We performed a prospective study in a cohort of repeat To assess the incidence and source of community-acblood donors to estimate the risk of acquiring HCV infection quired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among subjects among individuals without parenteral exposure, and to invesat low risk for blood-borne diseases, we prospectively tigate the possible cause of infection. studied a cohort of 16,515 repeat blood donors over a mean follow-up time of 36 months. Second-and third-PATIENTS AND METHODS generation methods were used for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) testing. HCV RNA was determined in A cohort of 18,109 anti-HCV-negative blood donors, candidates the serum of anti-HCV-positive donors by reverse-tran-for a second or subsequent donation, was enrolled between May 1991 scription polymerase chain reaction. Liver biopsy was and April 1992 in a longitudinal prospective study. Of this cohort, 16,515 subjects came to our center for further donations and were performed in the viremic subjects. Risk factors for HCV followed up for an average of 36 months (range, 3-52 months). The infection were identified by a psychosocial questionmedian interval between donations was 202 days. The male/female naire in the whole cohort. During follow-up, 5 donors ratio was 7:3, the median age was 32 years (range, 18-65 years). A became infected with HCV. The incidence was 1 per psychosocial questionnaire, based on 47 direct and indirect ques-10,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 0.3-2.4 per tions, was routinely administered to blood donors. 16 Questions re-10,000). During the 6 months before seroconversion, four garded: 1) demographic information; 2) cigarette smoking and alcohol subjects (80%) underwent medical or surgical percutane-consumption; 3) drug use, with reference to type, frequency, and time ous procedures, compared with 26.5% in the entire donor of last assumption; 4) sexual history; 5) history of hepatitis; and 6) cohort (difference between frequencies, 53.5%; CI: 18.9-other risk factors for blood-borne infection (blood transfusion, tattooing, nosocomial exposure). At each donation, the clinical data The subjects showing confirmed anti-HCV reactivity were asked after seroconversion, and liver biopsy showed chronic to enter a follow-up program consisting of clinical and laboratory hepatitis in all cases. Thus, new cases of hepatitis C oc-evaluation, including HCV-RNA determination, at 1-to 3-month incur among individuals without a history of known risk tervals. A serum sample, collected on the blood donation preceding factors, some of which may be caused by nosocomial seroconversion, was retested for anti-HCV using a third-generation exposure. (HEPATOLOGY 1997;25:702-704.) test and was evaluated for HCV RNA. Liver biopsy was proposed to the viremic subjects. Sexual partners and household contacts of seroconverting subjects were invited for counseling and anti-HCV Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a sig-testing. nificant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. 89.1). One seroconverti...

To investigate potential risk factors associated with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, we performed a case-control study in 167 consecutively selected hospitalized children in Salvador, Brazil. Hp infection was identified by the presence of IgG against Hp in serum samples. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire, 38.3% children were found to be seropositive and classified as cases, and 61.7% were seronegative controls. After multivariate analysis, independent variables associated with Hp infection included: the educational attainment of the child's provider > or = 11 years (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.01-0.9), poor garbage disposal service (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.9), thumb sucking (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.1-19.8), brushing teeth more than once a day (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.8-17.7), having a pet dog (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.1), and a history of chronic urticaria (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.5-10.8). The risk factors identified are consistent with some, but not all, previous studies supporting either oral-oral or faecal-oral transmission of Hp. Our data suggested that a higher educational attainment might play an important role in preventing Hp infection.

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Background: Lifestyle and environmental factors can negatively impact fertility by means of oxidative stress. In this context, antioxidant supplementation therapy has gained much interest in recent years, and different molecules, alone or in combination, have been studied. Objective: The purpose of the present review is to investigate the evidence regarding the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and melatonin on male infertility. Methods: A literature search using PUBMED database from 2000 to October 2022 was performed to explore the role of CoQ10 and melatonin on male reproductive function. Conclusions: The analysis involved a narrative synthesis. CoQ10, alone or in combination, appears to reduce testicular oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation and to improve sperm parameters; particularly sperm motility. Moreover, CoQ10 treatment is associated with higher pregnancy rates, both naturally and through assisted reproductive technology (ART). Larger studies are needed to precisely determine its clinical efficacy. Melatonin is a known antioxidant and preclinical studies have shown its ability to modulate reproductive function through hormonal and immune system regulation and sperm cell proliferation. Regardless, clinical studies are necessary to assess its potential in male infertility.