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Risk factors for stomach cancer in Brazil (I): a case-control study among non-Japanese Brazilians in São Paulo.

BACKGROUND: Stomach cancer is an important health problem in Brazil, with an estimated 20 000 new cases per year and it was the most frequent cancer site in men and the third most frequent site in women in São Paulo in 1993. Nevertheless, there are no reports of analytical epidemiological study on stomach cancer in Brazil. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted among Brazilian residents with a non-Japanese background in the city; 236 consecutive cases of histologically confirmed stomach cancer were matched to the same number of controls admitted for non-neoplastic diseases by age (+/-5 years) and gender. The socio-demographic characteristics, personal and family medical history, lifetime history of tobacco use and dietary habits were determined by interview using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Non-white race, lower educational background and lower family income were more frequent in stomach cancer patients. After adjustment for race and educational background, cigarette smoking, frequent use of oil and frequent consumption of egg were significantly associated with increased risk of stomach cancer, while frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables decreased the risk. These associations did not change substantially after mutual adjustment of the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed that low socio-economic status, cigarette smoking and low consumption of fruit and vegetables were risk factors of stomach cancer in São Paulo, Brazil.

Adult↗

Overweight and underweight coexist within households in Brazil, China and Russia.

The possibility that underweight and overweight coexist within households and understanding such an occurrence have not been studied sufficiently. In fact, underweight and overweight are thought of as resulting from very different environmental, behavioral and individual risk factors. This study identified households in which overweight and underweight coexist and explored household-level associations such as urban residence and income. Using three large national surveys from Brazil, China and Russia, the prevalence of such households ranged from 8% in China and Russia to 11% in Brazil. Even more important from the public health perspective is the finding that these under/over households accounted for a high proportion of all households with an underweight member in China (23%), Brazil (45%), and Russia (58%). The prevalence of the underweight/overweight household was highest in the urban environment in all three countries. There was no clear pattern in the prevalence of the underweight/overweight household type by income. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the significance of the association of household type with urban residence and income while controlling for household size and household demographics by gender. Further analysis was done to consider the age relationships within the underweight/overweight pair. The underweight child coexisting with an overweight nonelderly adult was the predominant pair combination in all three countries. These findings illustrate the need for public health programs that are able to address underweight and overweight simultaneously.

Age Factors↗

Use of V3 loop peptide-specific antibody evaluation for subtyping HIV-1: results of a vertical transmission study from São Paulo, Brazil.

Plasma samples obtained from 97 children enrolled in a longitudinal study of HIV-1 perinatal transmission in São Paulo, Brazil, were tested for the presence of specific V3-loop antibodies in order to determine the HIV-1 subtype circulating among them. A set of seven synthetic peptides representative of the predominant HIV-1 subtypes detected in Brazil was employed in an in-house enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using two different protocols, one of which permits identification of high avidity antibodies (HAAb). Using these approaches we were able to detect antibodies in 64 out of 97 children, independently of the HIV-1 infection status, indicating the presence of subtype B in all cases, except one, which could be considered to be of subtype F. Among subtype B cases, half of the samples reacted with the GWGR motif (type W is representative of Brazilian B strains). In the main, concordant results were obtained between peptide-EIA and HIV-1 status among infants, although in several cases of truly HIV-1 infected children, negative results could be observed. Thirteen mother-child pairs and four fathers were also evaluated, and the results confirmed subtype B to be the prevalent one among them, showing similar proportions of P and W types. Taken together, the results obtained identified subtype B (W and P) uniformly among adults and HIV-1 infected children from São Paulo, Brazil, and confirm vertical and sexual transmission of the predominant strains.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Compliance with common program requirements in Brazil: its effects on resident's perceptions about quality of life and the educational environment.

PURPOSE: In 1981, Brazil's National Committee on Medical Residency established the Common Program Requirements (CPRs), to regulate residents' work hours. The authors studied whether program violations of the CPRs regarding residents' duty hours, time for educational activities, and faculty supervision adversely affected residents' perceptions about the quality of their lives and about the educational environment. METHOD: From October through December 2003, 88 residents from four institutions in Florianopolis (SC), Brazil were invited to participate of the study. Residents completed four instruments: a questionnaire about their program's compliance with CPRs; the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) that assesses perceptions about the learning environment; the Quality of School Life Scale (QSL), which assesses the quality of life at school; and the WHO Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL), which assesses the general quality of life. Residents were categorized according to gender, institution, year of training, specialty, and their answers on the CPRs questionnaire. DREEM, SQL, and WHOQOL scores were compared between categories. RESULTS: A total of 62 residents (70%) responded. A significant number of residents reported their program's noncompliance with CPRs. Residents reporting program compliance rated higher parameters of general quality of life, quality of life in residency, and the educational environment. CONCLUSION: Violations of Brazil's residency program CPRs are associated with residents' worse perceptions of several aspects of general quality of life, quality of life in residency, and the educational environment.

