The papillomavirus E5 gene does not affect EGFR transcription and overall survival in cervical cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The human papillomavirus (HPV) E5 gene encodes a small and highly hydrophobic oncoprotein that affects immune evasion, cell proliferation, loss of apoptotic capacity and angiogenesis in tumors. E5 shows an affinity for biological membranes and was associated with an increase of epidermal growth factor/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF/EGFR) signaling through the accumulation of EGFR in cellular membranes. Due to the frequent integration of the HPV genome into the host cell genome, E5 is frequently not transcribed in cervical tumors. AIM: In this study we looked forward to verifying whether the potential expression of E5 protein in human papillomavirus 16 positive (HPV16+ ) and human papillomavirus 18 positive (HPV18+ ) cervical tumors was associated with levels of EGFR and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) transcription and with patients overall survival. RESULTS: Association between the presence of E5 transcripts and viral genome disruption was observed for HPV16+ and HPV18+ tumors. Association was not observed between tumors potentially capable of translating E5 and EGFR or VEGFA transcriptional levels. Similarly, the capability of translating E5 and overall survival in patients with HPV16+ squamous cell carcinoma tumors stage ≥ IB2 were not associated. CONCLUSION: The likely presence of E5 transcripts was neither associated to a higher activity of the EGFR-VEGFA pathway nor to the overall survival of patients with HPV16+ squamous cell carcinoma in stages ≥ IB2.

Smoke-free legislation and neonatal and infant mortality in Brazil: longitudinal quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of partial and comprehensive smoke-free legislation with neonatal and infant mortality in Brazil using a quasi-experimental study design. DESIGN: Monthly longitudinal (panel) ecological study from January 2000 to December 2016. SETTING: All Brazilian municipalities (n=5565). PARTICIPANTS: Infant populations. INTERVENTION: Smoke-free legislation in effect in each municipality and month. Legislation was encoded as basic (allowing smoking areas), partial (segregated smoking rooms) or comprehensive (no smoking in public buildings). Associations were quantified by immediate step and longer term slope/trend changes in outcomes. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Municipal-level linear fixed-effects regression models. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Infant and neonatal mortality. RESULTS: Implementation of partial smoke-free legislation was associated with a -3.3 % (95% CI -6.2% to -0.4%) step reduction in the municipal infant mortality rate, but no step change in neonatal mortality. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation implementation was associated with -5.2 % (95% CI -8.3% to -2.1%) and -3.4 % (95% CI -6.7% to -0.1%) step reductions in infant and neonatal mortality, respectively, and a -0.36 (95% CI -0.66 to-0.06) annual decline in the infant mortality rate. We estimated that had all smoke-free legislation introduced since 2004 been comprehensive, an additional 10 091 infant deaths (95% CI 1196 to 21 761) could have been averted. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening smoke-free legislation in Brazil is associated with improvements in infant health outcomes-particularly under comprehensive legislation. Governments should accelerate implementation of comprehensive smoke-free legislation to protect infant health and achieve the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal three.

Is a Family History of the Breast Cancer Related to Women's Cancer Prevention Behaviors?

Families share behavioral risk factors that can increase the risk of cancer development. We examined whether having a positive family breast cancer history is associated with health behaviors/screening practices. Analyses were based on a cross-sectional sample of 545 Brazilian National Cancer Institute Hospital patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer in 2013/2014. Women were categorized according to their breast cancer family history. Age-adjusted Poisson regressions with robust variance were performed to estimate the association between breast cancer family history and selected health-related behaviors and screening practices. About one fourth of women reported a positive family history of breast cancer. Contrary to expectation, we found that women with a family history of breast cancer did not report healthier behaviors more often than those without a family history. However, those with a family history were more likely to report a mammographic exam prior to the mammographic diagnosis. Our study suggests that having a family history of cancer is not sufficient to change women's behaviors about physical activity, weight control and diet, smoking, and drinking, but it seems to influence their breast cancer screening behavior. Our results suggest the need to increase women's information and/or understanding that healthier lifestyles contribute to cancer prevention.

Assessing the relationship between smoking and abdominal obesity in a National Survey of Adolescents in Brazil.

