Epidemiology of HIV in pregnant women and its relationship with the period of the COVID-19 pandemic / Epidemiología del VIH en mujeres embarazadas y su relación con el período de la pandemia de COVID-19 / Epidemiologia do HIV em gestantes e sua relação com o período da pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze, in the light of the Social Ecological Theory, the progression of reported cases of HIV during pregnancy in a Brazilian state and their relationship with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Retrospective study, with a sample consisting of all reports of gestational HIV in the state of Ceará - Brazil from 2017 to 2021, on the IntegraSUS platform. Data collection was carried out in January 2022. The analyzed variables were organized according to the theoretical levels: macrosystem, exosystem, mesosystem, and microsystem. Results: A total of 1,173 cases of HIV in pregnant women were recorded. When comparing the pre- and post-pandemic period, a reduction in the disease detection rate (from 231 to 122.67 pregnant women) was observed, as well as 1.82 times more chances of women not using antiretrovirals during childbirth after the start of the pandemic. There was a 55% reduction in vaginal births and 39% in cesarean sections among women diagnosed with HIV after the start of the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had an epidemiological and care impact, leading to a reduction in the number of notifications and in the detection rate of pregnant women living with HIV in the state of Ceará. Therefore, the need to ensure health care coverage is emphasized, with early diagnosis actions, guaranteed treatment, and quality prenatal care.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar, a la luz de la Teoría Ecológica Social, la evolución de los casos notificados de VIH durante el embarazo en un estado brasileño y su relación con el inicio de la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: Estudio retrospectivo, con una muestra compuesta por todos los informes de VIH gestacional en el estado de Ceará - Brasil de 2017 a 2021, en la plataforma IntegraSUS. La recolección de datos se realizó en enero de 2022. Las variables analizadas se organizaron según los niveles teóricos: macrosistema, exosistema, mesosistema y microsistema. Resultados: Se registraron 1.173 casos de VIH en gestantes. Al comparar el período pre y pospandemia, hubo una reducción en la tasa de detección de la enfermedad (de 231 a 122,67 mujeres embarazadas) y 1,82 veces más posibilidades de que las mujeres no usaran antirretrovirales durante el parto después del inicio de la pandemia. Hubo una reducción del 55% en los partos vaginales y del 39% en las cesáreas entre las mujeres diagnosticadas con VIH después del inicio de la pandemia. Conclusión: La pandemia de COVID-19 tuvo un impacto epidemiológico y asistencial, lo que provocó una reducción en el número de notificaciones y en la tasa de detección de mujeres embarazadas que viven con el VIH en el estado de Ceará. Por lo tanto, se refuerza la necesidad de asegurar la cobertura de salud, con acciones de diagnóstico temprano, tratamiento garantizado y atención prenatal de calidad.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar, à luz da Teoria Social Ecológica, a evolução dos casos notificados de HIV na gestação em um estado brasileiro e sua relação com o início da pandemia de COVID-19. Método: Estudo retrospectivo, com amostra composta por todas as notificações de HIV gestacional do estado do Ceará - Brasil no período de 2017 a 2021, na plataforma IntegraSUS. A coleta de dados foi realizada em janeiro de 2022. As variáveis analisadas foram organizadas de acordo com os níveis teóricos: macrossistema, exossistema, mesossistema e microssistema. Resultados: Foram registrados 1.173 casos de HIV em gestantes. Ao comparar o período pré e pós-pandemia, observou-se redução da taxa de detecção da doença (de 231 para 122,67 gestantes) e 1,82 vezes mais chances de as mulheres não usarem antirretrovirais no parto após o início da pandemia. Houve redução de 55% de partos vaginais e de 39% de cesarianas das mulheres com diagnóstico de HIV após o início da pandemia. Conclusão A pandemia de COVID-19 causou impacto epidemiológico e assistencial, levando a uma redução do número de notificações e taxa de detecção de gestantes que vivem com HIV no estado do Ceará. Logo, reforça-se a necessidade de assegurar a cobertura de atenção à saúde, com ações de diagnóstico precoce, garantia de tratamento e uma assistência pré-natal de qualidade.

