Exposure to Mycobacterium avium Decreases the Protective Effect of the DNA Vaccine pVAXhsp65 Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Induced Inflammation of the Pulmonary Parenchyma

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

Immunodominant Antigens of Leishmania chagasi Associated with Protection against Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interfacial fracture of dentin adhesively bonded to quartz-fiber reinforced composite

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of interfacial failure in a multilayered structure consisting of a dentin/resin cement/quartz-fiber reinforced composite (FRC). Slices of dentin close to the pulp chamber were sandwiched by two half-circle discs made of a quartz-fiber reinforced composite, bonded with bonding agent (All-bond 2, BISCO, Schaumburg) and resin cement (Duo-link. BISCO, Schaumburg) to make Brazil-nut sandwich specimens for interfacial toughness testing. Interfacial fracture toughness (strain energy release rate, G) was measured as a function of mode mixity by changing loading angles from 0 degrees to 15 degrees. The interfacial fracture surfaces were then examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) to determine the failure modes when loading angles changed. A computational model was also developed to calculate the driving forces, stress intensity factors and mode mixities. Interfacial toughness increased from approximate to 1.5 to 3.2 J/m(2) when the loading angle increases from approximate to 0, 0 to 15 degrees. The hybridized dentin/cement interface appeared to be tougher than the resin cement/quartz-fiber reinforced epoxy. The Brazil-nut sandwich specimen was a suitable method to investigate the mechanical integrity of dentin/cement/FRC interfaces. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Barium strontium titanate powders prepared by spray pyrolysis

Ultasonic spray pyrolysis (SP) has been investigated for the production of the barium strontium titanate (BST) powders from the polymeric precursors. The processing parameters, such as flux of aerosol and temperature profile inside the furnace, were optimized to obtain single phase BST. The powders were characterized by the methods of X-ray diffraction analysis, SEM, EDS and TEM. The obtained powders were submicronic, consisting of spherical, polycrystalline particles, with internal nanocrystalline structure. Crystallite size of 10 nut, calculated using Rietveld refinement, is in a good agreement with results of HRTEM. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Size effects of polycrystalline lanthanum modified Bi4Ti3O12 thin films

The film thickness dependence on the ferroelectric properties of lanthanum modified bismuth titanate Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 was investigated. Films with thicknesses ranging from 230 to 404 nut were grown on platinum-coated silicon substrates by the polymeric precursor method. The internal strain is strongly influenced by the film thickness. The morphology of the film changes as the number of layers increases indicating a thickness dependent grain size. The leakage current, remanent polarization and drive voltage were also affected by the film thickness. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Zoneamento agroclimático de nogueira-macadâmia para o Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tratamento cirúrgico da fratura-avulsão da inserção tibial do L.C.P. do joelho: experiência de 21 casos

Avaliamos 21 pacientes, sendo 16 pacientes do sexo masculino e 5 do feminino, com idade média de 30 anos, foram submetidos à tratamento cirúrgico da fratura-avulsão do LCP. em 57% dos casos a lesão foi secundária a acidente motociclístico e 19% a acidente automobilístico. em 72% dos casos foi identificada uma lesão na face anterior do joelho. O tratamento cirúrgico consistiu na abordagem posterior do joelho e fixação do fragmento ósseo com parafuso e arruela em 18 casos; e amarrilhas trans-ósseas em 3 casos, onde o fragmento ósseo era muito pequeno. em 91% dos casos, a cirurgia foi realizada dentro dos primeiros 15 dias apos a lesão. Os pacientes foram avaliados objetivamente (teste de gaveta posterior) e subjetivamente (Escala de Lysholm), apos um seguimento pós-operatório mínimo de 12 meses. A análise estatística não mostrou diferença significativa, ao nível de 5%, entre as avaliações objetiva e subjetiva. A ausência de lesão ligamentar periférica pode ter contribuído para que os resultados clínicos pós-operatórios tenham avaliação subjetiva satisfatória; entretanto, a presença de uma posteriorização tibial residual sugere que a fratura-avulsão do ligamento cruzado posterior deve ser abordada não como uma lesão óssea pura, mas sim, como uma lesão ósteo-ligamentar.

