Class-I human leukocyte alleles in leprosy patients from Southern Brazil

INTRODUCTION: The present study was designed to investigate a possible role of HLA (histocompatibility leucocyte antigen) class-I alleles (HLA-A, -B, and -C) in leprosy patients from Southern Brazil. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-five patients with leprosy and 450 individuals for the control group were involved in this research. HLA genotyping was performed through PCR-SSO protocols (One Lambda, USA); the frequency of these alleles was calculated in each group by direct counting, and the frequencies were then compared. RESULTS: There was an association between HLA-A*11 (6.9% vs 4.1%, p=0.0345, OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.05-2.81), HLA-B*38 (2.7% vs. 1.1%, p=0.0402, OR=2.44, 95% CI=1.05-5.69), HLA-C*12 (9.4% vs. 5.4%, p=0.01, OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.17-2.82), and HLA-C*16 (3.1% vs. 6.5%, p=0.0124, OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.26-0.85) and leprosy per se. In addition, HLA-B*35, HLA-C*04, and HLA-C*07 frequencies were different between lepromatous (LL) and tuberculoid (TT) patients. However, after adjusting for the number of alleles compared, Pc values became nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results do not support the previous findings that HLA class-I alleles play a role in leprosy pathogenesis, we suggest new studies because of the importance of the association between the HLA and KIR in the innate immune response to leprosy.

Advanced megaesophagus (Group III) secondary to vector-borne Chagas disease in a 20-month-old infant

The authors report the case of a female infant with Group III (or Grade III) megaesophagus secondary to vector-borne Chagas disease, resulting in severe malnutrition that reversed after surgery (Heller technique). The infant was then treated with the antiparasitic drug benznidazole, and the infection was cured, as demonstrated serologically and parasitologically. After follow-up of several years without evidence of disease, with satisfactory weight and height development, the patient had her first child at age 23, in whom serological tests for Chagas disease yielded negative results. Thirty years after the initial examination, the patient's electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and chest radiography remained normal.

Production and diagnostic application of recombinant domain III of West Nile envelope protein in Brazil

INTRODUCTION: West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus with a natural cycle involving mosquitoes and birds. Over the last 11 years, WNV has spread throughout the Americas with the imminent risk of its introduction in Brazil. METHODS: Envelope protein domain III of WNV (rDIII) was bacterially expressed and purified. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with WNV rDIII antigen was standardized against mouse immune fluids (MIAFs) of different flavivirus. RESULTS: WNV rDIII reacted strongly with St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) MIAF but not with other flaviviruses. CONCLUSIONS: This antigen may be a potentially useful tool for serologic diagnosis and may contribute in future epidemiological surveillance of WNV infections in Brazil.

Investigation of class 1 integrons in Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical and microbiota isolates belonging to different phylogenetic groups in Recife, State of Pernambuco

Introduction The high prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections is related to the ability of K. pneumoniae to acquire and disseminate exogenous genes associated with mobile elements, such as R plasmids, transposons and integrons. This study investigated the presence of class 1 integrons in clinical and microbiota isolates of K. pneumoniae belonging to different phylogenetic groups and correlated these results with the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the studied isolates. Methods Of the 51 isolates of K. pneumoniae selected for this study, 29 were from multidrug-resistant clinical isolates, and 22 were from children's microbiota. The susceptibility profile was determined using the disk diffusion method, and class 1 integrons were detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The results showed that none of the 22 microbiota isolates carried class 1 integrons. Among the 29 clinical isolates, 19 (65.5%) contained class 1 integrons, and resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim was identified in 18 of these isolates (94.7%). Among the K. pneumoniae isolates with class 1 integrons, 47% belonged to the KpI phylogenetic group, and one isolate (14.3%) carrying these genetic elements belonged to the KpIII group. Conclusions The wide variety of detected class 1 integrons supports the presence of high rates of antimicrobial resistance, genetic variability, and rapid dissemination of beta-lactamase genes among K. pneumoniae clinical isolates in recent years in hospitals in Recife-PE, Brazil. The findings of this study indicate that the surveillance of K. pneumoniae integrons in clinical isolates could be useful for monitoring the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the hospital environment.

