Impact of acid straightener's pH value in the hair fiber properties.

Background: Acid straightener products are widely used, and it can cause changes in the hair shaft properties. The pH value of these products established by ANVISA (Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency) as secure is above 2.0.

Heat-damaged evaluation of virgin hair.

Background: Hair-straightening treatments may involve the use of thermal devices, which potentially cause damages in the cuticle and cortex of the hair fibers. Particularly, the heat causes denaturation of the α-keratin and the degradation of the components of the hair cortex.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of heating on the cuticle and cortex of the Caucasian and Asian virgin hair by using heat iron flat.

Viral load and epidemiological profile of patients infected by pandemic influenza a (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal influenza a virus in Southern Brazil.

Correlation between virologic profile and clinical features of patients infected by influenza virus provides important information for epidemiological control and clinical management of future disease outbreaks. Samples from patients in Southern Brazil, from June to December 2009, were examined and the viral load was correlated with epidemiological data. All samples were analyzed by qRT-PCR for detection of the 2009-pandemic Influenza A (H1N1).