BackgroundBlood donor screening leads to large numbers of new diagnoses of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, with most donors in the asymptomatic chronic indeterminate form. Information on electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in infected blood donors is lacking and may help in counseling and recognizing those with more severe disease.ObjectivesTo assess the frequency of ECG abnormalities in T.cruzi seropositive relative to seronegative blood donors, and to recognize ECG abnormalities associated with left ventricular dysfunction.MethodsThe study retrospectively enrolled 499 seropositive blood donors in São Paulo and Montes Claros, Brazil, and 483 seronegative control donors matched by site, gender, age, and year of blood donation. All subjects underwent a health clinical evaluation, ECG, and echocardiogram (Echo). ECG and Echo were reviewed blindly by centralized reading centers. Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction was defined as LV ejection fraction (EF)<0.50%.ResultsRight bundle branch block and left anterior fascicular block, isolated or in association, were more frequently found in seropositive cases (p<0.0001). Both QRS and QTc duration were associated with LVEF values (correlation coefficients −0.159,p<0.0003, and −0.142,p = 0.002) and showed a moderate accuracy in the detection of reduced LVEF (area under the ROC curve: 0.778 and 0.790, both p<0.0001). Several ECG abnormalities were more commonly found in seropositive donors with depressed LVEF, including rhythm disorders (frequent supraventricular ectopic beats, atrial fibrillation or flutter and pacemaker), intraventricular blocks (right bundle branch block and left anterior fascicular block) and ischemic abnormalities (possible old myocardial infarction and major and minor ST abnormalities). ECG was sensitive (92%) for recognition of seropositive donors with depressed LVEF and had a high negative predictive value (99%) for ruling out LV dysfunction.ConclusionsECG abnormalities are more frequent in seropositive than in seronegative blood donors. Several ECG abnormalities may help the recognition of seropositive cases with reduced LVEF who warrant careful follow-up and treatment.

Background The significance of detection of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) DNA in blood of antibody-positive patients for risk of development of Chagas heart disease is not well established. The objective of this study was to compare detection of T. cruzi DNA with known clinical and laboratory markers of Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) severity. Methods This is a case-control study nested within a retrospective cohort developed in Brazil to understand the natural history of Chagas disease. The study enrolled 499 T. cruzi seropositive blood donors (SP-BD) and 488 frequency matched seronegative control donors (SN-BD) who had donated between 1996-2002, and 101 patients with clinically diagnosed CC. In 2008-2010 all enrolled subjects underwent a health questionnaire, medical examination, electro- and echocardiograms and PCR analyses. A blinded panel of three cardiologists adjudicated the outcome of CC. T. cruzi kinetoplast minicircle sequences were amplified by real-time PCR using an assay with a sensitivity of one parasites/20mL of blood. All testing was performed on coded samples. Results Rates of PCR detection of T. cruzi DNA were significantly (p=0.003) higher in CC patients and SP--BD diagnosed with CC (79/105 [75.2 %]) compared with SP-BD without CC (143/279 [51.3%]). Presence of parasitemia was significantly associated with known markers of disease progression such as QRS and QT interval duration, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, higher left ventricular index mass, and elevated troponin and NTpro-BNP levels. Conclusion T cruzi PCR positivity is associated with presence and severity of cardiomyopathy, suggesting a direct role of parasite persistence in disease pathogenesis.

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Resumo Por meio de pesquisa qualitativa, este trabalho buscou identificar as percepções de estudantes de medicina sobre o ensino da ética na graduação. Foram entrevistados 24 alunos de universidade pública e realizada análise categorial temática, preservando o anonimato das informações por códigos. Duas categorias foram destacadas. A primeira expõe a importância da reflexão sobre a complexidade do processo ensino-aprendizagem. Nela, entrevistados relatam a desvalorização e dissociação do ensino de ética em relação à prática, ressaltando a necessidade de qualificação dos docentes. A segunda categoria apresenta sugestões, como aprofundar e exigir o conteúdo em humanidades durante todo o curso. Conclui-se que, para qualificar o ensino de ética, é preciso criar mais oportunidades de interação entre educadores e estudantes, favorecendo assim a construção do conhecimento e o reconhecimento da abrangência dos problemas identificados. Dessa forma, o processo de ensino-aprendizagem aperfeiçoaria o indivíduo ao desenvolver a dimensão ética necessária aos profissionais de saúde.

