SUMMARY OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate CD56 immunostaining in the stroma of benign and malignant ovarian epithelial neoplasms and associate the CD56 immunostaining with prognostic factors and survival in ovarian cancer. METHODS: Patients with ovarian epithelial neoplasia (n=77) were studied with a prospective cohort. The CD56 immunostaining was evaluated in the peritumoral stroma. Two groups were evaluated: benign ovarian neoplasms (n=40) and malignant ovarian neoplasms (n=37). Data were recorded for histological type and grade, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging, molecular subtype, and lymph node metastases. Fisher’s exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used, with a significance level of ≤0.05. RESULTS: We found greater CD56 stromal immunostaining in malignant neoplasms when compared to the group of benign neoplasms (p=0.00001). There was no significant difference in relation to the prognostic factors and survival. CONCLUSION: Malignant ovarian neoplasms showed higher stromal CD56 immunostaining. As the prognostic value of natural killer in ovarian cancer is controversial, knowing the specific function of each cell present both in the tumor tissue and systemically may help guide successful immunotherapies in the near future.

■ RESUMO Introdução: O alívio da dor após a cirurgia continua sendo um dos desafios médicos mais significativos, principalmente na cirurgia estética. A infiltração da incisão cirúrgica com anestésicos locais tem sido cada vez mais utilizada para reduzir a dor e o uso de analgésicos. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre o efeito desta injeção na cicatrização. O objetivo é avaliar a interferência dos anestésicos locais na área de infiltrado inflamatório e cicatriz de fibrose em ratos. Métodos: Duas incisões lineares foram feitas cada uma na região dorsal de 40 ratos Wistar. A incisão esquerda foi infiltrada com doses de 1,8ml de bupivacaína, levobupivacaína, ropivacaína ou solução salina 0,9%. A incisão direita não recebeu infiltração, servindo como grupo controle. Após sete dias, amostras das incisões foram coletadas para avaliação morfométrica histológica. Resultados: Quando comparada com os grupos controle, a área de infiltrado inflamatório encontrada foi maior nos grupos bupivacaína, ropivacaína e levobupivacaína. O grupo bupivacaína apresentou um infiltrado inflamatório maior do que a levobupivacaína e a ropivacaína. A área da cicatriz fibrosa foi maior nos grupos levobupivacaína e ropivacaína. Não houve diferença entre os grupos que receberam anestésico e solução salina. Conclusão: Como não houve diferença entre os grupos de anestésico e soro fisiológico, o volume aplicado ou o trauma podem ter sido a causa das maiores áreas de infiltração e cicatriz associadas à aplicação dos anestésicos locais.

■ ABSTRACT Introduction: Pain relief after surgery remains one of the most significant medical challenges, mainly in aesthetic surgery. The infiltration of the surgical incision with local anesthetics has been increasingly used to reduce pain and other analgesic use. However, little is known about the effect of this injection on healing. The objective is to evaluate the interference of local anesthetics in the area of inflammatory infiltrate and fibrosis scar in rats. Methods: Two linear incisions each were made on the dorsal region of 40 Wistar rats. The left incision was infiltrated with doses of 1.8ml of bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, ropivacaine, or 0,9% saline solution infiltration. The right incision did not receive infiltration, serving as a control group. After seven days, samples of the incisions were collected for histological morphometric evaluation. Results: When compared with the control groups, the area of inflammatory infiltrate was found larger in the bupivacaine, ropivacaine, and levobupivacaine groups. The bupivacaine group presented a larger inflammatory infiltrate than the levobupivacaine and ropivacaine. The fibrous scar area was larger in the levobupivacaine and ropivacaine groups. There was no difference between the groups that received anesthetic and saline solution. Conclusion: As there was no difference between the anesthetics and saline solution groups, the volume applied, or the trauma may have been the cause of the larger areas of infiltrating and scar associated with local anesthetics application.