Alergia látex-fruta

O látex está sendo considerado o alergênico do ano 2000, tendo em vista que inúmeros indivíduos, principalmente profissionais da área de saúde e pacientes submetidos a várias intervenções diagnósticas e terapêuticas, estão freqüentemente expostos aos alérgenos do látex, presentes em produtos de borracha natural. As manifestações clínicas conseqüentes às reações alérgicas de hipersensibilidade imediata vão desde rinite, urticária, conjuntivite, angioedema, asma, até anafilaxia. Estudos recentes estão demonstrando que pacientes alérgicos ao látex desenvolvem concomitantemente sensibilização a certos alimentos de origem vegetal, especialmente frutas como papaia, figo, banana, abacate, kiwi, pêssego, abacaxi, melão e castanha, acreditando-se numa provável ocorrência de reações cruzadas entre os alérgenos do látex e destas frutas. Faz-se, então, uma revisão sobre a alergia ao látex, em particular sobre os grupos de risco, incluindo a presença de reatividade cruzada entre o látex e as frutas.

Alergia ao látex e a frutas em profissionais da área da saúde

INTRODUÇÃO: A alergia ao látex tornou-se um risco crescente aos indivíduos expostos, como os profissionais da área da saúde, tendo como agravo a associação com hipersensibilidade a vários alimentos, especialmente frutas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a freqüência de sensibilização ao látex e a frutas em profissionais da área da saúde. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 53 profissionais da saúde, 81,9% do sexo feminino, aplicando-se questionário alergológico e testes cutâneos por puntura para alérgenos inaláveis, do látex e de frutas (mamão papaia, kiwi, abacate, banana, figo, tomate, noz). RESULTADOS: Dos 53 indivíduos estudados, 15 (28,5%) eram alérgicos ao látex. A sensibilidade a frutas foi diagnosticada em 14 (26,4%), dos quais 10 (18,8%) apresentavam teste por puntura positivo para o látex; as frutas alergênicas mais freqüentes foram papaia (80,0%), kiwi (60,0%) e abacate (50,0%). CONCLUSÃO: Estes achados demonstram a existência da alergia látex-fruta, como descrito na literatura, sendo de suma importância uma avaliação in vivo em profissionais da área de saúde, caracterizados como potencial grupo de risco.

Saponins, IL12 and BCG adjuvant in the FML-vaccine formulation against murine visceral leishmaniasis

The FML antigen of Leishmania donovani, in combination with either Riedel de Haen (R), QuilA, QS21 saponins, IL12 or BCG, was used in vaccination of an outbred murine model against visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Significant and specific increases in anti-FML IgG and IgM responses were detected for all adjuvants, and in anti-FML IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b and delayed type of hypersensitivity to L. donovani lysate (DTH), only for all saponins and IL12. The QS21-FML and QuilA-FML groups achieved the highest IgG2a response. QuilA-FML developed the strongest DTH and QS21-FML animals showed the highest serum IFN-gamma concentrations. The reduction of parasitic load in the liver in response to each FML-vaccine formulation was: 52% (P < 0.025) for BCG-FML, 73% (P < 0.005) for R-FML, 93% (P < 0.005) for QuilA-FML and 79.2% (P < 0.025) for QS21-FML treated animals, respectively. Protection was specific for R-FML and QS21-FML while the QuilA saponin treatment itself induced 69% of LDU reduction. The FML-saponin vaccines promote significant, specific and strong protective effects against murine visceral leishmaniasis. BCG-FML induced minor and non-specific protection while IL 12-FML, although enhancing the specific antibody and IDR response, failed to reduce the parasitic load of infected animals. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

DETECTION OF CELLULAR-IMMUNITY WITH THE SOLUBLE-ANTIGEN OF THE FUNGUS SPOROTHRIX-SCHENCKII IN THE SYSTEMIC FORM OF THE DISEASE

