Evaluation of CD4+CD25+ T lymphocyte response time kinetics in patients with chronic Chagas disease after in vitro stimulation with recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi antigens

Introduction CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes have been implicated in the regulation of host inflammatory response against Trypanosoma cruzi, and may be involved in the clinical course of the disease. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic Chagas disease were cultured in the presence of T. cruzi recombinant antigens and assayed for lymphocytes at distinct time points. Results It was possible to differentiate clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease at days 3 and 5 according to presence of CD4+CD25+ T cells in cell cultures. Conclusions Longer periods of cell culture proved to be potentially valuable for prospective evaluations of CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes in patients with chronic Chagas disease.

Use of Poisson spatiotemporal regression models for the Brazilian Amazon Forest: malaria count data

INTRODUCTION: Malaria is a serious problem in the Brazilian Amazon region, and the detection of possible risk factors could be of great interest for public health authorities. The objective of this article was to investigate the association between environmental variables and the yearly registers of malaria in the Amazon region using Bayesian spatiotemporal methods. METHODS: We used Poisson spatiotemporal regression models to analyze the Brazilian Amazon forest malaria count for the period from 1999 to 2008. In this study, we included some covariates that could be important in the yearly prediction of malaria, such as deforestation rate. We obtained the inferences using a Bayesian approach and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods to simulate samples for the joint posterior distribution of interest. The discrimination of different models was also discussed. RESULTS: The model proposed here suggests that deforestation rate, the number of inhabitants per km², and the human development index (HDI) are important in the prediction of malaria cases. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to conclude that human development, population growth, deforestation, and their associated ecological alterations are conducive to increasing malaria risk. We conclude that the use of Poisson regression models that capture the spatial and temporal effects under the Bayesian paradigm is a good strategy for modeling malaria counts.

Response of young 'Tahiti' lime trees to different irrigation levels

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation levels on canopy and root growth, productivity, and fruit quality of young ‘Tahiti’ acid lime trees. The experiment was installed in Piracicaba, Brazil in a 1.0-ha orchard plot with ‘Tahiti’ acid lime trees, grafted on ‘Swingle’ citrumelo rootstock and carried out from August of 2002 to May 2005. Each treatment was assigned to a drip irrigation level, based on ETc as follows: T1) non-irrigated, T2) 25%, T3) 50%, T4) 75% and T5) 100% of ETc determined by weighing lysimeter presented in the orchard plot. Trunk diameter and tree height were evaluated monthly. The roots were evaluated when the trees were 30 and 48 months old. The yield and fruit quality was evaluated in 2004 and 2005. The results showed that irrigation did not influence root distribution in depth, and trees irrigated with 75% and 100% ETc showed horizontal root distribution concentrated until 0.6 m from the trunk. Irrigation did not improve the quality of fruit. Yield increased in all irrigated treatment, but the most efficient yield mean per unit of water applied was the 25% ETc treatment.

Prevalence of neurocognitive disorders and depression in a Brazilian HIV population

AbstractINTRODUCTION:Combined antiretroviral therapy has enabled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carriers to live longer. This increased life expectancy is associated with the occurrence of degenerative diseases, including HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which are diagnosed via a complex neuropsychological assessment. The International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) is a screening instrument validated in Brazil for use in the absence of neuropsychological evaluation. HIV patients are frequently diagnosed with depression. We aimed to determine the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment using the IHDS and depressive disorders using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17), compare the IHDS performance with the performances on the Timed Gait Test (TGT), the Digit Symbol Coding Test (DS) and the Brazilian version of the Scale of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and evaluate the association between the IHDS performance and clinical-demographic variables.METHODS:One hundred fourteen patients were evaluated in a cross-sectional study conducted in a public outpatient clinic for infectious diseases in Marília City, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected following consultation. Statistical analysis was performed in accordance with the nature and distribution of the data and hypotheses.RESULTS:According to the IHDS, 53.2% of the sampled patients were neuropsychologically impaired. According to the HAM-D17, 26.3% had depressive disorders. There were significant associations between the IHDS and the TGT and DS. Multiple regression analysis indicated that female gender, educational level, and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) levels were significantly and independently associated with neurocognitive impairment.CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of neurocognitive impairment according to the IHDS is high and associated with female gender, education level, and low CD4 levels.

