Comparative study on the localization of adult Schistosoma mansoni worms in albino mice anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, ether or chlorophorm

The effect of anesthetic drugs on the localization of adult worms in albino mice was compared. The animals with 56 days of infection were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, ether or chlorophorm. Perfusion was carried out immediately after, recovering the worms and classifying them in relation to their localization on the liver or portal vein and the mesenteric veins. Our results showed that pentobarbital sodium produced a greater displacement of the worms to the liver (89%) than ether (76%) and chlorophorm (34%) did, when compared to the control group (22%). The difference between pentobarbital sodium and ether was significant (p < 0.05). We suggest that anesthetic drugs may not be used in studies on the distribution of adult worms in several hosts.

The role of public policy in health care promotion: a comparative perspective

Comunicação apresentada na 17th International conference on Health Promotio Hospitals and Health Services em Hersonissis, Crete, Grécia de 6-8 de maio de 2009

Comparative analysis of near and mid-infrared spectroscopy to monitor recombinant cyprosin production

Infrared spectroscopy, either in the near and mid (NIR/MIR) region of the spectra, has gained great acceptance in the industry for bioprocess monitoring according to Process Analytical Technology, due to its rapid, economic, high sensitivity mode of application and versatility. Due to the relevance of cyprosin (mostly for dairy industry), and as NIR and MIR spectroscopy presents specific characteristics that ultimately may complement each other, in the present work these techniques were compared to monitor and characterize by in situ and by at-line high-throughput analysis, respectively, recombinant cyprosin production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Partial least-square regression models, relating NIR and MIR-spectral features with biomass, cyprosin activity, specific activity, glucose, galactose, ethanol and acetate concentration were developed, all presenting, in general, high regression coefficients and low prediction errors. In the case of biomass and glucose slight better models were achieved by in situ NIR spectroscopic analysis, while for cyprosin activity and specific activity slight better models were achieved by at-line MIR spectroscopic analysis. Therefore both techniques enabled to monitor the highly dynamic cyprosin production bioprocess, promoting by this way more efficient platforms for the bioprocess optimization and control.

Gelatin particle indirect agglutination test for serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis: comparative study with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A new serological test, the gelatin particle agglutination test (GPAT), was used for the serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni. This technique showed the sensitivity (90.6%) and specificity (97.8%) close to those of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The GPAT can be easily and rapidly performed without specialized equipment, by using lyophilized antigen-coated gelatin particles. The test also seems to be useful for mass screening of Schistosoma infection in field conditions.

Genomic and transcriptomic features of Chlamydia trachomatis. Tracking the basis for the ecological success

Dissertation presented to obtain a Ph.D degree in Biology, speciality in Molecular Genetics, by Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

A comparative study between centralization and decentralization of diagnostic reasoning in EPS

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores

A comparative study of severe scorpion envenomation in children caused by Tityus bahiensis and Tityus serrulatus

From January 1984 to May 1994, 17 of 239 children under 15 years old stung by Tityus serrulatus (15.1%) or Tityus bahiensis (84.9%) presented severe envenoming. Of these 17 patients (1-11 years old; median=2 yr) 14 were stung by T.serrulatus and three by T.bahiensis. All of them received scorpion antivenom i.v. at times ranging from 45 min. to 5 h after the accident (median=2h). On admission, the main clinical manifestations and laboratory and electrocardiographic changes were: vomiting (17), diaphoresis (15), tachycardia (14), prostration (10), tachypnea (8), arterial hypertension (7), arterial hypotension (5), tremors (5), hypothermia (4), hyperglycemia (17), leukocytosis (16/16), hypokalemia (13/17), increased CK-MB enzyme activity (>6% of the total CK, 11/12), hyperamylasemia (11/14), sinusal tachycardia (16/17) and a myocardial infarction-like pattern (11/17). Six patients stung by T.serrulatus had depressed left ventricular systolic function assessed by means of echocardiography. Of these, five presented pulmonary edema and four had shock. A child aged two-years old presented severe respiratory failure and died 65 h after being stung by T.serrulatus. Severe envenomations caused by T.serrulatus were 26.2 times more frequent than those caused by T.bahiensis (p<0.001).

Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907: comparative morphologica studies of some Brazilian strains

The morphology of Schistosoma mansoni adult male worms from three strains which have been maintained in albino mice for several generations, was compared to a strain that has been isolated from the natural host Nectomys squamipes (Rodentia: Muridae) captured in Sumidouro (Rio de Janeiro State) and have been maintained in the same sylvatic rodent under laboratory conditions. Total length of specimens, distance between suckers, the number of testes and extention of testes grouping were the taxonomic characters analysed. The worms recovered from N. squamipes showed expressive differences (p< 0.01) compared to the other strains regarding the considered morphological characters. The strains that were maintained in mice presented statistical differences (p< 0.01) in several characters. Some adult worms besides the normal position of the testes also showed an atypical arrangement of these glands. It can be concluded that the morphology of adult worms may be used to distinguish S. mansoni strains and that morphological changes in adult worms are not induced by successive inoculations of a strain in mice.

