A critical evaluation of the expression of parasitemia in experimental Chagas' disease

This paper aims to study the best way to express the parasitemia of Trypanosoma cruzi's experimentally infected animals. Individual scores may have a great variability, not emphasized by the majority of the authors. A group of 50 rats infected with 1x10(6) trypomastigotes of T. cruzi Y strain was used and the parasitemia was estimated by BRENER' s method. The results showed that the median can avoid false results due to very high or low parasitemias but it does not have the mathematic properties necessary for analysis of variance. The comparison of the means of the original and transformed data, with their respective coefficients of variability (CV), showed that the logarithmic mean (Mlog) have the minor value of CV. Therefore, the Mlog is the best way to express the parasitemia when the data show great variability. The number of the animal for group did not affect the variability of data when the Mlog and CV were used.

Embedded system for individual recognition based on ECG biometrics

Biometric recognition is emerging has an alternative solution for applications where the privacy of the information is crucial. This paper presents an embedded biometric recognition system based on the Electrocardiographic signals (ECG) for individual identification and authentication. The proposed system implements a real-time state-of-the-art recognition algorithm, which extracts information from the frequency domain. The system is based on a ARM Cortex 4. Preliminary results show that embedded platforms are a promising path for the implementation of ECG-based applications in real-world scenario.

Lagochilascaris minor IN A PATIENT FROM THE COLOMBIAN AMAZON: A CASE REPORT

A chronic infection (10 years) by Lagochilascaris minor is described in a woman from the amazon region of Colombia. This is the third case of infection by this parasite that has been described so far in Colombia, and only the first one in a person coming from the Colombian Amazon region.

Assessment of PCR in the detection of Leishmania spp in experimentally infected individual phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied in the investigation of the presence of Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) parasites in single phlebotomine sandflies. Three phlebotomine/parasite pairs were used: Lutzomyia longipalpis/Leishmania chagasi, Lutzomyia migonei/Leishmania amazonensis and Lutzomyia migonei/Leishmania braziliensis, all of them incriminated in the transmission of visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis. DNA extraction was performed with whole insects, with no need of previous digestive tract dissection or pooling specimens. The presence of either mouse blood in the digestive tract of the sandflies or the digestive tract itself did not interfere in the PCR. Infection by as few as 10 Leishmania sp. per individual were sufficient for DNA amplification with genus-specific primers. Using primers for L. braziliensis and L. mexicana complexes, respectively, it was possible to discriminate between L. braziliensis and L. amazonensis in experimentally infected vectors (L. migonei).

Defeitos do Tubo Neural. Experiência de 10 Anos numa Maternidade Central

OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine trends in prevalence of neural tube defects and the impact of therapeutic abortion. 2) To review perinatal management of spina bifida. DESIGN: All spontaneous and therapeutic abortions, still births and live births affected by neural tube defects registered in Alfredo da Costa Maternity in Lisbon, from 1983 to 1992, were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Eighty-two cases with neural tube defects are reported and myelomeningocele and anencephaly++ were the most frequent ones. Total prevalence for all defects was 0.78:1000 births with a small upward trend during the last two years. Birth prevalence was 0.6:1000, with a clear downward trend, due to therapeutic abortion. Prenatal diagnosis improved significantly, from 9% of all defects detected in 1983-87 to 77.5% in 1988-92. Since 1989, all cases of anencephaly were detected before birth. Most cases of spina bifida were vaginally delivered, and elective cesarean section occurred in 4. Early closure of the defect was undertaken in 87.6% of the newborns with open spina bifida. CONCLUSION: While total prevalence of neural tube defects remained stable, with only a small upward trend, prenatal diagnosis and therapeutic abortion resulted in a 56.3% fall in birth prevalence. Optimal management of open spina bifida demands a multidisciplinary team with an individual program for each case.

EVALUATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF LEVAMISOLE HYDROCHLORIDE ON THIRD-STAGE LARVAE OF Lagochilascaris minor IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MICE

Lagochilascariosis, a disease caused by Lagochilascaris minor, affects the neck, sinuses, tonsils, lungs, the sacral region, dental alveoli, eyeballs and the central nervous system of humans. A cycle of autoinfection may occur in human host tissues characterized by the presence of eggs, larvae and adult worms. This peculiarity of the cycle hinders therapy, since there are no drugs that exhibit ovicidal, larvicidal and vermicidal activity. Given these facts, we studied the action of levamisole hydrochloride on third-stage larvae in the migration phase (G1) and on encysted larvae (G3) of L. minor. To this end, 87 inbred mice of the C57BL/6 strain were divided into test groups comprising 67 animals (G1-37; G3-30) and a control group (G2-10; G4-10) with 20 animals. Each animal was inoculated orally with 2,000 infective eggs of the parasite. The animals of the test groups were treated individually with a single oral dose of levamisole hydrochloride at a concentration of 0.075 mg. The drug was administered either 30 minutes prior to the parasite inoculation (G1 animals) or 120 days after the inoculation (G3 animals). The mice in the control groups were not treated with the drug. After the time required for the migration and the encysting of L. minor larvae, all the animals were euthanized and their tissues examined. The data were analyzed using the Student's unpaired t-test and the Levene test. The groups showed no statistically significant difference. Levamisole hydrochloride was ineffective on third-stage larvae of L. minor. These findings explain the massive expulsion of live adult worms, as well as the use of long treatment schemes, owing to the persistence of larvae and eggs in human parasitic lesions.

Quantitative Analysis of Immunoglobulin E Reactivity Profiles in Patients Allergic or Sensitized to Natural Rubber Latex (Hevea Brasiliensis)

Characterized native and recombinant Hevea brasiliensis (rHev b) natural rubber latex (NRL) allergens are available to assess patient allergen sensitization profiles. OBJECTIVE: Quantification of individual IgE responses to the spectrum of documented NRL allergens and evaluation of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) for more definitive diagnosis. METHODS: Sera of 104 healthcare workers (HCW; 51 German, 21 Portuguese, 32 American), 31 spina bifida patients (SB; 11 German, 20 Portuguese) and 10 Portuguese with multiple surgeries (MS) were analysed for allergen-specific IgE antibody (sIgE) to NRL, single Hev b allergens and CCDs with ImmunoCAP technology. RESULTS: In all patient groups rHev b 5-sIgE concentrations were the most pronounced. Hev b 2, 5, 6.01 and 13 were identified as the major allergens in HCW and combined with Hev b 1 and Hev b 3 in SB. In MS Hev b 1 displayed an intermediate relevance. Different sIgE antibody levels to native Hevea brasiliensis (nHev b) 2 and rHev b 6.01 allowed discrimination of SB with clinical relevant latex allergy vs. those with latex sensitization. Sensitization profiles of German, Portuguese and American patients were equivalent. rHev b 5, 6.01 and nHev b 13 combined detected 100% of the latex-allergic HCW and 80.1% of the SB. Only 8.3% of the sera showed sIgE response to CCDs. CONCLUSIONS: Hev b 1, 2, 5, 6.01 and 13 were identified as the major Hev b allergens and they should be present in standardized latex extracts and in vitro allergosorbents. CCDs are only of minor relevance in patients with clinical relevant latex allergy. Component-resolved diagnostic analyses for latex allergy set the stage for an allergen-directed immunotherapy strategy

Modelação do crescimento da árvore individual de Eucalyptus globulus labill

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estatística e Gestão de Informação

Cocirculation of two dengue virus serotypes in individual and pooled samples of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus larvae

INTRODUCTION: To detect dengue virus, eggs of Aedes sp were collected in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2007. METHODS: Egg samples were subsequently hatched and the larvae were tested for the presence of dengue virus RNA by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Among the Aedes aegypti larvae samples, 163 (37.4%) out of 435 were positive, including 32 (10.9%) of 293 individual larvae samples concomitantly positive for two serotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Virological surveillance detecting coinfected vectors in the field could represent an important strategy for understanding the numerous factors involved in the transmission and clinical presentation of dengue.

Tissue expander complications in plastic surgery: a 10-year experience

INTRODUCTION: Tissue expanders have been of great value in plastic surgery. Tissue expansion was developed for a specific indication; however, within a very short time, the concept of tissue expansion found wide applicability. From 1990 to 1999, 315 expanders in 164 patients were utilized. A retrospective analysis of complications and prognostic factors for complications were done. METHODS: The indications for tissue expansion were burns (50%), trauma (32%), and sequelae of previous surgery (8.8%). The expanders were inserted most frequently in the scalp, trunk and neck. RESULTS: There were 22.2% of complications and the most common were expander exposure (50%), infection (24%) and bad function of the expander (12.8%). The present study revealed an increased rate of minor complications in the group of 0 to 10 years of age and an increased rate of major complications for face and neck expansions compared to trunk expansion. There were no increased complication rates for the other age and anatomic site groups, previous expansion, concomitant expansion and type of expander used. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes from tissue expansion procedures done in our hospital are similar to those reported in the literature. Tissue expansion is a good and safe technique.

Uso de banda dendrométrica na definição de padrões de crescimento individual em diâmetro de árvores da bacia do rio Cuieiras

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar padrões de crescimento individual de diversas árvores que ocorrem em duas toposseqüências (direções Norte-Sul e Leste-Oeste), de uma amostra representativa da floresta de terra-firme na Amazônia Central. Foram selecionados de forma aleatória, aproximadamente, 300 indivíduos, sendo 150 em cada toposseqüência, distribuídos em mesmas proporções nas três classes topográficas (platô, encosta e baixio) e nas três classes de diâmetro (10 ≤ DAP < 30 cm; 30 ≤ DAP< 50 cm e DAP≥ 50 cm). Em cada uma dessas árvores foi instalada uma fita metálica, com extremidades parcialmente sobrepostas e ligadas por uma mola; o avanço de uma das pontas, dentro de uma abertura, representa o crescimento em circunferência, que foi medido com um paquímetro digital. As medições foram realizadas mensalmente ao longo de 19 meses, de junho/1999 a dezembro/2000; neste estudo foram considerados apenas os 12 meses do ano 2000. O padrão individual de crescimento em diâmetro varia muito com o passar dos meses (p = 0,00) e apenas razoavelmente quando os meses são interagidos com as classes de diâmetro (p 0,08); por outro lado, há fraca uma evidência (p = 0,25) quando as classes topográficas são acrescentadas na interação anterior e praticamente nenhuma evidência (p = 0,89) quando é analisada a interação meses e classes topográficas. Dentre todas as árvores selecionadas (300 indivíduos), foram mantidas na análise 272 indivíduos. A média do incremento anual em diâmetro, considerando as 272 árvores monitoradas, foi de 1,64 ± 0,21 mm (p = 0,05), ficando dentro do intervalo dos incrementos obtidos no BIONTE e FLONA Tapajós, que é de 1,5 a 2 mm por ano.

Intra and inter-individual differences in social intelligence of Portuguese students

Social intelligence is a favorable condition for career decision-making and development. The social intelligence indices of Portuguese students in school years prior to a career transition are characterized and intra and interindividual differences are analyzed. Participants were 1095 students (552, 50.4% women) with a mean age of 14.78 years (SD = 1.86), in the 8th (542, 49.5%), 10th (295, 26.9%) and 11th (258, 23.6%) grades. The Cognitive Test of Social Intelligence (PCIS) was administered at two moments, six months apart. Results indicate that the 8th grade obtained higher average scores in Problem Solving, Motivation and Self-confidence (time 1), while the 10th grade obtained better results in Problem Solving, Motivation and Familiarity (time 2). Between the assessment moments, all school years register an increase in Problem Solving and Self-confidence in social situations. These results constitute favorable psychological conditions for the promotion of ethical questioning in career guidance interventions.

