Determinantes envolvidos na resposta imune celular humana à infecção por Leishmania infantum chagasi

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex, whose infection has clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to active disease characterized by fever, cachexia, hepatosplenomegaly, and immunosuppression. The healing or protective immunity require an antigen-specific type 1. The Montenegro skin test (DTH) has been interpreted as a marker of protective immunity. However, there is no known correlation between the DTH response to type 1 and DTH and immunity of type 1 are maintained in the long term. Thus, a longitudinal study of 8 years, nested in a cohort family held in Brazil, documented the status of DTH and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to antigen-specific stimulation. This study was the interdisciplinary approach of physicians, biochemists, nutritionists, veterinary medicine, biology and statistics. The results show that 46.2% of subjects were analyzed DTH positive at baseline. The prevalence of positive and DTH induration size increased with age (p = 0.0021). 15.7% of individuals positive DTH "retro-converted" the negative and 50.4% (64) of individuals negative DTH became positive. The size of DTH induration was correlated significantly with the antigen-induced production of IFN-γ (r = 0.6186, p = 0.0001). IL-6 was secreted at higher levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals who "retro-converted" DTH positive to negative than individuals who remained stable DTH status (p = 0.005). Thus, IFN-γ produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, may be a surrogate marker for protective immunity instead of the DTH response. In addition, differences in innate immune response may determine whether individuals maintain or eliminate the infection by Leishmania infantum chagasi in asymptomatic patients

Aspectos clínicos e imunológicos da infecção por Leishmania Infantum Chagasi em cães do Rio Grande do Norte / Paula Vivianne Souza de Queiroz. Natal/RN

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Rastreamento populacional para Doença de Gaucher em Tabuleiro do Norte-CE

Background. Gaucher Disease (GD) is a hereditary lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of glucosylceramide, mainly in the cells of the reticuloendothelial system, due to a deficiency of the enzyme acid β-glucosidase (GBA). Diagnosis is usually based on measurement of GBA activity in peripheral leukocytes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of screening for GBA and chitotriosidase activity using Dried Blood Spots on Filter Paper (DBS-FP) to identify individuals at high risk for GD in high-risk populations such as that of Tabuleiro do Norte, a small town in Northeastern Brazil. Methods. Between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008, 740 consented residents and descendants of traditional families from Tabuleiro do Norte were submitted to screening with DBS-FP. Subjects with GBA activity <2.19 nmol/h/mL were referred to analysis of GBA and chitotriosidase activity in peripheral leukocytes and in plasma, respectively. Subjects at highest risk for GD (GBA activity in peripheral leukocytes <5.6 nmol/h/mg protein) were submitted to molecular analysis to confirm diagnosis. Results. Screening with DBS-FP identified 135 subjects (18.2%) with GBA activity <2.19 nmol/h/mL, 131 of whom remained in the study. In 10 of these (7.6%), GBA activity in leukocytes was 2.6 5.5 nmol/h/mg protein. Subsequent molecular analysis confirmed 6 cases of heterozygosity and 4 normals for GD. Conclusion. DBS-FP assay was shown to be an effective initial GD screening strategy for high-prevalence populations in developing regions. Diagnosis could not be established from GBA activity in leukocytes alone, but required confirmation with molecular analysis

Medidas de parâmetros morfológicos e funcionais do Coração em brasileiros: um subestudo do primeiro registro multicêntricos latino-americano em ressonância magnética cardiáca

There is no data about cardiac measurements em Brazilians obtained by CMR. This a muldisciplinary study with the objective of obtaining measurements of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) diastolic diameter (Dd), systolic diameter (Ds), diastolic volume (Dv), systolic volume (Sv), ejection fraction (EF) and myocardial mass in Brazilians. One hundred and seven (54 men and 53 women, mean age of 43.4 ± 13.1 years) asymptomatic individuals without heart disease were submitted to cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) studies using steady state free precession technique. The means and standard deviations of the parameters of the LV and RV were respectively: LVDD = 4,8 ± 0,5 cm; LVSD = 3,0±0,6 cm; LVDV = 128,4±29,6 ml; LVSV = 45,2±16,6 ml; LVEF = 65,5±6,3%; LV mass = 95,2±30,8.1 g; RVDD = 3,9±1,3 cm; RVSD = 2,5±0,5 cm; RVDV = 126,5±30,7 ml; RVSV = 53.6±18,4 ml; RVEF = 58.3±8,0.0% and RV mass = 26,1±6,1 g. The masses and volumes were significantly higher in men, except for the LVSV. The RV EF was significantly higher in women. There was inverse correlation between RV systolic volume and with age, being more significant in men. This study describes for the first time benchmarks for cardiac measurements obtained by CMR among asymptomatic Brazilians individuals without heart disease and demonstrated differences according to sex and age