Abdominal obesity is even a stronger risk factor than overall obesity for noncommunicable chronic diseases. We examined the association between smoking and abdominal obesity among adolescents. Analyses were based on 38,813 subjects aged 15-17 years from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a Brazilian school-based national survey. Abdominal obesity was defined considering waist circumference (WC) percentiles. Statistical analyses, stratified by sex, considered the sample complex design. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate smoker-to-nonsmoker abdominal obesity prevalence ratio (PR), adjusting by sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Higher prevalence of abdominal obesity was observed among adolescents who consumed >1 cigarettes/day, comparing to nonsmokers: considering WC >80th percentile, adjusted-PR for boys was 1.27 [95%CI:1.05,1.52] and, for girls, 1.09 [95%CI:1.00,1.19]; using the 90th percentile, adjusted-PR were 2.24 [95%CI:1.70,2.94] and 1.27 [95%CI:1.12,1.46], respectively for male and female adolescents. Our findings suggest a positive association between cigarette consumption and the prevalence of abdominal obesity, for both boys and girls. Although other studies had found this association in adults, our study contributes to this discussion by assessing it in adolescents using a nationwide representative sample of medium and large municipalities.

Understanding the relationship between sales of legal cigarettes and deaths: A case-study in Brazil.

Brazil has experienced a large decline in cigarette consumption in the last 25years. However, the most recent annual reports from the tobacco industry market leader in Brazil did not show a decrease in its gross profits. This is particularly important because tobacco industry donations/sponsorships come directly from the industry's reported gross-profits and are used to subvert health policies. The aim of the present study was to estimate (i) tobacco industry's gross-profit from legal cigarettes sales, and (ii) all-cause smoking-attributable deaths (SADs) among current Brazilian smokers who consumed legal cigarettes in 2013. We collected information on prevalence of legal cigarette use, cigarette consumption, price per cigarette pack among individuals aged ≥35years from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, legal cigarettes sales (e.g., average costs and total volume of sales) provided by the Federal Secretariat of Revenues, and population mortality from the available vital statistics. With a gross-profit of US$1.378 billion (1.307-1.434) from sales of 54.6 billion sticks of cigarettes (53.4-55.5) to 8,424,510 smokers aged 35years and older in Brazil in 2013, cumulative SADs were estimated at 96,012 (85,647-107,654) (around 34% of cumulative SADs also including current smoking of illegal cigarettes and past smoking), i.e., one SAD was equivalent to a gross-profit of US$14,352 (12,140-16,743). Our results revealed the association between sales of cigarettes, gross-profits, and deaths in Brazil. As tobacco industry donations/sponsorships originate from industry's gross profits, which, in turn, depend on cigarette sales, our findings may be useful for increasing "moral pressure" on individuals and institutions and help countries in stopping tobacco industry interference in health policies.

Genetic diversity of human papillomavirus types 35, 45 and 58 in cervical cancer in Brazil.

In Brazil, most studies of intra-type variants of human papillomavirus (HPV) have focused on HPV16 and HPV18, but other high-risk HPV types have not been studied. Here, we report the prevalence of lineages and variants of HPV35, HPV45 and HPV58 in cervical cancers from the Amazonian and Southeast Brazilian regions. The most frequent sublineages were A1 for HPV35, B2 for HPV45, and A2 for HPV58. The Southeast region had a higher frequency of the B2 sublineage of HPV45, and for HPV35, the genetic and nucleotide sequence diversity were higher in the Southeast region, suggesting that regional factors are influencing the diversity and lineage prevalence.

Estimating the size of illicit tobacco consumption in Brazil: findings from the global adult tobacco survey.

