Abstract INTRODUCTION Medical students have an occupational risk for hepatitis B (HB). This study sought to determine anti-HBs and anti-HBc IgG levels in vaccinated students, check their seroconversion, and correlate this with vaccination. METHODS One hundred and forty-three students’ blood samples and their vaccination schedules were analyzed. RESULTS: 65.7% were positive for anti-HBs; however, anti-HBs was absent in 34.3%. Only two samples were positive for anti-HBc IgG. CONCLUSIONS More than 30% of students did not have minimum protective levels. Comparing HBV vaccination and anti-HBs reactivity, the majority of reactive individuals received their last dose within the past 16 years.

Abstract This work describes the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities in vitro of organic extracts from fourteen seaweeds, eleven sponges, two ascidians, one bryozoan, and one sea anemone species collected along the Brazilian and Spanish coast, as well as the isolation of the diterpene (4R, 9S, 14S)-4α-acetoxy-9β,14α-dihydroxydolast-1(15),7-diene (1) and halogenated sesquiterpene elatol (2). The most promising antimicrobial results for cell wall bacteria were obtained by extracts from seaweeds Laurencia dendroidea and Sargassum vulgare var. nanun (MIC 250 μg/ml), and by the bryozoan Bugula neritina (MIC 62.5 μg/ml), both against Staphylococcus aureus. As for antimollicutes, extracts from seaweeds showed results better than the extracts from invertebrates. Almost all seaweeds assayed (92%) exhibited some antimicrobial activity against mollicutes strains (Mycoplasma hominis,Mycoplasma genitalium,Mycoplasma capricolum and Mycoplasma pneumoniae strain FH). From these seaweeds, A1 (Canistrocarpus cervicornis), A11 (Gracilaria sp.) and A4 (Lobophora variegata) showed the best results for M. pneumoniae strain FH (MIC 250 μg/ml). Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 were also assayed against mollicutes strains M. hominis,M. genitalium,M. capricolum,M. pneumoniae strain 129 and M. pneumoniae strain FH, which showed MIC > 100 μg/ml. Antioxidant activities of extracts from these marine organisms were inactive, except for E7 (from sponge Ircinia sp.), which exhibited moderated antioxidant activities for two methods assayed (IC50 83.0 ± 0.1 μg/ml, and 52.0 ± 0.8 mg AA/g, respectively). Finally, for the anticholinesterase activity, all the 29 samples evaluated (100%) exhibited some level of activity, with IC50 < 1000 μg/ml. From these, seaweeds extracts were considered more promising than marine invertebrate extracts [A10 (IC50 14.4 ± 0.1 μg/ml), A16 (IC50 16.4 ± 0.4 μg/ml) and A8 (IC50 14.9 ± 0.5 μg/ml)]. The findings of this work are useful for further research aiming at isolation and characterization of active compounds.

Doenças emergentes como a Síndrome Cárdio-Pulmonar por Hantavírus (SCPH) são capazes de promover um grande impacto nas populações humanas devido a sua severidade e alta letalidade. Santa Catarina, localizada ao Sul do Brasil, é o estado com o maior número de relatos de SCPH, com 267 casos desde 1999 a 2011. Apresentamos aqui um inquérito sorológico para hantavírus em doadores de sangue de diferentes cidades do Estado de Santa Catarina, usando um teste IgG-ELISA com proteína recombinante de nucleocapsídeo do hantavírus Araraquara como antígeno. No total, 314 doadores de banco de sangue participaram do estudo, cobrindo geograficamente todo o Estado. Dentre estes, 14 indivíduos (4,4%) apresentaram anticorpos para hantavírus: quatro de 50 (8% de positividade) provenientes de Blumenau, quatro de 52 (7,6%) de Joinville, três de 50 (6%) de Florianópolis, dois de 50 (4%) de Chapecó e um de 35 (2,8%) de Joaçaba. É possível que hantavírus estejam circulando praticamente em todo o Estado, com implicações epidemiológicas importantes. Considerando que os doadores de sangue soropositivos são indivíduos saudáveis, é possível que hantavírus possam estar causando infecções não diagnosticadas, sejam elas assintomáticas ou clinicamente inespecíficas, além da SCPH. É possível ainda que mais de um tipo de hantavírus possa estar circulando na região, causando infecções mais benignas.

