Correlation beteeen platelet count and both livr fibrosis and spleen diameter in patients with schistosomiasis mansnni / Correlação entre o número de plaquetas e o grau de fibrose hepática e o tamanho do baço em pacientes com Esquistossomose mansoni

Context Studies have described the correlation between platelet count and the stages of fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis, but few publications have studied this correlation in Schistosomiasis mansoni. Objectives Therefore, this study aimed to correlate platelet count with both the periportal fibrosis pattern and spleen diameter evaluated by ultrasound exam in patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni. Methods Patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni were evaluated by abdominal ultrasound by a single examiner for the determination of periportal fibrosis pattern (Niamey classification) and spleen diameter. Platelet counts were performed in an automated cell counter. Results One hundred eighty-seven patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni (mean age: 50.2 years) were included in the study, 114 of whom (61%) were women. Based on the Niamey classification, the ultrasound analysis revealed that 37, 64, 64 and 22 patients exhibited patterns C, D, E and F, respectively. In these four groups, the mean number of platelets was 264, 196, 127 and 103 x 109/L and mean spleen diameter was 9.2, 11.9, 14.9 and 16.2 centimeters, respectively. A reduction in platelet count was significantly associated with both the progression of the periportal fibrosis and the increase in spleen size. Conclusions Platelet count in patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni was inversely correlated with the severity of periportal fibrosis and spleen diameter. .

Contexto Estudos vem descrevendo correlação entre o número de plaquetas e o grau de fibrose hepática na hepatite viral crônica, mas poucas publicações estudaram esta correlação em pacientes com Esquistossomose mansoni. Objetivos Correlacionar a contagem de plaquetas com o padrão de fibrose periportal e com o diâmetro do baço, avaliados pela ultrassonografia em pacientes com Esquistossomose mansoni. Métodos Os pacientes com Esquistossomose mansoni foram avaliados pela ultrassonografia abdominal, por um único examinador, para determinação do padrão de fibrose periportal (classificação de Niamey) e do diâmetro do baço. A contagem de plaquetas foi realizada em contador automatizado. Resultados Cento e oitenta e sete pacientes com Esquistossomose mansoni com média de idade de 50,2 anos foram incluídos no estudo, 114 (61%) dos quais eram mulheres. De acordo com a classificação de Niamey, a ultrassonografia revelou que 37, 64, 64 e 22 pacientes exibiam padrões C, D, E e F, respectivamente. Nestes quatro grupos, o número médio de plaquetas foi 264, 196, 127 e 103 x 109/L, respectivamente, e o diâmetro médio do baço foi 9,2, 11,9, 14,9 e 16,2 centímetros, respectivamente. Observou-se, portanto, redução significativa na contagem de plaquetas associada à progressão da fibrose periportal e ao aumento do tamanho do baço. Conclusões Neste estudo verificou-se que a contagem de plaquetas foi inversamente correlacionada com o padrão de fibrose periportal, como também com o diâmetro do baço nos pacientes com Esquistossomose mansoni. .

Serum alanine aminotransferase levels, hematocrit rate and body weight correlations before and after hemodialysis session

PURPOSE: To evaluate alanine aminotransferase levels before and after a hemodialysis session and to correlate these values with the hematocrit rate and weight loss during hemodialysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The serum alanine aminotransferase levels, hematocrit rate and body weight were measured and correlated before and after a single hemodialysis session for 146 patients with chronic renal failure. An receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the serum alanine aminotransferase levels collected before and after hemodialysis was plotted to identify hepatitis C virus-infected patients. RESULTS: The mean weight loss of the 146 patients during hemodialysis was 5.3 percent (p < 0.001). The mean alanine aminotransferase levels before and after hemodialysis were 18.8 and 23.9 IU/, respectively, denoting a significant 28.1 percent increase. An equally significant increase of 16.4 percent in the hematocrit rate also occurred after hemodialysis. The weight loss was inversely correlated with the rise in both the alanine aminotransferase level (r = 0.3; p < 0.001) and hematocrit rate (r = 0.5; p < 0.001). A direct correlation was found between the rise in alanine aminotransferase levels and the hematocrit during the hemodialysis session (r = 0.4; p < 0.001). Based on the ROC curve, the upper limit of the normal alanine aminotransferase level should be reduced by 40 percent relative to the upper limit of normal if the blood samples are collected before the hemodialysis session or by 60 percent if blood samples are collected after the session. CONCLUSION: In the present study, significant elevations in the serum alanine aminotransferase levels and hematocrit rates occurred in parallel to a reduction in body weight after the hemodialysis session. These findings suggest that one of the factors for low alanine aminotransferase levels prior to hemodialysis could be hemodilution in patients with chronic renal failure.

Health care users' satisfaction in Brazil, 2003 / Satisfação dos usuários com a assistência de saúde no Brasil, 2003

Evaluation of users' satisfaction with the health system brings back longstanding questions concerning the quality of services provided to the Brazilian population. The current study analyzes satisfaction with outpatient and inpatient care based on the results of the World Health Survey, conducted in Brazil in 2003. To explain satisfaction with various aspects of care through a small number of factors, the factor analysis technique was used, through principal components analysis (PCA). Multiple regression models identified associations between satisfaction scores and different sociodemographic variables. For outpatient care, waiting time showed the lowest degree of satisfaction, and in the case of hospitalization, freedom to choose the physician was the worst evaluated aspect. Three components were extracted from the PCA, related respectively to satisfaction with health professionals, health services, and health problem solution. Multiple regression analysis showed that having experienced some type of discrimination (on the basis of gender, age, poverty, social class, skin color, or type of disease) and being an exclusive user of the public National Health System involved a lower degree of users' satisfaction.

A avaliação da satisfação com o sistema de saúde soba ótica do usuário recoloca antigos questionamentosquanto à qualidade dos serviços oferecidos à populaçãobrasileira. Este trabalho analisa os resultadossobre satisfação com a assistência de saúde prestada(ambulatorial e internação) da Pesquisa Mundial deSaúde, realizada no Brasil no ano de 2003. Com o objetivode explicar a satisfação com o atendimento emseus aspectos por meio de um pequeno número de fatores,foi utilizada a técnica de análise fatorial porcomponentes principais (ACP). Modelos de regressãomúltipla permitiram identificar associações dos escoresde satisfação com diferentes variáveis sócio-demográficas.O tempo de espera foi o item que demonstroumenor grau de satisfação, no caso de atendimentoambulatorial, e a liberdade de escolha do profissionalde saúde, no caso de internação. Na ACP foramextraídos três componentes, que se relacionaram à satisfaçãocom os profissionais, serviços e resolução doproblema de saúde. A regressão múltipla revelou queter sofrido algum tipo de discriminação (por sexo,idade, pobreza, classe social, raça ou tipo de doença) eser usuário exclusivo do SUS implica o menor grau desatisfação dos usuários com o atendimento recebido.