O polimorfismo AGT*M235T na disfunção cardíaca de etiologia isquêmica aguda: projeto gisca

FUNDAMENTO: O polimorfismo AGT*M235T tem sido associado a elevados níveis séricos de angiotensinogênio (AGT), hipertensão arterial sistêmica e disfunção cardíaca (DC). OBJETIVO: Testar a hipótese de haver associação entre polimorfismo AGT*M235T e o risco de desenvolver disfunção cardíaca (insuficiência cardíaca ou disfunção sistólica ventricular esquerda assintomática) pós-síndrome coronariana aguda (SCA), durante o período de internação hospitalar. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 363 pacientes (idade média 62 ± 12 anos), sendo 233 (64%) homens e 130 (36%) mulheres, todos da mesma coorte, internados por SCA. Compararam-se dados clínicos e genéticos dos 117 (32,2%) que evoluíram com disfunção cardíaca (grupo caso) com os dos 246 (67,8%), que não desenvolveram tal condição (grupo controle). O polimorfismo AGT*M235T foi determinado por análise de sequenciamento e estava em equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença significativa na distribuição dos genótipos nas mulheres, com predomínio do genótipo *235MM no grupo controle (p = 0,001) e do alelo *235T no grupo caso. Em ambos os sexos, nos modelos de regressão logística, o diagnóstico de infarto de parede anterior na admissão foi fator de incremento no risco de DC, enquanto angina instável na admissão, ausência do alelo *235T, glicemia < 100 mg/dl, uso de betabloqueador, creatinina sérica < 1,5 mg/dl, faixa de frequência cardíaca > 60 e < 90 bpm e tabagismo atual foram fatores de redução do risco de DC. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo sugere que a ausência do alelo *235T do AGT contribui para a redução do risco de disfunção cardíaca pós-síndrome coronariana aguda.

Adubação foliar do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum, L., var. I.A.C.12), com nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio avaliada pela produção e diagnose foliar

Aplicações de adubos por via foliar no algodoeiro tem sido feitas em outros países; porém, no Brasil, tal prática encontra-se no inicio. Com o presente trabalho, foi estudado o efeito da adubação foliar nos aumentos de produção e foi estabelecido correlações entre a produção e as concentrações de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio, nos pecíolos das folhas de ramos produtivos e não produtivos.

Influência da adubação foliar com NPK, na cultura algodoeira (G. hirsutum L. var. IAC-12), sobre a qualidade da fibra e da semente

Aplicações de fertilizantes por via foliar e ao solo foram comparados na cultura algodoeira, utilizando-se a variedade IAC-12, com a finalidade de se estudar uma influência sobre alguns caracteres físicos da fibra e da semente. Tanto na adubação ao solo, como na foliar, foram utilizados como fonte de nitrogênio, a uréia (46%N), como fonte de fósforo, o superfosfato concentrado (45% P2O2) e como fonte de potássio, o cloreto de potássio (60% K2O). Os resultados obtidos mostram que entre as características físicas da análise da fibra, encontrou-se um efeito positivo no comprimento da fibra, resistência da fibra, resistência do fio e maior peso de semente (índice de semente) quando o cloreto de potássio foi aplicado por via foliar. Quanto à uniformidade da fibra e ao índice de finura, não houve influência da adubação foliar com nenhum dos três elementos. Nestes casos, a adubação ao solo, proporcionou melhores resultados. Deve-se ressaltar que com a dose mais alta de fósforo (60 kg de P2O5/ha), o valor do índice de finura foi maior. O adubo nitrogenado na dose de 40 kg de N/ha, influenciou na resistência da fibra (Pressley).

Nutrição mineral do gergelim (Sesamum indicum L): II - Concentração e acúmulo de micronutrientes em condições de campo

