Evaluation of indirect susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to the first- and second-line, and alternative drugs by the newer MB/BacT system

In order to evaluate the Organon Teknika MB/BacT system used for testing indirect susceptibility to the alternative drugs ofloxacin (OFLO), amikacin (AMI), and rifabutin (RIF), and to the usual drugs of standard treatment regimes such as rifampin (RMP), isoniazid (INH), pyrazinamide (PZA), streptomycin (SM), ethambutol (EMB), and ethionamide (ETH), cultures of clinical specimens from 117 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under multidrug-resistant investigation, admitted sequentially for examination from 2001 to 2002, were studied. Fifty of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures were inoculated into the gold-standard BACTEC 460 TB (Becton Dickinson) for studying resistance to AMI, RIF, and OFLO, and the remaining 67 were inoculated into Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium (the gold standard currently used in Brazil) for studying resistance to RMP, INH, PZA, SM, EMB, and ETH. We observed 100% sensitivity for AMI (80.8-100), RIF (80.8-100), and OFLO (78.1-100); and 100% specificity for AMI (85.4-100), RIF (85.4-100), and OFLO (86.7-100) compared to the BACTEC system. Comparing the results obtained in LJ we observed 100% sensitivity for RMP (80-100), followed by INH - 95% (81.8-99.1), EMB - 94.7% (71.9-99.7), and 100% specificity for all drugs tested except for PZA - 98.3 (89.5-99.9) at 95% confidence interval. The results showed a high level of accuracy and demonstrated that the fully automated, non-radiometric MB/BacT system is indicated for routine use in susceptibility testing in public health laboratories.

Therapy of Venezuelan patients with severe mucocutaneous or early lesions of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis with a vaccine containing pasteurized Leishmania promastigotes and bacillus Calmette-Guerin: preliminary report

Severe mucocutaneous (MCL) and diffuse (DCL) forms of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) are infrequent in Venezuela. Chemotherapy produces only transitory remission in DCL, and occasional treatment failures are observed in MCL. We have evaluated therapy with an experimental vaccine in patients with severe leishmaniasis. Four patients with MCL and 3 with early DCL were treated with monthly intradermal injections of a vaccine containing promastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis killed by pasteurization and viable Bacillus Calmette- Guerin. Clinical and immunological responses were evaluated. Integrity of protein constituents in extracts of pasteurized promastigotes was evaluated by gel electrophoresis. Complete remission of lesions occurred after 5-9 injections in patients with MCL or 7-10 injections in patients with early DCL. DCL patients developed positive skin reactions, average size 18.7 mm. All have been free of active lesions for at least 10 months. Adverse effects of the vaccine were limited to local reactivity to BCG at the injection sites and fever in 2 patients. Extracts of pasteurized and fresh promastigotes did not reveal differences in the integrity of protein components detectable by gel electrophoresis. Immunotherapy with this modified vaccine offers an effective, safe option for the treatment of patients who do not respond to immunotherapy with vaccine containing autoclaved parasites or to chemotherapy .

Cytokine profile associated with human chronic schistosomiasis mansoni

This study objective was to evaluate the cytokines associated with early events of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis mansoni. Hepatic fibrosis was classified by ultrasonography in 94 patients. Immunological evaluation was performed by measurement of secreted cytokines (interleukin IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factors-beta) in peripherl blood mononuclear cells stimulated by Schistosoma mansoni antigens. Significantly, higher levels of IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13 were found in supernatants of SEA-stimulated PBMC from subjects with degree III hepatic fibrosis as compared to patients with degree I or II fibrosis, Significant increases in IL-5 and IL-13 levels were also observed in some of the subjects who remained untreated for one year following initial assessment and developed more serious fibrosis during this period. The data suggests a role for type 2 cytokines in early stages of hepatic fibrosis in human schistosomiasis mansoni.