Poor response to azithromycin in cutaneous leishmaniasis leading to a premature interruption of a multicentric phase III clinical trial in Brazil

Introduction Parenteral antimony-based compounds are still the standard of care for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment in many countries, despite their high toxicity. Previous studies showed that oral azithromycin could be an option for CL treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of oral azithromycin (AZ) for CL treatment compared with injectable meglumine antimoniate (MA). Methods This was a randomized, open-label, 2-arm, non-inferiority clinical trial. Treatment-naïve patients with localized CL were treated with MA (15mg/kg/day up to 1,215mg) or AZ (500mg/day) during 20 consecutive days. The primary efficacy end point was a CL cure 90 days after treatment completion. The analysis was performed with intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. After an anticipated interim analysis, the study was interrupted due to the high failure rate in the azithromycin group. Results Twenty-four volunteers were included in each group. The MA group had a higher cure rate than the AZ group with the ITT and PP analyses, which were 54.2% versus 20.8% [relative risk (RR) 1.97; 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) 1.13-3.42] and 72.2% versus 23.8% (RR 3.03; 95%CI 1.34-6.87), respectively. No unexpected adverse events were observed. Conclusions Azithromycin is ineffective for CL treatment and does not seem to have a role in the therapeutic arsenal for CL.

Analysis of human leukocyte antigens class II-DR in Brazilian children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of human leukocyte antigens class II-DR in children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-fiveBrazilian systemic lupus erythematosus children and adolescents and 308 healthy individuals were studied. Gender, race, and age of onset of systemic lupus erythematosus were recorded. The human leukocyte antigens typing of class II-DR was carried out by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Data were analyzed statistically using the chi square test with Yates' correction, Fisher's exact test, and Bonferroni's correction. RESULTS: Human leukocyte antigen-DR 15 was the most frequently detected antigen in this group of children and adolescents, and it also occurred more frequently in the female group, in children with onset of systemic lupus erythematosus between 0 and 9 years and between 10 to 14 years, and in the Black race group, but these associations were not statistically significants. CONCLUSION: In this group of children and adolescents with a high degree of racial admixture, we could not verify a significant association between human leukocyte antigens class II-DR and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Aspectos biológicos de peixes amazônicos. III. Anatomia microscópica do esôfago, estômago e cecos pilóricos de Semaprochilodus insignis (characiformes : Prochilodontidae)

Foi descrita a constituição histológica do esófago, estômago e cecos pilóricos de Semaprochilodus insignis, um Characiforma de expressiva ocorrência na Amazônia central, onde é usualmente conhecido como "jaraqui escama-grossa". As camadas epitelial e muscular mostraram-se bastante variáveis de órgão para órgão, e mesmo em diferentes segmentos de um único órgão. O epitélio do esôfago é inicialmente estratificado pavimentoso e finalmente simples mucoso. O estômago compõe-se de uma porção descendente, revestida por glândulas gástricas, e uma ascendente, não-glandular. A camada muscular nestes dois órgãos sofre substituição gradual da estriada para a lisa, bem como a orientação dos feixes. Os cecos pilóricos, pequenos e numerosos, não apresentam nem componentes glandulares, nem absortivos. Por fim, é sugerido um mecanismo geral para a digestão, considerando o hábito alimentar dessa espécie.

Cyperaceae of Tropical America: some new or critical species III

Discussed are the taxonomy of the Scleria arundinacea-latifoliacomplex, S. mitis, and S. myricocarpa, all controversial and widespread taxa in tropical America. Scleria cerradicola is described as new in the section Hymenolytrum and a range extension of a rare species, Scleria neogranatensis, is noted.

Biology of amazonian mosquitoes. III. Esterase isozymes in Anopheles darlingi.

