Objetivos: A terapia antirretroviral altamente ativa (HAART) tem melhorado e aumentado a vida de milhares de pessoas que vivem com a infecção pelo HIV/AIDS em todo o mundo. No entanto, este tratamento pode levar ao desenvolvimento da síndrome da lipodistrofia (LDS). Este estudo foi desenvolvido para avaliar a prevalência de auto-relato de LDS, perfil nutricional e medidas antropométricas de pacientes com HIV/AIDS. Métodos: Estudo observacional de 227 pacientes adultos, divididos em: Grupo 1: 92 pacientes em HAART e com LDS; Grupo 2: 70 pacientes em tratamento com HAART e sem LDS e Grupo 3: 65 pacientes que não tomam HAART. O estado nutricional foi avaliado pelo índice de massa corporal (IMC) e o percentual de gordura corporal (%GC) por meio de medidas antropométricas. Resultados: A prevalência de auto-relato de LDS foi de 44% entre as mulheres e 39% entre os homens. DC do tríceps (PCT) apresentou-se mais elevada no grupo HAART e LDS (homens p < 0,001; mulheres p < 0,007) em comparação com aqueles sem HAART, respectivamente. IMC revelou excesso de peso para a maioria dos indivíduos. Conclusões: As medidas antropométricas foram úteis para confirmar a prevalência de auto-relato da síndrome da lipodistrofia. A avaliação das dobras dos braços e pernas revelou-se um bom método para avaliação antropométrica de lipoatrofia de membro, independentemente do sexo. Estes resultados permitiram o estabelecimento de estratégias para o diagnóstico precoce da LDS na prática clínica, em pessoas vivendo com HIV / AIDS.

Introduction: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has improved and extended the lives of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS around the world. However, this treatment can lead to the development of adverse reactions such as lipoatrophy/lipohypertrophy syndrome (LLS) and its associated risks. Objective: This study was designed to assess the prevalence of self-reported lipodystrophy and nutritional status by anthropometric measurements in patients with HIV/AIDS. Methods: An observational study of 227 adult patients in the Secondary Immunodeficiencies Outpatient Department of Dermatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (3002 ADEE-HCFMUSP). The sample was divided into three groups; Group 1 = 92 patients on HAART and with self-reported lipodystrophy, Group 2 = 70 patients on HAART without self-reported lipodystrophy and Group 3 = 65 patients not taking HAART. The nutritional status of individuals in the study sample was determined by body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat (% BF). The cardiovascular risk and diseases associated with abdominal obesity were determined by waist/hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC). Results: The prevalence of self-reported lipoatrophy/lipohypertrophy syndrome was 33% among women and 59% among men. Anthropometry showed depletion of fat mass in the evaluation of the triceps (TSF) in the treatment groups with HAART and was statistically independent of gender; for men p = 0.001, and for women p = 0.007. Similar results were found in the measurement of skin folds of the upper and lower body (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003 respectively). In assessing the nutritional status of groups by BMI and % BF, excess weight and body fat were more prevalent among women compared to men (p = 0.726). The WHR and WC revealed risks for cardiovascular and other diseases associated with abdominal obesity for women on HAART and with self-reported LLS (p = 0.005) and (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Anthropometric measurements were useful in the confirmation of the prevalence of LLS. BMI alone does not appear to be a good parameter for assessing the nutritional status of HIV-infected patients on HAART and with LLS. Other anthropometric measurements are needed to evaluate patients with the lipoatrophy/lipohypertrophy syndrome.

O número de dosagens do nível sérico de vitamina D tem apresentado crescimento muito expressivo nos últimos anos em todo o mundo. No Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo houve aumento de cerca de 700% em quatro anos nas solicitações desse hormônio. No entanto, há controvérsias na literatura sobre a real utilidade de sua dosagem e/ou suplementação, exceto em situações diretamente relacionadas ao metabolismo ósseo. No presente trabalho são revistos o metabolismo, as fontes e as ações da vitamina D no organismo. Estudos observacionais, ensaios clínicos, revisões sistemáticas e metanálises, cujo foco é a relação entre vitamina D e doenças ou condições clínicas, como câncer, doenças cardiovasculares, diabetes e quedas, foram pesquisados na literatura, analisados e discutidos. Os resultados estão apresentados em forma de perguntas e respostas, tabelas e figura. Discute-se o papel da vitamina D em todas essas situações, e salientam-se os pontos controvertidos.