Serological survey of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale antibodies in cattle from the semi-arid region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays

The objectives of this work were to determine the prevalence of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale detecting antibodies in cattle raised in the semi-arid region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, through indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and to compare the performances of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with crude (I-ELISA-CrAnaAg) and recombinant major surface protein-5 (I-ELISA-MSP-5Ag), as antigens to detect antibodies against A. marginale. An stable enzootic area was found in Senhor do Bonfim and Euclides da Cunha for B. bovis that showed 86 and 95.5% of prevalence, respectively, and for B. bigemina with 90.8 and 91.3%. On the other hand, Uauá and Juazeiro, were characterized as enzootically unstable areas, since prevalences were: B. bovis - 63.7 and 56.4% and B. bigemina - 53 and 54.8%, respectively. The prevalence of A. marginale in the four municipalities was above 97% with I-ELISA-CrAnaAg and 94.8% with I-ELISA-MSP-5Ag which is an indication of stable enzootic condition for the rickettsia. The I-ELISA-CrAnaAg and I-ELISA-MSP-5Ag showed a highly significant association (r = 0.977), which means that both ELISA tests are suitable for epidemiological studies of A. marginale.

HBV markers in haemodialysis Brazilian patients: a prospective 12-month follow-up

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among haemodialysis (HD) subjects and to evaluate whether testing for serological markers at the time of admission is suitable for HBV screening in this population. One hundred twenty-three patients belonging to two HD centres from São Paulo, Brazil, were tested prospectively. HBV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in each of the prospective subjects (n = 123) during one year. Additionally, all samples (n = 1,476) were analysed for HBV serological markers. The prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA were 34.1%, 15.4% and 8.1%, respectively, while the incidence was null. Fluctuation in HBV serology was observed in one patient. Only 37.8% (17/45) of cases responded to the HBV vaccine. Our results suggest that employing more than one HBV marker and repeated follow-up evaluations may improve HBV screening in HD units.

Mycobacterial laminin-binding histone-like protein mediates collagen-dependent cytoadherence

When grown in the presence of exogenous collagen I, Mycobacterium bovis BCG was shown to form clumps. Scanning electron microscopy examination of these clumps revealed the presence of collagen fibres cross-linking the bacilli. Since collagen is a major constituent of the eukaryotic extracellular matrices, we assayed BCG cytoadherence in the presence of exogenous collagen I. Collagen increased the interaction of the bacilli with A549 type II pneumocytes or U937 macrophages, suggesting that BCG is able to recruit collagen to facilitate its attachment to host cells. Using an affinity chromatography approach, we have isolated a BCG collagen-binding protein corresponding to the previously described mycobacterial laminin-binding histone-like protein (LBP/Hlp), a highly conserved protein associated with the mycobacterial cell wall. Moreover, Mycobacterium leprae LBP/Hlp, a well-characterized adhesin, was also able to bind collagen I. Finally, using recombinant fragments of M. leprae LBP/Hlp, we mapped the collagen-binding activity within the C-terminal domain of the adhesin. Since this protein was already shown to be involved in the recognition of laminin and heparan sulphate-containing proteoglycans, the present observations reinforce the adhesive activities of LBP/Hlp, which can be therefore considered as a multifaceted mycobacterial adhesin, playing an important role in both leprosy and tuberculosis pathogenesis.

Tuberculosis patients co-infected with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an urban area of Brazil

In this cross-sectional study, mycobacteria specimens from 189 tuberculosis (TB) patients living in an urban area in Brazil were characterised from 2008-2010 using phenotypic and molecular speciation methods (pncA gene and oxyR pseudogene analysis). Of these samples, 174 isolates simultaneously grew on Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) and Stonebrink (SB)-containing media and presented phenotypic and molecular profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whereas 12 had molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis based on the DNA analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin wax-embedded tissue samples (paraffin blocks). One patient produced two sputum isolates, the first of which simultaneously grew on LJ and SB media and presented phenotypic and molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis, and the second of which only grew on SB media and presented phenotypic profiles of Mycobacterium bovis. One patient provided a bronchial lavage isolate, which simultaneously grew on LJ and SB media and presented phenotypic and molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis, but had molecular profiles of M. bovis from paraffin block DNA analysis, and one sample had molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis identified from two distinct paraffin blocks. Moreover, we found a low prevalence (1.6%) of M. bovis among these isolates, which suggests that local health service procedures likely underestimate its real frequency and that it deserves more attention from public health officials.

