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J C Prolla

Publications and source records attributed to J C Prolla.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Combined carcinoembryonic antigen and cytopathologic examination in ascites.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate use of the combined carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test and cytopathologic examination to improve the diagnosis of neoplastic vs. nonneoplastic ascites. STUDY DESIGN: The tests were performed prospectively on 130 patients with ascites whose effusions were submitted for cytologic examination. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients had epithelial tumors, and the cytologic examination was positive in 39 (58.2%). The CEA level was > or = 11.0 ng/mL in 36 patients (53.73%). CEA was helpful in the diagnosis in 18 cases, increasing to 57 (85.07%) the number of positive diagnoses. Eight samples of nonepithelial tumors had low levels of CEA. In 55 patients with nonneoplasic ascites the cytopathologic examination was negative, but the CEA assay was > 11.0 ng/mL in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: The cytopathologic examination should be performed in all cases, and the CEA assay should be done in suspected cases of epithelial neoplasia in which the cytologic examination was negative, there was uncertainty about the histologic type of neoplasia, or a diagnosis of nonepithelial neoplasia was made. When ascitic leukocytosis or hepatic failure is present, one should be cautious in interpreting the CEA assay because false positivity can occur.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rapid rescreening of cervical smears for internal quality control.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of quick rescreening as an internal quality control for cervical smears previously screened as negative and to compare this method with clinically indicated rescreening of negative smears and with further 10% random rescreening. STUDY DESIGN: In a small-workload laboratory with many different types of indications for cytology, during a three-month period, all gynecologic cytology smears considered negative for significant findings (anything above atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)/atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) in the Bethesda System) or inadequate were quickly rescreened using a 10 x objective. RESULTS: Of the total 2,188 smears processed, 164 (7.5%) were excluded from rapid review because they were positive on routine screening, and 2,024 cases were subjected to rapid rescreening: 1,925 (95.1%) cases were considered negative and 99 (4.9%) positive for significant findings; 58 of the latter were confirmed and 41 not confirmed by the cytopathologist's detailed examination. The 58 confirmed cases were classified as: 43 ASCUS/AGUS, 14 of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and 1 of invasive cancer. No cases of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion were detected. CONCLUSION: Considering that the routine screening and internal quality control of the laboratory had detected 117 positive cases, the additional 58 represent a definite increase in the efficiency of a small-workload laboratory. In such a clinical setting, no additional case of a high grade lesion was detected by rapid rescreening. The increase in cost and time was considered very reasonable, and the method was incorporated as quality control for the laboratory. Clinically indicated rescreening of negative smears and random 10% rescreening after random rescreening did not add significantly to quality assurance.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Imagequest. A model self-assessment and self-teaching program for cytopathology.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a low-cost program for providing self-assessment and training for cytopathologists. STUDY DESIGN: Using an optical microscope with a color charge coupled device connected to a personal computer equipped with an ISA bus frame grabber, images were digitized. After the selection of proper images, they were attached to 100 questions with a single answer and five options each. For every question, references accompanied the answer. A colorful score and sounds were played while each question and its corresponding answer were on the screen in order to stimulate the learning process. RESULTS: A low-cost, attractive, effective program for providing self-assessment and training for cytopathologists was developed. CONCLUSION: The use of a high-level programming language permits the creation of a simple, assisted, programmable interface with accessibility for upgrades and customization for every pathologist. This feature permits the insertion of new questions, an essential feature to preserve the usefulness of the program for the future.

Cell Biology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[High temperature "matè" infusion drinking in a population at risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus].

UNLABELLED: "Matè", a popular hot infusion of a herb (Ilex paraguayensis) drunk in large volumes, is a known risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and there is a suspicion that high temperature of boiled water used for the infusion may contribute for carcinogenesis. METHODS: We measured the temperature of "matè" infusion drunk by a sample of the population at risk for this carcinoma in Taquara, southern Brazil. We interviewed inhabitants for drinking habits and the temperature of the infusion was measured with high precision thermometers. Temperature of the infusion was asked to consumers and their estimate compared to our measurements. We considered 60 degrees C or higher as "hot". RESULTS: In 36 residencies, 107 individuals were drinking "matè". Most individuals drank it daily (97.2%), and the medium daily volume was 1,265 ml (SD +/- 1,132 mL) ranging from 250 to 6,000 mL. The measured temperature was 60 degrees C or higher in 72% of residencies with medium of 63.4 degrees C (51-78 degrees C) and median 64.4 degrees C. CONCLUSION: In this study, "matè" was consumed in large volumes at high temperature and individuals did not estimate correctly the temperature of infusion. High temperatures of "matè" may contribute to carcinogenesis in this population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical and endoscopic aspects in the evolution of patients with bleeding peptic ulcer--a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding ulcers are a major problem in public health and represent approximately half of all the cases of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the United States. This study aims to determine the prognostic value of factors such as clinical history, laboratory and endoscopic findings in the occurrence of new episodes of bleeding in patients who have upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by gastric or duodenal peptic ulcer. METHODS: A cohort study with 94 patients was designed to investigate prognostic factors to the occurrence of new episodes of bleeding. RESULTS: From the 94 patients studied, 88 did not present a new bleeding episode in the 7 days following hospital admission. The incidence of rebleeding was significantly higher in those patients with hemoglobin < 6 g/dL at the admission (P = 0.03, RR = 6.2). The localization of the ulcers in bulb was positively associated to rebleeding (P = 0.003). The rebleeding group needed a greater number of units transfunded (P = 0.03) and the time of hospitalization was longer than the time of the hemostasia group (P = 0.0349). CONCLUSIONS: The identification of patients with risk of death by bleeding peptic ulcer remains as a challenge, once few factors are capable of predicting the severity of the evolution. The identification of such factors will allow the choice of the better therapeutic conduct improving the diagnosis and decreasing the rate of rebleeding and the mortality.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Micronuclei research the esophageal mucosa and its relationship with risk factors with cancer of the esophagus].