An indirect evaluation of medical residents' research writing skills by research synopsis review.

OBJECTIVE: To scrutinise the research proposals of medical residents fo inadequacies in writing dissertation synopsis. METHODS: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the regional centre of the College of Physicians and Surgeon Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised synopsis from January t June 2020 of postgraduate residents attached wit different hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. For evaluation purposes, an institutional checklist was used that had domains: general, epidemiological, statistical, and bibliographical review. These were assessed by a single epidemiologist Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 400 research proposals, 224(56%) were submitted by male and 176(44%) by female residents. Also, 208(52% proposals were submitted by residents at public-sector hospitals, a 114(28.5%) by those at private-sector hospitals, while 78(19.5%) were from military hospitals. Significant association of errors was found with training institutions, speciality an duration of training (p<0.05). No gender difference was seen (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the research proposals lacke correcunderstanding of all the concepts related to research. Difference in research writing skills across specialties and trainin institutions may be related to the lack of availability o research assistance and good mentorship.

COVID-19 in the municipalities of Botucatu and Serrana, São Paulo, Brazil, the effects of lethality and mortality / COVID-19 nos municípios de Botucatu e Serrana, São Paulo, Brasil, os efeitos da letalidade e mortalidade

Introduction: In 2019, the proliferation of a virus identified as SARS-CoV-2 emerged in the city of Wuhan, a district in China, quickly spread throughout the world, gaining pandemic status and less than 1 year, its repercussions and magnitude caused scientists, governments and society to adopt severe measures to combat this disease. Objective: To analyze mortality, incidence and mortality from COVID-19 in the municipalities of Botucatu and Serrana, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: This is an ecological study with a time series design with secondary data. All registered cases and deaths registered by COVID-19 from April 2020 to August 2021 in the municipalities of Botucatu and Serrana, São Paulo, Brazil were considered. The incidence, mortality and lethality rate were used. The monthly and/or weekly percentage variation and their respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated.Results: It identified that 12.88% of the residents of the city of Botucatu were infected with COVID-19 and 8.61% of the population of the municipality of Serrana was infected. There was a stationary trend of mortality and incidence in the period between April 2020 and May 2021 and decreasing in both sexes in the mortality rate in the municipality of Serrana, in the city of Botucatu there was a trend of increasing mortality and incidence in the same period observed. Conclusion: The mass vaccination strategy of citizens in the cities of Botucatu and Serrana present robust data to consider that immunization has a decreasing effect on the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19, which effectively contributes to fighting the pandemic and reduces the contamination and progression of the disease to more severe cases.

Introdução: em 2019, surgiu na cidade de Wuhan, um distrito na região da China a proliferação com a infecção de um vírus identificado como SARS-CoV-2, rapidamente espalhou-se pelo mundo ganhando status de pandemia em menos de 1 ano, suas repercussões e magnitude fizeram que os cientistas, governos e sociedade adotarem medidas severas para o combate a esta enfermidade. Objetivo: analisar a mortalidade, incidência e letalidade por COVID-19 nos municípios de Botucatu e Serrana, São Paulo, Brasil. Método: trata-se de um estudo ecológico com delineamento de série temporal com dados secundários. Foram consideradas todos os casos registrados e óbitos registrados por COVID-19 no período de abril de 2020 a agosto de 2021, nos municípios de Botucatu e Serrana, São Paulo, Brasil. Foi utilizado a taxa de incidência, mortalidade e letalidade. Estimou-se a variação percentual mensal e/ou semanal e seus respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança. Resultados: identificou que e 12,88% dos munícipes da cidade de Botucatu foram infectados com COVID-19 e 8,61% da população do município de Serrana foi infectada. Observou-se uma tendência estacionária de mortalidade e incidência no período entre abril 2020 a maio 2021 e decrescente em ambos os sexos na taxa de letalidade no município de Serrana, na cidade de Botucatu houve tendência de mortalidade e incidência crescentes no mesmo período observado. Conclusão: a estratégia de vacinação em massa dos munícipes das cidades de Botucatu e Serrana apresentam dados robustos para considerar que a imunização tem efeito de queda no número de casos e óbitos por COVID-19, o que contribui efetivamente no combate a pandemia e reduz a contaminação e evolução da doença para casos mais graves.