BACKGROUND: Brazil experienced a large decline in smoking prevalence between 2008 and 2013. Tax rate increases since 2007 and a new tobacco tax structure in 2012 may have played an important role in this decline. However, continuous tax rate increases pushed up cigarette prices over personal income growth and, therefore, some consumers, especially lower income individuals, may have migrated to cheaper illicit cigarettes. OBJECTIVE: To use tobacco surveillance data to estimate the size of illicit tobacco consumption before and after excise tax increases. METHODS: We defined a threshold price and compared it with purchasing prices obtained from two representative surveys conducted in 2008 and 2013 to estimate the proportion of illicit cigarette use among daily smokers. Generalised linear model was specified to understand whether the absolute difference in proportions over time differed by sociodemographic groups and consumption levels. Our findings were validated using an alternative method. RESULTS: Total proportion of illicit daily consumption increased from 16.6% to 31.1% between 2008 and 2013. We observed a pattern of unadjusted absolute decreases in cigarette smoking prevalence and increases in the proportion of illicit consumption, irrespective of gender, age, educational level, area of residence and amount of cigarettes consumed. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy of raising taxes has increased government revenues, reduced smoking prevalence and resulted in an increased illicit trade. Surveillance data can be used to provide information on illicit tobacco trade to help in the implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) article 15 and the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Genetic diversity of HPV16 and HPV18 in Brazilian patients with invasive cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, and ∼70-80% of these cancers are associated with two human papillomavirus types: HPV16 and HPV18. Several studies have reported that intra-type diversity is associated with the progression of infection to invasive cancer. Herein, we report the genetic diversity of HPV16 and HPV18 in a cohort of 594 Brazilian women with invasive cervical cancer and describe the prevalence of lineages and intra-type diversity prior to the implementation of the public immunization program in Brazil. HPV detection and genotyping were performed using PCR, PGMY/GP primers, and DNA extracted from fresh tumors. The HPV16 (378 women) and HPV18 (80 women) lineages were identified by PCR and sequencing of the LCR and E6 fragments, followed by SNV comparison and phylogenetic analysis. In our cohort, was found a higher frequency of the lineage A (in 217 women), followed by lineage D (in 97 women) and lineages B and C (in 10 women each) for HPV16; and a higher frequency of lineage A (in 56 women) followed by lineage B (in 15 women) in HPV18. The genetic diversity of HPV16 indicated a recent expansion of specific variants or a selective advantage that is associated with invasive cancer; this pattern was not observed for HPV18.

Smokers in Brazil: who are they?

BACKGROUND: Brazil has experienced a large decline in smoking prevalence due to several tobacco control policies that were implemented in the past 25 years. Previous population-wide studies found a consistent reduction over time in daily cigarette consumption among all socioeconomic groups. OBJECTIVE: To examine changes between 2008 and 2013 in tobacco behaviours and health-related conditions of smokers. METHODS: We used data obtained from two nationally-representative surveys conducted in 2008 and 2013 to estimate the prevalence of self-reported psychological and physical morbidity, and nicotine dependence markers, stratified by gender and sociodemographic groups. Generalised linear models were used to understand whether absolute differences in prevalence rates over time differed by categories of selected variables. RESULTS: For both genders, as smoking prevalence declined in Brazil, there has been an increase in the proportion of ever smokers who have quit. In addition, remaining smokers seem to be making more quitting attempts. Among men with low educational level or younger than 25 years-old, as compared to their counterparts, cessation rate showed an even greater increase over time. Moreover, the proportion of light smokers, which represent the vast majority of smokers, did not decrease. The percentage of poor health-conditions among remaining smokers nevertheless increased, particularly among women, which can make future cessation more challenging. CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, quitting rate is increasing, thus suggesting that tobacco control interventions implemented in Brazil in the past years seem to be effectively reaching the smoking population. This is strong evidence against the 'hardening hypothesis', which posits that remaining smokers decrease their willingness and ability to quit.

Smoking and adverse maternal and child health outcomes in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous studies from high-income countries document the causal relationship between cigarette smoking during pregnancy and adverse maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes. Less research has been conducted in low and middle income countries, but a burgeoning literature can be found for Brazil. METHODS: We review Brazilian studies of the prevalence of maternal smoking, the relative risk of smoking-attributable adverse MCH outcomes, and present new estimates for these outcomes, using the attributable fraction method. RESULTS: We found that Brazilian studies of the relative risks of smoking-attributable adverse MCH outcomes were broadly consistent with previous reviews. Based on a comparison of maternal smoking over time, smoking during pregnancy has declined by about 50% over the last 20 years in Brazil. For 2008, we estimate that 5,352 cases of spontaneous abortion, 10,929 cases of preterm birth, 20,717 cases of low birth weight, and 29 cases of sudden infant death syndrome are attributable to maternal smoking. Between 1989 and 2008, the percent of smoking-attributable adverse MCH outcomes in Brazil was at least halved. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that over a 20-year period, during which Brazil implemented numerous effective tobacco control measures, the country experienced a dramatic decrease in both maternal smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable adverse MCH outcomes. Countries that implement effective tobacco control measures can expect to reduce both maternal smoking and adverse MCH outcomes, thereby improving the public health.

