Detection of the Hepatitis C virus in a population of adults.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults from Criciuma-SC and to search factors associated with the viral transmission. METHODS: During a health campaign, a questionnaire about factors associated to HCV transmission and tests to detect HCV were applied. A representative sample of the population was considered with 300 voluntaries. Fisher's Exact test, Mann-Whitney and Kappa tests were performed (p values < 0.05 were considered significant). RESULTS: HCV was detected in 7/ 457 (1.53 %) voluntaries. Subjects with positive HCV had a mean of 5.7 (+/- 4.1 SD) sexual partners in the last 10 years, which was significantly higher than those with negative anti-HCV (mean sexual partners 2 +/- 2.5 SD) (p= 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV in a voluntary population of adults from Criciuma-SC was high and there was significant association between positive anti-HCV and higher number of sexual partners.

Antihyperlipidemic effect of Casearia sylvestris methanolic extract.

Casearia sylvestris methanolic extract (MCE) was screened at doses of 125-500 mg/kg for its antihyperlipidemic activity. The antihyperlipidemic effect was evaluated in olive oil-loaded mice. Acute treatment caused inhibition in the triglyceride (TG) and serum lipase elevation-induced by 5 ml/kg of olive oil.

Detection of the Hepatitis C virus in a population of adults / Detección del virus de la Hepatitis C en una población de adultos / Detecção do vírus da Hepatite C em uma população de adultos

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults from Criciuma-SC and to search factors associated with the viral transmission. METHODS: During a health campaign, a questionnaire about factors associated to HCV transmission and tests to detect HCV were applied. A representative sample of the population was considered with 300 voluntaries. Fisher's Exact test, Mann-Whitney and Kappa tests were performed (p values < 0.05 were considered significant). RESULTS: HCV was detected in 7/ 457 (1.53 percent) voluntaries. Subjects with positive HCV had a mean of 5.7 (+/- 4.1 SD) sexual partners in the last 10 years, which was significantly higher than those with negative anti-HCV (mean sexual partners 2 +/- 2.5 SD) (p= 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV in a voluntary population of adults from Criciuma-SC was high and there was significant association between positive anti-HCV and higher number of sexual partners.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la presencia del virus de la Hepatitis C (VHC) en adultos de la ciudad de Criciúma-SC y buscar factores relacionados a la transmisión viral. MÉTODOS: en una campaña de salud sobre Hepatitis C fue aplicado un cuestionario sobre factores relacionados a la transmisión del VHC; se realizaron pruebas para detectar el virus. Se estableció, como muestra representativa, la participación de 300 individuos de la población. Fueron aplicadas los pruebas Exato de Fischer, Mann-Whitney y Kappa (con valores significativos de p<0,05). RESULTADOS: La Hepatitis C fue detectada en 7/457 participantes (1,53 por ciento). Los individuos con VHC positivo tuvieron un promedio de 5,7 (+/- 4,1 DE) compañeros sexuales en los últimos 10 años y ese valor fue significativamente más elevado que los que presentaron el resultado de VHC negativo (promedio de 2 compañeros +/- 2,5 DE) (p= 0,01). CONCLUSIÓN: La seropresencia de VHC en una población voluntaria de adultos de Criciúma-SC fue elevada, habiendo una asociación entre la presencia del VHC y el mayor número de compañeros sexuales.

O estudo objetivou determinar a prevalência de vírus da hepatite C (HCV) em adultos de Criciúma, SC, e procurar fatores relacionados à transmissão viral. MÉTODOS: em uma campanha de saúde sobre hepatite C foi aplicado questionário sobre fatores relativos à transmissão de HVC e testes de detecção viral. Estabeleceu-se 300 participantes como amostra representativa da população. Foram aplicados os testes Exato de Fischer, Mann-Whitney e Kappa (significativos valores de p<0,05). RESULTADOS: hepatite C foi detectada em 7/457 participantes (1,53 por cento). Indivíduos com HCV positivo tiveram média de 5,7 (+/-4,1 DP) parceiros sexuais nos últimos 10 anos e esse valor foi significativamente mais elevado do que para aqueles com HCV negativo (média de 2 parceiros +/-2,5 DP) (p=0,01). CONCLUSÃO: a soroprevalência de HCV em uma população voluntária de adultos de Criciúma, SC, foi elevada, havendo associação entre a presença de HCV e maior número de parceiros sexuais.

