Abstract Bauxite mining has been carried out around Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, since the 1940s. Companies operating in the region pioneered land rehabilitation in Brazil, conducted since the early 1980s. Different procedures of recontouring, runoff drainage, soil preparation and vegetation planting were employed. This research aims to evaluate current environmental rehabilitation practices employed in the region, in order to identify possible deficiencies, investigate probable causes of these deficiencies and prevent recurrence of failures, thus avoiding rework and additional costs to deliver outcomes satisfactory to land owners. Areas with different ages of rehabilitation were studied. The practices adopted in recently rehabilitated mines and in the final phase of operation were evaluated through a problem identification procedure, based on field observations, document analysis and interviews. Some unsatisfactory results were found related to ground terracing, drainage systems, block sliding, soil sampling, soil preparation, planting of vegetation and monitoring of the recovered area. Improvements are proposed, on the basis of good practices, that even if more complex and laborious, can result in future savings, as they enable, in addition to avoiding rework, the fulfillment of contractual obligations to landowners and regulatory bodies.

Resumo OBJETIVO Identificar a ocorrência de infecção de sítio cirúrgico (ISC) e seus fatores de risco em pacientes submetidos a cirurgias de cólon, em um hospital terciário do interior paulista. MÉTODO Estudo de coorte não concorrente, por meio do levantamento de informações contidas nos prontuários de pacientes submetidos a cirurgias de cólon no período compreendido entre janeiro de 2010 e dezembro de 2013. As variáveis estudadas foram os possíveis fatores de risco ligados ao paciente, às características demográficas e ao procedimento cirúrgico. RESULTADOS Foram avaliados 155 pacientes, com uma incidência global de ISC de 16,7%. Encontrou-se associação estatisticamente significativa tanto na análise uni quanto na multivariada entre a ISC e as seguintes variáveis: sexo masculino, pontuação de Charlson e preparo mecânico intestinal. CONCLUSÃO A compreensão dos profissionais de saúde sobre os fatores que influenciam a incidência de ISC nas cirurgias de cólon pode contribuir para a qualidade da assistência prestada ao paciente cirúrgico a partir de ações efetivas que minimizem os riscos de infecções.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To identify the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) and its risk factors in patients undergoing colon surgery in a tertiary hospital located in the countryside of the state of São Paulo. METHOD Retrospective cohort study, with collection of information contained in the medical records of patients undergoing colon surgery in the period between January 2010 and December 2013. The studied variables were the possible risk factors related to the patient, to demographic characteristics and the surgical procedure. RESULTS In total, were evaluated 155 patients with an overall SSI incidence of 16.7%. A statistically significant association was found both in the univariate as in the multivariate analysis between the SSI and the following variables: male gender, Charlson index and mechanical bowel preparation. CONCLUSION The understanding of health professionals about the factors that influence the incidence of SSI in colon surgery may contribute to the quality of care provided to surgical patients, from effective actions to minimize the risk of infections.

Resumen OBJETIVO Identificar la ocurrencia de infección de sitio quirúrgico (ISQ) y sus factores de riesgo en pacientes sometidos a cirugías de colon, en un hospital terciario del interior del Estado de São Paulo. MÉTODO Estudio de cohorte no concurrente, mediante relevamiento de informaciones contenidas en las fichas de pacientes sometidos a cirugías de colon en el período comprendido entre enero de 2010 y diciembre de 2013. Las variables estudiadas fueron los posibles factores de riesgo vinculados con el paciente, los rasgos demográficos y el procedimiento quirúrgico. RESULTADOS Fueron evaluados 155 pacientes, con una incidencia global de ISQ del 16,7%. Se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa tanto en el análisis univariado como en el multivariado entre la ISQ y las siguientes variables: sexo masculino, puntuación de Charlson y preparación mecánica intestinal. CONCLUSIÓN La comprensión de los profesionales de la salud acerca de los factores que influencian la incidencia de ISQ en las cirugías de colon puede contribuir a la calidad de la asistencia prestada al paciente quirúrgico mediante acciones efectivas que minimicen los riesgos de infecciones.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To identify the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) and its risk factors in patients undergoing colon surgery in a tertiary hospital located in the countryside of the state of São Paulo. METHOD Retrospective cohort study, with collection of information contained in the medical records of patients undergoing colon surgery in the period between January 2010 and December 2013. The studied variables were the possible risk factors related to the patient, to demographic characteristics and the surgical procedure. RESULTS In total, were evaluated 155 patients with an overall SSI incidence of 16.7%. A statistically significant association was found both in the univariate as in the multivariate analysis between the SSI and the following variables: male gender, Charlson index and mechanical bowel preparation. CONCLUSION The understanding of health professionals about the factors that influence the incidence of SSI in colon surgery may contribute to the quality of care provided to surgical patients, from effective actions to minimize the risk of infections.