Avaliação histológica da próstata de cães adultos sexualmente intactos

Avaliou-se histologicamente a próstata de 30 cães adultos e idosos sexualmente intactos que apresentavam ou não sintomatologia clínica de doença prostática, e verificou-se a incidência de possíveis alterações da glândula. Dentre as alterações encontradas, a hiperplasia prostática benigna constituiu o diagnóstico mais comum, 85,6% (n=24), seguida por prostatite crônica, 64,3% (n=18), displasia do epitélio glandular, 42,8% (n=12), atrofia do epitélio glandular, 39,3% (n=11), infiltrado inflamatório focal, 25% (n=7), dilatação glandular focal, 21,4% (n=6), prostatite aguda, 7,1% (n=2), metaplasia escamosa, 3,6%, (n=1), metástase de neoplasia sistêmica, 3,6% (n=1) e abscesso prostático, 3,6% (n=1). Como em muitos casos os cães são assintomáticos, ressalta-se a importância da realização rotineira de exames clínicos específicos, como o toque retal e a ultrassonografia, para o diagnóstico precoce e o tratamento das afecções prostáticas.

Apoptose na infecção experimental de cães domésticos com Ehrlichia canis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reação de laranjeiras-doces quanto à resistência a Guignardia citricarpa

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o comportamento de variedades de laranjas-doces quanto à resistência a Guignardia citricarpa, agente causal da mancha preta dos citros (MPC). Os ensaios foram conduzidos em dois campos, nos municípios de Rincão e Tambaú, SP. As mudas foram formadas em viveiro localizado na Estação Experimental de Citricultura de Bebedouro-SP. Para tal, foram utilizadas borbulhas de plantas cítricas existentes no Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Citros da Estação Experimental de Citricultura de Bebedouro (EECB), Bebedouro-SP. Avaliou-se a severidade da doença por meio de escala de notas, de zero (ausência de sintomas) a seis (sintomas severos). A partir de tais dados, foi calculado o valor do índice de doença (ID). em 2007, no experimento de Rincão, dentre as 65 variedades avaliadas, apenas 59 produziram frutos, sendo constatada ausência de sintomas da doença em Castellana, Maçã e Olivelands. Nas demais variedades, os níveis de severidade variaram de 0,35 para Grada a 3,0 para China SRA-547. Para Tambaú, os valores de severidade variaram de 0,40 para a variedade Cadenera a 2,46 para Pera. No ano de 2008, em Rincão, todas as variedades mostraram-se suscetíveis. Os níveis de severidade verificados variaram de 0,18 para a variedade Belladona, e 3,92 para Vera 97. em Tambaú, somente a variedade Navelina não apresentou sintomas da MPC. Foi observado que, dentre as plantas que frutificaram, e com exceção daquelas cujos frutos mostraram-se assintomáticos, os valores de severidade variaram de 0,11 para a variedade Tua Mamede a 3,57 para Amares.

Indução da expressão precoce de sintomas de Guignardia citricarpa em frutos de laranjeira 'pêra-rio'

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a influência de diferentes concentrações de ethephon na expressão precoce de sintomas de Guignardia citricarpa em frutos de laranjeira 'Pêra-Rio'. Para tal, frutos assintomáticos e isentos de aplicações com fungicidas, com 20 e 28 semanas após a queda de pétalas, foram coletados em área de comprovada existência da doença, no município de Conchal-SP e levados ao Laboratório de Fitopatologia da FCAV/UNESP, em Jaboticabal-SP, onde foram tratados com soluções nas seguintes doses de ethephon: i) 1,57 g L-1; ii) 2,10 g L-1; iii) 2,42 g L-1; iv) Testemunha (água). Todas acrescidas de imazalil a 0,25 g L-1, para prevenir podridões de pós-colheita. Após os tratamentos, os frutos foram mantidos em câmara incubadora para B.O.D., calibrada à temperatura de 25ºC ±1ºC, por 15 dias. Posteriormente, os frutos foram submetidos a quatro avaliações, em intervalos semanais, sendo atribuídas notas que variaram de zero (ausência de sintomas) a 6 (sintomas severos). Os dados da severidade da doença observados nos frutos colhidos prematuramente e submetidos aos diferentes tratamentos com ethephon foram comparados aos observados em frutos ensacados e não ensacados, mantidos no campo até a maturação natural. Constatou-se maior equivalência de sintomas nos frutos com idade entre 20 e 28 semanas, quando estes foram tratados com 2,10 g L-1 de ethephon e avaliados entre 28 e 35 dias. Concluiu-se que o emprego de ethephon, nestas condições, viabilizou a expressão precoce dos sintomas da mancha preta em frutos contendo infecções quiescentes de G. citricarpa, com antecedência de, pelo menos, 105 dias antes da colheita. Tal resultado constitui-se, portanto, em alternativa de grande aplicabilidade na detecção precoce de sintomas de mancha preta.

