Intestinal parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients: epidemiological, nutritional and immunological aspects

This study applied a socioeconomic questionnaire designed to evaluate the frequency of intestinal parasites and characterize epidemiological, nutritional, and immunological variables in 105 HIV/AIDS patients - with and without parasitic infections, attending the Day Hospital in Botucatu, UNESP, from 2007 to 2008. Body mass index was calculated and the following tests performed: parasitological stool examinations; eosinophil, IgE, CD4(+) T and CD8(+) T lymphocyte cell counts; albumin test; viral load measure; and TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-5 and IL-10 cytokine levels. Results were positive for parasitic intestinal infections in 12.4% of individuals. Most patients had good socioeconomic conditions with basic sanitation, urban dwellings, treated water supply and sewage, good nutritional and immunological status and were undergoing HAART. Parasites were found at the following frequencies: Entamoeba - five patients (38.5%), Giardia lamblia-four (30.7%), Blastocystis hominis-three (23.0%), Endolimax nana-two (15.4%), and Ascaris lumbricoides - one (7.7%). There were no significant differences between the two groups for eosinophils, albumin, IgE, CD4(+) T and CD8(+) T lymphocytes, INF-gamma, IL-2, or IL-10. Most patients also showed undetectable viral load levels. Significant differences were found for TNF-alpha and IL-5. These results show the importance of new studies on immunodeficient individuals to increase understanding of such variables.

Clinical, parasitological and immunological aspects of experimental infection with Trypanosoma evansi in dogs

This research investigated the pattern of antibody response by means of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) through the course of experimental Trypanosoma evansi infection in dogs. Clinical and parasitological features were also studied. The average prepatent period was 11.2 days and parasitaemia showed an undulating course. Biometrical study of parasites revealed a mean total length of 21.68mm. The disease was characterized by intermittent fever closely related to the degree of parasitaemia and main clinical signs consisted of pallor of mucous membrane, edema, progressive emaciation and enlargement of palpable lymph nodes. Diagnostic antibody was detected within 12 to 15 days and 15 to 19 days of infection by IFAT and Elisa, respectively. High and persistent antibody levels were detected by both tests and appeared not to correlate with control of parasitaemia

Clinical and immunological aspects of newcastle disease vaccination in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Immunological aspects of fresh-frozen allogeneic bone grafting for lateral ridge augmentation

Objectives: To present some immunological aspects of fresh-frozen allogeneic bone grafting for lateral bone augmentation, based on the quantitative evaluation of IL-10, IL-1β, IFN- γ and TNF- α in patients sera. Material and methods: Thirty-three partially or totally edentulous patients received fresh-frozen allogeneic bone (AL - 20 patients) or autologous bone onlay block grafts (AT - 13 patients) prior to oral implant placement. Blood samples were collected from each patient at various time-points during a 6 month-period (baseline, 14, 30, 90 and 180 days postoperatively). Quantitative evaluation of IL-10, IL-1β, IFN- γ and TNF- α was performed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: For all evaluated markers and at all evaluated periods, inter-group comparisons showed no statistically significant differences between the groups, while the observed values were within normal levels. For AL-treated patients, intra-group evaluation showed statistically significant increase of TNF-α from baseline to 90 (P < 0.001) and 180 (P < 0.01) days, and from 14 to 90 (P < 0.01) and 180 (P < 0.05) days. IFN- γ showed intercalated results, with a decrease from baseline to 14 days (P < 0.05), and increase from 14 to 90 days (P < 0.001) and 180 (P < 0.05) days. No differences between the periods of evaluation were found for the AT group. Conclusions: AL grafting for lateral bone augmentation, similar to AT grafting, does not seem to challenge the immune system significantly. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Characteristics of gram-stained cervical smear from patients with Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Cervical discharges from 142 women attending the Public Gynecologic Service of Araraqura (SESA), Brazil were cultured for Chlamydia trachomatis. Gram-smears and plating on semiquantitative sheep blood agar and chocolate agar were also carried out. An isolation rate of 18% was reported. The presence of purulent cervical secretion was observed in 8 (32%) out of 25 women. It was also observed that a substantial proportion of culture-positive women had no symptoms. Our data demonstrate that screening tests should be based on specific diagnostic techniques for Chlamydia trachomatis since the majority of infected women we examined were asymptomatic.

Response to experimental vaccination against newcastle disease in domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos): Clinical and immunological parameters

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Immunological and clinical parameters of newcastle disease vaccination in bronze Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sanidade Uterina Pós Parto: Aspectos Imunológicos e Terapêuticos

Function of the uterus is often compromised in cattle by bacterial contamination of the uterine lumen after parturition. Pathogenic bacteria often persist, causing uterine disease, a major cause of infertility in cattle. Knowledge of the immunological aspects of the uterus involved in maintaining reproductive healthiness is fundamental to the study of uterine infections that affect the uterus postpartum. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes have an important role because they are the first line of defense against colonization of bacteria in utero (Hammon and Goff, 2006). The establishment of uterine infection depends in parts of endocrine environment, particularly progesterone, which suppresses the immune system (Lewis, 2003). In the puerperium may occur uterine disorders, such as retained placenta, puerperal metritis, clinical and subclinical endometritis and pyometra, this review was proposed a study of the immunology involved in uterine health and a better understanding of uterine disorders, using the model of Sheldon et al. al, (2006) for classification of diseases, and a study of best treatment options and discussion about its functionality, because a lot of controversy among authors about choosing a treatment and another and between treated and untreated

Production of reactive oxygen (H2O2) and nitrogen (NO) intermediates and TNF-α in mice genetically selected for high (H) and low (L) antibody response and experimentally infected with Leptospira serovar pomona

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of physical training on the immune system in diabetic rats

Aims: This study aims to investigate the influence of physical training on the immune system of diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were distributed into Sedentary Control (SC), Trained Control (TC), Sedentary Diabetic (SD) and Trained Diabetic (TD) groups were used. Diabetes was induced by alloxan (32 mg/bw-i.v.). Training protocol consisted of swimming, at 32 18C, one hour/day, five days/week, supporting an overload equivalent to 5 of the body weight, during four weeks. At the end of the experiment the rats were sacrificed by decapitation and blood samples were collected for glucose, insulin, albumin, hematocrit determinations, total and differential leukocyte counting. Additionally, liver samples for glycogen analyses were obtained. Results: The results were analyzed by one way at a significance level of 5. Diabetes reduced blood insulin, liver glycogen stores and increased blood glucose and neutrophil count. Physical training restored glycemia, liver glycogen levels, neutrophils and lymphocytes count in diabetic rats. Conclusions: In summary, physical training was able to improve metabolic and immunological aspects in the experimental diabetic rats.

Doença de Jorge Lobo e sua relação com os antígenos do sistema HLA

Pós-graduação em Doenças Tropicais - FMB

Análise quantitativa da expressão de citocinas inflamatórias em membranas corioamnióticas de gestantes com rotura prematura de membranas pré-termo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Atividade imunomoduladora de parasporina de Bacillus thuringiensis sobre linfócitos e monócitos humanos

Bacillus thuringiensis is an environmental bacteria that produces a group of crystallizable proteins (Cry) that are toxic for several insects and worms species. Recently, it was described a novel class of Cry proteins called parasporins (PS) that showed cytotoxic effects on animal and human tumor cells. Six types of PS have been described so far, PS1 to PS6, and their cytotoxic activity has been studied. However, the direct effect on tumor cells has been the current research focus, while the immunomodulatory role of the PS has not been studied yet. Therefore, this study aimed to verify whether PS of TC 2.3.1R6 B. thuringiensis strain has immunostimulatory activity on human lymphocytes and monocytes. We have evaluated the protein toxicity against human cells, the lymphoproliferative activity and the effects on peripheral blood monocytes. The PS-PK showed no toxic or stimulating activity on lymphocyte proliferation. However, it inhibited the spontaneous production of IL-10 as well as ConA-induced and the production of IFN-γ. PS-PK decreased the release of hydrogen peroxide and increased the production of TNF- α by monocytes. PS-PK performed inhibitory production of hydrogen peroxide and TNF-α by monocytes, whereas PS-Tp showed stimulation of the production of hydrogen and TNF-α

Polimorfismos de genes associados à resposta imune humoral em indivíduos naturalmente infectados pelo Plasmodium vivax no Estado do Pará

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeitos preventivos do exercício físico na expressão da miostatina em ratos tratados com Dexametasona

Muscle atrophy is always associated with Dexamethasone (Dexa) treatment, however the mechanisms are not completely understood. This study investigated the effects of Dexa on myostatin and p70S6K protein expression and if previous exercise training (T) can attenuate these effects. Eighty rats were distributed into 4 groups: sedentary control (SC), sedentary treated with Dexa (SD; 0,5 mg/kg per day, i.p., 10 days), trained control (TC) and trained treated with Dexa (TD) and underwent a training period where they were either submitted to a running protocol (60% of physical capacity, 5 days/week for 8 weeks) or kept sedentary. After T period, animals underwent Dexa treatment concomitant with training. Western Blot was performed to identify myostatin and p70S6k protein expression in the tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) muscle. Ten days of Dexa treatment increased fasting glucose (SD=+62%), however previous T attenuated this increase (TD=+20%, p<0.05). Dexa determined significant decrease in body weight in TD (-22%) and SD (-25%), followed by TA weight reduction in SD (-23%) and TD (-20%). Previous training could not avoid these decreases. Myostatin protein expression was not altered by dexa treatment or training in TA muscle but in SOL muscle it was significantly modified after T, regardless of treatment (TC=+%23 and TD=+25) compared with their respective controls. The protein p70S6K was not modified neither by dexa nor training in any of the analyzed muscle or condition. The results of this study allowed us to conclude that previous training attenuates the hyperglycemia induced by Dexa, however it did not prevent the body or muscle weight reductions. Even in the presence of muscle atrophy, the expression of myostatin and p70S6K do not justify the mechanisms of muscle loss induced by Dexa, which suggests that other catabolic or anabolic proteins could be involved in the process of muscle atrophy after 10 days of treatment with Dexa