Resumo O tabagismo é um fator de risco para sérios problemas de saúde e está associado a diversas alterações nos tecidos da cavidade oral. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a porcentagem de colágeno, densidade de mastócitos e intensidade de células imunomarcadas por anti-HIF-1α na musculatura lingual de ratos expostos passivamente à fumaça principal do cigarro. Vinte e sete ratos Wistar albinos fêmeas foram divididos em três grupos: ratos não expostos à inalação da fumaça do tabaco (grupo controle) (n=7); ratos expostos à inalação da fumaça por 30 dias (TAB 30) (n=10); e ratos expostos à inalação da fumaça por 45 dias (TAB 45) (n=10). Posteriormente, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia e remoção da língua para processamento e análise histológica e imuno-histoquímica. Nos grupos TAB 30 e TAB 45, houve diminuição do percentual de colágeno, maior densidade de mastócitos e maior intensidade de células imunomarcadas por anti-HIF-1α em comparação ao grupo controle. Houve também correlação positiva e significativa entre a porcentagem de colágeno e a densidade de mastócitos. Não houve diferença significativa entre TAB 30 e TAB 45 em nenhum dos parâmetros avaliados. Portanto, a exposição passiva de ratos à fumaça principal do cigarro por 45 dias provoca diminuição das fibras de colágeno perimisial, aumento do número de mastócitos e aumento da imunomarcação para o HIF-1α em células musculares linguais. O presente estudo foi o primeiro a avaliar a porcentagem de colágeno, densidade de mastócitos e imunomarcação para o HIF-1α em línguas de ratos expostos à fumaça do tabaco.

Abstract Smoking is a risk factor for serious health problems and is associated with several changes in the tissues of the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the collagen percentage, mast cells density, intensity of immunolabeled cells by anti-HIF-1α in the musculature lingual of rats exposed to secondhand smoke. Twenty-seven female Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: rats not exposed to tobacco smoke inhalation (Control group) (n=7); rats exposed to smoke inhalation for 30 days (TAB 30) (n=10); and rats exposed to smoke inhalation for 45 days (TAB 45) (n=10). Subsequently, the animals were submitted to euthanasia and removal of the tongue for histological and immunohistochemistry processing and analysis. In the groups TAB 30 and TAB 45 there were a lower percentage of collagen, a higher density of mast cells and a greater intensity of anti-HIF-1α immunolabeled cells compared to Control group. There was also a positive and significant correlation between the percentage of collagen and mast cell density. There was not significative difference between TAB 30 e TAB 45 in any of the parameters evaluated. Therefore, the exposure of rats to secondhand smoke for 45 days causes decrease in perimysial collagen fibers, increase in the number of mast cells and increase in the immunolabeling for HIF-1α in lingual muscle cells. The present study was the first to evaluate the percentage of collagen, mast cell density and immunostaining for HIF-1α in rat tongues exposed to tobacco smoke.

RESUMO Racional: A inibição ácida pelo uso crônico de inibidores de bomba de prótons e o possível aumento da gastrina podem ser seguidos de alterações na regulação da produção do ácido clorídrico. Ainda não está definido se o uso crônico altera a quantidade de células G, D e ECL no estômago ou a razão células G/D. Objetivo: Avaliar o número de células G - produtoras de gastrina -, células D - produtoras de somatostatina - e células ECL - produtoras de histamina -, em pacientes com uso crônico de inibidores de bomba de prótons, com ou sem infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori. Método: Trata-se de estudo retrospectivo avaliando 105 pacientes, 81 usadores crônicos de inibidores de bomba de prótons e 24 controles, através de biópsias com contagem das células G, D e ECL por estudo imunoistoquímico, de forma quantitativa onde havia maior número de células positivas por campo microscópico de grande aumento e em 10 glândulas. Resultados: Não houve diferença estatística comparando-se o número de células G, D e ECL. A razão entre as células G e D foi maior nos pacientes usadores crônicos de inibidores de bomba de prótons. Conclusão: O uso crônico de inibidores de prótons parece não interferir na contagem das células G, D e ECL, porém, interfere na razão entre as células G e D.

ABSTRACT Background: Acid inhibition from chronic proton pump inhibitor use and a possible increase in gastrin can lead to changes in the regulation of hydrochloric acid production. However, it has not known whether such chronic use changes the presence of gastrin, delta, and enterochromaffin-like cells in the stomach or the relationship between gastrin and delta cells. Aim: To analyze the number of gastrin-producing gastrin cells, somatostatin-producing cells, and histamine-producing cells in patients who were chronic users of proton pump inhibitor, with or without related Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: Biopsies from 105 patients, including 81 chronic proton pump inhibitor users (experimental group) and 24 controls, were processed immunohistochemically and subjected to counting of gastrin, delta, and enterochromaffin-like cells in high-magnification microscopic fields and in 10 glands. Results: Gastrin cell, delta cell, and enterochromaffin-like cells counts were similar across the groups and appeared to be unaffected by Helicobacter pylori infection. The ratio between gastrin cells and delta cells was higher in the chronic users of proton pump inhibitor group than in controls. Conclusion: Chronic users of proton pump inhibitor does not affect gastrin cell, delta cell, and enterochromaffin-like cell counts significantly, but may alter the ratio between gastrin cells and delta cells.