Emergent diseases such as Hantavirus Cardio-pulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) are able to create a significant impact on human populations due to their seriousness and high fatality rate. Santa Catarina, located in the South of Brazil, is the leading state for HCPS with 267 reported cases from 1999 to 2011. We present here a serological survey on hantavirus in blood donors from different cities of the state of Santa Catarina, with an IgG-ELISA using a recombinant nucleocapsid protein from Araraquara hantavirus as an antigen. In total, 314 donors from blood banks participated in the study, geographically covering the whole state. Among these, 14 individuals (4.4%) had antibodies to hantavirus: four of 50 (8% positivity) from Blumenau, four of 52 (7.6%) from Joinville, three of 50 (6%) from Florianópolis, two of 50 (4%) from Chapecó and one of 35 (2.8%) from Joaçaba. It is possible that hantaviruses are circulating across almost the whole state, with important epidemiological implications. Considering that the seropositive blood donors are healthy individuals, it is possible that hantaviruses may be causing unrecognized infections, which are either asymptomatic or clinically nonspecific, in addition to HCPS. It is also possible that more than one hantavirus type could be circulating in this region, causing mostly benign infections.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a dosagem direta do colesterol LDL (LDL-C) por um método homogêneo, em comparação com a estimativa pela fórmula de Friedewald, em uma grande população heterogênea. MÉTODOS: As dosagens do colesterol total (ColT) e dos triglicerídeos (Trig) foram realizadas por métodos enzimáticos tradicionais. As dosagens do HDL-C e do LDL-C foram realizadas por métodos diretos, sem precipitação, e a estimativa da fração LDL-C calculada pela fórmula de Friedewald. RESULTADOS: Por análise de regressão linear, os dois métodos apresentaram coeficientes de correlação extremamente significativos (p<0,001). Entretanto, a fórmula de Friedewald apresentou um bias positivo em relação ao método direto, mais pronunciado com níveis de ColT > 201 mg/dL. Este bias positivo também ocorreu com relação a níveis de Trig < 150 mg/dL. Com níveis de Trig entre 151-200 mg/dL e entre 201-300 mg/dL, não foi observado bias entre os dois métodos. Por outro lado, com níveis de Trig entre 301-400 mg/dL, este bias da fórmula de Friedewald tornou-se negativo. CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível demonstrar que a fórmula de Friedewald não apresenta um desempenho homogêneo para a estimativa do LDL-C em amostras com diferentes níveis de Trig, em comparação com o método direto, podendo causar dúvidas na classificação quanto ao risco de desenvolver doença arterial coronariana.

OBJECTIVE: To compare direct measurement of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) determined by a homogeneous method with LDL-cholesterol estimation determined by the Friedewald formula in a large heterogeneous population. METHODS: The measurements of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were performed using traditional enzymatic methods. The measurements of HDL-C and LDL-C were performed using direct methods with no precipitation, and the estimation of the LDL-C fraction was calculated using the Friedewald formula. RESULTS: On linear regression analysis, the 2 methods had extremely significant correlation coefficients (P < 0.001). However, the Friedewald formula had a positive bias in regard to the direct method, more pronounced with TC levels > 201 mg/dL. This positive bias also occurred in regard to TG levels < 150 mg/dL. No bias was observed between the methods for TG levels ranging from 151 to 200 mg/dL and from 201 to 300 mg/dL. On the other hand, for TG levels ranging from 301 to 400 mg/dL, this bias of the Friedewald formula became negative. CONCLUSION: The Friedewald formula did not have a homogeneous performance for estimating LDL-C levels in samples with different TG levels as compared with that of the direct method, what could launch doubts on patients classification on the risk of developing coronary artery disease.