Abstract INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of low bone mass is 3 times higher in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) and using antiretrovirals than in the HIV-unaffected population. Changes in vitamin D levels is one of the factors associated with decreased bone mass. The objective of this study is to evaluate the low bone mass and altered vitamin D levels in PLWH who have not been exposed to antiretrovirals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with HIV-infected individuals between the ages of 18 and 55 years immediately prior to the start of antiretroviral therapy in a specialized reference center focusing on infectious and parasitic diseases. Results of clinical examination (patient’s weight, height, blood pressure, and clinical history), laboratory tests, and X-ray absorptiometry, were collected. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included, with a mean age of 34 years. Nine (16.7%) patients presented with low bone mass and 4 (7.1%) patients showed low total femur BMD. Analysis revealed that 23.3% and 36.7% of the patients had deficient and insufficient levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study population presented with compromised bone health and with low bone mineral density and 25-(OH)-vitamin D levels.

ABSTRACT The lipid accumulation product (LAP) index is an emerging cardiovascular risk marker. We aimed to assess the accuracy of this index as a marker of cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients. A cross-sectional study of 133 HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral drugs and 20 non-infected controls was conducted at the outpatient clinic of a referral center of infectious and parasitic diseases. Evaluations included LAP index, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, glucose tolerance test, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Body mass index (BMI) was similar in both groups; however, waist circumference was greater in the HIV-infected patients. Triglyceride levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) and HDL cholesterol levels were lower in HIV-infected patients (p < 0.001). Plasma glucose (p = 0.01) and insulin (p = 0.005) levels two hours after a glucose load, HOMA-IR index (p < 0.001) and LAP index (p < 0.001) were higher in the HIV-infected patients. A positive and significant correlation was found between HOMA-IR index and LAP (r = 0.615; p < 0.01), BMI (r = 0.334; p < 0.01) and waist circumference (r = 0.452; p < 0.01) in the HIV-infected patients. In male HIV-infected patients and controls, ROC curve analyses revealed that the best cut-off value of LAP to define the presence of insulin resistance was 64.8 (sensitivity 86%, specificity 77% and area under the curve 0.824). These results confirm that insulin resistance is more common in HIV-patients on antiretroviral drugs than in HIV-negative controls. A positive and significant correlation was found between the LAP index and the HOMA index, with LAP ≥ 64.8 constituting an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease in male HIV patients.

Resumo As informações fornecidas sobre prevalência e os motivos da recusa de voluntários a participar em pesquisa científica são escassas. Este artigo objetiva descrever esses dados em coorte voltada a avaliar morbimortalidade de pessoas vivendo com HIV/aids (PVHA) a partir de estudo transversal realizado no Centro de Treinamento e Referência em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias. Foram obtidas as informações: origem, data de nascimento, idade, sexo e motivo do não consentimento, quando aplicável. Falta de tempo para se dedicar a pesquisa foi o principal motivo alegado para o não consentimento (63%), seguido por medo de falta de sigilo (17%). Não houve diferença estatística entre os que aceitaram ou não participar por sexo, idade ou origem do serviço. Consideraram-se elevados os percentuais de recusa de PVHA (40,7%), bem como de falta de tempo disponível para participação (63%).

Abstract The information provided regarding the prevalence and reasons why volunteers refuse to participate in scientific research is sparse. This article aims to describe the prevalence and reasons for refusing to voluntarily participate in the cohort study whose objective is to evaluate morbidity and mortality amongst people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), through a cross-sectional study conducted at the Centro de Treinamento e Referência em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias (Training and Referral Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases). The following information was obtained: origin, date of birth, age, gender, and reason for not consenting, when applicable. The lack of time to devote to the research was the main reason given (63%), followed by fear of lack of confidentiality (17%). There was no statistical difference among those who accepted or not to participate in terms of gender, age or origin of the service. The percentage of PLWHA who refused to participate in the study (40.7%) and lack of time available for their participation (63%) were considered high.

