Validation of a Satisfaction Scale with a Telemedicine COVID-19 Service: Satis-COVID.

Objectives: Despite being a widespread tool, telehealth was significantly incorporated during the COVID-19 pandemic period, but it still lacks analysis methodologies, greater digital security, and satisfaction assessment instruments that are still little explored and validated. The objective is to assess user satisfaction through the validation of a satisfaction scale with a telemedicine COVID-19 service (TeleCOVID). Methods: Cross-sectional study of a cohort of confirmed COVID-19 cases evaluated and monitored by the TeleCOVID team. To study the scale's measurement qualities, a factorial analysis was performed to test the validity of the construct. Correlation between items and the global scale was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient, and the instrument's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results: There were 1,181 respondents evaluating the care received from the TeleCOVID project. A total of 61.6% were female, and 62.4% aged between 30 and 59 years. The correlation coefficients indicated a good correlation between the items present in the instrument. The internal consistency of the global scale was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.903) and the item-total correlations for the scale ranged from 0.563 to 0.820. The average overall user satisfaction was 4.58, based upon a 5-point Likert scale where 5 is the highest level of satisfaction. Conclusions: The results presented here show how much telehealth can contribute to improving access, resolutibility, and quality of care to the population in general in Public Health Care. In view of the results found, it can be said that the TeleCOVID team offered excellent care and fulfilled its proposed objectives. The scale fulfills its objective of evaluating the quality of teleservice, bringing good results in terms of validity and reliability, in addition to showing high levels of user satisfaction.

Occult and active hepatitis B virus detection in donated blood in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The present study determined the HBV antigen, antibody, and DNA status in blood donations deemed to be HBV positive. Individuals with an occult HBV infection (OBI), defined as being positive for HBV DNA but negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), as well as those with active infection (HBsAg-positive), were identified and characterized. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: From a total pool if 198,363 blood donations, we evaluated in a cross-sectional study, 1106 samples that were positive in screening tests for antibody to HBV core antigen (HBcAb), HBsAg, and/or HBV DNA by nucleic acid testing (NAT-HBV). The presence of genetic variants in the HBV pol/S gene in individuals with an active HBV infection was also determined. RESULTS: OBIs were detected in six of 976 samples (0.6%) that were positive only for HBcAb. The rate of HBV active infection was 0.024% (48/198,363) and there was a predominance of HBV sub-genotype A1 (62.2%, 28/45), followed by D3 (17.8%, 8/45). Mutations in the S gene were found in 57.8% (26/45) and immune escape mutations in 37.8% (17/45) of active HBV-infected donors. Among them, T123N, G145A, and D144G high-impact immune escape mutations were identified. CONCLUSION: Highly sensitive molecular tests improve the capacity to detect OBIs. When NAT is performed in pooled samples, HBcAb test has value in the detection of donors with OBI and improves transfusion safety. Mutations in the S gene are frequent in HBsAg-positive blood, including those associated with diagnostic failure and vaccine escape mutations.

10-year analysis of human immunodeficiency virus incidence in first-time and repeat donors in Brazil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Incidence in first-time and repeat blood donors is an important measure of transfusion-transmitted HIV infection (TT-HIV) risk. This study assessed HIV incidence over time at four large blood centres in Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Donations were screened and confirmed using serological assays for HIV from 2007 to 2016, and additionally screened by nucleic acid testing from 2011 forward. Limiting antigen (LAg) avidity testing was conducted on HIV seroreactive samples from first-time donors to classify whether an infection was recently acquired. We calculated incidence in first-time donors using the mean duration of recent infection and in repeat donors using classical methods. Time and demographic trends were assessed using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Over the 10-year period, HIV incidence in first-time donors was highest in Recife (45·1/100 000 person-years (105 py)) followed by São Paulo (32·2/105 py) and then Belo Horizonte (23·3/105 py), and in repeat donors was highest in Recife (33·2/105 py), Belo Horizonte (27·5/105 py) and São Paulo (17·0/105 py). Results from Rio de Janeiro were available from 2013 to 2016 with incidence in first-time donors of 35·9/105 py and repeat donors from 2011 to 2016 of 29·2/105 py. Incidence varied by other donor demographics. When incidence was considered in 2-year intervals, no significant trend was evident. Overall residual risk of TT-HIV was 5·46 and 7·41 per million units of pRBC and FFP transfused, respectively. CONCLUSION: HIV incidence in both first-time and repeat donors varied by region in Brazil. Clear secular trends were not evident.