Recent years have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of seric determinations of vitamin D, in aworldwide basis. At Hospital das Clínicas of Faculdade de Medicina of Universidade de São Paulo that increase reached 700% over the last four years. Nevertheless there are many controversies on the literature about the role of vitamin D in conditions unrelated to themusculoskeletal system. In this study the metabolism, sources and actions of vitamin D on the body are reviewed. Observational studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews and metanalysis which focused on the relationship between the vitamin and conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and falls were searched on the literature, analyzed and discussed. Results are presented as quiz and answer, tables and a figure. The role of vitamin D on the above-mentioned conditions is discussed, and the controversial issues stressed.

A proteína C reativa (PCR) é uma das proteínas de fase aguda cuja solicitação tem crescido de forma exponencial em vários países, incluindo o Brasil. Neste estudo, a utilidade da PCR em diversas situações clínicas foi revisada por um grupo de médicos composto por especialistas em Medicina Interna, Emergências Médicas, Terapia Intensiva, Rastreamento e Medicina Laboratorial com o objetivo de analisar a literatura pertinente e propor diretrizes para o uso mais racional desse exame laboratorial. O resultado foi a criação de fluxogramas orientadores da solicitação de PCR adaptados a quatro ambientes assistenciais diferentes, sendo eles unidades de terapia intensiva, pronto-socorro, enfermarias e ambulatórios. Esses fluxogramas e uma discussão mais detalhada sobre as diversas indicações clínicas do exame são apresentados neste estudo.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein whose requests have been growing exponentially in several countries, including Brazil. In this study, the use of CRP in several clinical situations was reviewed by a group of physicians comprised by specialists in internal medicine, medical emergencies, intensive care, screening, and laboratory medicine, aiming to analyze the applicable literature and to propose guidelines for a more rational use of this laboratory test. The result was the creation of flowcharts guiding CRP request, adjusted to four different healthcare environments, namely, intensive care units, emergency room, wards, and outpatient clinics. These flowcharts, as well as a more detailed discussion on several clinical recommendations for the test, are presented in this study.

It has been reported that production of IL-2 and IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</FONT>, known as T-helper type 1 cytokines, by peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) decreases with progression of HIV infection. In contrast, IL-4 and IL-10 production, Th2 cytokine profile, increases with HIV disease progression. PBMC were evaluated from 55 HIV-infected subjects from Divisão de Imunologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, to "in vitro" cytokines production after 24 hours of stimulation with PHA. Low levels of IL-4 production in both HIV- infected patients and normal subjects, were detected. The patients with CD4+ T cell counts <200 showed a significant decrease of IL-2 and IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</FONT> production compared to controls. Patients with higher counts of CD4+ T cells (either between 200-500 or >500 cells/mm3) also showed decreased production of IL-2 that was not statistically significant. There was a correlation between IL-2 and IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</FONT> release with CD4+ T cells counts. HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4+ T cells >500 cells/mm3 showed increased levels of IL-2 and IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</FONT>, than individuals with CD4+ T cells <500 cells/mm3. In conclusion, we observed a decline of IL-2 and IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</FONT> production at advanced HIV disease. IL-4 production was not affected during HIV infection. Taken together, these findings suggest that the cytokine profile might be influenced by the HIV infection rather than the cause of disease progression.

Prevalência de infecção HTLV-I e HTLV-II em portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1 da cidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil Indivíduos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV-1) geralmente apresentam infecções por múltiplos patógenos, dentre eles, os HTLV-I e HTLV-II. Estes foram descritos com freqüência variável em pacientes com AIDS e portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1, tanto na Europa como no Japão. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de determinar a prevalência de infecção HTLV-I e -II em portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1 da cidade de São Paulo, e comparar os resultados obtidos com os descritos em literatura e os por nós anteriormente publicados. Foi detectada infecção HTLV em 1,5% dos 266 portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1 e 14% dos 28 casos de AIDS analisados. Com base em dados epidemiológicos foi confirmado como sendo o principal fator de risco para adquirir a coinfecção HIV/HTLV, o uso de injetáveis

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-infected subjects with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are often infected with multiple pathogens. In particular, HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections have been found more frequently in AIDS patients than in asymptomatic individuals in Europe and Japan. We carried out a serosurvey among asymptomatic HIV-1-infected subjects in São Paulo, Brazil and compared our results with those of other investigators. In this study, we found HTLV infection in 1.5% of 266 asymptomatic and 14% of 28 AIDS patients. Epidemiological data obtained from patients pointed out the use of intravenous drugs as the principal risk factor for acquiring retroviruses. In conclusion, our results are in accordance with other studies done in Brazil and elsewhere where the principal risk group for HIV/HTLV-I/II coinfection was IDU