Background: There are few contemporary cohorts of Trypanosoma cruzi -seropositive individuals, and the basic clinical epidemiology of Chagas disease is poorly understood. Herein, we report the incidence of cardiomyopathy and death associated with T. cruzi seropositivity. Methods: Participants were selected in blood banks at 2 Brazilian centers. Cases were defined as T. cruzi -seropositive blood donors. T. cruzi -seronegative controls were matched for age, sex, and period of donation. Patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy were recruited from a tertiary outpatient service. Participants underwent medical examination, blood collection, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram at enrollment (2008 to 2010) and at follow-up (2018 to 2019). The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and development of cardiomyopathy, defined as the presence of a left ventricular ejection fraction <50% and/or QRS complex duration ≥ 120 ms. To handle loss to follow-up, a sensitivity analysis was performed using inverse probability weights for selection. Results: We enrolled 499 T. cruzi -seropositive donors (age 48 ± 10 years, 52% male), 488 T. cruzi -seronegative donors (age 49 ± 10 years, 49% male), and 101 patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy (age 48 ± 8 years, 59% male). The mortality in patients with established cardiomyopathy was 80.9 deaths/1000 person-years (py) (54/101, 53%) and 15.1 deaths/1000py (17/114, 15%) in T. cruzi -seropositives with cardiomyopathy at baseline. Among T. cruzi -seropositive donors without cardiomyopathy at baseline mortality was 3.7 events/1000py (15/385, 4%), which was no different from T. cruzi -seronegative donors with 3.6 deaths/1000py (17/488, 3%). The incidence of cardiomyopathy in T. cruzi -seropositive donors was 13.8 (95% CI 9.5-19.6) events/1000py (32/262, 12%) compared with 4.6 (95% CI 2.3-8.3) events/1000 py (11/277, 4%) in seronegative controls, with an absolute incidence difference associated with T. cruzi seropositivity of 9.2 (95% CI 3.6 - 15.0) events/1000py. T. cruzi antibody level at baseline was associated with development of cardiomyopathy (adjusted OR of 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8). Conclusions: We present a comprehensive description of the natural history of T. cruzi seropositivity in a contemporary patient population. The results highlight the central importance of anti- T. cruzi antibody titer as a marker of Chagas disease activity and risk of progression.

