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The objective of this investigation was to study the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in a sample of 406 adult patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection who attended at the public health care in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil, as well as analyzing possible risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was 51% (CI: 46.1 - 55.8), with 7.9% (CI: 5.3 - 10.5) for HBsAg, 45.1% (CI: 40.3 - 49.9) for anti-HBc and 32.3% (CI: 27.5 - 36.8) for anti-HBs. After adjustment using logistic regression, hepatitis B serological markers were associated with the following variables: age, marital status and sexual preference. The frequency of hepatitis B markers was 28.7% in heterosexuals and 68.8% in homo/bisexuals (CI: 3.50 - 9.08; OR: 5.63; p=0.000). In married people the frequency was 31% and 58.7% in single people (CI: 1.29 - 3.63); OR: 2.16; p=0.003). Multivariate analysis showed no association between hepatitis B virus infection and illicit injectable drug use.

The objective of this investigation was to study the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and to identify possible risk factors for its transmission, in 406 adult patients with HIV/AIDS who attended at public health services, in Belém city, Pará, Brazil. The anti-HCV was performed by third generation immunoenzymatic technique, and the HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. The overall prevalence of hepatitis C virus was 16% (CI: 12.4 - 19.6). Multivariate analysis showed association between virus C infection and age, with significant risk in the group about fifty years old or more (OR=9.75), blood transfusion (OR=4.74) and use of injecting drugs (OR=149.28). The hepatitis C virus infection was detected in 83.7% of intravenous drug users and 22.1% of transfused patients. These data indicate the efficient transmission of the virus through the percutaneous exposition and reaffirm the high risk to hepatitis C among injectable illicit drug user.

Background: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are regarded as uncommon in developing countries, but studies on their occurrence in Brazil are scarce. Aims - To determine the occurrence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in a Brazilian university hospital throughout a 20-year period, and analyze the demographical, clinical and evolutive features of these cases., Methods: The frequencies of new cases of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis admitted from January 1980 up to December 1999 were calculated and a descriptive analysis of the features of all cases seen from January 1990 up to December 1999 was performed., Results: A total of 257 new cases (126 with Crohn's disease and 131 with ulcerative colitis) was recorded. The frequencies of admissions for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have increased progressively from 40 up to 61 cases/10.000 new admissions and Crohn's disease gradually became more common than ulcerative colitis. For both diseases, there was predominance of women, age at admission in the range of 30-40 years, Caucasian origin, married state and non-smokers. Digestive symptoms presented were similar to those already described for both diseases and there were no differences between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis regarding the frequencies of general complaints and extra-intestinal manifestations (29.5% vs 23.3%), including thromboembolism (5.9% vs 5.4%). Obstruction and/or perforation were seen in up to 59.2% of Crohn's disease cases, whereas 53.7% of all ulcerative colitis cases presented as severe forms. In Crohn's disease cases with obstruction, smoking was significantly more common than in non-complicated cases. In ulcerative colitis cases of increased severity, general complaints, extra-intestinal manifestations and pancolitis were significantly more frequent than in less severe forms., Conclusions: For the last 20 years, there have been an increased frequency of admission of inflammatory bowel diseases, and Crohn's disease have become more prevalent than ulcerative colitis. Demographical, clinical and evolutive features of these diseases seems to be similar to those already described, but there seems to be a predominance of more severe forms of both diseases.

Considering the impact of cysticercosis on public health, especially the neurologic form of the disease, neurocysticercosis (NC), we studied the frequency of positivity of anti-Taenia solium cysticercus antibodies in serum samples from 1,863 inhabitants of Cássia dos Coqueiros, SP, a municipal district located 80 km from Ribeirão Preto, an area considered endemic for cysticercosis. The 1,863 samples were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using an antigenic extract from Taenia crassiceps vesicular fluid (Tcra). The reactive and inconclusive ELISA samples were tested by immunoblotting. Of the 459 samples submitted to immunoblotting, 40 were strongly immunoreactive to the immunodominant 18 and 14 kD peptides. Considering the use of immunoblotting as confirmatory due to its high specificity, the anti-cysticercus serum prevalence in this population was 2.1%.

