Some studies have suggested that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection modifies the natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, accelerating the progression of fibrosis and the development of cirrhosis. Our objective was to evaluate the fibrosis progression rate (FPR) in HCV/HIV-co-infected patients, and to identify factors that may influence it. HCV-mono-infected and HCV/HIV-co-infected patients with a known date of HCV infection (transfusion or injection drug use) and a liver biopsy were included. The FPR was defined as the ratio between the fibrosis stage (Metavir score) and the estimated length of infection in years and the result was reported as fibrosis units per year. The factors studied were gender, age at infection, consumption of alcohol, aminotransferase levels, histological activity grade, HCV genotype and viral load, CD4 cell count, HIV viral load, and the use of antiretroviral therapy. Sixty-five HCV-infected (group 1) and 53 HCV/HIV-co-infected (group 2) patients were evaluated over a period of 19 months. The mean FPR of groups 1 and 2 was 0.086 ± 0.074 and 0.109 ± 0.098 fibrosis units per year, respectively (P = 0.276). There was a correlation between length of HCV infection and stage of fibrosis in both groups. The age at infection, the aspartate aminotransferase level (r = 0.36) and the inflammatory activity grade were correlated with the FPR (P < 0.001). No difference in FPR was found between HCV-mono-infected and HCV/HIV-co-infected patients.

ABSTRACT Lactation is essential for the growth and development of newborns. Drugs administered during lactation can alter the offspring development or damage the mammary glands changing the milk production. There are few studies about the evolution of prolactin receptors expression and on the presence of apoptotic cells in acinus of mammary glands from lactating mice, this is the aim of the present study. Mammary glands of female mice were obtained in the 19th day of pregnancy and in different days of lactation. It was evaluated: the number of acinus by microscopic field and number of cells by each acinus. The expression of prolactin receptors was identified trough immunohistochemistry, and the presence of apoptotic cells by using the TUNEL method. The presence of prolactin positive cells, discreet in the end of pregnancy, significantly increases already on the 1st day of lactation and remains high until weaning. The mammary gland involution, indicated by the increase in the number of apoptotic cells, starts around the 8th postnatal day and continues until weaning. newborns production study th evaluated immunohistochemistry method st weaning involution

RESUMO A lactação é indispensável para o crescimento e o desenvolvimento de recém-nascidos. Drogas administradas no período de lactação podem alterar o desenvolvimento da cria, ou lesar a glândula mamária alterando a produção de leite. Poucos estudos foram encontrados sobre a evolução da expressão de receptores de prolactina e de presença de células apoptóticas em ácinos da glândula mamária de fêmeas de camundongos, durante o processo de lactação, sendo este o objetivo do presente trabalho. Glândulas mamárias de fêmeas de camundongos foram obtidas no 19o dia de prenhez e em diferentes dias da lactação. Foram avaliados: o número de alvéolos por campo e o número de células por alvéolo. Identificou-se a expressão de receptores para prolactina através de imunohistoquímica, e a presença de células apoptóticas pelo método tunel. A presença de células prolactinas positivas, discreta no final da prenhez, aumenta significativamente já no 1o dia de lactação e permanece assim até o desmame. A involução da glândula mamária, indicada pelo aumento do número de células em processo de apoptose se inicia por volta do 8o dia pós-natal e prossegue até ao desmame. recémnascidos. recémnascidos recém nascidos. nascidos recém-nascidos cria leite trabalho avaliados alvéolo Identificouse Identificou imunohistoquímica tunel positivas desmame pósnatal pós natal