Cytogenetic changes in oral mucosa cells from individuals submitted to oral human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis use.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate cytogenetic changes in individuals submitted to oral human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis use through the micronucleus test in oral mucosa.

Methods: This study consisted of 37 individuals, of whom 17 comprised the pre-exposure prophylaxis group and 20 comprised the control group. A total of 2,000 cells per slide were analyzed for the determination of micronuclei, binucleation, nuclear buds, and cytotoxicity parameters: pyknosis, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis (KR), in a double-blind manner.

Cytogenetic changes in oral mucosal cells of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children and adolescents undergoing antiretroviral treatment.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate possible cytogenetic changes in children and adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus on antiretroviral therapy, through the micronucleus test in oral mucosa.

Methods: This was a prospective study consisted of 40 individuals, of whom 21 comprised the human immunodeficiency virus group and 19 comprised the control group. Children and adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus were enrolled.

Detection of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase of Hubei Reo-Like Virus 7 by Next-Generation Sequencing in and Mosquitoes from Brazil.

Advancements in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics have expanded our knowledge of the diversity of viruses (pathogens and non-pathogens) harbored by mosquitoes. Hubei reo-like virus 7 (HRLV 7) was recently detected by the virome analysis of fecal samples from migratory birds in Australia. We now report the detection of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequences of HRLV 7 in pools of and mosquitoes species from the Brazilian Amazon forest.

Prevalence of transmitted HIV-1 antiretroviral resistance among patients initiating antiretroviral therapy in Brazil: a surveillance study using dried blood spots.

Introduction: In Brazil, the use of antiretrovirals is widespread: more than 260,000 individuals are currently undergoing treatment. We conducted a survey targeting antiretroviral-naïve individuals who were initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) according to local guidelines. This survey covered five Brazilian regions.

Homogenous HIV-1 subtype B quasispecies in Brazilian men and women recently infected via heterosexual transmission.

HIV has extraordinary genetic mutability, both among individuals and at the population level. However, studies of primary HIV-1 infection and serum-converters indicate that the viral population is homogeneous at the sequence level, which suggests clonal HIV transmission. It remains unclear whether this feature applies to the female population.

Detection of lamivudine-resistant variants and mutations related to reduced antigenicity of HBsAg in individuals from the cities of Santos and São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Continuous long-term treatment is recommended to reduce the hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load. However, as a consequence, resistance mutations can emerge and be transmitted to other individuals. The polymerase (POL) gene overlaps the surface (S) gene.

Vicriviroc plus optimized background therapy for treatment-experienced subjects with CCR5 HIV-1 infection: final results of two randomized phase III trials.

Background: Vicriviroc, a novel HIV CCR5 antagonist, demonstrated significant efficacy and favorable tolerability in phase II trials in treatment-experienced subjects, supporting further evaluation in phase III studies.

Methods: Two identical double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled trials in CCR5-tropic HIV-infected subjects with documented resistance to two antiretroviral classes were conducted. Subjects were randomized to vicriviroc 30 mg QD (N = 571) or PBO (N = 286) with open-label optimized background therapy (OBT) containing ≥2 fully active antiretroviral drugs.

Environmental analyses of the parasitic profile found in the sandy soil from the Santos municipality beaches, SP, Brazil.

The environmental contamination by geohelminths represents a world public health problem and has been well documented by several authors. However, few papers describe the presence of such contamination in saline soils of coastal beaches. A study was performed on the beaches of the municipality of Santos in the period between May 2004 to April 2005 with the aim of determining the degree of contamination, and the correlation between contamination level and seasonal conditions and characteristics of the environment.

The association between primary antiretroviral resistance and HAART virologic failure in a developing set.

Santos is a Brazilian port city with high HIV incidence, high primary antiretroviral resistance levels, high HIV-1 BF recombinants prevalence, and high rates of antiretroviral virologic failure. We evaluated factors related to virologic failure after 48 weeks of HAART in this population. We compared demographic and HIV profiles among 43 individuals with virologic failure (group 1) and 37 with virologic success (group 2) after 48 weeks of HAART initiation.

Prevalence of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae from Acanthamoeba and Naegleria genera in non-hospital, public, internal environments from the city of Santos, Brazil.

Acanthamoeba and Naegleria species are free-living amoebae (FLA) found in a large variety of natural habitats. The prevalence of such amoebae was determined from dust samples taken from public non-hospital internal environments with good standards of cleanliness from two campuses of the same University in the city of Santos (SP), Brazil, and where young and apparently healthy people circulate. The frequency of free-living amoebae in both campuses was 39% and 17% respectively, with predominance of the genus Acanthamoeba.

HIV type 1 diversity from newly diagnosed patients in Santos metropolitan area/Brazil.

HIV-1 from infected subjects has been characterized in order to provide a more accurate view of the strains that are currently found in a given region. In this report, we focused on characterizing the pol gene diversity obtained from newly diagnosed patients in Santos metropolitan area, Brazil. This region is composed of nine cities and an international port.

Characterization of virologic failure after an initially successful 48-week course of antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS outpatients treated in Santos, Brazil.

We characterized the virologic failure after an initially successful 48-week course of antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in a retrospective cohort study involving patients from Santos, Brazil. Patients with plasma HIV RNA below 500 copies/mL for 48 weeks were included. Variables analyzed included gender, age, level of education, marital status, mode of HIV acquisition, viral load, and CD4 cell count upon admission.

HIV infection and related risk behaviors in a community of recyclable waste collectors of Santos, Brazil.

Objective: To estimate the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis and to describe risk behaviors associated to their transmission among recyclable waste collectors.

Methods: A seroepidemiological survey was carried out in the city of Santos, Southeastern Brazil, in 2005. A total of 315 individuals were enrolled in the survey, of which 253 subjects underwent serological testing HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis.

HIV type 1 pol gene diversity and antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in Santos, Brazil.

HIV-1 antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in subtype B, F, and recombinants B/F in Santos, Brazil were characterized. We studied 83 samples from individuals enrolled at the Brazilian HIV/AIDS programs from Santos. These patients have been treated with multiantiretroviral therapy.

High levels of primary antiretroviral resistance genotypic mutations and B/F recombinants in Santos, Brazil.

This study characterized HIV-1 among antiretroviral-naïve populations presenting recent infection (RI) or long-standing infection (LSI). Sera collected from January 1999 to December 2001 at an anonymous HIV testing site in Santos, Brazil, were submitted to serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion (STARHS). The STARHS methodology uses a combination of a sensitive and a less sensitive version of an anti-HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and specimens found to be positive on the sensitive EIA and negative on the less sensitive EIA are considered to represent RI.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in non-responsive patients with pegylated interferon associated with ribavirin and thalidomide: report of six cases of total remission.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health issue worldwide. It is estimated that over 170 million people are infected with the virus. The present study reports six cases in which patients did not respond to combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

Identification of two HIV type 1 circulating recombinant forms in Brazil.

Recombination is an important way to generate genetic diversity. Accumulation of HIV-1 full-length genomes in databases demonstrated that recombination is pervasive in viral strains collected globally. Recombinant forms achieving epidemiological relevance are termed circulating recombinant forms (CRFs).

Septicemia caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Lutz, 1908) as the cause of death of an AIDS patient from Santos, São Paulo State, Brazil--a nonendemic area.

The first case of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in Santos (Brazil) leading to septicemia and death of an HIV-positive patient is reported here. The patient was a 34-year-old female that presented essential fever and was only diagnosed after death by positive blood culture. The authors underscore the atypical nature of the case, since the patient was a female at fertile age who was born and had always lived in Santos, which is a nonendemic area for this infection.

Environmental strains of Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii in the city of Santos, SP, Brazil.

This study involved a total of 116 samples, 79 taken from pigeon droppings and 37 of atmospheric air taken close to accumulations of excrement. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii was isolated from 11 (13.