Risk Score for Predicting 2-Year Mortality in Patients With Chagas Cardiomyopathy From Endemic Areas: SaMi-Trop Cohort Study.

Background Risk stratification of Chagas disease patients in the limited-resource setting would be helpful in crafting management strategies. We developed a score to predict 2-year mortality in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy from remote endemic areas. Methods and Results This study enrolled 1551 patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy from Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from the SaMi-Trop cohort (The São Paulo-Minas Gerais Tropical Medicine Research Center). Clinical evaluation, ECG, and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) were performed. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to develop a prediction model based on the key predictors. The end point was all-cause mortality. The patients were classified into 3 risk categories at baseline (low, <2%; intermediate, ≥2% to 10%; high, ≥10%). External validation was performed by applying the score to an independent population with Chagas disease. After 2 years of follow-up, 110 patients died, with an overall mortality rate of 3.505 deaths per 100 person-years. Based on the nomogram, the independent predictors of mortality were assigned points: age (10 points per decade), New York Heart Association functional class higher than I (15 points), heart rate ≥80 beats/min (20 points), QRS duration ≥150 ms (15 points), and abnormal NT-proBNP adjusted by age (55 points). The observed mortality rates in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 0%, 3.6%, and 32.7%, respectively, in the derivation cohort and 3.2%, 8.7%, and 19.1%, respectively, in the validation cohort. The discrimination of the score was good in the development cohort (C statistic: 0.82), and validation cohort (C statistic: 0.71). Conclusions In a large population of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy, a combination of risk factors accurately predicted early mortality. This helpful simple score could be used in remote areas with limited technological resources.

Low Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Contacts of Smear-Positive Adults in Brazil.

This follow-up cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the prevalence rate and risk factors related to latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis (TB) in children aged < 15 years in contact with adults with smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) in a Brazilian municipality. Data were collected from interviews, clinical evaluations, chest X-rays, tuberculin skin tests, and interferon gamma release assays. The median time elapsed between diagnosis of the index case (IC) and inclusion in the study was 2.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.5-4.4) and 7.4 years (IQR = 3.8-9.7) when we reassessed the development (or not) of active TB. The median age at the time of exposure to the IC was 6.6 years (IQR = 3.3-9.4) and 14.1 years (IQR = 8.9-17.7) at the last follow-up. Of the 99 children and adolescents in contact with smear-positive PTB, 21.2% (95% CI = 14.0-29.9) were diagnosed with LTBI, and none developed active TB. There was no statistically significant difference between the LTBI and non-LTBI groups regarding demographic, socioeconomic, and epidemiological characteristics. Unlike national and international scenarios, we found a lower frequency of LTBI and no active TB among our studied patients. For better understanding of these findings, further studies might add, among other factors, host and Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic features.

Pharmacotherapeutic empowerment and its effectiveness in glycemic control in patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

AIMS: To develop an intervention and evaluate its effectiveness in pharmacotherapeutic empowerment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHOD: This is an intervention study with before and after evaluation. The intervention was conducted between 2015 and 2016 with users of the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil. The study was divided into six stages: initial evaluation, three individual patient-pharmacist meetings every 15 days over 6 weeks, clinical discussion between pharmacists, and final evaluation. At each meeting with the patient, specific themes for empowerment were addressed using educational booklets and pharmaceutical care. Clinical and laboratory evaluations and questionnaires on self-efficacy (IMDSES), self-care (QAD) and distress (PAID-5) were conducted before and three months after the intervention. RESULTS: 47 patients completed the intervention. Glycated hemoglobin of patients had a median reduced from 7.0% to 6.6% after the intervention (p = 0.02). There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the reduction in total cholesterol, fasting glycemia, creatinine and blood pressure. Participants showed significant improvements (p < 0.01) in scores related to self-efficacy and self-care and less distress related to T2DM. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that the strategy developed is effective in promoting the empowerment of T2DM patients, improved glycemic control and self-care.

