Demographic and anthropometrical analysis and genotype distribution of chronic hepatitis C patients treated in public and private reference centers in Brazil

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious public health problem, since 80% to 85% of HCV carriers develop a persistent infection that can progress into liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Considering that the response of hepatitis C patients to combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin depends on HCV characteristics as well as on host features, we made a retrospective analysis of demographic and anthropometrical data and HCV genotype distribution of chronic hepatitis C patients treated in public and private reference centers in Brazil. The medical records of 4,996 patients were reviewed, 81% from public and 19% from private institutions. Patients' median age was 46 years, and there was a higher prevalence of male (62%) and white patients (80%). The analysis of HCV-infecting strains showed a predominance of genotype 1 (64%) over genotypes 2 and 3. The patients' mean weight was 70.6 kg, and 65% of the patients weighed less than 77kg. Overweight and obesity were observed in 37.8% and 13.6% of the patients, respectively. Since a body weight of 75 kg or less has been considered an independent factor that significantly increases the odds of achieving a sustained virological response, the Brazilian population seems to have a more favorable body weight profile to achieve a sustained response than the American and European populations. The finding that 65% of chronic hepatitis C patients have a body weight of 77 kg or less may have a positive pharmacoeconomic impact on the treatment of genotype 1 HCV patients with weight-based doses of peginterferon

Comparação entre a técnica de substituição do ligamento redondo por implante de fascia lata bubalina preservada em glicerina e o uso de pino transarticular na redução e na estabilização da luxação coxofemoral experimentalmente induzida em cães Comparation between the technique of substitution of the round ligamentum by glycerin-preserved bubaline fascia lata implant and the use of transarticular pin in the redution and stabilization of experimentally induzed coxofemoral luxation in dogs

Compararam-se duas técnicas cirúrgicas de redução e estabilização da articulação coxofemoral experimentalmente luxada em cães. Dois grupos de animais, submetidos às respectivas técnicas após a indução cirúrgica da luxação, foram acompanhados clínica e radiograficamente por um período de 60 dias, findos os quais, realizaram-se avaliações macroscópica e histológica e teste de tensiometria das articulações. Cada grupo foi constituído por oito animais, clinicamente sadios, com pesos entre 5 e 20kg. Os animais submetidos ao implante de fáscia apresentaram, ao exame físico, evolução da deambulação significativamente precoce em relação aos do grupo submetido ao implante de pino de Steinmann, além de menor grau de atrofia muscular. Os testes de tensiometria, as avaliações macroscópicas e radiográficas e os exames histológicos não diferiram entre os grupos, evidenciando também que ambas as técnicas não geraram alterações deletérias à articulação operada. Conclui-se que a técnica de estabilização da articulação coxofemoral com implante de fascia lata foi clinicamente eficaz e vantajosa quando comparada à técnica do pino transarticular.<br>It was compared both surgical techniques of reduction and stabilization of experimentally luxated coxofemoral join in dog. Two groups were submitted to the techniques after surgical induction of the luxation. All animals were clinically and radiografically observed during 60 days. After that, a macroscopic study, an histological exam, and a tensiometry test in the articulations were performed. Each group had eight healthy animals, weighting from 5 to 20kg. The most important advantage was related to the deambulation, which the animals submited to the facia lata implant showed a faster evolution after the surgery at the physical exam, and muscular atrophy in a smaller degree. The tensiometry tests, the radiographic and the histological exams did not present important differences between both groups, but they were useful to show that the two techniques did not cause alterations in the studied articulation. It can be concluded that the stabilization of the coxofemoral articulation using bubaline fascia lata implant was clinically efficient and more advantageous compared to the transarticular pin technique