Abstract: Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common disorder of unknown etiology that affects approximately 0.7% to 3.8% of patients among the general population. Currently, genetic and autoimmune factors are emphasized as etiopathogenic. Studies linking Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) to AA have suggested that immunogenetic factors may play a role in the disease's onset/development. Objectives: To investigate an association between AA and HLA class I/II in white Brazilians. Methods: Patients and control groups comprised 33 and 112 individuals, respectively. DNA extraction was performed by column method with BioPur kit. Allele's classification was undertaken using the PCR-SSO technique. HLA frequencies were obtained through direct counting and subjected to comparison by means of the chi-square test. Results: Most patients were aged over 16, with no familial history, and developed partial AA, with no recurrent episodes. Patients showed a higher frequency of HLA-B*40, HLA-B*45, HLA-B*53 and HLA-C*04 compared with controls, although P was not significant after Bonferroni correction. Regarding HLA class II, only HLA-DRB1*07 revealed statistical significance; nevertheless, it featured more prominently in controls than patients (P=0.04; Pc=0.52; OR=0.29; 95%; CI=0.07 to 1.25). P was not significant after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: The development of AA does not seem to be associated with HLA in white Brazilians, nor with susceptibility or resistance. The studies were carried out in populations with little or no miscegenation, unlike the Brazilian population in general, which could explain the inconsistency found.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Few studies have addressed the primary characteristics of patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the general population, especially those living in small- and medium-sized cities in Brazil. We aimed to determine the clinical, demographic, and epidemiologic characteristics of patients diagnosed with HBV who were followed up at an infectious diseases clinic of a public hospital in State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Medical records of patients aged >18 years and diagnosed with HBV infection between January 2000 and December 2013 were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were enrolled with male-female main infection-associated risk factors; 9 (12%) were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 5 (6.7%) with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 3 (4%) were co-infected with both HIV and HCV. Antiviral HBV therapy was applied in 21 (28%) patients and tenofovir monotherapy was the most prescribed medication. After approximately 2 years of antiviral treatment, the HBV-DNA viral load was undetectable in 12 (92.3%) patients and lower levels of alanine aminotransferase were found in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 13-year interval, very few individuals infected with HBV were identified, highlighting the barriers for caring for patients with HBV in developing countries. New measures need to be implemented to complement curative practices.

A transmissão vertical é a principal forma de infecção pelo HIV em crianças. Nosso objetivo foi determinar a prevalência da transmissão vertical do HIV em maternidade pública em Presidente Prudente, SP. Além disso, procuramos identificar características associadas a essa forma de transmissão. De março de 2002 a março de 2007, os prontuários de 86 mães HIV-1 positivo e seus bebês, nascidos na maternidade de Hospital Público foram analisadas. A carga viral do HIV-1-RNA dos recém-nascidos foi determinada por bDNA. A prevalência da transmissão vertical pelo HIV-1 foi de 4,6%. Crianças nascidas a pré-termo e amamentadas tiveram um risco maior de infecção (p = 0,005 e p = 0,017, respectivamente), comparado com crianças nascidas a termo e não amamentadas. A profilaxia com zidovudina depois do nascimento para os recém-nascidos foi associada ao menor risco de infecção (p = 0,003). O número de recém-nascidos com peso < 2.500 g foi maior entre as crianças infectadas (p = 0,008), comparado com crianças não infectadas. Oito meses depois do parto 22,9% das mães não tinham conhecimento da infecção de seus bebês pelo HIV. O presente estudo sugere a necessidade em aumentar a identificação do HIV em gestantes e seus bebês e explicar e oferecer os benefícios da profilaxia antiretroviral.

