Impact of screening on cervical cancer incidence and mortality in a Northern Brazilian city

Objective:

Methods:

Results:

Conclusion:

Occupational Therapy for People Living With Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1: Importance and Effectiveness of an Intervention Plan at the Level of Prevention and Rehabilitation

Introduction

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM) restricts activities of daily living (ADLs), affecting health and quality of life. Occupational therapy is used to promote independence during ADL in people living with HTLV (PLHTLV).

Objective

To quantify the clinical aspects, levels of functionality, performance in ADLs and occupational roles of PLHTLV and propose an occupational therapeutic intervention.

Method

A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was designed with 40 PLHTLV monitored at two referral laboratories of the Federal University of Pará. The Evandro Chagas Research Institute Neurological Disability Scale (EIPEC-2), the Barthel Index and the Occupational Roles Identification List were applied. The G test and Fisher’s exact test (to identify associations between qualitative variables), the Mann–Whitney test (to identify associations between quantitative variables) and Pearson correlation analysis (to identify associations between the total Barthel Index and EIPEC-2 scores) were performed with Microsoft Excel and BioEstat 5.0, and the significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results

Motor aspects, the presence of spasticity, sensory aspects, and pain in the lumbar region and lower limbs were significantly (p = 0.0002) higher among symptomatic individuals, who also had more difficulties urinating, traveling up and down stairs and transferring from a chair to a bed. Being a worker, performing housework and socializing (with friends or family members) were the most affected activities among HAM patients.

Conclusion

The impact of HAM on PLHTLV should include an intervention plan with occupational therapists in rehabilitation programs to create an important third-level prevention initiative, which may help achieve short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Asymptomatic PLHTLV should also be able to prevent future ADL impairment.

Limitations in daily activities, risk awareness, social participation, and pain in patients with HTLV-1 using the SALSA and Participation scales

Background

Tropical spastic paraparesis or HTLV-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) may prevent, limit or restrict the performance of daily living activities, and as a consequence, several aspects of life are affected.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate activity limitations, risk awareness, social participation, quality of life, and pain in individuals infected with HTLV-1.

Methods

This was an observational, descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. An interview questionnaire, the Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) scale, the Participation scale, a quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) and the Brief Pain Inventory were used.

Results

A total of 55 patients with HTLV-1 were interviewed (62% asymptomatic and 38% symptomatic). In both groups, there was a higher frequency of patients aged 41–50 years old (35.3% asymptomatic and 38.1% symptomatic), with complete secondary education (47.1% asymptomatic and 42.9% symptomatic), and married (64.7% asymptomatic and 52.4% symptomatic). Of the symptomatic patients, 33.3% were retired; among asymptomatic patients, 20.6% performed domestic activities. The majority of patients in both groups had not received blood transfusions. Sexual intercourse was still practiced by patients. After assessment, asymptomatic patients had no activity limitations (64.7%), and symptomatic patients presented limitations (90.5%). None of the groups showed good risk awareness. There was no restriction on social participation in 97.1% of asymptomatic patients and in 52.4% among symptomatics. Both groups complained of pain, being more frequent in the lumbar spine in asymptomatic patients and in the knees in symptomatic patients. Pain was more severe in symptomatic patients and affected aspects of quality of life.

Conclusion

The clinical follow-up instruments must be adopted by healthcare professionals to monitor new symptoms so as to avoid the onset of limitations identified in symptomatic patients, in addition to enabling continuous surveillance of asymptomatic patients.

Pilates exercise improves the clinical and immunological profiles of patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1 associated myelopathy: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is an infectious chronic-inflammatory disease, which can lead to lower limb motions.

METHODS

The study evaluated the effects of serial Pilates exercises on the clinical and immunological profiles of patients with HAM/TSP. Eight patients with ages ranging from 39 to 70 years old (2 males and 6 females), 2 wheelchair users and 6 with compromised gait, were evaluated. The patients were submitted to 20 Pilates sessions for 10 weeks. Data were collected at 3 time points (beginning of the study, after Pilates sessions and after 10 weeks without Pilates) and consisted of evaluations of the pain level, spasticity, motor strength, balance, mobility, functional capacity, quality of life and quantification of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-9 cytokines levels.

RESULTS

After the Pilates sessions, significant improvements in pain level, static and dynamic balance, trunk control, mobility and quality of life were observed, with simultaneous and significant reductions in the serum levels of the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10. However, after 10 weeks without Pilates, there were significant changes in terms of increasing pain and regression of mobility, with no changes in strength, spasticity, functional capacity in any of the periods of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that Pilates may be a promising auxiliary physical therapy for patients with HAM/TSP.

