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Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emergent flavivirus transmitted mainly through Aedes spp. mosquitoes that is posing challenge to healthcare services in countries experiencing an outbreak. Usually ZIKV infection is mild, but in some cases it has been reported to progress into neurological diseases such as microcephaly in infants and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in adults. GBS is a debilitating autoimmune disorder that affects peripheral nerves. Since ZIKV caused massive outbreaks in South America in the past few years, we aimed to systematically review the literature and perform a meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of GBS among ZIKV-infected individuals. We searched PubMed and Cochrane databases and selected three studies for a meta-analysis. We estimated the prevalence of ZIKV-associated GBS to be 1.23% (95% CI = 1.17–1.29%). Limitations include paucity of data regarding previous flavivirus infections and ZIKV-infection confirmation issues. Our estimate seems to be low, but cannot be ignored, since ZIKV outbreaks affects an overwhelming number of individuals and GBS is a life-threatening debilitating condition, especially in pregnant women. ZIKV infection cases must be closely followed to assure prompt care to reduce the impact of GBS associated-sequelae on the quality of life of those affected. Keywords: Arboviruses, Zika virus, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Epidemiology, Emergent diseases

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar os significados atribuídos pelos pacientes à vivência das visitas médicas realizadas em grupo à beira do leito na enfermaria de Clínica Médica. Método Utilizou-se o método qualitativo, por meio da técnica de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Foram entrevistados 11 pacientes, internados em um hospital-escola localizado no Recife. As entrevistas foram submetidas à técnica de análise de conteúdo, e as categorias analíticas foram embasadas na psicologia da saúde, com enfoque biopsicossocial. Resultados e discussão Os entrevistados perceberam a visita como algo bom, que auxilia na aprendizagem dos estudantes, porém alguns a consideraram algo negativo e desconhecido. Os participantes interpretaram a visita como um espaço dos médicos, do qual eles não devem participar, sendo a comunicação centrada nos médicos e estudantes. Essa postura pode desfavorecer a construção do vínculo médico-paciente e contribuir para um sentimento de passividade dos pacientes. Conclusão Embora a maioria dos pacientes tenha avaliado a visita médica de forma positiva, como a comunicação está centrada nos médicos-estudantes, limita-se a participação do paciente durante a visita médica. ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the meanings attributed to the experience of bedside teaching in groups on hospital wards. Methods This research used a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews. The sample was composed of eleven patients hospitalized in a hospital in Recife. The interviews were subjected to content analysis and the formation of the categories was based on health psychology, employing a biopsychosocial approach. Results and discussion The participants perceived the bedside teaching as a good thing, which helps the students’ learning, but some considered it as negative and unfamiliar. Furthermore, the participants interpreted the bedside teaching as a space for physicians, in which they should not participate, where communication is centered on the student doctors. This attitude may not favor the construction of the doctor-patient relationship and, thus, contribute to a feeling of passivity among patients. Conclusion Although most the patients evaluated the bedside teaching positively, since communication was focused on the student doctors, it limited the patients’ participation during the activity.

The objective of this study was to estimate the protective effect of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis among (predominantly immunodeficient) HIV-infected children in Angola. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted with 230 cases, children coinfected with tuberculosis, and 672 controls, HIV-infected children from the same hospital, aged 18 months to 13 years. The presence of a vaccination scar was taken as a proxy marker for BCG vaccination. The crude effectiveness was 8% (95% CI: −26 to 32) and the adjusted effectiveness was 30% (95% CI: −75 to 72). The present study suggests that BCG does not have a protective effect against tuberculosis among immunodeficient HIV-infected children. Since BCG is no longer given to HIV-infected children, the study may not be replicated. Accepting that these findings should be considered with caution, they are nonetheless likely to be the last estimate of BCG efficacy in a sufficiently powered study.