Adult↗

Tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy in Brazil.

Brazil, the largest Latin American country, is highly heterogeneous, both demographically and socioeconomically. The overall human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) seroprevalence among blood donors is approximately 0.45%. These rates are highly variable, from 0 to 1.8%. Since 1989, many series of tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) cases have appeared in the literature, with high variation in the prevalence of HTLV-I among TSP patients (14.7-57%). The main clinical features of Brazilian TSP/HAM are similar to those in other endemic countries, but sensory signs are more frequent. Recently, the presence of peripheral nerve and muscular involvement has been characterized. The first nationwide study on the disease has been recently completed: it enrolled 163 patients and concluded that TSP/HAM is common in Brazil, mainly in the northeast and southeast regions; it predominates among women and whites; the most important risk factors for infection are sexual promiscuity and blood transfusion; and, although a remarkably uniform disease throughout the country, some statistically significant differences were detected, such as a higher proportion of females over males in the northeast region, a higher proportion of whites the southeast and the south and mulattos in the northeast, and, finally, a high rate of venereal diseases in the southeast region and of intravenous drug use in the south. Brazil seems to be a perfect setting for future epidemiologic, clinical, basic, and therapeutic studies on TSP/HAM.

Blood Donors↗

Gender and survival after AIDS in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The relation between gender and survival after a diagnosis of AIDS was studied in a cohort of patients with HIV infection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the study period, 124 of 617 patients (20%) developed AIDS. Of this group, 91 patients were men and 33 were women. There were no gender related differences regarding the access to antiretroviral therapy or to prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Survival was shorter among women (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.43; p < .001) after adjustment for age and AIDS-defining condition. Adjusting for CD4+ and CD8+ counts reduced the difference between genders (HR = 3.33; p = .017). These results suggest that survival after an AIDS diagnosis may be shorter among women than men in Brazil. Further studies are needed to determine the factors that may be negatively influencing the prognosis of women with AIDS in Brazil.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

HIV-1 subtypes among blood donors from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The prevalence of HIV infection in Brazil is one of the highest in the world. In addition, transfusion-transmitted HIV accounts for 2.3% of all AIDS cases in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic diversity and distribution of HIV-1 strains circulating in the blood-donor population. We characterized 43 seropositive blood units collected from volunteer blood donors residing throughout Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Viral RNA was extracted from plasma, reverse transcribed, and amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using HIV group M degenerate primers. Genetic heterogeneity was evaluated by direct automated cycle sequencing of the following gene fragments: gag p24 (399 bp), env C2V3 (345 bp), and env gp41 (369 bp). Phylogenetic analysis reflected the complexity of the Brazilian HIV epidemic: the majority of specimens, 33 of 43 (76.7%) were subtype B, and 6 of 43 (14%) were subtype F. The remaining 4 samples (9.3%) involved potential mosaic viruses of subtypes B and F or B and D. This survey is the first to document HIV-1 genetic variation in the Brazilian blood-donor population.

Base Sequence↗

Epidemiologic and molecular characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in southern Brazil.

