Evaluation of the acute toxicity of ellagic acid and gallic acid incorporated in Poloxamer407® gel, in Zophobas morio larvae.

Gallic acid (GA) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, while ellagic acid (EA) demonstrates anticancer, antiviral and photoprotective activity. In this study, the combination of these substances incorporated into a poloxamer gel was tested to verify the individual effect of the substances, in addition to taking advantage of a probable complementary effect, aiming to provide additional therapeutic benefits. As a result of the incorporation, formulations containing GA, EA and GA + EA were obtained, which were evaluated for the effects of the Freeze-thaw cycle on pH, which revealed a significant decrease (p < 0.

Intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) versus IVB in combination with pars plana vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: The main purpose of this study is to compare the vitreous hemorrhage (VH) score reduction and visual acuity outcomes in patients with VH secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) treated with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (IVB) versus IVB and pars plana vitrectomy (IVB and PPV).

Methods: Patients with VH secondary to PDR were randomized into 2 groups: in Group A, patients were treated with a total of 3 IVB (1.5 mg/0.

Pattern, clinical features and response to corticoids of glomerular diseases in a Brazilian population. An analytical cross-sectional study.

Context And Objective: Glomerular disease registries are increasing all around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment response among patients with glomerular diseases followed up in a tertiary hospital in Brazil.

Design And Setting: Analytical cross-sectional study; tertiary-level public hospital.

Definition and use of the variable "race" by medical students in Salvador, Brazil.

Context And Objective: The lack of a clear definition for human "race" and the importance of this topic in medical practice continue to create doubt among scholars. Here, we evaluate the use of the variable "race" by medical students in Salvador, Brazil.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study at a Brazilian federal public university.

Molecular epidemiology of Saint Louis encephalitis virus in the Brazilian Amazon: genetic divergence and dispersal.

Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), a member of the genus Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae), is an encephalitogenic arbovirus broadly distributed in the Americas. Phylogenetic analysis based on the full-length E gene sequences obtained for 30 Brazilian SLEV strains was performed using different methods including Bayesian and relaxed molecular clock approaches. A new genetic lineage was suggested, hereafter named genotype VIII, which co-circulates with the previously described genotype V in the Brazilian Amazon region.

[Ethics relevance in Brazilian medical journals].

Objective: To evaluate the Brazilian journals cited by the four CAPES medical areas, qualified as 'A' national or 'I' international, regarding the relevance given to ethics in the instructions for authors.

Methods: The instructions for authors of twenty Brazilian journals were studied and 36 types of ethical concerns were identified allowing the following categorization: I - Ethics in human research; II - Scientific integrity; III - Editorial policy.

Results: The results on Category I show that the most frequent instructions (50%) requires previous approval of the research by a institutional Ethics Committee (CEP), followed by indication on how to cite this approval in the body of the article (35%), plus presentation of a copy of the CEP approval (30%).

Occult B infection in the Brazilian northeastern region: a preliminary report.

A sentinel study on viral hepatitis is currently being carried out in the village of Cavunge in a semiarid rural region of the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. This study has identified individuals in whom anti-HBc IgG was the only serological marker for hepatitis B virus (HBV). This serological pattern may constitute evidence of occult HBV infection.

HTLV-1 infection in blood donors from the Western Brazilian Amazon region: seroprevalence and molecular study of viral isolates.

To determine the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 in Brazil, and to review the virus molecular epidemiology in this Amazon population (Rio Branco-Acre), 219 blood donors were screened for HTLV-1. Only one case of infection (0.46% seroprevalence) was detected during July 2004 screening at the Acre Hospital Foundation (FUNDACRE).

[Liver injury in visceral leishmaniasis in children: systematic review].

Unlabelled: Visceral Leisshimaniosis or Kalazar is a parasitic infection caused by Leishimania Donovani subspecies. It is transmitted by phlebotomineos and may lead to liver and spleen enlargements as well as immunological impairment. Sometimes it is described liver injury simulating acute or chronic viral hepatitis and even portal hypertension.

Serological markers of hepatitis A, B and C viruses in rural communities of the semiarid Brazilian northeast.

In the village of Cavunge, located in a dry tropical, semiarid rural region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, a sentinel study on viral hepatitis is underway. We report on the first part of the study. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis A, B and C in the village.

Infection with hepatitis C virus among health care workers in the Brazilian Western Amazon region (Rio Branco, State of Acre).

Clinical and epidemiologic studies on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the western Brazilian Amazon region are scarce. However, reports of clinical cases of hepatitis or pathologies associated to the HCV infection are frequent. In the state of Acre, there have been no studies on the population with the greatest exposure to parenteral transmission of virus infection.

[Urban transmission of schistosomiasis in children from a neighborhood of Salvador, Bahia].

In the Subúrbio Ferroviário region of Salvador (Bahia, Brasil) occurrences of schistosomiasis were found. This fact motivated the investigation of the prevalence of the eggs in a group of 268 resident students in one of its neighborhoods (São Bartolomeu). The parasitological test analyzed by the Kato-Katz methodology, showed positive results in 30.

HDV genotypes in the Western Brazilian Amazon region: A preliminary report.

In Brazil, hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is only reported in Western Amazonia, where severe cases of acute and chronic HDV hepatitis have been described. The study area was chosen in the States of Acre and Rondonia where most cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV)/HDV are reported. From December 2003 to October 2004, 40 HBsAg carriers with anti-HDV IgM were selected.

