Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and associated risk factors among prison inmates in the City of Florianópolis.

Introduction: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among prison inmates and to define the behavioral profile of infected individuals.

Methods:: In total, 147 individuals were interviewed and provided biological material. The study population consisted of male individuals who presented at the health unit of the Florianopolis State Penitentiary.

Vaccination coverage and immunity against hepatitis B among HIV-infected patients in South Brazil.

Evidence-based strategies to improve the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination coverage rates might help to reduce the burden caused by co-infection with HBV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this study, the aim was to evaluate the vaccination coverage and immunity against HBV among HIV-infected individuals in South Brazil, and identify factors that are associated with compliance patterns and antibody reactivity. Three hundred HIV-infected men and women were included in this survey.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection markers and socio-demographic risk factors in HIV-infected patients in Southern Brazil.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are two of the world's most important infectious diseases. Our objective was to determine the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) prevalences among adult HIV-infected patients and identify the associations between socio-demographic variables and these HBV infection markers.

Methods: This study was performed from October 2012 to March 2013.

Immune memory response induced in vitro by recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen challenge 13-18 years after primary vaccination.

The question of whether booster doses are required to maintain long-term protection against hepatitis B virus (HBV) after primary vaccination remains to be determined. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the immune memory responses to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) challenge in vaccinated individuals through an in vitro-specific stimulation assay. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (4 × 10(6)  cells/ml) were stimulated with 50 ng/ml of recombinant HBsAg.

Hepatitis C worldwide and in Brazil: silent epidemic--data on disease including incidence, transmission, prevention, and treatment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is endemic worldwide and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 150 million chronic carriers worldwide. The infection is a leading cause of liver diseases like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); thus, HCV infection constitutes a critical public health problem. There are increasing efforts worldwide in order to reduce the global impact of hepatitis C through the implementation of programmatic actions that may increase the awareness of viral hepatitis and also improve surveillance, prevention, and treatment.

In vitro lymphocyte stimulation by recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen: a tool to detect the persistence of cellular immunity after vaccination.

The study of the human immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been hampered by the lack of an adequate model to evaluate the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) specific cell response. Thus, this study was conducted to perform an in vitro analysis of the antigenic properties of recombinant HBsAg and demonstrate the influence of variables such as culture time, antigen concentration and cell density on lymphocyte proliferation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the venous blood of vaccinated individuals, and in vitro cellular immune responses were evaluated using an HBsAg-specific proliferation assay.

Serum levels of IgG antibodies against oxidized LDL and atherogenic indices in HIV-1-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors.

Background: Antibodies against low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) that have been oxidized are associated with development of atherosclerotic lesions. In individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with or without therapy, dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk are observed.

Methods: Serum levels of IgG antibodies against oxidized LDLs (IgG anti-oxLDL Abs) were determined by assay in 151 HIV-1-infected patients.

Hepatitis B marker seroprevalence and vaccination coverage in adolescents in the City of Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, in 2008.

Introduction: Hepatitis B infection constitutes an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Brazil, however, the current epidemiological situation is not clear. Considering the importance of establishing this prevalence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV markers in voluntary adolescents, junior high (secondary school) students, in the City of Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Anti-HBs levels among children and adolescents with complete immunization schedule against hepatitis B virus. A cross-sectional study in Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2007-2008.

Introduction: Vaccination is the main tool for preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection; however, following the completion of the vaccination series, the concentrations of anti-HBs can decline over the years and reach levels less than 10mIU/mL. The persistence of protection in these individuals is still unknown. The present study aimed to determine the anti-HBs antibody levels among children and adolescents who had received a complete vaccination course for hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B immunity and vaccination coverage among young adult males in the Air Force in South Brazil.

We conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence study to determine hepatitis B vaccination coverage and hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunity in a population of young adult males. Specifically, the population is comprised of Air Force conscripts from the metropolitan region of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, South Brazil, who were born prior to the full implementation of the HBV vaccination program. Of the 371 young males surveyed, 90% received at least 1 dose of the vaccine and 84% completed the 3-dose schedule.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers in adolescents in Southern Brazil.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers among adolescents aged between 10 and 16 years old, who are elementary school students in the city of Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The study involved a cross-sectional survey that included 418 volunteers, from March to July, 2008. Serology comprised HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C infection markers among children and adolescents in the southern Brazilian region.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections account for a substantial proportion of liver diseases worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV serological markers among children and adolescents and verify the epidemiology of the HBV infection over than a decade of the introduction of vaccination program. Serologic markers to HBsAg, total anti-HBc and anti-HCV had been tested in 393 samples.

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus antibodies in blood donors in southern, Brazil.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a matter of concern for blood bank professionals and blood transfusion recipients, especially in cases of transfusions to neonates and immunocompromised patients. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of CMV IgG and IgM antibodies among blood donors in the city of Lages, in the mountain region of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and to investigate possible associations between the socioeconomic characteristics of donors and CMV serological status.

Methods: A seroepidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,045 blood samples from donors that were used in serological screening over a one-year investigation.

