Background and aims: Recent studies have suggested that bacterial coinfection with Helicobacter species in patients already infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) could be involved in the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A retrospective cross sectional study was performed in order to explore the association between Helicobacter species and HCV associated liver diseases. Methods: The presence of Helicobacter species was tested by polymerase chain reaction on liver samples from four groups of patients. Results: Helicobacter 16S rDNA was found in only 4.2% of liver samples from control patients (n = 24) and in 3.5% of liver samples from patients with non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C (n = 29) while it was found in 68.0% of liver samples from patients with HCV positive cirrhosis without HCC (n = 25) as well as in 61.3% of cirrhotic liver samples from patients with HCV positive cirrhosis and HCC (n = 31). In addition, when the HCC tumour tissue was tested (n = 21), 90.5% of samples were positive. DNA from Helicobacter pyloriand Helicobacter pullorum-like organisms was found. Conclusions: There is an association between the presence of Helicobacter species DNA in the liver and hepatitis C cirrhosis, with or without HCC. Indeed, the presence of these bacteria could be the result of structural changes in the liver. Alternatively, Helicobacter species could be a co-risk factor in HCV chronic liver diseases. This result warrants prospective studies to determine the possible causal role of these bacteria in the progression of chronic hepatitis C.

Our results do not confirm the association of Helicobacter species DNA in the liver of CHC patients with advanced liver disease. The lack of correlation between positive H pylori serology and the presence of H pylori-like DNA in the liver may indicate the presence of a variant of this species.

Investigation of HPV infection in men remains important due to its association with genital warts and anorectal cancer, as well as to the role men play in HPV transmission to their female sexual partners. Asymptomatic men (n = 43), whose sexual partners had presented cervical HPV infection, were enrolled in this study. Among the 43 men, 23 had their female partner included and tested for HPV-DNA, totaling 23 couples. HPV-DNA was detected by PCR. Type specific PCR to detect HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 45 and 6/11 was performed. At least one type of HPV was detected in 86.0% (37/43) of the male patients and more than one HPV type was identified in 39.5% (17/43) of the samples, including high and low risk HPV. HPV-16 proved to be the most prevalent viral type in both male and female samples. Concordance of at least one viral type was observed in 56.5% (13/23) of the couples. Among couples that have shown concordance of viral types, 84.6% (11/13) of the men had the same high risk viral type presented by the female sexual partner. These data suggest that HPV infected men is an important reservoir, contributing to a higher transmission to women and maintenance of infection, and consequently, a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. HPV vaccination in men will protect not only them but will also have implications for their sexual partners.

The hypothesis that Helicobactermight be a risk factor for human liver diseases has arisen after the detection of Helicobacter DNA in hepatic tissue of patients with hepatobiliary diseases. Nevertheless, no explanation that justifies the presence of the bacterium in the human liver has been proposed. We evaluated the presence of Helicobacterin the liver of patients with hepatic diseases of different aetiologies. We prospectively evaluated 147 patients (106 with primary hepatic diseases and 41 with hepatic metastatic tumours) and 20 liver donors as controls. Helicobacter species were investigated in the liver by culture and specific 16S rDNA nested-polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing. Serum and hepatic levels of representative cytokines of T regulatory cell, T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cell lineages were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The data were evaluated using logistic models. Detection of Helicobacter pylori DNA in the liver was independently associated with hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus, pancreatic carcinoma and a cytokine pattern characterised by high interleukin (IL)-10, low/absent interferon-γ and decreased IL-17A concentrations (p < 10-3). The bacterial DNA was never detected in the liver of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis that are associated with Th1/Th17 polarisation. H. pylori may be observed in the liver of patients with certain hepatic and pancreatic diseases, but this might depend on the patient cytokine profile

BACKGROUND. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is strongly related to cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. However, unlike in the case of women, there are limited data regarding HPV infection in men. Analysis of male HPV infection is frequently hindered by the lack of consistency in collection methods, sample adequacy, and low sensitivity of cytologic analysis. METHODS.The objective of the current study was to compare the results of liquid-based cytology and HPV DNA testing through polymerase chain reaction in 99 penile samples collected from men presenting with condyloma acuminate or male partners of HPV-infected women who had attended a public health service in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Classic and nonclassic cytomorphologic signs were adopted to evaluate the presence of HPV infections in penile smears. RESULTS.HPV DNA was detected in 93 (93.9%) of the 99 samples analyzed. Koilocytosis was detected in 1 smear and nonclassic signs were detected in 23 smears, 22 of which were found to be positive for HPV DNA. CONCLUSIONS.The cytopathologic detection of HPV infection in penile samples collected for liquid-based cytology is low, even when cytologic nonclassic signs are applied, and does not appear to improve the diagnosis of HPV infection in men.