Resumen OBJETIVO Identificar la ocurrencia de infección de sitio quirúrgico (ISQ) y sus factores de riesgo en pacientes sometidos a cirugías de colon, en un hospital terciario del interior del Estado de São Paulo. MÉTODO Estudio de cohorte no concurrente, mediante relevamiento de informaciones contenidas en las fichas de pacientes sometidos a cirugías de colon en el período comprendido entre enero de 2010 y diciembre de 2013. Las variables estudiadas fueron los posibles factores de riesgo vinculados con el paciente, los rasgos demográficos y el procedimiento quirúrgico. RESULTADOS Fueron evaluados 155 pacientes, con una incidencia global de ISQ del 16,7%. Se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa tanto en el análisis univariado como en el multivariado entre la ISQ y las siguientes variables: sexo masculino, puntuación de Charlson y preparación mecánica intestinal. CONCLUSIÓN La comprensión de los profesionales de la salud acerca de los factores que influencian la incidencia de ISQ en las cirugías de colon puede contribuir a la calidad de la asistencia prestada al paciente quirúrgico mediante acciones efectivas que minimicen los riesgos de infecciones.

Resumo OBJETIVO Identificar a ocorrência de infecção de sítio cirúrgico (ISC) e seus fatores de risco em pacientes submetidos a cirurgias de cólon, em um hospital terciário do interior paulista. MÉTODO Estudo de coorte não concorrente, por meio do levantamento de informações contidas nos prontuários de pacientes submetidos a cirurgias de cólon no período compreendido entre janeiro de 2010 e dezembro de 2013. As variáveis estudadas foram os possíveis fatores de risco ligados ao paciente, às características demográficas e ao procedimento cirúrgico. RESULTADOS Foram avaliados 155 pacientes, com uma incidência global de ISC de 16,7%. Encontrou-se associação estatisticamente significativa tanto na análise uni quanto na multivariada entre a ISC e as seguintes variáveis: sexo masculino, pontuação de Charlson e preparo mecânico intestinal. CONCLUSÃO A compreensão dos profissionais de saúde sobre os fatores que influenciam a incidência de ISC nas cirurgias de cólon pode contribuir para a qualidade da assistência prestada ao paciente cirúrgico a partir de ações efetivas que minimizem os riscos de infecções.

Introduction: in Brazil, chronic hepatitis C in patients coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is treated with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of this treatment in this particular population. The identification of the factors that predict sustained virological response (SVR) under current clinical practice would enable clinicians to more accurately estimate the probability of achieving an SVR and therefore utilize the appropriate therapeutics, especially in the era of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents.Aims: the primary aim of our study was to determine the SVR rate under current clinical practice. The secondary aims were as follows: (1) to determine the factors before and during treatment that predict SVR; and (2) to identify the causes of treatment interruption.Methods:within a cohort of HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients in Brazil, we performed a retrospective analysis of those individuals treated with Peg-IFN and RBV.Results:among the 382 analyzed patients, SVR was observed in 118 [30.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 26.3-35.8)], which included 25.9% (75/289) of the patients with genotypes 1 and 4 and 48.2% (41/85) of those with genotypes 2 and 3. After multivariate analyses the independent positive predictors for SVR after treatment for chronic hepatitis C with PegIFN and RBV were: absence of an AIDS-defining illness (p= 0.001), HCV viral load lower than 600,000 IU/mL at the onset of treatment (p= 0.003), higher liver enzyme levels (p= 0.039) at baseline, infection with genotypes 2 or 3 (p= 0.003), and no transient treatment interruption (p= 0.001). The treatment was interrupted in 25.6% (98/382) of the patients because of adverse events (11.3%, 43/382), virologic failure (7.8%, 30/382), and dropout (6.5%, 43/382). The main adverse events were cytopenia and psychiatric disorders.Conclusions:in our Brazilian case series, the SVR rate under current clinical practice conditions was similar to that reported in other studies. There was a correlation between an SVR and being infected by genotypes 2 and 3, low viral load, high ALT levels at the onset of treatment, and absence of an AIDS-defining illness. Cytopenia and psychiatric disorders were the major causes of treatment interruption. Efforts should be focused on optimizing management of side effects and counseling to improve adherence and to keep patients on treatment.

