Background Elevated rates of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection have been reported in epidemiological studies with people who used illicit drugs (PWUIDs) in different Brazilian regions. In Brazil’s Amazon region, studies have already identified the common use of illicit drugs among adolescents and the high prevalence of HCV infections among PWUIDs. However, all studies done with PWUIDs were conducted with small samples and within limited geographic coverage. This study determined the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in PWUIDs in the Amazon region, northern Brazil, as well as estimating the prevalence and factors associated with the HCV spontaneous clearance (HSC). Methods This cross-sectional study accessed 1666 PWUIDs from multiple municipalities of the Amazon region. Socio-demographic, economic, drug use and health-related information were collected through interviews. Blood samples collected were tested for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and RNA-HCV. HCV genotypes were identified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Logistic regressions were run to identify factors independently associated with HCV infection status and HSC. Results In total, 577 (34.6%) featured HCV antibodies, of which 384 (23.1%) had active HCV infection and 193 (11.6%) indicated HSC. Genotypes 1 (80.2%) and 3 (18.8%) were detected. HCV infection status was associated with the length of illicit drug use history, factors related to parenteral and sexual transmission, and factors of socio-economic marginalization leading to potential risk activities for HCV. HSC was associated with the ethnic (including indigenous) background of participants. Conclusions High levels of HCV infection were detected in PWUIDs. Genotype 1 was predominant. Intense use of illicit drugs, unprotected sexual intercourse, high number of sexual partners and social marginalization were associated with all HCV infection. HSC was associated with origin (Amazonian-born) and non-white (e.g., Black or Indigenous) of PWUIDs. These findings emphasize the need for improve HCV prevention and control services and care for PWUIDs in the Brazilian Amazon region. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-019-4270-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Hepatitis B (HBV) and delta (HDV) viruses are endemic in the Amazon region, but vaccine coverage against HBV is still limited. People who use illicit drugs (PWUDs) represent a high-risk group due to common risk behavior and socioeconomic factors that facilitate the acquisition and transmission of pathogens. The present study assessed the presence of HBV and HBV-HDV co-infection, identified viral sub-genotypes, and verified the occurrence of mutations in coding regions for HBsAg and part of the polymerase in HBV-infected PWUDs in municipalities of the Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará, in the Amazon region. In total, 1074 PWUDs provided blood samples and personal data in 30 municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon. HBV and HDV were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction. Viral genotypes were identified by nucleotide sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis, whereas viral mutations were analyzed by specialized software. High rates of serological (32.2%) and molecular (7.2%) markers for HBV were detected, including cases of occult HBV infection (2.5%). Sub-genotypes A1, A2, D4, and F2a were most frequently found. Escape mutations due to vaccine and antiviral resistance were identified. Among PWUDs with HBV DNA, serological (19.5%) and molecular (11.7%) HDV markers were detected, such as HDV genotypes 1 and 3. These are worrying findings, presenting clear implications for urgent prevention and treatment needs for the carriers of these viruses.

1 Eficácia do tratamento homeopático em alergias crônicas: revisão integrativa Effectiveness of homeopathic treatment in chronic allergies: integrative review Eficacia del tratamiento homeopático en alergias crónicas: revisión integrativa Resumo A alergia ocorre quando há o contato de fatores externos (alérgeno) com o Sistema imunológico do indivíduo, causando uma reação de hipersensibilidade, onde o organismo é estimulado a produzir anticorpos IgE especificos. A alergia é caracterizada em aguda e crônica, que podem ser tratadas com medicamentos alopáticos, como broncodilatadores e antiinflamatórios, atualmente existe uma forma de tratamento alternativo, conhecido como homeopatia, fundamentada em 1976, pelo médico alemão Samuel Hahnemann, esse tipo de tratamento induz o organismo a criar mecanismos de defesas pois utiliza o patógeno para o tratamento, baseia em tratar o indivíduo como um todo. Por esse motivo, o estudo analisa a eficácia do tratamento homeopático em alergias crônicas levando em consideração os motivos que levam a troca do tratamento convencional. Para tanto, realizou um estudo de aspecto quali-quantitativo, onde foram feitas analises de artigos científicos onde demonstram estudo da eficácia e/ou comparação com o tratamento convencional e os motivos que levam a essa troca, a pesquisa teve como base para analise, 17 artigos que foram publicados entre o ano de 2000 a 2019 os dados analisados foram organizados em programa Microsoft Word 2016. O Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 2, e139922192, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i2.2192 2 resultado das análises observou que 14 estudos tiveram desfecho positivo comprovando que o tratamento homeopático é benéfico a diminuição de alergias crônicas. 3 estudos tiveram desfechos negativos que não conseguiram demonstrar a eficácia ou não viu diferença significativa quando comparado ao tratamento convencional. Contudo, concluiu que apesar de alguns estudos demostrarem a não cura com o tratamento homeopático, existem estudos que mostram cada vez mais a homeopatia como um tratamento alternativo que possui um efeito benéfico para o tratamento de alergias crônicas. Palavras-chave: Homeopatia; Alergia; Asma; Rinite. Abstract Allergy occurs when there is contact of external factors (allergen) with the individual's immune system, causing a hypersensitivity reaction, where the body is stimulated to produce specific IgE antibodies. Allergy is characterized as acute and chronic, which can be treated with allopathic medicines such as bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs. Currently there is an alternative form of treatment known as homeopathy, founded in 1976 by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. body to create defense mechanisms because it uses the pathogen for treatment, is based on treating the individual as a whole. For this reason, the study looks at the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment in chronic allergies taking into account the reasons for changing from conventional treatment. To this end, it carrie...

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