Introdução: Sabe-se que a elevada prevalência da infecção pelo HPV na população sexualmente ativa, associa-se ao desenvolvimento delesões intra-epiteliais cervicais de alto grau e de baixo grau (LIEAG e LIABG). A cirurgia dealta freqüência (CAF) veio contribuir para o tratamento da LIE, substituindo práticas invasivas e onerosas. A população contaminada pelo HPV é composta por pacientes imunocompetentes e imunodeprimidas, especialmente as infectadas pelo HIV, que poderão ter diferente resposta a esta cirurgia. Objetivos:Avaliar a efetividade da CAF no tratamento das LIEAG no colo uterino e a taxa de complicações tardias dessa modalidade terapêutica em pacientes portadoras ou não do HIV e avaliar se a infecção HIV favorece a persistência de LIEAG após a CAF. Pacientes e Métodos: Estudo observacional prospectivo longitudinal onde foram selecionadas 97 pacientes portadoras de LIEAGe tratadas com CAF divididas em dois grupos: 38 pacientes portadoras do HIV e 59 não infectadas por esse vírus, todas atendidas em Hospital Universitário de referência terciária. As pacientes foram submetidas a CAF e reavaliadas com coleta de colpocitologia e colposcopia com três, seis, nove e 12 meses após o procedimento. As taxas de efetividade da CAF consideraram a evolução da doença cervical ao longo do seguimento desses dois grupos de pacientes por um ano. Resultados:Após o seguimento de 12 meses foram observadas situações de cura (citologia e colposcopia normais), melhora (citologia e/ou comcolposcopia com sinais de infecção HPV ou LIEBG) ou de piora da LIEAG inicial (lesão microinvasora/invasora). Sendo assim, foram obtidos para as pacientes portadoras do HIV: 56,7% de cura; 32,4% de melhora e nenhum caso de piora após o tratamento inicial. Para as pacientes não portadoras do HIV os resultados foram: 75,8% de cura; 13,8% demelhora e 1,7% de piora, indicando desfecho clínico mais favorável entre as pacientes não portadoras do HIV (X 2 , p= 0,02). As taxas de estenose de canal cervical entre as pacientes portadoras do HIV (13,5%) não foram estatisticamente diferentes daquelas observadas entre as pacientes não portadoras do HIV (10,5%). A excisão completa da LIE que motivou a CAF ocorreu em 69 (71,2%) pacientes. Entretanto, 21 (21,7%) mulheres tiveram excisão incompleta com margens da peça cirúrgica comprometida pela LIE. Dessas 21 pacientes que apresentaram margens da peça cirúrgica comprometidas apenas cinco tiveram necessidade de novo tratamento. Também foram submetidas a novo tratamento três das mulheres que tiveram margens cirúrgicas livres da peça excisada e uma paciente com a margemcirúrgica carbonizada. Conclusões: Não foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos estudados em relação ao número de complicações após a realização da CAF e também na necessidade de novo tratamento no caso de mulheres portadoras do HIV. Entretanto, o desfecho clínico favorável (cura e melhora) para essa população estudada foi significativamente melhor para as pacientes não portadoras do HIV que para as infectadas por esse vírus após um ano de seguimento pós-CAF. A recidiva da LIEAG é mais freqüente em pacientes com margens cirúrgicas comprometidas, independente da presença da infecção pelo HIV. / Introduction: It is known that the high prevalence of HPV infection in the sexually active population is associated with the development of high and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL and LSIL). Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) has contributed to the treatment of SIL, replacing invasive and expensive procedures. The population contaminated with HPV consists of immunocompetent and immunodepressed patients, especially HIV-infected patients, who may respond differently to this surgery Objectives:To assess the effectiveness of LEEP in the treatment of HSIL in the uterine cervix and the rate of late complications of this therapeutic modality in patients infected or not with HIV and to determine whether HIV infection predisposes to the persistence of HSIL after LEEP. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal observational study conducted on 97 patients with HSIL and treated with LEEP who were divided into two groups: 38 HIV-infected and 59 non-HIV-infected patients attended at a tertiary reference University Hospital. The patients were submitted to LEEP and re-evaluated bycolpocytology and colposcopy at three, six, nine and 12 months after the procedure.The rates of LEEP effectiveness were determined on the basis of the evolution of cervical disease along a one year follow-up of the two groups of patients Results:After a follow-up of 12 months, situations of cure (normal cytology and colposcopy), improvement (cytology and/or colposcopy with signs of HPV infection or HSIL) or of worsening of the original HSIL (microinvasive/invasive lesion) were observed. On this basis, the followingresults were obtained for HIV-infected patients: 55.2% of cure, 