The present study aims at evaluating the association between seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five genes involved on antiretroviral pharmacokinetic pathways and virological failure in first line highly active antiretroviral therapy. Seven candidate polymorphisms (rs3842 and rs1045642 in ABCB1, rs212091 and rs3743527 in ABCC1, rs3745274 in CYP2B6, rs628031 in SLC22A1 and rs1517618 in SLCO3A1) were evaluated if they were associated with virological failure through logistic regression analysis. The study design was a retrospective cohort, analyzing 187 patients from Recife metropolitan region (Pernambuco, Brazil): among these 160 obtained complete suppression of HIV-1 replication (responders) and were compared to 27 non-responders, which underwent virological failure. There was no association between CYP2B6, SLC22A1, and SLCO3A1 SNPs and virological failure. Using logistic regression analysis, a significant association was detected between rs1045642 (3435C>T, ABCB1) and rs212091 (198217T>C; 3'-UTR, ABCC1) with virological failure of first-line antiretroviral regimens containing protease inhibitors, when controlled by clinical factors, such as sex, age and race. The present results could contribute to unravel the influence of genetic background in anti-HIV-1 therapy outcome and help in treatment personalization of Northeast Brazil HIV infected patients.

Variations in genes involved in the immune response pathways may influence the interaction between viruses (such as Human T-lymphotropic virus, HTLV-1) and the host. The mannose binding lectin (MBL) and its associated serine protease type 2 (MASP-2) promote the activation of the lectin pathway of the complement system. As the interaction of complement system with HTLV-1 is not well understood, the MBL2 promoter/exon 1 polymorphisms and a MASP2 missense polymorphism were examined in a Northeast Brazilian population, looking for a possible relationship between these variations and the susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection. The present study describes an association between a polymorphism in the MASP2 gene and susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection, and provides further evidence of an association between the MBL2 gene and HTLV-1 infection. These findings suggest an important role of the complement system activation, via the lectin pathway, in the susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection. J Med. Virol. 85:1829–1835, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

OBJETIVO: analisar, em mulheres com HPV em colo do útero, as características da infecção viral e os fatores de risco para lesão intraepitelial de alto grau e carcinoma cervical. MÉTODOS: realizou-se um estudo caso-controle com mulheres com HPV em colo do útero atendidas em serviço de Ginecologia de referência vinculado ao SUS, em Recife, Nordeste do Brasil. No grupo de casos (72 mulheres com lesão intraepitelial de alto grau ou carcinoma cervical) e de controles (176 mulheres com colpocitologia normal ou com alterações benignas), foram pesquisados seis genótipos virais (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 6 e 11) em material da ecto- e endocérvice com primers MY09/MY11. As variáveis independentes foram hierarquizadas em três níveis de determinação: distal (sociodemográficas), intermediário (comportamentais) e proximal (realização anterior de colpocitologia). A homogeneidade das proporções foi testada (χ2). Obtiveram-se ORs não ajustadas e, na modelagem final, realizou-se regressão logística hierarquizada com o ajuste do efeito de cada variável sobre o desfecho pelas variáveis do mesmo nível e de níveis anteriores de causalidade. RESULTADOS: em 76,6% das 248 mulheres participantes do estudo, o genótipo viral da infecção cervical foi identificado. Predominaram genótipos de alto risco oncogênico (83,4% nos casos e 67,1% nos controles), principalmente HPV 16 e 31. Foram identificados como fatores de risco (a) distais: residir em zona rural (OR=2,7; IC95%: 1,1-6,2), menos de três anos de estudo (OR=3,9; IC95%: 2,0-7,5) e renda familiar inferior a dois salários mínimos (OR=3,3; IC95%: 1,0-10,5); (b) intermediário: número de gestações igual ou superior a quatro (OR=2,0; IC95%: 1,0-3,7); (c) proximal: ausência de colpocitologia anterior (OR=9,7; IC95%: 2,4-38,2). CONCLUSÕES: em mulheres usuárias do SUS do Nordeste do Brasil predominam os genótipos virais 16 e 31 em infecções cervicais por HPV, sendo que fatores socioeconômicos, reprodutivos e relacionados à ausência de rastreamento citológico representam risco para lesão intraepitelial de alto grau e câncer cervical.

