OBJETIVO: Comparar o desempenho de duas técnicas de genotipagem de papilomavírus humano (HPV), Linear Array e PapilloCheck, em mulheres com lesão intra-epitelial de alto grau (LIAG).MÉTODOS: Foram selecionadas 88 mulheres com diagnóstico citopatológico de LIAG em 2 centros de referência em patologia cervical em Salvador, Bahia, no período de julho de 2006 a janeiro de 2009. Após o diagnóstico citopatológico de LIAG, foram realizadas a coleta de células do colo uterino para a genotipagem do HPV e a biópsia sob visão colposcópica para análise histopatológica do fragmento retirado. Posteriormente à confirmação de NIC2+ pelo exame histopatológico, foi realizada a genotipagem do HPV em 41 mulheres pelas técnicas Linear Array e PapilloCheck.RESULTADOS: Os dois testes apresentaram taxa de concordância geral para detecção do vírus HPV de 97,2% (35/36). Das 36 amostras válidas, 35 (97,2%) foram consideradas positivas em ambos os testes e apenas uma amostra (2,8%) foi considerada discordante. Os genótipos do HPV mais prevalentes detectados através da técnica do Linear Array foram: HPV 16, HPV 56, HPV 35, HPV 45 e HPV 70; e pela técnica PapilloCheck foram: HPV 16, HPV 56, HPV 11, HPV 35 e HPV 42. Foi observado índice semelhante de infecção por múltiplos tipos do HPV nos dois testes analisados (72,5% no Linear Array e 75,0% no PapilloCheck).CONCLUSÕES: Os testes de genotipagem Linear Array e PapilloCheck apresentaram um desempenho equivalente na detecção dos tipos de HPV oncogênicos em mulheres com LIAG, tendo o PapilloCheck a vantagem de ser um método que evita a subjetividade da leitura dos genótipos de HPV.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the performance of two human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping techniques, Linear Array and PapilloCheck, in women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL).METHODS: A total of 88 women with cytological diagnosis of HSIL were recruited at 2 reference centers in cervical pathology in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, from July 2006 to January 2009. After the cytological diagnosis of HSIL, cervix cells were collected to determine the HPV genotype and a biopsy was obtained under colposcopic vision for histopathological analysis. After the confirmation of CIN2+ by histopathology, HPV genotyping was performed on 41 women by the Linear Array and PapilloCheck methods.RESULTS: Both tests showed an overall concordance rate for HPV detection of 97.2% (35/36). Of the 36 valid samples, 35 (97.2%) were positive in both tests and 1 (2.8%) was discordant, with the Linear Array indicating the presence of multiple types. The most prevalent HPV genotypes detected by the Linear Array technique were HPV 16, HPV 56, HPV 35, HPV 45, and HPV 70; and those detected by the PapilloCheck technique were HPV 16, HPV 56, HPV 11, HPV 35, and HPV 42. A similar rate of infection with multiple HPV types was observed with the two tests (72.5% with the Linear Array and 75.0% with the PapilloCheck).CONCLUSIONS: Linear Array genotyping assay and PapilloCheck showed equivalent performance for the detection of oncogenic HPV types in women with HSIL, with PapilloCheck having the advantage of being a method that avoids subjectivity when reading the HPV genotypes.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated risk factors in HIV-infected pregnant women followed for prenatal care in Salvador, Bahia. This was a cross-sectional study of 63 women seeking prenatal care at a reference center. Participants were interviewed regarding socio-epidemiological and clinical history, and were tested for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti HTLV I/II, VDRL, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, CD4 count, and HIV plasma viral load. The main outcome variable was the presence of any STI. The mean age of patients was 28.2 years (16-40 years). 23 (36.5%) were diagnosed with at least one STI. The frequency of diagnoses was: HBV, 3.2%; HCV, 8.1%; HTLV I/II, 3.4%; syphilis, 9.5%; Chlamydia trachomatis, 11.1%; HPV, 15.0%; Mycoplasma hominis, 2.1%, and Ureaplasma urealyticum, 2.1%. No case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was identified. No association was found between socio-epidemiological variables and the presence of an STI. CD4 T lymphocyte < 500 cells/µl (p = 0.047) and plasma viral load >1,000 copies (p = 0.027) were associated with the presence of sti. stis are frequent in pregnant women infected with hiv, and all hiv-infected pregnant women should be screened to decrease transmission of these pathogens and to protect their own health.

Nódulos tireoidianos pequenos com diagnóstico citológico de padrão folicular causam muita inquietação porque, se por um lado podem representar uma lesão que exige muito rigor no acompanhamento, por outro poderão representar material aspirado do tecido tireoidiano normal. OBJETIVO: Verificar o padrão citológico do tecido tireoidiano normal obtido através de punções aspirativa e não-aspirativa em cadáveres. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional em que se procedeu a dissecção anatômica da tireóide normal e se efetuou a citoaspiração da glândula, em 38 casos. Dois patologistas cegos para a metodologia do estudo, sem conhecer a correspondência entre citologia e histologia, analisaram os esfregaços e os cortes histológicos. RESULTADOS: As tireóides normais forneceram diagnóstico citológico de bócio adenomatoso em 70,4% das vezes para um observador e 92,6% para o outro. Houve uma concordância regular entre os observadores, com kappa de 0,51 (p < 0,0001). Contrariamente ao que se esperava, nenhum caso exibiu padrão folicular nos preparados citológicos. CONCLUSÃO: O aspecto citológico da tireóide normal em cadáveres foi semelhante ao do bócio adenomatoso.

Small thyroid nodules, which are diagnosed as follicular pattern for fine-needle aspiration, are a cause of great worry. They may present a lesion requiring rigorous follow up, or on other hand, there is a risk that some normal thyroid tissue is removed during the procedure. OBJECTIVE: To verify the cytology of a normal thyroid tissue, for aspiration and non-aspiration puncture, in autopsy material. METHODS: Observational study involving the anatomical dissection and cytoaspiration of normal thyroid glands in 38 cadavers. Two blind pathologists, unaware of the cytology and histology, analyzed the smears and the histological cuts. RESULTS: One of pathologists identified a diagnostic cytology of adenomatous goiter in 70.4% of the 38 normal glands found, while the other observed it in 92.4%. There was regular agreement between them, with Kappa of 0.51 (p < 0.0001). Contrary to what was expected, follicular patterns were not found among the cytological samples. RESULTS: The cytological aspect of a normal thyroid in cadavers was the same as that for adenomatous goiter.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) plays a central role in the development of cervical cancer. However, other coexisting factors, such as HIV infection, must be present for this to occur. We evaluated the prevalence of HPV in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the city of Salvador , Bahia, Brazil, and determined the most prevalent types of HPV in these patients. Fifty-five cases were selected from among patients attending three institutions providing cervical pathology services in the city of Salvador. HIV testing (Elisa/WB), HPV-DNA testing by PCR, colposcopy, cytology and biopsy were carried out in all patients. The histopathological results were classified as follows: 11 cases were normal/negative for neoplasia, 15 were diagnosed as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN 1), 10 were CIN 2, 15 cases were CIN 3 and there were four cases of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Among the 55 patients studied, 43 tested positive for HPV-DNA and 20 for HIV. All HIV-positive patients were positive for HPV-DNA. The most prevalent types of HPV were HPV 16, 52, 58, 53, 54, 33 and 51, and there was little difference between the groups of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with respect to the type of HPV encountered. The HIV-positive patients were found to be infected with a greater number of types of HPV than the HIV-negative patients. This study corroborates the existence of regional variations in the distribution of certain types of HPV, which is probably due to the particular ethnic constitution found in this region of Brazil.