ABSTRACT Although the salivary glands present several functions, there are few studies evaluating these glands in Chagas disease (CD). This study aimed to compare the percentage of collagen, the presence of inflammation, the density of chimase and tryptase mast cells, the area and density of lingual salivary gland acini in autopsied individuals with and without (CD). We analyzed 400 autopsy reports performed in a tertiary public hospital from 1999 to 2015 and selected all the cases in which tongue fragments were collected (27 cases), 12 with chronic CD without megaesophagus (CH) and 15 without CD (non-chagasic - NC). The histological sections of the tongue were stained by Picrosirius red for collagen evaluation and Hematoxylin-eosin for morphometric evaluation of salivary gland acini and inflammation. Anti-chimase and anti-tryptase antibodies were used for the immunohistochemical evaluation of mast cells. The chagasic patients presented higher volume and lower density of salivary glands acini. There was no difference in the collagen percentage, inflammation and density of mast cell chymase and tryptase between the groups. Although we did not observe a significant difference between the groups regarding the collagen percentage, inflammatory process and mast cell density, our results suggest that even without megaesophagus, chagasic patients present hypertrophy of the lingual salivary glands and lower acinar density probably due to mechanisms independent of the esophagus-glandular stimulus.

ABSTRACT Trypanosoma cruzi and Helicobacter pylori (HP) are pathogens that cause chronic diseases and have been associated with hypergastrinemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fasting gastrin levels in patients with different clinical forms of Chagas disease (CD), coinfected or not by HP. The enrolled individuals were outpatients attending at the university hospital. HP infection was assessed by serology and 13 C-urea breath test. Fasting serum gastrin concentration was measured by chemiluminescence assay. Gastric endoscopic and histological features were also evaluated. Associations between CD and serum gastrin level were evaluated in a logistical model, adjusting for age, gender and HP status. A total of 113 patients were evaluated (45 with Chagas disease and 68 controls). In the multivariate analysis, increasing serum gastrin levels (OR= 1.02; 95% CI= 1.01-1.12), increasing age (OR= 1.05; 95% CI= 1.02 - 1.09) and HP-positive status (OR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.10 - 7.51) remained independently associated with CD. The serum gastrin levels were significantly higher in the group of patients with the cardiodigestive form ( P = 0.03) as well as with digestive form ( P = <0.001) of Chagas disease than in the controls. In conclusion, patients with cardiodigestive and digestive clinical forms of CD have increased basal serum gastrin levels in comparison with controls. Moreover, we also demonstrated that H. pylori coinfection contributes to the hypergastrinemia shown in CD.

ABSTRACT The authors describe histological changes in the latissimus dorsi muscle submitted to expansion after relaxation with botulinum toxin. The possible practical benefits include increased muscle compliance and better accommodation of a prosthesis. The experimental model involved 10 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) of the same age, with average weight of 300 g. Muscle biopsies before and after expansion were performed in normal muscle, in a control group (with expanders alone), and in a group with expanders and botulinum toxin. Expanders measuring 3 cm3 were positioned below the muscle and expanded with 0.3 ml of saline weekly, for 10 weeks. Histological sections were stained using hematoxylin-eosin for general evaluation and Masson’s trichrome for evaluation of connective tissue. The muscle fibers submitted to expansion under the action of botulinum toxin showed less fibrosis and less intense proliferation of blood vessels than in the group without botulinum toxin, and the atrophy and reduction in the number of muscle fibers were less prominent than in the group that did not receive botulinum toxin. The findings suggest that muscle expansion associated with botulinum toxin relaxation preserves skeletal muscle characteristics by providing better accommodation and protection for a prosthesis and facilitating expansion dynamics; this method may also reduce pain.

