Serum levels of high sensitive C reactive protein in healthy adults from southern Brazil.

Background: With the emergence of more sensitive assay techniques, it has been shown that C reactive protein (CRP) is present at low levels in the serum of all the clinically healthy individuals.

Objective: To determine the interval values of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) in healthy adults.

Methods: Serum hs-CRP level was evaluated in 176 healthy blood donors.

Association of tumor necrosis factor β genetic polymorphism and sepsis susceptibility.

The association of the tumor necrosis factor β (TNF-β) Nco1 genetic polymorphism with susceptibility to sepsis was evaluated in 60 consecutive patients diagnosed with sepsis and in 148 healthy blood donors. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells and a 782 base-pair fragment of the TNF-β gene was amplified by PCR. The PCR products were subjected to Nco1 restriction digestion and analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Impact of delayed admission to intensive care units on mortality of critically ill patients: a cohort study.

Introduction: When the number of patients who require intensive care is greater than the number of beds available, intensive care unit (ICU) entry flow is obstructed. This phenomenon has been associated with higher mortality rates in patients that are not admitted despite their need, and in patients that are admitted but are waiting for a bed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if a delay in ICU admission affects mortality for critically ill patients.

The epidemiology of sepsis in a Brazilian teaching hospital.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate disease incidence and mortality rate of sepsis in a tertiary public hospital.

Methods: Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in 2004 and 2005 were monitored for sepsis using an observational longitudinal study design. Patients were monitored daily for diagnostic criteria of sepsis, according to ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference criteria, until either death or hospital discharge.

Frequency and diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mutations associated with antiretroviral resistance among patients from Southern Brazil failing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic in Brazil is spreading to small municipalities as well as the innermost parts of the country and scarce information has been reported on the frequency of HIV-1 resistance-associated mutations in these areas. To determine the frequency and diversity of the HIV-1 antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations among patients failing highly active antiretroviral therapy from Londrina in Southern Brazil, 127 HIV-1 genotyping tests that were assayed during January 2000 to July 2008 from 108 patients were evaluated. Sixty-nine patients (63.

Serial evaluation of SOFA score in a Brazilian teaching hospital.

Objectives: To evaluate the application of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) in describing the severity of organ dysfunctions and the associated mortality rates in critically ill patients at a teaching hospital.

Research Methodology: Prospective longitudinal study performed in 1164 adult, critically ill patients who were admitted consecutively into intensive care units between January 2004 and December 2005. We analysed static evaluation of SOFA and dynamic changes in the SOFA scores.

Frequency of CCR5-Delta32 deletion in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in healthy blood donors, HIV-1-exposed seronegative and HIV-1-seropositive individuals of southern Brazilian population.

The frequency of CCR5-Delta32 allele in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in the southern Brazilian population was determined in a cross-sectional study carried out from October 2001 to June 2004. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells of 134 healthy blood donors, 145 HIV-1-exposed seronegative individuals, 152 HIV-1-seropositive asymptomatic individuals, and 478 HIV-1-seropositive individuals with AIDS. A fragment with 225 base-pairs of the CCR5 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction.

Epidemiological, immunological and virological characteristics, and disease progression of HIV-1/HCV-co-infected patients from a southern Brazilian population.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in order to describe the epidemiological, immunological and virological characteristics, and the disease progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)- co-infected patients from a southern Brazilian population. Of 778 HIV-1-infected individuals enrolled in the study from September 2001 to December 2003, and followed up until June 2004, 757 were tested for anti-HCV antibodies. Of these, 159 (21.

Multivariate analysis of the factors associated with the risk of pneumonia in intensive care units.

Pneumonia is the most frequent hospital infection in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) and is also responsible for the highest lethality rates, as well as an increase in both the duration and costs of hospitalization. The objective of this study was to identify predisposing factors for pneumonia. A prospective cohort study was carried out between June 1996 and June 1997, and included 540 patients admitted consecutively for periods greater than 24 hours to the adult ICU of the Londrina State University's Teaching Hospital.

Genetic polymorphisms in the chemokine and chemokine receptors: impact on clinical course and therapy of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection (HIV-1).

The natural history and pathogenic processes of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are complex, variable, and dependent upon a multitude of viral and host factors and their interactions. The CCR5-Delta32 allele remains the most important genetic factor known to be associated with host resistance to the HIV-1 infection. However, other mutations in the CCR5, CCR2, CX(3)CR1, CXCL12 (SDF1), and CCL5 (RANTES) genes have been identified and associated with host resistance and/or susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and disease progression.

Seroprevalence for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among volunteer blood donors of the Regional Blood Bank of Londrina, State of Paraná , Brazil.