In the present study we discuss some transformations in undergraduate training in Preventive and Social Medicine in the Department of Social Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeiro Preto, University of So Paulo, from 1993 to 1999. Aspects of the relationship between medical training and the reorganization of local services of the Brazilian national health system, and between graduate teaching in Preventive and Social Medicine and medical education as a whole are discussed. The crisis in Preventive and Social Medicine and its influence of medical training are evaluated. Trends for the application of a body of knowledge of the specialty and for the relationship between the department and the medical school are discussed.

Patients with Aids (n = 39) were followed up for a maximum period of 36 weeks, after which the types and topographies of infectious complications presented and patient survival were analyzed and correlated with the vitamin A levels presented by the patients at the beginning of clinical follow-up. Twenty-one (53,8%) patients presented serum retinol levels below 1.6 micromol/L, 12 (57%) of whom had values lower than 1.05 micromol/L. There was no correlation between low serum vitamin A levels and the types or topographies of the infectious complications that occurred during the follow-up period. Although mean survival at the end of the 36 months follow-up period was similar for the two groups, patients with retinol deficiency presented a lower probability of survival during the first 24 months of follow-up compared to patients without hypovitaminosis A (8.44 x 1.42 months; p = 0.003).

Objective: To assess survival in patients diagnosed with AIDS in the city of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, between 1986 and 1997., Methods: The epidemiological records of 2,214 patients diagnosed during the study period were retrospectively reviewed. From those, 1,231 patients with at least 30 days of follow-up after the date of diagnosis were included in the study. Information concerning deaths was obtained from hospitals and vital-records offices., Results: Survival for the group as a whole was 310 days (10.3 months) over the period of 1986 through 1997. Median survival was 362 days for 1986 to 1990, 260 days for 1991 to 1995, and 864 days for 1996 and 1997. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test showed significant differences for the following variables: sex, age, period when diagnosis was made, and presence of candidiasis and of cerebral toxoplasmosis. Cox's regression showed an association between reduction of survival and the following variables: age (in comparison to individuals younger than 15 years, hazard ratio = 1.435 for age between 15 and 34 years, and 1.681 for age above 35 years); period of diagnosis (in comparison to the period of 1996 and 1997, hazard ratio = 1.682 for the period from 1986 to 1990, and 2.324 for the period from 1991 to 1995); and presence of candidiasis (hazard ratio = 1.391). The hazard ratio for the presence of cerebral toxoplasmosis was 1.063, with a probability value close to the limit of significance., Conclusions: Our results show a striking increase in survival in 1996 and 1997, coinciding with the availability and utilization of highly active antiretroviral drugs.

The objective of this investigation was to study the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and possible risk factors for this disease in a sample of 404 people who attended a Testing and Couseling Center for HIV in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil. The overall prevalence of serologic hepatitis B markers was 14.6%, equal to that obtained for anti-HBc. HBsAg and anti-HBc IgM showed prevalences of 1%. After adjustment using logistic regression, hepatitis B markers showed association with the following variables: age, place of residence, use of injectable drugs and positivity to anti-HIV. The overall prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection was 6.9%. Hepatitis B markers were detected in 55.6% among intravenous drug users and in 42.9% among those who tested positive for HIV, confirming literature findings which indicates high levels of infection in these specific population groups.