34.3% of improvement and no case of worsening after the initial treatment. For non-HIV-infected patients, the results were: 75.4% of cure, 14.1% of improvement and 1.7% of worsening, indicating a more favorable clinical outcome among non-HIV-infected patients (X 2 , p= 0.02). The rates of cervical canal stenosis among HIV-infected patients (13.5%) did not differ significantly from those among non-HIV-infected patients (10.5%). Complete excision of the SIL that motivated LEEP occurred in 69 (71.2%) patients. However, in 21 (21.7%) women, excision was incomplete, with SIL involvement of the margins of the surgical piece. Of these 21 patients with compromised surgical piece margins, only five required new treatment. Three of the women whose surgical margins were freeof disease and one patient with a carbonized surgical margin were also submitted to new treatment. Conclusions:No statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups regarding the number of complications after LEEP or also regarding the need for new treatment among HIV-infected women. However, a favorable clinical outcome (cure and improvement) for this population was significantly better for non-HIV-infected patients than for HIV-infected patients after one year of post-LEEP follow-up. HSIL recurrence was more frequent among patients with involved surgical margins regardless of the presence of HIV infection.

Introdução: Sabe-se que a elevada prevalência da infecção pelo HPV na população sexualmente ativa, associa-se ao desenvolvimento delesões intra-epiteliais cervicais de alto grau e de baixo grau (LIEAG e LIABG). A cirurgia dealta freqüência (CAF) veio contribuir para o tratamento da LIE, substituindo práticas invasivas e onerosas. A população contaminada pelo HPV é composta por pacientes imunocompetentes e imunodeprimidas, especialmente as infectadas pelo HIV, que poderão ter diferente resposta a esta cirurgia. Objetivos:Avaliar a efetividade da CAF no tratamento das LIEAG no colo uterino e a taxa de complicações tardias dessa modalidade terapêutica em pacientes portadoras ou não do HIV e avaliar se a infecção HIV favorece a persistência de LIEAG após a CAF. Pacientes e Métodos: Estudo observacional prospectivo longitudinal onde foram selecionadas 97 pacientes portadoras de LIEAGe tratadas com CAF divididas em dois grupos: 38 pacientes portadoras do HIV e 59 não infectadas por esse vírus, todas atendidas em Hospital Universitário de referência terciária. As pacientes foram submetidas a CAF e reavaliadas com coleta de colpocitologia e colposcopia com três, seis, nove e 12 meses após o procedimento. As taxas de efetividade da CAF consideraram a evolução da doença cervical ao longo do seguimento desses dois grupos de pacientes por um ano. Resultados:Após o seguimento de 12 meses foram observadas situações de cura (citologia e colposcopia normais), melhora (citologia e/ou comcolposcopia com sinais de infecção HPV ou LIEBG) ou de piora da LIEAG inicial (lesão microinvasora/invasora). Sendo assim, foram obtidos para as pacientes portadoras do HIV: 56,7% de cura; 32,4% de melhora e nenhum caso de piora após o tratamento inicial. Para as pacientes não portadoras do HIV os resultados foram: 75,8% de cura; 13,8% demelhora e 1,7% de piora, indicando desfecho clínico mais favorável entre as pacientes não portadoras do HIV (X 2 , p= 0,02). As taxas de estenose de canal cervical entre as pacientes portadoras do HIV (13,5%) não foram estatisticamente diferentes daquelas observadas entre as pacientes não portadoras do HIV (10,5%). A excisão completa da LIE que motivou a CAF ocorreu em 69 (71,2%) pacientes. Entretanto, 21 (21,7%) mulheres tiveram excisão incompleta com margens da peça cirúrgica comprometida pela LIE. Dessas 21 pacientes que apresentaram margens da peça cirúrgica comprometidas apenas cinco tiveram necessidade de novo tratamento. Também foram submetidas a novo tratamento três das mulheres que tiveram margens cirúrgicas livres da peça excisada e uma paciente com a margemcirúrgica carbonizada. Conclusões: Não foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos estudados em relação ao número de complicações após a realização da CAF e também na necessidade de novo tratamento no caso de mulheres portadoras do HIV. Entretanto, o desfecho clínico favorável (cura e melhora) para essa população estudada foi significativamente melhor para as pacientes não portadoras do HIV que para as infectadas por esse vírus após um ano de seguimento pós-CAF. A recidiva da LIEAG é mais freqüente em pacientes com margens cirúrgicas comprometidas, independente da presença da infecção pelo HIV. / Introduction: It is known that the high prevalence of HPV infection in the sexually active population is associated with the development of high and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL and LSIL). Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) has contributed to the treatment of SIL, replacing invasive and expensive procedures. The population contaminated with HPV consists of immunocompetent and immunodepressed patients, especially HIV-infected patients, who may respond differently to this surgery Objectives:To assess the effectiveness of LEEP in the treatment of HSIL in the uterine cervix and the rate of late complications of this therapeutic modality in patients infected or not with HIV and to determine whether HIV infection predisposes to the persistence of HSIL after LEEP. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal observational study conducted on 97 patients with HSIL and treated with LEEP who were divided into two groups: 38 HIV-infected and 59 non-HIV-infected patients attended at a tertiary reference University Hospital. The patients were submitted to LEEP and re-evaluated bycolpocytology and colposcopy at three, six, nine and 12 months after the procedure.The rates of LEEP effectiveness were determined on the basis of the evolution of cervical disease along a one year follow-up of the two groups of patients Results:After a follow-up of 12 months, situations of cure (normal cytology and colposcopy), improvement (cytology and/or colposcopy with signs of HPV infection or HSIL) or of worsening of the original HSIL (microinvasive/invasive lesion) were observed. On this basis, the followingresults were obtained for HIV-infected patients: 55.2% of cure, 34.3% of improvement and no case of worsening after the initial treatment. For non-HIV-infected patients, the results were: 75.4% of cure, 14.1% of improvement and 1.7% of worsening, indicating a more favorable clinical outcome among non-HIV-infected patients (X 2 , p= 0.02). The rates of cervical canal stenosis among HIV-infected patients (13.5%) did not differ significantly from those among non-HIV-infected patients (10.5%). Complete excision of the SIL that motivated LEEP occurred in 69 (71.2%) patients. However, in 21 (21.7%) women, excision was incomplete, with SIL involvement of the margins of the surgical piece. Of these 21 patients with compromised surgical piece margins, only five required new treatment. Three of the women whose surgical margins were freeof disease and one patient with a carbonized surgical margin were also submitted to new treatment. Conclusions:No statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups regarding the number of complications after LEEP or also regarding the need for new treatment among HIV-infected women. However, a favorable clinical outcome (cure and improvement) for this population was significantly better for non-HIV-infected patients than for HIV-infected patients after one year of post-LEEP follow-up. HSIL recurrence was more frequent among patients with involved surgical margins regardless of the presence of HIV infection.

Loss of indigenous biodiversity continues in New Zealand. Despite admirable goals in the NZBS 2000 to the contrary, efforts at improved biodiversity conservation have been insufficient to halt loss of significant amounts of indigenous forest and wildlife habitat. Increasing numbers of native species are moving towards critically endangered and extinction. Whatever we are doing in New Zealand, it is not effective enough. The aim of this study is to firstly identify factors contributing to the failure, “to halt the decline of indigenous biodiversity” in New Zealand and to then consider opportunities to overcome these barriers. In considering opportunities, this study then reviews the emerging discipline of landscape ecology as an answer to, at least, some of those factors and the recurring calls from New Zealand ecologists for a more integrated and holistic approach to biodiversity conservation. Recent advances in the planning framework and particularly provisions for biodiversity conservation in England are explored as a model of practical application of landscape ecological principles to land-use planning. From this review, the study proposes a new ‘LEEP’ model for strategic biodiversity conservation that produces a regional-scale spatial conservation map and accompanying policy and implementation guide. Together they provide an integrated and holistic approach to restoring or creating functional landscapes that also recognises and provides for human activities and development. Application of the LEEP model is demonstrated through a case study of the Wellington region. Benefits and potential uses of the map and policy outputs are canvassed. Interviews with leading New Zealand and international ecologists provide an assessment of the current status of landscape ecology and interviewees also act as an expert ‘test panel’ against which the Wellington maps and guides produced from the ‘LEEP’ model are assessed. Finally, suggestions are provided for development of the new model and future research needs towards fuller and more effective implementation of this approach to biodiversity conservation in the New Zealand context.

