Serology of paracoccidioidomycosis. II. Correlation between class-specific antibodies and clinical forms of the disease

Untreated and previously treated patients with paracoccidioidomycosis were studied for: (i) serum levels of total IgG, IgM and IgA immunoglobulins, by radial immunodiffusion and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) antibodies, by indirect immunofluorescence; (ii) correlation between their levels with the clinical forms of the disease; (iii) correlation between the serum titres obtained by tube precipitin with those of anti-Pb IgG, IgM and IgA. In the untreated group, serum IgG levels were significantly increased in patients with the more systemic forms of the disease, especially the acute progressive form. Serum IgA levels were significantly increased in all patients with no statistical difference between clinical forms. Serum IgM levels were normal in all patients. Anti-Pb IgG, IgA and IgM were detected in 97·5%, 32·5% and 45·0% of all cases, respectively. There was a sharp tendency towards higher levels of anti-Pb IgG among those with the acute progressive form (83·4%) in relation to the chronic, more localized forms, mixed form (68·0%) and isolated organic form (55·5%). In the untreated and previously treated group sera, there was positive correlation between the level of anti-Pb IgG and positivity for the tube precipitin test, suggesting that the precipitin-type antibodies are of the IgG class. Broadly, the present data demonstrate a polyclonal activation of the humoral immune system in paracoccidioidomycosis, with a positive relationship between serological results and severity of the disease. © 1984.

Distribution of exoantigens and a 43-kDa glycoprotein (gp43) in the yeast and mycelial forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Objective. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigens (strain 113) were located at ultrastructural level in both yeast and mycelial forms of the fungus. The reactivity of the sera employed was analysed. Materials and methods. Immunofluorescence and ultrastructural protein A-gold immunolabelling techniques were performed using two polyclonal antisera: one against P. brasiliensis exoantigens and the other against a 43-kDa glycoprotein (gp43). Immunoblotting assays were employed to define reactivity of these antisera with somatic and metabolic antigens of both forms of the fungus. Results. The techniques employed revealed in both yeast and mycelial forms of P. brasiliensis a similar antigenic distribution. The antigens deposits were seen within the cytoplasm, and over the cell wall of the fungus. The anti-exoantigen serum recognized several bands in both forms of the fungus. The anti-gp43 serum reacted strongly with the 43-kDa fraction and weakly with few other fractions. Conclusions. Immunocytochemical techniques suggest a protein synthesis within the cytoplasm followed by excretion through the cell wall. Similar results employing both polyclonal antisera were obtained.

Comparative study using small-angle x-ray scattering and nitrogen adsorption in the characterization of silica xerogels and aerogels

A comparative study using small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and nitrogen adsorption has been carried out in the structural characterization of silica xerogels and aerogels, obtained from tetraethoxysilane sonohydrolysis. The specific surface and the mean pore size as measured by both the techniques were found to be in notable agreement in all cases for aerogels and xerogels. According to the SAXS data, aerogels at 500 °C exhibit a mass fractal structure with fractal dimension D∼2.4 in the range between the correlation length ξ∼5.3 nm and a∼0.75 nm. An experimental method to probe the mass fractal structure of aerogels from exclusively nitrogen adsorption isotherms has been presented. For aerogels at 500 °C, we have found D∼2.4 in the range between the pore width 2rξ∼33 nm and 2ra∼4.5 nm, which is in notable agreement with the SAXS results (D ∼2.4, ξ∼5.3 nm, a∼0.75 nm) if we assign the pore width 2r probed by the Kelvin equation in the adsorption method to the Bragg distance 2π/q associated to the correlation length 1/q probed by SAXS.

Morphometry of the sexual forms of Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus Forel, 1911 (Hym., Formicidae) in queenright and queenless laboratory colonies

A morphometric study was performed on the sexual forms of Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus in colonies kept under laboratory conditions. The males studied were obtained from queenright and queenless colonies, i.e. they were produced by either the queen or the workers. Cluster analysis revealed a wide distribution in the size of the sexual forms produced in queenless colonies compared with queenright colonies, and that some of the worker-produced males were significantly smaller than those produced in queenright colonies. However, we found no indication that the males produced in queenless colonies are unable to mate, as smaller and larger males had identical genitalia that varied only in size, and therefore probably represent an alternative route of reproduction in this species. © 2005 Blackwell Verlag.

Diffusion phenomena of the oxygen and nitrogen in niobium by mechanical spectroscopy

The short-range diffusion phenomenon (Snoek Effect) was investigated by mechanical spectroscopy measurements between 300 K and 650 K, in a polycrystalline niobium sample, containing oxygen and nitrogen, using a torsion pendulum. Experimental spectra of anelastic relaxation were obtained under three conditions: as-received sample; annealed sample and subsequently annealed in an oxygen atmosphere for three hours at 1170 K in partial pressure of 5°10 -5mbar. The experimental spectra obtained were decomposed in elementary Debye peaks and the anelastic relaxation processes were identified. With anelastic relaxation parameters and the lattice parameters, the interstitial diffusion coefficients of the oxygen and nitrogen in niobium were calculated for each kind of preferential occupation (octahedral and tetrahedral). The results were compared with the literature data, and confirmed that the best adjustment is for the preferential occupation octahedral model for low concentrations of interstitial solutes, but at higher concentration of oxygen were observed deviations of experimental data for the interstitial diffusion coefficients of oxygen in niobium when compared with the literature data, this could be related to the possible occurrence of a double occupation of interstitial sites in the niobium lattice by oxygen interstitials. © (2010) Trans Tech Publications.

Indicators for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Woman

Includes bibliography

Hacia la igualdad de la mujer: avances legales desde la aprobación de la Convención sobre la Eliminación de Todas las Formas de Discriminación Contra la Mujer = Towards equality for women: progress in legislation since the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

Incluye Bibliografía

Nitrogen excretion during embryonic development of the green iguana, Iguana iguana (Reptilia; Squamata)

Development within the cleidoic egg of birds and reptiles presents the embryo with the problem of accumulation of wastes from nitrogen metabolism. Ammonia derived from protein catabolism is converted into the less toxic product urea or relatively insoluble uric acid. The pattern of nitrogen excretion of the green iguana, Iguana iguana, was determined during embryonic development using samples from allantoic fluid and from the whole homogenized egg, and in hatchlings and adults using samples of blood plasma. Urea was the major excretory product over the course of embryonic development. It was found in higher concentrations in the allantoic sac, suggesting that there is a mechanism present on the allantoic membrane enabling the concentration of urea. The newly hatched iguana still produced urea while adults produced uric acid. The time course of this shift in the type of nitrogen waste was not determined but the change is likely to be related to the water relations associated with the terrestrial habit of the adult. The green iguana produces parchment-shelled eggs that double in mass during incubation due to water absorption; the eggs also accumulate 0.02. mM of urea, representing 82% of the total measured nitrogenous residues that accumulate inside the allantois. The increase in egg mass and urea concentration became significant after 55. days of incubation then were unchanged until hatching. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

El efecto de los subsidios, la reglamentación y las diversas formas de propiedad en la calidad y eficacia operativa de los servicios del transporte urbano en América Latina = The impacts of subsidies, regulation, and different forms of ownership on the service quality and operational efficiency of urban bus systems in Latin America

Incluye Bibliografía

Cover crops affecting levels of ammonium and nitrate in the soil and upland rice development

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Liquid nitrogen for the treatment of actinic keratosis: A longitudinal assessment

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Protonation Pattern, Tautomerism, Conformerism, and Physicochemical Analysis in New Crystal Forms of the Antibiotic Doxycycline

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modelling the maximum potential of nitrogen deposition and requirements of lysine for broilers

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