Objective: To study some of the epidemiological aspects of hepatitis B in a non-representative sample of patients seen in health care clinics., Methods: The study population comprised 632 patients who were seen at health care clinics in the city of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, for the purpose of blood testing, regardless the reason. After signing a written consent, an additional amount of blood was drawn from the same venous puncture site used to collect the original sample for the testing assigned to the patient at the health care clinic. A questionnaire was applied to each participant, looking for the presence of risk factors for hepatitis B. The blood samples were tested for HBV markers, using immunoenzimatic techniques., Results: The prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBcAg were 0.3% and 13.9%, respectively. By a logistic regression model, the following variables were significantly associated with the infection: age, time of residency in the city (higher risk among those living for a period less than one year), past history of hepatitis, incarceration and sexual behavior (higher risk among homosexual and bisexual males)., Conclusions: The growing difficulties in obtaining blood samples from a representative group of patients, as done in classic surveys, make it necessary to look for alternative methodologies which can provide information concerning the presence of infectious agents in a community. Though the results cannot be generalized to the population as a whole, the methodology used conveyed some knowledge regarding the circulation of hepatitis B virus. In addition, it makes much easier to obtain agreement from the participants, since it does not add any invasive procedure. Despite the limitations, this methodology may be helpful in epidemiological surveillance of infectious agents known as producing asymptomatic infections in much of the population.

A summary of the main steps towards the implementation of anti-HIV testing for pregnant women in the city is presented. Starting from August 1996, voluntary HIV testing became available to pregnant women seen at primary health centers in Ribeirão Preto, SP (Brazil), as part of the Prenatal Care Program. By the end of 1998, 68.3% of the 17,589 women seeking prenatal care had been tested, resulting in a positivity rate of 0.76%.

A strong association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) has been observed, but the implications of the viral infection in the metabolism of porphyrins in patients without clinical manifestations of PCT are not known. The levels of porphyrin in plasma and uroporphyrin (URO) and coproporphyrin (COPRO) in 24-hour urine were measured in 156 patients with chronic HCV infection showing no clinical evidence of PCT. Levels of URO higher than the upper limit were observed in 35 of 156 patients (22.4%). The range and the mean values +/- standard deviation were 26-1,196 microg/24 hours and 82 +/- 204 microg/24 hours. Increased levels of COPRO and plasma porphyrin were observed in 12 of 156 patients (7.7%) and 2 of 156 patients (1.3%) respectively. There were no differences between patients with increased URO levels and patients with normal URO levels in terms of gender, age, risk factors for HCV infection, alcohol abuse, or hepatitis B viral infection. Transferrin saturation (p = 0.040), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (p < 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.006), and alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.040) were significantly higher in patients with abnormal URO than in patients with normal URO. The frequency of cirrhosis was higher, but not significantly different, in patients with increased URO (16.7%) compared with patients with normal URO (3.8%). The authors demonstrated that even without a clinical manifestation of PCT it is possible to detect abnormalities in the metabolism of porphyrins in patients with chronic HCV infection. The implications of these findings deserve additional investigation.

This report describes some epidemiological aspects of a rabies epizootic that started in 1995 in the urban area of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, and discusses its main causes. All laboratory confirmed cases were described according to a set of epidemiological variables. Simultaneously, information was raised concerning rabies vaccine coverage and epidemiological surveillance activities. In addition to one human case, 58 rabid animals were confirmed in 1995 (54 dogs, 3 cats. and 1 bat). There were 20 cases in 1996 (18 dogs and 2 cats). Geographical distribution was uneven in the city, with higher concentrations observed in the Western, Northern, and Southwestern sections, corresponding to the poorest areas. No seasonal variation was observed. The main reasons for the epizootic were low rabies vaccine coverage in animals and severe failures in epidemiological surveillance activities in the years immediately prior to 1995. This epizootic illustrates the risk of neglecting such activities, even in a city with a reasonably good health system, located in one of the most economically developed areas of the country. Vigorous preventive measures markedly reduced the number of cases.