The contribution of phenolic acids to the anti-inflammatory activity of mushrooms: Screening in phenolic extracts, individual parent molecules and synthesized glucuronated and methylated derivatives

In the present study, the ethanolic extracts of fourteen edible mushrooms were investigated for their anti-inflammatory potential in LPS (lipopolysaccharide) activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore the extracts were chemically characterized in terms of phenolic acids and related compounds. The identified molecules (p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids) and their glucuronated and methylated derivatives obtained by chemical synthesis were also evaluated for the same bioactivity, in order to establish structure-activity relationships and to comprehend the effects of in vivo metabolism reactions in the activity of the compounds. The extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus, Macrolepiota procera, Boletus impolitus and Agaricus bisporus revealed the strongest anti-inflammatory potential (EC50 values 96 ± 1 to 190 ± 6 µg/mL, and also the highest concentration of cinnamic acid (656 to 156 µg/g), which was also the individual compound with the highest anti-inflammatory activity. The derivatives of p-coumaric acid revealed the strongest properties, specially the derivative methylated in the carboxylic group (CoA-M1) that exhibited similar activity to the one showed by dexamethaxone used as anti-inflammatory standard; by contrast, the derivatives of p-hydroxybenzoic revealed the lowest inhibition of NO production. All in all, whereas the conjugation reactions change the chemical structure of phenolic acids and may increase or decrease their activity, the glucuronated and methylated derivatives of the studied compounds are still displaying anti-inflammatory activity.

Tizón (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor) y Marchitamiento (Sclerotium rolfsii) del maní

En Argentina, el cultivo de maní Arachis hypogaea L. se realiza casi exclusivamente en la provincia de Córdoba (98 % del total), significando su exportación alrededor del 10 % del total de las estimadas para esta provincia en 1996. En las áreas productoras de maní del mundo los hongos patógenos presentes en el suelo causan enfermedades que producen significativas disminuciones en los rendimientos. En Argentina las pérdidas han sido calculadas entre 14 y 18 millones de dólares, siendo las enfermedades más importantes el tizón (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor) y el marchitamiento (Sclerotium rolfsii). (...) En nuestro país, los estudios efectuados comprenden esencialmente la identificación de los agentes causales, distribución espacial y cuantificación de las pérdidas, faltando completar los estudios sobre su biología y epidemiología. La hipótesis de este proyecto es: A partir de estudios biológicos y epidemiológicos se contribuirá a desarrollar estrategias de manejo de tizón y el marchitamiento del maní. Objetivo General Identificar y definir los principios fundamentales a partir de los cuales diseñar estrategias de manejo integradas al sistema productivo. Objetivos Específicos 1. Conocer la biología de los patógenos causantes del tizón y el marchitamiento y 2. Comprender la epidemiología de estas enfermedades.

Tizón (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor) y Marchitamiento (Sclerotium rolfsii) del maní

En Argentina, el cultivo de maní Arachis hypogaea L. se realiza casi exclusivamente en la provincia de Córdoba (98 % del total), significando su exportación alrededor del 10 % del total de las estimadas para esta provincia en 1996. En las áreas productoras de maní del mundo los hongos patógenos presentes en el suelo causan enfermedades que producen significativas disminuciones en los rendimientos. En Argentina las pérdidas han sido calculadas entre 14 y 18 millones de dólares, siendo las enfermedades más importantes el tizón (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor) y el marchitamiento (Sclerotium rolfsii). (...) En nuestro país, los estudios efectuados comprenden esencialmente la identificación de los agentes causales, distribución espacial y cuantificación de las pérdidas, faltando completar los estudios sobre su biología y epidemiología. La hipótesis de este proyecto es: A partir de estudios biológicos y epidemiológicos se contribuirá a desarrollar estrategias de manejo de tizón y el marchitamiento del maní. Objetivo General Identificar y definir los principios fundamentales a partir de los cuales diseñar estrategias de manejo integradas al sistema productivo. Objetivos Específicos 1. Conocer la biología de los patógenos causantes del tizón y el marchitamiento y 2. Comprender la epidemiología de estas enfermedades.