Association between typical electrocardiographic abnormalities and NT-proBNP elevation in a large cohort of patients with Chagas disease from endemic area.

Chagas cardiomyopathy is the most harmful complication of Chagas disease. The electrocardiogram is a well-studied exam and has been considered an important tool for detection and evaluation of Chagas cardiomyopathy since the first years of its description. Many of its abnormalities have been described as associated with a worse prognosis. Serum BNP levels were described as inversely related to the left ventricular ejection fraction and as an independent predictor of death. It was not reported how electrocardiographic alterations correlate to NT-proBNP and its analog. The present study aims to describe the baseline electrocardiograms of a large cohort of patients with Chagas disease from endemic area and to establish an association between the number of electrocardiogram alterations and high levels of NT-ProBNP in Chagas disease patients. This study selected 1959 Chagas disease patients in 21 municipalities within a limited region in the northern part of the State of Minas Gerais (Brazil), 1084 of them had Chagas cardiomyopathy. NT-proBNP levels were suggestive of heart failure in 11.7% of this population. One or more electrocardiographic alterations have an Odds Ratio of 9.12 (CI 95% 5.62-14.80) to have NT-proBNP elevation. Considering the association between the number of 1, 2, and 3 or more alterations in electrocardiogram and NT-proBNP elevation, the ORs were 7.11 (CI 95% 4.33-11.67); 16.04 (CI 95% 9.27-27.77) and 47.82 (CI 95% 17.98-127.20), respectively. The presence and the number of typical electrocardiographic alterations of Chagas disease are independently associated with the severity of the cardiomyopathy.

Effectiveness of individual strategies for the empowerment of patients with diabetes mellitus: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

AIMS: To identify and evaluate the effectiveness of individual empowerment strategies in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: A systematic review was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and BVS. For meta-analysis and evaluation of Cochrane Risk and Bias, Revman V 5.2 software was used. RESULTS: Eleven studies of 1073 publications met the inclusion criteria. The strategies used were individual consultations, phone calls, sessions via a website and use of a booklet. Glycemic Hemoglobin (HbA1c) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies, and 45.4% of the studies also used the Diabetes Empowerment Scale. Five studies (45.5%) showed significant improvements in HbA1c reduction, improvements in self-efficacy (18.2%), knowledge levels of DM (18.2%), quality of life (18.2%). However, after meta-analysis, no statistically significant improvement was found for HbA1c. CONCLUSION: This systematic review showed that individual strategies for DM empowerment were not effective in reducing HbA1c, despite contributing to improvements in psychosocial parameters. Therefore, individual strategies need to be reviewed so that they become effective in DM control.

Achyrocline alata potentiates repair of skin full thickness excision in mice.

Plants of the Asteraceae family have been traditionally used as medicinal plants. The species Achyrocline satureioides and Achyrocline alata present anti-inflammatory properties and great chemical similarity. However, no study has been performed to evaluate the influence of these plants on skin wound healing in vivo. Here, we have assessed the effect of these plants extracts on skin wound healing in mice. Mice were randomly arranged into three groups (n = 10), an injury was performed on the dorsal area of the animals, which received the following topical treatment: group 1, control (ointment base); group 2, A. satureioides extract; group 3, A. alata extract. The solution for treatment was prepared as 10% (w/w) concentration. The wound area was measured on days 1, 4, 9, 15 and 17 after treatment and tissues of local lesion were collected on the ninth day for histological analysis. A. alata was more effective since it induced earlier wound closure associated with decreasing initial inflammatory response, faster reepithelialization and collagen remodeling. A. satureioides improved the collagen renovation, but induced slower closure, which may be due to different concentrations of phenolic compounds among the plants here studied. Both plants did not alter the ultrastructural characteristics of cells in the healing process. In conclusion, our findings suggest the potent wound healing capacity of A. alata extracts, as demonstrated by more efficient and faster induction of wound closure. We believe this plant is a potential wound healing treatment for humans and further studies are necessary to assess its clinical practice.