RESUMO Os autores descrevem as alterações histológicas no músculo grande dorsal submetido à expansão após relaxamento com toxina botulínica e as possíveis correlações dos achados com os benefícios práticos como, por exemplo, aumento da complacência muscular e melhor acomodação da prótese. Foi empregado o modelo experimental, com dez ratas com peso médio de 300 g, mesma faixa etária, da cepa Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) e o músculo grande dorsal. Biópsias musculares foram feitas antes e após as expansões, no músculo normal, no grupo controle (apenas com expansores) e no grupo com expansores e toxina botulínica. Expansores de 3 centímetros cúbicos eram posicionados abaixo do músculo e expandidos com 0,3 mililitros de soro fisiológico semanalmente, por 10 semanas. Os cortes histológicos foram corados segundo as técnicas de Hematoxilina-eosina, para avaliação geral, e tricrômio de Masson para avaliação do tecido conjuntivo. As fibras musculares submetidas à expansão sob a ação da toxina botulínica apresentaram focos de fibrose e proliferação de vasos sanguíneos menos intensos que no grupo sem toxina botulínica e a diminuição do número de fibras musculares e a atrofia eram menores que no grupo que não utilizou a toxina. Os achados nos permitem presumir que a expansão muscular associada ao relaxamento com toxina botulínica preserva as características da musculatura esquelética, oferecendo melhor acomodação e proteção da prótese e facilitando a dinâmica da expansão, além de diminuir a dor.

RESUMO Os tumores lipomatosos fibro-histiocíticos hemossideróticos são neoplasias raras que foram descritas pela primeira vez em 2000. Inicialmente considerada uma lesão lipomatosa benigna dos tecidos moles, atualmente é considerado um tumor localmente agressivo. Essas lesões ocorrem principalmente no pé e no tornozelo das mulheres na quinta e sexta décadas de vida, embora possam ser encontrados em qualquer lugar nos membros inferiores e, mais raramente, em outras partes do corpo. Histologicamente, tumores lipomatosos fibro-histiocíticos hemossideróticos são formados por uma combinação de tecido adiposo maduro, fascículos de células fusiformes, macrófagos que contêm frequentemente hemossiderina citoplasmática, infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear e estroma, que pode ser focalmente mixoide. Há recidiva local em quase um terço dos casos. Não existe consenso na literatura se esse tumor faz parte de um espectro que envolve os tumores angiectásicos hialinizantes pleomórficos e os tumores fibroblásticos mixoinflamatórios malignos ou se configura uma entidade independente. Relatamos um caso de uma neoplasia com diagnóstico inicial de tumor lipomatoso fibro-histiocítico hemossiderótico em uma mulher de 38 anos, com duas recorrências e posterior transformação sarcomatosa. O estudo imuno-histoquímico indicou diferenciação miofibroblástica da neoplasia maligna. Encontramos apenas poucos casos relatados de transformação maligna de tumor lipomatoso fibro-histiocítico hemossiderótico.

ABSTRACT Hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors are rare neoplasms that were first described in 2000. Initially considered a benign lipotamous lesion of the soft tissues, nowadays they are considered to be a locally aggressive tumor. They occur mainly in the foot and ankle of women in their fifth and sixth decades, although they may be found in any place in the lower limbs and, more rarely, in other parts of the body. Histologically, hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors consist of a mixture of mature adipose tissue, fusiform cell fascicles, macrophages that often contain cytoplasmic hemosiderin, mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, and stroma that may be focally myxoid. Local recurrence is observed in nearly one-third of all cases. There is no consensus in the literature whether this tumor is a part of a spectrum that comprises pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumors and myxoinflammatory fibroblastic malignant tumors, or if it is an independent entity. The authors report a case of a neoplasia after a diagnosis of a hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor in a 38-year-old woman, with two recurrences and later sarcomatous transformation. An immunohistochemical study indicated myofibroblastic differentiation of a malignant neoplasm. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are only few reported cases of malignant transformation in hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors.

