Análise de polimorfismos dos genes da rota quinureniana em pacientes com meningite bacteriana.

Bacterial meningitis (BM) is still an important infectious disease causing death and disability. Invasive bacterial infections of the central nervous systems (CNS) generate some of the most powerful inflammatory responses known, which contributes to neuronal damage. The DNA microarray technology showed alterations in the kynurenine (KYN) pathway that is induced in BM and other diseases associated with inflammation, leading to brain injury. Our main aim was to search SNPs previously described in the KYN path enzymes to investigate a putative association of this SNPs with imbalanced in this pathway in patients with BM. The patients included in this study were 33 males and 24 females, with ages varying from 02 months to 68 years. SNPs were located inside of the domain conserved in KYNU, IDO, KATI and KATII. Primers were designed for analysis of SNPs already described by PIRA-PCR followed by RFLP. The analysis of KYNU+715G/A SNP found a heterozygous frequency of 0.033. We did not found the variant allele of SNP KYNU+693G/A, KATI+164T/C, KATII+650C/T and IDO+434T/G. Despite of previews studies showing the importance of KYN pathway we did not found one association of these SNPs analyzed with susceptibility or severity of MB in study population.

Projeto Prevenir: uma pesquisa acerca das mudanças no perfil das infecções por DST/AIDS, com a perspectiva de detectar pontos vulneráveis da prevenção

Rio Grande do Norte is among the Brazilian States where the tourism and sexual violence increasingly grow in the country, occupying 4th place in 2004. Associated to this fact, it comes the problematic one of the contamination of the women by Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). Studies in Brazil have presented a considerable increase of the STDs, caused through lack of suitable protection in the sexual relationships. Due to the biological and psychosocial vulnerability, besides failures or inconsistencies in the condom use associated to the raised taxes of sexual activity with different partners, the STDs constitute the main risk of health. Many difficulties are found by the confrontation of this problem. In this context, this project had as aim to evaluate the vulnerability of this population of sexually active women in Natal-RN Ponta Negra neighbourhood to the infections by STDs, such as, Candida sp., Vaginoses Bacterial, Trichomonas Vaginalis and Chlamydia sp., arisen with the explosion of the sex market, showing a current statistical panorama. It was possible to detect vulnerable points in prevention through patient anamnesis, where the study it showed: high number of partners (8,3% with more than five), low age of first relationship and not the use of condoms (31,8% sometimes use and 45,8% had not used in the first relationship). Already consolidated by the preventive cytopathologic examination, these data were strengthened by high incidence of causing agents of STDs (58,6%). In this way, it is clear that the sexuality must to be thought on the context of the deep economic and socio-cultural transformations in which pass societies, and mainly the ones concerning to the sexuality exercise and to the sex market. With the profile change of the infections, new demands are placed in relation to the risk factors. Therefore, it can be concluded that the prevention vulnerable points detected as more important had been the deficiency in self-perception and wareness of the risk existence among the studied women

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana de sistemas emulsionados contendo óleos naturais para o tratamento de infecções cutâneas

Natural oils have shown a scientific importance due to its pharmacological activity and renewable character. The copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii) and Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Shaw) oils are used in folk medicine particularly because the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Emulsion could be eligible systems to improve the palatability and fragrance, enhance the pharmacological activities and reduce the toxicological effects of these oils. The aim of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of emulsions based on copaiba (resin-oil and essential-oil) and bullfrog oils against fungi and bacteria which cause skin diseases. Firstly, the essential oil was extracted from copaiba oil-resin and the oils were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Secondly, emulsion systems were produced. A microbiological screening test with all products was performed followed (the minimum inhibitory concentration, the bioautography method and the antibiofilm determination). Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and clinical samples were used. The emulsions based on copaiba oil-resin and essential oil improved the antimicrobial activity of the pure oils, especially against Staphylococcus e Candida resistant to azoles. The bullfrog oil emulsion and the pure bullfrog oil showed a lower effect on the microorganisms when compared to the copaiba samples. All the emulsions showed a significant antibiofilm activity by inhibiting the cell adhesion. Thus, it may be concluded that emulsions based on copaiba and bullfrog oils are promising candidates to treatment of fungal and bacterial skin infections

Crianças com infecções respiratórias agudas: como são cuidadas em casa?