Collective empowerment strategies for patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and analyze collective empowerment strategies for patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). METHODS: The systematic review was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct and BVS. The term "Diabetes Mellitus" was used with each of the following describers, along with the connector "AND": "self-care", "health education", "motivation" and "empowerment". Inclusion criteria were: intervention study with control group published between 2004 and 2014. For meta-analysis, RevMan V 5.3 software was used. RESULTS: Among the nine analyzed articles, 66.7% (n=6) were developed in patients diagnosed with DM2. Concerning the indicators for intervention effectiveness evaluation, all articles (n=9) used glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the most used instrument was Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities Measure, representing 44.4% (n=4) of the studies. The types of strategies used were similar in the articles. There was evidence of a decrease in HbA1c levels in 66.7% (n=6). The meta-analysis found significant evidence indicating beneficial effects of empowerment. CONCLUSIONS: Programs based on collective empowerment in DM have shown the interventions lead to improvement in clinical parameters, behavior, increased knowledge about DM, and self-care.

Spatial distribution of tuberculosis from 2002 to 2012 in a midsize city in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in many developing countries. Exploratory spatial analysis is a powerful instrument in spatial health research by virtue of its capacity to map disease distribution and associated risk factors at the population level. The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiologic characteristics and spatial distribution of new cases of TB reported during the period 2002-2012 in Divinopolis, a midsized city located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. METHODS: Sociodemographic and clinical data relating to the study cases were retrieved from the national Brazilian database and geocoded according to residential address. Choropleth and kernel density maps were constructed and a spatial-temporal analysis was performed. Tracts defined by the 2010 national census were classified as sectors with higher or lower densities of new TB cases based on the kernel density map. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to compare the two types of sectors according to income, level of literacy and population density. RESULTS: A total of 326 new cases of TB were reported during the study period. Residential addresses relating to 309 (94.8 %) of these were available in the SINAN database and the locations were geocoded and mapped. The average incidence of TB during the study period was 14.5/100,000 inhabitants. Pulmonary TB was the most predominant form (73.6 %) and 74.5 % of patients had been cured. The percentage of cases was highest in males (67.8 %) and individuals aged 25-44 years (41.1 %), and lowest in children aged less than 15 years (4.6 %). The disease was spatially distributed throughout the urban district. The incidence rate among urban census tracts ranged from 0.06 to 1.1 %, and the disease occurred predominantly in the downtown area (99.3 %). Higher population density was associated significantly with increased odds of living in a sector with a "higher density of cases", even after adjusting for income and education (odds ratio = 13.7). CONCLUSIONS: The highest density of cases was strongly associated with higher population density but not with lower income or level of literacy.