RESUMO CONTEXTO A obesidade mórbida é doença multifatorial cujo tratamento cirúrgico é cada vez mais indicado. OBJETIVO Avaliar alterações histopatológicas gástricas em obesos e comparar com os submetidos à bypass gastrojejunal e a mucosa jejunal após a operação. MÉTODOS Estudo observacional realizado em hospital público terciário avaliando biópsias endoscópicas de 36 pacientes no pré-operatório e 35 no pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: No pré-operatório 80,6% apresentaram gastrite crônica, 38,9% em atividade (77,1% e 20,1%, respectivamente, no pós-operatório). O grupo pós-operatório apresentou diminuição significativa na infecção por Helicobacter pylory (P=0,0001). Maior comprimento do coto gástrico e tempo de operação superior a dois anos associaram-se a infecção por Helicobacter pylori. A mucosa jejunal foi normal em 91,4% e apresentava leve inflamação crônica inespecífica em 8,6%. CONCLUSÃO Houve diminuição da infecção por Helicobacter pylori após a operação. Maior comprimento do coto gástrico e do tempo de operação associaram-se à infecção por Helicobacter pylori. A mucosa jejunal foi considerada normal na maioria absoluta dos pacientes do grupo pós-operatório.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Morbid obesity is a multifactorial disease that is increasingly treated by surgery. OBJECTIVE To evaluate gastric histopathological changes in obese, and to compare with patients who underwent gastrojejunal bypass and the jejunal mucosa after the surgery. METHODS This is an observational study performed at a tertiary public hospital, evaluating endoscopic biopsies from 36 preoperative patients and 35 postoperative. RESULTS In the preoperative group, 80.6% had chronic gastritis, which was active in 38.9% (77.1% and 20.1%, respectively, in the postoperative). The postoperative group had a significant reduction in Helicobacter pylori infection (P=0.0001). A longer length of the gastric stump and a time since surgery of more than two years were associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. The jejunal mucosa was normal in 91.4% and showed slight nonspecific chronic inflammation in 8.6%. CONCLUSION There was a reduction in the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the postoperative group. A longer length of the gastric stump and longer time elapsed since surgery were associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. The jejunal mucosa was considered normal in an absolute majority of patients.

Objetivo Comparar a acurácia diagnóstica dos critérios citológicos clássicos de Meisels com a dos critérios secundários de Schneider em relação a captura híbrida para o diagnóstico de infecção pelo HPV. Métodos Trata-se de estudo retrospectivo realizado em hospital público universitário. Quarenta e uma pacientes com diagnóstico citológico de infecção pelo HPV e 40 pacientes HPV-negativas foram selecionadas para avaliação dos esfregaços cervicaisvaginais em busca dos critérios clássicos e secundários. Um único patologista reviu as lâminas. Os critérios citológicos clássicos e secundários foram comparados com a captura híbrida para o diagnóstico de infecção pelo HPV. O teste de Bartleti foi aplicado para a análise das idades e o teste exato de Fisher para comparar proporções. Os testes foram considerados significativos quando a probabilidade de rejeitar a hipótese de nulidade foi menor que 5% (p < 0,05). Resultados Os critérios deMeisels forammenos sensíveis (34,0%) que os secundários de Schneider (57,5%) quando comparados com a captura híbrida (p < 0,0001), embora a especificidade dos critérios de Meisels não tenha sido significativamente superior (91,2% e 67,7%, respectivamente). Em casos de inflamação moderada ou intensa, a sensibilidade e especificidade dos critérios secundários de Schneider foram diminuídas, 33,3% e 50,0%, respectivamente (p = 0,0115). Conclusões Comparado a captura híbrida para o diagnóstico da infecção pelo HPV, a sensibilidade dos critérios secundários de Schneider foi maior que a dos critérios clássicos de Meisels. Inflamação moderada ou intensa reduziu a sensibilidade e especificidade dos critérios secundários de Schneider para o diagnóstico de infecção pelo HPV utilizando a captura híbrida como padrão-ouro.

Objective To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the classic Meisels cytologic criteria and the Schneider secondary criteria relative to the hybrid capture method for diagnosing HPV infection. Methods This was a retrospective study performed at a public university hospital. A total of 41 patients with a cytologic diagnosis of HPV infection and 40 HPV-negative patients were selected for review of the cervical-vaginal smears seeking to classical and secondary criteria. A single pathologist reviewed the slides in search of the criteria. The classical and secondary cytologic criteria were compared with the hybrid capture for diagnosing HPV infection. Bartleti test was applied for the age analysis, and Fisher's exact test was used to compare proportions. The tests were considered significant when the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis was less than 5% (p < 0.05). Results The Meisels criteria were less sensitive (34.0%) than the secondary Schneider criteria (57.5%) when compared with the hybrid capture (p < 0.0001), although the specificity of the former criteria was non-significantly higher (91.2% and 67.7%, respectively). In cases of moderate or intense inflammation, the sensitivity and specificity of the Schneider criteria were decreased, 33.3% and 50.0% respectively (p = 0.0115). Conclusions Compared with hybrid capture for diagnosis of HPV infection, the sensitivity of the secondary Schneider criteria was higher than the classical Meisels criteria.Moderate or intense inflammation reduces the sensitivity and specificity of the secondary Schneider criteria for diagnosing HPV infection using the hybrid capture as the gold standard.