No description available.

Objectif : Les traitements répétés des lésions précancéreuses du col utérin (HSIL), nécessaires en cas d’échecs de traitement, sont associés à des issues obstétriques négatives, telle qu’une augmentation de la mortalité néonatale. Nous avons investigué l’association entre un grand nombre de facteurs de risque potentiels pour l’échec de traitement des HSIL dans le but d’identifier des prédicteurs potentiellement modifiables de l’échec de traitement. Méthodes : La population source était constituée de 1 548 femmes canadiennes qui ont subi un premier traitement pour HSIL. L’échec de traitement a été défini comme étant un diagnostic histologique de HSIL ou cancer au cours des deux années suivant le traitement. Nous avons mené une étude cas-témoins nichée incluant les 101 cas d’échec de traitement ainsi que les témoins appariés 1 :1 par centre de traitement et par date d’échec. Nous avons calculé des rapports de cotes (OR) et intervalles de confiance (CI) à 95% à l’aide de régressions logistiques conditionnelles, pour les associations entre l’échec de traitement et l’âge, le nombre d’accouchements, le statut tabagique, le nombre de partenaires sexuels, l’utilisation du condom, la méthode de contraception, les marges, le nombre de passages, le diagnostic sur le spécimen de traitement, le génotype du VPH, et le nombre de types. Nous avons aussi estimé l’association entre la charge virale et les variants du VPH16 et du VPH18 et l’échec de traitement. Résultats : Les marges positives vs négatives (OR ajusté=4.05, 95% CI 1.57-10.48), la positivité pour le VPH16/18 vs autres types (OR ajusté=2.69, 95% CI 1.32-5.49), et avoir un variant similaire au prototype du VPH16 vs le prototype (OR ajusté=2.49, 95% CI 1.07-5.83) étaient des prédicteurs de l’échec de traitement des HSIL. Être plus âgé, avoir des lésions plus sévères, avoir une infection monotype, et avoir une variation à la position 7521 chez celles avec le VPH16 pourraient augmenter le risque d’échec de traitement, mais les associations n’étaient pas statistiquement significatives. Les estimations pour les autres facteurs étaient proches de la valeur nulle. Nous n’avons pas observé de modification d’effet du génotype sur le risque de l’échec de traitement par le tabagisme, ni par les marges. Conclusion : Seules les marges positives, la positivité pour le VPH16/18 et avoir un variant similaire au prototype étaient des prédicteurs d’un échec de traitement au cours des deux années suivant le traitement. Malgré l’aspect non-modifiable des prédicteurs identifiés, ils sont informatifs et pourront éclairer la prise en charge et le suivi clinique. / Objective: Repeated treatments for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), which are necessary in the case of treatment failure, are associated with negative obstetric outcomes, such as an increased risk of neonatal death. We investigated the association between a large number of potential risk factors and HSIL treatment failure in an effort to identify potentially modifiable predictors of treatment failure. Methods: The source population included 1,548 Canadian women who received a first treatment for HSIL. Treatment failure was defined as the histological diagnosis of HSIL or cancer within the two years following treatment. We conducted a nested case-control study that included all 101 cases of treatment failure and controls that were matched 1:1 on treatment center and date of failure. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) between treatment failure and age, parity, smoking status, number of sexual partners, condom use, method of contraception, margins, number of passes, diagnosis on the treatment specimen, HPV genotype and number of types. We also estimated the association between HPV16 and HPV18 viral loads and variants and HSIL treatment failure. Results: Having positive vs. negative margins (adjusted OR=4.05, 95% CI 1.57-10.48), being positive for HPV16 and/or HPV18 vs. any other type (adjusted OR=2.69, 95% CI 1.32-5.49), and having a prototype-like variant of HPV16 vs. the prototype (adjusted OR=2.49, 95% CI 1.07-5.83) were predictors of HSIL treatment failure. Older age, more severe lesions, single-type infections and a variation at the 7521 position of the HPV16 genetic sequence may lead to a higher risk of treatment failure but were not statistically significant. Estimates for all other factors were near the null value. The effect of genotype on the risk of treatment failure was not modified by smoking status, nor by margin status. Conclusion: Only positive margins, HPV16/18 positivity, and having a prototype-like variant of HPV16 were predictors for HSIL treatment failure within two years of treatment. Despite being non-modifiable, the identified predictors are clinically significant in regards to management and follow-up of patients.