Histology is the gold standard for diagnosing acute rejection and hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation. However, differential diagnosis between the two can be difficult. We evaluated the role of C4d staining and quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels in liver tissue. This was a retrospective study of 98 liver biopsy samples divided into four groups by histological diagnosis: acute rejection in patients undergoing liver transplant for hepatitis C (RejHCV+), HCV recurrence in patients undergoing liver transplant for hepatitis C (HCVTx+), acute rejection in patients undergoing liver transplant for reasons other than hepatitis C and chronic hepatitis C not transplanted (HCVTx-). All samples were submitted for immunohistochemical staining for C4d and HCV RNA quantification. Immunoexpression of C4d was observed in the portal vessels and was highest in the HCVTx- group. There was no difference in C4d expression between the RejHCV+ and HCVTx+ groups. However, tissue HCV RNA levels were higher in the HCVTx+ group samples than in the RejHCV+ group samples. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between tissue and serum levels of HCV RNA. The quantification of HCV RNA in liver tissue might prove to be an efficient diagnostic test for the recurrence of HCV infection.

A soldagem MIG/MAG e processos correlatos, que usam o arco e a alimentação contínua de arame, permanecem como os de maior importância industrial para a união de peças metálicas. Estes processos tendem a apresentar um elevado número de variáveis. A soldagem MIG/MAG é, ainda, sujeita a diferentes fenômenos que podem causar dificuldades durante a sua aplicação e, em particular, no planejamento e na definição das condições operacionais para uma dada aplicação. O presente trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de um modelo para simular a variação de algumas variáveis do processo (como a corrente e tensão de soldagem e o comprimento do arco) e a sua implementação em um programa de computador. As equações básicas do modelo são apresentadas e discutidas com considerações sobre a sua aplicação. Resultados de testes experimentais para a determinação de alguns parâmetros fundamentais do modelo são também apresentados e discutidos. Simulações usando o programa desenvolvido são apresentadas juntamente e comparadas com testes reais de soldagem. Ferramentas do programa para simular mudanças nas condições operacionais de soldagem, no comportamento do arco elétrico e na operação da fonte de soldagem são apresentadas. Encaminhamentos baseados em abordagem teórica e empírica para algumas destas capacidades são apresentados.

MIG/MAG welding and other processes that are based on arc heating and the feeding of a continuous wire electrode are still the most used metal joining processes in the industry. These processes present a large number of variables. Furthermore, MIG/MAG welding is subjected to several phenomena that cause unexpected changes in parameters and make it difficult to predict operational conditions for a given job. The paper describes the development and the software implementation of a mathematical model to simulate some operational aspects of the MIG/MAG welding process. The basic equations of the model are presented and discussed. Simulations of different welding conditions are presented and compared to results from actual welding tests. Software tools to simulate alterations in welding conditions, in arc behavior, and power supply operation are also described. Approaches to these tools, based on both theoretical and empirical considerations, are presented.

INTRODUÇÃO: A amiloidose localizada é uma doença rara, caracterizada pelo depósito extracelular de proteínas que pode ocorrer em várias regiões do corpo. A laringe é o sítio mais comum da doença na região de cabeça e pescoço. OBJETIVO: Apresentaremos uma revisão literária e o caso de um paciente com amiloidose extensa em trato aéreodigestivo superior, cuja ressecção foi realizada em quatro etapas. RELATO DO CASO: SMS, 28 anos, disfonia há 4 meses. Exames complementares evidenciaram lesão de grande dimensão em supraglote que foi ressecada em quatro etapas por microlaringoscopia. COMENTÁRIOS FINAIS: A abordagem por microlaringoscopia escalonada mostrou-se eficaz e segura na ressecção de lesão por amiloidose de grande dimensão.

INTRODUCTION: Localized amyloidosis is a rare disease characterized by extracellular deposition of proteins that can occur in various regions of the body. The larynx is the most common site of disease in head and neck. OBJECTIVE: We present a literature review and the case of a patient with extensive amyloidosis in the upper aerodigestive tract, whose resection was performed in four steps. CASE REPORT: SMS, 28 years, 4 months ago dysphonia. Complementary exams showed large lesions in supraglottic that was removed in four stages by microlaryngoscopy. FINAL COMMENTS: microlaryngoscopy tiered approach was effective and safe resection of lesions in amyloidosis large.

