Impact of several histopathological prognosticators and local tumour extension on oncological outcome in pT3b/c N0M0 renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic relevance of different histopathological features and local tumour extension in patients with pT3b/c N0M0 renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as recently new proposals of reclassifying tumour fat invasion in pT3b/c RCC have been made but the effect of other histopathological tumour characteristics and combinations thereof with tumour invasion has yet to be determined in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1990 and 2006, 1943 patients underwent surgical treatment for renal tumours in our institution, of which 175 patients (8.7%) had pT3b/c RCC. After exclusion of 57 patients (32.6%) with lymph node and/or distant metastases at the time of diagnosis, 118 (67.4%) remained for retrospective analysis. Different histopathological features and local tumour extension were studied for their association with cancer-specific-survival (CSS) and progression-free-survival (PFS) by univariate and multivariate analyses. Histopathology was reviewed and revised according to the 2002 Tumour-Nodes-Metastasis (TNM) classification system by one pathologist (S.B.). CSS and PFS were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Follow-up data were obtained from 110 patients at a median (range) of 3.2 (0.3-16.1) years. In univariate analysis, microvascular invasion (MVI) and capsular invasion increased the risk of tumour progression by 2.05- and 2.72-times (P = 0.037 and P < 0.001). Overall, tumour fat invasion (TFI) and the presence of areas composed by cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm were associated with a higher risk of progression (P = 0.001 and P = 0.011) and reduced CSS (P = 0.037 and P = 0.017). In multivariate analysis, MVI and capsular invasion were associated with a two-fold increased risk of dying from cancer (hazard risk ratio, HR 2.22, P = 0.045 and HR 2.31, P = 0.011). TFI in general (P = 0.004) and specifically coexistent perirenal fat invasion (PFI) and renal sinus fat invasion (RSFI) were associated with a three-fold increased risk of developing tumour progression (HR 3.36, P = 0.001). The 10-year CSS and PFS rates were 39% and 36% for all patients, 47% and 45% for pT3b/c RCC with no PFI or RSFI, and 25% and 10% for PFI + RSFI. CONCLUSION: Patients with pT3b/c RCC with MVI, capsular invasion, TFI and especially PFI + RSFI, have a markedly reduced prognosis compared with patients with pT3b/c RCC without these features. When these results are corroborated by additional studies and external validation, modification of the TNM classification system would be a sensible consequence.

Weight-based combination therapy with peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin for naïve, relapser and non-responder patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is considered the new standard therapy for naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of treatment with weight-based peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5 mg/kg per week) plus ribavirin (800-1,200 mg/day) for 48 weeks in naïve, relapser and non-responder (to previous treatment with interferon plus ribavirin) patients with chronic hepatitis C. Sixty-seven naïve, 26 relapser and 40 non-responder patients were enrolled. The overall sustained virological response (SVR) for the intention-to-treat population was 54% for naïve, 62% for relapser and 38% for non-responder patients. In the naïve subgroup, SVR was significantly higher in patients with the non-1 genotype (67%) compared to those with genotype 1 (45%). In relapsers and non-responders, SVR was, respectively, 69% and 24% in patients with genotype 1 and 43% and 73% in those with genotype non-1. There were no significant differences in SVR rates among the three body weight ranges (<65 kg, 65-85 kg and >85 kg) in any of the subgroups. Early virological response (EVR) was reached by 78%, 81% and 58% of naïve, relapser and non-responder patients, respectively, and among those with EVR, 63%, 67% and 61%, respectively, subsequently achieved SVR. All of the non-responder patients who did not have EVR reached SVR. Treatment was discontinued in 13% of the patients, due to loss to follow-up, hematological abnormalities or depression.

Liver transplantation in a patient with hepatitis B, C and D coinfection associated with hepatocellular carcinoma: a management strategy for a rare condition. Case report.

CONTEXT: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease. Cirrhosis due to hepatitis C infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation worldwide. However, patients who are given transplants because of viral liver diseases often present clinical coinfections, including hepatitis B together with hepatitis D. Currently, different strategies exist for patient management before and after liver transplantation, and these are based on different protocols developed by the specialized transplantation centers. CASE REPORT: We present a rare case of a 58-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B, C and D coinfection. The patient developed cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. His treatment comprised antiviral therapy for the three viruses and OLT. The patient's outcome was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: OLT, in association with antiviral therapy using entecavir, which was administered before and after transplantation, was effective for sustained clearance of the hepatitis B and D viruses. A recurrence of hepatitis C infection after transplantation responded successfully to standard treatment comprising peginterferon alfa-2A and ribavirin.