Evaluation of Haemophilus influenzaetype b carrier status among children 10 years after the introduction of Hib vaccine in Brazil

The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of Haemophilus influenzaetype b (Hib) nasopharyngeal (NP) colonisation among healthy children where Hib vaccination using a 3p+0 dosing schedule has been routinely administered for 10 years with sustained coverage (> 90%). NP swabs were collected from 2,558 children who had received the Hib vaccine, of whom 1,379 were 12-< 24 months (m) old and 1,179 were 48-< 60 m old. Hi strains were identified by molecular methods. Hi carriage prevalence was 45.1% (1,153/2,558) and the prevalence in the 12-< 24 m and 48-< 60 m age groups were 37.5% (517/1,379) and 53.9% (636/1,179), respectively. Hib was identified in 0.6% (16/2,558) of all children in the study, being 0.8% (11/1,379) and 0.4% (5/1,179) among the 12-< 24 m and 48-< 60 m age groups, respectively. The nonencapsulate Hi colonisation was 43% (n = 1,099) and was significantly more frequent at 48-< 60 m of age (51.6%, n = 608) compared with that at 12-< 24 m of age (35.6%, n = 491). The overall resistance rates to ampicillin and chloramphenicol were 16.5% and 3.7%, respectively; the co-resistance was detected in 2.6%. Our findings showed that the Hib carrier rate in healthy children under five years was very low after 10 years of the introduction of the Hib vaccine.

A adesão ao tratamento na hipertensão arterial: análise da produção científica

O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a produção científica publicada entre 1991 e 1995, para identificar como o assunto adesão ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo vem sendo abordado. Foram analisados 107 artigos científicos. Os resultados mostraram que a adesão foi abordada da seguinte maneira: 68% relacionaram ao paciente, 63% ao tratamento farmacológico, 62% a aspectos gerais, 39% ao tratamento não farmacológico, 34% a fatores institucionais, e 8% relativos à, doença. A adesão ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo tem sido um desafio no controle da hipertensão arterial e conhecer como este assunto está sendo enfocado na literatura pode contribuir para aumentar adesão ao tratamento na hipertensão arterial.

A pressão arterial está sendo medida?

A medida da pressão arterial faz parte do exame físico e deve ser realizada em toda consulta médica. Para avaliar se a pressão arterial é medida nas consultas médicas, foram consultados 500 prontuários de pacientes de primeira consulta ambulatorial, sendo 335 (67%) provenientes de clínicas médicas e cirúrgicas e 165 (33%) das clínicas ginecológica e obstétrica. A pressão arterial foi anotada em 39% das consultas realizadas (135±32/85±19 mm Hg), sendo que em 11% destas anotações a pressão diastólica estava acima de 90 mm Hg. Em relação ao diagnóstico prévio de hipertensão arterial verificou-se que: a) em 62% dos prontuários não havia esta informação; b) 20% referiram ter hipertensão, e em 79% destes a pressão arterial foi anotada; e c) 18% referiram não ter hipertensão e 46% destes tiveram registro da pressão arterial. Portanto, a maior parte dos pacientes não teve sua pressão arterial anotada.

Comparação dos perfis dos pacientes hipertensos atendidos em Pronto-Socorro e em tratamento ambulatorial

O estudo comparou 100 hipertensos atendidos no Pronto-socorro com 100 pacientes do Ambulatório. Os hipertensos do Pronto-Socorro foram diferentes (p < 0,05) em relação a: maior pressão arterial; menor renda salarial; maior consumo de bebida alcoólica; não pertenciam à comunidade do hospital; descobriram ser hipertensos por sentirem-se mal; mediram menos a pressão; e deixaram de tomar mais medicamentos. A análise multivariada revelou diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos quanto à renda, ao local onde é medida a pressão e não tomar os medicamentos. Concluiu-se que características desfavoráveis podem contribuir para não realizar o tratamento anti-hipertensivo, levando a atendimentos em unidades de emergência.