Human Papillomavirus 16 Lineage D is Associated with High Risk of Cervical Cancer in the Brazilian Northeast Region.

OBJECTIVE: Similar to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, different lineages of a genotype also have different carcinogenic capabilities. Studies have shown that specific genotype lineages of oncogenic HPV are associated with variable risks for the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/CIN3) and cervical cancer. The present study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of the HPV16 genotype in women with CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer, from the northeast region of Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in the northeast region of Brazil, from 2014 to 2016. This study included 196 cases of HPV16 variants (59 and 137 cases of CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer, respectively). The difference of proportion test was used to compare patients with CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer, based on the prevalent HPV16 lineage (p < 0.05). RESULTS: According to the histopathological diagnosis, the percentage of lineage frequencies revealed a marginal difference in the prevalence of lineage A in CIN2/CIN3, compared with that in cervical cancer (p = 0.053). For lineage D, the proportion was higher in cancer cases (32.8%), than in CIN2/CIN3 cases (16.9%), with p = 0.023. CONCLUSION: HPV16 lineage A was the most frequent lineage in both CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer samples, while lineage D was predominant in cervical cancer, suggesting a possible association between HPV16 lineage D and cervical cancer.

OBJETIVO: Tanto os tipos quanto as linhagens do Papilomavírus Humano (HPV) parecem ter diferentes capacidades carcinogênicas e estão associados a riscos variados para o desenvolvimento de neoplasia intraepitelial cervical (NIC) e câncer de colo do útero. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar a diversidade genética do genótipo HPV 16 nos casos de NIC2/NIC3 e câncer de colo de útero em mulheres da região Nordeste do Brasil. MéTODOS: Estudo transversal de base hospitalar realizado na região Nordeste do Brasil no período de 2014 a 2016. A amostra foi composta por 196 casos da variante HPV-16 (59 casos de NIC2/NIC3 e 137 de câncer do colo do útero). O teste de diferença de proporção foi usado para comparar os grupos NIC2/NIC3 e câncer de colo do útero por linhagem viral em relação à prevalência da linhagem HPV-16. Foi considerada significância estatística o valor de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: As frequências de linhagem por diagnóstico histopatológico mostraram diferença limítrofe da linhagem A no grupo NIC2/NIC3 em relação ao grupo câncer de colo de útero (p = 0,053). Por outro lado, em relação à linhagem D, houve uma proporção maior nos casos de câncer (32,8%) quando comparado ao grupo NIC2/NIC3 (16,9%) e esta diferença se mostrou estatisticamente significante (p = 0,023). CONCLUSãO: A linhagem A do HPV-16 foi a mais frequente tanto nas amostras CIN2/CIN3 quanto nas amostras de câncer de colo de útero, enquanto a linhagem D predominou no câncer de colo do útero, sugerindo uma possível associação da linhagem D de HPV-16 com câncer de colo de útero.

Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st Edition: 17 cancer prevention recommendations to the public and to policy-makers (World Code Against Cancer Framework).

Preventable risk factors are responsible of at least 40% of cases and almost 45% of all cancer deaths worldwide. Cancer is already the leading cause of death in almost half of the Latin American and the Caribbean countries constituting a public health problem. Cost-effective measures to reduce exposures through primary prevention and screening of certain types of cancers are critical in the fight against cancer but need to be tailored to the local needs and scenarios. The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Code Against Cancer, 1st edition, consists of 17 evidence-based recommendations for the general public, based on the most recent solid evidence on lifestyle, environmental, occupational, and infectious risk factors, and medical interventions. Each recommendation is accompanied by recommendations for policymakers to guide governments establishing the infrastructure needed to enable the public adopting the recommendations. The LAC Code Against Cancer has been developed in a collaborative effort by a large number of experts from the region, under the umbrella strategy and authoritative methodology of the World Code Against Cancer Framework. The Code is a structured instrument ideal for cancer prevention and control that aims to raise awareness and educate the public, while building capacity and competencies to policymakers, health professionals, stakeholders, to contribute to reduce the burden of cancer in LAC.