Transfusion-Transmitted Dengue and Associated Clinical Symptoms During the 2012 Epidemic in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: A linked donor-recipient study was conducted during epidemics in 2 cities in Brazil to investigate transfusion-transmitted (TT) dengue virus (DENV) by DENV RNA-positive donations. METHODS: During February-June 2012, samples were collected from donors and recipients and retrospectively tested for DENV RNA by transcription-mediated amplification. Recipient chart review, using a case (DENV positive)-control (DENV negative and not known to be exposed) design, was conducted to assess symptoms. RESULTS: Of 39 134 recruited blood donors, DENV-4 viremia was confirmed in 0.51% of donations from subjects in Rio de Janeiro and 0.80% of subjects in Recife. Overall, 42 DENV RNA-positive units were transfused into 35 recipients. Of these, 16 RNA-positive units transfused into 16 susceptible recipients were identified as informative: 5 cases were considered probable TT cases, 1 possible TT case, and 10 nontransmissions. The TT rate was 37.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.2%-64.6%), significantly higher than the viremia rate of 0.93% (95% CI, .11%-3.34%) in nonexposed recipients (P < .0001). Chart review did not find significant differences between cases and controls in symptoms or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: During a large epidemic of DENV-4 infection in Brazil, >0.5% of donations were RNA positive, and approximately one third of components resulted in TT. However, no significant clinical differences were evident between RNA-positive and RNA-negative recipients.

Assessment of primary health care from the perspective of patients hospitalized for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.

BACKGROUND: The hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) has been used to assess the effectiveness of primary health care (PHC). Due to the existence of different models of organization of PHC in Brazil, it is important to develop indicators and tools for their assessment. OBJECTIVE: Assessment PHC from the perspective of patients hospitalized for ACSC. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The patients were interviewed for assessment of PHC quality using the primary care assessment tool and a questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were performed and the Primary Health Care Index (PHCI) was calculated according to the health service modality, either the traditional primary health care (TPHC) or the Family Health Program (FHP). The PHCI of the two health care models were compared. RESULTS: A total of 314 ACSC patients were interviewed 26.4% from the FHP and 73.6% from the TPHC. In general, the PHCI dimension with the lowest score was health service access. There was no significant difference in the general PHCI for the two modalities of services (P = 0.16); however, comprehensiveness was better assessed in the TPHC, while longitudinality, family focus and community orientation were better evaluated by FHP users (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The FHP was found to be better qualified to establish longitudinality in the community, an important dimension for continued care. However, promoting access to and consolidating a proactive care model focussed on family shows to be a great challenge for the implementation of a quality and resolutive PHC in large urban centres.

Phylogenetic analysis of the emergence of main hepatitis C virus subtypes in São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: It is recognized that hepatitis C virus subtypes (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a) originated in Africa and Asia and spread worldwide exponentially during the Second World War (1940) through the transfusion of contaminated blood products, invasive medical and dental procedures, and intravenous drug use. The entry of hepatitis C virus subtypes into different regions occurred at distinct times, presenting exponential growth rates of larger or smaller spread. Our study estimated the growth and spread of the most prevalent subtypes currently circulating in São Paulo.METHODS:A total of 465 non-structural region 5B sequences of hepatitis C virus covering a 14-year time-span were used to reconstruct the population history and estimate the population dynamics and Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor of genotypes using the Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach implemented in BEAST (Bayesian evolutionary analysis by sampling tree software/program).RESULTS:Evolutionary analysis demonstrated that the different hepatitis C virus subtypes had distinct growth patterns. The introduction of hepatitis C virus-1a and -3a were estimated to be circa 1979 and 1967, respectively, whereas hepatitis C virus-1b appears to have a more ancient entry, circa 1923. Hepatitis C virus-1b phylogenies suggest that different lineages circulate in São Paulo, and four well-supported groups (i.e., G1, G2, G3 and G4) were identified. Hepatitis C virus-1a presented the highest growth rate (r = 0.4), but its spread became less marked after the 2000s. Hepatitis C virus-3a grew exponentially until the 1990s and had an intermediate growth rate (r = 0.32). An evident exponential growth (r = 0.26) was found for hepatitis C virus-1b between 1980 and the mid-1990s.CONCLUSIONS:After an initial period of exponential growth, the expansion of the three main subtypes began to decrease. Hepatitis C virus-1b presented inflated genetic diversity, and its transmission may have been sustained by different generations and transmission routes other than blood transfusion. Hepatitis C virus-1a and -3a showed no group stratification, most likely due to their recent entry.

Phylogenetic analysis of the emergence of main hepatitis C virus subtypes in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: It is recognized that hepatitis C virus subtypes (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a) originated in Africa and Asia and spread worldwide exponentially during the Second World War (1940) through the transfusion of contaminated blood products, invasive medical and dental procedures, and intravenous drug use. The entry of hepatitis C virus subtypes into different regions occurred at distinct times, presenting exponential growth rates of larger or smaller spread. Our study estimated the growth and spread of the most prevalent subtypes currently circulating in São Paulo. METHODS: A total of 465 non-structural region 5B sequences of hepatitis C virus covering a 14-year time-span were used to reconstruct the population history and estimate the population dynamics and Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor of genotypes using the Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach implemented in BEAST (Bayesian evolutionary analysis by sampling tree software/program). RESULTS: Evolutionary analysis demonstrated that the different hepatitis C virus subtypes had distinct growth patterns. The introduction of hepatitis C virus-1a and -3a were estimated to be circa 1979 and 1967, respectively, whereas hepatitis C virus-1b appears to have a more ancient entry, circa 1923. Hepatitis C virus-1b phylogenies suggest that different lineages circulate in São Paulo, and four well-supported groups (i.e., G1, G2, G3 and G4) were identified. Hepatitis C virus-1a presented the highest growth rate (r=0.4), but its spread became less marked after the 2000s. Hepatitis C virus-3a grew exponentially until the 1990s and had an intermediate growth rate (r=0.32). An evident exponential growth (r=0.26) was found for hepatitis C virus-1b between 1980 and the mid-1990s. CONCLUSIONS: After an initial period of exponential growth, the expansion of the three main subtypes began to decrease. Hepatitis C virus-1b presented inflated genetic diversity, and its transmission may have been sustained by different generations and transmission routes other than blood transfusion. Hepatitis C virus-1a and -3a showed no group stratification, most likely due to their recent entry.

Dengue outbreaks in Divinopolis, south-eastern Brazil and the geographic and climatic distribution of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti in 2011-2012.

OBJECTIVE: To entomologically monitor Aedes spp. and correlate the presence of these vectors with the recent epidemic of dengue in Divinopolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. METHODS: Ovitraps were installed at 44 points in the city, covering six urban areas, from May 2011 to May 2012. After collection, the eggs were incubated until hatching. In the 4th stage of development, the larvae were classified as Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus. RESULTS: In total, 25 633 Aedes spp. eggs were collected. February was the month with the highest incidence, with 5635 eggs collected and a hatching rate of 46.7%. Ae. aegypti eggs had the highest hatching rate, at 72.3%, whereas Ae. albopictus eggs had 27.7%. Climate and population density influenced the number of eggs found. Indicators of vector presence were positively correlated with the occurrence of dengue cases. CONCLUSION: These data reinforce the need for entomological studies, highlight the relevance of Ae. albopictus as a possible disease vector and demonstrate its adaptation. Ae. albopictus, most commonly found in forested areas, comprised a substantial proportion of the urban mosquito population.

HCV genotypes, characterization of mutations conferring drug resistance to protease inhibitors, and risk factors among blood donors in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem estimated to affect almost 200 million people worldwide. The aim of this study is to analyze the subtypes and existence of variants resistant to protease inhibitors and their association with potential HCV risk factors among blood donors in Brazil. METHODS: Repeat anti-HCV reactive blood donors are systematically asked to return for retest, notification, and counseling in which they are interviewed for risk factors for transfusion-transmitted diseases. We analyzed 202 donors who returned for counseling from 2007 to 2010 and presented enzyme immunoassay- and immunoblot-reactive results. The HCV genotypes and resistance mutation analyses were determined by the direct sequencing of the NS5b and NS3 regions, respectively. The HCV viral load was determined using an in-house real-time PCR assay targeting the 5'-NCR. RESULTS: HCV subtypes 1b, 1a, and 3a were found in 45.5%, 32.0%, and 18.0% of the donors, respectively. The mean viral load of genotype 1 was significantly higher than that of the genotype 3 isolates. Subtype 1a was more frequent among young donors and 3a was more frequent among older donors. Protease inhibitor-resistant variants were detected in 12.8% of the sequenced samples belonging to genotype 1, and a higher frequency was observed among subtype 1a (20%) in comparison to 1b (8%). There was no difference in the prevalence of HCV risk factors among the genotypes or drug-resistant variants. CONCLUSIONS: We found a predominance of subtype 1b, with an increase in the frequency of subtype 1a, in young subjects. Mutations conferring resistance to NS3 inhibitors were frequent in treatment-naïve blood donors, particularly those infected with subtype 1a. These variants were detected in the major viral population of HCV quasispecies, have replicative capacities comparable to nonresistant strains, and could be important for predicting the response to antiviral triple therapy.