Though HCV infection is a serious public health problem, some aspects of its biology are still not well understood, such as its transmission through seminal fluid and sexual transmission. We looked for HCV in the semen of infected patients. Thirteen patients were included. Semen fractions (seminal plasma, leukocytes and spermatozoa) were separated with 45% and 90% Percoll gradients. The HCV-RNA in blood and semen fractions was extracted using the same protocol (AMPLICOR Roche) and was detected using the qualitative Roche Amplicor test and by agarose gel electrophoresis, with ethidium bromide staining. The mean age of the patients was 40.7 years. Risk factors for the acquisition of HCV included injectable and inhaled drug use in six (42.8%), blood transfusion in four (28.6%), and no risk factors in four (28.6%) patients. Genotype 1 was detected in 62% of the patients, followed by genotype 3 in 23% and genotype 2 in 15%. All blood samples were positive, regardless of the technique used for detection. All semen samples identified by Roche Amplicor and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis were negative. Among the 52 semen samples (total and fractions) identified by the Roche Amplicor method, 45 (87%) were inhibited. A negative result was recorded for one (1.9%) total semen sample, one (1.9%) leukocyte and four (7.7%) seminal plasma fractions. Only one (1.9%) sample of the spermatozoon fraction was positive. The results obtained suggested false-negative reactions for the semen samples.

A infecção causada pelo vírus da hepatite C (VHC) constitui importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade entre pacientes co-infectados pelo HIV e VHC. A indicação da realização de biópsia hepática nesses pacientes é controversa, podendo constituir importante ferramenta no manejo clínico desses pacientes. São escassos os dados relativos às características clínicas e histopatológicas dos pacientes co-infectados no Brasil e em toda a América Latina. Com o objetivo de analisar as características clínicas e histopatológicas em co-infectados e avaliar os benefícios da realização de biópsia hepática nesse grupo de pacientes, analisamos dados relativos a 234 pacientes acompanhados na Casa da AIDS, São Paulo, de 1996 a 2004. A partir de informações obtidas em prontuários, foram analisadas as seguintes variáveis relativas aos pacientes, coletadas à época da realização da biópsia hepática: gênero, idade, fatores de risco para a transmissão da hepatite C, tempo estimado de infecção pelo VHC, níveis séricos de ALT, contagem de células CD4, antecedentes relativos ao uso de álcool, antecedente de uso de terapia antiretroviral, genótipo de VHC e alterações histológicas obtidas através da biópsia hepática. CONCLUSÕES: 1- Os genótipos 1 e 3 foram os mais freqüentes nessa população, representando cerca de 72% e 25,5% dos casos analisados respectivamente; 2- Alterações estruturais hepáticas leves ou ausentes foram observadas em 48,2% dos pacientes (113/234); 3- Cinqüenta e três pacientes (23%) apresentaram níveis de ALT persistentemente normais; 4- Alterações estruturais significativas (F2-F3) foram observadas em 22,5% entre pacientes com níveis de ALT persistentemente dentro da normalidade.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important factor contributing to morbidity and mortality in patients co-infected with HIV and HCV. In addition, liver biopsy is an important tool in the clinical management of these patients. Although liver biopsy is controversial, it is recommended for all patients. Data regarding the clinical and histological characteristics of these patients are scarce not only in Brazil but in Latin America as a whole. With the goal of better understanding these characteristics and the benefit of liver biopsy indications in this disease setting, data collected from 234 patients followed from 1996 to 2004 at Casa da AIDS, São Paulo, were analyzed. The following variables were extracted from the patients' medical files at the time of liver biopsy: sex, age, hepatitis C infection risk factors, hepatitis C infection duration, ALT levels, CD4+ T cell counts, history of alcohol abuse, history of antiretroviral therapy, HCV genotype, and liver histological alterations. CONCLUSIONS: 1 - Hepatitis C virus 1 and 3 were the most frequently identified genotypes and were diagnosed in 72% and 25.5% of cases respectively; 2 - Structural liver alterations were found to be mild or absent in 48.2% (113/234) of the analyzed patients; 3 - Fifty-three patients (23%) had normal ALT levels and 4 - Significant liver architectural changes (F2-F3) were evident in 22.5% of the patients with normal ALT levels.