The Brazil SimSmoke policy simulation model: the effect of strong tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths in a middle income nation.

BACKGROUND: Brazil has reduced its smoking rate by about 50% in the last 20 y. During that time period, strong tobacco control policies were implemented. This paper estimates the effect of these stricter policies on smoking prevalence and associated premature mortality, and the effect that additional policies may have. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The model was developed using the SimSmoke tobacco control policy model. Using policy, population, and smoking data for Brazil, the model assesses the effect on premature deaths of cigarette taxes, smoke-free air laws, mass media campaigns, marketing restrictions, packaging requirements, cessation treatment programs, and youth access restrictions. We estimate the effect of past policies relative to a counterfactual of policies kept to 1989 levels, and the effect of stricter future policies. Male and female smoking prevalence in Brazil have fallen by about half since 1989, which represents a 46% (lower and upper bounds: 28%-66%) relative reduction compared to the 2010 prevalence under the counterfactual scenario of policies held to 1989 levels. Almost half of that 46% reduction is explained by price increases, 14% by smoke-free air laws, 14% by marketing restrictions, 8% by health warnings, 6% by mass media campaigns, and 10% by cessation treatment programs. As a result of the past policies, a total of almost 420,000 (260,000-715,000) deaths had been averted by 2010, increasing to almost 7 million (4.5 million-10.3 million) deaths projected by 2050. Comparing future implementation of a set of stricter policies to a scenario with 2010 policies held constant, smoking prevalence by 2050 could be reduced by another 39% (29%-54%), and 1.3 million (0.9 million-2.0 million) out of 9 million future premature deaths could be averted. CONCLUSIONS: Brazil provides one of the outstanding public health success stories in reducing deaths due to smoking, and serves as a model for other low and middle income nations. However, a set of stricter policies could further reduce smoking and save many additional lives. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Socioeconomic, Clinical, and Molecular Features of Breast Cancer Influence Overall Survival of Latin American Women.

Molecular profile of breast cancer in Latin-American women was studied in five countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Data about socioeconomic characteristics, risk factors, prognostic factors, and molecular subtypes were described, and the 60-month overall cumulative survival probabilities (OS) were estimated. From 2011 to 2013, 1,300 eligible Latin-American women 18 years or older, with a diagnosis of breast cancer in clinical stage II or III, and performance status ≦̸1 were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, and clinical and outcome data, including death, were extracted from medical records. Unadjusted associations were evaluated by Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests and the OS by Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test was used to determine differences between cumulative probability curves. Multivariable adjustment was carried out by entering potential confounders in the Cox regression model. The OS at 60 months was 83.9%. Multivariable-adjusted death hazard differences were found for women living in Argentina (2.27), Chile (1.95), and Uruguay (2.42) compared with Mexican women, for older (≥60 years) (1.84) compared with younger (≤40 years) women, for basal-like subtype (5.8), luminal B (2.43), and HER2-enriched (2.52) compared with luminal A subtype, and for tumor clinical stages IIB (1.91), IIIA (3.54), and IIIB (3.94) compared with stage IIA women. OS was associated with country of residence, PAM50 intrinsic subtype, age, and tumor stage at diagnosis. While the latter is known to be influenced by access to care, including cancer screening, timely diagnosis and treatment, including access to more effective treatment protocols, it may also influence epigenetic changes that, potentially, impact molecular subtypes. Data derived from heretofore understudied populations with unique geographic ancestry and sociocultural experiences are critical to furthering our understanding of this complexity.

[Risk of initiation to smoking with the use of electronic cigarettes: systematic review and meta-analysis]. / Risco de iniciação ao tabagismo com o uso de cigarros eletrônicos: revisão sistemática e meta-análise.