This multicentric population-based study in Brazil is the first national effort to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and risk factors in the capital cities of the Northeast, Central-West, and Federal Districts (2004–2005). Random multistage cluster sampling was used to select persons 13–69 years of age. Markers for HBV were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The HBV genotypes were determined by sequencing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Multivariate analyses and simple catalytic model were performed. Overall, 7,881 persons were included; < 70% were not vaccinated. Positivity for HBsAg was less than 1% among non-vaccinated persons and genotypes A, D, and F co-circulated. The incidence of infection increased with age with similar force of infection in all regions. Males and persons having initiated sexual activity were associated with HBV infection in the two settings; healthcare jobs and prior hospitalization were risk factors in the Federal District. Our survey classified these regions as areas with HBV endemicity and highlighted the risk factors differences among the settings.

Variations in genes involved in the immune response pathways may influence the interaction between viruses (such as Human T-lymphotropic virus, HTLV-1) and the host. The mannose binding lectin (MBL) and its associated serine protease type 2 (MASP-2) promote the activation of the lectin pathway of the complement system. As the interaction of complement system with HTLV-1 is not well understood, the MBL2 promoter/exon 1 polymorphisms and a MASP2 missense polymorphism were examined in a Northeast Brazilian population, looking for a possible relationship between these variations and the susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection. The present study describes an association between a polymorphism in the MASP2 gene and susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection, and provides further evidence of an association between the MBL2 gene and HTLV-1 infection. These findings suggest an important role of the complement system activation, via the lectin pathway, in the susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection.

In the present study, we investigated the influence of HIV-1 subtype in the response to the dendritic cell (DC) therapeutic vaccine for HIV. HIV-1 viral load and TCD8+/TCD4+ cell counts for up to 48 weeks after vaccination. Out of 19 immunized subjects, 13 were infected by subtype B, 5 by subtype F, and 1 by subtype D. Overall, 42.1% (8/19) achieved a viral load decline of ≥ 1 log10sustained up to 48 weeks after immunization. Such magnitude of viral load drop was seen in 80% (4/5) of subtype F infected patients, and in 23.0% (3/13) of the subtype B infected ones (p=0.08). Moreover, mean viral load decline was 1.32 log10, for subtype F infected individuals compared to 0.5 log10among subtype B infected patients (p=0.01). The variation in TCD4+ cell count was not related to HIV-1 subtype. Larger studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of this immunotherapy and the differential response according to the background genetic diversity of HIV-1.

OBJETIVO: analisar, em mulheres com HPV em colo do útero, as características da infecção viral e os fatores de risco para lesão intraepitelial de alto grau e carcinoma cervical. MÉTODOS: realizou-se um estudo caso-controle com mulheres com HPV em colo do útero atendidas em serviço de Ginecologia de referência vinculado ao SUS, em Recife, Nordeste do Brasil. No grupo de casos (72 mulheres com lesão intraepitelial de alto grau ou carcinoma cervical) e de controles (176 mulheres com colpocitologia normal ou com alterações benignas), foram pesquisados seis genótipos virais (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 6 e 11) em material da ecto- e endocérvice com primers MY09/MY11. As variáveis independentes foram hierarquizadas em três níveis de determinação: distal (sociodemográficas), intermediário (comportamentais) e proximal (realização anterior de colpocitologia). A homogeneidade das proporções foi testada (χ2). Obtiveram-se ORs não ajustadas e, na modelagem final, realizou-se regressão logística hierarquizada com o ajuste do efeito de cada variável sobre o desfecho pelas variáveis do mesmo nível e de níveis anteriores de causalidade. RESULTADOS: em 76,6% das 248 mulheres participantes do estudo, o genótipo viral da infecção cervical foi identificado. Predominaram genótipos de alto risco oncogênico (83,4% nos casos e 67,1% nos controles), principalmente HPV 16 e 31. Foram identificados como fatores de risco (a) distais: residir em zona rural (OR=2,7; IC95%: 1,1-6,2), menos de três anos de estudo (OR=3,9; IC95%: 2,0-7,5) e renda familiar inferior a dois salários mínimos (OR=3,3; IC95%: 1,0-10,5); (b) intermediário: número de gestações igual ou superior a quatro (OR=2,0; IC95%: 1,0-3,7); (c) proximal: ausência de colpocitologia anterior (OR=9,7; IC95%: 2,4-38,2). CONCLUSÕES: em mulheres usuárias do SUS do Nordeste do Brasil predominam os genótipos virais 16 e 31 em infecções cervicais por HPV, sendo que fatores socioeconômicos, reprodutivos e relacionados à ausência de rastreamento citológico representam risco para lesão intraepitelial de alto grau e câncer cervical. PURPOSE: to analyze the characteristics of viral infection and the risk factors for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical carcinoma in women with cervical HPV infection. METHODS: a case-control study was conducted on women with cervical HPV at a Gynecology reference service enrolled at the Public Health System, located in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. The groups of cases (72 women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or cervical cancer) and controls (176 women with normal Pap smear or benign alterations) were investigated for six viral genotypes (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 6, 11) in ecto- and endocervical material using MY09/MY11 primers. The independent variables were ranked in three levels of determination: distal (sociodemographic), intermediate (behavioral) and proximal (previous Pap smear). The homogeneity of proportions was tested (χ2), unadjusted Odds Ratios (OR) were obtained and hierarchical logistic regression was applied to the final model, with adjustment of the effect of each variable to the outcome based on the variables in the same and previous levels of causality. RESULTS: the viral genotype of cervical infection was identified in 76.6% of the 248 women participating in the study. High-risk HPV genotypes (83.4% of cases and 67.1% of controls) were predominant, especially HPV 16 and 31. The distal risk factors identified were: living in a rural area (OR=2.71, 95%CI: 1.18-6.23), less than three years of study (OR=3.97, 95%CI: 2.09-7.54) and family income below two minimum wages (OR=3.30, 95%CI: 1.04-10.51); intermediate: four or more pregnancies (OR=2.00, 95%CI: 1.06-3.76); and proximal: absence of a previous Pap smear (OR=9.74, 95%CI: 2.48-38.28). CONCLUSIONS: genotypes 16 and 31 of cervical HPV infection are predominant among women assisted by the Public Health System in Northeastern Brazil. Socioeconomic and reproductive factors, as well as the absence of cytological screening, represent risk factors for the progression of infection to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical cancer.