RESUMO Racional: A obesidade mórbida é doença multifatorial cujo tratamento cirúrgico é cada vez mais indicado. Objetivo: Avaliar alterações histopatológicas gástricas em obesos e comparar com os submetidos à bypass gastrojejunal e a mucosa jejunal após a operação. Método: Estudo observacional realizado em hospital público terciário avaliando biópsias endoscópicas de 36 pacientes no pré-operatório e 35 no pós-operatório. Resultados: No pré-operatório 80,6% apresentaram gastrite crônica, 38,9% em atividade (77,1% e 20,1%, respectivamente, no pós-operatório). O grupo pós-operatório apresentou diminuição significativa na infecção por Helicobacter pylory (p=0,0001). Maior comprimento do coto gástrico e tempo de operação superior a dois anos associaram-se a infecção por Helicobacter pylori. A mucosa jejunal foi normal em 91,4% e apresentava leve inflamação crônica inespecífica em 8,6%. Conclusão: Houve diminuição da infecção por Helicobacter pylori após a operação. Maior comprimento do coto gástrico e do tempo de operação associaram-se à infecção por Helicobacter pylori. A mucosa jejunal foi considerada normal na maioria absoluta dos pacientes do grupo pós-operatório.

ABSTRACT Background: Morbid obesity is a multifactorial disease that increasingly is being treated by surgery. Aim: To evaluate gastric histopathological changes in obese, and to compare with patients who underwent gastrojejunal bypass and the jejunal mucosa after the surgery. Methods: This is an observational study performed at a tertiary public hospital, evaluating endoscopic biopsies from 36 preoperative patients and 35 postoperative. Results: In the preoperative group, 80.6% had chronic gastritis, which was active in 38.9% (77.1% and 20.1%, respectively, in the postoperative). The postoperative group had a significant reduction in H. pylori infection (p=0.0001). A longer length of the gastric stump and a time since surgery of more than two years were associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. The jejunal mucosa was normal in 91.4% and showed slight nonspecific chronic inflammation in 8.6%. Conclusion: There was a reduction in the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the postoperative group. A longer length of the gastric stump and longer time elapsed since surgery were associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. The jejunal mucosa was considered normal in an absolute majority of patients.

Contexto Os inibidores da bomba de prótons são usados há pelo menos duas décadas e estão entre as drogas mais vendidas no mundo. Ainda existem controvérsias sobre as indicações e as consequências de seu uso a longo prazo. Objetivos Avaliar as alterações endoscópicas e histopatológicas gástricas em usuários crônicos de inibidores da bomba de prótons e comparar com controles. Métodos Estudo prospectivo realizado em Hospital Público terciário com 105 pacientes, 81 usuários de bomba de prótons e 24 controles, submetidos a endoscopia digestiva alta. As biópsias das mucosas do tipo antral, da transição antro fúndica e fúndica foram avaliadas segundo a Classificação de Sidney e verificando também erosão ou úlcera, folículo linfático, gastropatia reativa, hiperplasia epitelial e pólipo. Realizada também a dosagem sérica da gastrina. Resultados Encontramos dois pólipos, um em cada grupo, ambos negativos para Helicobacter pylori e dois casos de hiperplasia de células parietais nos usuários de inibidores da bomba de prótons. A gastrina estava aumentada em 28 usuários de inibidor da bomba de protóns e em 4 do grupo controle. Não encontramos diferenças estatisticamente significantes nos achados endoscópicos e histopatológicos dos dois grupos. Conclusões O uso crônico de inibidores da bomba de prótons no período examinado não se associou com alterações gástricas significantes. O achado mais importante foi a positividade das sorologias para doença de Chagas nos quatro pacientes do grupo de usuários crônicos de inibidores que apresentavam níveis de gastrina sérica superiores a 500 pg/ mL