This article aims to evaluate the association between the use of electronic cigarettes and initiation to smoking, through a systematic review with meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. A bibliographic search was performed on the MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS and PsycInfo databases. Reference selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment of the studies were independently carried out in pairs, and the disagreements were discussed with a third researcher to reach a consensus. Meta-analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects model. Among the 25 studies included, 22 evaluated the outcome of conventional cigarette experimentation and nine assessed the outcome of current smoking (in the last 30 days). The meta-analysis showed that the use of electronic cigarettes increased the risk of conventional cigarette experimentation by almost three and a half times (RR=3.42; 95%CI 2.81-4.15), and by more than four times the risk of current smoking (RR=4.32; 95%CI 3.13-5.94). The risk of smoking initiation is significantly higher among electronic cigarette users. The marketing authorization of such devices may represent a threat to public health policies in Brazil.

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a associação entre uso de cigarros eletrônicos e iniciação ao tabagismo, por meio de uma revisão sistemática com meta-análise de estudos longitudinais. Busca bibliográfica foi realizada nas bases MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS e PsycInfo. As etapas de seleção de referências, extração dos dados e avaliação do risco de viés dos estudos foi realizada em dupla, de forma independente e as divergências discutidas com um terceiro pesquisador para obtenção de consenso. Meta-análise foi realizada por meio do modelo Mantel-Haenszel de efeitos aleatórios. Dentre os 25 estudos incluídos, 22 avaliaram o desfecho de experimentação de cigarro convencional e nove avaliaram o desfecho de tabagismo atual (nos últimos 30 dias). A meta-análise demonstrou que o uso de cigarro eletrônico aumentou em quase três vezes e meia o risco de experimentação de cigarro convencional (RR=3,42; IC95% 2,81-4,15) e em mais de quatro vezes o risco de tabagismo atual (RR=4,32; IC95% 3,13-5,94). O risco de iniciação ao tabagismo é significativamente maior entre usuários de cigarro eletrônico. A liberação da comercialização desses dispositivos pode representar uma ameaça para as políticas de saúde pública no Brasil.

Contributions of the analysis of discarded cigarette packages in household waste in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to estimate the illegal market. / Contribuições da análise de embalagens de cigarros descartadas nos resíduos domiciliares do Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, para estimativa de mercado ilegal.

The illicit trade of tobacco products, by enabling access to cheaper cigarettes, favors smoking initiation and hinders its cessation, minimizing the effects of price policy and taxes on reducing the demand for tobacco. This is especially the case among populations with lower income and schooling, where smoking is concentrated. Its confrontation requires multisectoral actions, aligned with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, supported by estimates of the illicit trade magnitude and the analysis of its characteristics. This study analyzes, based on samples of household solid waste collected in 2018 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the conformity of discarded cigarette packages with criteria for their regular commercialization in Brazil, classifying them as legal or illegal. The evaluation was also carried out for the 15 Planning Areas (PA) of the municipality. The Social Progress Index (SPI) was chosen to represent heterogeneities among PA. The average percentage of illegal cigarette packs found was 26.79%, ranging from 3.36% to 46.29% among PA. The PAs with high illegality presented lower Social Progress Index and lower percentages of legal cigarette packages with a price equal to or greater than BRL 7.25. Among the illegal packages, 98.07% were manufactured in Paraguay. The study contributes methodologically to measure the consumption of illegal cigarettes in the second economic capital of Brazil, supporting the National Tobacco Control Policy in the struggle against illicit trade of tobacco products and in the effective implementation of the pricing and tax policy on these products.