Following an epidemic of type I dengue in late 1990, the municipality of Ribeirão Preto (State of São Paulo, Brazil) assumed direct responsibility for the control of Aedes aegypti larvae. Control activities are presented in this report and are based on popular participation in environmental management. Massive use of the communications media, participation by schoolchildren, constant contact with the population, and integration of various public agencies are the program's priorities. Although the drop in the number of susceptibles may have played a role in the reduction of cases after the initial epidemic, the intense preventive campaign certainly helped quell the disease in the city, since changes were observed in the behavior of the population towards potential breeding sites. The occurrence of new cases in recent years appears to be related to greater circulation of the virus in both the State of São Paulo and Brazil as a whole, indicating the need for control measures at the national and continental level, without which it will be difficult to maintain low transmission rates, even in areas submitted to intense preventive work

In order to assess the evolution of seropositivity for Chagas' disease in the rural community of Cássia dos Coqueiros, in São Paulo state, we compared two cross-sectional studies performed at that site in 1971-1972 and in 1989-1991. In the first survey the complement fixation test was used to determine seropositivity for the disease. In this study, the total prevalence of Chagas' disease was found to be 16.6%, with values ranging from 2.9 to 61.9% (in the 10-19 and 50-59 year age groups, respectively). In the 1989-1991 study, in which indirect immunofluorescence was used, the total prevalence dropped to 10.1%, with a minimum of 0.4% (in the 10-19 year age group) and a maximum of 44.8% (in persons over 60 years of age). Among subjects born in Cássia dos Coqueiros, the 1989-1991 study showed seropositivity after age 38, with only one exception (a 24-year-old man). The drop in the seropositivity index for Chagas' disease in Cásia dos Coqueiros during the period under study can be partially attributed to socioeconomic factors, such as improved living conditions and the progressive abandonment of rural areas. Thus, our results point to the spraying of households with residual insecticides, which began in 1950, as the pivotal factor in the fight against triatomine bugs and in disease control. These results suggest that transmission may have been interrupted as early as the latter part of 1954 and later consolidated as a result of improved socioeconomic conditions and the elimination of Triatoma infestans from the study area.

Aim: To test the reliability of the self-classification concerning levels of breast and public hair development among female adolescents of different socioeconomic groups., Material and Method: A total of 445 female adolescents attending three secondary schools located in Ribeirão Preto, State of S. Paulo, Brazil, were studied. After being familiarised with Tanner's tables of breast and public hair development, the adolescents were asked to self classify themselves according to these variables. The results were compared to those obtained by a physical examination carried out soon after., Results: Agreement rates between referred and observed information on breast development varied from 57.3% to 65.2%. For public hair the values varied from 65.4% to 73.5%. Total agreement rates for breast and public hair development, when considered simultaneously, reached values below 50.0% in the three schools. However, high agreement rates were observed for some critical degrees, such as B2, B4 and PH4., Conclusions: Significant events, such as the beginning of pubertal development, the menarche and the showing down of the body's development growth could be determined with acceptable levels of agreement. The low agreement rates observed for the simultaneous analysis of the degree of both breast and public hair show the need for the perfecting of methodologies that can replace the physical examination of adolescents, once reliable information about pubertal development is obtained in field studies.

A 39-year old male patient was admitted to the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão, Preto with signs and symptoms of sudden dyspnea, generalized myalgia and behavioral disorders. The initial suspicion was alcohol abstinence syndrome and the patient was referred for psychiatric and neurologic care. The evolution of the patient with a worsening of signs and symptoms, presence of crises of tachypnea, agitation, difficulty to swallow, irritability and hydrophobia, and his report of having been bitten by a suspected dog raised the hypothesis of rabies. The diagnosis was confirmed by examination of a corneal impression, biological tests in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and saliva and visualization of Negri bodies in nervous tissue (direct immunofluorescence). The patient evolved with agitation, aggressiveness, and worsening tachypnea intercalating with apnea, and died on the 4th day after admission.