HTLV-I induces lesions in the pulmonary system: A systematic review

This study analyzed the relationship between infection by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and changes in the pulmonary system. Cohort and case-control study models that analyzed a causal association between HTLV-1 and changes in the pulmonary system were considered. There were no restrictions on language and publication period. The study was registered in the PROSPERO systematic analysis database (Protocol No. CRD42017078236) and was prepared according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The following databases were used: PubMed, BVS Regional Portal, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science. We utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess the methodological quality of published studies and the Kappa coefficient to assess the agreement level between two reviewers. Of the total 1156 studies retrieved by the search strategy, 28 were considered potentially eligible (Kappa test = 0.928). Of the 28 studies, three fully met the inclusion criteria. These indicated that pulmonary lesions, such as bronchiectasis and bronchitis/bronchiolitis, were observed in patients with HTLV-1, with high-resolution computed tomography of the chest being the main method of diagnostic investigation. The analyzed cohort and case-control studies indicated an etiological relationship between HTLV-1 infection and the presence of lung lesions, with emphasis on bronchiectasis in the presence of high viral loads, as well as a higher mortality in these individuals compared with the general population.

FRAGILIDADE DE IDOSOS RIBEIRINHOS AMAZÔNICOS: DAS TRAJETÓRIAS METODOLÓGICAS AOS DESAFIOS EM SAÚDE PÚBLICA

Este estudo tem como objetivo descrever as particularidades teórico-metodológicas e discutir as experiências vivenciadas no processo de pesquisa sobre fragilidade biológica e condições de saúde de idosos ribeirinhos amazônicos. A pesquisa descritiva, de abordagem qualiquantitativa, realizada em 19 ilhas do município de Cametá, Pará, envolveu 108 idosos e permitiu alcançar tanto as proposições diretas sobre os marcadores de fragilidade e de saúde multidimensional, quanto os aspectos subjetivos referentes às particularidades do contexto histórico-cultural. A trajetória percorrida pelos pesquisadores nesse desafio foi marcada, especialmente, por uma arreigada estruturação metodológica, direcionada ao contexto peculiar da pesquisa, desde a inserção ecológica dos pesquisadores, ponto-chave para a concretização do arcabouço metodológico e do período de coleta de dados até a elaboração das propostas norteadoras em saúde pública considerando, sobretudo, as particularidades dos modelos de cuidado vigentes nessas comunidades amazônicas.

RELAÇÃO DA FUNÇÃO VESICAL E MARCHA EM INDIVÍDUOS COM VÍRUS LINFOTRÓPICO DE CÉLULAS T HUMANA TIPO 1

Correlacionar a disfunção da bexiga e a necessidade de assistência na marcha em indivíduos com vírus linfotrópico de células T humana tipo 1. Trata-se de um estudo analítico, observacional e transversal, realizado com 16 pacientes de ambos os sexos, diagnóstico de Paraparesia Espástica Tropical/Mielopatia Associada ao HTLV-1 (PET/MAH) definitivo, avaliados pela Escala Ponderada de Paraplegia Espástica (EPPE) e caracterizados quanto ao grau de auxílio na marcha por meio dos dispositivos utilizados durante a deambulação. Todos os achados foram codificados pela Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF); aqueles relacionados à função vesical se converteram para o componente funções do corpo e quanto ao auxílio da marcha para atividade e participação. Utilizaram-se os testes G (Aderência), Qui-quadrado e o de correlação de Spearman para análise estatística (p≤0,05). A maioria apresentou problema ligeiro para função vesical (b6202.1) e nenhuma dificuldade (d465.0) ou moderada (d465.2) para a necessidade de auxílio na marcha. Houve correlação (p=0,009) entre o auxílio na marcha e a função da bexiga. Assim, os códigos da CIF mostraram que quanto maior a dificuldade de locomoção maior é o problema na função da bexiga.

Seroepidemiology of arbovirus in communities living under the influence of the lake of a hydroelectric dam in Brazil

Abstract Introduction The arbovirus proposes an important problem of public health in Brazil, especially in the Amazon, due to its capacity to cause outbreaks with high levels of morbidity-mortality in humans as well as in animals. Objective This paper had the objective to estimate the prevalence of antibodies to arbovirus in communities that live under the influence of the artificial lake of UHE Tucuruí in the State of Pará, Brazil. Method The analytical transversal study has selected 657 blood serum samples of individuals over 18, both genders, residents at the Sustainable Development Reserves (SDR) in the region of the lake of UHE Tucuruí. The epidemiological information has been registered in an instrument especially designed for such a study and the blood samples were collected in two periods of high and low tide of the lake. The blood serum tests were performed by the method of hemagglutination inhibition (HI). Results The results revealed a prevalence of positive antibodies to arbovirus of 85.0%, being 84.1% related to Flavivirus (vaccine strain of YFV), 25.5% related to Alphavirus and 34.6% to Bunyavirus. The results of serum prevalence to arbovirus between the periods of high tide and low tide have revealed significance amongst the Alphavirus, not observed in the other families. Conclusion In general, the data from this paper have suggested that the anthropoid actions on the environment of the lake have become determinant factors for the prevalence of arboviral antibodies.

