Biomolecular Study of the Correlation Between Papillomatosis of the Vulvar Vestibule in Adolescents and Human Papillomavirus

The main goal of this study was to investigate, through a biomolecular study, the correlation between papillomatosis of the vulvar vestibule and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, as well as to establish the necessity of treatment. A total of 44 female adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age were selected through a prospective study with a confirmed diagnosis of papillomatosis of the vulvar vestibule. Vulvar biopsies were obtained for the histological and biomolecular detection of HPV DNA through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty (45%) adolescents were virgins (group A), the other 24 (55%) were sexually active. The virgin adolescents (group A) and 12 sexually active adolescents (group B) did not show cytological and/or colposcopic alteration, suggesting infection by HPV either on the cervix or vagina. These were compared with 12 other sexually active adolescents who showed cervicovaginal infection caused by HPV (group C). Fisher exact test was applied for statistical analysis of the results, considering alpha equal or less than 0.05. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to HPV DNA through PCR among virgin and sexually active adolescents in group B, however, both differed from those in group C (A + B × C: p = 0.048*). The histological study did not reveal evident signs of infection caused by HPV on vestibular papillae, besides perinuclear halos. HPV DNA was detected on vestibular papillae in 27%. Our results confirmed a scarce correlation between vestibular papillae and HPV. Thus, we consider papillomatosis of the vulvar vestibule, in most cases, to be equivalent to physiological papillomatosis and, therefore, should not be treated

Evaluation of Stature Development During Childhood and Adolescence in Individuals with Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets

This review was conducted to study the diagnosis, treatment, and growth progression in infants and adolescents with familial hypophosphatemic rickets. The bibliographic search was carried out utilizing the electronic databases MEDLINE, OVID, and LILACS and by direct research within the last 15 years using the keywords rickets, familial hypophosphatemia, vitamin D deficiency, stature growth, childhood, and adolescence. Article selection was done by comparing the evaluation of the growth in patients with familial hypophosphatemic rickets, including the variables that might affect them, for possible future therapeutic proposals. It is concluded that the most significant fact in the treatment of familial hypophosphatemic rickets in infancy was the magnitude of the final stature. The use of growth hormone can be helpful in these patients. However, research reporting treatments with the use of the growth hormone for rickets are controversial. The majority of the authors agree that treatment using vitamin D and phosphate enables some statural growth in cases of early diagnosis, reflecting a better prognosis

Medical Students: Abuse of Psychoactive Substances and Sexuality Aspects

University students aged 17 to 24 years of age are prone to many risk factors. OBJECTIVES: Identify risk factors related to exploring sexuality and characteristics of consumption of psychoactive substances in students attending medical school. METHODS: 465 Medical students from Santa Casa of São Paulo Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCMSCSP) were prospectively and transversely evaluated during 2005. An anonymous, semi-structured, self-filling questionnaire was used. The average age of the students was 21.5 years, 43% females. 76.2% preferred alcohol, and 11.1% tobacco consumption; chloroethane (lança-perfume) consumption occurred in 22.6% and 15.3% consumption of other types of illicit drugs, with marijuana as the most used one (94%). 70.3%, of the parents drink alcohol and 30.5% smoke tobacco. As for the students\u27 sexuality, 85.3% have already had sexual intercourses, starting at average age of 17. 88.8% used condom during the first sexual intercourse, however, 35.6% did not use it regularly; 5.4% had already had some type of DST. 79.8% of the females preferred having used contraceptive methods; however, 28.1% had a suspicion of pregnancy, which was confirmed in 7.9% of the cases. 9.9% of the students had ideas of abortion, 12.5% have effectively attempted it. 85% found medical school stressing and to relieve tension, 33.8% practiced sports; 6.9% preferred either licit or illicit drug consumption, and 5% used tranquilizers. The results showed risk behaviors: unsafe sex and the use of licit and illicit drugs indicated the need to establish guidance programs on reproductive health, improving self-esteem, and prevention during medical education

Pregnant Teenager Involvement in Sexual Activity and the Social Context

Pregnancy during adolescence represents a challenge to society as a whole. Its incidence is increasing and brings about social and medical consequences to both the teen mothers and their children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pregnant teenager involvement in sexual activity and the social context. The group studied comprised 152 pregnant teenagers attending the Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo (SCSP) General Hospital. All information was analyzed. The age at first intercourse was 14.2 years and the average period between first intercourse and pregnancy was 1.4 years. Most pregnancies (75%) were neither planned nor wanted, however, most teen mothers (64.3%) did not use any contraceptive method. Of the pregnant teenagers, 68.1% came from unstructured families where in 71% of the teen pregnancy cases, there was a role model (mother, sister, or cousin who already experienced teen pregnancy). The average number of school years attended by the analyzed pregnant teenagers was 8.1 years, however, there was a high dropout rate of 40.1%. The age at first intercourse was low and concurs with the high incidence of unstructured families. The average number of school years attended was high, which would theoretically reflect a greater knowledge with regard to human reproduction, pointing to the multicausality of teen pregnancy and the role played by the family. Conclusions: We confirmed that teen pregnancy presents multicausal etiology; sexual initiation of pregnant teenagers was quite early with high dropout rates, which indicated that prevention methodology should be based on early detection of risk factors for elaboration of appropriate prevention proposals