A pandemia da COVID-19 afetou os cursos de graduação da área da Saúde, que se viram diante de um dilema sobre como conciliar a responsabilidade social de participar da atenção à saúde da população no município e no estado com as demandas de biossegurança impostas pela pandemia. Na Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), há 14 cursos da área da Saúde que compartilham do mesmo espaço, dos mesmos recursos e das mesmas políticas acadêmicas. Pensar juntos sobre os desafios vivenciados foi um movimento de solidariedade, integração e coesão. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar essa experiência. São descritos o contexto antes da pandemia, a atuação diante de portarias ministeriais, a elaboração de diretrizes para o ensino remoto emergencial e a situação dos estágios curriculares. Destaca-se a importância da construção coletiva no enfrentamento das dificuldades para garantir a segurança, a equidade e a qualidade na formação de profissionais da saúde na UFMG.

Objective: To determine the presence of contamination on the external surface of reused Calen® System tubes before (TA) and after (TB) the action of four disinfectants: 0.12% chlorhexidine, 2% glutaraldehyde, 70 % alcohol and 1% sodium hypochlorite. Material and Methods: Microbiological collection of 20 tubes from dental clinics was performed with the aid of sterile swabs moistened in saline and rubbed for one minute on their surfaces and inserted in tubes containing 4 ml BHI and incubated under microaerophilic conditions (37°C for 24h) for further Mc Farland (F0.5 to F10) and Gram staining analyses. For disinfection (TB), cotton wicks with 1 ml of disinfectant or distilled water (control) was rubbed for 30 seconds, and after drying by evaporation, new samples were collected from the surfaces, which were submitted to the same incubation and Gram staining process for the analyses of slides. Results: Prevalence of F4 and F5 in the same proportion in TA and F1 in TB. Gram + cocci were present in 100% of TA and TB, and prevalence of Gram + cocci, Gram + and -bacilli, spores, Gram -cocci and vibrios in descending order. Conclusion: All external surfaces of reused Calen® System tubes were contaminated before and after disinfection. In descending order, the disinfectant that provided a greater reduction in the Mc Farland scale and thus a greater reduction in the number of microorganisms was 1% sodium hypochlorite, followed by 2% glutaraldehyde, 0.12% chlorhexidine, 70% alcohol and distilled water (control).

Objetivo: analisar a atividade antimicrobiana de um cimento de ionômero de vidro (IV) convencional, um cimento de IV capsulado, um cimento de IV modificado por resina e uma resina composta com partículas ionoméricas contra Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli. Materiais e método: estudo laboratorial microbiológico avaliou, por meio da inibição do crescimento por ágar difusão no método do poço, a ação antimicrobiana de materiais restauradores contra Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia Coli. Utilizaram-se 6 placas de Petri com ágar Müeller Hinton cujos poços foram preenchidos com os materiais ionoméricos manipulados conforme fabricantes (cimento de IV convencional, cimento de IV encapsulado, cimento de IV modificado por resina e resina composta com partículas ionoméricas - Ketac Molar Easy®, Riva Self Cure®, Vitremer® e Beautifil II®) e com controle (cimento de óxido de zinco e eugenol OZE e solução salina em discos de papéis). Houve incubação em estufa bacteriológica por 48 horas quando se analisou a formação ou não de halos de inibição do crescimento. Resultados: constatou-se que o cimento de IV modificado por resina apresentou atividade antibacteriana contra Escherichia coli e Staphylococcus aureus, com média de halos de 13 e 13,6mm, e o cimento controle OZE apresentou halos de 16 e 16,3mm. Os demais materiais restauradores e a solução salina não apresentaram formação de halos de inibição. Conclusão: apenas o cimento de IV modificado por resina apresentou atividade antimicrobiana contra as bactérias testadas.