Distribution of hepatitis B serological markers according to people's birthplaces and area of residence (urban/rural) was studied as a part of a field epidemiological research project carried out in Cássia dos Coqueiros, a small rural community of S. Paulo State, Brazil. The total prevalence of HBV markers was 7.7%, with rural showing a higher risk than urban inhabitants (9.8% as against 4.9%, respectively). Analysis of prevalence according to people's birthplaces revealed the highest value among those from other Brazilian states (15.8%), followed by people from other municipalities of the State of S. Paulo (9.2%). Those born in Cássia dos Coqueiros and particularly in Ribeirão Preto (the main city of the area, located 80 kilometers away), showed the lowest values of prevalence (5.2% and 2.5%, respectively). The importance of studying people's birthplaces when field epidemiological studies on hepatitis B are carried out is stressed. This variable is considered to be capable of exercising an influence on the natural history of the disease in a community, and may even explain differences in the distribution of markers in apparently similar populations.

The association between prevalence of hepatitis B serological markers and birthplace, in a study carried out in a small rural county of S. Paulo State, Brazil, suggests different risk factors for hepatitis B between migrants and nonmigrant populations. These two groups were compared with regard to the following variables: level of education, professional occupation, number of previous hospitalizations, past history of blood transfusions and type of dental treatment. Migrants, mainly those from other states of Brazil, showed a low-level of education, a high proportion of people employed in agricultural activities, a higher number of past hospitalizations and higher exposure to blood transfusion and to more aggressive dental procedures. Associations were observed between the prevalence of serological markers and the following variables: level of education, professional occupation, number of previous hospitalizations and type of dental procedures, even though the last two associations did not justify the higher prevalences observed among migrants. The different distribution of hepatitis B markers seems to be dependent on the migrants' worse socio-economic condition, demonstrated by their lower level of education and by the predominance of secondary occupations.

From 1981 to 1988, 404 patients at our institution were found to have acute myocardial infarction. Of them, 18 (4%) had a positive fixation test for Chagas' disease. Patient age ranged from 41 to 80 years (median = 59). Eleven patients were males. Eighteen nonchagasic patients were matched by 2 year age intervals and sex with each chagasic patient. Before acute myocardial infarction, there were no differences between chagasic and nonchagasic patients with regard to the proportion of stable angina, unstable angina and coronary risk factors. Atypical chest pain occurred in 8 of 15 (53%) chagasic patients for whom this information was found in the medical records and in 1 of 18 (5%) nonchagasic patients (p = 0.003); dyspnea and palpitations occurred in 6 of 15 (40%) chagasic and 1 of 17 (5%) nonchagasic patients (p = 0.025). There were no differences between chagasic and nonchagasic patients with respect to both clinical characteristics and cardiac complications of acute myocardial infarction. Nonetheless, 4 of 11 (36%) chagasic patients for whom this information was listed in the medical records but none of 16 nonchagasic patients had normal coronary arteries (p = 0.019). Thus, chagasic patients who develop acute myocardial infarction have some peculiarities both in the clinical profile before the acute event and in the anatomy of the coronary arteries.

Prevalence of three hepatitis B markers was measured by immunoassay techniques in small rural community of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. Total prevalence was 7.74%, corresponding to values of 0.10%, 1.69% and 7.74% for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc, respectively. The importance of anti-HBc determination in such studies is stressed. Comparisons between the low viral circulation observed in this area and high prevalences described in other rural communities may contribute to the raising of new hypothesis concerning alternative transmission mechanisms of hepatitis B.

A retrospective study of hospital charts was conducted for the purpose of analysing the association of roent-genphotographs obtained routinely at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, since 1967, with the records of respiratory symptoms and pneumopathic diagnosis found in the medical case histories as from the patients' first clinical out-patient consultation at that hospital. For this purpose, 997 patients with abnormal pulmonary roentgenphotography findings were matched according to sex and age with the same number of controls (normal roentgenphotography). It was observed that in one third of the medical histories there was no record of any anamnesis of the respiratory system. A greater proportion of respiratory symptoms and pneumopathic diagnoses was registered in the case group. The same finding separated the patients into two groups according to the severity of the lesions. Hemoptysis and thoracic pain were the symptoms that better differentiated sick from normal patients. A selective utilization of roentgenphotography is recommended, with the method being applied only to patients presenting hemoptysis, thoracic pain and cough/expectoration, either alone or in combination.