to analyze the characteristics of viral infection and the risk factors for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical carcinoma in women with cervical HPV infection.a case-control study was conducted on women with cervical HPV at a Gynecology reference service enrolled at the Public Health System, located in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. The groups of cases (72 women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or cervical cancer) and controls (176 women with normal Pap smear or benign alterations) were investigated for six viral genotypes (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 6, 11) in ecto- and endocervical material using MY09/MY11 primers. The independent variables were ranked in three levels of determination: distal (sociodemographic), intermediate (behavioral) and proximal (previous Pap smear). The homogeneity of proportions was tested (χ2), unadjusted Odds Ratios (OR) were obtained and hierarchical logistic regression was applied to the final model, with adjustment of the effect of each variable to the outcome based on the variables in the same and previous levels of causality.the viral genotype of cervical infection was identified in 76.6% of the 248 women participating in the study. High-risk HPV genotypes (83.4% of cases and 67.1% of controls) were predominant, especially HPV 16 and 31. The distal risk factors identified were: living in a rural area (OR=2.71, 95%CI: 1.18-6.23), less than three years of study (OR=3.97, 95%CI: 2.09-7.54) and family income below two minimum wages (OR=3.30, 95%CI: 1.04-10.51); intermediate: four or more pregnancies (OR=2.00, 95%CI: 1.06-3.76); and proximal: absence of a previous Pap smear (OR=9.74, 95%CI: 2.48-38.28).genotypes 16 and 31 of cervical HPV infection are predominant among women assisted by the Public Health System in Northeastern Brazil. Socioeconomic and reproductive factors, as well as the absence of cytological screening, represent risk factors for the progression of infection to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical cancer.

Background Low serum levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are determined mainly by variant alleles of the MBL2 gene and it has been suggested that MBL may play a role in the susceptibility to atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective The aim was to investigate the difference of the frequency of MBL2 variant alleles in AD patients and in a group of individuals without AD, and associate the MBL2 alleles with AD severity. Methods MBL2 variant allele's frequency was investigated in 131 children with AD and 165 healthy children/adolescents matched by convenience. The severity of disease was graded according to the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. The first exon variants were called "O" and the wild type "A". The variants in the promoter were H/L at -550 and X/Y at -221, determined by Real Time PCR. Results Children with AD had higher frequency of allele O and the genotypes related to low or deficient levels of MBL, when compared to the healthy group ( p = 0.0012 and p Conclusion Low or deficient MBL serum levels determined genetically may contribute to the predisposition for AD, but not for disease severity.

