Detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA for 36kDa protein in urine from leprosy patients: a preliminary report

We have searched for Mycobacterium leprae DNA for 36kDa protein in urine using a M. leprae specific PCR technique. A limited number of 16 patients (of which 11 belonged to lepromatous leprosy and five to tuberculoid leprosy) and eight healthy individuals were included for the present study. The number of urine samples positive by PCR were 36.4% (4/11) in lepromatous patients and 40% (2/5) in tuberculoid patients. None of the samples from healthy individuals was positive. To our knowledge, the results indicate, for the first time, the presence of M. leprae DNA in urine from leprosy patients. Another important finding obtained out of the study is that amongst treated patients 66.6% (4/6) were positive whereas amongst untreated only 20% (2/10) were positive. From the present indicative data it appears that treatment improves the PCR results with urine as a sample. Thus, the approach could prove to be useful for monitoring the treatment response of individual patients and needs to be further evaluated with a large number of patients.

Desempenho de índices quantitativos de seca na estimativa da produtividade de arroz de terras altas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a intensidade e a ocorrência de seca pelo uso de índices quantitativos, e avaliar a relação entre esses índices e os dados da série histórica da produtividade ajustada do arroz de terras altas da microrregião de Goiânia, GO. O ajuste da série histórica foi realizado para minimizar os efeitos da variabilidade climática da região e dos avanços tecnológicos sobre a produtividade. Foram avaliados os seguintes índices: severidade de seca de Palmer (PDSI); Z de Palmer (Z-index); o de anomalia de chuva (RAI); e o padronizado de precipitação (SPI). Os índices de seca foram analisados com uso da correlação de Pearson, número e frequência de ocorrência da seca e percentual de acerto dos índices em relação à produtividade ajustada. O RAI quantificou o maior número de eventos extremos de seca, enquanto o PDSI não estimou nenhum caso. O Z-index apresentou o maior percentual de acerto, em relação às variações ocorridas na produtividade ajustada. Em períodos com variações da produtividade ajustada maior que 300 kg ha-1, Z-index, RAI e SPI apresentaram 78, 78 e 67% de percentuais de acerto, respectivamente. O Z-index teve o melhor desempenho na estimação da produtividade ajustada de arroz de terras altas.

Fludarabine induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia - the role of P53, Bcl-2, Bax, Mcl-1, and Bag-1 proteins

The expression of P53, Bcl-2, Bax, Bag-1, and Mcl-1 proteins in CD5/CD20-positive B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells from 30 typical CLL patients was evaluated before and after 48 h of incubation with 10-6 M fludarabine using multiparametric flow cytometric analysis. Protein expression was correlated with annexin V expression, Rai modified clinical staging, lymphocyte doubling time, and previous treatment. Our main goal was to determine the predictive value of these proteins in CLL cells in terms of disease evolution. Bcl-2 expression decreased from a median fluorescence index (MFI) of 331.71 ± 42.2 to 245.81 ± 52.2 (P < 0.001) after fludarabine treatment, but there was no difference between viable cells (331.57 ± 44.6 MFI) and apoptotic cells (331.71 ± 42.2 MFI) before incubation (P = 0.859). Bax expression was higher in viable cells (156.24 ± 32.2 MFI) than in apoptotic cells (133.56 ± 35.7 MFI) before incubation, probably reflecting defective apoptosis in CLL (P = 0.001). Mcl-1 expression was increased in fludarabine-resistant cells and seemed to be a remarkable protein for the inhibition of the apoptotic process in CLL (from 233.59 ± 29.8 to 252.04 ± 35.5; P = 0.033). After fludarabine treatment, Bag-1 expression was increased in fludarabine-resistant cells (from 425.55 ± 39.3 to 447.49 ± 34.5 MFI, P = 0.012), and interestingly, this higher expression occurred in patients who had a short lymphocyte doubling time (P = 0.022). Therefore, we could assume that Bag-1 expression in such situation might identify CLL patients who will need treatment earlier.