In children, vertical transmission is the main form of HIV infection. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of HIV-1 vertical transmission in mother-infant pairs in a public maternity ward in Presidente Prudente, SP. Additionally; we sought to identify characteristics associated with this form of transmission. The files of 86 HIV-1-infected mothers and their newborns referred to a Public Hospital from March 2002 to March 2007 were analyzed. The HIV-1-RNA viral load of the newborns was determined by bDNA. The HIV-1 vertical-transmission rate was 4.6%. Children that were born in the pre-term period and breastfed were at a higher risk of HIV-1 infection (p = 0.005 and p = 0.017 respectively) than children born at term and not breastfed. Prophylactic therapy with zidovudine after birth for newborns was associated with a lower risk of infection (p = 0.003). The number of newborns weighing < 2,500 g was significantly higher for infected children (p = 0.008) than for non-infected newborns. About 22.9% of mothers did not know the HIV-1 status of their newborns eight months after delivery. The study suggests that it is necessary to increase the identification of HIV-1 infection in pregnant women and their newborns as well as to offer and explain the benefits of ARV prophylaxis.

INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a prevalência da transmissão vertical do HIV-1 na região oeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas as fichas de mães infectadas pelo HIV-1 e recém-nascidos, residindo em municípios das Delegacias Regionais de Saúde (DRS II, Araçatuba) e (DRS XI, Presidente Prudente). Entre março de 2001 e março de 2006 as amostras foram colhidas e enviadas ao Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Presidente Prudente. A carga viral do RNA-HIV-1 foi determinada por bDNA. RESULTADOS: O número de nascimentos, 50,2% (109/217) e a transmissão vertical do HIV-1, 5,5% (6/109) ocorrido na DRS II foi semelhante aos nascimentos, 49,8% (108/217) e a transmissão vertical, 6,5% (7/108) ocorrido na DRS XI, respectivamente. Embora na DRS II, 80% (4/5) das crianças infectadas fossem meninos e na DRS XI, 75% (6/8) meninas, não houve diferença entre sexo em crianças infectadas ou não nas regiões de Presidente Prudente e Araçatuba. A taxa de transmissão vertical para o HIV-1 foi de 6%.Não houve diminuição da taxa de infecção ao longo dos anos. Cerca de 20% das mães não haviam feito exame para HIV-1 de seus filhos oito meses após o nascimento. CONCLUSÕES: A transmissão vertical para HIV-1 foi cerca de 70% maior que a encontrada anteriormente no Estado de São Paulo, sem diminuição ao longo do período. Além disso, um número expressivo de mães não realizou exame de seus filhos oito meses após o nascimento.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vertical HIV-1 transmission in the western region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The study analyzed the medical records of HIV-1-infected mothers and infant pairs living in the municipalities of São Paulo Regional Health Departments DRS II (Araçatuba) and DRS XI (Presidente Prudente). From March 2001 to March 2006, blood samples were collected and referred to the Molecular Biology Unit of the Adolfo Lutz Institute (ALI), Presidente Prudente. HIV-1-RNA viral load was determined by bDNA assay. RESULTS: The number of births (109/217, 50.2%) and vertical HIV-1 transmissions (6/109, 5.5%) that occurred in DRS II was similar to births (108/217, 49.8%) and vertical transmissions (7/108, 6.5%) in DRS XI (p > 0.05). Although 80% (4/5) of the infected children were male in DRS II, while in DRS XI, 75% (6/8) were female, no differences between sex regarding infected and noninfected children in the regions of Araçatuba and Presidente Prudente were verified. The overall vertical HIV-1 transmission rate was 6%. No consistent reduction in the prevalence of vertical HIV-1 transmission occurred over the years. About 20% of mothers did not know the HIV-1 status of their newborns eight months after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, MTCT prevalence rates were about 70% higher than those previously determined in the State of São Paulo, with noreduction throughout the period.Furthermore, a significant number of mothers did not know the HIV-status of their newborns eight months after delivery.