BCG scar has been used as an indicator of vaccination with BCG in the past, but the validity of scar among HIV-positive children is still unknown. The validity of BCG scar reading among such children was estimated, using three different gold standards. The sensitivity ranged from 81.3% (95%-CI: 78.0-84.2) to 91.6% (95%-CI: 88.4-94.0), when the gold standards were, respectively, information from the adult responsible for the child and the vaccination card. The specificity ranged from 90.5% (95% CI: 81.6-95.5) to 94.1% (95% CI: 87.7-97.4), when the gold standards were, respectively, the vaccination card and information from the adult responsible for the child. Reading of BCG scar was shown to be a good indicator for vaccination in the past, among HIV-infected children.

Background The objectives were to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis A among children and adolescents from the Northeast and Midwest regions and the Federal District of Brazil and to identify individual-, household- and area-levels factors associated with hepatitis A infection. Methods This population-based survey was conducted in 2004–2005 and covered individuals aged between 5 and 19 years. A stratified multistage cluster sampling technique with probability proportional to size was used to select 1937 individuals aged between 5 and 19 years living in the Federal capital and in the State capitals of 12 states in the study regions. The sample was stratified according to age (5–9 and 10- to 19-years-old) and capital within each region. Individual- and household-level data were collected by interview at the home of the individual. Variables related to the area were retrieved from census tract data. The outcome was total antibodies to hepatitis A virus detected using commercial EIA. The age distribution of the susceptible population was estimated using a simple catalytic model. The associations between HAV infection and independent variables were assessed using the odds ratio and corrected for the random design effect and sampling weight. Multilevel analysis was performed by GLLAMM using Stata 9.2. Results The prevalence of hepatitis A infection in the 5–9 and 10–19 age-group was 41.5 and 57.4%, respectively for the Northeast, 32.3 and 56.0%, respectively for the Midwest and 33.8 and 65.1% for the Federal District. A trend for the prevalence of HAV infection to increase according to age was detected in all sites. By the age of 5, 31.5% of the children had already been infected with HAV in the Northeast region compared with 20.0% in the other sites. By the age of 19 years, seropositivity was ∼70% in all areas. The curves of susceptible populations differed from one area to another. Multilevel modeling showed that variables relating to different levels of education were associated with HAV infection in all sites. Conclusion The study sites were classified as areas with intermediate endemicity area for hepatitis A infection. Differences in age trends of infection were detected among settings. This multilevel model allowed for quantification of contextual predictors of hepatitis A infection in urban areas.

OBJETIVOS: determinar a prevalência da testagem anti-HIV no pré-natal e internamento para o parto e identificar fatores associados à realização e recebimento do resultado dos testes em parturientes. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo, com 400 puérperas atendidas no Centro de Atenção à Mulher do IMIP Instituto Materno Infantil Prof. Fernando Figueira, IMIP. RESULTADOS: chegaram à admissão para o parto sem o resultado do teste anti-HIV, 154 (38,5%) mulheres. Dessas, foi solicitado "teste rápido" em 134 (87,0%), porém só foram colhidos em 130 (84,5%). Observou-se que: o número de consultas realizadas no pré-natal, (p=0,001) o número de profissionais que atenderam a mulher no pré-natal e a escolaridade (p=0,006) tiveram associação significativa com a realização do exame anti-HIV no pré-natal, mas não com o recebimento do mesmo. O aconselhamento e oferecimento do teste tanto no pré-natal como na admissão para o parto também apresentaram associação significativa com a realização do anti-HIV durante o pré-natal. CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência de testagem anti-HIV no pré-natal e/ou na triagem foi satisfatório no aspecto quantitativo, porém o recebimento do resultado tanto no pré-natal quanto na admissão para o parto , bem como o aconselhamento pós-teste, foi aquém do recomendado. OBJECTIVES: to determine HIV testing prevalence during antenatal care and hospital admission for delivery and identify factors associated to pregnant women testing and results delivery. METHODS: a descriptive study comprised of 400 puerperal women seen at the Women Care Center of Instituto Materno Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira, IMIP. RESULTS: one hundred and fifty four (38.5%) women were admitted for delivery without having received the results of the anti-HIV test. One hundred and thirty four women (87.0%) had been prescribed a "fast HIV test" but only 130 were tested (84.5%). The following was determined: the number of antenatal medical visits ((p

