Demographic determinants of survival of people living with HIV attending an outpatient reference unit in the city of Três Lagoas, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in the period 1984-2009.

Introduction: While the incidence of HIV infection and AIDS is increasing in small Brazilian cities, epidemiological studies are often conducted in large urban centers.

Methods: Our group conducted a retrospective analysis of survival determinants among 358 patients who attended a reference unit in a small city.

Results: Death risk was lower among men that had sex with men, patients with an HIV-seropositive partner, and those admitted after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was available.

Accuracy of chest radiography plus electrocardiogram in diagnosis of hypertrophy in hypertension.

Background: Chest radiography and electrocardiogram have been criticized due to their low sensitivity for Left Ventricular Hypertrophy diagnosis compared to echocardiogram. This one, however, is not available in primary health care centers to all hypertensive population.

Objective: To evaluate whether the association chest radiography-electrocardiogram provides the accuracy to justify its use in left ventricular hypertrophy detection in hypertensive patients, as well as the usefulness of the cardiothoracic ratio and oblique radiographs in relation to frontal and lateral views in evaluating dimensions of left cardiac chambers.

Bone marrow necrosis related to paracoccidioidomycosis: the first eight cases identified at autopsy.

Aims: To report the first eight bone marrow necrosis (BMN) cases related to paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) from patient autopsies with well-documented bone marrow (BM) histology and cytology.

Methods And Results: A retrospective evaluation was performed on BM specimens from eight autopsied patients from Botucatu University Hospital with PCM-related BMN. Relevant BMN literature was searched and analysed.

[Seroprevalence of Chagas infection among inhabitants of municipalities in the Botucatu region, State of São Paulo].

The aim of this study was to look for evidence of vector transmission of Chagas disease, in and around the homes of individuals living in municipalities in the Botucatu region who presented a positive xenodiagnosis. Fifty-eight subjects were studied and blood samples were collected from them for laboratory analysis. The results from this study showed that the individuals in both groups presented low formal education levels and had been working in unskilled professions There was a slight predominance of females.

Definition of a diagnostic routine in individuals with inconclusive serology for Chagas disease.

Despite the existence of highly sensitive tests, inconclusive serological results are frequent in chronic chagasic infection. This study aimed to define a diagnostic conduct for 30 individuals with inconclusive serology (G3) for chagasic infection assisted at the Outpatient Unit for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of the Botucatu School of Medicine. Twenty-one individuals with negative serology (G1) and 33 with positive serology (G2) were also studied.

Tuberculin testing of individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus: relationship with peripheral T-cell counts and active tuberculosis.

Objective: To evaluate tuberculin test results and relate them to the presence or absence of active tuberculosis, as well as to CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts.

Method: The charts of 802 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treated between August of 1985 and March of 2003 were reviewed. Of the 185 patients submitted to tuberculin tests (23.

Dysautonomia and ventricular dysfunction in the indeterminate form of Chagas disease.

Background: The associations between autonomic function and biventricular function in patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas disease remains to be elucidated.

Methods: In 42 asymptomatic patients and 19 healthy volunteers, the autonomic function was assessed by time domain indices of heart rate variability (HRV), analyzed for 24 h; the right ventricular function was assessed by fraction area change, right ventricle shortening, and systolic excursion of the tricuspid valve; and the left ventricular function was assessed by ejection fraction and transmitral flow velocities. Data were expressed as mean+/-SD or medians (including the lower quartile and upper quartile).

[Soroprevalence of HTLV-I/II, HIV, siphylis and toxoplasmosis among pregnant women seen at Botucatu - São Paulo - Brazil: risk factors for HTLV-I/II infection].

In order to asses the soroprevalence of HTLV- I/II, HIV, siphylis, and toxoplasmosis infection among pregnant women seen at Basic Health Units in the municipality of Botucatu - São Paulo - Brazil, and risk factors for HTLV- I/II infection, sorologic surveys were carried out and results of sorologic surveys carried in pregnance routine evaluation were assessed. Seroprevalence was 0.1% (1 in 913) for both HTLV-I and HTLV-II.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Brazil.

Aim: To describe the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in Brazil and analyze the impact of federal government measures addressing the problem since its onset.

Method: Retrospective review of AIDS epidemic data from its onset in 1980 up to the last published data in June 2001.

Results: AIDS was first reported in Brazil in 1980.