Few studies are available on hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection in populations living in small and medium-sized Brazilian cities. We evaluated the seroprevalence of these viruses in selected individuals from a clinic of infectology, who were referred to the University Regional Hospital of the West Region of state of São Paulo, Brazil. Among a total of 7,021 individuals seen in the clinic following receipt of preliminary ELISA results or having the suggested clinical signs of viral hepatitis or HIV, 1,228 were systematically screened. Isolated or associated HBsAg, HCV and HIV antibodies were found in 44.9% of the subjects. Anti-HIV antibodies were found in 24.7% of the patients, 20.3% of whom had an HIV monoinfection and 4.4% of whom were co-infected with hepatitis viruses (HCV: 4%; HBV: 0.4%). Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 14% of the patients and 5.9% had anti-HBsAg antibodies. HCV infection affected males more than females (p < 0.05) and individuals > 50-years old had an increased prevalence of anti-HCV compared to HIV (p = 0.0001) or HBV (p = 0.0063). HCV-RNA was detected in 73.5% of the samples with a predominance of genotype 1 (72.5%). A significant percentage (44.9%) of the selected individuals was positive for antibodies against HBV, HCV and/or HIV; these patients would otherwise have remained undiagnosed.

No Brasil um número significativo de mulheres em idade gestacional ainda não foi testado para HIV, representando risco acentuado de transmissão vertical. Nosso objetivo foi determinar o número de gestantes que não foram previamente testadas ou não portavam documentos comprobatórios para HIV, ou seja, o diagnóstico da infecção para HIV através de um teste rápido e a transmissão vertical em gestantes admitidas no Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia de um Hospital Universitário Regional. Foram revisados os prontuários das gestantes admitidas entre janeiro de 2001 e dezembro de 2005. Gestantes sem resultados para HIV foram submetidas a um teste rápido. Testes positivos foram submetidos ao teste de ELISA e confirmados por imunofluorescência indireta (IIA) ou Western blot (WB). A carga viral dos recém-nascidos de mães infectadas foi determinada por bDNA. Dentre as 16.424 gestantes analisadas, 6,6% (1.089) não apresentaram resultados comprobatórios. Onze gestantes tiveram resultados positivos no teste rápido e 10 foram confirmadas por ELISA, IIA ou WB com 0,9% de positividade. Mães e recém-nascidos receberam profilaxia com zidovudina e todos os recém-nascidos tiveram carga viral inferior a 50 copias/mL. Foi encontrado um número maior de gestantes previamente testadas para HIV quando comparado à média obtida no país.

A significant number of Brazilian gestational-age women are still not tested for HIV, representing a high risk of transmission to their newborns. The current study sought to identify the number of pregnant women with no previous testing or undocumented for HIV referred to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of a Regional Teaching Hospital and included diagnosis of HIV infection determined by a rapid test and perinatal transmission in pregnancy. Medical records of all pregnant women admitted to hospital from January 2001 to December 2005 were reviewed. Pregnant women without HIV results were submitted to a rapid HIV test. Those who tested positive were further tested by ELISA and confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIA) or Western blot (WB). The viral load from babies born to HIV-infected mothers was assessed by bDNA. Of the 16,424 pregnant women analyzed (6.6%), 1,089 were undocumented for HIV. Eleven women were positive in rapid testing and 10 were confirmed by ELISA, IIA or WB, with 0.9% seropositivity. Mother/infant pairs received zidovudine monotherapy prophylaxis and infant viral load was lower than 50 copies/mL. A higher number of pregnant women previously tested for HIV during antenatal care was verified, compared to that obtained nationwide.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a contaminação ambiental por ovos de Toxocara spp. em assentamento rural da região do Pontal do Paranapanema, oeste do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, amostras de solo de oito diferentes pontos ao redor da casa de 31 dos 121 lotes do assentamento foram coletados. A recuperação de ovos foi realizada pela técnica de centrífugo-flutuação em solução de nitrato de sódio (d = 1,20g/cm³). Ovos de Toxocara spp. foram recuperados em nove (29,03%) dos 31 lotes. Em 27 das 31 casas amostradas (87,1%), havia pelo menos um cão e em 17 (54,84%) pelo menos um gato. O número de cães por lote variou de um a seis (media de 2,3). No caso dos gatos, o número variou de um a 14 (média de 1,29). Em 16 dos 31 lotes (51,61%), havia a presença de pelo menos um cão ou gato. Não houve relação entre a presença desses animais e a contaminação do solo (p > 0,05). Entretanto, a contaminação do solo por ovos de Toxocara spp. e as precárias condições de higiene tanto da população quanto dos seus animais compõem um ambiente favorável à infecção dos assentados por agentes de larva migrans/toxocaríase.