Objetivou-se, neste estudo exploratório/descritivo, identificar conhecimentos e necessidades dos cuidadores da criança com Infecção Respiratória Aguda (IRA) através de uma amostra de 129 crianças atendidas no serviço de crescimento e desenvolvimento de uma unidade de saúde. Foram aplicados formulários junto aos cuidadores, em seu domicílio, nos meses de fevereiro e março de 2002. Os cuidadores eram do sexo feminino, a maioria jovem, com ensino fundamental incompleto e com renda de 1 a 2 salários. Em relação aos primeiros cuidados com a criança doente, 48,2% dos cuidadores procuram o médico, 36,6% medicam por conta própria e 13,2% utilizam fitoterápicos. Como medidas de prevenção contra pneumonia em crianças com IRA leve, os cuidadores utilizam medidas de senso comum e sabem reconhecer sinais de gravidade das doenças, por experiências anteriores, revelando uma lacuna do conhecimento dos principais sinais e sintomas de doenças graves do trato respiratório

Anfotericina b pré-aquecida: um novo sistema terapêutico para infecções fúngicas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

IgA sérica, secretora, IgE total e estado nutricional em crianças com infecções por enteroparasitas

Infections for intestinal parasites are one of the main morbidade causes in humans and, its relationships with socioeconomic levels and hygiene conditions in countries in development are already very established. Many works, even so, they are being accomplished to elucidate the complex interactions among nutrition, these infections and answer imunológica, because it is seen that malnutrition commits the immunity increasing the susceptibilidade for infectious diseases and these for its time can harm the state human nutricional. It is known that sponge helmínticos they stimulate synthesis of IgE so much policlonal as specific for the same ones and that IgA secretora, main imunoglobulina of defense of the mucous ones, can act against protozoa as the Giardia lamblia and against helmintos as Trichuris tichiura and Strongyloides stercorales. Some studies show that the malnutrition energy protéica influences in the production of these answers, but some authors show results divergentes. In this work it was evaluated the levels of total IgE, IgA sérica and secretora, contagem of sanguine eosinófilos, levels of proteins séricas and state nutricional, in 103 children of low socioeconomic level, to discover a correlation between those and infection for enteroparasitas. They participated in the study children of both sexes, with age of 3 to 6 years, visitors of the same creche and residents in a neighborhood with precarious hygiene conditions and basic saneamento, in the city of Christmas. The obtained results showed that the faulty environmental and socioeconomic conditions favored to a high infection frequency for enteroparasitas, mainly Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides between the helmintos and Endolimax sleep and Giárdia lamblia among the protozoa. Light malnutrition without deficit protéico was observed in 30% of the children, which didn't also present significant deficiencies of IgA sérica and secretora. The sponged children

Aleitamento e infecções por parasitas intestinais em gestantes adolescentes e seus filhos

The exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life practice is essential for the health and development of children. Studies show there is in human milk protective antibodies against intestinal parasites and a relationship between the absence of breastfeeding or weaning and parasitic infections. This work was a prospective cohort study involving 34 pregnant adolescents attended school in Maternity Januario Cicco / RN and their children, to assess the influence of breastfeeding on intestinal parasites in them. Thus, the parasitic infection was investigated by examination of feces parasitological and environmental factors by use of questionnaires. The average age of the mothers studied was 16.2 years. Of these 76.4% were infected and the most prevalent species of parasites were Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (76.9%), Giardia lamblia (19.2%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (11.5%). The infected children had an average age of 5.1 months and the frequency of parasites was 61.7%. The infection was earlier detecctada with 45 days of life. The most common parasites were Giardia lamblia (40%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (35%), Ascaris lumbricoides (5%) and Ancylostoma (5%). The average length of exclusive breastfeeding was 2.2 months. There was an association between increased duration of exclusive breastfeeding and increased time to detection of parasites in the feces of children. There was no statistically significant correlation between the socio-economic conditions and cultural and breastfeeding. The data reinforce the importance of breastfeeding to protect the children in its first year of life

Carga de trabalho de enfermagem e infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde na unidade de terapia intensiva

In recent decades, the search for quality care has been widely discussed by the institutions and health professionals. In this context, it is the nurse coordinator of the process of providing nursing staff, reflecting the commitment to quality of care. In this process, it is the appearance of Infections Related to health care and its potential association with the workload in nursing as a valuable indicator of quality of care. Thus, this research contributes to studies to characterize the demand of nursing work to promote a safe healthcare practice. This study aimed to identify the association of nursing workload with the number of cases of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, urinary tract infection and central venous catheter infection in the intensive care unit. This is a quantitative research approach, descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective, held at Unimed Hospital in Natal-RN. The study population consisted of all patients treated in the Intensive Care Unit, Hospital for a period of 90 consecutive days in 2011. The convenience sample was compostapelos patients admitted to the ICU during the period of data collection, a total sample of 286 patients. To perform the data analysis software were used: Statistica 6.0, SPPS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 17.0 (2004) and Excel 2007. In the descriptive analysis, we used Measures of Central Tendency and Measures of Dispersion or Variability and the use of nonparametric tests. Of the 286 patients, 88 were from the ICU and 198 ICU II II. Males predominated in the ICU I (51.1%) and female ICU II (57.6%) patients in the ICU I were aged 61-80 years (39.8%) followed by greater than 80 years (39.8%). In the ICU II, most of the patients were aged 61-80 years (38.9%) and then from 41 to 60 years (24.2%). In relation to the class of TISS inlet predominant class II in the two ICUs (59.1%), followed by Class III also in the two units (34.6%). Most patients (70.6%) out of the ICUs belonging to class II TISS. In the ICU I, the average number of forms of the TISS 28 was 6, has in ICU II this value drops to 3.2 forms. The overall mean was 19.9 TISS points in ICU patients I and ICU II.the 17 points in the average hours required to provide adequate nursing care to patients in the ICU I found that is 10 , 7 hours, and the ICU II 9.2 hours. It was found that the time provided by the nursing staff were higher in ICU II, with an average of 19 hours available for nurses in this sector. In the ICU I, which showed higher need of available hours, it was found that the mean value of 12.7 available hours. It was found that only 2.4% of patients had these units Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, 1.0% were infected central venous catheter and 1.4% of patients had urinary tract infection. Infection associated with health care occurs, on average, on the tenth day of hospitalization. In the ICU II, this average value extends to the twelfth day with an excess of 2.7 hours of nursing care while in ICU I value decays to the ninth day of hospitalization with a deficiency of 12-hour assistance. It is concluded that patients generally showed a need for classification of semi-intensive care and has been assisted in their need to load. As for his association with the Related Infections Health will assist this analysis could not be performed due to the small number of notifications in this period. It is suggested further study how other factors related to infections me a longer period of analysis

Desenvolvimento de sistema magnético polimérico contendo antimicrobianos para tratamento de infecções por Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The most recommended treatment for eradication of this bacteria often leads to side effects and patient poor compliance, which induce treatment failure. Magnetic drug targeting is a very efficient method that overcomes these drawbacks through association of the drug with a magnetic compound. Such approach may allow such systems to be placed slowed down to a specific target area by an external magnetic field. This work reports a study of the synthesis and characterization of polymeric magnetic particles loaded with the currently used antimicrobial agents for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections, aiming the production of magnetic drug delivery system by oral route. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms and vibrating sample magnetometry revealed that the magnetite particles, produced by the co-precipitation method, consisted of a large number of aggregated nanometer-size crystallites (about 6 nm), creating superparamagnetic micrometer with high magnetic susceptibility particles with an average diameter of 6.8 ± 0.2 μm. Also, the polymeric magnetic particles produced by spray drying had a core-shell structure based on magnetite microparticles, amoxicillin and clarithromycin and coated with Eudragit® S100. The system presented an average diameter of 14.2 ± 0.2 μm. The amount of magnetite present in the system may be tailored by suitably controlling the suspension used to feed the spray dryer. In the present work it was 2.9% (w/w). The magnetic system produced may prove to be very promising for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infections

Spondias tuberosa Arr. (UMBU): estudo fitoquímico e avaliação do potencial anti-inflamatório

Spondias tuberosa Arruda (Anacardiaceae) is a fruitful tree popularly known as umbuzeiro, tapereba or umbu. It is a native and endemic species from Brazil, widespread in Brazilian Northeast. The species is important in folk medicine of the semi-arid Northeast, where it is mainly used to treat various inflammatory conditions, digestive problems as well as viral and bacterial infections. However, despite the common use in folk medicine, there are scarce pharmacological and phytochemicals studies that afford scientific evidence to its popular use. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the chemical markers in S. tuberosa leaves extract, obtained by maceration ethanol:water (70:30, [v/v]), and evaluate its anti-inflammatory potential in vivo. The phytochemical profile in TLC analysis suggested the occurence of the flavonoids rutin and isoquercitrin. HPLC analysis enabled us to confirm the presence of flavonoids and also, were detected the phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. In addition was developed and validated a HPLC method to evaluate the content of the identified compounds in S. tuberosa leaves extract according to RDC 899/2003 of ANVISA and ICH Guidelines 2005. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of S. tuberosa leaves extract, the peritonitis and paw edema models induced by carrageenan were used, administration i.p. in mice. The results highlighted the anti-inflammatory property in vivo at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg since a decrease in leukocyte influx to the site of inflammation, diameter of the edema and the level of myeloperoxidase were observed when compared to the drug control dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p. route). Taken together, the results pointed out S. tuberosa as a potential species for developing phytotherapic derivatives in according to its popular use. With regard to the characterization markers, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin and isoquercitrin were identified and quantified in Spondias tuberosa leaves extract so they could be used in quality control analyses of the raw material and extracts of this species.

Crianças com infecções respiratórias agudas: como são cuidadas em casa?

Objetivou-se, neste estudo exploratório/descritivo, identificar conhecimentos e necessidades dos cuidadores da criança com Infecção Respiratória Aguda (IRA) através de uma amostra de 129 crianças atendidas no serviço de crescimento e desenvolvimento de uma unidade de saúde. Foram aplicados formulários junto aos cuidadores, em seu domicílio, nos meses de fevereiro e março de 2002. Os cuidadores eram do sexo feminino, a maioria jovem, com ensino fundamental incompleto e com renda de 1 a 2 salários. Em relação aos primeiros cuidados com a criança doente, 48,2% dos cuidadores procuram o médico, 36,6% medicam por conta própria e 13,2% utilizam fitoterápicos. Como medidas de prevenção contra pneumonia em crianças com IRA leve, os cuidadores utilizam medidas de senso comum e sabem reconhecer sinais de gravidade das doenças, por experiências anteriores, revelando uma lacuna do conhecimento dos principais sinais e sintomas de doenças graves do trato respiratório

Proteção pela glucana em modelo experimental de sepse

OBJETIVO: Neste trabalho avaliou-se a ação da glucana ? ? 1-3 insolúvel, um polissacarídeo extraído da parede celular interna do fungo Saccharomyces cerevisae, como agente imunoestimulante inespecífico em camundongos submetidos a modelo de sepse experimental. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 73 camundongos Swiss, os quais receberam glucana em diferentes doses pelas vias intraperitoneal (i.p.). Sepse difusa foi induzida através da técnica de ligadura e punção do ceco, transfixado e drenado com fio multifilamentar. RESULTADOS: Os animais tratados com glucana apresentaram um aumento significante no número de leucócitos no lavado peritoneal, diminuição no número de unidades formadoras de colônias bacterianas. Observou-se um aumento significante na sobrevida dos animais tratados com glucana insolúvel, a qual proporcionou um maior controle da infecção bacteriana por aumentar o número de células de defesa. CONCLUSÃO: A glucana insolúvel, quando usada em camundongos por via intraperitoneal, em modelo de sepse abdominal, contribuiu para melhorar a sobrevida, induziu proteção contra a formação de colônias bacterianas no líquido peritoneal e aumentou a migração leucocitária

Estudo sobre a participação de rodedores na cadeia de transmissão de Leishmania infantum (Protozoa: Trypanosomatidae) no Rio Grande do Norte

American visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted by the bite of the sand flies Lutzomia longipalpis.The main domestic reservoir is the dog, while foxes and opposums are the known wild reservoirs. However, identification of natural infections with L. infantum in rodents appears for need of investigating the participation of these rodents how source of infection of the parasite. In the present work the Leishmania infantum infection was investigated in rodents captured in Rio Grande do Norte, aiming at to offer subsidies to the understanding of the epidemic chains of LVA in the State. Thirteen Galea spixii were distributed in four groups, being G1 the group control with four animals and the others, G2, G3 and G4, with three animals each. Those animals were intraperitoneally inoculated with 107 promastigotas of L. infantum and accompanied for, respectively, 30, 90 and 180 days. Weekly the animals were monitored as for the corporal weight and rectal temperature. At the end of each stipulated period the animals were killed. Blood were used for determination of the parameters biochemical and haematological, PCR, ELISA, microscopic examination and cultivation in NNN medium. Liver, spleen and lymph node were used in Giemsa-stained impression and cultivation in NNN medium. Liver and spleen fragments were still used in PCR and histopathological, respectively. At the same time 79 rodents of the species Rattus rattus, Bolomys lasiurus, Oligoryzomys nigripis, Oryzomys subflavus and Trichomys apereoides were captured in the Municipal districts of Brejinho, Campo Grande, Coronel Ezequiel, Passa e Fica and Vázea for identification of natural infection with L. infantum. Evidence of infection was checked by direct examination of Giemsa-stained impression of liver, spleen and blood and culture of these tissues in NNN medium. Antibodies were researched by ELISA. They were not found differences among the weigh corporal final, rectal temperature and biochemical and haematological parameters of the Galea spixii controls and infected. The rectal temperature of the animals varied from 36OC to 40OC. For the first time values of the haematocrit (33,6% to 42,8%), hemoglobin (10,2 to 14,5g/dl), erythrocyts number (4,67x106 to 6,90x106/mm3), total leukocytes (0,9x103 to 9,2x103/mm3), platelets (49x103 to 509x103/mm3) total proteins (1,56 to 6,06 g/dl), albumin (1,34 to 3,05 g/dl) and globulins (0,20 to 3,01 g/dl) of the Galea spixii were determined. The lymphocytes were the most abundant leucocytes. Infection for L. infantum was diagnosed in two animals euthanasied 180 days after the infection. In one of the animals was also identified antibodies anti-Leishmania. The parasite was not found in none of the five other species of rodents captured. Galea spixii are resistant to the infection for L. infantum and they are not good models for the study for visceral leishmaniose, although they can act as infection sources. More studies are necessary to determine the paper of the rodents in the epidemic chain of transmission of the visceral leishmaniose in the State of Rio Grande do Norte

