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Biomedical subjects

I Pereira

Publications and source records attributed to I Pereira.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Long-term follow-up of a randomized prospective trial comparing a standard 81 mg dose of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin with a reduced dose of 27 mg in superficial bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of a three-fold reduced dose (RD, 27 mg) of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) against the standard dose (81 mg) in patients with superficial bladder cancer, assessing recurrence, progression and differences in toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred patients with superficial bladder cancer (Ta, T1, Tis) were enrolled and randomly assigned to be treated after transurethral resection of all visible lesions with intravesical BCG Connaught strain (weekly x six and thereafter fortnightly x six) either with the standard or RD instillation. RESULTS: All but one of the 500 patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity (252 in the standard arm and 247 in the RD arm). The median follow-up was 69 months (maximum 104); 71 (28%) patients in the standard arm and 76 (31%) in the RD arm developed recurrences; the median time to recurrence has not yet been attained, but at 5 years the mean (sd) percentage of recurrence-free patients was 70.5 (3.12) and 70.4 (3.1) for the standard and RD arms, respectively. In patients presenting with multifocal tumours, the standard dose was more effective against recurrences than the RD (P=0.0151). In those with G3 and high-risk tumours overall, the superiority of the standard dose was marginal (P=0.060 and P=0.082). Twenty-nine (11.5%) tumours in the standard arm and 33 (13.3%) in the RD arm progressed to invasive disease; the median time to progression has not yet been attained, but the percentage of progression-free patients at 5 years was 88.8 (2.23) and 86.9 (2.31) for the standard and RD arms, respectively. The standard dose was more effective than the RD against progression only in patients with multifocal disease (P=0.048). Twelve (4.8%) cystectomies were performed in the standard and 15 (6.1%) in the RD arm. Currently, 106 (21.2%) patients have died, but only 38 (7.6%) from bladder cancer, i.e. 20 (7.9%) in the standard and 18 (7.5%) in RD arm. Overall the disease-specific death rate was lower for those patients who completed the scheduled treatment. The cause-specific survival at 5 years did not differ between the arms (P=0.76) but there was a trend toward better cause-specific survival for patients with multifocal tumours in the standard arm. Toxicity differed between the arms, significantly more patients having no toxicity in the RD arm, and fewer having delayed instillations or withdrawing. However, severe systemic toxicity occurred even in patients treated with the RD, in a similar proportion to those receiving the standard dose. CONCLUSION: Overall, the RD gave similar results for recurrence and progression but with significantly less toxicity. However, patients with multifocal tumours fared better with the standard dose and there was a trend towards better recurrence rates in patients with high-risk tumours. We recommend continuing to use the standard dose for high-risk tumours, while we consider the reduced dose safe and effective for intermediate-risk lesions and for maintenance schedules.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

[The planning process in nursing in a teaching hospital].

The aim of this research was to identify the theoretical methodological model that are basing the development of the management function in planning, according the nursing practices, in the School Hospital of the University of São Paulo. Based on the results the nurses emphasized the importance of introducing the reference of planning strategies in the practice in order to make changes.

Brazil↗

[Bladder neoplasms in patients under 40 years of age].

The incidence, presentation and clinical evolution of vesical tumours diagnosed in our Centre over the last 10 years (1986-1995) in patients under forty are examined. This retrospective study included 19 of the 643 neoplasias treated during that period; 7 of these in patients under 30 and 12 in patients over 31. Haematuria was the most frequent reason for visiting the Centre. At the time of diagnosis, all cases were surface tumours and none progressed to the infiltrant stage. Tumours in patients over 30 are characterised by a higher histological grade and greater relapse rate versus those in patients under 30. Therefore, age may be a favourable prognostic factor in patients under 30 versus the older group who follow a course more similar to the remainder of usual patients. Diagnosis and treatment of these neoplasias should be just the same as for tumours in older patients.

Adult↗

[Nosocomial infection in BPH: economic costs and increase in hospital stay].

We present a cohort study where 40 matched pairs of patient (infected and no infected) were included. All of the patients had prostatic benign hyperplasia and open surgery or thransuretral resection was developed. Infected patients stay 3 days more in the hospital and they cost 120.000 pts more than uninfected patients.

Aged↗

Ageing and prostate: age-related changes in androgen receptors of epithelial cells from benign hypertrophic glands compared with cancer.

Total and nuclear androgen receptors (AR) were studied from epithelial cells in internal and external prostatic zones in 51- to 86-year-old individuals with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n = 68) and prostatic cancer (n = 9). We focussed on the role played by androgens on those processes, despite the fact that at these ages, its secretion has normally decreased. In BPH, the nuclear AR do not change, but total measured androgen receptors rise with age (r = 0.5, P < 0.01). Total or nuclear AR do not correlate with gland volume, despite its increase with age (r = 0.8, P < 0.05). In prostates less than 180 cc in volume, there is a significant correlation between size, serum total testosterone level (r = 0.53, P < 0.05) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) (r = 0.63, P < 0.05). The amount of nuclear AR in cells from the external zone (infiltrated by cancer or healthy) is two times greater than in those from the internal region. Total receptor content of the external zone cells is also high, but the sample is too small to demonstrate an age dependence. The results suggest that ageing is accompanied by an accumulation of non-nuclear AR in the cytosol, that does not play a role in the development of BPH because the amount of nuclear receptors remains unaltered. The enrichment in nuclear receptors of the external zone cells, independently of the presence of cancer, points to a greater androgen dependence in these cells than in cells of the internal region.