Housing conditions and the degree of home satisfaction of elderly riverside residents of the Amazon region

Abstract At the crossroads of environmental psychology and social gerontology, this descriptive and exploratory study investigates the housing conditions of the elderly who live close to an Amazonian river and assesses their degree of satisfaction with their housing. Using four instruments, we study 23 elderly residents of the river islands of the municipality of Cametá, Pará, Brazil. Despite high territorial isolation, low socioeconomic status, and largely inappropriate housing conditions, the results reveal the elderly’s overall satisfaction with their home environment, except in relation to accessibility and safety. The data of this study give larger visibility to people’s main needs in this context and provide relevant information for the planning of social and health policies aimed at bettering the quality of this stage of the life span.

The perception of elderly riverside residents of the Amazon region: the empirical knowledge that comes from rivers

Abstract Objective: To study and identify the perception of elderly riverside people of the Amazon region regarding old age. Method: An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study was performed. Data was collected through interviews with 14 elderly riverside residents of the city of Cametá, Pará, Brazil. A script consisting of characterization data and an interview with semi-structured questions was used, guided by the following questions: "What is aging for you?" and "Is aging good or bad?". The participant observation technique was also used, through a field diary. For data analysis, we opted for thematic-categorical content analysis. Results: Generally, the elderly had a heterogeneous perception of old age. However, all saw it as a process anchored to the naturalness of life, as well as death. Some of the elderly persons associated old age with a phase of life with negative repercussions due to the appearance of functional disorders and limitations and especially the reduction of availability for work. It can be conferred that the majority, even with while displaying some limitations in this stage of life, have clear and well defined coping strategies, such as the recognition of their limitations or family and religious support. Conclusion: The study found that aging is the shared result of the experiences and knowledge of the interaction of the elderly persons with the riverside environment around them, resulting in their cultural differentiation.

Prevalência de infecção genital pelo HPV em populações urbana e rural da Amazônia Oriental Brasileira

Foram investigados a prevalência e os fatores associados à infecção genital pelo HPV em mulheres de população urbana e rural de duas regiões da Amazônia Oriental brasileira. Foi um estudo transversal com 444 mulheres submetidas ao rastreamento para câncer cervical, sendo 233 urbanas e 211 rurais, de janeiro de 2008 a março de 2010. Coletaram-se amostras da cérvice uterina para a pesquisa de DNA do HPV pela PCR. Todas responderam a um formulário epidemiológico. Análise bivariada e por regressão logística foram empregadas na investigação dos fatores associados ao HPV. A prevalência geral de HPV foi de 14,6%. Entre as populações, não houve diferença significativa, 15% urbana e 14,2% rural. O único fator de risco explorado no estudo significativamente associado ao HPV foi a situação conjugal de mulheres residentes na zona rural na faixa de 13 a 25 anos, com maior prevalência de infecção entre solteiras, separadas ou viúvas. Conclui-se que, apesar das prevalências entre as populações serem semelhantes, as estratégias preventivas a serem aplicadas seriam específicas para cada população.

Variáveis relacionadas à iniciação do tabagismo entre estudantes do ensino médio de escola pública e particular na cidade de Belém - PA

OBJETIVO: Analisar as variáveis relacionadas à iniciação do tabagismo entre adolescentes estudantes de nível médio de uma escola particular e outra pública, na cidade de Belém-PA, em 2005. MÉTODOS: Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizado um questionário não identificado, de autopreenchimento, com 27 questões fechadas, sobre experimentação de cigarro, fumo habitual, acesso à compra de cigarros, motivo para a experimentação do fumo, autopercepção sobre o seu rendimento escolar, diálogo sobre tabagismo no ambiente familiar e nível sócio-econômico. Participaram do estudo 1520 estudantes, sendo 724 (47,6%) da rede particular e 796 (52,4%) da rede pública. RESULTADOS: A média de idade dos estudantes foi de 16,5 anos. Dos 1520 estudantes, 669 (44%) referiram ter experimentado cigarro e 11% faziam uso habitual de cigarros. A proporção de experimentadores na escola pública foi de 51,2% e na particular foi de 36,7% (p = 0); a de fumantes habituais foi 14,6% na escola pública e de 7% na particular (p = 0). As associações encontradas para iniciação e uso atual de cigarro em ambas as escolas foram: curiosidade, presença de pessoas fumantes no convívio social do adolescente, não ter sido elogiado por não fumar, e se considerar um aluno regular ou ruim. Não houve associação entre experimentação e fumo atual com classes sociais nas duas escolas, exceto para experimentadores das classes A e B na escola particular. CONCLUSÕES: A variável mais importante para fumo entre os estudantes foi a curiosidade. A experimentação e uso habitual de cigarro foram mais freqüentes na escola pública que na particular.