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a prevalência do antígeno de superfície do vírus B da hepatite (HBsAg) em parturientes internadas no Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP), Recife-PE, e o perfil sorológico das positivas. MÉTODOS: este é estudo de secção de corte transversal prospectivo no qual foram utilizados os sistemas VIDAS e VIDAS HBs, respectivamente, para detecção e confirmação do HBsAg. As participantes foram selecionadas de forma aleatória. Nas pacientes HBsAg+, os outros marcadores sorológicos foram testados com o sistema automatizado AxSYM. Os recém-nascidos de mães HBsAg+ foram vacinados ao nascer com a vacina Engerix B. RESULTADOS: de um total de 1584, encontramos 9 (0,6%) gestantes HBsAg positivas. Nenhuma delas apresentava anti-HBc IgM, sendo assim casos prevalentes. Em 1/9 (11,1%) das gestantes havia presença do HBeAg isolado e em 4/9 (44,4%), deste antígeno e seu anticorpo correspondente, revelando os diferentes graus de risco de transmissão vertical da infecção. Com a exceção de dois recém-nascidos de um parto gemelar (um de baixo peso), todos apresentaram soroconversão para o anti-HBs com três doses da vacina. Os gemelares prematuros só mostraram soroconversão após a quarta dose da vacina. CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência da hepatite B em parturientes no IMIP é relativamente baixa e todas as pacientes detectadas então tinham a forma crônica da infecção.

Minist?rio da Sa?de. Comit? T?cnico do Programa Nacional de Imuniza??es. Bras?lia, DF, Brasil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Bel?m, PA, Brasil. Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco. Recife, PE, Brasil. Educand?rio Social Lar de Frei Luiz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Funda??o Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Virologia. Laborat?rio de Refer?ncia Nacional para Hepatites Virais. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Funda??o Oswaldo Cruz. Escola Nacional de Sa?de P?blica Sergio Arouca. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

A dermatite atópica apresenta elevada prevalência, principalmente nos países desenvolvidos, o que tem resultado em um importante problema de saúde pública. Esta tese consta de dois artigos. No primeiro, artigo de revisão sob título Lectina ligadora de manose (MBL) e sua associação clínica com dermatite atópica, objetivou-se rever algumas das características estruturais e funcionais da lectina ligadora de manose e sua associação clínica com a dermatite atópica. Para tanto, procedeu-se à revisão bibliográfica de trabalhos publicados entre 1980 e 2007, nas bases de dados Biblioteca Nacional de Saúde, BIREME, Lilacs, Medline, sobre vias do sistema complemento, lectina de ligação à manose, alergias e dermatite atópica, dos quais 48 foram utilizados. Em síntese, os autores comprovaram que a lectina de ligação à manose é uma proteína que se une aos carboidratos da superfície dos patógenos e facilita o processo de fagocitose, participando na modulação da inflamação, tanto como uma terceira via do sistema complemento quanto por sua relação com a apoptose da barreira epidérmica. Identificou-se que, embora a literatura apresente evidência razoável da associação da lectina de ligação à manose com doenças infecciosas e auto-imunes, sua relação com as doenças alérgicas ainda suscita muitas dúvidas e precisa ser confirmada. No segundo artigo, sob título Aspectos clínicos da dermatite atópica e variantes funcionais da proteína ligadora de manose em crianças brasileiras (MBL-2), procedeu-se a estudo do tipo exploratório, comparando 131 crianças com dermatite atópica (média de idade 3,5 ± 0,3 anos, variando de três meses a 12 anos) a 165 indivíduos que não apresentavam essa doença (idade média de 10 anos, variando entre quatro e 18 anos), atendidos no Instituto Materno Infantil Prof. Fernando Figueira, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, no período de Agosto de 2006 a Julho de 2008. Após aprovação do comitê de ética e assinatura do Termo de Consentimento Livre Esclarecido, procedeu-se à avaliação clínica da criança e da gravidade da dermatite atópica, pela conversão em pontos da extensão e da severidade dos sinais e dos sintomas, empregando os critérios do SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). As três variantes alélicas do éxon 1 da MBL2 (nas posições 52, 54 e 57) foram genotipadas, assim como as variantes alélicas das regiões promotoras H/L e X/Y, empregando reação de cadeia de polimerase. As freqüências alélicas e genotípicas foram calculadas pela contagem direta gênica e o teste de qui quadrado foi usado para comparação pareada em tabelas de contingência 2x2 e 3x2, em nível de significância de 5%. No grupo de crianças com dermatite atópica, identificou-se freqüência significantemente maior do alelo O, dos genótipos AO e OO e de produtores defeituosos (baixos e deficientes), quando se consideraram os promotores H/L e X/Y. Concluiu-se que crianças com dermatite atópica apresentaram mais freqüentemente o alelo O e genótipos AO e OO, que se associaram aos níveis mais baixos de MBL, podendo ser mais um fator da complexa etiologia da dermatite atópica

