Assessment of knowledge and attitudes of young uninsured women toward human papillomavirus vaccination and clinical trials

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge and attitudes of young uninsured women toward human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and clinical trials. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Clinic-based sample in Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive sample of 204 women aged 16 to 23 years, attending a public outpatient gynecological clinic. INTERVENTIONS: A questionnaire administered by in-person interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data on knowledge and attitudes towards HPV vaccination. RESULTS: Overall, 72% of the respondents would enroll in a HPV vaccine trial, despite the fact that 69% of women were ignorant of what HPV may cause, and only 10% acknowledged that HPV might lead to cervical cancer. The need of a placebo arm (31%) and three vaccinations injections (26%) were the trial design characteristics most cited for deterring participation. Factors promoting participation were "careful/detailed consultations by the same physician" (92%), "access to more information on women's health" (84%), and "office visits on time" (79%); whereas "clinic too far from home" (36%), "fear of adverse events" (29%), and "gynecologic examination discomfort" (25%) were the most commonly reported reasons for not enrolling in a trial. Being sexually active, more than three lifetime sexual partners and perception of high risk for cervical cancer were predictors of participation in a HPV vaccine trial. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of HPV infection and cervical cancer is low in this urban, young population. Thus, when planning HPV vaccine trials, it is important to consider implementing educational programs to provide knowledge of the benefits of a preventive vaccine and information on the etiology of and risk factors for cervical cancer.     

Anterograde Removal of Broken Femoral Nails without Opening the Nonunion Site: A New Technique

OBJECTIVE:

We describe a new technique for removing the distal fragments of broken intramedullary femoral nails without disturbing the nonunion site.

METHODS:

This technique involves the application of an AO distractor prior to the removal of the nail fragments, with subsequent removal of the proximal nail fragment in an anterograde fashion and removal of the distal fragment through a medial parapatellar approach. Impaction of the fracture site is then performed with a nail that is broader than the remaining fragmented material.

RESULTS:

Nails were removed from five patients using the technique described above without any complications. After a mean follow-up period of 61.8 months, none of these patients showed worsened knee osteoarthritis.

CONCLUSION:

The original technique described in this article allows surgeons to remove the distal fragment of fractured femoral intramedullary nails without opening the nonunion focus or using special surgical instruments.     

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is consistently expressed in Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells and has no impact on survival in patients with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-related and non-related Hodgkin lymphoma in Brazil

Clinical and histological features of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) are primarily due to the effects of cytokines and enzymes produced by Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells and their surrounding inflammatory cells. In EBV-related cancers, the expression of viral latent membrane protein 1 correlates with an increased MMP9 expression. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic relevance of MMP9 expression and EBV status in HRS cells in patients with cHL in Brazil. We selected 97 patients with cHL for EBV and MMP9 detection. EBV was detected in 52.5%, and MMP9 expression positivity was found in 87.6%. Of all cases, there was no correlation between MMP9 expression and EBV status. Response to treatment and relapse rate was independent of MMP9 expression and EBV status. MMP9 positivity did not influence overall survival and event-free survival. The consistent and increased intensity of MMP9 expression in HRS cells make this enzyme a potential target for therapy.     

Scleral injury caused by needling revision with adjunctive mytomicin-C: case report

A 70-year-old female patient underwent cataract and glaucoma surgery on her left eye in 1996. Eleven years later, we performed two bleb needling revisions with adjunctive mytomicin-C, in order to decrease an uncontrolled intraocular pressure of 32 mmHg. After the second needling, she developed severe overfiltration, with flat anterior chamber, choroidal effusion, and impending corneal decompensation. Conservative treatment with cycloplegic and corticosteroid eye drops, acetazolamide and therapeutic contact lenses was unsuccessfully tried. Anterior chamber reformation was successively tried with air, 4% ophthalmic viscosurgical device and 1% sodium hyaluronate, with only temporary results. Compressive sutures above the overfiltering bleb were applied, unsuccessfully. In order to avoid additional corneal endothelium damage, a surgical bleb revision was performed and revealed a large area of ciliary body and choroidal exposure under the conjunctiva. It was covered by a donor scleral patch graft providing successful resolution. Nevertheless, we had to reintroduce hypotensive eyedrops. While bleb needling is a relatively safe and effective procedure, ophthalmologists should be aware of the possibility of potentially serious complications, such as in this case report.     

Maternal periodontitis as a potential risk variable for preeclampsia: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: Association studies between maternal periodontitis and an elevated risk for preeclampsia have shown conflicting results. The aims of the present case-control study were: 1) to evaluate the association between maternal periodontitis and preeclampsia before and after matching, assessing confounding and interaction; and 2) to evaluate the influence of the extent and severity of periodontal parameters, bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL), in association with preeclampsia. METHODS: Initially, 1,206 Brazilian women were included and divided into a control group (1,042 non-preeclamptic women who gave birth to infants with adequate gestational age and birth weight) and a case group (164 preeclamptic women). Further, 125 preeclamptic women were matched according to age, chronic hypertension, and primiparity to 375 non-preeclamptic women randomly selected from the control group. Maternal periodontitis was defined as PD > or =4 mm and CAL > or =3 mm at the same site in at least four teeth. The effect of variables of interest and confounding were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: After controlling for confounders, maternal periodontitis was included in the multivariate final model (odds ratio [OR] = 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37 to 2.77; P <0.001) and remained associated with preeclampsia after matching (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.29; P = 0.045). The odds of preeclampsia were associated with an increase in the number of sites with BOP and PD and CAL > or =4 mm. CONCLUSION: Maternal periodontitis is a risk factor associated with preeclampsia, emphasizing the importance of periodontal care in prenatal programs.     

Self-assessment in graduate public health programs: characteristics and constraints

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the characteristics and constraints of internal appraisals or self-assessments in Graduate Public Health Programs, conducted through a study of the report on 25 programs participating in the three-year CAPES evaluation (2001-2003). Three main aspects were considered: (a) tools and/or procedures employed; (b) self-assessment procedures; (c) products for upgrading program quality. The findings indicate that different tools are employed and used improperly. For most of the programs, it is not clear how ongoing processes take place, as the products presented are not directly related to the process as performed and the program quality assurance procedures. The importance of self-assessment is discussed as a tool for exploring the possibilities and boundaries of a process or an institution, as well as for taking decisions. A suggestion is presented: setting up a basic structure with working groups and a self-assessment coordination team; real participation and commitment among staff members and decision-makers; reliable data with effective use of the findings.     

Prognostic value of regional metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and floor of mouth

The presence of metastatic nodes is a survival-limiting factor for patients with mouth tumors.ObjectiveTo evaluate the causes of treatment failure in carcinomas of the tongue and floor of themouth due to staging.MethodThis study included 365 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth treated from 1978 to 2007; 48 were staged as T1, 156 as T2, 98 as T3, and 63 as T4, of which 193 were pNo and 172 pN+.ResultsAmong the pN+ cases, 17/46 (36.9%) of the patients not treated with radiation therapy had relapsing tumors, against 46/126 (36.5 %) of the patients who underwent radiation therapy. Success rates in the group of subjects submitted to salvage procedures were 16/51 (31.3%) for pN0 patients and 3/77 (3.9%) for pN+ patients.ConclusionSalvage procedure success and survival rates are lower for pN+ patients; pN+ individuals also have more relapsing local disease.