Background Proton-pump inhibitors have been used for at least two decades. They are among the most commonly sold drugs in the world. However, some controversy remains about the indications for their use and the consequences of their prolonged use. Objectives To evaluate and compare the endoscopic and histopathologic gastric changes in chronic users of proton-pump inhibitors to changes in non-users. Methods A prospective study performed at a tertiary Public Hospital involving 105 patients undergoing upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy. Subjects included 81 proton-pump inhibitor users and 24 non-users (control group). Biopsies of the antral-type mucosa, the antral-fundic transition, and the fundus were evaluated by the Sydney System. The presence of erosion or ulceration, lymphatic follicles, reactive gastropathy, and polypoid or epithelial hyperplasia was also determined. Serum levels of gastrin were measured. Results We found two polyps, one in each group, both of which were negative for Helicobacter pylori. There were two cases of parietal cell hyperplasia in users of proton-pump inhibitors. Gastrin was elevated in 28 users of proton-pump inhibitors and in four members of the control group. We did not find statistically significant differences in the endoscopic or histopathologic findings between the two groups. Conclusions Chronic use of proton-pump inhibitors for the duration examined was not associated with significant gastric changes. An interesting finding was that the 4 chronic users of proton-pump inhibitors who had serum gastrin levels above 500 pg/mL also had positive serology for Chagas disease.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar se existem ou não vasos sanguíneos no interior de gânglios do plexo mientérico do esôfago e cólon humano. Foram examinados 15 casos de necrópsias de natimortos, recém-nascidos e crianças de até dois anos de idade, sem alterações gastrintestinais, que faleceram por doenças em outros órgãos. Foram analisados anéis do esôfago e cólon, fixados em formol e processados para inclusão em parafina. Cortes histológicos escalonados foram corados pelas técnicas de hematoxilina-eosina, Giemsa e imuno-histoquímica para caracterização das células endoteliais, utilizando-se os anticorpos anti-fator VIII e CD 31. Foram identificados vasos sanguíneos no interior de gânglios do plexo mientérico do esôfago em todos os casos e não foram vistos vasos sanguíneos em nenhum gânglio do cólon. Concluímos que os gânglios do plexo mientérico do esôfago são vascularizados e, os do cólon, avasculares. A vascularização no interior dos gânglios do esôfago pode facilitar a entrada de agentes infecciosos, bem como o desenvolvimento de respostas inflamatórias (ganglionite) e denervação, como encontrados na doença de Chagas e na acalásia idiopática. Isso pode explicar a frequência maior de megaesôfago comparado com megacólon.

This study aimed to determine the existence of blood vessels within ganglia of the myenteric plexus of the human esophagus and colon. At necropsy, 15 stillborns, newborns and children up to two years of age, with no gastrointestinal disorders, were examined. Rings of the esophagus and colon were analyzed and then fixed in formalin and processed for paraffin. Histological sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin, Giemsa and immunohistochemistry for the characterization of endothelial cells, using antibodies for anti-factor VIII and CD31. Blood vessels were identified within the ganglia of the myenteric plexus of the esophagus, and no blood vessels were found in any ganglia of the colon. It was concluded that the ganglia of the myenteric plexus of the esophagus are vascularized, while the ganglia of the colon are avascular. Vascularization within the esophageal ganglia could facilitate the entrance of infectious agents, as well as the development of inflammatory responses (ganglionitis) and denervation, as found in Chagas disease and idiopathic achalasia. This could explain the higher frequency of megaesophagus compared with megacolon.

Introduction Most studies that have evaluated the stomachs of patients with Chagas disease were performed before the discovery of Helicobacter pylori and used no control groups. This study compared the gastric features of chagasic and non-chagasic patients and assessed whether gastritis could be associated with Chagas disease. Methods Gastric biopsy samples were taken from patients who underwent endoscopy for histological analysis according to the Updated Sydney System. H. pylori infection was assessed by histology, 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serology and the 13C-urea breath test. Patients were considered H. pylori-negative when all of these diagnostic tests were negative. Clinical and socio-demographic data were obtained by reviewing medical records and using a questionnaire. Results The prevalence of H. pylori infection (70.3% versus 71.7%) and chronic gastritis (92.2% versus 85%) was similar in the chagasic and non-chagasic groups, respectively; such as peptic ulcer, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Gastritis was associated with H. pylori infection independent of Chagas disease in a log-binomial regression model. However, the chagasic H. pylori-negative patients showed a significantly higher grade of mononuclear (in the corpus) and polymorphonuclear (PMN) (in the antrum) cell infiltration. Additionally, the patients with the digestive form of Chagas disease showed a significantly lower prevalence of corpus atrophy than those with other clinical forms. Conclusions The prevalence of H. pylori infection and of gastric histological and endoscopic features was similar among the chagasic and non-chagasic patients. Additionally, this is the first controlled study to demonstrate that H. pylori is the major cause of gastritis in patients with Chagas disease.