Comparative morphology of the tongue in free-tailed bats (Chiroptera, Molossidae)

Descriptive and comparative studies on tongue of nineteen Molossidae, one Mystacinidae, and four Vespertilionidae bats species were carried out. Analysis was restricted to the external morphology, covering general shape of the tongue and its papillae. Types of papillae and their distribution presented considerable intergeneric variation, considering the strictly insectivorous feeding habits of these bats. Distribution of the data of tongue morphology is analyzed and compared with the phylogenetic schemes proposed previously and comments about evolutionary relationships among taxa were done.

Population ecology of the multivoltine Neotropical gall midge Eugeniamyia dispar (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae)

Our understanding of the population ecology of insect gallers is largely built on examples from temperate zones, but tropical and subtropical gallers may present distinct patterns of abundance and distribution across time. Eugeniamyia dispar Maia, Mendonça & Romanowski, 1996 is a multivoltine Neotropical cecidomyiid that induces spongy leaf galls on Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae). Galls were censused in the urban area of Porto Alegre, southern Brazil on six plants at two sites, for two years, at roughly weekly intervals. Overall 9,694 eggs, galling attempts and galls were counted. New galls continuously appear on developing leaves, but galls with live inducers are absent from June to at least early August. Galls on a same shoot develop synchronically, thus the shoot is probably the unit for oviposition. Given the also synchronic appearance of galls on different plants on a site, it seems midges can disperse and attack close-by plants. Gall cohorts varied in abundance by two orders of magnitude; there were more galls during summer than for spring and autumn, in a wave-like pattern. Host plant leaf production was seasonal, with low production during winter and cyclic production during the rest of the year. Perhaps because of this very variable pattern, gall abundance did not follow leaf production: this galler is not synchronised with its host at least during most of the year. This multivoltine gall inducer with "labile" galls, short development time, partially overlapping generations and low host synchronisation differs from the commonly studied species of the temperate regions providing a subject for ecological comparisons.

Ecological Aspects of Phebotomine (Diptera, Psychodidae) in an Endemic Area of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in the Northeastern Argentina, 1993-1998

The first epidemic tegumentary leishmaniasis´ outbreak in the province of Misiones was recorded in 1998, in the locality of Puerto Esperanza. Phlebotominae collected in the region, previously or simultaneously to the outbreak (September 1993-December 1998) showed that the species Lutzomyia intermedia s. l. was prevalent (94%, n 6,150) at all the sites sampled with miniature light trap (10) and Shannon trap (3). L. pessoai, L. whitmani, L. migonei, L. shannoni, L. fischeri, L. misionensis, Brumptomyia avellari and B. guimaraesi were also captured. Sand fly distribution in time and space suggests that in the province of Misiones (1) the species already present before 1990 could give rise to the epidemic by the density/dispersion fluctuation of their local populations; (2) the abundance of L. intermedia s. l. was associated with environments with ecotones of primary-secondary vegetation, close to water bodies and with moderate human disturbance; (3) this species showed, towards the end of 1997, peaks of exceptional abundance, subsequent to rainfall peaks in 1996. This increase in abundance of potential vector sand fly populations close to houses with colonizable surroundings could have generated the 1998 epidemic outbreak.

Temporal variability of soil water content under different surface conditions in the semiarid region of the Pernambuco state

Rainfall in the semiarid region of Pernambuco is characterized by irregular distribution in time and space, which significantly hinders the rainfed agriculture in the region. This work aims to evaluate the temporal profile of soil moisture in the semiarid region of the Pernambuco State (Brazil) and the effect of different soil surface conditions on soil water content variation and the yield of rainfed beans. To monitor soil water content, five plots 4.5 m wide by 11 m long were installed in a Yellow Argisol (Ultisol). The following treatments were adopted in the experimental plots: natural vegetation, bean intercropped with cactus, beans planted down the slope, beans planted along contour lines with mulch and rock barriers, and bare soil. In each plot, eight PVC access tubes were installed for monitoring the soil water content profile at depths of 0.20 and 0.40 m using a neutron probe device. The surface condition significantly influenced the soil water content variation, both in the dry and rainy seasons. The use of mulch, associated with rock barriers, provided higher soil water content levels than the other treatments and increased the rainfed beans production.