[Polycystic hydatid disease: report of two cases from the city of Sena Madureira, Acre, in Brazilian Amazon]. / Hidatidose policística: relato de dois casos procedentes de Sena Madureira, Acre, na Amazônia brasileira.

Two cases of Polycystic hydatid disease (PH) are reported from the same municipal district of the Brazilian Amazon region (Sena Madureira, Acre). Both had a similar clinical presentation and course over two years of follow-up. Initially the patients complained of pain in the right hypochondrium or upper abdomen and presented obstructive jaundice, fever, increased abdominal volume and weight loss. By image analysis, in addition to splenomegaly, multiple and coalescent cysts were detected in the liver. Serum samples were reactive by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Treatment with albendazole resulted in partial improvement, with symptomatic relief and reduction in size of the lesions. This report stresses the importance of performing clinical-epidemiological studies of polycystic hydatid disease in the Brazilian Amazon and especially in the municipality of Sena Madureira where many other cases of PH may remain undiagnosed.

Liver transplantation in a patient with hepatitis B, C and D coinfection associated with hepatocellular carcinoma: a management strategy for a rare condition. Case report / Transplante hepático em paciente com coinfecção pelos vírus B, C e D associada a carcinoma hepatocelular: uma estratégia de tratamento para uma condição rara. Relato de caso

CONTEXT: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease. Cirrhosis due to hepatitis C infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation worldwide. However, patients who are given transplants because of viral liver diseases often present clinical coinfections, including hepatitis B together with hepatitis D. Currently, different strategies exist for patient management before and after liver transplantation, and these are based on different protocols developed by the specialized transplantation centers. CASE REPORT: We present a rare case of a 58-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B, C and D coinfection. The patient developed cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. His treatment comprised antiviral therapy for the three viruses and OLT. The patient's outcome was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: OLT, in association with antiviral therapy using entecavir, which was administered before and after transplantation, was effective for sustained clearance of the hepatitis B and D viruses. A recurrence of hepatitis C infection after transplantation responded successfully to standard treatment comprising peginterferon alfa-2A and ribavirin.

CONTEXTO: O transplante ortotópico de fígado (TOF) é o tratamento de escolha em pacientes com doença hepática terminal. A cirrose por hepatite C é a principal indicação de transplante hepático no mundo. No entanto, pacientes transplantados por hepatopatias virais frequentemente apresentam coinfecções, como hepatite B associada a hepatite D. Atualmente, existem diferentes estratégias de manejo em pacientes pré e pós-transplantados conforme diferentes protocolos de conduta de serviços especializados em transplante. RELATO DE CASO: Apresentamos o raro caso de um homem de 58 anos diagnosticado com as hepatites crônicas B, C e D. O paciente evoluiu com cirrose e carcinoma hepatocelular. O tratamento consistiu de terapia antiviral para os três vírus e de transplante ortotópico de fígado. O desfecho do paciente foi satisfatório. CONCLUSÃO: O transplante ortotópico de fígado, associado à terapia antiviral com entecavir antes e após o procedimento, foi eficaz na depuração sustentada dos vírus B e D. A recidiva do vírus C após o transplante respondeu com sucesso ao tratamento padrão com alfapeginterferon 2A e ribavirina.

Mercury exposure in Munduruku Indians from the community of Sai Cinza, State of Pará, Brazil.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate mercury exposure and health status among Munduruku Indians from the community of Sai Cinza, State of Pará, Brazil. The population studied included 330 indians, who submitted to a questionnaire, clinical exams, and collection of hair, blood, urine, and feces. Mercury was measured in hair and fish. Although no person was found to have overt mercury intoxication, the mean levels of mercury in hair were elevated (14.45 micrograms/g for children from 7 to 12 years old, 15.70 micrograms/g for women between 14 and 44 years old, and 14.1 micrograms/g for the remaining population). Mercury levels in fish were below levels recommended by the World Health Organization, but rates of fish consumption were high. These results place this indigenous populations as a group under risk of mercury toxicity from the gold production.

