Association between the IL28B rs12979860 POLYMORPHISM and therapy response in patients infected with genotype 1 of hepatitis c virus in central Brazil

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) upstream of the IL28B gene have been associated with the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and with a sustained virological response (SVR) to HCV infection treatment. This study aimed to investigate the association between IL28B SNP rs12979860 and SVR in patients with hepatitis C in Central Brazil. A total of 101 HCV genotype 1 mono-infected chronic patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) were studied in the City of Goiânia, Central Brazil. Analysis of rs12979860 showed that the most prevalent genotype was CT (57.4%), followed by CC (23.8%) and TT (18.8%). An overall SVR rate of 28.7% (95% CI: 20.4-38.7) was found in the study population. In a multivariate analysis, only IL28B rs12979860 CC genotype (OR: 3.77; 95% CI: 1.13-12.60; p = 0.031) was associated with SVR. These findings show that IL28B SNP rs12979860 is a strong predictor of SVR in the PEG-IFN/RBV treatment in patients infected with genotype 1 of HCV in Central Brazil

Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection among recyclable waste collectors in central Brazil

Introduction: The collection of recyclable waste materials is a widespread activity among the urban poor. Today, this occupation attracts an increasingly large number of individuals. Despite its economic and environmental importance, this activity is associated with unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroepidemiological profile of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a population of recyclable waste collectors in central Brazil. Methods: Recyclable waste collectors from all 15 recycling cooperatives in Goiânia City were invited to participate in the study. The participants (n = 431) were interviewed and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) and hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBsAg- and anti-HBc-positive samples were tested for HBV DNA and genotyped. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV infection (HBsAg- and/or anti-HBc-positive) was 12.8%. An age over 40 years and illicit drug use were associated with HBV infection. HBV DNA was detected in 2/3 HBsAg-positive samples and in 1/52 anti-HBc-positive/HBsAg-negative samples (an occult HBV infection rate of 1.9%), in which the genotypes/subgenotypes A/A1, D/D3 and F/F2 were identified. Only 12.3% of the recyclable waste collectors had serological evidence of previous HBV vaccination. Conclusions: These findings highlight the vulnerability of recyclable waste collectors to HBV infection and reinforce the importance of public health policies that address the health and safety of this socially vulnerable population. .

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among recyclable waste collectors in Central-West Brazil

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a population of recyclable waste collectors (n = 431) was assessed using a cross-sectional survey in all 15 cooperatives in the city of Goiânia, Central-West Brazil. The HCV prevalence was 1.6% (95% confidence interval: 0.6-3.6) and a history of sexually transmitted infections was independently associated with this infection. HCV RNA (corresponding to genotype 1; subtypes 1a and 1b) was detected in five/seven anti-HCV-positive samples. Although the study population reported a high rate (47.3%) of sharps and needle accidents, HCV infection was not more frequent in recyclable waste collectors than in the general Brazilian population. .

Occult hepatitis B virus infection among injecting drug users in the Central-West Region of Brazil

The prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was investigated in 149 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative injecting drug users (IDUs) in the Central-West Region of Brazil. Of these individuals, 19 were positive for HBV DNA, resulting in an occult HBV infection prevalence of 12.7% (19/149); six of these 19 individuals had anti-HBV core and/or anti-HBV surface antibodies and 13 were negative for HBV markers. All IDUs with occult hepatitis B reported sexual and/or parenteral risk behaviours. All HBV DNA-positive samples were successfully genotyped. Genotype D was the most common (17/19), followed by genotype A (2/19). These findings reveal a high prevalence of occult HBV infection and the predominance of genotype D among IDUs in Brazil's Central-West Region.

