The pesticides use and the risk for head and neck cancer:a review of case-control studies

Tobacco, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection are the most common risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC). Despite of this, recent evidences are growing on the association between long-term exposure to pesticides and the risk of chronic diseases, including different types of cancer. The present review evaluated in current literature evidence of an association between exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of HNCs. A literature search of the case-control studies was conducted in the PubMed, Web of science and Cochrane databases. Methodological quality of each study was rated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN 50) checklist. One thousand and thirty-five studies were identified and twelve met all criteria and, therefore, considered for quality assessment and data extraction. According to SIGN 50 criteria, six studies received an overall high-quality. All the studies considered of high quality found a positive association between exposure to pesticides and different HNC sites, including larynx, pharynx and nasal cavity. In addition, the increased risk was associated with the frequency of exposure. Finally, improving pesticide users' awareness of their risks and proper handling, as well as adopting protective measures such as the use of personal protective equipment, appear to be effective in reducing human health damage

Oral paracoccidioidomycosis in a non-endemic region from Brazil: a short case series

Although the paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is endemic in Brazil, the occurrence in most states from the North and Northeastern Brazil is very unusual. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of a case series of oral PCM in a non-endemic region from Brazil (Northeastern region), discussing the clinical and histopathological differential diagnoses of the oral manifestations of the disease. Between 2000 and 2017, all cases of oral PCM were retrieved from the Oral Pathology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, located at Northeastern Brazil. Clinical data, such as age, gender, origin, occupation, site, symptoms, time of complaints, clinical presentation, number of lesions, and clinical hypotheses of diagnosis, were collected from the clinical charts. All cases were histologically reviewed in hematoxylin-eosin and Gomori-Grocott staining. Six cases were identified. All patients were male, with a mean age of 53.8 years (ranging from 40 to 73 years). Four cases appeared as multiple ulcers and two presented single lesions (buccal mucosa and hard palate). Clinically, in five cases, squamous cell carcinoma was considered in the differential diagnosis. The common histopathological features consisted of hyperplastic epithelium, intraepithelial microabscesses, and formation of granulomatous chronic inflammatory reaction in a fibrous connective tissue with severe chronic inflammatory reaction. Yeasts were observed either inside of multinucleated giant cells or extracellularly. Although rare in non-endemic regions, oral PCM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral chronic ulcers, mainly those multiple

Perfil epidemiológico de hanseníase no sertão Pernambucano, Brasil / Epidemiological profile of hanseníase in sertão Pernambucano, Brazil

A Hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica causada por Mycobacterium leprae, considerada um grave problema saúde pública mundial. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo traçar um perfil epidemiológico da Hanseníase no sertão pernambucano, tomando por base os dados eletrônicos do SINAN e DATASUS (ambos ligados ao Ministério da Saúde). A partir dessas fontes, realizou-se um estudo de série histórica observacional do tipo transversal dos casos notificados de Hanseníase entre os anos de 2006 a 2017. De acordo com os dados, observa-se que esse agravo apresentou um decréscimo no número de novos casos, na medida em que se constatava 43.642 casos no ano de 2006 contra 26.875 novos casos em 2017. Essa realidade, embora evidencie uma notável redução no número de novos casos de hanseníase, evoca a responsabilidade dos órgãos públicos de saúde no que tange à manutenção do controle desse agravo, assim como a criação de novas medidas que busquem a prevenção e a erradicação desse enfermo no território nacional.