Almir Antonio Urbanetz

Fatigue after treatment in breast cancer survivors: prevalence, determinants and impact on health-related quality of life

PurposeFatigue is a phenomenon that may persist for years after completion of adjuvant therapy, and is one of the most frequent symptoms associated with breast cancer survivors. The purposes of this study were to investigate the occurrence of fatigue in disease-free breast cancer survivors after treatment, to identify variables associated with fatigue, and to evaluate the impact of fatigue on health-related quality of life.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 202 consecutive women diagnosed with in-situ to Stage III breast cancer attending in outpatient facilities of two large hospitals, one year or more after diagnosis. They completed the Piper Fatigue Scale-Revised and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify predictive factors associated with fatigue. EORTC QLQC-30 scores for fatigued survivors were compared to non-fatigued survivors.ResultsThe prevalence of fatigue reported by the breast cancer survivors was 37.6%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that predictive factors for fatigue included younger age (odds ratio [OR]=2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.11–4.45, p = 0.024); presence of pain (OR = 3.87, 95% CI = 1.88-7.98, p = 0.000); dyspnea (OR = 3.72, 95% CI = 1.46–9.50, p = 0.006); insomnia (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.19–4.86, p = 0.015); and nausea and vomiting (OR = 12.25, 95% CI = 1.18–126.75, p = 0.036). Fatigued women had poorer health-related quality of life than non-fatigued women in all domains.ConclusionOur results suggest that many disease-free breast cancer survivors after treatment experienced fatigue that compromises their health-related quality of life.

Vaccinating against HPV: Physicians’ and medical students’ point of view

The present survey was conducted among medical students and physicians affiliated to the Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil, between August 2006 and December 2007. 252 individuals responded to a questionnaire composed of 13 items regarding their individual status and their personal knowledge of the HPV vaccine properties. The data analysis that was carried out using chi-square test showed that 79.7% of the interviewed population would indicate the vaccine, and mostly, to girls aged 10-15 years old. While vaccine effectiveness and prophylaxis appeared to have been adequately understood, some of its properties such as safety and immunity duration still need further elucidation.

Obstetricians' knowledge of periodontal disease as a potential risk factor for preterm delivery and low birth weight

There is little information about the knowledge and attitudes of physicians regarding oral care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of obstetricians about the relationship between periodontal disease and preterm/low birth weight. A questionnaire was emailed to members of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FEBRASGO). The questionnaire elicited both personal information and knowledge and attitudes regarding the relationship between periodontal diseases and preterm labor. A total of 875 obstetricians responded to the questionnaire. The majority of respondents were female (54.1%), resided in the Southeast (45.6%), worked in both the public and private sectors (61.4%), and had over 15 years of experience in obstetrics (48.9%). A large proportion of obstetricians (93.4%) stated that bacteria were associated with periodontal disease, and 94% reported that periodontitis was a condition more severe than gingivitis. In total, over 80% of participating obstetricians reported smoking, preeclampsia, bacterial vaginosis and periodontal disease as risk factors or possible risk factors for preterm birth or low birth weight. A correlation between the experience of the obstetricians and referral of their patients for dental examinations (p < 0.001) was observed. Also, obstetricians who had had their own dental visits more recently were more likely to recommend the same for their patients (p < 0.001). It is concluded that, although obstetricians were aware of the association between gingival inflammation and adverse obstetric outcomes, the attitudes of these professionals were not in agreement with their apparent knowledge regarding periodontal diseases and their possible repercussions.