Análise toxicológica in vitro e in vivo de uma fucana antitrombótica da alga marrom Spatoglossum schdöederi

Fucan is a term used to denominate a family of sulfated polysaccharides rich in L-fucose. They are extracted mainly from the extracellular matrix of brown algae and echinoderms. The brown alga Spatoglossum schröederi (Dictyotaceae) has three heterofucans named A, B and C. Our research group have been extracted non anticoagulant heterofucan from S. schröederi which possess antithrombotic activity in vivo. However, their toxicity in vitro and in vivo has not yet been determined. For the results in toxicity in vitro, we observed that the fucan A at 20, 500 and 1000 μg/plate showed no mutagenic activity in Kado test (Microsuspension), when the bacterial strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102, with and without S9 were used. The comet assay showed that fucan A (from 20 to 1000 μg/mL) did not cause any genotoxic effect on CHO cells. There was no damage to the DNA of these cells, as evidenced by the tail length and tail moment, which were similar to that found for the negative control. The fucan A from S. schröederi was administered at 20 μg/g of rat (dose which it showed high antithrombotic activity) during two months. After that, the animals were killed and examined. The data showed that fucan A did not cause any change in biochemistry and hematological parameters, as well as, in the morphology and size of the rat s organs analyzed. In conclusion, this study indicates that fucan is a compound with potential pharmacological that has no toxicity

Clonagem e expressão do gene que codifica o inibidor de quimotripsina de Erythrina velutina WILLD. - caracterização e avaliação de seu potencial farmacológico

Proteinases are enzymes distributed widely founded in several organisms and perform many different functions, from maintaining homeostasis to the worsening of some diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and infections. The proteins responsible of controlling the action of these enzymes are the inhibitors, that are classified based on their target proteases and are founded since simple organisms, such as bacteria, to higher organisms, such as larger plants and mammals. Plant proteinase inhibitors act by reducing or inactivating the activity of target proteases, thus, these proteins have been studied as potential tools in the treatment of diseases related to protease activities. In this context, an inhibitor of chymotrypsin from Erythrina velutina, called EvCI was previously purified and it was observed that this protein plays in vitro anticoagulant activity and anti-inflammatory activity in in vivo model. Aiming to reduce the environmental impact caused by the purification EvCI in high amounts and to facilitate the process of obtaining this protein, the recombinant chymotrypsin inhibitor from Eryhrina velutina was produced after cloning and expression in Escherichia coli. The bacteria were grown in LB medium and after induction of the expression this material was subjected to procedures for cell lysis and the product was applied on Nickel-affinity column. The proteins adsorbed were digested by thrombin and applied on Chymotrypsin-Sepharose affinity column, obtaining the purified inhibitor, named recEvCI. After electrophoresis, the recombinant inhibitor showed an approximately molecular mass of 17 kDa, and reduced the chymotrypsin and elastase activities in vitro. The recombinant inhibitor was sequenced and was found similar amino acids residues when compared to other inhibitors deposited in the database, with some modifications. recEvCI showed high stability under pH variations and reducing conditions, maintaining its activity around 80%. This protein increased the blood coagulation time in vitro by acting on the intrinsic pathway and did not show cytotoxicity against strains of mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and RAW 264.7 macrophages. recEvCI showed microbicide activity related to release of nitric oxide and consequently the activation of macrophages, futhermore having proinflammatory effects assessed by increased release of TNF-α. These results indicate that recEvCI can be biotechnologically used as a new tool in the control of coagulation-related diseases as well as can be an activating agent of the immune system in immunosuppressed individuals