An overview of the mechanisms of HIV-related thrombocytopenia.

The first thrombocytopenia cases related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were described even before its isolation in 1983. Subsequently, multiple mechanisms have been proposed to elucidate the etiology of thrombocytopenia. In addition to other types of cytopenia affecting patients with HIV, thrombocytopenia is observed in about 10-50% HIV patients as one of the first clinical signs of infection.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers among children and adolescents in the south Brazilian region: metropolitan area of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina.

Hepatitis B and C are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Brazil, according to the Ministry of Health, about 15% of population is infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and less than 1% by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Nevertheless, the age-specific prevalence of HBV and HCV markers remains unknown.

Alterations in lipid transfer to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and activity of paraoxonase-1 in HIV+ patients.

HIV+ patients often develop alterations of the plasma lipids that may implicate in development of premature coronary artery disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has an important role in preventing atherogenesis and the aim of this study was to investigate aspects of HDL function in HIV+ patients. HIV+ patients (n = 48) and healthy control subjects (n = 45) of both sexes with similar age were studied.

Evaluation of annexin V and Calcein-AM as markers of mononuclear cell apoptosis during human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Evaluation of apoptosis by flow cytometry is generally accomplished by methods that use annexin V-FITC as vital dye, which access phosphatidylserine exposed on the external membrane at the beginning of this process. In addition, the concomitant use of propidium iodide makes possible to verify the characteristic nuclear alterations in the late stages of apoptosis, as a consequence of the increase in membrane permeability. On the other hand, the use of calcein-AM in association with ethidium homodimer (EthD-1) allows the evaluation of cell apoptosis through detection of esterase activity and cellular membrane physical and chemical alterations.

Estimation of the residual risk for the transmission of HIV in blood donors from the mountain region of Santa Catarina.

The HIV, in hemotheraphy, may be transmitted by erythrocyte, platelets, crioprecipitated, frozen fresh plasma and possibly, by other blood components. Appropriate legislations for this new reality were elaborated normatizing the hemotheraphy practices in Brazil, creating a set of procedures and actions aiming at guaranteeing the quality of the blood, during the whole process. However, the residual risk remains, and it can be calculated as a product of the incidence and period of the immunological window.

alpha-Tocopherol as an antiretroviral therapy supplement for HIV-1-infected patients for increased lymphocyte viability.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the benefits of supplementation with 800 mg/day of alpha-tocopherol with regard to cellular viability in HIV-1 seropositive patients undergoing anti-retroviral therapy. A total of 29 patients participated in the study, of whom 14 were given the supplement and 15 a placebo. The analyses were carried out before treatment commenced and after 60, 120 and 180 days.

Effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on lymphocyte apoptosis, lymphocyte viability, TNF-alpha and IL-8 in HIV-infected patients undergoing anti-retroviral treatment.

N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) has been proposed as an additional therapeutic agent for AIDS patients because it reduces human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in stimulated CD4+ lymphocytes, and it ameliorates immunological reactivity. In a randomized, 180-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed with HIV-infected patients classified as A2 and A3 according to the criteria of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we investigated the effects of oral administration of NAC on HIV-infected patients undergoing their first anti-retroviral therapy; viral load, CD4+ lymphocyte, lymphocyte viability and apoptosis, and TNF-alpha and IL-8 levels were determined. Sixteen patients who received anti-retroviral therapy plus a placebo formed the control group and the study group consisted of 14 patients who received anti-retroviral therapy and NAC supplementation.

Seroprevalence of HbsAg, Anti-HBc and anti-HCV in Southern Brazil, 1999-2001.

The prevalence of infection by the hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses varies among geographical regions. We evaluated 263,795 blood donor samples collected from 1999-2001 in various cities in the state of Santa Catarina to determine the prevalence of HbsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HCV markers. The markers were analyzed by immunoenzymatic tests, as determined by the Ministry of Health, and the data were obtained from blood banks and from ANVISA (the Brazilian National Agency for Sanitary Vigilance).

An evaluation of antiretroviral therapy associated with alpha-tocopherol supplementation in HIV-infected patients.

In HIV-infected patients, an increase in the production of oxygen-reactive species (ROS) is observed, with a consequent reduction of plasma levels of antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol. The nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is activated by a prooxidant state in the infected T cells through the release of its inhibitory subunit I-kappaB. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the behavior of hematological parameters and markers of anemia in HIV-infected patients who underwent antiretroviral therapy associated with 800 mg/day alpha-tocopherol supplementation.

The effect of N-acetylcysteine supplementation upon viral load, CD4, CD8, total lymphocyte count and hematocrit in individuals undergoing antiretroviral treatment.

Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) present with decreased CD4, a progressive increase in viral load, compromised cell immune defense, and hematologic alterations. The aim of this study was to assess the serum viral load, CD4, CD8, lymphocyte count and hematocrit at the beginning of antiretroviral therapy in individuals who were supplemented with N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Twenty volunteers participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled 180-day study.