Abstract Introduction: Occidental diet and metabolic profile seems to increase hepatic fibrosis (HF) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but there is scarce information about the diet components and their role in this setting. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the dietary intake, metabolic profile, presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic HCV infection according to the presence of fibrosis. Methods: Cross-sectional study which 58 patients with HCV infection without active antiviral therapy and non-cirrhotic were assessed. All patients were subjected to clinical, laboratorial and dietary evaluation, and classified according to the METAVIR score. Patients were divided as the presence of hepatic fibrosis. Results: In this sample, fifty-five percent of patients were females, the average age was 51.6 ± 9.7 years, and 79.3% were carriers of HCV genotype 1. Patients with HF presented higher energy, and fat intake as well as higher glycemic load of meals in comparison to those without HF. Patients with HF presented higher systolic and diastolic arterial pressure and higher levels of insulin. Conclusions: In conclusion, patients with HF had higher total daily energy and total fat intakes, and worse metabolic profile, characterized by a higher insulin resistance and blood pressure.

Resumen Introducción: en pacientes infectados crónicamente por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC), la dieta occidental y el perfil metabólico parecen aumentar la fibrosis hepática (FH), sin embargo existe poca información sobre los componentes de la dieta y su papel en este contexto. Objetivos: evaluar la ingesta dietética, el perfil metabólico, la presencia de síndrome metabólico (SAT) y el riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes con VHC crónico según la presencia de fibrosis. Métodos: estudio transversal en el que se evaluaron 58 pacientes con VHC sin terapia antiviral activa ni cirrótica. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a evaluación clínica, de laboratorio y dietética, y fueron clasificados según la puntuación METAVIR. Los pacientes se dividieron según la presencia de FH. Resultados: en esta muestra el 55% de los pacientes eran mujeres, con edad promedio de 51,6 ± 9,7 años, siendo el 79,3% portadores del genotipo 1 del VHC. Los alimentos de los pacientes con FH presentaron una mayor proporción de energía y grasa, así como mayor carga glucémica en comparación con las personas sin FH. Los pacientes con circunferencia de la cintura presentaron mayor presión arterial sistólica y diastólica y mayores niveles de insulina. Conclusión: en conclusión, los pacientes con FH presentaron un consumo mayor de energía y grasas diario total, y peor perfil metabólico, caracterizado por mayor resistencia a la insulina y presión arterial.

Esta contribuição dirigiu-se aos procedimentos adotados para o desenho e configuração de uma linha de fundeio eulariana com armadilhas de sedimentação, a qual foi instalada na borda da plataforma (zm ≈ 140 m) a 80 km de Cabo Frio, SE-Brasil (23°S). O local foi sujeito à dinâmica entre a Água Tropical (AT) da Corrente do Brasil (BC), intrusões da Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS), as quais são a fonte da ressurgência na região, e outros processos oceanográficos. Computações detalhadas foram utilizadas para aperfeiçoar o peso total, o balanço da flutuação e a inclinação máxima aceitável para evitar um erro hidrodinâmico na eficiência de captura e adaptação da linha do fundeio às condições oceanográficas locais, assistidas pelos programas Matlab e Muringa, e o Modelo Oceânico Modular 4,0 (MOM; para inferir a distribuição vertical do componente meridional da corrente). A faixa de velocidade da componente da corrente entre 0,1 e 0,5 m/s foi determinada através de medições curtas. As projeções levaram a um peso mínimo da âncora resultando em 456 kg. A tensão da linha requerida foi verificada utilizando a distribuição apropriada de uma série de bóias ao longo do fundeio, a qual finalmente alcançou uma alta carga vertical de 350 kg devido aos equipamentos oceanográficos incluídos. Aparelhos adicionais de flutuação resultaram em uma linha de fundeio estável como refletido pela baixa inclinação calculada (2,6° ± 0,6°). O baixo arrasto de 16 N foi computado para a corrente superficial máxima de 0,5 m/s. Os valores do número de Reynolds variaram de 4 × 104 para 2 × 105 e a razão da feição da armadilha cônica de 1,75 foi utilizada para avaliar a eficiência da amostragem da armadilha após exposição a diferentes velocidades de correntes.

This work addresses the design and configuration of a Eulerian sediment trap mooring array, which was deployed at the shelf edge (zm ≈ 140 m) 80 km off Cabo Frio, SE- Brazil (23° S). The site was subject to interplay between the Tropical Waters (TW) of the Brazil Current (BC), intrusions from the South Atlantic Central Waters (SACW), which are the source of upwelling in the region, and other oceanographic processes. Detailed computations were used to optimize the total weight, buoyancy balance, and maximum acceptable tilt to avoid hydrodynamic bias in the trapping efficiency and array adaptation to the local oceanographic conditions with the assistance of Matlab and Muringa programs and Modular Ocean Model 4.0 (MOM; i.e., to assert the vertical distribution of the meridional current component). The velocity range of the current component was determined by short term measurements to be between 0.1 and 0.5 m/s. Projections led to a resulting minimum anchor weight of 456 kg. The necessary line tension was ascertained by using the appropriate distribution of a series of buoys along the array, which finally attained a high vertical load of 350 kg because of the attached oceanographic equipment. Additional flotation devices resulted in a stable mooring array as reflected by their low calculated tilt (2.6° ± 0.6°). A low drag of 16 N was computed for the maximum surface current velocity of 0.5 m/s. The Reynolds number values ranged from 4 × 104 to 2 × 105 and a cone-trap aspect ratio of 1.75 was used to assess the trap sampling efficiency upon exposure to different current velocities.

Alpha thalassemia has not been systematically investigated in Brazil. In this study, 493 unrelated individuals from the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul were screened for deletional forms of α-thalassemia. One hundred and one individuals had microcytic anemia (MCV < 80 fL) and a normal hemoglobin pattern (Hb A2 < 3.5% and Hb F < 1%). The subjects were screened for -α3.7,-α4.2,-α20.5, -SEA and -MED deletions but only the -α3.7 allele was detected. The -α3.7 allele frequency in Brazilians of European and African ancestry was 0.02 and 0.12, respectively, whereas in individuals with microcytosis the frequency was 0.20. The prevalence of α-thalassemia was significantly higher in individuals with microcytosis than in healthy individuals (p = 0.001), regardless of their ethnic origin. There were also significant differences in the hematological parameters of individuals with -α3.7/αα, -α3.7/α3.7 and β-thalassemia trait compared to healthy subjects. These data suggest that α-thalassemia is an important cause of microcytosis and mild anemia in Brazilians.