Genomic characterization of adenovirus serotype 7 isolated in Brazil from acute respiratory disease patients during the period from 1980 to 1991

Forty isolates of adenovirus type 7 were analized by restriction enzyme digestion with BamHI, SmaI, EcoRI and HindIII. These isolates were obtained from acute respiratory disease patients during the years 1980 to 1991. Only two genomic types were found: Ad7b and Ad7e, with Ad7b (87.5%) being more frequent than Ad7e (12.5%). The genomic type Ad7e appeared in the years 1980, 1981 and 1983. Ad7b appeared in 1982 and it was the only genomic type found from 1984 to 1991. Both genomic types were responsible for lower (LRTI) and upper (URTI) respiratory tract infection, but the proportion LRTI/URTI is higher for Ad7b (25/6) than for Ad7e (1/4).

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.

Human capital in the knowledge-based society: comparative analysis: Romania-Portugal

The current economic crisis has rushed even more the economists’ concerns to identify new directions for the sustainable development of the society. In this context, the human capital is crystallised as the key variable of the creative economy and of the knowledge-based society. As such, we have directed the research underlying this paper to identifying the most eloquent indicators of human capital to meet the demands of the knowledge-based society and sustainable development as well as towards achieving a comprehensive analysis of the human capital in the EU countries, respectively of a comparative analysis: Romania - Portugal. To carry out this paper, the methodology used is based on the interdisciplinary triangulation involving approaches from the perspective of human resource management, economy and economic statistics. The research techniques used consist of the content analysis and investigation of secondary data of international organisations accredited in the field of this research, such as: the United Nation Development Programme - Human Development Reports, World Bank - World Development Reports, International Labour Organisation, Eurostat, European Commission’s Eurobarometer surveys and reports on human capital. The research results emphasise both similarities and differences between the two countries under the comparative analysis and the main directions in which one has to invest for the development of human capital.

Penicillium glabrum cork colonising isolates – preliminary analysis of their genomic similari

Cork stopper manufacturing process includes an operation, known as stabilisation, by which humid cork slabs are extensively colonised by fungi. The effects of fungal growth on cork are yet to be completely understood and are considered to be involved in the so called “cork taint” of bottled wine. It is essential to identify environmental constraints which define the appearance of the colonising fungal species and to trace their origin to the forest and/or as residents in the manufacturing space. The present article correlates two sets of data, from consecutive years and the same season, of systematic biologic sampling of two manufacturing units, located in the North and South of Portugal. Chrysonilia sitophila dominance was identified, followed by a high diversity of Penicillium species. Penicillium glabrum, found in all samples, was the most frequent isolated species. P. glabrum intra-species variability was investigated using DNA fingerprinting techniques revealing highly discriminative polymorphic markers in the genome. Cluster analysis of P. glabrum data was discussed in relation to the geographical location of strains, and results suggest that P. glabrum arise from predominantly the manufacturing space, although cork resident fungi can also contrib

Toxoplasma encephalitis in AIDS patients in São Paulo during 1988 and 1991. A comparative retrospective analysis

We conducted a retrospective analysis of Toxoplasma encephalitis patients from Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, the main AIDS hospital of São Paulo, Brazil, during two different stages of the HIV epidemics, in 1988 (38 patients) and 1991 (33 patients). There were AIDS-related demographic differences, but the clinical presentation and diagnostic efficiency were similar, usually based on tomography and clinical response to therapy, with a clear distinction from other CNS infections, based on clinical and laboratory findings. Specific serologic studies were performed less often in 1991, with a high frequency of therapy change. The direct acute death rate from Toxoplasma encephalitis was high during both periods, i.e. 8/38 in 1988 and 10/33 in 1991. The direct acute death rate for the patients from the two periods as a whole was 25.4% (18/71), related to the time of HIV infection, absence of fever and presence of meningeal irritation at presentation, blood leukocytes higher than 10,000/mm³ and blood lymphocytes lower than 350/mm³. Toxoplasma encephalitis is a preventable disease when adequate prophylactic therapy is used and is relatively easy to treat in diagnosed HIV patients. Unfortunately, this severe and deadly disorder is the HIV diagnostic disease in several patients, and our data support the need for careful management of these patients, especially in those countries with a high toxoplasmosis prevalence where AIDS is concurrent with economic and public health problems.

Archaeological roman glasses: comparative characterisation by non-destructive analytical techniques

Dissertation presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration