Hepatitis E seroprevalence and associated factors in rural settlers in Central Brazil

<div><p>Abstract INTRODUCTION: Prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and associated factors were investigated in rural settlements in Central Brazil. METHODS: A total of 464 settlers were interviewed, and serum samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG/IgM. Positive samples were tested for HEV RNA. RESULTS: Sixteen participants (3.4%; 95% CI 2.0-5.7) were positive for anti-HEV IgG. None was positive for anti-HEV IgM. HEV RNA was not detected. Dwelling in a rural settlement for >5 years was associated with HEV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed the absence of acute infection and a low prevalence of previous exposure to HEV.</p></div

Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution in penile carcinoma: Association with clinic pathological factors

<div><p>Background</p><p>Penile carcinoma (PC) is a rare, highly mutilating disease, common in developing countries. The evolution of penile cancer includes at least two independent carcinogenic pathways, related or unrelated to HPV infection.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>To estimate the prevalence, identify HPV genotypes, and correlate with clinicopathological data on penile cancer.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A retrospective cohort study involving 183 patients with PC undergoing treatment in a referral hospital in Goiânia, Goiás, in Midwestern Brazil, from 2003 to 2015. Samples containing paraffin embedded tumor fragments were subjected to detection and genotyping by INNO-LiPA HPV. The clinicopathological variables were subjected to analysis with respect to HPV positivity and used prevalence ratio (PR), adjusted prevalence ratio (PRa) and 95% confidence interval (CI) as statistical measures.</p><p>Results</p><p>The prevalence of HPV DNA in PC was 30.6% (95% CI: 24.4 to 37.6), high-risk HPV 24.9% (95% CI: 18.9 to 31.3), and 62.5% were HPV 16. There was a statistical association between the endpoints HPV infection and HPV high risk, and the variable tumor grade II-III (p = 0.025) (p = 0.040), respectively. There was no statistical difference in disease specific survival at 10 years between the HPV positive and negative patients (p = 0.143), and high and low risk HPV (p = 0.325).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The prevalence of HPV infection was 30.6%, and 80.3% of the genotypes were identified as preventable by anti-HPV quadrivalent or nonavalent vaccine. HPV infections and high-risk HPV were not associated with penile carcinoma prognosis in this study.</p></div

HIV-1 infection among crack cocaine users in a region far from the epicenter of the HIV epidemic in Brazil: Prevalence and molecular characteristics

<div><p>Brazil has the largest cocaine market in South America, and crack cocaine use is closely associated with HIV-1 infection. This study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and HIV-1 subtypes, including recombinant forms and mutations associated with drug resistance, among crack cocaine users in Central-West Brazil. We recruited 600 crack cocaine users admitted to a referral hospital in Goiânia for psychiatric disorders. The participants were interviewed; blood samples were collected for anti-HIV-1/2 serological screening. HIV-1 <i>pol</i> gene sequences (entire protease [PR] and partial reverse transcriptase [RT]) were obtained from plasma RNA. HIV-1 subtypes, recombinant viruses, transmitted drug resistance (TDR), and secondary drug resistance mutations were investigated. The median participant age was 30 years (range, 18–68 years); most were male, single, unemployed, and of mixed races. Among them, 2.8% (17/600) were HIV-1 positive: 2.2% of men (11/507) and 6.5% of women (6/93). The main predictors of HIV-1 seropositivity were a sexual partner with HIV infection, irregular condom use, and previous homelessness. HIV-1 <i>pol</i> sequences (12/17) indicated the predominance of subtype B (n = 7), followed by recombinant forms F^PR/B^RT (n = 1) and B^PR/F^RT (n = 2) and subtypes F1 (n = 1) and C (n = 1). TDR prevalence was 58.3% (7/12). Isolates from two participants showed mutations associated with resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) only (M41L, T125C, T125F, M184V), while an isolate from one patient who had received antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2008 had a mutation associated with resistance to non-NRTI (G190S). Five isolates had secondary mutations to protease inhibitors (K20M, L10V, L33I, A71T, A71V). In conclusion, the findings of HIV-1 circulation, TDR to NRTI, and secondary mutations to protease inhibitors in ART-naïve crack cocaine users support the importance of monitoring this population in regions far from the epicenter of the HIV epidemic.</p></div

Prevalence of HPV-DNA in 183 cases of penile carcinoma in a referral hospital in Goias, Brazil.

<p>Prevalence of HPV-DNA in 183 cases of penile carcinoma in a referral hospital in Goias, Brazil.</p

Bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with infection by high-risk HPV.

<p>Bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with infection by high-risk HPV.</p

Descriptive analysis of clinical variables in patients with penile carcinoma in Goiania, Goias, Brazil.

<p>Descriptive analysis of clinical variables in patients with penile carcinoma in Goiania, Goias, Brazil.</p

HPV genotype distribution in a population with PC.

<p>HR: High risk; LR: Low risk.</p

Curve of survival of patients positive and negative for HPV.

<p>Curve of survival of patients positive and negative for HPV.</p

Survival curve of the patients in relation to HPV positivity and negativity low and high risk.

<p>Survival curve of the patients in relation to HPV positivity and negativity low and high risk.</p

Demographic and social characteristics and sexual and drug consumption behaviors among 600 in-treatment crack cocaine users.

<p>Demographic and social characteristics and sexual and drug consumption behaviors among 600 in-treatment crack cocaine users.</p