Estudo da soroprevalência da co-infecção pelo Vírus da hepatite C (VHC) em pacientes portadores do Vírus da imunodeficiência humana 1 (HIV-1) e/ou com SIDA/AIDS no Estado do Amapá

No presente estudo a soroprevalência da infecção pelo Vírus da hepatite C (VHC) foi investigada em indivíduos portadores da infecção pelo Vírus da imunodeficiência humana 1 (HIV-1) da cidade de Macapá, Estado do Amapá, Brasil. Um total de 120 indivíduos infectados pelo HIV-1 foi testado para a presença de anti-VHC usando um ensaio imunoabsorvente ligado a enzima. Todos os pacientes envolvidos no presente estudo foram testados para a carga viral plasmática do HIV-1 e para os níveis de células T CD4⁺ no momento do consentimento em fazer parte do estudo. Os pacientes responderam a um questionário epidemiológico no momento da coleta de sangue. Do total de 120 amostras testadas apenas sete (5,83%) foram soropositivas para anti-VHC. Quanto ao gênero, quatro (57,2%) e três (42,8%) eram homens e mulheres, respectivamente. A idade dos indivíduos soropositivos para anti-VHC variou de 21 a 40 anos entre os homens e de 21 a 60 entre as mulheres. Considerando o impacto da coinfecção nos valores de carga viral plasmática do HIV-1 e na contágem de células T CD4⁺ não foram observadas diferenças significativas (Odds Ratio=2,7368, p=0,3624; Odds Ratio=1,7803, p=0,7764). O uso de drogas injetáveis e de piercing mostrou ser um importante fator de risco para a co-infecção (p<0,05). Os resultados do presente estudo representam os primeiros achados acerca da co-infecção HIV-1/VHC no Estado do Amapá e demonstra a necessidade de um estudo continuado objetivando avaliar a soroprevalência da infecção pelo VHC no Amapá e detectar o real impacto clinico da co-infecção HIV-1/VHC no paciente.

Comparative study of human exposure to mercury in riverside communities in the Amazon region

Four populations in the Amazon area were selected for a comparative study of mercury-exposed and non-exposed populations: São Luiz do Tapajós, Barreiras, Panacauera, and Pindobal Grande. The highest mercury levels in human hair samples were found in São Luiz do Tapajós and Barreiras, greatly exceeding the limits established by the World Health Organization. Panacauera showed an intermediate level below 9 µg/g. This was the first comparative and simultaneous evaluation of mercury exposure in the Amazon area. Also, thanks to this type of monitoring, we were able to eliminate the uncertainties about the reference dose. On the basis of these data, we can conclude that the mercury levels detected in exposed populations of the Tapajós River basin may be dangerous not only because they are above the World Health Organization limits, but also because the simultaneous mercury detection in non-exposed populations with similar characteristics provided a valid control and revealed lower mercury levels. Our results support the importance of continuous monitoring in both exposed and non-exposed populations.

Separation of satured and unsaturated fatty acids from palm fatty acids distillates in continuous multistage countercurrent columns with supercritical carbon dioxide as solvent: a process design methodology

In this work the separation of multicomponent mixtures in counter-current columns with supercritical carbon dioxide has been investigated using a process design methodology. First the separation task must be defined, then phase equilibria experiments are carried out, and the data obtained are correlated with thermodynamic models or empirical functions. Mutual solubilities, Ki-values, and separation factors aij are determined. Based on this data possible operating conditions for further extraction experiments can be determined. Separation analysis using graphical methods are performed to optimize the process parameters. Hydrodynamic experiments are carried out to determine the flow capacity diagram. Extraction experiments in laboratory scale are planned and carried out in order to determine HETP values, to validate the simulation results, and to provide new materials for additional phase equilibria experiments, needed to determine the dependence of separation factors on concetration. Numerical simulation of the separation process and auxiliary systems is carried out to optimize the number of stages, solvent-to-feed ratio, product purity, yield, and energy consumption. Scale-up and cost analysis close the process design. The separation of palmitic acid and (oleic+linoleic) acids from PFAD-Palm Fatty Acids Distillates was used as a case study.