HIV subtype C is the most prevalent subtype in the world. Despite its recent expansion in Brazil, HIV-1C already prevails in the southernmost state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul. This unique HIV epidemiology has prompted us to characterize that population. Seventy-seven HIV-1-infected subjects attending the largest HIV/AIDS clinic of the state had the protease and reverse transcriptase (RT) genes of their virus subtyped and genotyped. When subtype-specific infections were plotted according to year of diagnosis, the prevalence of subtype C was shown to increase over the last 18 years of the epidemic, along with a concomitant decrease of subtype B. Comparison of subtype C-infected treated and untreated subjects revealed amino acid differences in protease and RT, especially in the RT mutation D/G123S. The overall analysis of drug resistance mutations in viruses from treated subjects has highlighted some associations between subtypes and particular mutations, such as V82A/F/T/S in protease and subtype F1 and M41L and L210W in RT and subtype B. The characterization of this important population, which is one of a few in the developing world where a large number of HIV-1C-infected subjects are under antiretroviral treatment, underscores its potential usefulness in clinical, treatment, and vaccine trials in Brazil.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy among patients who attend public HIV clinics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Brazil provides antiretroviral therapy (ART) to HIV-infected persons free of charge. The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with ART failure in patients receiving free ART in public clinics in Brazil. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of adults taking ART for 6 to 24 months in 5 public clinics in Rio de Janeiro. Patients were interviewed and their charts were reviewed. The following definitions of response to therapy at 6 months were used: virologic responders (VR), > or =1 log reduction in plasma viral load (VL); immunologic responders (IR), increase of > or = 50 CD4 cells/mL; complete responders (CR), both VR and IR; and nonresponders (NR), neither VR nor IR. RESULTS: Of 211 patients enrolled, 173 (82%) were VR, IR, or CR and 38 (18%) were NR. Of the responders, 28 (13%) were IR, 32 (15%) were VR, and 113 (53%) were CR. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with NR were less than 80% adherence (OR = 8.6; 95% CI, 2.9-25.7), baseline CD4 count (OR = 0.5 per 50 cells/mL; 95% CI, 0.2-1.1), interval between starting ART and first VL/CD4 testing (OR = 1.4 for each month; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8), opportunistic disease after starting ART (OR = 6.8; 95% CI, 1.4-34.0), inability to read prescription (OR = 3.9; 95% CI, 1.4-10.9), not believing physician is knowledgeable about HIV (OR = 4.0; 95% CI, 1.1-15.0), not having a friend with HIV (OR = 6.1; 95% CI, 1.7-21.8), believing ART will make him/her ill (OR = 5.6; 95% CI, 1.7-18.8), and believing ART will delay HIV progression (OR = 0.001; 95% CI, 0.0-0.2). CONCLUSION: The proportion of patients responding to ART in Brazil was similar to reports from developed countries, suggesting that ART can be used successfully in developing countries. Variables related to adherence, knowledge, and perceptions about ART were associated with a lack of response to ART. These findings have important implications for developing nations that are considering increased access to ART.

Adult↗

HIV-1 subtype C dissemination in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the molecular and epidemiological profile of HIV-1 in patients followed at the University Hospital of Rio Grande, Brazil. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2002. Plasma viral RNA of 85 patients was extracted and protease and reverse transcriptase genes were polymerase chain reaction-amplified and sequenced. Sequences were subtyped and examined to antiretroviral resistance mutations. Laboratory data and past history of antiretroviral treatment were also collected. RESULTS: Most viruses were either subtype B (42%) or subtype C (45%). No risk behaviour, sexual orientation or laboratory parameter was associated with any specific subtype, but subtype C tended to be more frequently found in women (P = 0.06). The prevalence of subtype C has increased over the HIV/AIDS epidemic, accounting for almost 60% of cases diagnosed in 2002. Intra-subtype genetic distances were smaller in subtype C than in subtype B, suggesting a more recent introduction of the former in the epidemic. Of patients under treatment, 60% had at least one antiretroviral drug resistance mutation, but no mutation was specifically associated with any HIV-1 subtype. Only one resistance mutation each was found in drug-naive patients with subtypes B and C. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that subtype C appeared in southern Brazil more recently than subtype B, it is now the predominant strain in Rio Grande. The epidemic spread of subtype C could be taking place in Brazil, and possibly in south America, a phenomenon similar to that seen in other countries where this subtype is now totally dominant.

Adult↗

Season of birth and schizophrenia in Northeast Brazil: relationship to rainfall.

Although the association of schizophrenia and winter birth has been replicated many times in the Northern hemisphere, studies in the Southern hemisphere have been less consistent in their findings. A study from NE Brazil indicated the period between May and July, 3 months after the peak in rainfall, as a risk period for schizophrenia birth. We report findings from a random selection of charts (N = 1789) from the only public inpatient psychiatric facility in Ceará, Brazil (2 degrees to 5 degrees S). We compared the seasonality of birth in the schizophrenia group (N = 406) to multiple control groups: (1) psychosis not otherwise specified (N = 868), (2) other psychiatric diagnoses (N = 515), and (3) the average monthly birth rate in the general population. Patients with schizophrenia had a significantly greater risk of being born in the risk period compared with any of the control groups. There is a significant association between rainfall in a month and schizophrenia births 3 (p = 0.03) and 4 months (p = 0.01) later. This study corroborates findings of a significant seasonality in schizophrenia births in northeast Brazil.

Birth Rate↗

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in HIV/AIDS patients from Santos, Brazil: seroprevalence and associated factors.