Rotavírus bovino: fatores de risco, prevalência e caracterização antigênica de amostras em rebanhos leiteiros no estado de São Paulo

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

Estudo comparativo dos métodos diagnósticos para Leishmaniose Visceral em cães oriundos de Ilha Solteira, SP

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

Avaliação da resistência à Xylella fastidiosa em germoplasma de tangerina e híbridos introduzidos da Itália e Córsega

A Clorose Variegada dos Citros (CVC), causada pela bactéria Xylella fastidiosa, é atualmente uma das doenças que mais afeta a citricultura brasileira, sendo as variedades de laranja-doce as mais afetadas. Ensaio instalado na Estação Experimental de Bebedouro (EECB), em condições de estufa, teve como objetivo avaliar o comportamento em relação à CVC de germoplasma de citros introduzidos pela EECB, Fundecitrus e Cenargen. Os materiais foram multiplicados sobre diversos porta-enxertos e, quando atingiram o tamanho adequado, inoculados por garfagem lateral de ramo doente. Cada variedade constou de quatro plantas, três das quais foram inoculadas, e a outra sem inocular deixada como padrão. As avaliações consistiram na observação de sintomas, teste de ELISA e PCR. Os primeiros sintomas nos materiais contaminados começaram a surgir 7 meses após a inoculação. Encontraram-se 18 variedades positivas no teste de PCR, o que indica sua suscetibilidade à bactéria Xylella fastidiosa. Entretanto, as variedades que foram detectadas pelo teste ELISA e não pelo PCR não foram contadas como suscetíveis e, sim, como falsos positivos.

Classificação de imagens de ambientes coralinos: uma abordagem empregando uma combinação de classificadores e máquina de vetor de suporte

The use of the maps obtained from remote sensing orbital images submitted to digital processing became fundamental to optimize conservation and monitoring actions of the coral reefs. However, the accuracy reached in the mapping of submerged areas is limited by variation of the water column that degrades the signal received by the orbital sensor and introduces errors in the final result of the classification. The limited capacity of the traditional methods based on conventional statistical techniques to solve the problems related to the inter-classes took the search of alternative strategies in the area of the Computational Intelligence. In this work an ensemble classifiers was built based on the combination of Support Vector Machines and Minimum Distance Classifier with the objective of classifying remotely sensed images of coral reefs ecosystem. The system is composed by three stages, through which the progressive refinement of the classification process happens. The patterns that received an ambiguous classification in a certain stage of the process were revalued in the subsequent stage. The prediction non ambiguous for all the data happened through the reduction or elimination of the false positive. The images were classified into five bottom-types: deep water; under-water corals; inter-tidal corals; algal and sandy bottom. The highest overall accuracy (89%) was obtained from SVM with polynomial kernel. The accuracy of the classified image was compared through the use of error matrix to the results obtained by the application of other classification methods based on a single classifier (neural network and the k-means algorithm). In the final, the comparison of results achieved demonstrated the potential of the ensemble classifiers as a tool of classification of images from submerged areas subject to the noise caused by atmospheric effects and the water column

Análise da função dos músculos do quadril em portadores de síndrome da dor patelofemural

The Patellofemoral pain syndrome is defined as a fore or retro patellar pain and it has multifactorial etiology, where the bad patellar alignment is the most acceptable hypothesis. However proximal factors to the knee, as the debility of the muscles of the hip, have been demonstrated as a contributing factor to the appearing of that syndrome. Purpose: To evaluate if exists a relation between the hip muscles performance and the development of the SDPF. Methods: Thirty women took part in this study. They were divided in two groups; a control group (fifteen asymptomatic subjects) and an experimental group (fifteen subjects with the diagnosis of SDPF). The muscle performance was evaluated in an isokinetic dynamometer, where it was verified the peak torque (PT), PT to body weight, PT time and the agonist/antagonist relation. It was also analyzed the electromyographic activity of the middle gluteus. The data was analyzed by the not paired t test at a significance level of 5%. Results:. Didn t have significant difference to the PT of the abductor muscles (p = 0,46) and lateral rotators of the hip (p = 0,17) between groups. Also didn t have significant difference to the PT values by the body weight, to these muscle groups either (p = 0,10 e p = 0,11, respectively). Didn t have significant difference between the amplitude of the signal (p = 0,05) and the onset of medium gluteus (p = 0,25) between the groups. Conclusion: In the experimental conditions realized, the study didn t demonstrate a relation between performance the hip muscles behavior and the development of the SDPF