O anticorpo contra o antígeno do centro (ou do core), o anti-HBc, do vírus da hepatite B (VHB) é considerado o mais sensível e duradouro marcador sérico da infecção pelo VHB. Algumas vezes o anti-HBc é encontrado na ausência de outros marcadores como por exemplo o anti-HBs ou o HBsAg. O significado clínico do encontro isolado do anti-HBc permanece incerto. Existem algumas explicações para este achado: primeiro, o encontro do anti-HBc pode ser um resultado apenas falso-positivo. Segundo, o indivíduo pode ter ficado imune após contato com o VHB, porém não possui anti-HBs detectável. Terceiro, estes indivíduos com anti-HBc isolado podem ser portadores crônicos do VHB com ausência ou não detecção de HBsAg. Além do que o encontro isolado do anti-HBc pode ser pelo fato do indivíduo se encontrar na fase de janela imunológica quando o HBsAg desapareceu mas o anti-HBs ainda não está detectável. Uma última hipótese menos provável é que a presença do anti-HBc possa ter sido devida a uma passagem passiva deste anticorpo. Exceto a situação de janela imunológica todas as outras explicações hipotéticas teriam teoricamente esclarecimento com o uso de técnicas de biologia molecular. Porém, como é cara e laboriosa não é utilizada de rotina. Haja vista a importância tanto do ponto de vista do indivíduo como para os serviços de saúde de elucidar se o anti-HBc isolado é falso-positividade do teste ou contato prévio com o VHB alguns serviços de saúde têm utilizado a vacinação contra o VHB nestes indivíduos para distinguir entre estas duas situações. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a resposta contra vacina recombinante para VHB em doadores sanguíneos portadores de anti-HBc e negativos para HBsAg e anti-HBs. O modelo do estudo foi do tipo quasi-experimental sem grupo controle, não randomizado. Vinte e quatro doadores entre 22 e 76 anos receberam três doses de 20 mcg de Engerix®-B nos meses 0, 1 e 6. Amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas 30 dias após primeira e terceira dose de vacina e testadas para anti-HBs pela técnica imunoenzimática por fluorescência. Os resultados mostraram que após a primeira e terceira dose de vacina a taxa de soroproteção (anti-HBs >10 miliUI/ml) foi de 61,9% e 87,5%, respectivamente. A taxa de resposta tipo anamnéstica com produção rápida de anticorpos foi de 38% e tipo primária ou lenta foi de 47,6%. A taxa de não respondedores ao final do esquema vacinal foi de 12,5%. Doadores estes potencialmente suspeitos de serem portadores inativos de VHB e que foram submetidos à pesquisa de DNA do VHB pela PCR sendo todos negativos para este teste. O uso da vacina recombinante contra VHB ajudou a elucidar a situação imunológica da maioria dos indivíduos do presente estudo. Portanto, a estratégia da vacinação parece ser prática e pouco laboriosa para esclarecimento diagnóstico neste grupo de doadores