Indicadores das condições nutricionais na região do polonoroeste: IV. Inquérito alimentar em famílias de seis cidades da região do Polonoroeste, Mato Grosso, Brasil, 1983

O trabalho se refere aos dados coletados em inquérito alimentar recordatório de 24h no Inquérito Nutricional da Pesquisa Diagnóstico em Saúde no Polonoroeste em 1983 em 6 cidades da região do Polonoroeste/MT. Como uma primeira aproximação da problemática alimentar da região, o estudo revela os alimentos mais referidos nas entrevistas que são alimentos básicos, fontes de energia, semi-industrializados e de custo mais baixo.

Chagas disease in the Brazilian Amazon: IV. a new cross-sectional study

A new conglomerate family sample of 194 dwellings with 996 resident persons were studied in the town of Barcelos, State of Amazonas, in order to re-evaluate the risk of Chagas disease. During the survey the persons were interviewed and in this occasion we showed to them a collection of Panstrongylus, Rhodnius and Triatoma, asking if they recognized and eventually have been bitten by this kind of bugs. At this time we collected 500 ul of blood in microtainer® tubes from 886 interviewed persons who gave permission after informed consent. A screening test for T. cruzi antibodies based on agglutination of colored polymer particles, sensitized with three different synthetic peptides of T. cruzi (ID-PaGIA Chagas Test)®, showed 13.2% of sera positivity, but only 6.8% were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence, and ELISA with purified T. cruzi antigens. Two hundred and six interviewed persons (20.7%) recognized the triatomines, as "piaçavas' lice" and 62 (30%) confirmed that have been bitten by the bugs, 25.8% of them had a positive serology for T. cruzi infection. Electrocardiographic alterations were shown in 9.3% of the seropositives and in 11.9% of the seronegative cases. This was considered not statistically significant.

Failure of nitric oxide production by macrophages and decrease in CD4+ T cells in oral paracoccidioidomycosis: possible mechanisms that permit local fungal multiplication

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that induces a specific inflammatory and immune response. The participation of nitric oxide (NO), a product of the inducible nitric oxide synthase enzyme (iNOS), as an important fungicidal molecule against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has been demonstrated. In order to further characterize the Oral Paracoccidioidomycosis (OP), we undertook an immunohistochemical study of iNOS+, CD45RO+, CD3+, CD8+, CD20+, CD68+ cells and mast cells. The samples were distributed in groups according to the number of viable fungi per mm². Our results showed weak immunolabeling for iNOS in the multinucleated giant cells (MNGC) and in most of the mononuclear (MN) cells, and the proportion of iNOS+ MN/MNGC cells in the OP were comparable to Control (clinically healthy oral tissues). Additionally, our analysis revealed a similarity in the number of CD4+ cells between the Control and the OP groups with higher numbers of fungi. These findings suggest that a low expression of iNOS and a decrease in the CD4+ T cells in OP may represent possible mechanisms that permit the local fungal multiplication and maintenance of active oral lesions.

Role of iron in the nitric oxide-mediated fungicidal mechanism of IFN-gamma-activated murine macrophages against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia

Iron is an essential growth element of virtually all microorganisms and its restriction is one of the mechanisms used by macrophages to control microbial multiplication. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, an important systemic mycosis in Latin America, is inhibited in its conidia-to-yeast conversion in the absence of iron. We studied the participation of iron in the nitric oxide (NO)-mediated fungicidal mechanism against conidia. Peritoneal murine macrophages activated with 50U/mL of IFN-gamma or treated with 35 µM Deferoxamine (DEX) and infected with P. brasiliensis conidia, were co-cultured and incubated for 96 h in the presence of different concentrations of holotransferrin (HOLO) and FeS0(4). The supernatants were withdrawn in order to assess NO2 production by the Griess method. The monolayers were fixed, stained and observed microscopically. The percentage of the conidia-to-yeast transition was estimated by counting 200 intracellular propagules. IFN-gamma-activated or DEX-treated Mthetas presented marked inhibition of the conidia-to-yeast conversion (19 and 56%, respectively) in comparison with non-activated or untreated Mthetas (80%). IFN-gamma-activated macrophages produced high NO levels in comparison with the controls. Additionally, when the activated or treated-macrophages were supplemented with iron donors (HOLO or FeSO4), the inhibitory action was reversed, although NO production remained intact. These results suggest that the NO-mediated fungicidal mechanism exerted by IFN-gamma-activated macrophages against P. brasiliensis conidia, is dependent of an iron interaction.

