic women); the rest were done for screening purposes. Through screening, 53.1% had had clinical exam during the previous year and 24.7% had had mammograms during the last two years. Relationship of the different variables with the carrying out of mammograms was not found. Conclusions: There is low coverage of mammogram and clinical breast exam through screening in women under the subsidized health regime in spite of the recommendations generated by Social Protection Ministry and the National Study of Cancer Institute.

Objetivo: Determinar a cobertura do exame clínico e mamografia de tamisação para câncer de mama num grupo de mulheres do regime subsidiado no município de Manizales. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo observacional de tipo transversal. Efeito se uma enquete telefônica a 352 mulheres com idades compreendidas entre 50 e 69 anos, residentes na aérea urbana e rural do município de Manizales durante o quarto trimestre de 2010. A cobertura de tamisação se valorou como a proporção de mulheres com antecedente de mamografia e exame clínico da mama, foram excluídas as mulheres com antecedente pessoal de câncer de mama. Estimou se frequência nos últimos dois anos e no ultimo ano. Analisaram se fatores associados a pratica de tamisação mediante o calculo de OR ajustados. Resultados: A frequência de vida de uso de exame clinica foi de 56% e de mamografia 42,3%, dos quais o 3 e o 7% foram diagnósticos respectivamente (mulheres sintomáticas), o resto o fez com fins de crivado. Por tamisação 53,1% tinham exame clinico no ultimo ano e 24,7% mamografias nos últimos dois anos. Não se encontrou relação das diferentes variáveis com a não realização da mamografia. Conclusões: Existe uma baixa cobertura da mamografia e o exame clínico de mama por tamisação nas mulheres do regime subsidiado, a pesar das recomendações geradas pelo Ministério da Proteção Social e o Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia.

Prostitución masculina: ¿venta o placer? / Male Prostitution: sale or pleasure?

La prostitución es considerada como la práctica más antigua de vender o cambiar el cuerpo por dinero, y aunque no se crea, en muchos casos es una elección propia, para mantener y elevar el nivel de vida aunque culturalmente se continúa pensando que el hecho de ejercer la prostitución es un asunto relacionado con las necesidades económicas de quienes se dedican a ella.

Prostitution is considered as the oldest practice of selling or exchanging the body for money, and although it is not created, in many cases it is a choice of its own, to maintain and raise the standard of living although culturally it is still thought that the act of exercising Prostitution is a matter related to the economic needs of those who are dedicated to it.