Dietary Insulin Index and Insulin Load in Relation to Breast Cancer: Findings from a Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: No data are available on the association between dietary insulin index (DII) and dietary insulin load (DIL) and the risk of breast cancer (BC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study enrolled 150 newly diagnosed cases of BC and 150 age-matched controls. All cases were patients with pathologically confirmed BC, with no history of any type of other pathologically confirmed cancers. Controls were selected from visitors, relatives, and friends of non-cancer patients in other wards who had no family relationships with the cases. We assessed the dietary intakes of study participants using a validated 147-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. DII and DIL were obtained from previously published data. RESULTS: A significant positive association was found between DII and BC (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-3.25), such that after considering energy intake and age, participants in the highest tertile of DII had 1.86 times greater risk of BC than those in the lowest tertile (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.03-3.35). However, this association became non-significant after controlling for further potential risk factors (OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 0.9-11.7). Furthermore, we observed a significant positive association between DIL and BC (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.06-3.40). The association remained significant even after controlling for age and energy intake. Further controlling for other potential confounders resulted in the disappearance of the association (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 0.87-10.6). CONCLUSION: Adherence to a diet with high DII and DIL was not associated with odds of BC after controlling for potential confounders.

Tuberculosis pulmonar con baciloscopía positiva en el Municipio Manzanillo de 1990 al 2010 / The pulmonary tuberculosis with positive bacillus in the Manzanillo Municipality of 1990 to the 2010

Introducción: la tuberculosis pulmonar (TB) ha vuelto a emerger como problema sanitario de primera magnitud, tanto en los países en vías de desarrollo como en los desarrollados.Objetivo: caracterizar los pacientes diagnosticados con tuberculosis pulmonar con baciloscopía positiva y determinar la incidencia de la enfermedad y su tendencia futura.Métodos: estudio de perfil epidemiológico, observacional y descriptivo longitudinal de los pacientes diagnosticados de tuberculosis pulmonar con baciloscopia positiva con 15 años o más durante los años 1990 hasta 2010, en el Municipio Manzanillo de la Provincia Granma.Resultados: fueron incluidos 174 pacientes: 166 casos nuevos y 8 recaídas El grupo de edad que predominó fue entre 25 y 44 años y otro tanto ocurrió con el sexo masculino. Solo el 63 por ciento de los casos fueron diagnosticados en la atención primaria de salud. La tendencia de la incidencia se considera estable en el tiempo con un promedio de 8,28 casos anuales por 100 000 habitantes.Conclusiones: por las dificultades existentes en la aplicación del programa de control anti TB no será posible disminuir la incidencia de forma ostensible para el 2015. Requiere de un intenso trabajo sanitario(AU)

Introduction The pulmonary tuberculosis it has turned to emerge as sanitary highest quality problem magnitude, so much in the countries in the process of development as in the developed.Objective Characterizing the diagnosed patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with positive bacillus and decide the incidence of the illness and your future tendency.Method I study of epidemiologic profile, observational and descriptive longitudinal of the patients diagnosed of white plague with baciloscopic positive with 15 years or more during the years 1990 to 2010, at the Provincia Granma's Municipality Manzanillo.Results 174 patients went includes: 166 cases new and 8 relapses. The group of age it predominated went between 25 and 44 years. Was the predominant the masculine sex. Reaches to him single 63 percent of the cases diagnosed in the SPA. The tendency of the incidence regular guest is considered in the time with an average of 8.28 annual cases for 100 000 inhabitants.Conclusions For the existent difficulties in the application of the control program anti TB it won't be possible to decrease the incidence in an ostensible way for the 2015. Require of intensify sanitary work(AU)

Using social epidemiology and neuroscience to explore the relationship between job stress and frontotemporal cortex activity among workers.