Weight-based combination therapy with peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin for Naïve, relapser and non-responder patients with chronic hepatitis C

Combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is considered the new standard therapy for naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of treatment with weight-based peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5 mg/kg per week) plus ribavirin (800-1,200 mg/day) for 48 weeks in naïve, relapser and non-responder (to previous treatment with interferon plus ribavirin) patients with chronic hepatitis C. Sixty-seven naïve, 26 relapser and 40 non-responder patients were enrolled. The overall sustained virological response (SVR) for the intention-to-treat population was 54 percent for naïve, 62 percent for relapser and 38 percent for non-responder patients. In the naïve subgroup, SVR was significantly higher in patients with the non-1 genotype (67 percent) compared to those with genotype 1 (45 percent). In relapsers and non-responders, SVR was, respectively, 69 percent and 24 percent in patients with genotype 1 and 43 percent and 73 percent in those with genotype non-1. There were no significant differences in SVR rates among the three body weight ranges (< 65 kg, 65-85 kg and > 85 kg) in any of the subgroups. Early virological response (EVR) was reached by 78 percent, 81 percent and 58 percent of naïve, relapser and non-responder patients, respectively, and among those with EVR, 63 percent, 67 percent and 61 percent, respectively, subsequently achieved SVR. All of the non-responder patients who did not have EVR reached SVR. Treatment was discontinued in 13 percent of the patients, due to loss to follow-up, hematological abnormalities or depression.

Hidatidose policística: relato de dois casos procedentes de Sena Madureira, Acre, na Amazônia brasileira / Polycystic hydatid disease: report of two cases from the city of Sena Madureira, Acre, in Brazilian Amazon

Dois casos de hidatidose policística (HP) säo relatados, oriundos do mesmo município da regiäo amazônica brasileira (Sena Madureira, Acre). Ambos tiveram a mesma apresentaçäo e evoluçäo clínica ao longo de dois anos de acompanhamento. Inicialmente os pacientes queixaram-se de dor abdominal no andar superior ou no hipocôndrio direito e apresentaram icterícia obstrutiva, febre, aumento de volume abdominal e emagrecimento. Por exame de imagem, além de esplenomegalia, cistos múltiplos e coalescentes foram detectados no fígado. Amostras de soro foram reagentes por contraimunoeletroforese. O tratamento com albendazol resultou em melhora parcial, com alívio sintomático e reduçäo no tamanho das lesöes. Este relato reforça a importância de estudos clínico-epidemiológicos da hidatidose policística na regiäo amazônica brasileira, especialmente no município de Sena Madureira, onde outros pacientes com HP podem estar sem diagnóstico

Infecçäo congênita pelo citomegalovírus: estudo realizado na Fundaçäo Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará

O citomegalovírus é um vírus de DNA, pertencente à família Herpesviridae, subfamília Beta-herpesvirinae. Sua distribuiçäo é universal e pode causar infecções congênitas e perinatais, assim como durante a infância e na idade adulta. É um dos principais patógenos responsáveis pela morbidade e mortalidade em pacientes imunocomprometidos. Foi estudada a incidência da infecçäo congênita pelo citomegalovírus, na maternidade da Fundaçäo Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará, no período de novembro de 1994 a maio de 1995. A amostra trabalhada constou de 663 recém-nascidos e suas respectivas mäes. O peso dos recém-nascidos variou de 900 a 5450g, com uma média de 3046g. Em 11,4 porcento das crianças foi observado baixo peso ao nascer. A avaliaçäo pelo isolamento do vírus da saliva dos 663 recém-nascidos, através da inoculaçäo em células primárias de fibroblasto de prepúcio humano, mostrou 3,2 porcento (21) de positividade. A pesquisa de anticorpos IgM específicos para o CMV, através do método ELISA, utilizando-se sangue do cordäo umbilical do mesmo grupo de recém-nascidos foi positiva em 2,1 porcento (14). Para o diagnóstico da infecçäo congênita pelo CMV, a análise estatística pelo Teste de McNemar dos Pares Discordantes (p)=0,0233 e Teste do Qui-Quadrado da Homogeneidade (p)<0,01 demonstrou que o isolamento do citomagalovírus da saliva foi mais sensível que a detecçäo de anticorpos IgM no sangue do cordäo umbilical (AU)