Diseases transmitted by water consists a serious public health problem and enterobacteria are the main group of microorganisms responsible for outbreaks in humans. Such pathogenic bacteria proliferate in water polluted by domestic and industrial sewage and reach the population through seawater contact. The aim of the present work was to study environmental parameters as well as to identify Enterobacteriaceae species and their antimicrobial susceptibility in water samples collected from the estuarine area of São Vicente city (São Paulo State, Brazil). Strains were identified by using traditional biochemical tests described in literature and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out using the disk diffusion method. Out of 26 samples, Escherichia coli was the most frequent species (40.1%), followed by Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Klebsiella. The most effective drugs against the tested microorganisms were gentamycin, netilmicin, ciprofloxacin and cefepime. Since these bacteria are commonly found in seashore contaminated by sewage effluents, it can be concluded that estuarine waters of São Vicente are polluted and potentially capable of causing diseases and spreading pathogenic bacteria to human communities.

The RECK gene was initially isolated as a transformation suppressor gene encoding a novel membrane-anchored glycoprotein and later found to suppress tumor invasion and metastasis by regulating matrix metalloproteinase-9. Its expression is ubiquitous in normal tissues, but undetectable in many tumor cell lines and in fibroblastic lines transformed by various oncogenes. The RECK gene promoter has been cloned and characterized. One of the elements responsible for the oncogene-mediated downregulation of mouse RECK gene is the Sp1 site, where the Sp1 and Sp3 factors bind. Sp1 transcription factor family is involved in the basal level of promoter activity of many genes, as well as in dynamic regulation of gene expression; in a majority of cases as a positive regulator, or, as exemplified by the oncogene-mediated suppression of RECK gene expression, as a negative transcription regulator. The molecular mechanisms of the downregulation of mouse RECK gene and other tumor suppressor genes are just beginning to be uncovered. Understanding the regulation of these genes may help to develop strategies to restore their expression in tumor cells and, hence, suppress the cells' malignant behavior.

Dois grupos de pacientes em tratamento hemodialítico foram avaliados quanto às respostas de anticorpos contra as proteínas não estrutural c100/3 (anti-c100/3) e estrutural core (anti-HCV core) do vírus da hepatite C (HCV). Quarenta e seis pacientes (Grupo 1) nunca apresentaram alterações dos níveis de alanina aminotransferase (ALT) durante o tratamento hemodialítico, ao passo que 52 pacientes (Grupo 2) têm ou já tiveram elevações desta enzima hepática. Em pacientes sem alterações bioquímicas evidentes (Grupo 1) foram encontradas prevalências de 32.6% e 41.3% para anti-c100/3 e anti-HCV core, respectivamente. No Grupo 2, estas prevalências foram de 71,15% e 86,5%. Um teste composto de peptídeos estruturais e não estruturais imobilizados separadamente e dispostos em bandas paralelas em fitas de nailon, foi usado como teste confirmatório. A infecção pelo HBV, avaliada pela presença de anticorpos anti-HBc foi observada em 39.8% dos pacientes; 6 eram portadores crônicos de HBsAg e 13 possuiam anti-HBs adquiridos naturalmente. O tempo de tratamento hemodialítico teve correlação com a positividade para anti-HCV. A prevalência de 96,7% (Grupo 2) foi encontrada em pacientes que tiveram mais de 5 anos de tratamento. Nossos resultados sugerem que o anti-HCV core é um marcador mais preciso para detectar a infecção pelo HCV do que o anti-c100/3. Apesar dos riscos associados com a duração do tratamento e transfusões sanguíneas, uma significante disseminação não transfusional do HCV parece ocorrer dentro da unidade. A identificação de pacientes infectantes por métodos sensíveis como a detecção do genoma viral deverá auxiliar no controle da transmissão do HCV na unidade em estudo.

Two groups of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) maintenance were evaluated for their antibody response to non-structural c100/3 protein and structural core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Forty-six patients (Group 1) never presented liver abnormalities during HD treatment, while 52 patients (Group 2) had either current or prior liver enzyme elevations. Prevalence rates of 32.6% and 41.3% were found for anti-c100/3 and anti-HCV core antibodies, respectively, in patients with silent infections (Group 1). The rate of anti-c100/3 in patients of Group 2 was 71.15% and reached 86.5% for anti-HCV core antibodies. The recognition of anti-c100/3 and anti-core antibodies was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. A line immunoassay composed of structural and non-structural peptides was used as a confirmation assay. HBV infection, measured by the presence of anti-HBc antibodies, was observed in 39.8% of the patients. Six were HBsAg chronic carriers and 13 had naturally acquired anti-HBs antibodies. The duration of HD treatment was correlated with anti-HCV positivity. A high prevalence of 96.7% (Group 2) was found in patients who underwent more than 5 years of treatment. Our results suggest that anti-HCV core ELISA is more accurate for detecting HCV infection than anti-c100/3. Although the risk associated with the duration of HD treatment and blood transfusion was high, additional factors such as a significant non-transfusional spread of HCV seems to play a role as well. The identification of infective patients by more sensitive methods for HCV genome detection should help to control the transmission of HCV in the unit under study.

A resposta imune contra vacina de hepatite B (CLB-3mg) foi avaliada em 59 pacientes de hemodiálise e 20 funcionários de risco em adquirir infecção. A soroconversão foi observada em 52,5% e 70,0%, respectivamente. Um ano após a primeira dose, os níveis de anticorpos anti-HBs foram determinados em 37.5% dos pacientes e 60.0% dos funcionários. Os níveis de anticorpos foram expressos em unidades de radioimunoensaio (SRU = contagem da amostra sobre o controle negativo). Considerando apenas os indivíduos que responderam à vacina, no grupo de pacientes, 38.7% tiveram resposta baixa de anticorpos (2,1 - 9,9 SRU), 32,3% resposta média e 29,0% uma resposta elevada (> SRU), enquanto que no pessoal de risco, os valores foram 14,3%, 64,3% e 21.4%, respectivamente. Os autores sugerem o uso de vacinas de HBV com concentrações de HBsAg mais elevada ou um reforço no esquema de imunização para melhorar a resposta de anti-HBs, não só para pacientes como também para pessoas sadias.

Immune response against hepatitis B vaccine (CLB 3mg) was evaluated in 59 hemodialysis patients and 20 occupational risk personnel. Seroconversion was induced in 52.5% and 70.0% respectively. Twelve months after the first dose, 37.5% of patients and 60.0% of occupational risk personnel had detectable anti-HBs level. Antibody level was expressed in sample ratio units (SRU). Considering only the responders, in the patients group 38.7% had a low anti-HBs response (2.1-9.9 SRU) 32.3% a medium response (10-99.9 SRU) and 29.0% a high response (>100 SRU) while in occupational risk personnel these values were 14.3%, 64.3% and 21.4% respectively. The authors suggest the use of HBV vaccines with more elevated HBsAg concentration or a reinforced immunization schedule to improve the anti-HBs response not only for patients but also for healthy persons.