Phenotype, treatment practice and outcome in the cobalamin-dependent remethylation disorders and MTHFR deficiency: Data from the E-HOD registry.

Aim: To explore the clinical presentation, course, treatment and impact of early treatment in patients with remethylation disorders from the European Network and Registry for Homocystinurias and Methylation Defects (E-HOD) international web-based registry.

Results: This review comprises 238 patients (cobalamin C defect n = 161; methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency n = 50; cobalamin G defect n = 11; cobalamin E defect n = 10; cobalamin D defect n = 5; and cobalamin J defect n = 1) from 47 centres for whom the E-HOD registry includes, as a minimum, data on medical history and enrolment visit. The duration of observation was 127 patient years.

Cynomolgus monkeys are successfully and persistently infected with hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) after long-term immunosuppressive therapy.

Epidemiological studies found that hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) infection was associated with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in immunocompromised patients. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between the host immunosuppressive status and the occurrence of HEV-related chronic hepatitis. Here we describe a successful experimental study, using cynomolgus monkeys previously treated with tacrolimus, a potent calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant, and infected with a Brazilian HEV-3 strain isolated from naturally infected pigs.

Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) experimentally infected with B19V and hepatitis A virus: no evidence of the co-infection as a cause of acute liver failure.

This study was conducted to analyse the course and the outcome of the liver disease in the co-infected animals in order to evaluate a possible synergic effect of human parvovirus B19 (B19V) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) co-infection. Nine adult cynomolgus monkeys were inoculated with serum obtained from a fatal case of B19V infection and/or a faecal suspension of acute HAV. The presence of specific antibodies to HAV and B19V, liver enzyme levels, viraemia, haematological changes, and necroinflammatory liver lesions were used for monitoring the infections.

Longitudinal Study of Hepatitis A Infection by Saliva Sampling: The Kinetics of HAV Markers in Saliva Revealed the Application of Saliva Tests for Hepatitis A Study.

Despite the increasing numbers of studies investigating hepatitis A diagnostic through saliva, the frequency and the pattern of hepatitis A virus (HAV) markers in this fluid still remains unknown. To address this issue, we carried on a longitudinal study to examine the kinetics of HAV markers in saliva, in comparison with serum samples. The present study followed-up ten patients with acute hepatitis A infection during 180 days post diagnosis (dpd).

Hepatitis A and E seroprevalence and associated risk factors: a community-based cross-sectional survey in rural Amazonia.

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are both transmitted by the faecal-oral route, and represent common causes of acute hepatitis in developing countries. The endemicity of HAV infection has shifted from high to moderate in Brazil. Human cases of HEV infection seem to be rare, although the virus has been detected in swine livestock and effluents of slaughterhouses.

Detection of enteric viruses in activated sludge by feasible concentration methods.

Human enteric viruses are responsible to cause several diseases, including gastroenteritis and hepatitis, and can be present in high amounts in sewage sludge. This study compared virus recovery efficiency of two feasible concentration methods used for detecting human adenovirus (HAdV), rotavirus species A (RV-A), norovirus genogroup II (NoV GII) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in sewage sludge from an activated sludge process. Twelve sewage sludge samples were collected bi-monthly from January to July, 2011.

Assessment of water quality in a border region between the Atlantic forest and an urbanised area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The preservation of water resources is one of the goals of the designation of parks that act as natural reservoirs. In order to assess the impact of the presence of humans in an environmental preservation area bordering urban areas, the presence of four pathogenic enteric viruses [group A rotavirus (RV-A), norovirus (NoV), human adenoviruses (HAdV), and hepatitis A virus (HAV)], as well as the physico-chemical parameters, and Escherichia coli levels were assessed in riverine water samples. From June 2008 to May 2009, monthly monitoring was performed along the Engenho Novo River.

Antimicrobial Brazilian Propolis (EPP-AF) Containing Biocellulose Membranes as Promising Biomaterial for Skin Wound Healing.

Among remarkable discoveries concerning propolis, such as antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant activities, its anti-inflammatory, and mainly its antibacterial, properties deserve special attention when skin wound healing is concerned. Based on this and knowing the distinctive performance of bacterial (BC) membranes on wound healing, in this work it is proposed to demonstrate the potent antimicrobial activity and wound healing properties of a novel propolis containing biocellulose membrane. The obtained propolis/BC membrane was able to adsorb propolis not only on the surface, but also in its interstices demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravidimetric assays.

The efficiency of concentration methods used to detect enteric viruses in anaerobically digested sludge.

The presence of enteric viruses in biosolids can be underestimated due to the inefficient methods (mainly molecular methods) used to recover the viruses from these matrices. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the different methods used to recover adenoviruses (AdV), rotavirus species A (RVA), norovirus genogroup II (NoV GII) and the hepatitis A virus (HAV) from biosolid samples at a large urban wastewater treatment plant in Brazil after they had been treated by mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for spiking experiments to compare the detection limits of feasible methods, such as beef extract elution and ultracentrifugation.

Characterization and in vitro evaluation of bacterial cellulose membranes functionalized with osteogenic growth peptide for bone tissue engineering.

The aim of this study was to characterize the physicochemical properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes functionalized with osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) and its C-terminal pentapeptide OGP[10-14], and to evaluate in vitro osteoinductive potential in early osteogenesis, besides, to evaluate cytotoxic, genotoxic and/or mutagenic effects. Peptide incorporation into the BC membranes did not change the morphology of BC nanofibers and BC crystallinity pattern. The characterization was complemented by Raman scattering, swelling ratio and mechanical tests.

Evaluation of n-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesive in rat subcutaneous tissue.