O conhecimento de profissionais da área da saúde sobre a medida da pressão arterial

Avaliou-se o conhecimento teórico e prático de 110 auxiliares de enfermagem, 44 médicos e 25 enfermeiros, por meio de 15 questões de múltipla escolha e pela observação do procedimento da medida da pressão arterial. O percentual de acerto quanto ao conhecimento teórico foi de 32%±12% para os auxiliares de enfermagem, 44%±14% para os enfermeiros e 56%±13% para os médicos, sendo que todos foram estatisticamente diferentes entre si (p<0,05). Quanto ao conhecimento prático, este foi de 41%±6% para os auxiliares de enfermagem, 44%±10% para os enfermeiros e 50%±12% para os médicos, sendo que os médicos apresentarem resultados significativamente superiores (p<0,05). Conclui-se que o conhecimento foi pouco satisfatório.

Instrumento de avaliação da qualidade de vida para hipertensos de Bulpitt e Fletcher

Este estudo realizou a tradução para o português e a validação do questionário específico para avaliação da qualidade de vida em hipertensos de Bulpitt e Fletcher. A tradução e o back-translation foram realizados por 4 professores de inglês e a versão final submetida a um corpo de juizes. Questões com Índice de Validade de Conteúdo menor que 80% foram modificadas e reavaliadas. O questionário foi aplicado em 110 hipertensos ambulatoriais (52 ± 8 anos, 65% mulheres, pressão arterial 128±17/ 75±13 mmHg), que também responderam ao SF-36, e em 20 normotensos, com características semelhantes às dos hipertensos. Os domínios do SF-36 e do instrumento de Bulpitt e Fletcher se correlacionaram (p<0,05), exceto em relação a aspectos sociais (r=0,07, p=0,44) e a estado geral de saúde (r=0,04, p=0,61). Os hipertensos apresentaram mais respostas positivas a sintomas (40%) do que os normotensos (15%). O instrumento foi validado e está apto para ser usado em nosso meio.

Agravos à saúde, hipertensão arterial e predisposição ao estresse em motoristas de caminhão

O estudo investigou agravos à saúde que predispõem ao estresse com o uso do Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) que avalia possíveis transtornos mentais comuns não psicóticos e identificar a associação com a hipertensão arterial. A amostra foi de 258 motoristas profissionais de transporte de cargas em uma rodovia brasileira (37,5±10,0 anos), 55% ingeriam bebidas alcoólicas, 37% com hipertensão arterial e 57% referiram já ter usado remédios para manter estado de alerta. Os motoristas referiram sentirem-se nervosos, tensos ou preocupados (56%), dormirem mal (47%), dores de cabeça (37%), terem dificuldade de tomar decisões (38%) e dificuldade de pensar com clareza (20%). Obteve-se como resultados que 33% eram portadores de possíveis transtornos mentais comuns e houve associação (p<0,05) com referência de cansaço, diminuição da concentração, considerar-se nervoso ou estressado, ter problemas pessoais ou no trabalho e transportar carga de horário. Não houve associação com hipertensão arterial. Conclui-se que foi expressiva a presença de prováveis transtornos mentais comuns provavelmente decorrentes das condições estressantes de trabalho.

Perfil da violência contra mulheres atendidas na Pousada de Maria

Pesquisa exploratória, retrospectiva, realizada na Pousada de Maria, em Curitiba, em 2007. Teve como objetivo caracterizar o perfil da violência praticada contra mulheres residentes na Pousada de Maria, durante os anos de 1993 à 2007. Os dados foram obtidos através da análise de 886 fichas de registro das vítimas, transcritos para um instrumento construído para a pesquisa. As vítimas tinham idade entre 18 e 88 anos, baixa escolaridade, e sofreram violência física, psicológica, sexual e estrutural, principalmente pelos companheiros e pessoas conhecidas. Convivem com a violência para manter a união familiar, e rompem com ela na existência de programas sociais e abrigos. A violência é um fenômeno frequente entre mulheres solteiras, com ensino fundamental incompleto: 24,6% delas sofreram violência física, 24,15%, psicológica, 14,22%, violência estrutural. As solteiras, amasiadas e casadas devem ser inseridas como grupo de risco e objeto de atenção, pelos profissionais de saúde no planejamento de ações preventivas.