Relationship between anxiety and overactive bladder syndrome in older women

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between overactive bladder syndrome and anxiety in older women.METHODS: Of the 198 older women who were invited, 29 were excluded and 166 were then divided into two groups according to the Advanced Questionnaire of Overactive Bladder (OAB-V8): one group with overactive bladder symptoms (OAB-V8≥8) and the other without the symptoms of an overactive bladder (OAB-V8<8). The purpose was to conduct a frequency analysis and to investigate the relation of the social demographic data and anxiety in the two groups. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used to evaluate the level of anxiety. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the distribution of the data. The differences between the two groups for the continuous variables were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test, the differences for the categorical variables were analyzed by the Chi-Square test and the association between the continuous variables was analyzed by the Spearman Correlation test. The tests were two-tailed with a confidence level of 5%.RESULTS: Overall, the frequency of an overactive bladder was present in 117 (70.5%) of the participants. The body mass index (BMI) of the group with overactive bladder symptoms was significantly higher than the BMI of those without these symptoms (p=0.001). A higher prevalence of mild, moderate and severe anxiety was observed among older women with overactive bladder symptoms. In addition, the overactive bladder symptoms group presented a positive low correlation with anxiety symptoms (r=0.345) and with BMI (r=0.281). There was a small correlation between BMI and anxiety symptoms (r=0.164).CONCLUSIONS: Overactive bladder syndrome was prevalent among older women and the existence of these symptoms was linked to the presence of mild, moderate and/or severe anxiety symptoms.

Age effects on the pharmacokinetics of tityustoxin from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom in rats

The pharmacokinetics of scorpion venom and its toxins has been investigated in experimental models using adult animals, although, severe scorpion accidents are associated more frequently with children. We compared the effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of tityustoxin, one of the most active principles of Tityus serrulatus venom, in young male/female rats (21-22 days old, N = 5-8) and in adult male rats (150-160 days old, N = 5-8). Tityustoxin (6 µg) labeled with 99mTechnetium was administered subcutaneously to young and adult rats. The plasma concentration vs time data were subjected to non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis to obtain estimates of various pharmacokinetic parameters such as total body clearance (CL/F), distribution volume (Vd/F), area under the curve (AUC), and mean residence time. The data were analyzed with and without considering body weight. The data without correction for body weight showed a higher Cmax (62.30 ± 7.07 vs 12.71 ± 2.11 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and AUC (296.49 ± 21.09 vs 55.96 ± 5.41 ng h-1 ml-1, P < 0.05) and lower Tmax (0.64 ± 0.19 vs 2.44 ± 0.49 h, P < 0.05) in young rats. Furthermore, Vd/F (0.15 vs 0.42 l/kg) and CL/F (0.02 ± 0.001 vs 0.11 ± 0.01 l h-1 kg-1, P < 0.05) were lower in young rats. However, when the data were reanalyzed taking body weight into consideration, the Cmax (40.43 ± 3.25 vs 78.21 ± 11.23 ng kg-1 ml-1, P < 0.05) and AUC (182.27 ± 11.74 vs 344.62 ± 32.11 ng h-1 ml-1, P < 0.05) were lower in young rats. The clearance (0.03 ± 0.002 vs 0.02 ± 0.002 l h-1 kg-1, P < 0.05) and Vd/F (0.210 vs 0.067 l/kg) were higher in young rats. The raw data (not adjusted for body weight) strongly suggest that age plays a pivotal role in the disposition of tityustoxin. Furthermore, our results also indicate that the differences in the severity of symptoms observed in children and adults after scorpion envenomation can be explained in part by differences in the pharmacokinetics of the toxin.

Instrument for assessing the quality of mobile emergency pre-hospital care: content validation

OBJECTIVES To validate an instrument to assess quality of mobile emergency pre-hospital care. METHOD A methodological study where 20 professionals gave their opinions on the items of the proposed instrument. The analysis was performed using Kappa test (K) and Content Validity Index (CVI), considering K> 0.80 and CVI ≥ 0.80. RESULTS Three items were excluded from the instrument: Professional Compensation; Job Satisfaction and Services Performed. Items that obtained adequate K and CVI indexes and remained in the instrument were: ambulance conservation status; physical structure; comfort in the ambulance; availability of material resources; user/staff safety; continuous learning; safety demonstrated by the team; access; welcoming; humanization; response time; costumer privacy; guidelines on care; relationship between professionals and costumers; opportunity for costumers to make complaints and multiprofessional conjunction/actuation. CONCLUSION The instrument to assess quality of care has been validated and may contribute to the evaluation of pre-hospital care in mobile emergency services.