Cytokine and nitric oxide production by mouse macrophages infected with brazilian flaviviruses

The Flaviviridae family, Flavivirus genus includes viruses that are transmitted to vertebrates by infected mosquitoes or ticks. The genus Flavivirus includes a variety of viruses that cause diseases such as acute febrile illness, encephalitis, and hemorrhagic fever. Flaviviruses primarily infect blood monocytes and tissue macrophages, which have been shown to be permissive, supporting viral replication and serving as virus reservoirs. On the other hand, these cells may have an important antiviral activity related to modulation by cytokine production and by the capacity of these cells to synthesize reactive free radicals such as nitric oxide (NO) which can have a microbicidal effect. The present study was performed in order to determine the production of cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor -alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor- beta (TGF-β) and interferon -alpha (IFN-α) and NO by macrophages infected with one of four Brazilian flaviviruses, Bussuquara virus (BUSV), Yellow Fever virus (YFV), Rocio virus (ROCV) and Encephalitis Saint Louis virus (SLEV), and to verify the possible antiviral effect of NO during macrophage infection with ROCV. Moreover, we asked if the different viruses were able to regulate bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cytokine production. Our results showed that YFV and SLEV reduced the production of IL-1β and TGF-β by LPS-stimulated macrophages, while ROCV only diminished LPS-stimulated TGF-β synthesis. On the other hand, BUSV more likely favored an enhancement of the LPS-induced production of IL-1β by macrophages. Additionally, while most of the viruses stimulated the production of IFN-α, none of them altered the production of TNF-α by murine macrophages. Interestingly, all viruses induced synthesis of NO that was not correlated with antiviral activity for ROCV.

Induction of phagocytic activity and nitric-oxide production in natural populations of Trypanosoma Cruzi I and II from the state of Paraná, Brazil

Twelve strains of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from wild reservoirs, triatomines, and chronic chagasic patients in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, and classified as T. cruzi I and II, were used to test the correlation between genetic and biological diversity. The Phagocytic Index (PI) and nitric-oxide (NO) production in vitro were used as biological parameters. The PI of the T. cruzi I and II strains did not differ significantly, nor did the PI of the T. cruzi strains isolated from humans, triatomines, or wild reservoirs. There was a statistical difference in the inhibition of NO production between T. cruzi I and II and between parasites isolated from humans and the strains isolated from triatomines and wild reservoirs, but there was no correlation between genetics and biology when the strains were analyzed independently of the lineages or hosts from which the strains were isolated. There were significant correlations for Randomly Amplified Polymorphic Deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD) and biological parameters for T. cruzi I and II, and for humans or wild reservoirs when the lineages or hosts were considered individually.

Imunização de camundongos com "vacina" viva avirulenta de Trypanosoma cruzi: IV. ensaio de esquema de "vacinação"[ign]

A parasitemia e o exame histológico revelaram que, aparentemente camundongos que receberam duas doses de "vacina" reagiram melhor a vma infecção virulenta do T. cruzi do que animais "vacinados'' uma única vez. Nestes a infecção realizada quatro ou dez semanas depois da imunização não alterou substancialmente a resposta imunitária medida pela parasitemia, percentual de mortalidade e grau da resposta tissular. Animais unicamente "vacinados", com uma ou duas doses, não apresentaram alterações histológicas diferentes das dos animais normais. Êstes mostraram quase sempre um discreto grau de inflamação crônica focal no miocáráio, e fígado.

