These results indicate that HLA-G 3'UTR polymorphic sites, particularly +3142G and +3010C alleles, were associated with SLE susceptibility, whereas UTR-1 was associated with protection against development of SLE.

We observed a higher prevalence of serological markers for HBV and a lower prevalence of anti-HCV. Our results indicate that females and patients of an advanced age are the most affected categories and that patients that received multiple transfusions are at a higher probability of HCV infection.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the effects of particulate (granule-shaped) SCB on bone repair relating it to its biocompatibility and bone neoformation. METHODS:Thirty Wistar rats were submitted to a one 7-mm-diameter defect and divided equally into three experimental groups, with two different postoperative times of evaluation, 90 and 120 days. Each calvaria defect was filled up with clot (control group), particulated autogenous bone or granulated SCB. Five animals of each group were assessed at 90 and 120 days after surgery. In these two periods, histological and histometric analysis were obtained. RESULTS:The clot group showed a bone resorption trend while the autogenous bone group a bone repair trend. However in the SCB group, the critical defect filled up only with fibrous connective tissue and presented none bone neoformation. CONCLUSION:The sugarcane biopolymer when used in critical size defects was a biocompatible material and proved to be a good material to fill bone cavities, keeping them as uniform areas filled with soft tissue and avoiding the tissue shrinkage.

The aim of this study is to evaluate if a gel of bacterial cellulose gel can revert the loss of anal resting pressure after anorectum sphincter injury in rat model, elected as a model to simulate fecal incontinence. Thirty-nine animals were equally divided into three groups: Control (CG), Sphincter injury plus Saline injection (SG) and Sphincter injury plus Bacterial Cellulose Gel injection (BCG). Anal pressure at rest was assessed for all animal in the three groups using anorectum manometry. Saline and Gel groups were subject to anorectum sphincter injury to reduce the anal pressure at rest. Fifteen days later Saline or Gel was injected into the anorectum, according to their groups. Sixty days later first manometry, the anorectum of all animals were removed and processed histologically. The CG group showed maintenance of their mean anorectal resting pressure levels; SG presented a fall in their mean anorectal resting pressure. The BCG presented a significant elevation of the mean anorectal resting pressure levels, surpassing the pressure of CG. The gel of bacterial cellulose remained at the injection site and was neovascularized, colonized by fibroblasts and dense conjunctive tissue. Those data suggest that BC can be used as a future filling agent treatment for fecal incontinence in clinical trial protocols.

The absence of extrusion, stenosis or urinary fistula after 14 weeks of urethrovesical anastomosis demonstrates cellulosic exopolysaccharide membrane biocompatibility and biointegration with tendency to a thicker wall.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and risk factors in health care workers of dialysis units. An analytical descriptive transversal study was performed with 138 health professionals from six dialysis units of Recife city, Brazil. Blood samples were collected between March and July, 2007 and tested for the HBsAg markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs and total anti-HBc) using ELISA method of third generation. Two softwares were used for statistical analysis: the Epi Info (v. 6.04) for the univariate analysis and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences-SPSS (v. 8.0) for multiple logistical regression. The prevalence of hepatitis B infections, determined by presence of the HBsAg and/or total anti-HBc markers in dialysis staff was 13%. Positivity rate for anti-HBs was 75.4%.However, 11.6% of them were susceptible to infection. In the univariate analysis the variables: length of employment in hemodialysis, quantity of individual protective equipment (IPEs), surgery and/or dentary-surgery antecedents and incomplete vaccination against HBV presented statistically significant association with HBV seropositivity. But, according the multivariate analysis, only length of employment in hemodialysis, quantity of individual protective equipment (IPEs) used and incomplete vaccination against HBV presented statistically significant association with HBV seropositivity. These results showed that dialysis units have been focused on reducing the occurrence of exposure to blood and body fluids. These strategies include reevaluating the kind of material used, demanding strict compliance for protection in risky occupational procedures, the use of gloves and other barriers and a follow-up with serological tests whenever there is a case of work-related injury with biological material, as well as mandatory vaccination after exposure.

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