Qualidade de vida em pacientes sobreviventes de câncer de mama comparada à de mulheres saudáveis

PURPOSES: To assess the quality of life of breast cancer survivors compared to a sample of age-matched healthy women. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was conducted on 199 consecutive breast cancer survivors, one year or more after diagnosis, treated at two large hospitals. The patients were compared to age-matched healthy women consisting of employees and volunteers of the two hospitals. Quality of life was evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, version Bref (WHOQOL-bref) and socioeconomic, clinical, and treatment data were obtained. The χ2 test and a generalized linear model were used for statistical analysis. The adopted level of significance was 5%. RESULTS: The mean age of breast cancer survivors was 54.4 years (SD=10.4) and the average length of time since diagnosis was 5.0 years (SD=4.6). The survivors reported a poorer overall quality of life (p=0.001), and for the physical (p<0.001), psychological (p=0.002) and environment (p=0.029) domains than the comparison group, after adjusting for potential confounders. There was no significant difference in the social relationships domain (p=0.929) between groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that many breast cancer survivors experienced worse quality of life assessment than healthy women. This information may be useful to establish strategies to improve the quality of life of women with breast cancer.PURPOSES To assess the quality of life of breast cancer survivors compared to a sample of age-matched healthy women. METHODS A cross-sectional design was conducted on 199 consecutive breast cancer survivors, one year or more after diagnosis, treated at two large hospitals. The patients were compared to age-matched healthy women consisting of employees and volunteers of the two hospitals. Quality of life was evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, version Bref (WHOQOL-bref) and socioeconomic, clinical, and treatment data were obtained. The χ² test and a generalized linear model were used for statistical analysis. The adopted level of significance was 5%. RESULTS The mean age of breast cancer survivors was 54.4 years (SD=10.4) and the average length of time since diagnosis was 5.0 years (SD=4.6). The survivors reported a poorer overall quality of life (p=0.001), and for the physical (p<0.001), psychological (p=0.002) and environment (p=0.029) domains than the comparison group, after adjusting for potential confounders. There was no significant difference in the social relationships domain (p=0.929) between groups. CONCLUSION The results suggest that many breast cancer survivors experienced worse quality of life assessment than healthy women. This information may be useful to establish strategies to improve the quality of life of women with breast cancer.

Does human papillomavirus play a role in endometrial carcinogenesis

To determine the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) and endometrial carcinogenesis by comparing data from women with endometrial carcinoma to those of women with normal endometrial tissue. The survey was conducted for 100 women (50 with endometrial carcinoma and 50 with normal endometrial tissue) through HPV-DNA testing of paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue sections by polymerase chain reaction. Age, cigarette consumption, squamous differentiation and tumor grade, endometrium trophism, and HPV types detected in endometrial tissues were studied. HPV estimated odds ratio was similar in endometrial carcinoma and in normal endometrial tissue. The presence of HPV was not associated with age, tobacco abuse, endometrial histology status, squamous differentiation, or tumoral grade. DNA sequences of HPV types 16 and 18 were the most frequently detected in both groups. An association between HPV and endometrial carcinoma was not observed.

Androgênios séricos e densidade mineral óssea em mulheres ooforectomizadas e não ooforectomizadas na pós-menopausa

OBJECTIVE Compare levels of androgens and bone mineral density (BMD) of ovariectomized (OVX) and non-ovariectomized (NOVX) postmenopausal women. Forty women, 20 OVX and 20 NOVX, (53.9 +/- 4 years) were selected. METHODS Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), androstenedione (AN), dehidroepiandrostenedione (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured. BMD was measured in 14 OVX and 16 NOVX. RESULTS No differences between groups with regard to age, body mass index (BMI) and time since menopause were found. Mean levels of TT and FT were two-fold higher in NOVX group (60.91 versus 30.17 ng/dL, p = 0.0001; 1.00 versus 0.48 pg/mL, p = 0.003). BMD was not different between groups. Inverse correlations were found between BMI and TT (r = -0.3; p = 0.05); time since menopause and AN (r = -0.35; p = 0.02) and time since menopause and DHEA (r = -0.3; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Bilateral ovariectomy leads to a more severe androgen deficiency than natural menopause in postmenopausal women and did not compromise bone mass.

Fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a comparative study

PURPOSE To assess fatigue and quality of life in disease-free breast cancer survivors in relation to a sample of age-matched women with no cancer history and to explore the relationship between fatigue and quality of life. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 202 consecutive disease-free Brazilian breast cancer survivors, all of whom had completed treatment, treated at 2 large hospitals. The patients were compared to age-matched women with no cancer history attending a primary health care center. The Piper Fatigue Scale-Revised and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to measure the fatigue and quality of life, respectively. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were also obtained. The χ2 test, generalized linear model, and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for statistical purposes. The adopted level of significance was 5%. RESULTS Breast cancer survivors experienced significantly greater total and subscale fatigue scores than comparison group (all p-values<0.05). In addition, survivors reported a poorer quality of life in physical (p=0.002), psychological (p=0.03), and social relationships (p=0.03) domains than comparison group. No difference was found for the environmental domain (p=0.08) for both groups. For survivors of breast cancer and for comparison group, the total and subscale fatigue scores were related to lower quality of life (all p-values<0.01). CONCLUSION The findings of this study highlight the importance of assessing fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

Características ecográficas do corpo lúteo em gestações iniciais: morfologia e vascularização

PURPOSE the purpose of this research was to evaluate the morphological aspects and vasculature of the corpus luteum (CL) based on ultrasound parameters during early pregnancy and to assess their relationship with early pregnancy loss. METHODS this was a prospective cohort study of 90 pregnant patients between 6 and 8 weeks plus 6 days weeks of gestation. We included women at low risk, without acute or chronic systemic disease and with spontaneous conception. EXCLUSION CRITERIA use of drugs or smoking, drugs inducing ovulation, history of more than one abortion, no heartbeat visible in the embryo and impossibility of visualization of the corpus luteum. The size, volume, morphological aspects, resistive index, and peak systolic velocity of the corpus luteum were measured by transvaginal sonography. RESULTS ninety patients were included in the study. Maternal age ranged from 15 to 41 years (mean 28.6 ± 5.8 years). The corpus luteum could be visualized in 87 patients (96.7%), 79 patients had normal pregnancies (90.1%), whereas spontaneous losses occurred in 8 cases (9.9%). In a comparison of the survivors and losses, there was no difference in mean CL diameter (21.8 versus 20.0 mm; p=0.108, Mann-Whitney test), mean CL volume (4.2 versus 3.0 cm³; p=0.076, Mann-Whitney test), mean resistive index (0.55 versus 0,58; p=0.220, Mann-Whitney test), peak systolic velocity (15 versus 15 cm/s; p=0.757, Mann-Whitney test). There was a positive relation between maternal age and resistive index. CONCLUSIONS no apparent correlation was found between the morphological and vascular aspects of the corpus luteum in early normal pregnancies and first-trimester pregnancy losses.

The prevalence and clinical associations of hypovitaminosis D in pregnant women from Brazil

To study the prevalence and the clinical and demographic associations of hypovitaminosis D in pregnant women from southern Brazil.

Uterus Didelphys with Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis (OHVIRA Syndrome).

This paper aimed to report a series of 19 cases of uterus didelphys associated with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis. This retrospective descriptive observational study included the medical records of 19 patients seen at the Endocrinology Gynecology Sector of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Federal University of Paraná, and focused on clinical data, complementary exams, patient management, and follow-up. From the 229 patients with genital anomalies seen between 1984 and 2009, 19 (8.3%) were diagnosed with uterus didelphys with vaginal septum and renal agenesis. The patients had a median age of ±16.3 years. Eight subjects (42.6 %) reported abdominal pain; two of them (0.1%) had pelvic masses and seven (36.8%) had dysmenorrhea. Blood retention was confirmed by ultrasound and/ or magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis, which revealed the existence of a duplicated uterus of the didelphys type with a cystic mass containing old blood obliterating the hemivagina. Urinary tract examination revealed the existence of ipsilateral renal agenesis. Unusual manifestations such as associated infection and rupture of the vaginal septum during sexual intercourse were also reported. The prevalence of uterus didelphys associated with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis was 8.3% in a series of 229 genital anomalies. The observance of clinical features is essential for the early identification of the syndrome and the adequate management of the patients.