The avirulence of the cultivated Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi: IV. The effect of immunosuppressive agents in mice

Drogas imunossupressoras (Azathioprina e Methotrexato) que se mostraram capazes de agravar infecções experimentais por Trypanosoma cruzi virulento (cepa Y), em camundongos, não conseguiram favorecer o aparecimento de qualquer sinal de infecção em animais vacinados com a cepa avirulenta PF do mesmo tripanosoma. Vinblastine, quando dado 3 dias antes da vacina, não favoreceu parasitemias positivas nem mortalidade significativamente aumentada, mas induziu o aparecimento de hemoculturas positivas. Os tripanosomas dessas culturas foram incapazes de infectar camundongos jovens. Quando o Vinblastine foi usado 15 dias após a vacinação dos animais, todos os testes foram negativos, inclusive as hemoculturas

Levantamento parasitológico realizado na cidade de Bragança Paulista (Estado de São Paulo): contribuição ao levantamento da carta planorbídica do Estado de São Paulo, IV

São apresentados os resultados do levantamento de enteroparasitos humanos realizado nas áreas Cruzeiro e Matadouro, os de pesquisa e coleta de planorbídeos na área urbana de Bragança Paulista e anotações sobre a dispersão de triatomlneos no município.

Leishmaniose tegumentar americana na Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro: IV. reservatórios doméstios

Durante um surto de Leishmaniose Tegumemar Americana (LTA) na Praia Vermelha, Ilha Grande, município de Angra dos Reis, RJ, durante o ano de 1976, os autores examinaram 64 animais domésticos sendo 38 cães e 28 gatos. Nos 38 cães examinados, constatou-se, através de exames histopatolúgicos, infecção natural pela Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana em 4 (10,52%) cães que apresentavam úlceras com invasão de mucosas localizadas no focinho.

Doença de Chagas em Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. IV. Aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos do aneurisma ventricular esquerdo

Com o objetivo de avaliar as características clínicas e epidemiológicas do aneurisma ventricular esquerdo na doença de Chagas crônica, 388 indivíduos não selecionados: 298 chagásicos e 90 não-chagásicos, foram submetidos ao exame ecocardiográfico. A função ventricular foi avaliada ao modo M através do cálculo da fração de ejeção e ao bidimensional através da análise subjetiva da função sistólica global e a contratilidade regional foi avaliada pelo modelo da Sociedade Americana de Ecocardiografia. Foram diagnosticados 56 (18,8%) aneurismas do ventrículo esquerdo, todos entre os chagásicos, sendo 38 (12,7%) no segmento apical, 10 (3,4%) no septo interventricular, 2 (0,7%) ápico-septal, 2 (0,7%) na parede posterior, 2 (0,7%) na parede inferior e 2 (0,7%) no segmento ínfero-posterior. Não houve diferença significativa nas freqüências dos aneurismas em relação à faixa etária, ao sexo e à etnia. Não houve associação entre aneurismas e hipertensão arterial. Dos 56 indivíduos com aneurismas, 55 (98,2%) eram sintomáticos com predominância de palpitações, 53 (94,6,%) apresentaram ECG anormais, com predominância de extra-sístoles ventriculares, seguidas de alterações da condução e 34 (60,7%) apresentaram comprometimento da função ventricular, sem diferença quanto ao segmento acometido. Diante destes resultados podemos considerar o aneurisma ventricular esquerdo, principalmente apical, como um marcador de doença de Chagas e um indicador da alta morbidade da infecção humana pelo T. cruzi em Virgem da Lapa.

Experimental visceral leishmaniasis in high and low antibody - producer mice (selection IV-A)

Leishmaniasis is a typical parasite infection whose protective immunity depends on macrophage activation. Susceptibility to Leishmania donovani infection was compared in H (high antibody responder) and L (low antibody responder) mice from selection IV-A. H mice infected intravenously with 10(7) amastigotes of L. donovani were more susceptible to infection than their L counterparts. This higher susceptibility was characterized by a higher splenic and hepatic parasite burden. An increased splenic index was observed in both lines after sixty days of infection. This splenomegaly was caused, at least partially, by an increase in the number of splenic cells as determined by direct counts of cells from spleen. The results show that selection IV-A is susceptible to visceral leishmaniasis, with the H line being more susceptible than the L line.