Self-management of immunomodulatory drug treatment in multiple myeloma patients.

Objective: Immunomodulatory drugs (IMIDs: thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide) are widely used in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of our study was to validate a questionnaire to evaluate the self-capacity of MM patients to manage IMID treatment including side effects.

Methods: We used a method adapted from the recommendations of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) to validate a French questionnaire for patients with MM treated with IMIDs.

Serological biomarkers for monitoring response to treatment of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in children and adolescents.

Key measures to halt the spread of tuberculosis (TB) include early diagnosis, effective treatment, and monitoring disease management. We sought to evaluate the use of serum immunoglobulin levels against antigens present in cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to monitor TB treatment response in children and adolescents with pulmonary (PTB) or extrapulmonary TB (EPTB). Blood samples were collected prior to and one, two, and six months following treatment initiation.

Review of the missed opportunities for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV in Brazil.

Objective: The present literature review aims to highlight gaps in the treatment of preventative mother-to-child HIV transmission and the risk factors in Brazil.

Methods: Among the 425 articles identified in SciELO and PubMed searches, 59 articles published between 1994 and 2016 were selected for reading and data extraction, and 33 articles were included in the present review.

Results: The rates of vertical HIV transmission described in the studies varied widely, from 1.

Retrospective analysis of risk factors and gaps in prevention strategies for mother-to-child HIV transmission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Despite great progress made in methods to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT), delivery and uptake of these measures remains a challenge in many countries. Although the Brazilian Ministry of Health aimed to eliminate MTCT by 2015, infection still occured in 15-24% of infants born to HIV-infected mothers. We sought to identify remaining factors that constrain MTCT elimination.