Although hepatitis C is mainly hepatotropic, some studies suggest that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), using them as a reservoir, which might contribute to the development of resistance to treatment. Fifty-four hepatitis-C patients, who had been submitted to treatment, were selected. Blood samples were collected on the same day for the detection of HCV RNA in serum and PBMC by PCR, using the Amplicor HCV 2.0 assay (Roche Diagnostics). HCV genotyping was performed using the INNO-LiPA HCV kit (Versant, Bayer Diagnostics). HCV RNA was detected in both serum and PBMC in 35 (64%) patients and no RNA in 16 (29.6%). Disagreement between the serum and PBMC results was observed for three patients (5.6%), with HCV RNA being detected in PBMC but not in serum. Four months later, new serum and PBMC samples were collected from one of these patients and HCV RNA was detected in both samples, showing that PBMC can reveal signs of a lack of response to treatment. We conclude that the absence of HCV in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C by the end of treatment does not mean that there is no circulating virus. HCV in mononuclear cells may be an indicator of the persisting infection.

Candida dubliniensis é uma nova espécie recentemente descrita. Este patógeno oral emergente compartilha muitas características fenotípicas e bioquímicas com C. albicans dificultando assim a diferenciação entre elas. As mesmas, porém, mostram-se genotipicamente distintas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo identificar, pela técnica de PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), a possível presença de C. dubliniensis dentre amostras isoladas de candidose oral eritematosa, provenientes de pacientes HIV positivos e HIV negativos. Em um total de 37 amostras identificadas anteriormente, por método clássico, como C. albicans encontramos duas amostras de C. dubliniensis (5,4%) utilizando a técnica do PCR. Esta técnica mostrou-se útil, prática e com identificação taxonômica mais acurada.

Candida dubliniensis is a new, recently described species of yeast. This emerging oral pathogen shares many phenotypic and biochemical characteristics with C. albicans, making it hard to differentiate between them, although they are genotypically distinct. In this study, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) was used to investigate the presence of C. dubliniensis in samples in a culture collection, which had been isolated from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with oral erythematous candidiasis. From a total of 37 samples previously identified as C. albicans by the classical method, two samples of C. dubliniensis (5.4%) were found through the use of PCR. This study underscores the presence of C. dubliniensis, whose geographical and epidemiological distribution should be more fully investigated.

Hepatite C é uma doença de evolução progressiva. A maioria dos pacientes tem nível de ALT elevada e 25% apresentam níveis normais. Os com ALT normal geralmente são do gênero feminino e sem associação entre genótipo e gravidade de lesão hepática. O exame histopatológico mostra geralmente ausência de ou leve fibrose (cerca de 20% tem fibrose), embora cirrose já tenha sido relatada. Visando estimar a prevalência, características demográficas, genotípicas e anatomopatológicas em pacientes com ALT normal, realizamos um estudo de série com 68 casos com diagnóstico de hepatite C crônica. Os pacientes foram selecionados de janeiro de 1977 a abril de 2002. Encontrou-se uma prevalência de 13,8% (45,6% masculinos). A média de idade foi 39 +/- 13 anos. Predomínio de genótipo 1 (84,8%), seguido pelo 3 (8,5%) e 2 (6,7%). Encontramos fígado reacional em 52,9% das biópsias, atividade periportal de 0-1 em 85,3% e atividade periportal de 2-4 em 14,7%. Apresentaram atividade estrutural de 0 a 1 73,5% e 26,5% com atividade estrutural de 2 a 4, sendo que 29% da amostra apresentou APP > 2 e AE > 1; 73,5% não apresentaram esteatose. Nossos dados reforçam a necessidade de biópsia em pacientes com hepatite C e níveis de ALT normais.

Hepatitis C virus infection evolves progressively persisting in the majority of patients (85%). Most patients have high ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels and approximately 25% normal ALT. The latter are usually female and there is no association between genotype and severity of hepatic lesion. Histologic analysis usually shows small lesion and absence or low amount of fibrosis, despite cirrhosis having been reported. Aiming at assessing prevalence, demographic, genotypical and anatomopathological characteristics in patients with normal ALT levels, we have carried out a study of 68 chronic hepatitis C patients between January 1997 and April 2000. There was a prevalence of 13.8% chronic hepatitis C patients with normal ALT levels, 45.6% of which were male and 54.4% female, the mean age being 38 +/- 13 years. We found a predominance of genotype 1 in 84.7% of the patients, genotype 2 in 6.8% and genotype 3 in 10.7%. In 52.9% of the cases liver biopsies revealed liver reaction, periportal activity score 0-1 was observed in 85.3% of the patients and score 2-4 was seen in 14.7%. Structural activity score 0-1 was seen in 73.5% of the patients and score 2-4 in 26.5% of them. Periportal activity > 2 and structural activity > 1 was seen in 29%, but steatosis was not seen in 73.5%. Our results suggest the need to revisit for liver biopsy practice in patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and normal transaminases.