Intrafamilial prevalence of hepatitis B virus in Western Brazilian Amazon region: epidemiologic and biomolecular study.

Background: Hepatitis B is endemic in the Amazon region.

Methods: Serological markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) were determined in 266 household members for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive women (G1) and 395 household members for HBsAg-negative women (G2), randomly selected in Acre State Women's Medical Care Program, in order to evaluate the prevalence of HBV in this population. Before blood sample collection an epidemiological questionnaire was applied.

[Sociodemographical aspects of seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus in the settlement of Cavunge, a semi-arid region of Bahia State].

In Cavunge community, a rural village of the dry tropic in Bahia State, Brazil, a sentinel study on viral hepatitis was developed to characterize the seroprevalence of hepatitis A. The presence of IgG anti-HAV was analyzed in 891 citizens and 85.9% were positive.

[Evaluation of the ocular globe compression sign in infectious meningeal syndromes].

Infectious meningeal syndromes represent a serious medical emergency whose clinical-epidemiologic diagnosis must be immediately established for early initiation of appropriate treatment. However, in many cases data from the clinical exam are insufficient to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the value of the ocular globe compression sign in 57 patients with suspicion of infectious meningeal syndrome, both male and female and aged four years or older.

[Investigation of enterovirus in cases of aseptic meningitis syndrome of Belém, PA].

With the objective of isolating and identifying enteroviral serotypes, which are the most frequent etiologic agents of aseptic meningitis syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid samples were studied from patients referred to the health unit in the City of Belém (State of Pará, Brazil), from March 2002 to March 2003. The samples were inoculated in RD and HEp-2 cells line, and the positive were identified by neutralization test or indirect immunofluorescence. Out of 249 samples, 33 (13.

[The occurrence of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis in Brazil, 1995 to 2001].

Objective: To describe the occurrence of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) in Brazil between 1995 and 2001 and to determine the level of risk for this adverse event.

Methods: This retrospective study utilized data from acute flaccid paralysis investigation and notification records from the Ministry of Health in Brazil. Cases were defined as individuals with a diagnosis of acute flaccid paralysis and a positive stool culture or sequelae compatible with poliomyelitis appearing up to 60 days after the beginning of motor impairment.

Very low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in rural communities of northeastern Brazil with a high prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni.

The association of hepatitis C virus infection and the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis mansoni has been claimed to result in the concomitant evolution of the two pathologies, with a poor prognosis due to aggravated liver disease. Recently, however, some authors have begun to reject the hypothesis of a higher susceptibility of hepatosplenic schistosomal patients to HCV. The aim of the present transverse study carried out between July and August 1990 was to determine the possible association between SM and HCV markers in residents of Catolândia, Bahia State.

[Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of snakebites in Rio Branco, Acre].

This study aimed to determine the clinical epidemiological profile of the snake bites attended at the reference hospital of Acre. One hundred-forty four patients were studied prospectively, from January to December 2002. One hundred-thirteen (78.

[Male views of contraceptive methods in a rural community in Bahia State, Brazil].

Family planning programs have traditionally concentrated on women. This study aimed to determine men's knowledge of contraceptive methods in a rural community in Bahia State, Brazil. Mean age of interviewees was 40.

[Clinical-parasitological response to treatment with quinine associated to doxycycline in uncomplicated falciparum malaria].

The response of patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria to quinine plus doxycycline was studied in an open clinical trial. The majority (76.2%; n = 16) had plasmodia sensitive to the treatment and 23.

[Seroprevalence of human T cell lymphotropic virus infection and associated factors of risk in blood donors of Rio Branco city, AC, Brazil (1998-2001)].

Between December 1998 and March 2001, for each HTLV-I/II seropositive blood donor (ELISA, Abbott), two HTLV-I/II seronegative blood donors were also chosen. The blood samples were re-tested by ELISA (Murex), and those seropositives were also tested by Western Blot and PCR. Of the 11, 121 blood samples, 73 (0.

[Serologic survey for yellow fever and other arboviruses among inhabitants of Rio Branco, Brazil, before and three months after receiving the yellow fever 17D vaccine].

During a yellow fever vaccination campaign among residents of Rio Branco (Acre State), the frequency of HI antibodies to the most prevalent arboviruses in the Amazon region and to yellow fever virus was determined before and three months after immunization with YF 17D vaccine. From 390 inhabitants included in the first phase of serologic survey (August 1999), only 190 provided a second serum sample, after the use of 17D vaccine (January 2000). Among first phase samples, the frequency of HI antibodies was: 17D (27.

[Indicators of the effectiveness of epidemiological surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis in Brazil from 1990 through 2000].

Objectives: To describe and compare indicators of the quality of epidemiological surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) before Brazil's certification as a poliomyelitis-free area (1990 through 1994) and after that certification (1995 through 2000).

Methods: The following variables were studied: minimum prevalence (reporting annually at least 1 case of AFP per 100 000 individuals younger than 15 years), negative reporting (weekly reporting of the absence of AFP cases by at least 80% of the reporting units in each region), time of investigation (investigating at least 80% of the AFP cases within 48 hours of their being reported), and diagnostic investigation (collection of two stool samples for viral culture in the 2 weeks following the onset of paralysis in 80% or more of the AFP cases). The results were categorized as adequate if they were equal to or higher than the value considered as being effective, or as inadequate if they were below this value.