Resumen Las informaciones disponibles respecto a la prevalencia y a los motivos de la negación de voluntarios para participar de investigaciones científicas son escasas. Este artículo tiene como objetivo describir la prevalencia y los motivos de la negación a participar voluntariamente en una cohorte dedicada a evaluar la morbilidad y la mortalidad de personas que viven con VIH/SIDA, a partir de un estudio transversal realizado en el Centro de Capacitación y Referencia en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias. Se obtuvieron las siguientes informaciones: origen, fecha de nacimiento, edad, sexo y motivo del no consentimiento, cuando correspondiera. La falta de tiempo para dedicarse a la investigación fue el principal motivo alegado para el no consentimiento (63%), seguido por el temor a la no confidencialidad (17%). No hubo diferencias estadísticas entre los que aceptaron participar o no de acuerdo a sexo, edad u origen del servicio. Se consideraron elevados los porcentajes en la negación de las personas que viven con VIH/SIDA a participar de la investigación (40,7%), así como la falta de tiempo disponible para esta participación (63%).

Objetivo: determinar valores de referência regionais para a excreção urinária de cálcio, ácido úrico e citrato e estabelecer correlação entre essas excreções em urina em 24h e amostras únicas, para uso na prática clínica. Material e métodos: 125 crianças e adolescentes saudáveis, selecionados aleatoriamente, foram submetidos ao protocolo: exame clínico, bioquímica de sangue, hemograma, paratormônio, urina em 24h, urina em amostra única colhida com jejum, e exame parasitológico de fezes.Resultados: o valor máximo para a excreção de cálcio em urina em 24h foi 3,75mg/kg, em mg/dl do ritmo de filtração glomerular - RFG foi 0,10, e, para a relação cálcio/creatinina(mg/dl) na urina, em amostra única em jejum, foi de 0,25. Observou-se correlação positiva entre a excreção de cálcio em urina em 24h, e urina em amostra única em jejum (mg/dl e mg/dl do RFG). Os valores máximos para a excreção de ácido úrico em urina em 24h foram 600, 450 e 320mg e 13, 15 e 18 mg/kg para adolescentes, escolares e pré-escolares, respectivamente; em mg/dl do RFG em amostra única de urina foi 0,47. Observou-se correlação positiva para a excreção de ácido úrico em urina em 24h e urina em amostra única em jejum. Os valores médios para a excreção de citrato em urina em 24h foram 1,6, 1,1 e 0,5mmol para adolescentes, escolares e pré-escolares, respectivamente; para a relação citrato/creatinina em urina, em amostra única, com jejum, foi 0,3. Conclusões: as excreções de cálcio e ácido úrico em urina em 24h se correlacionaram com aquelas das amostras urinárias simplificadas, permitindo o uso destas para diagnósticos metabólicos, estudos populacionais e controle de pacientes hipercalciúricos e hiperuricosúricos sem controle de esfíncter vesical; o quociente citrato/creatinina em urina, em amostra única, pode ser utilizado para controle de pacientes com hipocitratúria.

Objective: to obtain regional reference values for calcium, uric acid and citrate urinary excretion and establish a correlation between those excretions in 24-hour urine sample and single urine sample for their use in clinical practice. Methods: a hundred and twenty-five healthy children and adolescents were randomly chosen and submitted to the following protocol: clinical examination, biochemical analysis of blood, blood cell count, parathormone, 24-hour urine, fasting urine sample and stool test.Results: the maximum value of calcium excretion in 24-hour urine was 3.75mg/kg; in mg/dl of the glomerular filtration rate, it was 0.10; and for the calcium/creatinine (mg/dl) ratio in the fasting urine sample was 0.25. Positive correlation was observed between calcium excretion in the 24-hour urine and the fasting sample (mg/dl and mg/dl of glomerular filtration rate). The maximum values of uric acid excretion in 24-hour urine were 600, 450, and 320mg and 13, 15 and 18mg/kg for adolescents, school and preschool children, respectively; in mg/dl of glomerular filtration rate, in the fasting urine sample, it was 0.47. Positive correlation was observed for the uric acid excretion in 24-hour urine and fasting urine samples. The mean values for the citrate excretion in 24-hour urine were 1.6, 1.1 and 0.5mmol for adolescents, school and preschool children, respectively; for citrate/creatinine ratio, in the fasting urine sample the mean value was 0.3.Conclusions: the calcium and uric acid excretion in 24-hour urine showed correlation with those in the fasting urine sample, which allows their use for metabolic diagnosis, population studies and follow-up of patients with hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria without voiding control; the citrate/creatinine ratio in the fasting urine sample can be used for controlling patients with hypocitraturia.