Ten-year incidence of Chagas cardiomyopathy among asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi-seropositive former blood donors.

BACKGROUND: Very few studies have measured disease penetrance and prognostic factors of Chagas cardiomyopathy among asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi-infected persons. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective cohort study among initially healthy blood donors with an index T cruzi-seropositive donation and age-, sex-, and period-matched seronegatives in 1996 to 2002 in the Brazilian cities of São Paulo and Montes Claros. In 2008 to 2010, all subjects underwent medical history, physical examination, ECGs, and echocardiograms. ECG and echocardiogram results were classified by blinded core laboratories, and records with abnormal results were reviewed by a blinded panel of 3 cardiologists who adjudicated the outcome of Chagas cardiomyopathy. Associations with Chagas cardiomyopathy were tested with multivariate logistic regression. Mean follow-up time between index donation and outcome assessment was 10.5 years for the seropositives and 11.1 years for the seronegatives. Among 499 T cruzi seropositives, 120 (24%) had definite Chagas cardiomyopathy, and among 488 T cruzi seronegatives, 24 (5%) had cardiomyopathy, for an incidence difference of 1.85 per 100 person-years attributable to T cruzi infection. Of the 120 seropositives classified as having Chagas cardiomyopathy, only 31 (26%) presented with ejection fraction <50%, and only 11 (9%) were classified as New York Heart Association class II or higher. Chagas cardiomyopathy was associated (P<0.01) with male sex, a history of abnormal ECG, and the presence of an S3 heart sound. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial annual incidence of Chagas cardiomyopathy among initially asymptomatic T cruzi-seropositive blood donors, although disease was mild at diagnosis.

Motivation and social capital among prospective blood donors in three large blood centers in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Studies analyzing motivation factors that lead to blood donation have found altruism to be the primary motivation factor; however, social capital has not been analyzed in this context. Our study examines the association between motivation factors (altruism, self-interest, and response to direct appeal) and social capital (cognitive and structural) across three large blood centers in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 7635 donor candidates from October 15 through November 20, 2009. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires on demographics, previous blood donation, human immunodeficiency virus testing and knowledge, social capital, and donor motivations. Enrollment was determined before the donor screening process. RESULTS: Among participants, 43.5 and 41.7% expressed high levels of altruism and response to direct appeal, respectively, while only 26.9% expressed high levels of self-interest. More high self-interest was observed at Hemope-Recife (41.7%). Of participants, 37.4% expressed high levels of cognitive social capital while 19.2% expressed high levels of structural social capital. More high cognitive and structural social capital was observed at Hemope-Recife (47.3 and 21.3%, respectively). High cognitive social capital was associated with high levels of altruism, self-interest, and response to direct appeal. Philanthropic and high social altruism were associated with high levels of altruism and response to direct appeal. CONCLUSION: Cognitive and structural social capital and social altruism are associated with altruism and response to direct appeal, while only cognitive social capital is associated with self-interest. Designing marketing campaigns with these aspects in mind may help blood banks attract potential blood donors more efficiently.