Construção e avaliação de um eletrodo tubular sensível ao íon hidrogênio como detector em sistemas de análise em fluxo

The construction of a tubular hydrogen ion-selective potentiometric electrode without inner reference solution, based on the tridodecylamine (TDDA) ionophore, and its evaluation in a flow system are described. TDDA was dissolved in 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether, dispersed in a PVC membrane and applied directly to a conducting support which consisted of an epoxy resin and graphite mixture. The electrode was designed with a tubular geometry to effort facilities to be coupled as part of a flow injection network. The main working characteristics such as response time, linear pH range, selectivity and life time were evaluated and compared with those obtained which a conventionally shaped electrode based on the same sensor. The electrode showed a slope of 51-52 mV dec-1 within a linear pH range from 4.0 up to 12.0.

Utilização de um eletrodo de grafite-epóxi recoberto com [Zn(FEN)3][tetratris(4-clorofenil) borato]2 sensível a zinco(II) em meio 1,10-fenantrolina como eletrodo indicador em titulações potenciométricas de precipitação

The construction and analytical evaluation of a coated graphite-epoxy electrode sensitive to the zinc-1,10-phenantroline complex based on the [Zn(fen)3][tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate]2 incorporated into a poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) matrix are described. A thin membrane film of this ion-pair, dibutylphthalate (DBPh) and PVC were deposited directly onto an electrically conductive graphite-epoxy support located inside a Perspex® tube. The best PVC polymeric membrane contains 65% (m/m) DBPh, 30% (m/m) PVC and 5% (m/m) of the ion-pair. This electrode shows a response of 19.5 mV dec-1 over the zinc(II) concentration range of 1.0 x 10-5 to 1.0 x 10-3 mol L-1 in 1,10-phenantroline medium, at pH 6.0. The response time was less than 20 seconds and the lifetime of this electrode was more than four months (over 1200 determinations by each polymeric membrane). It was successfully used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric precipitation titration of zinc(II) ions.

Uso de membranas de Nafion para a construção de sensores ópticos para medidas de pH

The behaviour of Nafion® polymeric membranes containing acid-base dyes, bromothymol blue (BB) and methyl violet (MV), were studied aiming at constructing an optical sensor for pH measurement. BB revealed to be inadequate for developing sensing phases due to the electrostatic repulsion between negative groups of their molecules and the negative charge of the sulfonate group of the Nafion®, which causes leaching of the dye from the membrane. On the other hand, MV showed to be suitable due to the presence of positive groups in its structure. The membrane prepared from a methanolic solution whose Nafion®/dye molar ratio was 20 presented the best analytical properties, changing its color from green to violet in the pH range from 0.6 to 3.0. The membrane can be prepared with good reproducibility, presenting durability of ca. 6 months and response time of 22 s, making possible its use for pH determination in flow analysis systems.

Biossensor enzimático para detecção de fungicidas ditiocarbamatos: estudo cinético da enzima aldeído desidrogenase e otimização do biossensor

Initially, all major factors that affect the rate of the AldH-catalyzed reaction (enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, temperature and pH) were investigated. Optimal activity was observed between pH values of 7.5 and 9.5 in the temperature range of 25 to 50 ºC. Kinetic parameters, such as Km (2.92 µmol L-1) and Vmax (1.33 10-2 µmol min-1) demonstrate a strong enzyme-substrate affinity. The sensors were based on screen-printed electrodes modified with the Meldola Blue-Reinecke salt (MBRS) combination. Operational conditions (NAD+ and substrate contents, enzyme loading and response time) were optimized. Also, two enzyme immobilization procedures were tested: entrapment in poly(vinyl alcohol) bearing styrylpyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ) and crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. Chronoamperometry was employed to observe the biosensor responses during enzymatic hydrolysis of propionaldehyde and also to construct inhibition curves with maneb and zineb fungicides. Best results were found with the following conditions: [NAD+] = 0.25 mmol L-1; [propionaldehyde] = 80 µmol L-1; enzyme loading = 0.8 U per electrode; response time = 10 min, and inhibition time = 10 min. Current intensities around 103 ± 13 nA with the sensors and good stability was obtained for both immobilization procedures. Detection limits, calculated using 10% inhibition were 31.5 µg L-1 and 35 µg L-1 for maneb and zineb, respectively. Results obtained with other MBRS-modified electrodes consisting of mono and bi-enzymic sensors were compared. The ability to catalyze NADH oxidation by MB was also highlighted.