Mental health problems, such as depression, are increasingly common among workers. Job-related stresses, including psychological demands and a lack of discretion in controlling one's own work environment, are important causal factors. However, the mechanisms through which job-related stress may affect brain function remain unknown. We sought to identify the relationship between job-related stress and frontotemporal cortex activation using near-infrared spectroscopy. Seventy-nine (45 females, 34 males) Japanese employees, aged 26-51 years, were recruited from respondents to the Japanese Study of Stratification, Health, Income, and Neighborhood survey. Job-related stress was measured using the Japanese version of Job Content Questionnaire, which can index "job demand" and "job control". We found a significant correlation between higher "job demand" and smaller oxygenated hemoglobin [oxy-Hb] changes in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in female (r = -.54 to -.44). Significant correlations between higher "job control" and greater [oxy-Hb] changes in the right temporal cortex were observed among male, and in the combined sample (r = .46-.64). This initial cross-sectional observation suggests that elevated job-related stress is related to decrease frontotemporal cortex activation among workers. Integrating social epidemiology and neuroscience may be a powerful strategy for understanding how individuals' brain functions may mediate between the job-related stress or psychosocial work characteristics and public mental health.

Study on the molecular-epidemiological characteristics of HIV-1 in Shenzhen, 1992- 2008 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of HW-1 subtype in Shenzhen from 1992 to 2008.Methods 489 HIV-1 positive plasma samples were collected from 1992 to 2008 in Shenzhen.HIV-1 env genes were amplified by nested-PCR from RNA.Phylogenetic analysis was performed on data regarding the nucleotide sequence.Results A total of 464 sequences were amplified and genotyped.Data from this study revealed that CRF01_AE was a predominant HIV-1 subtype in Shenzhen (64.4％,299/464),followed by subtypes CRF_BC( 17.5％,81/464),B'( 14.7％,68/464) and B (2.4％,11/464).Subtype C (0.4％,2/464),A1 (0.2％,1/464),CRF02_AG(0.2％,1/464) and CRF06_cpx (0.2％,1/464) were also prevalent in Shenzhen.CRF01_AE and CRF_BC were predominant among heterosexuals,homosexuals and injection drug users,while B'was predominant among blood donors.Results from phylogenetic tree analysis showed that some of the HIV-1 clusters had been defined in CRF01_AE strains at different time or groups with different transmission routes.Cross-infections were also seen.Conclusion CRF01_AE was the predominant HIV-1 subtype in Shenzhen while CRF_BC,B,B',C,A1,CRF02_AG and a small amount of CRF06_cpx or recombinant subtypes were prevalent in this city.Different subtypes showed great variation in the process of epidemics.

Carga de enfermedad por meningitis bacteriana, Cuba 2006 / Burden of disease due to bacterial meningitis, Cuba 2006

Introducción: la meningitis bacteriana constituye una preocupación para los médicos y los sistemas de salud en general de cualquier país, así como para los organismos internacionales. Objetivo: estimar las cargas por morbilidad y mortalidad por meningitis bacteriana en Cuba para 2006. Métodos: se utilizaron los datos de mortalidad y de incidencia de la encuesta epidemiológica de la Vigilancia Nacional de Meningitis Bacteriana del Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí. Los procedimientos de estimación se basaron en las recomendaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud con el uso del DISMOD y las hojas de cálculos establecidas al efecto. Resultados: la carga global de meningitis bacteriana se estimó en 3527,26 años de vida ajustados por discapacidad (AVAD), lo que representó la pérdida de 31,3 años por cada 100 000 habitantes. La carga por morbilidad y mortalidad de meningitis bacteriana sin ponderar la secuela resultó 2056,25 años de vida ajustados por discapacidad, 55,9 por ciento correspondió sin agente etiológico identificado, seguida de las originadas por Streptococcus pneumoniae (30,9 por ciento), Neisseria meningitidis (9,5 por ciento) y por Haemophilus influenzae tipo b (3,6 por ciento). La carga por mortalidad fue aproximadamente 2 039 años de vida perdidos (AVP) por muerte prematura, o sea 57,8 por ciento. Los menores de 5 años aportaron la mayor carga global de años de vida ajustados por discapacidad y dentro de ellos S. pneumoniae el que generó la mayor carga. Conclusión: la carga por meningitis bacteriana resultó elevada y corroboró su alta utilidad para evaluar los problemas de salud(AU)