Tendo-se como objetivo conhecer o comportamento nutricional da cultura de Gergelim (Sesamum indicum L.), instalou-se um ensaio no campo experimental do Departamento de Agricultura e Horticultura, da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" da Universidade de São Paulo, visando determinar as concentrações e acúmulo de micronutrientes pelo cultivar Venezuela em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento, e avaliar a exportação pela colheita. O experimento foi conduzido no decorrer do ano agrícola 1981/1982, num solo Terra Roxa Estruturada, Série Luiz de Queiroz. O delineamento estatístico foi inteiramente casualizado, com um cultivar, oito épocas de amostragem e quatro repetições. As primeiras amostras foram coletadas 28 dias após a emergência das plantulas (desbaste) e as demais em intervalos regulares de 12 dias, de tal maneira que sempre houvessem outras quatro competitivas na fileira. No material coletado (folha, caule e fruto), determinou-se os teores e acúmulo de micronutrientes, com exceção do molibdênio e cloro. Concluiu-se que: - a concentração dos micronutrientes foi sempre maior nas folhas do que nos caules; - a acumulação dos micronutrientes foi sempre maior nas folhas do que nos caules, com exceção do zinco; - a concentração dos micronutrientes nos órgãos amostrados, ocorreu na seguinte ordem: Folha: Fe(772,46ppm) > Mn(311,83ppm) > Zn(117,20ppm) > B(95,33ppm) > Cu(22,99 ppm). Caule: Fe(528,08ppm) > Mn(148,41ppm) > B (72,28ppm) > Zn(65,09ppm) > Cu(15,89 ppm). Fruto: Fe(282,24ppm) > B(4104ppm) > Mn (30,87ppm) > Zn(22,04ppm) > Cu(l6,33 ppm). - A acumulação total dos micronutrientes pela planta inteira foi crescente com a idade até os 112 dias, com exceção do B nas folhas e B e Fe nos caules; - a acumulação pela planta (mg/planta) foi em ordem decrescente: Fe(13M2) > Mn(21,64) > Zn(10,54) > B(8,01) > Cu(3,81); - a exportação através da colheita (mg/planta) foi em ordem decrescente: Fe(67J7) > B(3,92) > Mn(3,75) > Zn (2,67) > Cu(1,54).

Comparison of purified 12 kDa and recombinant 15 kDa Fasciola hepatica antigens related to a Schistosoma mansoni fatty acid binding protein

Vaccines in schistosomiasis using homologous antigens have been studied extensively in experimentally infected mammalian hosts. Vaccines using heterologous antigens have received comparatively less attention. This review summarizes recent work on a heterologous 12 kDa Fasciola hepatica antigenic polypeptide which cross reacts with Schistosoma mansoni. A cDNA has been cloned and sequenced, and the predicted amino acid sequence of the recombinant protein has been shown to have significant (44) identity with a 14 kDa S. mansoni fatty acid binding protein. Thus in the parasitic trematodes fatty acid binding proteins may be potential vaccine candidates. The F. hepatica recombinant protein has been overexpressed and purified and denoted rFh15. Preliminary rFh15 migrates more slowly (i.e. may be slightly larger) than nFh12 on SDS-PAGE and has a predicted pI of 6.01 vs. observed pI of 5.45. Mice infected with F. hepatica develop antibodies to nFh12 by 2 weeks of infection vs. 6 weeks of infection to rFh15; on the other hand, mice with schistosomiasis mansoni develop antibodies to both nFh12 and rFh15 by 6 weeks of infection. Both the F. hepatica and S. mansoni cross-reactive antigens may be cross-protective antigens with the protection inducing capability against both species.

The debate over the effector function of eosinophils in helminth infection: new evidence from studies on the regulation of vaccine immunity by IL-12

The production of Th1-type cytokines is associated with strong cell-mediated immunity while Th2-type cytokines are typically involved in the generation of humoral immune responses. In mice vaccinated a single time (1X) with attenuated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni, the immunity induced is highly dependent on CD4+ T cells and IFN-gamma. In contrast, mice vaccinated multiple times (3X) have decreased IFN-gamma expression, develop a more dominant Th2-type cytokine response as well as protective antibodies which can passively transfer immunity to naive recipients. Previously, we demonstrated the ability of IL-12, a potent IFN-gamma-inducing cytokine to enhance (1X) schistosome cell-mediated immunity when administered during the period of immunization. More recently, we asked what effects IL-12 would have on the development humoral-based immunity. While multiply-immunized/saline-treated mice demonstrated a 70-80% reduction in parasite burden, 3X/IL-12-vaccinated animals displayed an even more striking >90% reduction in challenge infection, with many mice in the later group demonstrating complete protection. Analysis of pulmonary cytokine mRNA responses demonstrated that control challenged mice elicited a dominant Th2-type response, 3X/saline-vaccinated produced a mixed Th1/Th2-type cytokine response, while 3X/IL-12-immunized animals displayed a dominant Th1-type response. The IL-12-treated group also showed a marked reduction in total serum IgE and tissue eosinophilia while SWAP-specific IgG2a and IgG2b Abs were elevated. Interestingly, animals vaccinated with IL-12 also showed a highly significant increase in total Ig titers specific for IrV-5, a known protective antigen. More importantly, 3X/IL-12 serum alone, when transferred to naive mice reduced worm burdens by over 60% while 3X/saline serum transferred significantly less protection. Nevertheless, animals vaccinated in the presence of IL-12 also develop macrophages with enhanced nitric oxide dependent killing activity against the parasites. Together, these observations suggest that IL-12, initially described as an adjuvant for cell-mediated immunity, may also be used as an adjuvant for promoting both humoral and cell-mediated protective responses.