O comércio ilícito de produtos de tabaco, ao possibilitar acesso a cigarros mais baratos, favorece a iniciação do tabagismo e dificulta sua cessação, minimizando os efeitos da política de preços e impostos sobre a redução da demanda por tabaco, sobretudo entre populações de menor renda e escolaridade, onde se concentra o tabagismo. Seu enfrentamento requer ações multissetoriais, alinhadas à Convenção-Quadro para o Controle do Tabaco da Organização Mundial da Saúde e seus protocolos, e respaldadas em estimativas de sua magnitude e na análise de suas características. O estudo pretende analisar, por meio de amostras de resíduos sólidos domiciliares coletados em 2018 no Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, a conformidade das embalagens de cigarros descartadas com critérios para a sua comercialização regular no país, classificando-as como legais ou ilegais. A avaliação foi feita também para as 15 Áreas de Planejamento (AP) do município. Escolheu-se o Índice de Desenvolvimento Social (IDS) para representar as heterogeneidades entre as AP. O percentual médio de embalagens de cigarros ilegais encontrado foi de 26,79%, variando de 3,36% a 46,29% entre as AP. As AP com alta ilegalidade apresentavam menores IDS e menores percentuais de embalagens de cigarros legais com preço igual ou superior a R$ 7,25. Dentre as embalagens ilegais, 98,07% apresentavam o Paraguai como país fabricante. O estudo contribui metodologicamente para dimensionar o consumo de cigarros ilegais na segunda capital econômica do Brasil, subsidiando a Política Nacional de Controle do Tabaco no combate ao comércio ilícito de produtos de tabaco e na efetiva implementação da política de preços e impostos sobre estes produtos.

El comercio ilícito de productos del tabaco, al posibilitar el acceso a cigarrillos más baratos, favorece la iniciación del tabaquismo y dificulta la interrupción de su consumo, minimizando los efectos de la política de precios e impuestos sobre la reducción de la demanda de tabaco, sobre todo entre poblaciones de menor renta y escolaridad, donde se concentra el tabaquismo. Su combate requiere acciones multisectoriales, alineadas con la Convención-Marco para el Control del Tabaco de la Organización Mundia de la Salud, y sus protocolos, y respaldadas en estimaciones de su magnitud y en el análisis de sus características. El estudio pretende analizar, mediante muestras de residuos sólidos domiciliarios, recogidos en 2018 en el Municipio de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, la conformidad de los paquetes de cigarrillos tirados a la basura con criterios para su comercialización regular en el país, clasificándolos como legales o ilegales. La evaluación se realizó también para las 15 Áreas de Planificación (AP) del municipio. Se escogió el Índice de Desarrollo Social (IDS) para representar heterogeneidades entre las AP. El porcentaje medio de paquetes de cigarrillos ilegales encontrado fue de un 26,79%, variando de 3,36% a 46,29% entre las AP. Las AP con alta ilegalidad presentaban menores IDS y menores porcentajes de paquetes de cigarrillos legales con un precio igual o superior a BRL 7,25. Entre los embalajes ilegales, un 98,07% presentaban Paraguay como el país fabricante. El estudio contribuye metodológicamente para dimensionar el consumo de cigarrillos ilegales en la segunda capital económica de Brasil, apoyando la Política Nacional de Control del Tabaco en el combate al comercio ilícito de productos del tabaco y en la efectiva implementación de la política de precios e impuestos sobre estos productos.

Time trends and age-period-cohort analysis of cervical cancer mortality rate in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is a common preventable and curable disease that may lead to death. Our aim was to describe the patterns of time trends in CC mortality rates among women in Brazil from 1980 to 2017, and identify the influence of age, period and birth cohort (APC) stratified by region (North NR, Northeast NER, Southeast SER, South SR, Center-Western region CWR). METHODS: We performed a time-series analysis using secondary data bases. Crude (MR) and WHO age-standardized CC mortality rates (aMR) were estimated per 100,000 women. We evaluated time trends using permutation joinpoint regression models (JP) and APC models to estimate the effect of APC on MR. RESULTS: The JP analysis showed a temporal decrease in all regions, except the NR, which had an annual percentage increase of 0.44 (95%CI 0.2 - 0.7). MR in the NR was 2 to 4 times higher than in the other regions. We observed steady increases in MR with age in the NR and NER. A plateau after age 40 was observed in SER, SR, and CWR. The NR and NER MR ratio stabilized around the year 2000. Birth cohort effect showed decreasing MR ratio from 1900 to 1970 for all regions, except the NR, which showed increasing MR rate from older to more recent cohorts. CONCLUSION: We showed relevant differences in cervical MR by region, which may reflect inequality in access to primary and secondary prevention as well as treatment, particularly in the NR.

The tobacco epidemic curve in Brazil: Where are we going?