Background: Tissue adhesives have been widely used for wound closure, especially in children, because they are painless, fast, and easy to use and result in minimal scarring.

Objective: To analyze the biocompatibility of an adhesive based on n-butyl-cyanoacrylate in the subcutaneous tissue of rats.

Materials And Methods: Two surgical sites were prepared (approximately 3 cm apart): one on the left side of the animal and the other on the right side); polyethylene tubes were implanted in each surgical site.

Monitoring the hepatitis A virus in urban wastewater from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Hepatitis A is a viral disease with a significant public health impact, especially in developing countries. Improvements in sewage services could prevent hepatitis A virus (HAV) dissemination into the environment and minimize the risk of infection. The aim of this study was to monitor HAV for one year in urban sewage samples from the largest wastewater treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to assess environmental contamination with HAV and its dissemination after treatment by an activated sludge process.

Exposure to multiple subgenotypes of hepatitis A virus during an outbreak using matched serum and saliva specimens.

Matched serum and saliva samples were collected simultaneously from 124 subjects exposed during a hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak at a daycare center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All samples were tested for IgM and total anti-HAV antibodies by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). HAV was detected by nested PCR in serum, saliva, and water samples employing primers for the VP1/2A region of the viral RNA; all positive products were then sequenced.

Importance of the cutoff ratio for detecting antibodies against hepatitis A virus in oral fluids by enzyme immunoassay.

Multiple studies have examined the use of oral fluids in modified serum-based assays aiming to replace serum in antibody detection for hepatitis A. However, the reliable detection of HAV immunity in oral fluid requires an extremely sensitive assay; most immunoassays designed for serum antibody determination lack sufficient sensitivity for this purpose. Consequently, an "in-house" competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) designed specifically for use with oral samples collected using a ChemBio(®) device was developed to detect total anti-HAV antibodies (IgG and IgM).

Quantification and molecular characterization of enteric viruses detected in effluents from two hospital wastewater treatment plants.

Hospital wastewater has been described as an important source of spreading pathogenic microorganisms in the environment. However, there are few studies reporting the presence and concentrations of gastroenteric viruses and hepatitis A viruses in these environmental matrices. The aim of this study was to assess the contamination by viruses responsible for acute gastroenteritis and hepatitis derived from hospital wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

[Cyanoacrylate adhesives for the synthesis of soft tissue].

Background: Tissue adhesives have been used for the synthesis of wound due to their painless application and quick and easy handling.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the compatibility of the adhesives ethylcyanoacrylate (Super Bonder) and butyl-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl), and to compare the reparation of incisions in the dorsum of rats with suture and the respective adhesives.

Methods: Fifteen rats were used.

First report of a human autochthonous hepatitis E virus infection in Brazil.

Background: Sporadic acute hepatitis E cases occurring in non-endemic areas have been associated to genotypes 3 and 4 of hepatitis E virus. Several studies have demonstrated the relationship among human and animals strains, mostly pigs and deers, from respective areas characterizing zoonosis. Circulation of genotype 3 of HEV in Brazilian swine herds have already been demonstrated.

Experimental hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis): evidence of active extrahepatic site of HAV replication.

This work studied the replication sites of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) after intravenous inoculation. The cynomolgus monkeys were inoculated with the Brazilian hepatitis A virus strain (HAF-203). Monkeys were euthanized on days 15, 30, 45 and 60 postinoculation (pi).

Using polarization analysis to separate the coherent and incoherent scattering from protein samples.

Polarization analysis was used to separate experimentally the coherent and spin-incoherent nuclear static scattering functions, from a representative set of samples of interest for protein studies. This method had so far limited application in the study of amorphous materials, despite the relevance of the information that it provides. It allows, for instance, the experimental determination of the structure factor of materials containing a significant amount of hydrogen atoms, avoiding the contamination of measurements by a non-negligible incoherent background.

Should Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection be vaccinated against hepatitis A virus?

Background And Aim: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) superinfection is associated with a high risk of liver failure and death in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of serological and molecular HAV markers in a population of HCV-infected patients in order to determine a cost-effective strategy to vaccinate against HAV.

Methods: The presence of total and immunoglobulin (Ig)M anti-HAV antibodies was investigated in 399 patients (median age, 50 years; range, 4-81) referred to the Public Health Central Laboratory of Pernambuco State who tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA.

Serological and molecular evidence of hepatitis E virus in swine in Brazil.

Active hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in two Brazilian swine herds were investigated. In study 1, 26 piglets born to five anti-HEV positive sows were monitored from birth to post-partum week 22. Serum samples were screened for the detection of anti-HEV antibodies and a nested RT-PCR used to examine the HEV genome.

Hepatitis A virus subgenotypes dissemination during a community outbreak in a surrounding region of Rio de Janeiro.

From December 1999 to December 2001, many cases of hepatitis A were notified in the county of Belford Roxo involving individuals aged 0 to 79 years. Serum samples were collected to evaluate the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies, to detect HAV-RNA and to correlate with possible risk factors of HAV infection. Serum samples were screened by commercial IgM and total anti-HAV antibody ELISA and HAV-RNA was isolated and subsequently amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at VP1/2A region, sequenced and analyzed.

Comparison between serum and saliva for the detection of hepatitis A virus RNA.

Due to the ease of collection, oral fluid is being investigated as an alternative to serum for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes. However, for prospective studies involving hepatitis A virus (HAV) RNA detection, a standard methodology must be developed. In the present study, nested RT-PCR and real-time PCR were optimized and evaluated for HAV detection and quantification, using oral fluid from healthy volunteers (n=20) and paired serum/oral fluid samples from individuals involved in a hepatitis A outbreak (n=78).