Introduction: bacterial meningitis is a real concern for physicians and general health systems of any country as well as the international bodies. Objective: to estimate burdens of disease from morbidity and mortality caused by bacterial meningitis in Cuba during 2006. Methods: the mortality and the incidence data of the epidemiological survey from the National Surveillance of Bacterial Meningitis of Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine were used. The estimation methods were based on the WHO recommendations by using the DISMOD and the required Excel spreadsheets. Results: the global burden of bacterial meningitis was estimated at a total of 3527.26 Disability Adjusted Lost Years (DALYs), which accounted for 31.3 years lost per 100 000 inhabitants. Morbidity and mortality burden of bacterial meningitis without sequel weighing was 2056.25 disability adjusted lost years, being the 55.9 percent caused by unidentified agent, followed by S. pneumoniae (30.9 percent), N. meningitidis (9.5 percent) and H influenza type b (3.6 percent). The mortality burden was 2 039 years of life lost from premature death, that is, 57.8 percent of the global burden. Children under five years of age contributed the biggest global burden of disability adjusted lost years, and S. penumoniae generated the biggest burden. Conclusion: the burden of bacterial meningitis was high. Burden of disease is an important measure to assess health problems(AU)

Enfoque de los sistemas complejos en la epidemiología: [revisión] / Approach of the complex systems in epidemiology: [review]

Para confeccionar la presente revisión se utilizaron bases de datos disponibles en INFOMED, (PUDMED e HINARI;) utilizando los descriptores “epidemics models”, “epidemics contact patterns” y “epidemics spatio-temporal”. Se realizaron observaciones, entrevistas individuales y grupales con el personal de Epidemiología de la provincia de Camagüey y Ciudad Habana. Se destaca el hecho de que existe abundante bibliografía actualizada en las bases de datos de INFOMED, la cual muestra tendencia internacional al uso de herramientas matemáticas propias del enfoque de la complejidad. En el caso específico de la Epidemiología se aprecia en el mundo el uso de modelos matemáticos de avanzada, análisis cartográficos dinámicos y el establecimiento de patrones de contacto de las poblaciones, lo que pone en evidencia que la toma de decisiones se vale de métodos científicos de avanzada propios del enfoque de los sistemas complejos. Se concluye que urge el reconocimiento de la no linealidad de los procesos epidemiológicos, para que la calidad de la vigilancia epidemiológica se enriquezca con este tipo de análisis.

To make the present review, available databases were used such as: INFOMED, (PUDMED and HINARI;) using "epidemics models", "epidemics contact patterns" and "epidemics spatio-temporal" as describers. Observations, individual and group interviews with the Epidemiology staff of Camagüey province and Havana City were performed. It stands out the fact that abundant updated bibliography in INFOMED databases exists, which shows international tendency to the use of mathematical tools typical of the complexity approach. In the specific case of Epidemiology it is appreciated all over the world the use of advanced mathematical models, dynamic cartographic analysis and the establishment of patterns of the populations' contact, what puts in evidence that taking decisions uses scientific methods of advanced characteristic to the complex systems approach. It is concluded that urges the recognition of the nonlinearity of the epidemic processes, so that the quality of the epidemic surveillance gets rich with this kind of analysis.