BACKGROUND: Brazil experienced a robust decline in smoking prevalence rates as a consequence of public policies. Since lung cancer is strongly associated with smoking, trends in lung cancer mortality rates may be used as a delayed effectiveness indicator of smoking prevention interventions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate lung cancer mortality trends from 1980 through 2017 and to predict temporal trends in lung cancer mortality rates, in Brazil from 2016 through 2040. METHODS: Time trends in lung cancer mortality rates were evaluated using data from available public databases. Crude and age-standardized mortality rates were calculated for each year sex-specific mortality predictions were made for each five-year period from 2016 to 2020 through 2036-2040 using an age-period-cohort (APC) model. Sex ratios were estimated using age-standardized lung cancer mortality rates. RESULTS: A decline in age-standardized lung cancer mortality rates has been observed for males since 2005 and for all predicted periods. It is expected that females aged 55 or younger will experience a reduction in lung cancer mortality from 2021 to 2026 onwards, but for those aged 75 or over rates are predicted to continue increasing through 2036-2040. CONCLUSION: Smoking prevention and cessation policies are essential, and it is important to commit to an ethical framework whereby equity in tobacco control activities between genders is achieved. This will avert many premature and preventable smoking-related deaths in the next decades.

Factors associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/CIN3), early stage and advanced stage of cervical cancer diagnosis in the Brazilian Amazonian region.

To understand the impact of demographic, behavioral and contextual factors on cervical cancer, we examined the profile of women classified according to cervical cancer staging [precursor lesions cervical intraephitelial neoplasia (CIN2/CIN3), early- and advanced-stage cancer]. Patients were identified in the main oncological reference hospital in Pará State, Brazil, from 2013 through 2015. Adjusted prevalence ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance. The study included 172 cases of CIN2/CIN3 lesions, 158 of early stage and 552 of advanced stage of cervical cancer. The proportion of gynecological complaints as a reason for clinic visit was 2.3 times higher among patients at an early stage compared with patients with CIN2/CIN3 lesions. Compared with early-stage cancer groups, the prevalence of advanced-stage cancer was higher among older patients, those without paid activity (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.15; confidence interval 95%: 1.03-1.29), those who never had a Pap test (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.23; confidence interval 95%: 1.08-1.40), those who were seen at the hospital clinic due to gynecological complaints (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.48; confidence interval 95%: 1.19-1.85) and those who underwent biopsy in the private care system (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.12; confidence interval 95%: 1.02-1.22). These differences seem to reflect problems in the health system, low socioeconomic level and poor awareness of the importance of Pap tests among those with a diagnosis of advanced-stage cervical cancer.

Breast Cancer Quality of Life and Health-state Utility at a Brazilian Reference Public Cancer Center.

Objectives: To evaluate health-related-quality-of-life and derive health-state-utility (HSU) from breast cancer patients, before and after routine therapy at a Brazilian reference public cancer center.Methods: In a prospective cohort study, a consecutive sample of outpatients newly diagnosed with breast cancer was submitted to two interviews (baseline, 6-month) to complete EQ-5D-3L/VAS and EORTC-QLQ-C30/BR23 questionnaires. Demographic and clinical information was reviewed from medical records.Results: For 196 patients, EQ-5D domains of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were mainly affected, but partially improved overtime, while mobility/usual activities/self-care worsened after therapy. EORTC-QLQ-C30/BR23 scales mostly affected were emotional functioning, insomnia, pain, sexual enjoyment and future self-health perspective at baseline, while financial difficulties, insomnia, fatigue and therapy side-effects at follow-up. Overtime mean scores were 71.4 (95%CI68.5-74.4) and 76.1 (95%CI73.3-78.8) for EQ-5D-VAS, and 0.712 (95%CI0.686-0.737) and 0.732 (95%CI0.707-0.757) for HSU. HSU was 0.689 (95%CI0.648-0.730) in stages III-IV, and 0.692 (95%CI0.652-0.731) under two/three chemotherapy regimens.Conclusion: In a context of impairments in emotional functioning, sexual enjoyment, symptoms burden, and poor future self-health perspective, breast cancer produced a mean HSU of 0.712. After routine care, there was a small improvement in quality of life, with lower HSU particularly in advanced disease and multiple chemotherapy regimens.