Anogenital warts in children: sexual abuse or unintentional contamination? Verrugas anogenitais na infância: abuso sexual ou contaminação não-intencional?

Anogenital warts (AGW) were recently recognized in children, and their significance as an index of childhood sexual abuse is controversial. We report our transdisciplinary approach (including a pediatric surgeon, psychologist, social worker, ethics expert, and occasionally law enforcement agents) and its results in a group of 17 children with AGW treated at the public pediatric referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during a 3-year period (1996-1999). All children were treated by electrocauterization of the warts, tested for other STDs, and submitted to perineal examination under anesthesia. Families received psycho-social counseling as necessary and cases were referred to child protection and law enforcement agents when indicated according to Brazilian legislation. We identified a high incidence of sexual abuse (8 children, 5/7 > 5 years old), with 3 patients inconclusive as to sexual abuse and 7 cases of perinatal transmission (5/8 < 4 years old). We conclude that AGW are indeed a strong sign of suspicion for sexual abuse in children, especially but not exclusively > 5 years of age. However, strong support and a transdisciplinary approach to the children and their families is necessary to identify it.<br>Verrugas anogenitais (VAG) são de reconhecimento recente na criança e seu significado como sinal de abuso sexual é controverso. Relatamos nossa abordagem multidisciplinar (cirurgião pediatra, psicólogo, assistente social, conselheiro de ética e eventualmente agente legal) e seus resultados, num grupo de 17 crianças com VAG tratadas em um hospital público de referência no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, em um período de três anos (1996-1999). Todos foram tratados por eletrocoagulação das verrugas, testadas para outras DSTs, e submetidos a um exame perineal sob anestesia. Todas as famílias foram amparadas pelos assistentes sociais e psicólogos na medida do necessário, e casos de violência comprovada ou suspeita foram encaminhados de acordo com as leis brasileiras. Foi descoberta uma alta incidência de abuso sexual previamente insuspeito (oito crianças, 5/7 dos maiores de cinco anos de idade), três casos foram inconclusivos quanto à presença de abuso sexual e sete foram considerados transmissão não agressiva (5/8 dos menores de quatro anos de idade). Concluímos que VAG em crianças são muito sugestivas de abuso sexual, em especial, mas não exclusivamente, em idade escolar, mas é necessário amplo suporte e abordagem multidisciplinar para evidenciar o abuso ocorrido

Phenotypic changes in low-density lipoprotein particles as markers of adverse clinical outcomes in COVID-19

Background and aims: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plasma concentration decline is a biomarker for acute inflammatory diseases, including coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Phenotypic changes in LDL during COVID-19 may be equally related to adverse clinical outcomes. Methods: Individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19 (n = 40) were enrolled. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 30 (D0, D2, D4, D6, and D30). Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity were measured. In a consecutive series of cases (n = 13), LDL was isolated by gradient ultracentrifugation from D0 and D6 and was quantified by lipidomic analysis. Association between clinical outcomes and LDL phenotypic changes was investigated. Results: In the first 30 days, 42.5% of participants died due to Covid-19. The serum ox-LDL increased from D0 to D6 (p < 0.005) and decreased at D30. Moreover, individuals who had an ox-LDL increase from D0 to D6 to over the 90th percentile died. The plasma Lp-PLA2 activity also increased progressively from D0 to D30 (p < 0.005), and the change from D0 to D6 in Lp-PLA2 and ox-LDL were positively correlated (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001). An exploratory untargeted lipidomic analysis uncovered 308 individual lipids in isolated LDL particles. Paired-test analysis from D0 and D6 revealed higher concentrations of 32 lipid species during disease progression, mainly represented by lysophosphatidyl choline and phosphatidylinositol. In addition, 69 lipid species were exclusively modulated in the LDL particles from non-survivors as compared to survivors. Conclusions: Phenotypic changes in LDL particles are associated with disease progression and adverse clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients and could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker