Efeito do estado nutricional bioquímico de retinol e alfatocoferol sobre seus níveis em lactantes

Vitamins A and E are essential nutrients in many biological processes, so that their adequate supply to the neonate is crucial. However, the bioavailability of vitamins may be limited by factors such as maternal nutritional status and the interaction between nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of biochemical nutritional status of retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels in serum and colostrum. The study included 103 healthy puerperal women treated at the reference state maternity hospital (Natal-RN). Colostrum and serum samples were collected fasting in the immediate postpartum period and the analysis of retinol and alpha-tocopherol were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Specific cutoff points were adopted to characterize the biochemical status of vitamins A and E. For the total group of lactanting women the average concentration of retinol in serum (1.49 ± 0.4 μmol/L-1) and colostrum (2.18 ± 0.8 μmol/L-1), as well as alpha-tocopherol in serum (26.4 ± 8.0 μmol/L-1) and colostrum (26.1 ± 12.8 μmol/L-1), indicated adequate biochemical state. However, when evaluating the individual, was found a high prevalence of deficient serum (15%) and colostrum retinol (50%), and also alphatocopherol in serum (16%) and colostrum (61%). In women with serum retinol ≥ 1.05 μmol/L-1, found an inverse correlation between serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol in colostrum (p = 0.008, r = -0.28). This association was not observed in women with serum retinol <1.05 μmol/L-1. This situation demonstrates for the first time in humans that high physiological levels of serum retinol, without supplementation, can negatively influence the transfer of alpha-tocopherol in breast milk. Although the diagnosis of satisfactory nutritional status lactanting women showed high risk of subclinical deficiency of vitamins A and E from measurements made in the colostrum

Antígenos da forma amastigota de Leishmania chagasi identificados por dupla varredura da biblioteca de cDNA

Control of human visceral leishmaniasis in endemic regions is hampered in part by the lack of knowledge with respect of the role reservoirs and vector. In addition, there is not yet an understanding of how non-symptomatic subclinical infection might influence the maintenance of infection in a particular locality. Of worrisome is the limited accessibility to medical care in places with emerging drug resistance. There is still no available protective vaccine either for humans or other reservoirs. Leishmania species are protozoa that express multiple antigens which are recognized by the vertebrate immune system. Since there is not one immunodominant epitope recognized by most hosts, strategies must be developed to optimize selection of antigens for prevention and immunodiagnosis. For this reason, we generated a cDNA library from the intracellular amastigote form of Leishmania chagasi, the causative agent of South American visceral leishmaniasis. We employed a two-step expression screen of the library to systematically identify T and T-dependent B cell antigens. The first step was aimed at identifying the largest possible number of clones producing an epitope-containing polypeptide with a pool of sera from Brazilians with documented visceral leishmaniasis. After removal of clones encoding heat shock proteins, positive clones underwent a second step screen for their ability to cause proliferation and IFN-γ responses of T cells from immune mice. Six unique clones were selected from the second screen for further analysis. The clones encoded part of the coding sequence of glutamine synthetase, transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase, elongation factor 1γ, kinesin K-39, repetitive protein A2, and a hypothetical conserved protein. Humans naturally infected with L. chagasi mounted both cellular and antibody responses to these protein Preparations containing multiple antigens may be optimal for immunodiagnosis and protective vaccines against Leishmania

Free and total GMP (glycomacropeptide) contents of milk during bovine lactation

Amostras quinzenais, desde o parto até o final do período de lactação, obtidas de 34 vacas de três diferentes raças e propriedades, foram analisadas quanto à presença de GMP livre. Um pool das amostras quinzenais de cada rebanho foi analisada tanto para o conteúdo de GMP livre quanto para o GMP total (liberado da k-caseína pela ação da renina), correlacionando-os com as condições sanitárias do animal e do úbere, à fase da lactação e à produção de leite. A maioria dos problemas sanitários concentrou-se próximo ao parto, com poucas e espaçadas ocorrências de mastites clínicas. Os resultados do teste de CMT mostraram reações compatíveis às fases da lactação. Para o GMP livre as maiores variações ocorreram em função do período de lactação e em conseqüência de mastites clínicas e subclínicas. Valores elevados foram observados no início da lactação (5,87mg de ácido siálico/L de leite), normalizando para valores próximos de 3,30mg/L já ao final do segundo mês e voltando a elevar-se no terço final da lactação. em média, as mesmas tendências foram observadas para o teor de GMP total liberado pela ação de coalho comercial, iniciando com valores ligeiramente elevados (35,59mg/L), tornando-se normal e assim se mantendo até o sexto mês com valores próximos a 27,15mg/L, e novamente elevando-se gradualmente até o final da lactação, com 58,35mg de ácido siálico/L de leite. Esses resultados mostram-se úteis para a correta interpretação de métodos aplicados à seleção do leite, seja em relação ao status proteolítico da matéria-prima ou mesmo para coibição de fraudes por adição de soro ao leite.

Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk produced in dairy farms in São Paulo state, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comportamento da condutividade elétrica e do conteúdo de cloretos do leite como métodos auxiliares de diagnóstico na mastite subclínica bovina

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Canine ehrlichiosis: clinical, hematological, serological and molecular aspects

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Caracterização molecular de estafilococos isolados de vacas com mastite subclínica e ordenhadores

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prevalência de doença arterial obstrutiva periférica (DAOP) e alterações sensoriais em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2: impacto da DAOP sobre a qualidade de vida, nível de atividade física e composição corporal

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) affected approximately 171 million people in the world in the year 2000 as described by the World Health Organization (WHO). Because DM is a multisystem disease it can cause several complications especially those related to the cardiovascular system. The Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) of the lower limbs and the Diabetic Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy (DDSP) can affect the DM patient causing consequences as the diabetic foot and eventually amputations. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PAD and sensorial impairment in 73 type 2 DM (DM2) patients and also assess the impact of PAD on quality of life, level of physical activity and body composition. For clinical assessment it was used: the ankle-brachial index (ABI); quantitative sensorial test for tactile sensibility (ST), pain (SD), vibration (SV); Achilles tendon reflex (RA); quality of life questionnaire (SF-36); modified Baecke physical activity questionnaire and bioelectric impedance. Prevalence of PAD in the studied population was 13.7%. ABI was inversely correlated to age (p=0,03; rhô= -0,26), diabetes duration (p=0,02; rhô= -0,28) and blood pressure (p= 0,0007; rhô= -0,33). There were lower scores for physical health summary on the SF-36 in DM2 patients; however, the presence of PAD predominantly mild did not significantly impact quality of life, body composition or physical activity level assessed by questionnaire. Fourteen patients (19.2%) present bilateral and symmetrical alterations in two or more sensorial tests compatible to DPN diagnosis. Abnormalities in ST, SD and SV were present in 27.3%, 24.6% and 8.2%; respectively. There was association of results from ST abnormalities with RA and mainly with SD, suggesting the importance of 10g monofilament use in DM2 routine assessment. In conclusion, the prevalence of PAD in subclinical DM2 was slightly higher compared to the general population and in agreement to previously published data in DM patients. The PAD severity was predominantly mild and still without repercussion on quality of life and body composition. Our study demonstrated a significant prevalence of both PAD and DPN in DM2 without previous diagnosis of these complications and indicates the necessity of early preventive and therapeutic interventions for this population

Histopathological placental lesions in mild gestational hyperglycemic and diabetic women

Objective: To investigate and compare the incidence of histopathological placental lesions in mild gestational hyperglycemia, gestational diabetes and overt diabetes at term and preterm gestation.Research design and methods: One-hundred-and-thirty-one placental samples were collected from Diabetes mellitus (DM) positive screened patients. Two diagnostic tests, glycemic profile and 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in parallel identified 4 groups normoglycemic, mild gestational hyperglycemia (MGH), gestational DM (GDM) or overt DM (DM). Placental tissue specimens and sections from 4 groups were obtained by uniform random sampling and stained with hematoxylin-eosin.Results: Placentas from MGH group presented 17 types of histopathological change and higher rates of syncytial nodes and endarteritis. GDM placentas presented only nine types of histopathological change, high rates of dysmaturity, low rates of calcification and no syncytial nodes. Overt DM placentas showed 22 types of histopathological change, 21 of which were present in the preterm period. There were histopathological similarities between MGH and DM placentas, but the former exhibited a higher incidence of endarteritis, which has been described as a post-mortem phenomenon.Conclusion: Our results confirmed that the distinct placental changes associated with DM and MGH depend on gestational period during which the diabetic insult occurs. It may reasonably be inferred that subclinical maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy, as showed in MGH group, is responsible for increased placental endarteritis, a postmortem lesion in the live fetus.

Blink reflex in end-stage-renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis

This study analyses the blink reflex in 20 adult male patients with terminal chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. Abnormalities were found in ten patients (50%), eight of them with conduction studies showing axonal peripheral neuropathy. Dialysis time was longer for patients with blink reflex alterations (median 55.1 months) than for patients with normal blink reflex (median 36.3 months). Different types of early R1 and late R2 component abnormalities were recorded. The late response abnormalities may indicate subclinical functional or anatomical impairment of the low brainstem reticular formation in patients with chronic renal failure. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with panic disorder

Comorbidity studies have shown an important association between panic disorder (PD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and OCD in patients with PD. Forty-eight consecutive PD cases (DSM-IV diagnostic criteria) referred to a Brazilian university hospital clinic were studied. The Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) checklist was used to identify the OCS. Subclinical OCD was considered when subjects met all but one DSM-IV criteria for OCD (symptoms did not cause significant distress and interference, did not last more than 1 hour per day, or were not considered excessive or irrational), and OCS when only the criterion for presence of obsessions or compulsions was met. Twenty-nine (60.4%) of the 48 patients evaluated (19 men and 29 women) had at least one OCS: nine (18.8%) had mild OCS, 11 (22.9%) had subclinical OCD, and nine (18.8%) had comorbid OCD. Therefore, 41.7% of the patients had either clinical or subclinical OCD. OCS occurred more frequently in women and, in 70.4% of the cases, preceded the onset of PD. Our results suggest that it is important to evaluate systematically the co-occurrence of OCS in patients with PD, due to the considerable overlap found in symptoms, which may have therapeutic implications. As panic symptoms are usually the main complaint, OCS are often found only when directly investigated. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Higher prevalence of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in rheumatic fever

Objective: This study aims to compare the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSD) in psychiatric outpatients with and without a history of rheumatic fever (RF).Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study assessing a large sample of consecutive psychiatric outpatients at a Brazilian private practice was conducted during a 10-year period. Psychiatric diagnoses were made by a senior psychiatrist based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Best-estimate diagnosis procedure was also performed.Results: The total sample comprised 678 subjects, 13 of whom (1.92%) presented with a previous history of RF. This group showed a higher prevalence of subclinical obsessive-compulsive disorder (P=.025) and OCSD (P=.007) when compared to individuals with no such history.Conclusions: A previous history of RF was associated with OCSD. These results suggest that clinicians should be encouraged to actively investigate obsessive-compulsive symptoms and related disorders in patients with a positive history of RF. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Facoemulsificação por córnea clara no meridiano mais curvo

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o efeito da facoemulsificação com incisão em córnea clara no meridiano mais curvo sobre a magnitude do astigmatismo ceratométrico pré-operatório. Mapear a magnitude do astigmatismo cirurgicamente induzido por incisões nas posições nasal (N), temporal (T), temporal superior (TS) e temporal inferior (TI). MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo ceratométrico prospectivo em 48 olhos de 48 pacientes, submetidos a facoemulsificação com incisão do meridiano mais curvo. As medidas ceratométricas foram realizadas no pré-operatório e um mês após a realização da cirurgia. O astigmatismo cirurgicamente induzido foi determinado pelo método das coordenadas retangulares em 10 passos, modificado. RESULTADOS: Foram operados 21 olhos direitos e 27 olhos esquerdos e, de acordo com a posição das incisões em córnea clara, foram divididos em: 16 olhos N, 4 olhos T, 22 olhos TS, 6 olhos TI. A média da ametropia cilíndrica pré-operatória foi de 1,06D ± 0,65 e a pós-operatória de 0,89D ± 0,80. Houve diminuição estatisticamente significativa no astigmatismo corneal preexistente (p=0,016). A média total de astigmatismo cirurgicamente induzido foi de 0,94D ± 0,56. em relação aos grupos o astigmatismo cirurgicamente induzido foi de 1,06D ± 0,66 em N, 0,87D ± 0,20 em T, 0,95D ± 0,55 em TS e 0,61D ± 0,25 em TI. Não houve diferença estatística com relação ao astigmatismo cirurgicamente induzido nos grupos N, T, TS e TI (p=0,426). CONCLUSÃO: A técnica se mostrou efetiva na redução do astigmatismo ceratométrico pré-operatório. A média do astigmatismo cirurgicamente induzido foi de 1,06D ± 0,66 em N, 0,95D ± 0,55 em TS, 0,61D ± 0,25 em T e 0,87D ± 0,20 em TI.

Microrganismos patogênicos, celularidade e resíduos de antimicrobianos no leite bovino produzido no sistema orgânico

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Associação deagentes patogênicos isolados emanálise microbiológica da água, coma presença de mastite clínica ou subclínica, em vacas de propriedades leiteiras da região de Cerqueira César - SP

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, pesquisar a relação entre os microrganismos patogênicos isolados e identificados em água utilizada na ordenha, com o isolamento e identificação dos mesmos em amostras de leite, de quartos mamários apresentando mastite clínica ou subclínica nas mesmas propriedades. Foram utilizadas 16 propriedades rurais leiteiras, escolhidas aleatoriamente, na região de Cerqueira César - SP, que utilizavam ordenha mecânica. A água utilizada na ordenha foi classificada em relação à presença de coliformes totais e fecais, como dentro dos padrões ou fora dos padrões de potabilidade humana. Nos resultados obtidos, 94% das amostras foram classificadas como fora dos padrões em relação a coliformes totais e fecais. Os microrganismos identificados foram: Escherichia coli (51%), Enterobacter spp. (25%), Enterobacter cloacae (8%) Edwardsiella tarda (8%) e Klebsiella oxytoca (8%). em relação ao leite, foram analisadas 373 amostras provenientes de vacas em lactação, com mastite clínica (n=19; 5%) e subclínica (n=354; 95%). Os animais com mastite subclínica foram identificados pela contagem de células somáticas (CCS), utilizando-se o aparelho eletrônico (Somacount 300, Bentley), onde a média observada foi de 1.631 x 10³ células/mL. Os principais microrganismos identificados foram: Staphylococcus aureus (30%), Corynebacterium bovis (23%) e Staphylococcus spp. (15%). Conforme os dados obtidos, os agentes coliformes encontrados na água, utilizada na ordenha, não estavam presentes nas análises das amostras de leite dos quartos mamários com mastite clínica ou subclínica das respectivas propriedades, demonstrando não haver associação entre a qualidade da água e a ocorrência de mastite.