Prevalência da infecção pelo HTLV-1, em remanescentes de quilombos no Brasil Central / Prevalence of infection due to HTLV-1 in remnant quilombos in Central Brazil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência da infecção pelo HTLV-1 em remanescentes de comunidades de população negra, os quilombos no Brasil Central. 1.837 indivíduos foram avaliados, sendo nove soropositivos para HTLV-1/2 por ELISA. Todos esses foram positivos para HTLV-1 por Western blot e/ou PCR, resultando em uma prevalência de 0,5 por cento (IC 95 por cento: 0,2-1,0). A idade dos indivíduos infectados variou de 11 a 82 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino. Quanto às características de risco, história de aleitamento materno, transfusão de sangue, múltiplos parceiros sexuais e doenças sexualmente transmissíveis foram relatadas por esses indivíduos. Os achados deste estudo evidenciam a importância da identificação dos indivíduos infectados pelo HTLV-1 na estratégia de controle e prevenção dessa infecção em remanescentes de quilombos.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection among remnant black quilombo communities in Central Brazil. A total of 1,837 individuals were evaluated, among whom nine were HTLV-1/2 seropositive according to ELISA. All of them were positive for HTLV-1 by means of Western blot and/or PCR, thus resulting in a prevalence of 0.5 percent (95 percent CI: 0.2-1.0). The HTLV-1 infected individuals ranged in age from 11 to 82 years. The majority of them were females. Regarding risk characteristics, histories of breastfeeding, blood transfusion, multiple sexual partners and sexually transmitted diseases were reported by these individuals. The findings from this study indicate the importance of identifying HTLV-1 infected individuals, as a strategy for infection control and prevention in these remnant quilombos.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and associated factors among male illicit drug users in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Intravenous drug injection has been reported as the main risk factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence and the epidemiological profile of HCV infection among abusers of illegal injected and non-injected drugs in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil. A cross-sectional study including 314 male drug users from eight detoxification centres was performed. Out of 314 subjects studied, 48 (15.2 percent) were intravenous drug users. Participants were interviewed and had blood samples taken and tested for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. Positive samples were tested for the presence of HCV RNA. Genotyping was performed on HCV RNA-positive samples. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 6.4 percent (n = 20). Out of 20 anti-HCV antibody-positive subjects, 16 (80 percent) were also HCV RNA-positive. Genotype 1 predominated (75 percent), followed by 3a (25 percent). Subtype 1a was more common than 1b. HCV infection was more prevalent among intravenous drug users (33 percent) than non-injecting users (1.5 percent). Logistic regression analyses showed independent associations between HCV infection and intravenous drug use, imprisonment and increasing age. In the present study, injecting drug use was the factor most strongly associated to HCV infection and inhaling or sniffing did not represent an increased susceptibility to infection.

Soroprevalência da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C em profissionais das unidades de hemodiálise de Goiânia (GO) / Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in staff of hemodialysis units of Goiânia (GO)

Uma análise sorológica visando à detecção de anticorpos para o vírus da hepatite C (VHC) foi realizada em todos os profissionais (N = 152) das nove unidades de hemodiálise de Goiânia (GO). Apenas um profissional foi soropositivo, apresentando uma prevalência de 0,7 por cento (IC 95 por cento: 0,03-3,2) para esta infecção. Quanto ao relato de exposição ocupacional, houve predomínio de lesão percutânea (37 por cento). A maior parte (74,3 por cento) dos profissionais referiu fazer uso regular dos equipamentos de proteção. Embora a soroprevalência encontrada neste estudo tenha sido baixa, esses profissionais demonstram um risco elevado de exposição ocupacional, e as recomendações-padrão para o controle de infecção em unidades de hemodiálise devem ser rigorosamente seguidas.

Percepçäo dos pacientes, sem capacidade para autocuidar-se, sobre a operacionalizaçäo do banho no leito / Non-skilled patients for self-care on bath in bed operation perception

Estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa realizado nas unidades para tratamento médico-cirúrgico e ortopédico, com o objetivo de verificar e discutir a aceitaçäo/rejeiçäo/satisfaçäo pelo banho no leito, partindo das percepçöes dos próprios pacientes. A populaçäo constitui-se de pacientes sem possibilidades de autocuidar-se. A entrevista semi-estrurada e observaçäo direta foram utilizadas para a coleta das informaçöes. Através dos relatos podemos verificar que as percepçöes dos pacientes sobre o banho no leito foram diversificadas, considerado desagradável e constrangedor para uns enquanto para outros indispensável. Aspectos quanto à qualidade de água, sabäo, morosidade dos enfermeiros e um relacionamento mais humanizado foram descritos.

Mortalidade infantil: distribuiçäo espacial no município de Goiânia / Infant mortality: the spacial distribution of the district of Goiânia

As autoras verificam a distribuiçäo espacial do coeficiente de Mortalidade infantil nas diferentes áreas do Município de Goiânia. Estabelecem a relaçäo entre óbitos menores de 1 ano e os indicadores sócio-econômicos, nas diferentes áreas no Município de Goiânia no ano de 1992. Como também avaliam a influência das variáveis: sexo, idade, causa básica no perfil da mortalidade infantil em Goiânia. Este trabalho tem o intuito de proporcionar subsídios que venham a contribuir nas propostas de açöes de saúde que objetivem diminuir a Mortalidade infantil em Goiânia.