GOAL: The goal of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection among HIV-infected individuals from Brazil and the associated risk factors. STUDY: A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 497 HIV/AIDS outpatients attending the local AIDS Reference Center in Santos (southeastern Brazil) between February 1997 and January 1998 had serum samples screened for anti-HHV-8 antibodies. Patients were considered seropositive whenever reactivity was observed in at least 1 of 3 tests (immunofluorescence assays for latent nuclear and lytic antigens and orf65 recombinant antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). RESULTS: Overall HHV-8 seroprevalence was 13.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.9-17.6). HHV-8 coinfection was significantly more frequent in men (18.7%; 95% CI, 14.1-23.4) than in women (7.8%; 95% CI, 4.2-11.3) (P < 0.001). According to the mode of HIV acquisition among males, seroprevalence of HHV-8 infection was significantly higher in men who have sex with men when compared with the other groups (32.4% vs. 10.0%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed HHV-8 infection among men to be independently associated with sexual orientation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.5 for homosexuals; AOR, 2.8 for bisexuals). No significant risk factor for HHV-8 infection could be demonstrated for HIV-infected women in this cohort, CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that men who have sex with men are at higher risk of HHV-8 infection and shows that the epidemiologic pattern of this infection among HIV/AIDS patients from Santos, Brazil, is similar to that described in other countries with a low incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Adolescent↗

The animal reservoir of Tunga penetrans in severely affected communities of north-east Brazil.

Tungiasis is a zoonotic ectoparasitosis caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans L. (Siphonaptera: Tungidae). This disease is hyperendemic in poor communities of north-east Brazil, causing considerable morbidity in affected human populations, but the animal reservoirs have not been investigated previously in Brazil. To assess the prevalence and intensity of T. penetrans infection in domestic and peri-domestic animals, as well as in the human population, we surveyed two typical communities of north-east Brazil: an urban slum and a traditional fishing village. In the slum we examined 849 humans, 121 cats, 82 dogs, 2 pigs, 2 rabbits, 1 monkey and 56 rodents, comprising 34 rats (Rattus rattus L.) and 22 mice (Mus domesticus L). In the fishing village we examined 505 humans, 68 dogs, 37 cats, 7 donkeys, 4 cattle, 3 pigs and 1 monkey. Tungiasis was common among dogs and cats of both communities, with respective prevalence rates of 67.1% (95% CI: 55.8-77.1) and 30.9% (95% CI: 20.2-43.3) in dogs, 49.6% (95% CI: 40.4-58.8) and 32.4% (95% CI: 18.0-49.8) in cats. Slum rats were 41.2% (95% CI: 24.6-59.3) infested, but the other animals were not. Human prevalence rates were 54.4% (95% CI: 51.0-57.8) in the slum and 52.1% (95% CI: 47.6-56.5) in the fishing village. High prevalence rates (range 31-67%) of tungiasis in humans, pets and rats (but apparently not other animals) indicate the need for an eco-epidemiological approach to control of this anthropo-zoonotic problem.

Animals↗

Epidemiology and morbidity of scabies and pediculosis capitis in resource-poor communities in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Pediculosis capitis and scabies are common parasitic skin diseases, especially in resource-poor communities, but data on epidemiology and morbidity are scanty. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, seasonal variation and morbidity of pediculosis capitis and scabies in poor neighbourhoods in north-east Brazil. METHODS: The study comprised cross-sectional surveys of a representative population of an urban slum (n = 1460) in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará State (Brazil) and a fishing community 60 km south of the city (n = 605). Study participants were examined for the presence of scabies and pediculosis capitis. In a longitudinal study in the slum, variation of prevalence in different seasons of the year was assessed. RESULTS: Prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 43.4% in the slum and 28.1% in the fishing community. Children aged 10-14 years and females were most frequently affected. Scabies was present in 8.8% of the population in the slum and in 3.8% of the population in the fishing community. There was no consistent pattern of age distribution. Superinfection was common in patients with scabies, and cervical lymphadenopathy in patients with pediculosis capitis. Multivariate analysis showed that age < or = 15 years, being of female sex and living in the urban slum were independent factors contributing to the simultaneous coinfestation with pediculosis capitis and scabies. The longitudinal data from the urban slum showed a characteristic seasonal variation of pediculosis capitis, but no fluctuation of scabies. CONCLUSIONS: Pediculosis capitis and scabies are hyperendemic in the study areas and are associated with considerable morbidity. There is an urgent need to develop control measures for these parasitic skin diseases in resource-poor communities. This is the first community-based study describing in detail the epidemiology and morbidity of scabies and head lice infestation in Brazil.

