Quality of life in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Objective: To verify the Quality of life for the Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) patients. These subjects have a higher risk for severe visual loss, due to the vascular retina complications. Methods: We evaluated the Quality of Life of 61 PDR patients, over 18 years old, who have been followed up in the Ophthalmology Clinic of the Clinical Hospital of Medicine School of Sao Paulo, Brazil. All patients data were obtained using a questionnaire of health quality of life "WHOQOL-Bref-Portuguese version-1998", and the statistical analysis was done using SPSS program. The 61 patients were classified in two groups: Group I, with 28 patients (46%), with better visual acuity (VA) of 20/200 and Group II, with 33 patients (54%), with worse or equal VA of 20/200. Results: No statistical significant difference (SSD) was observed between the groups, regarding to physical domain (p= 0,255) and psychological domain (p=0,287). SSD was observed between the groups, regarding to social domain (p=0.019) and environment domain (p=0.009). Conclusion: Patients with poor VA can be equivalent with those with better vision in physical and psychological domains (no SSD). The SSD regarding to social and environment domains demonstrate the lack of social support for people living with severe visual loss.67417718

Silent dissemination of HTLV-1 in an endemic area of Argentina. Epidemiological and molecular evidence of intrafamilial transmission

Molecular and epidemiological studies of transmission routes and risk factors for infection by HTLV-1 are extremely important in order to implement control measures, especially because of the high prevalence of HTLV-1 in several regions of the world. San Salvador de Jujuy, Northwest Argentina, is a highly endemic area for HTLV-1 and foci of tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy.To gain further insight into the role of intrafamilial transmission of HTLV-1 in a highly endemic region in Argentina.Cross-sectional study in Northwest Argentina. Epidemiological data and blood samples were collected from 28 HTLV-1 infected subjects (index cases) and 92 close relatives/cohabitants. HTLV-1 infection was diagnosed by detection of antibodies and proviral DNA. The LTR region was sequenced and analyzed for genetic distances (VESPA software), in addition to determination and identification of polymorphisms to define HTLV-1 family signatures.Fifty seven of the 120 subjects enrolled had antibodies against HTLV-1 and were typified as HTLV-1 by PCR. The prevalence rate of HTLV-1 infection in family members of infected index cases was 31.52% (29/92). The infection was significantly associated with gender, age and prolonged lactation. Identity of LTR sequences and presence of polymorphisms revealed high prevalence of mother-to-child and interspousal transmission of HTLV-1 among these families.There is an ongoing and silent transmission of HTLV-1 through vertical and sexual routes within family clusters in Northwest Argentina. This evidence highlights that HTLV-1 infection should be considered as a matter of public health in Argentina, in order to introduce preventive measures as prenatal screening and breastfeeding control