HIV and syphilis infections and associated factors among patients in treatment at a Specialist Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs Center in São Paulo's "Cracolândia".

INTRODUCTION: This study describes the epidemiological scenario of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis at the biggest specialist drug addiction center in Brazil. The great challenge is to find strategies to reduce the impact of inequality and discrimination and develop policies to protect individuals living with - or at risk of - infections. METHODS: During the period from January 1 to May 31, 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted on which all patients (N = 806) seeking inpatient treatment were enrolled. A structured diagnostic interview and rapid tests were conducted initially, and diagnoses were confirmed by tests conducted at a venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL). RESULTS: HIV and syphilis rates were 5.86% and 21.9%, respectively. Women were nearly 2.5 times more likely to have syphilis. HIV infection was associated with unprotected sex (odds ratio [OR]: 3.27, p = 0.003, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.51-7.11), and suicidal ideation (OR: 6.63, p = 0.001, 95%CI: 3.37-14.0). Although only 1.86% reported injecting drugs at any point during their lifetimes, this variable was associated with both HIV and syphilis. Elevated rates of HIV and syphilis were observed in the context of this severe social vulnerability scenario. CONCLUSION: The risk factors identified as associated with HIV and syphilis should be taken into consideration for implementation of specific prevention strategies including early diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI) to tackle the rapid spread of STIs in this population.

HIV and syphilis infections and associated factors among patients in treatment at a Specialist Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs Center in São Paulo's "Cracolândia"

Abstract Introduction This study describes the epidemiological scenario of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis at the biggest specialist drug addiction center in Brazil. The great challenge is to find strategies to reduce the impact of inequality and discrimination and develop policies to protect individuals living with - or at risk of - infections. Methods During the period from January 1 to May 31, 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted on which all patients (N = 806) seeking inpatient treatment were enrolled. A structured diagnostic interview and rapid tests were conducted initially, and diagnoses were confirmed by tests conducted at a venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL). Results HIV and syphilis rates were 5.86% and 21.9%, respectively. Women were nearly 2.5 times more likely to have syphilis. HIV infection was associated with unprotected sex (odds ratio [OR]: 3.27, p = 0.003, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.51-7.11), and suicidal ideation (OR: 6.63, p = 0.001, 95%CI: 3.37-14.0). Although only 1.86% reported injecting drugs at any point during their lifetimes, this variable was associated with both HIV and syphilis. Elevated rates of HIV and syphilis were observed in the context of this severe social vulnerability scenario. Conclusion The risk factors identified as associated with HIV and syphilis should be taken into consideration for implementation of specific prevention strategies including early diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI) to tackle the rapid spread of STIs in this population.

El desarrollo pulmonar en embriones humanos de ocho semanas: unacercamiento cuantitativo / Lung development in eight - week human embryos: a quantitative approach

Introducción: el conocimiento con el que contamos hoy sobre el desarrollo pulmonar proviene de complejos estudios genético-moleculares, morfológicos e imagenológicos 2D, 3D, 4D; entre estos últimos, es común la aplicación de técnicas complementarias como las morfométricas. Objetivo: Caracterizar cuantitativamente el desarrollo pulmonar en especímenes de la octava semana del período embrionario humano. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal en tres embriones humanospertenecientes a la Embrioteca de la Facultad de Medicina de Villa Clara; los especímenes fueron procesados por la técnica de parafina, digitalizados sus cortes, y medidas la totalidad de las secciones seriadas de ambos pulmones mediante las opciones de área y distancia del software Escope Photo 3.0. Mediante cálculos matemáticos, se obtuvieron volumen, diámetro longitudinal y razón de lateralidad.Resultados: en la octava semana, el pulmón tomó valores máximos lineales anteroposterior, lateral y longitudinal de 2,13 x 1,56 x 1,70 mm en el lado izquierdo y 2,78 x 1,80 x 1,77 mm en elderecho; el área máxima fue de 2,09 mm2 y 2,68 mm2 en los lados izquierdo y derecho, respectivamente; el volumen promedio fue de 1,16 mm3 en el pulmón izquierdo respecto a 1,43mm3 en el derecho. La razón derecha/izquierda fue de 1,23 y la izquierda/derecha de 0,8. Conclusiones: el presente estudio nos acercó a las dimensiones del pulmón en la octava semana; se halló dominancia derecha, más evidente según el volumen. Estas particularidades pueden caracterizar la anatomía cuantitativa del pulmón al término del periodo embrionario(AU)

Identification by Q-PCR of Trypanosoma cruzi lineage and determination of blood meal sources in triatomine gut samples in México.

Triatomine vectors were collected on human dwellings in Michoacán México. Blood meal sources were identified by real time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) using DNA extracted from triatomine guts. The assay was performed with one only specific primer set to amplify a fragment of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal gene from vertebrate species. Also Trypanosoma cruzi parasites were detected in triatomine gut samples by microscopy and the positive infection was tested in mice. In addition T. cruzi discrete taxonomic units (DTUs) were identified by Q-PCR with two sets of primers that amplify the mini-circle region (miniexon) and 18S ribosomal mitochondrial gene. The sequences obtained from 18S ribosomal gene amplifications confirmed the presence of T. cruzi I and II lineages, and provide evidence of the presence of lineage TcIII and TcIV.

Characterization of a naturally occurring new version of the cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) from small intestine.

The cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) is found in plasma mediating the transfer of cholesterol esters and triacylglycerides between lipoproteins. The last 26 amino acids of its carboxy-end correspond to an amphipathic a-helix whose hydrophobic side has been directly involved in the transfer of lipids. Alterations in this region lead to the reduction or loss of lipid transfer activity. To date, the only variant of the CETP messenger that has been reported lacks exon 9, which translates into an inactive isoform regarding neutral lipid transfer. In this study, we describe a new version of the messenger RNA of rabbit CETP identified exclusively in the small intestine of wild type (WT) rabbits. This isoform includes several of the intron bases prior to exon 16. The presence of a stop codon within this sequence prevents translation of exon 16, substituting the original carboxy-end sequence and therefore generating a random structure that does not contain the region responsible for neutral lipid transfer. Antibodies generated against a peptide within the carboxy-end sequence of the new isoform show the presence of this new protein in human plasma.