Adolescent↗

Dental erosion in 12-year-old schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study in Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of dental erosion among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Joaçaba, southern Brazil, and to compare prevalence between boys and girls, and between public and private school students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving all of the municipality's 499, 12-year-old schoolchildren. The dental erosion index proposed by O'Sullivan was used for the four maxillary incisors. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, location, distribution, and extension of affected area and severity of dental erosion. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental erosion was 13.0% (95% confidence interval = 9.0-17.0). There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence between boys and girls, but prevalence was higher in private schools (21.1%) than in public schools (9.7%) (P < 0.001). Labial surfaces were less often affected than palatal surfaces. Enamel loss was the most prevalent type of dental erosion (4.86 of 100 incisors). Sixty-three per cent of affected teeth showed more than a half of their surface affected. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dental erosion in 12-year-old schoolchildren living in a small city in southern Brazil appears to be lower than that seen in most of epidemiological studies carried out in different parts of the world. Further longitudinal studies should be conducted in Brazil in order to measure the incidence of dental erosion and its impact on children's quality of life.

Brazil↗

Comparison between a gamma-IFN assay and intradermal tuberculin test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in field trials in Brazil.

Bovine tuberculosis is a major problem in Brazil. The intradermal tuberculin test is the standard test for detection of bovine tuberculosis in Brazil but can lack both sensitivity and specificity. The purpose of this study was to compare a bovine gamma-IFN assay with the tuberculin test under field conditions in Brazil. A total of 1632 animals from 13 dairy farms were tested using the single cervical tuberculin test (SCTT). Among those animals, about 15% of each herd, 220 in total, represented a high-risk group and were selected to be tested using the gamma-IFN test. Of the 1632 animals tested, 207 presented significant reactions representing 12.7% of the cattle studied. In the selected group the number of animals positive by the gamma-IFN assay was 126/220 (57.3%) and the total number of reactive cows on SCTT was 106/220 (48.2%). The real number of infected cattle, following standards, was 120/220 (54.5%). From these results the relative sensitivity rate of gamma-IFN test was 100% including the false-positive results and 88.3% for the SCTT--a significant (P < 0.01) difference in favour of the gamma-IFN test of 11.7%. The gamma-IFN assay also identified some positive animals 60-120 days earlier than the SCTT. In conclusion, we believe that the gamma-IFN assay can be used alone or in combination with the SCTT, as a valuable tool for the control of bovine tuberculosis in the Brazilian national herd.

Animals↗

Genetic diversity of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, evaluated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis.

AIMS: To analyse Neisseria meningitidis isolates from meningococcal meningitis cases in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) from 1990 to 1993 and 1999-2002, to determine the genetic and relatedness with hypervirulent and epidemic strains. METHODS AND RESULTS: The isolates were analysed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) clustering into 83 electrophoretic types (ET). All isolates from 1999 to 2002, formed a cluster which included one strain of the ET-5 complex worldwide associated with epidemics. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results suggested a panmictic structure probably because of recombination events. The observation of a separated cluster including isolates from 1999 to 2002 and an ET-5 complex strain, also suggested the introduction of strains genetically related with this hypervirulent complex in the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) over the last 5 years. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of strains related to the ET-5 complex in several states of Brazil was already described elsewhere, but this is the first time it was reported in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Our findings reinforce the necessity to genetically determine the clones which should be considered to produce a national vaccine against meningococcal meningitis.

Brazil↗

Geriatrics in Brazil: a big country with big opportunities.

Brazil has approximately 180 million inhabitants, of whom 15.2 million are aged 60 and older and 1.9 million are aged 80 and older. By 2025, the Brazilian elderly population is expected to grow to more than 32 million. Brazil has many problems related to its geographic and population size. Great distances between major cities, marked cultural and racial heterogeneity between the various geographic regions, high poverty levels, and decreasing family size all combine to put pressure on the medical and social services that can be made available to the elder population. Less than 500 Brazilian physicians are certified as geriatricians, translating into one geriatrician for every 37,000 elderly Brazilians. Beside 15 geriatric medicine residencies a larger number of fellowship programs exist, and these programs are in high demand, with more than 20 candidates per position, indicating new opportunities for growth in elder care. In addition, geriatric initiatives such as the annual elder vaccination program and the elder statute, recently approved by the Brazilian Congress, indicate that geriatric care in Brazil is entering a new era of growth and development. Although the challenges remain great, there are opportunities for Brazilian geriatrics and gerontology.

Aged↗