Thalidomide induces mucosal healing in Crohn's disease: case report.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that is defined by relapsing and remitting episodes. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) appears to play a central role in the pathophysiology of the disease. Standard therapies for inflammatory bowel disease fail to induce remission in about 30% of patients.

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.

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.