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CorrespondenceWe are grateful that our article has stimulated interest in and discussion of the incidence of clinical cardiomyopathy among asymptomatic persons infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.1 Rassi and Rassi comment that without more frequent interval examinations, we are unable to determine whether the incidence density of cardiomyopathy was constant over the 10 years of follow-up. This is true. However, their comment that "T cruzi-infected individuals who develop cardiomyopathy usually do so within 20 years after being infected" is not referenced in their letter; in a recent review article, the same authors postulated a 10-to 30-year incubation period. 2 We are therefore unsure that the question of a constant versus declining incidence density has been settled. We also caution that the 18-year estimate for duration of exposure to T cruzi in our article was derived from an analysis of subject-reported risk factors and residence in endemic areas and should not be overinterpreted. However, we agree that the question of whether incidence density is constant or declines with time is important, and funding permitting, we plan to perform additional outcomes assessment in the cohort to gather data on the incidence of new cases of cardiomyopathy after longer follow-up.Rassi and Rassi also comment on our diagnostic criteria for cardiomyopathy. Regarding the inclusion of diastolic dysfunction on echocardiogram associated with signs or symptoms of heart failure or arrhythmias as a criterion for definite Chagas cardiomyopathy, we stress that, as stated in the article, the recognition of definite cases of Chagas cardiomyopathy was obtained, by consensus, by physicians with experience and clinical expertise in this field.1 The classification rules were used as general guidelines to this classification, but the whole clinical, ECG, and echocardiogram evaluation, including comorbidities, was considered. None of the T cruzi-seropositive subjects who were classified as having Chagas cardiomyopathy with normal ECG had this combination of diastolic dysfunction on echocardiogram associated with signs or symptoms of heart failure or arrhythmias. Regarding the presence of frequent supraventricular premature beats, we recognize that the referenced article discussed low QRS voltage and ventricular premature beats but not supraventricular premature beats. However, we included supraventricular premature beats because we have found that this abnormality is significantly related to left ventricular systolic dysfunction in T cruzi-seropositive donors 3 and had prognostic significance in a large cohort study. 4 In their comment on possible selection bias, Bestetti and CardinalliNeto appear to have misinterpreted our Figure 2 showing enrollment in the cohort.1 In fact, 499 T cruzi seropositives (not 315) had complete cardiac outcome assessment, including physical examination, ECG, and echocardiogram. We also tried to account for selection bias by performing Brazilian death index searches and found a higher rate of mortality in nonenrolled s...

This article describes the drafting of the Medical Student's Code of Ethics comparing the process with what is described in literature. Data was collected through qualitative field research, by means of interviews with 24 students, and quantitative field research, using a questionnaire regarding ethical conflicts with a sample of 281 medical students. Based on the students' views and bibliographic research, key issues regarding the preparation of the undergraduates' code of ethics were identified. As a result, the code dealt with rights and duties of lecturers, patients, the institution and society as a whole, considering even contemporary problems such as the use of social networks and college hazing. The study concludes that the collective drafting of the code is the beginning of a process that intends to encourage reflection on health care and social perspective in order to take decisions consistent with ethical and moral principles, respecting human dignity. Keywords: Code of ethics. Students, medical. Ethics, professional. Bioethics. Morals. Resumo Elaboração coletiva do código de ética do estudante de medicinaEste artigo descreve a elaboração do Código de Ética do Estudante de Medicina comparando o processo com o descrito na literatura. Os dados foram levantados em pesquisa de campo qualitativa, por meio de entrevista com 24 estudantes, e quantitativa, com aplicação de questionário sobre conflitos éticos a 281 acadêmicos. A partir das opiniões dos estudantes e pesquisa bibliográfica, identificaram-se temáticas essenciais para elaboração do código de ética do estudante de graduação. Como resultado, o código abordou direitos e deveres de professores, pacientes, instituições e sociedade em geral, considerando inclusive problemas contemporâneos, como o uso de redes sociais e trote universitário. Concluiu-se que a elaboração coletiva do código corresponde ao início de processo que pretende estimular a reflexão sobre assistência médica e dimensão social para se tomar decisões coerentes com princípios éticos e morais em respeito à dignidade do ser humano. Palavras-chave: Códigos de ética. Estudantes de medicina. Ética profissional. Bioética. Princípios morais. ResumenElaboración colectiva del código de ética del estudiante de medicina Este artículo describe la elaboración del Código de Ética del Estudiante de Medicina comparando este proceso con lo que se describe en la literatura. Se recolectaron datos a partir de una investigación cualitativa, mediante entrevistas con 24 estudiantes, y de una cuantitativa a través de la aplicación de un cuestionario sobre conflictos éticos a 281 universitarios. A partir de las opiniones de los estudiantes y de la investigación bibliográfica se identificaron temáticas esenciales para la elaboración del código de ética del estudiante de grado. En consecuencia, el código abordó los derechos y deberes de los profesores, los pacientes, las instituciones y la sociedad en general, considerando, además, los problemas contemporáneos como el uso de redes sociales y los ritos de i...