Aged↗

[The index of PSA age vs PSA density. 2 new instruments in the detection of prostatic carcinoma].

A prospective study was designed to get to know the reliability of PSA density and PSA age index as tools in the diagnostic approach for prostate carcinoma. It was noted that PSA age index is more susceptible than PSA density to diagnose prostate cancer. We noted also that up to 80% of patients with prostate cancer and intermediate PSA levels have PSA density < 0.15 and that, according to current protocols biopsy should not have been performed. It was concluded that the value of PSA age index is at least equal to PSA density, but it eradicates the subjectivity introduced by this data because of the need of measuring prostate volume. We believe that in the future it may be indicated to perform biopsies at PSA levels above 4 ng/ml, and it may be necessary to decrease PSa normal density levels down to 0.1 or less.

Adult↗

[Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the female urethra].

Presentation of one case of benign fibrous histiocytoma of the female urethra in a 49-year old woman. Investigation of the various clinical and diagnostic aspects. Vaginal tumorectomy was curative, and no recurrence was observed 14 months after the control.

Female↗

[Small cell (oat cell) carcinoma of the prostate. Presentation of a case and review of the literature].

Prostate small cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare and fatal condition over which countless enigmas hover both with regard to its origin and biological behaviour as well as to its management, the topic of this paper. We contribute the case of a 69-year old male diagnosed through transrectal biopsy and presenting lung, nodes and bone metastasis who underwent palliative UTR but died within four days of the intervention as a consequence of the metastatic condition. Microscopic and immunohistochemical findings characteristic of this type of tumour are described, emphasising the relevance of diagnosing this entity based on its poor prognosis and different therapeutic approach from that used for typical prostate adenocarcinoma.

Aged↗

Amplification of Epstein-Barr virus genomic sequences in blood cells, lacrimal glands, and tears from primary Sjögren's syndrome patients.

Based on observations of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) following acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, the authors hypothesized that EBV may play a role in the pathogenesis of SS. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating ten peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMN) cell specimens, ten lacrimal gland biopsies, and five tear specimens from 15 EBV-seropositive primary SS patients for EBV genomic sequences using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Epstein-Barr virus DNA sequences were detected in 50% of SS PBMN cell specimens and 80% of SS lacrimal gland and tear specimens. In six SS patients, specimens were obtained from two or more sites (i.e., PBMN cell and lacrimal gland and/or tears), and EBV genomic sequences were amplified in the PBMN cells and the lacrimal gland or tears in three of these subjects. The authors previously detected EBV genomes in 32% (11/34) of normal human lacrimal glands from EBV-seropositive donors using PCR and concluded that the normal human lacrimal gland may be a site of EBV persistence; however, they were unable to amplify EBV sequences in DNA from PBMN cells or tear specimens from normal donors. Amplification of EBV DNA in PBMN cells, lacrimal glands, and tears of primary SS patients at a greater frequency (P less than 0.01) than normal controls suggests that EBV may be a risk factor in the pathogenesis of SS.

Antibodies↗

Detection of herpes viral genomes in normal and diseased corneal epithelium.

Herpetic ocular disease is one of the major causes of corneal blindness. Clinical diagnosis of corneal disease is based principally on corneal appearance. However, abnormal morphology of the corneal epithelium (CE) is not an indicator for the presence of a herpes virus. Further, it has not been established if herpes viruses are present in normal corneal epithelial tissue. In these studies, the polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate normal and diseased corneal epithelium for the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) genomic sequences. Thirty-two normal corneal epithelium specimens obtained from cadavers shortly after death were analyzed for HSV-1, EBV and CMV genomic sequences. Three of the 32 normal CE specimens were positive for amplified EBV DNA, 1 was positive for HSV-1 DNA, and none was positive for CMV DNA. We also tested eight herpetic dendritic lesions of which 3 were HSV-1 culture and PCR positive. The remaining five dendritic lesions were HSV-1 culture and PCR negative. Since these lesions were not evaluated for other herpesviruses, the etiology of these dendritic lesions is unknown. Six corneal epithelium samples from HIV-infected donors were negative for EBV, CMV and HSV-1 amplified sequences. Positive EBV, CMV and HSV-1 serology on all normal donors and on donors with clinically apparent disease did not correlate with positive PCR results. The results of these studies suggest that EBV and HSV-1 DNA can be amplified from a small percentage of apparently normal corneal epithelium.

Adult↗

[Rapidly-growing renal angiomyolipoma associated with pregnancy].

Renal angiomyolipoma is a relatively uncommon entity which can occur either as a solitary angiomyolipoma or associated to a systemic condition such as Bourneville's disease or tuberous sclerosis. Presentation of one case of a large, fast growing renal angiomyolipoma associated to pregnancy, which required surgery during the third month of pregnancy.

Adult↗