Helicobacter pylori infection is a significant global health concern. It cannot be diagnosed based solely on the patient’s medical history and symptoms, and laboratory and imaging tests are often required to confirm the diagnosis. Both noninvasive and invasive methods are available for diagnosing H. pylori infection, including conventional and advanced detection techniques. It is not uncommon for patients to present with false-negative results due to the use of inadequate investigation methodologies, which prevents the adoption of appropriate clinical management. Thus, an analysis of the literature regarding the methods of diagnosis of H. pylori, with its advantages and disadvantages, is necessary. Publications in specialized scientific journals will undoubtedly contribute to facilitating access by professionals interested in the topic providing greater knowledge and potentially clinically useful guidance. In this review, the authors have sought to analyze and summarize the invasive and noninvasive methods, their applications, limitations, and the conditions that affect the sensitivity of the tests used for diagnosing H. pylori, an essential step for the successful treatment of this infection. It is essential to treat all patients infected with H. pylori. This represents a significant change in the approach, as the treatment was recommended previously only for patients showing symptoms of infection. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods and help raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the latest advances in diagnosing this important bacterium.

Hemophilia is a coagulopathy caused by a deficiency in coagulation factors VIII (hemophilia A) or IX (hemophilia B). It is a chronic disease and, hence, impairs the quality of life (Qol) of the patients. This study aimed to evaluate the Qol of patients with hemophilia using the WHOQOL-bref and the Haemo-A-Qol instruments, its relation to the clinical condition and its sociodemographic variables. This is a cross-sectional, epidemiological study, comprising 17 patients with hemophilia, registered at the hemocenter, who met the eligibility criteria. Data were collected using three questionnaires: a semi-structured clinical evaluation form, the WHOQOL-bref and the Haem-A-Qol. The average age was 30 years old, and most participants declared themselves to be single (58.82%), without children (64.70%) and employed (58.82%). Hemophilia A was observed in 14 patients and the most severe form of the disease was more prevalent (64.70%). The average score of Qol, estimated by the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire was 74.3; being "social relations" the domain with the highest average. The Haem-A-Qol measured an average of 36.2 and the domain with the highest result was "Family Planning". Hemophilia had a higher negative impact upon the physical, sports and leisure features in the sample subjects. The analysis of the questionnaires did not reveal statistical agreement between them. Based on this, the Haem-A-Qol is considered the most recommended to evaluate the Qol, as it addresses factors more specifically related to the disease. No statistical significance was observed between the scores of Qol, as for the presence of comorbidities, gravity of the hemophilia and positive serology for infections.

This study aimed to describe and analyze clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with sickle cell anemia treated at the Hemominas Foundation, in Divinópolis, Brazil. Furthermore, this study aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory outcomes of the group of patients treated with hydroxyurea with those patients that were not treated with hydroxyurea. Clinical and laboratorial data were obtained by analyzing medical records of patients with sickle cell anemia. Data from the medical records of 50 patients were analyzed. Most of the patients were female (56%), aged between 20 and 29 years old. Infections, transfusions, cholecystectomy, splenectomy and systemic arterial hypertension were the most common clinical adverse events of the patients. The most frequent cause of hospitalization was painful crisis. The majority of patients had reduced values of hemoglobin and hematocrit (8.55±1.33g/dL and 25.7±4.4%, respectively) and increased fetal hemoglobin levels (12±7%). None of the clinical variables was statistically significant on comparing the two groups of patients. Among hematological variables only hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were statistically different between patients treated with hydroxyurea and untreated patients (p-value=0.005 and p-value=0.001, respectively). Sickle cell anemia requires treatment and follow-up by a multiprofessional team. A current therapeutic option is hydroxyurea. This drug reduces complications and improves laboratorial parameters of patients. In this study, the use of the drug increased the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of patients.

The oral cavity may play a role as a reservoir and in the transmission and colonization of Helicobacter pylori. The route of transmission for H. pylori is not fully understood. The prevalence of this pathogen varies globally, affecting half of the world’s population, predominantly in developing countries. Here, we review the prevalence of H. pylori in the oral cavity, the characteristics that facilitate its colonization and dynamics in the oral microbiome, the heterogeneity and diversity of virulence of among strains, and noninvasive techniques for H. pylori detection in oral samples. The prevalence of H. pylori in the oral cavity varies greatly, being influenced by the characteristics of the population, regions where samples are collected in the oral cavity, and variations in detection methods. Although there is no direct association between the presence of H. pylori in oral samples and stomach infection, positive cases for gastric H. pylori frequently exhibit a higher prevalence of the bacterium in the oral cavity, suggesting that the stomach may not be the sole reservoir of H. pylori. In the oral cavity, H. pylori can cause microbiome imbalance and remodeling of the oral ecosystem. Detection of H. pylori in the oral cavity by a noninvasive method may provide a more accessible diagnostic tool as well as help prevent transmission and gastric re-colonization. Further research into this bacterium in the oral cavity will offer insights into the treatment of H. pylori infection, potentially developing new clinical approaches.