In order to study the environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs in a rural community from the Pontal do Paranapanema region, São Paulo State, Brazil, soil samples from 31 out of 121 plots were collected in eight different places on each house. The samples were submitted to flotation technique in sodium nitrate (d = 1.20g/cm³). Eggs of Toxocara spp. were recovered in nine (29.03%) out of the 31 plots. At least one dog was registered in 27 of the 31 plots examined (87.1%) and at least one cat in 17 (54.84%). The number of pets per plot ranged from one to six (mean of 2.3) for dogs and one to 14 (mean of 1.29) for cats. In 16 plots (51.61%), the presence of both dogs and cats was observed. There was no relation between the presence of pets in the plots and soil contamination (p > 0.05). However, the environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs associated to the poor conditions of the inhabitants may be an important risk factor for the human population to ocular or visceral larva migrans.

In order to evaluate the taeniosis-cysticercosis complex in a population of a peasants' settlement, located at Teodoro Sampaio, state of São Paulo, Brazil (longitude 52° 36'12 ", latitude 22° 17'12 ") a series of laboratory markers were determined. After signing an informed consent, participants answered a standardized questionnaire. To determine anti-Taenia solium cysticercus antibodies, the samples were tested by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay using 18-and 14-kDa antigen proteins from vesicular fluid of Taenia crassiceps (VF-Tcra). The reactive and inconclusive ELISA samples were tested by immunoblotting. Total IgE levels were determined by chemmiluminescence's assay and hemogram by flow cytometer flux counter. A total of 84 individuals, 5.9% presented anti-T. solium cysticercus antibodies in ELISA and 3.6% were strongly reactive in the 18/14 kDa immunoblotting confirmatory test. All of the individuals with positive antibodies showed elevated Total IgE levels. We conclude that the frequency of anti-T. solium cysticercus antibodies in this population is higher than other regions considered endemic in São Paulo. Thus, it is important to carry out surveys in Peasants' settlement areas with the objective of establishing public health measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases such as taeniosis-cysticercosis.

The AIDS epidemic is spreading rapidly among women worldwide, offering increasing opportunities for vertical transmission of HIV. In Brazil, the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women is less than 1%. Therefore, the positive predictive value of an HIV EIA test tends to be lower than the more frequent indeterminate Western blot result. Pregnant women receiving antenatal care, from 2000 to 2004, at a public secondary hospital in the city of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, were systematically screened for HIV by means of two distinct EIA tests, in order to determine the prevalence of indeterminate Western blot results among pregnant women showing discordance in both HIV EIA tests and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Confirmatory indirect immunofluorescence was performed on material for all women with positive results in both EIA tests. Whenever there were positive results in EIA and IIA, the applicant was retested by the initial screening assay. Only those not showing concordance in results in EIA and IAA had a Western blot performed. The viral load was measured in pregnant women with positive or indeterminate Western blot results. Out of 9,786 sera, 105 (1.0%) were positive in the two HIV EIA screening tests, confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence. Among these women, Western blot was interpreted as indeterminate in 11 (0.1%) cases and their viral load was <50 copies/mL. We found a prevalence of 0.1% HIV indeterminate Western blots in pregnant women from Presidente Prudente and the surrounding region; none of these pregnant women had positive HIV viral loads.

Para a determinação de anti-estreptolisina "O" e proteína C reativa, no município de Laranjal-PR, foram analisados soros de 411 escolares, entre 5 a 16 anos. Para anti-estreptolisina "O", 13,6% tiveram títulos elevados e 5,1% foram reativos para proteína C reativa. Não foram observadas diferenças em relação ao sexo e faixa etária.

For antistreptolysin "O" and C-reactive protein determination, carried out in Laranjal-PR, we analyzed the serum of 411 school children aged from 5 to 16. For antistreptolysin O, 13.6% had elevated titers and 5.1% were reactive for C-reative protein. No differences related to age or sex were observed.