Epidemiological analysis and thinking on infections in the 533 trauma patients following Chinese Wenchuan earthquake / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To provide better emergency and patient services in well-equipped comprehensive hospitals, the organization and wisdom therapeutic strategy are of great importance for the recovery of injured patients from the earthquake zone. Method From 12 May 2008, following the 8.0 Magnitude earthquake in Wenchuan county of Sichuan Province, six Chongqing hospitals with third class in grade A were involved in the rescue of the injured patients with great effort. A total of 533 patients were retreated and followed up from quake zone. All the patients were scored with ISS and AIS system. The profiles of the patients examined, operated and clinical infection investigation were documented. Results Of 533 patients, the number of the patients whose ISS is below 16 is 456 (83.6%), the number between 16 and 25 is 65 (12.2%), and the humor above 25 is 12 (2.3%). The patients were classfled based on their fracture parts as follows: head and neck (n = 42), face (n = 7), chest (n = 114), abdominal and cavitas pelvis (n =81), limb and pelvis (n =314), body surface (n =205), with 180 single fracture site, 139 of them being two combined fracture sites, and 114 of them being above three combined fracture sites. Thirty-two of the patients were suffered from amputation. The number of patients suffered from crushing syndrome reached 21, with 281 surgical operations in hospitals. Seventy-nine patients were suffered from infections including 87.3% of pre-hespital infections. The results from bacteria culture and antibiotic susceptibility showed that the infected bacteria mainly involved in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus anreus, Staphylococcus haemolyticns, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Baumanii, Aerobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, C type chain coccus, Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus. The antibiotic susceptibility to diverse bacteria has no obvious changes and exists partial overlapping, and infected patients should be given the treatment of cephalosporin, macrolide antibiotic and so on. Conclusions For the emergency conditions after the catastrophe, the comprehensive hospitals must be prepared to meet large quantities of severe trauma and infection therapy. The scientific selection of antibiotics in the combinative therapy is of great importance to the enhancement of early specific treatment, prevention of severe trauma complications and rehabilitation of patients.

Situação atual da hepatite B e D na região de Cotriguaçu, Amazônia Mato-grossense, 2001. (Nota Prévia) / Current situation of hepatitis B and D in the Amazon Region of Cotriguaçu, Mato Grosso State, 2001: (Previous Note)

DELINEAMENTO DO PROBLEMA: Em 1995, foi identificada epidemia comunitária de hepatite B entre colonos então recentemente assentados em Cotriguaçu, no noroeste mato-grossense. Houve campanha de vacinação nos municípios da região. Nos anos seguintes, manteve-se a estratégia de vacinar os migrantes que continuaram chegando. Para avaliar a atual situação da infecção pelo VHB na região rural de Cotriguaçu, foi planejado inquérito sobre a prevalência dos marcadores do vírus da hepatite B (VHB) e do vírus de hepatite D (VHD) em 2001. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Este estudo, tipo corte-transversal, foi desenhado para rastrear todos os habitantes das vilas. Aos moradores, foi solicitado consentimento por escrito. Foi realizada entrevista e coleta de sangue para testar presença de marcadores de hepatite B e D. Considerou-se como expostos à infecção pelo VHB os indivíduos com anti-HBc positivo, independente de serem positivos ou não para o HBsAg ou anti-HBs. Foram considerados como respondedores à vacina aqueles vacinados contra o VHB, com títulos de anti-HBs acima de 10U/L, e com HBsAg e anti-HBc negativos. Os portadores do VHB foram submetidos à pesquisa de anticorpos contra o VHD. Foram feitas análises univariada e multivariada, com regressões linear e logística. RESULTADOS: De 838 participantes, 335 (40%; IC95%: 36,7-43,4) foram infectados pelo VHB e 18 (2,1%; IC95%: 1,3-3,4) eram portadores do HBsAg. Foram considerados respondedores à vacina contra o VHB, 342 (40,8%; IC95%: 37,5-44,2). Os outros 161 (19,2%; IC95%: 16,6-22,1) eram ainda suscetíveis ao VHB. De 802 indivíduos que responderam à pergunta, 72,3% informaram vacinação prévia contra o VHB e 40,2% afirmaram ter tomado as três doses. Após análise multivariada, mantiveram associação independente com os marcadores do VHB: atividade sexual (p<0,01), uso regular de álcool (p<0,01), contato domiciliar com hepatite (p<0,02) e ter vivido em garimpo (p<0,02), assim como pertencer à faixa etária mais elevada (p<0,05). A avaliação de determinantes dos títulos de anti-HBs nos imunes, controlados por idade e fatores de risco, demonstrou que o fato de ter tomado ao menos uma dose da vacina (p<0,001) esteve associado independentemente a maiores títulos de anti-HBs, assim como ter tido a infecção natural pelo VHB (p<0,001). Cinco (28%) dos 18 portadores do HBsAg tiveram infecção também pelo VHD. CONCLUSÕES: Este inquérito demonstra mudança do padrão epidemiológico de hepatite B de alta para moderada prevalência (40% expostos e 2% de portadores). Análise dos índices de cobertura vacinal mostram que o pool de suscetíveis atualmente é pequeno na região e dificilmente sustentará novos surtos de hepatite B como vistos anteriormente. O crescimento dos casos de VHD pode tornar a região hiperendêmica para essa infecção.