Sexuality and Persons with Down Syndrome. A Study from Brazil

In recent years, important gains and changes have been observed in the life of teenagers with Down syndrome (DS) with increased inclusion into society. This review will discuss adolescence and sexuality in teenagers with DS from a descriptive study of 50 patients with DS between the ages of 10 and 20 years. The mean age was 13.5 years, 50% females; 86% went to school with 62.2% in school for over six years. Of the patients that attended school, 60% went to special education school and only 10% read and wrote correctly. In an evaluation of autonomy, 66% took showers, 78% performed their physiological needs, 77% intimate hygiene and 76% oral hygiene without help. 42% affirmed being able to do anything that is asked; 22% perform all tasks in the home; 10% felt they were incapable of doing anything and 4% used public transportation without help. 42% of the teenagers masturbated, 24% on a daily basis, 75% in private, and 25% in a public location. 42% had already kissed at a mean age of 12.9 years, mean age of the partner 16.1 years; 26.8% of these partners had DS. 82% found themselves attractive and 33% would not change anything in their appearance. We found that they presented normal development in the exercise of their sexuality, but with important difficulties in their autonomy and difficulties in school, needing careful interventions to make their social interaction the best possible. Their pubertal development was normal and they were satisfied with their body image with future perspectives of working, finding a partner, and living a normal life of getting married and having children

Medical students: abuse of psychoactive substances and sexuality aspects.

UNLABELLED: University students aged 17 to 24 years of age are prone to many risk factors. OBJECTIVES: Identify risk factors related to exploring sexuality and characteristics of consumption of psychoactive substances in students attending medical school. METHODS: 465 Medical students from Santa Casa of São Paulo Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCMSCSP) were prospectively and transversely evaluated during 2005. An anonymous, semi-structured, self-filling questionnaire was used. The average age of the students was 21.5 years, 43% females. 76.2% preferred alcohol, and 11.1% tobacco consumption; chloroethane (lança-perfume) consumption occurred in 22.6% and 15.3% consumption of other types of illicit drugs, with marijuana as the most used one (94%). 70.3%, of the parents drink alcohol and 30.5% smoke tobacco. As for the students\u27 sexuality, 85.3% have already had sexual intercourses, starting at average age of 17. 88.8% used condom during the first sexual intercourse, however, 35.6% did not use it regularly; 5.4% had already had some type of DST. 79.8% of the females preferred having used contraceptive methods; however, 28.1% had a suspicion of pregnancy, which was confirmed in 7.9% of the cases. 9.9% of the students had ideas of abortion, 12.5% have effectively attempted it. 85% found medical school stressing and to relieve tension, 33.8% practiced sports; 6.9% preferred either licit or illicit drug consumption, and 5% used tranquilizers. The results showed risk behaviors: unsafe sex and the use of licit and illicit drugs indicated the need to establish guidance programs on reproductive health, improving self-esteem, and prevention during medical education

Medical Students: Abuse of Psychoactive Substances and Sexuality Aspects

University students aged 17 to 24 years of age are prone to many risk factors. OBJECTIVES: Identify risk factors related to exploring sexuality and characteristics of consumption of psychoactive substances in students attending medical school. METHODS: 465 Medical students from Santa Casa of São Paulo Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCMSCSP) were prospectively and transversely evaluated during 2005. An anonymous, semi-structured, self-filling questionnaire was used. The average age of the students was 21.5 years, 43% females. 76.2% preferred alcohol, and 11.1% tobacco consumption; chloroethane (lança-perfume) consumption occurred in 22.6% and 15.3% consumption of other types of illicit drugs, with marijuana as the most used one (94%). 70.3%, of the parents drink alcohol and 30.5% smoke tobacco. As for the students\u27 sexuality, 85.3% have already had sexual intercourses, starting at average age of 17. 88.8% used condom during the first sexual intercourse, however, 35.6% did not use it regularly; 5.4% had already had some type of DST. 79.8% of the females preferred having used contraceptive methods; however, 28.1% had a suspicion of pregnancy, which was confirmed in 7.9% of the cases. 9.9% of the students had ideas of abortion, 12.5% have effectively attempted it. 85% found medical school stressing and to relieve tension, 33.8% practiced sports; 6.9% preferred either licit or illicit drug consumption, and 5% used tranquilizers. The results showed risk behaviors: unsafe sex and the use of licit and illicit drugs indicated the need to establish guidance programs on reproductive health, improving self-esteem, and prevention during medical education