Improvement in clinical signs and cellular immunity of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis using the immunomodulator P-MAPA

This study investigated the immunotherapeutic potential of the protein aggregate magnesium-ammonium phospholinoleate-palmitoleate anhydride immuno-modulator (P-MAPA) on canine visceral leishmaniasis. Twenty mongrel dogs presenting clinical symptoms compatible with leishmaniasis and diagnosis confirmed by the detection of anti-leishmania antibodies were studied. Ten dogs received 15 doses of the immunomodulator (2.0mg/kg) intramuscularly, and 10 received saline as a placebo. Skin and peripheral blood samples were collected following administration of the immunomodulator. The groups were followed to observe for clinical signals of remission; parasite load in the skin biopsies using real-time PCR, the cytokines IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro with either total promastigote antigen or phytohemagglutinin measured by capture ELISA, and changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subpopulations evaluated by flow cytometry. Comparison between the groups showed that treatment with the immunomodulator promoted improvement in clinical signs and a significant reduction in parasite load in the skin. In peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures, supernatants showed a decrease in IL-10 levels and an increase in IL-2 and IFN-γ. An increase in CD8+ T cells was observed in peripheral blood. In addition, the in vitro leishmanicidal action of P-MAPA was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and no leishmanicidal activity was detected. These findings suggest that P-MAPA has potential as an immunotherapeutic drug in canine visceral leishmaniasis, since it assists in reestablishing partial immunocompetence of infected dogs. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Selecting for rust (Puccinia psidii) resistance in Eucalyptus grandis in São Paulo State, Brazil

In Brazil, Eucalyptus grandis is a key species for wood production. However, some genotypes are susceptible to rust (Puccinia psidii), mainly in São Paulo State, where climatic conditions are favorable for its development. Rust represents a high economic risk to forest companies because of the high potential of damage to commercial eucalypt plantations. The aims of the present study were (i) to select progenies of E. grandis for stability and adaptability regarding resistance to rust at different locations; (ii) compare the selections under these different climatic conditions; and (iii) compare rust severity in the field with the theoretical model. We observed that climatic conditions were extremely influential factors for rust development, but even under favorable conditions for disease development, we found rust-resistant progenies. In sites unfavorable for rust development, we detected highly susceptible progenies. We found significant correlation among the genetic material, environmental conditions and disease symptoms, however, we observed a simple genotype-environmental interaction and significant genetic variability among the progenies. The average heritability was high among the progenies in all sites, indicating substantial genetic control for rust resistance. We also observed a good relationship between rust severity in the field and the theoretical model that considered annual average temperature and leaf wetness. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Clinical features of pure obsessive-compulsive disorder

Objective Psychiatric comorbidity is the rule in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); however, very few studies have evaluated the clinical characteristics of patients with no co-occurring disorders (non-comorbid or pure OCD). The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of pure cases in a large multicenter sample of OCD patients and compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with and without any lifetime axis I comorbidity. Method A cross-sectional study with 955 adult patients of the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (C-TOC). Assessment instruments included the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, The USP-Sensory Phenomena Scale and the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale. Comorbidities were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Bivariate analyses were followed by logistic regression. Results Only 74 patients (7.7%) presented pure OCD. Compared with those presenting at least one lifetime comorbidity (881, 92.3%), non-comorbid patients were more likely to be female and to be working, reported less traumatic experiences and presented lower scores in the Y-BOCS obsession subscale and in total DY-BOCS scores. All symptom dimensions except contamination-cleaning and hoarding were less severe in non-comorbid patients. They also presented less severe depression and anxiety, lower suicidality and less previous treatments. In the logistic regression, the following variables predicted pure OCD: sex, severity of depressive and anxious symptoms, previous suicidal thoughts and psychotherapy. Conclusions Pure OCD patients were the minority in this large sample and were characterized by female sex, less severe depressive and anxious symptoms, less suicidal thoughts and less use of psychotherapy as a treatment modality. The implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Lack of host specificity of Colletotrichum spp. isolates associated with anthracnose symptoms on mango in Brazil

The aim of the present study was to analyse the genetic and pathogenic variability of Colletotrichum spp. isolates from various organs and cultivars of mango with anthracnose symptoms, collected from different municipalities of São Paulo State, Brazil. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates from symptomless citrus leaves and C. acutatum isolates from citrus flowers with post-bloom fruit drop symptoms were included as controls. Sequencing of the ITS region allowed the identification of 183 C. gloeosporioides isolates from mango; only one isolate was identified as C. acutatum. amova analysis of ITS sequences showed larger genetic variability among isolates from the same municipality than among those from different populations. fAFLP markers indicated high levels of genetic variability among the C. gloeosporioides isolates from mango and no correlation between genetic variability and isolate source. Only one C. gloeosporioides mango isolate had the same genotype as the C. gloeosporioides isolates from citrus leaves, as determined by ITS sequencing and fAFLP analysis. Pathogenicity tests revealed that C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum isolates from either mango or citrus can cause anthracnose symptoms on leaves of mango cvs Palmer and Tommy Atkins and blossom blight symptoms in citrus flowers. These outcomes indicate a lack of host specificity of the Colletotrichum species and suggest the possibility of host migration. © 2012 British Society for Plant Pathology.

Aplicação do hipoclorito de sódio na nutrição da soja e do feijão

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modernidade, medo e violência: reflexões teóricas e o caso de Marília/SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação hematológica, bioquímica e parasitológica de cães, naturalmente acometidos por leishmaniose visceral, submetidos a diferentes protocolos de tratamento

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A influência da carga imposta pela mochila escolar em alunos do ensino fundamental e médio: uma contribuição para estudos ergonômicos

Pós-graduação em Design - FAAC

A influência do ritmo climático na morbidade respiratória em ambientes urbanos

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

Elaboração de instrumento para rastreio do risco de disfagia orofaríngea infantil

Pós-graduação em Fonoaudiologia - FFC

A trajetória de docentes no novo mundo do trabalho: resgatando algumas identidades

Pós-graduação em Educação - FCT

Dinâmica populacional de moscas-das-frutas e de Triozoida limbata (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) e danos de Costalimaita ferruginea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) e de T. limbata em pomar de goiaba submetido a sistema de racionalização de inseticidas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação auditiva em pacientes diabéticos do tipo 1 e do tipo 2

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Atividade anti-inflamatória intestinal do extrato padronizado de Physalis angulata L. (camapú)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Farmacologia) - IBB

Efeitos do extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia DC em diferentes mediadores da inflamação intestinal induzida por TNBS em ratos

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Farmacologia) - IBB