Sleeve gastrectomy model in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has been used for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity, as a first step or as a definitive treatment. The objective of this pilot study was to establish an animal model for SG in Wistar rats. METHODS: 12 male Wistar rats were operated on. 8 of them underwent a SG, with a hand-sewn invaginating suture, and 4 underwent a laparotomy and stomach manipulation (control group). Sterilized materials, prophylactic antibiotics and nutritional supplementation were used. The animals' weight was checked on the operation day and on a weekly basis, for 7 weeks. RESULTS: The experimental SG model was possible due to careful procedures in the pre- and postoperative period. The average weight loss in the sleeve gastrectomy group was 49.6 g (43 to 60 g) until the 4th week, whereas in the control group average weight loss was 15 g (10 to 25 g) but the weight loss was achieved in the 1st week. After the 7th week, there was weight gain in both groups. However, in the SG group, this gain was significantly lower than in the control group. CONCLUSION: It has been possible to obtain a SG experimental model. The effects of this SG appear to be beneficial in weight loss. Biochemical and molecular mechanisms may also be investigated based on this model.

Hepatitis C risk factor for patients submitted to dialysis.

This article reports the results of the research which has evaluated the prevalence and factors associated to the presence of Hepatitis C in patients submitted to dialysis at the Clinica de Doenças Renais (Clinic of Renal Diseases) in Tubarao city (CRDT), Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in the period between January 1st, 2004 to December 31st in the same year. The prevalence of 16.8% of Hepatitis C in the studied population and the time-length of dialysis as significative risk factor have become evident. The non-correlation of seropositivity of the followings factors is also indicated: age, gender, base diseases, infrastructures, the type of clinic machines, the type of dialyser, used membranes, the machine sterilisation and substances for this process as well as the number of times of the dialyser reutilization. The data represented in this project suggest that the Hepatitis C presents high prevalence in patients in dialysis and the time-length of the treatment is a risky factor to acquire the infection.

Hepatitis C risk factor for patients submitted to dialysis

This article reports the results of the research which has evaluated the prevalence and factors associated to the presence of Hepatitis C in patients submitted to dialysis at the Clinica de Doenças Renais (Clinic of Renal Diseases) in Tubarao city (CRDT), Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in the period between January 1st, 2004 to December 31st in the same year. The prevalence of 16.8 percent of Hepatitis C in the studied population and the time-length of dialysis as significative risk factor have become evident. The non-correlation of seropositivity of the followings factors is also indicated: age, gender, base diseases, infrastructures, the type of clinic machines, the type of dialyser, used membranes, the machine sterilisation and substances for this process as well as the number of times of the dialyser reutilization. The data represented in this project suggest that the Hepatitis C presents high prevalence in patients in dialysis and the time-length of the treatment is a risky factor to acquire the infection.

Hiperreatividade brônquica em uma população de adolescentes asmáticos de Criciúma-SC / Bronchial Hyperreactivity in a Population of Asthmatic Adolescents of Criciúma -SC

A hiperreatividade brônquica (HRB) é um dos principais fatores envolvidos na patogênese da asma. Existem poucos estudos que avaliam a HBR em adolescentes asmáticos. Objetivo: avaliar a HRB e identificar fatores de risco associados à asma em uma população de adolescentes asmáticos de Criciúma-SC. População: 49 adolescentes escolares de Criciúma com critérios clínicos de asma. Métodos: Entrevista clínica e realização de prova de função pulmonar; aqueles que apresentaram função pulmonar normal realizaram teste de broncoprovocação (TBP) com metacolina para avaliação da HRB. Resultados: 42 adolescentes asmáticos concluíram o estudo, sendo que, 26 apresentaram função pulmonar normal. Destes, 16 realizaram TBP com metacolina e 56% deles tiveram uma HRB branda. A média da PC20M foi de 4,36 mg/ml. Houve correlação direta significativa entre o valor de PC20M e o fluxo aéreo nas vias de médio e pequeno calibres (r= 0,51 e r= 0,52, respectivamente e p<0,05). Entre os asmáticos com função pulmonar mostrando síndrome obstrutiva houve maior freqüência de história familiar de asma e entre aqueles com função pulmonar normal houve maior freqüência de história pessoal de rinite (p<0,05 e p<0,01, respectivamente). Nesses adolescentes houve elevada freqüência de história de exposição à poeira e animais domésticos, assim como habitação próxima a indústrias (p<0,05, p<0,001 e p<0,001, respectivamente). Conclusão: A maioria dos asmáticos apresentou HRB branda e houve correlação entre HRB e valores do fluxo expiratório nas vias aéreas. Fatores de risco como história familiar de asma e exposição a poluentes e aeroalérgenos foram freqüentemente relatados.

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is one of the main factors enrolled in the pathogenesis of asthma. There are few studies about HBR in asthmatic adolescents. Objective: to evaluate the BHR and to identify some risk factors associated to asthma in a population of asthmatic adolescents from Criciúma-SC. Population: 49 school adolescents from Criciúma with clinical criteria of asthma. Methods: Clinical history and lung function test were performed to all asthmatics; those that had presented a normal lung function had carried through methacholine challenge to evaluate the BHR. Results: 42 adolescents concluded this study, which 26 presented normal lung function. Of these, 16 had carried through methacholine challenge and 56% of them had a mild BHR. The average of the PC20M was of 4,36 mg/ml. There was a direct correlation between the PC20M and the airflow in medium and small airways (r= 0.51 and r= 0,52, respectively and p<0,05). In asthmatics whose lung function demonstrated an obstructive syndrome there was a high frequency of familiar history of asthma, and between adolescents with normal lung function there was a high frequency of personal history of rhinitis (p<0,05 and p<0,01, respectively). Additionally, these asthmatics had an elevated frequency of history of aeroallergens exposition and habitation next to industries (p<0,05, p<0,001 and p<0,001, respectively). Conclusion: The majority of the asthmatics presented mild BHR and there was correlation between BHR and values of the expiratory flow in the airways. Risk factors such as familiar history of asthma and exposition to pollutants and aeroallergens were frequently reported.

O trismo como primeira manifestação do tétano / The trismus as tetanus's first manifestation

O tétano é uma doença infecciosa severa, não contagiosa, usualmente de início agudo, resultante da solução de continuidade da pele/mucosa e contaminação pelo bacilo Clostridium tetani.O diagnóstico do tétano é clínico e seu quadro inicia-se, na maior parte das vezes, por espasmos moderados dos músculos da boca, face e pescoço, seguido de aparecimento rápido de rigidez dorsal, toraco-abdominal e por vezes dos músculos da laringe com comprometimento da respiração. Não há exames laboratoriais que confirmem o diagnóstico e os exames bacteriológicos são negativos na maior parte dos casos. O fato de não ser encontrada a porta de entrada, o que acontece em 29% 2,3 das situações, não exclui o diagnóstico. O prognóstico está relacionado com a idade, estado de saúde prévio, estado de imunidade, local da infecção primária e período de incubação. O tétano deve ser suspeitado e tratado empiricamente em todo o paciente que apresenta sinais e sintomas, mesmo sem sinal ou lesão aparente...

Matrix metalloproteinase-9, but not tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, increases in the sputum from allergic asthmatic patients after allergen challenge.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether allergen inhalation modulates the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in the induced sputum recovered from patients during a late-phase reaction. METHOD: Eight allergic asthma patients and five healthy control subjects inhaled a dose of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract corresponding to the provocative concentration of the allergen causing a 20% fall in FEV(1) and saline solution. Lung function was carefully monitored for 6 h, and an induced sputum test was performed at 6 h after sham challenge or allergen challenge. The total and differential cell counts were analyzed, and the levels of MMP-9 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and zymography), TIMP-1 (by ELISA), and albumin (by rocket immunoelectrophoresis) were measured. RESULTS: The sputum eosinophil counts (p < 0.01) and MMP-9 levels (p < 0.05) increased significantly in atopic asthma patients after undergoing the allergen challenge but did not in the control subjects. By contrast, TIMP-1 and albumin levels were not significantly increased in any group. MMP-9 levels, measured after the allergen challenge in asthmatic patients, were significantly correlated with FEV(1) variations after allergen inhalation (r = 0.51; p < 0.05) and with the sputum neutrophil percentage (r = 0.71; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The levels of MMP-9, but not TIMP-1, increase after inhaled allergen challenge in the sputum of allergic asthmatic patients. This protease increase may lead to a transient imbalance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 favoring proteolytic extracellular matrix degradation.