Prospecção de genes de interesse biotecnológico : uma abordagem metagenômica

The total number of prokaryotic cells on Earth has been estimated at 4 to 6x1030 and only about 1% of microorganisms present in the environment can be cultivated by standard techniques of cultivation and plating. Therefore, it is a huge biological and genetic pool that can be exploited, for the identification and characterization of genes with biotechnological potential. Within this perspective, the metagenomics approach was applied in this work. Functional screening methods were performed aiming to identify new genes related to DNA repair and / or oxidative stress resistance, hydrocarbon degradation and hydrolytic activities (lipase, amylase and protease). Metagenomic libraries were built utilizing DNA extracted from soil samples collected in João Câmara RN. The libraries were analyzed functionally using specific substrate containing solid medium (hydrolytic activity), supplemented with H2O2 (DNA repair and / or resistance to oxidative stress) and liquid medium supplemented with light Arabian oil (activity, degradation of hydrocarbons). After confirmation of activity and exclusion of false-positive results, 49 clones were obtained, being 2 positive for amylase activity, 22 resistant to oxidative stress generated by H2O2 and 25 clones active for hydrocarbons degradation. Analysis of the sequences showed hypothetical proteins, dienelactona hydrolase, DNA polymerase, acetyltransferase, phosphotransferase, methyltransferase, endonucleases, among other proteins. The sequence data obtained matched with the functions tested, highlighting the success of metagenomics approaches combined with functional screening methods, leading to very promising results

Revisitando o eletrocorticograma intra-operatório na epilepsia mesial do lobo temporal: relevância das oscilações de alta frequência

Epilepsies are neurological disorders characterized by recurrent and spontaneous seizures due to an abnormal electric activity in a brain network. The mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most prevalent type of epilepsy in adulthood, and it occurs frequently in association with hippocampal sclerosis. Unfortunately, not all patients benefit from pharmacological treatment (drug-resistant patients), and therefore become candidates for surgery, a procedure of high complexity and cost. Nowadays, the most common surgery is the anterior temporal lobectomy with selective amygdalohippocampectomy, a procedure standardized by anatomical markers. However, part of patients still present seizure after the procedure. Then, to increase the efficiency of this kind of procedure, it is fundamental to know the epileptic human brain in order to create new tools for auxiliary an individualized surgery procedure. The aim of this work was to identify and quantify the occurrence of epilepticform activity -such as interictal spikes (IS) and high frequency oscillations (HFO) - in electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals acutely recorded during the surgery procedure in drug-resistant patients with MTLE. The ECoG recording (32 channels at sample rate of 1 kHz) was performed in the surface of temporal lobe in three moments: without any cortical resection, after anterior temporal lobectomy and after amygdalohippocampectomy (mean duration of each record: 10 min; N = 17 patients; ethic approval #1038/03 in Research Ethic Committee of Federal University of São Paulo). The occurrence of IS and HFO was quantified automatically by MATLAB routines and validated manually. The events rate (number of events/channels) in each recording time was correlated with seizure control outcome. In 8 hours and 40 minutes of record, we identified 36,858 IS and 1.756 HFO. We observed that seizure-free outcome patients had more HFO rate before the resection than non-seizure free, however do not differentiate in relation of frequency, morphology and distribution of IS. The HFO rate in the first record was better than IS rate on prediction of seizure-free patients (IS: AUC = 57%, Sens = 70%, Spec = 71% vs HFO: AUC = 77%, Sens = 100%, Spec = 70%). We observed the same for the difference of the rate of pre and post-resection (IS: AUC = 54%, Sens = 60%, Spec = 71%; vs HFO: AUC = 84%, Sens = 100%, Spec = 80%). In this case, the algorithm identifies all seizure-free patients (N = 7) with two false positives. To conclude, we observed that the IS and HFO can be found in intra-operative ECoG record, despite the anesthesia and the short time of record. The possibility to classify the patients before any cortical resection suggest that ECoG can be important to decide the use of adjuvant pharmacological treatment or to change for tailored resection procedure. The mechanism responsible for this effect is still unknown, thus more studies are necessary to clarify the processes related to it