Six esterase isozymes were studied during the development of Anopheles darlingi by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two different substrates, a-naphthylcelate and a-naphthylpropionate. Esterases 5 and 6'were detected in all developmental stages esterases 1 and 2 were more intensively stained if larvae, while esterases 3 and 4 were better visualized in pupae and adults. Strong differences in intensity of some of the isozymes were observed during the pupal stage.Four out of the six isozymes showed variation in the electrophoretic mobility. Esterase-2 was choosed for genetic studies, because was the best stained isozyme in the gels. Two codominant alleles {Est2*S and Est2*F) code for this polymorphic system, with the Est*S frequency equal to 0.521. Phenotypic distribution is in agreement with hardy-Weinberg expectations.

Amazonian Foliicolous Fungi III. A preliminary list of Ascomycotina, mostly Dothideales, sensu lato

This paper records 65 leaf-inhabiting sac fungi collected in Amazonas and Roraima during 1977-78 as part of Projeto Flora Amazônica. Lembosia miconiae (Ryan) Farr is a new combination.

Tratamentos pré-germinativos em sementes de espécies florestais da amazônia. III .Faveira-arara-tucupi (Parkia decussata Ducke) - LEGUMINOSAE.

No presente trabalho as sementes de Faveira-arara-tucupi (Parkia decussata Ducke) foram submetidas a vários tratamentos e estudadas quanto ao poder germinativo, por meio da utilização de ácido sulfúrico concentrado por (2,5: 5; 10; 20 e 40 minutos), escari-ficação manual água quente a 8O C durante (10; 20 e 40 minutos) e água a temperatura ambiente durante (12 e 24 horas). Os tratamentos com ácido sulfúrico por 20 e 40 minutos eescarificação manual foram os mais eficientes para aumentar a germinação. Com base nestes resultados, os autores apontam como a causa provável dos problemas de germinação das sementes a impermeabilidade do tegumento ã água.

Plantas nativas de uso en medicina popular en el Paraguay. Parte III

La quimioterapia has sido un gran adelanto en Farmacologia, pero las secuelas de las racciones adversas han despertado una tendencia a volver a lo natural, especialmente hacia el reino vegetal, esto nos estimuló a la orientación de nuestra investigación para iniciar esta labor. En la primera y segunda parte se identificaron un total de 100 especues, la identificación ha comprobado que los ejemplares pertenecen a distintas familias y sus usos para combatir diveresas afecciones. Se indentificaron en esta tercera parte outras 50 especies. Se recopilaron datos sobre el uso de plantas que curar afecciones, luego se procedieron a la herborización e identificación de las especies, cuyos ejemplares se conservan en el herbario de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas de la Universidad nacional de Asunción. La identificaíon botánica y la recopilación de sus usos populares, servirán de base para posteriores investigaciones fitoquímicas y farmacológicas que es nuestro propósito.

Ações farmacológicas do acido tânico. III. Análise em outros modelos experimentais

Estudos de nosso laboratório surgerem que o ácido tânico (AT) exerce diversos efeitos "in vitro" ou "in vivo", podendo ser responsável por várias ações inespecíficas freqüentemente observadas com extratos brutos de plantas medicinais. O presente trabalho amplia estes estudos em outos modelos biológicos. A administração crônica ou aguda, por vida oral (v.o.), de AT em ratos não produziu alterações gástricas ou no processo inflamatório. Em ratos não-diabéticos observou-se modificações variáveis na glicemia de acordo com a metodologia empregada. O AT, cronicamente (v.o.), não interferiu na reprodução de fêmeas, embora constatou-se redução do número de filhotes de machos tratados. O AT (3mg/kg, v.o.) provocou aumento da diurese, porém doses mais elevadas não modificaram o volume urinário. Os testes hematológicos demonstraram que o AT possui efeito anticoagulante "in vitro", sem modificar a fragilidade de hemácias ou na homeastase sanguínea "in vivo". No músculo esquelético, o AT reduziu a resposta contrátil à acetilcolina, enquanto no músculo cardíaco (átrio esquerdo) observou-se efeito inotrópico positivo ou negativo. Estes resultados estendem os estudos anteriores e reforçam a sugestão de que parte significativa dos efeitos inespecíficos observados com extratos brutos de plantas medicinais podem estar relacionados com a presença de taninos nos mesmos.

Flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) no Estado de Roraima. III. Listagem das espécies no Estado.

Are relationed the species of sand flies collected in the State of Roraima, Βrasil.