Risk of death due to chronic chagasic cardiopathy

In this longitudinal study 5,710 people were included. The inclusion criteria were two positive serological results for Trypanosoma cruzi infection, 15 and 50 years old and no other demostrable diesease at the time of study. In the five year follow up 1,117 patients were lost. The follow up involved yearly evaluation of serology, clinical examination, X-ray of torax, and ECG, for 4,593 patients and 263 were contacted at home because they did not assist for their clinical consultant. Time average of follow up was 5.3 years. Eighty nine (1.5%) of the 4,593 patients died during the follow-up period, 63 (71%) by cardiac insufiency (CI) and 26 (29%) by severe ventricular arrithmias. Diagnosis of cardiomegaly was present in all the patients with diagnosis of CI and in 15 (5%) of the patients with diagnosis of arrithmias.The ECG alterations of these pacients show 61 right bundle brunch block (RBBB), associated or not with left anterior hemiblock (LAHB), 47 pathological Q wave and 70 primary repolarization alterations; 61 had polyfocal ventricular arrithmia. The death rate was similar in the sexes and was more frequent between 40 and 50 years of age. Information on 1,380 recuperated patients shows that 15 died with no previous symptoms and without medical assistance and were interpretate as sudden death. The latest ECG in three follow-up of these pacients indicates (before death) that only one had normal study and 14 presented 12 RBBB; 9 LAHB; 7 isolated ventricular arrithmia; 10 repolariz alterations; 2 patological Q wave, 10 patients of them with RBBB and repolariz alterations. In all the cases we had people between 35 and 43 years old, 9 men and 6 women. This study shows that in Chagas disease is possible to differenciate two risk groups. A low risk death group that have normal ECG and clinical evaluation during the follow up, and a high risk group associate ECG with RBBB and primary alterations of repolarization and/or inactivation zones with not anual clinical evaluation.

Life cycle and reproductive parameters of Clerada apicicornis signoret (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) under laboratory conditions

The life cycle of Clerada apicicornis was determined under laboratory conditions. Mean development times in days were: egg 27.2, nymph I 12.5, nymph II 12, nymph III 13.4, nymph IV 16.4, nymph V 26. The life expectancy of adults ranged from 117 to 317 days (mean 196 days). Based on a cohort of 29 females of C. apicicornis, a horizontal life table was constructed. The following predictive parameters were obtained: net rate of reproduction (Ro = 48.31), intrinsic rate of population increase (r m = 0.153), generation time (Tc = 28.20 weeks), and finite rate of population increment (lambda = 1.16). The reproductive value (Vx) for each age class of the cohort females was calculated. The following observed parameters were calculated after mortality in each stage: net rate of reproduction (R'o=13.4), intrinsic rate of population increase (r c' =0.09 ), and finite rate of population increment (lambda' =1.1). The generation time (Tc' =27.4) was estimated using the methods of Laughlin and Bengstron. A vertical life table was elaborated and mortality was described for one generation of the cohort.

Leishmania braziliensis: partial control of experimental infection by interleukin-12 p40 deficient mice

Resistance to infection by Leishmania major has been associated with the development of a Th1 type response that is dependent on the presence of interleukin 12 (IL-12). In this work the involvement of this cytokine in the response to infection by L. braziliensis, a less virulent species in the mouse model, was evaluated. Our results show that while interferon (IFN-g) deficient (-/-) mice inoculated L. braziliensis develop severe uncontrolled lesions, chronic lesions that remained under control up to 12 weeks of infection were observed in IL-12p40 -/- mice. IL 12p40 -/- mice had fewer parasites in their lesions than IFN-g-/- mice. Lymph node cells from IL-12p40 -/- were capable of producing low but consistent levels of IFN-g suggestive of its involvement in parasite control. Furthermore, as opposed to previous reports on L. major-infected animals, no switch to a Th2 response was observed in IL-12p40 -/- infected with L. braziliensis.