A cross-sectional study was carried out among 996 volunteer blood donors enrolled from May 1999 to December 1999 to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among volunteer blood donors of the Regional Blood Bank of Londrina, State of Paraná, Brazil, and to evaluate whether the rate of seroprevalence of IgG anti-HEV antibodies is associated with sociodemographic variables and with seropositivity for hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. All participants answered the questionnaire regarding the sociodemographic characteristics. Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies to HEV (anti-HEV) by an enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA).

Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) genetic polymorphism in a sample of healthy individuals, seronegative individuals exposed to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and patients infected with HIV-1 from the Brazilian population.

The interaction of viral and host factors is believed to determine not only the risk for initial human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) acquisition but also the course of the infection. Genetic polymorphisms in the chemokine receptors and their ligands were related to the susceptibility and resistance to HIV-1 infection. A polymorphism in the conserved 3' untranslated region of the stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) gene, which encodes a ligand of the CXCR4 receptor, has been related either to delayed progression to AIDS or to rapid disease progression and death.

The epidemiologic profile and prevalence of cardiopathy in Trypanosoma cruzi infected blood donor candidates, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.

To describe the epidemiologic profile and prevalence of cardiopathy in 163 Trypanosoma cruzi serum positive blood donor candidates, a descriptive study was carried out between August, 1996 and November, 1997 at the Londrina State University Chagas Disease Outpatient Clinic. The profile found was: young, average age 42.95 +/- 8.

Socio-demographic and epidemiological characteristics associated with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) infection in HIV-1-exposed but uninfected individuals, and in HIV-1-infected patients from a southern Brazilian population.

The ability to control human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and progression of the disease is regulated by host and viral factors. This cross-sectional study describes the socio-demographic and epidemiological characteristics associated with HIV-1 infection in 1,061 subjects attended in Londrina and region, south of Brazil: 136 healthy individuals (Group 1), 147 HIV-1-exposed but uninfected individuals (Group 2), 161 HIV-1-infected asymptomatic patients (Group 3), and 617 patients with AIDS (Group 4). Data were obtained by a standardized questionnaire and serological tests.

Intradermal vaccination of adults with three low doses (2 micrograms) of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. II. Persistence of immunity and induction of immunologic memory.

Of the 110 dentists who had presented seroconversion 50 days after the intradermal application of three 2 micrograms doses of the Belgian recombinant vaccine against hepatitis B (HB), administered eight years before at an interval of one month between the 1st and 2nd doses and of five months between the 2nd and 3rd doses, 51 were included for the assessment of the persistence of immunity. None of the dentists had hepatitis or had received HB vaccine during this period. All subjects were submitted to serological tests for the detection of the following markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HBs, with no HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBeAg or anti-HBe being detected.

[Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood donor candidates].

Introduction: Transmission of American trypanossomiasis by transfusion has been reduced by expansion of control measures of blood quality in Brazil. A research project was, therefore, undertaken to evaluate soropositivity for Trypanosoma cruzi infection on blood donors and to compare this rate with those found in 1958 and 1975 in blood banks.

Method: A transversal study was carried out on blood donors in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.

Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in students at the seven-fourteen age range, Londrina, PR, Brazil, in 1995.

Seropositivity for Chagas disease was evaluated in 834 children aged between 7 and 14 from the Municipal Teaching System in the district of Londrina, State of Paraná. A seroprevalence rate of 0.1% was found through the use of an indirect immunofluorescent test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[Congenital ChagaśDisease: epidemiology, laboratorial diagnosis, prognosis and treatment].

The authors review studies about epidemiology, clinical aspects and methods used in laboratorial diagnosis of congenital Chagas'disease, emphasizing the limitations in their specificity and sensibility, and suggest alternative methods to improve the accuracy and the quality of the laboratorial diagnosis of congenital Chagaśdisease, essential to an efficient treatment.

[Outbreak of acute toxoplasmosis transmitted thru the ingestion of ovine raw meat].

The authors present 17 cases of symptomatic acute toxoplasmosis acquired by the ingestion of raw mutton offered during a party in September 1993. The incubation period carried from 6 to 13 days (10.9 +/- 7.

[Neurocysticercosis with initial clinical picture of acute meningitis].

Twenty seven cases of neurocysticercosis, with clinical picture of acute meningitis, are described. Twenty (74.1%) patients are male; the age was 4 to 42 years (23.

[The positivity index of the immunoenzyme reaction (ELISA) for cysticercosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in the serum of epilepsy patients].

Fifty patients with epilepsy seen in three Londrina Neurological Services, in Paraná, were studied. The positivity prevalence of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cysticercosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in the serum of these patients was 34.0% and 20.