A COMPARATIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY OF SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES (IgM AND IgA) AND PARASITOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN AN ENDEMIC AREA OF LOW TRANSMISSION OF Schistosoma mansoni

The diagnostic potential of circulating IgM and IgA antibodies against Schistosoma mansoni gut-associated antigens detected by the immunofluorescence test (IFT) on adult worm paraffin sections was evaluated comparatively to the fecal parasitological method, for epidemiological purposes in low endemic areas for schistosomiasis. Blood samples were collected on filter paper from two groups of schoolchildren living in two different localities of the municipality of Itariri (São Paulo, Brazil) with different histories and prevalences of schistosomiasis. The parasitological and serological data were compared to those obtained for another group of schoolchildren from a non-endemic area for schistosomiasis. The results showed poor sensitivity of the parasitological method in detecting individuals with low worm burden and indicate the potential of the serological method as an important tool to be incorporated into schistosomiasis control and vigilance programs for determining the real situation of schistosomiasis in low endemic areas.

Modelos geológicos estocásticos 3D e interface para modelos de simulação de fluxo: aplicação à área subjacente da antiga fábrica da SPEL

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Geológica (Georrecursos)

Concepção de um aparelho de medição 3D da coluna vertebral: Desenvolvimento de um software de detecção de apófises espinhosas e cálculo da distância ântero-posterior

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Biomédica

Sustentabilidade e bem-estar humano : duas faces da mesma moeda? : estudo exploratório do bem estar subjectivo em comunidades intencionais que vivem segundo princípios de sustentabilidade

RESUMO - Nos últimos vinte anos tem-se assistido a uma crescente consciencialização de que os nossos estilos de vida são insustentáveis aos níveis económico, social e ambiental, o que tem repercussões na nossa saúde e bem-estar. Do crescimento populacional à pobreza e inequidade geradas pelo modelo de “crescimento económico” actual, à perda de biodiversidade e disrupção dos ecossistemas naturais, ao desmesurado crescimento urbano, à poluição e acumulação de desperdícios, às alterações climáticas, ao isolamento individual e à diminuição do capital social na sociedade do consumo: a necessidade de desenvolvimento sustentável e gerador de bem-estar nunca foi tão grande e evidente. Ao longo dos últimos anos têm surgido comunidades intencionais que se organizam segundo princípios de sustentabilidade, como um fenómeno de contra-cultura – as Ecoaldeias (Ecovillages). No entanto, os benefícios para a saúde e bem-estar deste tipo de comunidades não são ainda claros, sendo a experiência de investigação nesta área escassa. O estudo aqui proposto visa conhecer, a título exploratório, os níveis de bem-estar subjectivo em comunidades intencionais que vivem segundo princípios de sustentabilidade em Portugal, se estes níveis são melhores que na população em geral, e quais os factores percebidos que o influenciam. Para tal, terá componentes quantitativas e qualitativas e irá basear-se num questionário auto-administrado aos residentes das Ecoaldeias portuguesas, que inclui o Índice de Bem-estar Pessoal - uma escala de medição do Bem-estar subjectivo validada para a população portuguesa. As suas conclusões poderão contribuir para o desenvolvimento de abordagens mais elaboradas, capazes de edificar uma infra-estrutura teórica para o sistema de conceitos em foco, tão necessária quer a investigações com maior potencial explicativo, quer a decisões com melhor fundamento. ------------ ABSTRACT - Over the past twenty years there has been a growing awareness that the way we live is unsustainable at the economic, social and environmental level, which has impact in our health and wellbeing. From the population growth to poverty and inequity generated by the current model of economic growth, to biodiversity loss and disruption of natural ecosystems, to disproportionate urban growth, to pollution and waste accumulation, to climate change and the individual isolation social loss capital in the consumption society: the need for a development that is sustainable and generates wellbeing has never been greater and more evident. Over the last years intentional communities who live according to principles of sustainability have emerged, has a phenomenon of counter-culture - the ecovillages. The health and wellbeing benefits of this type of communities are not clear, as the investigation in this area is little. The aim of this exploratory study is to know the levels of subjective wellbeing of such communities, in Portugal, if these levels are different from the general population and what are the main perceived contributing factors. This study will have a qualitative and quantitative component and will be based in the application of a self-administered questionnaire that includes the Subjective Wellbeing Index, a measurement scale of subjective wellbeing, validated for the Portuguese population. Its findings may contribute to the development of more elaborate approaches that allow to build a theoretical framework for the system of concepts focused, needed both for further investigations with more explanatory potential, as for more grounded decision-making, to tackle the challenges of sustainable development.

Clinical and laboratory findings of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection (DMAC) in a pair matched case-control study

A pair matched case/control study was conducted from January 1991 to 30 June 1992 in order to define clinical and laboratory findings associated with DMAC infection in AIDS patients. Since DMAC infection is usually associated with advanced immunodeficiency, and therefore also with other opportunistic illnesses, in addition to the number of CD4+ lymphocytes, cases and controls were matched using the following criteria: date of AIDS diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy, number and severity of associated opportunistic infections and, whenever possible, type of Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis, age and gender, in this order of relevance. Cases (defined as patients presenting at least one positive culture for MAC at a normally sterile site) and controls presented CD4+ lymphocyte counts below 50 cel/mm3. A significantly higher prevalence of general, digestive and respiratory signs, increased LDH levels, low hemoglobin levels and CD4+ cell counts were recorded for cases when compared to controls. Increases in gGT and alkaline phosphatase levels seen in cases were also recorded for controls. In conclusion, the strategy we used for selecting controls allowed us to detect laboratory findings associated to DMAC infection not found in other advanced immunossupressed AIDS patients without DMAC.

Interacções de proteínas do plasma com potenciais fármacos: estudos 3D a nível molecular

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Biotecnologia

Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infections by qualitative and quantitative PCR in HIV infected patients

A high incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections is observed in Brazil. These viruses are causatives of significant morbidity and mortality among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This work, shows the application of a PCR on determination of CMV load in the buffy coat and plasma. We analyzed the samples of 247 HIV infected patients in order to diagnose CMV infection and disease. We developed a semi-quantitative PCR that amplifies part of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene of CMV. The semi-quantitative PCR was carried out only in positive clinical samples in a qualitative PCR confirmed by a nested-PCR. CD4 lymphocyte count, HIV viral load and CMV disease symptom were correlated with CMV load. CMV genome was detected in the buffy coat of 82 of 237 (34.6%) patients, in 10 of these the CMV load was determined varying between 928 and 332 880 viral copies/mug DNA. None of these 237 patients developed any suggestive manifestation of CMV disease. For the other 10 HIV infected patients selected based on the suspicion of CMV disease, CMV genome was detected in only one case. This patient presented a high CMV load, 8 000 000 copies/mug DNA, and developed a disseminated form of CMV disease including hepatitis and retinitis. Our results were greatly influenced by the impact of the highly active antiretroviral therapy that reduced incidence of CMV viremia and occurrence of CMV disease in the HIV infected patients.

Quantitative analysis of cardiac lesions in chronic canine chagasic cardiomyopathy

Lesions observed in chronic chagasic cardiopathy frequently produce electrocardiographic alterations and affect cardiac function. Through a computerized morphometrical analysis we quantified the areas occupied by cardiac muscle, connective and adipose tissues in the right atrium of dogs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. All of the infected dogs showed chronic myocarditis with variable reduction levels of cardiac muscle, fibrosis and adipose tissue replacement. In the atrial myocardium of dogs infected with Be78 and Be62 cardiac muscle represented 34 and 50%, fibrosis 28 and 32% and adipose tissue 38 and 18%, respectively. The fibrosis observed was both diffuse and focal and mostly intrafascicular, either partially or completely interrupting the path of muscle bundles. Such histological alterations probably contributed to the appearance of electrocardiographic disturbances verified in 10 out 11 dogs which are also common in human chronic chagasic cardiopathy. Fibrosis was the most important microscopic occurrence found since it produces rearrangements of collagen fibers in relation to myocardiocytes which causes changes in anatomical physiognomy and mechanical behavior of the myocardium. These abnormalities can contribute to the appearance of cardiac malfunction, arrythmias and congestive cardiac insufficiency as observed in two of the analyzed dogs. Strain Be78 caused destruction of atrial cardiac muscle higher than that induced by strain Be62.

The spectrum of computerized tomography (CT) findings in central nervous system (CNS) infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii in immunocompetent children

Cranial CT scans of eleven immunocompetent children with central nervous system (CNS) infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii were retrospectively reviewed. These children had an average age of 8.8 years and positive culture for C. n. var. gattii in cerebrospinal fluid. The most common signs and symptoms were headache, fever, nuchal rigidity, nausea and vomiting. No normal cranial CT was detected in any patient. Hypodense nodules were observed in all patients . The remaining scan abnormalities were as follows: nine had diffuse atrophy, six had hydrocephalus, and five had hydrocephalus coexistent with diffuse atrophy.

Clinical and laboratory findings of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Colombia, 2001

A descriptive study was carried out in 104 patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria, from the region of Turbo (Antioquia, Colombia). Clinical features and levels of hemoglobin, glycemia, serum bilirubin, alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), creatinine and complete blood cell profile were established. 65% of the studied individuals were men and their mean age was 23. Of all individuals 59% had lived in the region for > 1 year and 91% were resident in the rural area. 42% were farmers and 35% had a history of malaria. The mean parasitaemia was 5865 parasites/mm³. The evolution of the disease was short (average of 4.0 days). Fever, headache and chills were observed simultaneously in 91% of the cases while the most frequent signs were palmar pallor (46%), jaundice (15%), hepatomegaly (17%), and spleen enlargement (12%). Anemia was found in 39% of the women and in 51% of the men, 8% of individuals had thrombocytopaenia and 41% had hypoglycemia.

A retrospective study of histopathological findings in 894 cases of megacolon: what is the relationship between megacolon and colonic cancer?

Patients with megaesophagus (ME) have increased prevalence of cancer of the esophagus. In contrast, a higher incidence of colorectal cancer is not observed in patients with megacolon (MC). MC is very common in some regions of Brazil, where it is mainly associated with Chagas disease. We reviewed the pathology records of surgical specimens of all patients submitted for surgical resection of MC in the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (HC-FMRP), from the University of São Paulo. We found that 894 patients were operated from 1952 until 2001 for MC resection. Mucosal ulcers, hyperplasia and chronic inflammation were frequently found, while polyps were uncommon. No patients with MC presented any type of colonic neoplasm. This observation reinforces the hypothesis that MC has a negative association with cancer of the colon. This seems to contradict the traditional concept of carcinogenesis in the colon, since patients with MC presents important chronic constipation that is thought to cause an increase in risk for colon cancer. MC is also associated with other risk factors for cancer of colon, such as hyperplasia, mucosal ulcers and chronic inflammation. In ME these factors lead to a remarkable increase in cancer risk. The study of mucosal cell proliferation in MC may provide new insights and useful information about the role of constipation in colonic carcinogenesis.