BACKGROUND: A community outbreak of hepatitis B among recently settled farmers in Cotriguaçu County in the northwestern area of Mato Grosso State, Brazil, occurred in 1995. There was a vaccination campaign in the counties of the region. In the following years, efforts were made to maintain the vaccination of new immigrants. To assess the current status of HBV and HDV infection in the countryside of Cotriguaçu a cross-sectional survey was designed and carried out in 2001. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The cross-sectional survey was designed to include the entire population of the villages. The settlers who agreed to participate in the study were asked for written consent. Participants were interviewed and bled to test for HBV and HDV markers. Anti-HBc-positive subjects were considered as HBV exposed, independently if positive for HbsAg or anti-HBs. Participants were considered to be responders to vaccination if they were vaccinated, had anti-HBs titers higher than 10U/L and were negative for HbsAg and anti-HBc. HBsAg carriers were tested for HBD antibodies. Univariate and multivariate analyses, including linear and logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: A total of 335 of 838 study participants (40%; 95% CI:36.7-43.4) had been exposed to HBV. Eighteen (2.1%; 95% CI:1.3-3.4) were HBV carriers; 342 (40.8%; 95% CI:37.5-44.2) were considered as vaccine responders, and 161 (19.2%; 95% CI:16.6-22.1) were susceptible to HBV infection. Previous vaccination was reported by 580/802 (72.3%) subjects, and 40.2% had received the complete schedule. After adjustment with multivariate analyses, the following variables were independently associated with HBV markers: sexual activity (p<0.01), regular use of alcohol (p<0.01), household contact with hepatitis cases (p<0.02), having lived in mining camps (p<0.02) and older age (p<0.05). Anti-HBs titers among immune subjects were assessed. Having received vaccination, at least one dose, and to have been naturally exposed to HBV were associated with higher anti-HBs titers (p<0.001). Five of 18 HBV carriers (28%) were coinfected with HDV. CONCLUSIONS: This survey showed a change in the HBV epidemiological pattern from high to moderate prevalence (40% exposed and 2% of HBV carriers). Vaccine coverage analysis shows that the pool of susceptibles is small. New HBV outbreaks will not likely take place again in this region. The increasing number of HDV infection can result in this area becoming hyperendemic.

Filariasis Elimination in Zoucheng City of Shandong Province: Measures and Effect / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Zoucheng was a high endemic area of bancrotian filariasis with Culex pipiens pallens as the principal transmitting vector. Transmissiom of the disease was interrupted in 1981. Epidemiological surveillance has been then carried out. After 1989, parasitological and immunological examinations were conducted for those cases previously with and without microfilaremia, entomological surveillance was also carried out. Results showed that the antibody level in inhabitants has been at normal level, and no infection has been found in mosquitoes.