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the frequency of micronucleus in esophageal mucous cells of smokers, consumers of alcoholic beverages and "maté" drinkers. METHODS: Material collected from the midlle esophagus in 250 consecutive patients submitted to upper digestive endoscopy was stained with acridine orange and the cytologist determined the number of micronuclei vizualized per each 500 cells examined. RESULTS: The frequency of micronucleated cells did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) when the following variables were considered: sex, place of residence (rural or urban), type of care (outpatient or inpatient), ingestion of alcohol. For two variables, smoking and "maté" consumption, there were significant differences in the frequency of micronuclei in the categories exposed and formerly exposed in relation to never exposed. CONCLUSION: A higher frequency of micronucleus in the esophageal mucous in smoking and "maté" drinkers was evidenced by this study.

Alcoholic Beverages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Esophageal dysplasia and chronic esophagitis: detection at upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy.

UNLABELLED: Cancer of the esophagus becomes symptomatic at an advanced phase with a late diagnosis, when the tumor is already incurable. Early diagnosis has been shown to improve the survival rates. Conventional esophagoscopy is largely available but its sensitivity to detect early cancer or precancerous lesions remains controversial. In this study we tested the sensitivity of conventional esophagoscopy to identify suspicious areas and compared to histopathology of endoscopic biopsies to detect dysplasia and chronic esophagitis in a population at risk for cancer in southern Brazil. Adult males scheduled to have outpatient endoscopy were examined by two experienced endoscopists and any small (< 5 mm) plaque, nodule, erosion, hyperemia and or friable areas of the mucosa were biopsied and looked for the presence of early cancer or precancerous lesions. Normal appearing mucosa at the middle third of the esophagus was also biopsied and results compared for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value. Of the 89 individuals with satisfactory biopsies, 3 had dysplasias, 29 moderate or severe chronic esophagitis and 57 normal findings at the histopathological study. We found no early cancer. We found two large, vegetating lesions confirmed to be advanced squamous cell carcinoma but they were excluded from analysis. To detect dysplasia or moderate/severe chronic esophagitis conventional esophagoscopy had a sensitivity of 40.6%, specificity of 78.9%, positive predictive value of 52% and negative predictive value of 70.3. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, conventional esophagoscopy had a low sensitivity to detect dysplasias and/or chronic esophagitis and techniques to improve endoscopic identification of these lesions in individuals at risk for cancer are much needed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction in a 10 year period at a cancer referral center in southern Brazil].

UNLABELLED: There is increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction in the USA and Europe, however, data in Brazil are scanty. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We reviewed all histology confirmed esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancer reports during a 10-year period (1987-1996) obtained by upper digestive endoscopy biopsies at a cancer referral center in Southern Brazil. Cancer cases were classified in three categories: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and others. RESULTS: Among 349 cases, adenocarcinoma was found in 53 (15.2%), squamous cell carcinoma in 283 (81.1%) and others in 13 (3.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence of adenocarcinoma was 15%.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Direct-vision endoscopic cytology and biopsy in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric tumors: current experience.

In a series of 183 patients with proven cancers of the esophagus and stomach, endoscopic cytology was positive in 155 or 84.7 per cent. Endoscopic biopsy in 173 of these patients was positive in 137 or 79 per cent. At least one of the techiques was positive in 164 patients or 94.8 per cent. These results emphasize the overall accuracy of endoscopic cytology and biopsy and their complementary value in detection of malignancy. Meticulous care in technique is stressed for achievement of such accuracy rates.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Geographical differences in esophageal neoplasm mortality in Rio Grande do Sul].

Mortality data from cancer of esophagus were studied in the 24 microregions of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, from 1970 to 1989, in males and females. The mortality data were calculated through information from the Health Department of RS and the population was obtained in IBGE and FEE. The average, the standard deviation and, by linear regression, the angular parameter of the temporal series for the State and each microregion, were calculated. We noticed great differences between the average of death rates in the 24 microregions, with values between 16.49 to 4.74, in males. The microregions of the south of the State, where there are many farms, revealed higher death rates of mortality by esophageal cancer. The tendency showed to be ascending in 54% of the microregions, in the males.

Brazil↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Mortality from uterine cervix cancer in Rio Grande do Sul].

The mortality from cervical cancer was studied by checking the death rates in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and in its 24 microregions. Each tendency (linear regression), in the period from 1970 to 1989, was also investigated. We have also studied the relative rates of this kind of cancer, the comparison with the rate in other places and the risk factors. The data were obtained at the Office of Health in Rio Grande do Sul as well as in the Statistics and Geography Brazilian Institute and World Health Organization. The average mortality rates/100,000 women in RS (1970-1989) was 3.8, with ascending tendency. Important differences in the death rates in the 24 microregions in RS were observed and they ranged from 2.5 to 6.7. The cervical cancer was the fourth cause of death in women from RS (mortality by cancer), in 1989. Papillomaviruses and smoking were important factors in the development of cervical cancer.

Brazil↗