Sporothrix schenckii is the etiologic agent of sporotrichosis, a mycosis of world-wide distribution more commonly occurring in tropical regions. The immunological mechanisms involved in the prevention and control of sporotrichosis are not fully understood but apparently include both the humoral and cellular responses. In the present investigation, cellular immunity was evaluated by in vivo and in vitro tests in mice infected with yeast-like forms of S. schenckii. The disease developed systemically and cellular immunity was evaluated for a period of 10 weeks. The soluble antigen utilized in the tests was prepared from yeast form of the fungus through the sonication (20 min: 10 sonications at 50 W at 2-min intervals). Delayed hypersensitivity and lymphocyte transformation tests showed that the cellular immune response was depressed between the 4th and 6th week of infection when the animals were challenged with the soluble fungal antigen. This depression frequently indicates worsening of the disease, with greater involvement of the host. This is a promising field of research for a better understanding of the pathogeny of this mycosis.

Effects of a leucine-rich diet on body composition during nutritional recovery in rats

OBJECTIVE: Protein malnutrition is characterized by a number of morphologic and physiologic alterations, including intestinal mucosal atrophy and impaired nutrient absorption. Impaired absorption accentuates nutritional deficiency and accelerates body weight loss and changes in body chemistry. Because leucine is a ketogenic and oxidative amino acid and stimulates the protein synthesis, we examined the ability of young rats to recover from protein malnutrition by feeding them a control balanced or a leucine-rich diet for 60 d.METHODS: At the end of the 60-d period, body, liver, and muscle weights; glucose, methionine, and leucine intestinal absorption; and carcass chemical composition were evaluated.RESULTS: Body weight gain was higher in the control balanced and leucine-rich groups than in control rats, indicating that adequate refeeding allows body weight to recover in these groups. Methionine and glucose absorptions were impaired in malnourished rats but were restored after nutritional recovery. The leucine-rich diet resulted in an increase in carcass collagen nitrogen but maintained the carcass structural nitrogen.CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that leucine supplementation during nutritional recovery from protein malnutrition improves protein carcass restoration. However, the precise mechanism of the leucine effects involved in this response remains to be elucidated.

Production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI rhamnolipids following growth on Brazilian native oils

Oils from Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflora), Passion Fruit (Passiflora alata), Andiroba (Carapa gitianensis), Brazilian Nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and Babassu (Orbignya spp.) were evaluated as carbon sources for rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI. The highest rhamnolipid concentrations were obtained from Brazilian Nut (9.9 l(-1)) and Passion Fruit (9.2 g l(-1)) oils. Surface tension varied from 29.8 to 31.5 mN m(-1), critical micelle concentration from 55 to 163 mg l(-1) and the emulsifying activity was higher against toluene (93-100%) than against kerosene (70-92%). Preliminary characterization of the surfactant mixtures by mass spectrometry revealed the presence of two major components showing m/z of 649 and 503, which corresponded to the dirhamnolipid (Rha(2)C(10)C(10)) and the monorhamnolipid (RhaC(10)C(10)), respectively. The monorhamnolipid detected as the ion of m/z 503 is predominant in all samples analyzed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dialysable leukocyte extracts modify the course of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis in the Syrian hamster

The effect of dialysable leukocyte extracts (DLE) obtained from hamsters immunized with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (immune DLE) and from non-immunized hamsters (non-immune DLE) was studied in hamsters inoculated with P. brasiliensis by the intratesticular route. Treatment with immune or non-immune DLE was started during the third week of infection and was repeated at 7, 11, 15 and 19 weeks. A group of untreated infected animals was used as control. Animals were submitted to the delayed hypersensitivity skin test to P. brasiliensis antigen (PbAg) in vivo and assayed in vitro by the macrophage migration inhibition test in the presence of Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and PbAg and by immunodiffusion for specific antibody. The animals were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks. The morphology and extension of the lesions were studied at the inoculation site, and in lymph nodes, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys. In contrast to the controls, animals treated with both DLEs maintained a positive cell-mediated immune response throughout the experiment and developed less extensive infection with a significantly lower number of fungi in the lesions. The results suggest that immune and non-immune DLE preparations modified the evolution of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis with equal efficiency. This similarity may be explained by the immunoregulatory activities of both extracts.

PHARMACOLOGICAL REACTIVITY OF RAT VAS-DEFERENS IN CHRONIC AND SUBACUTE LEAD-INTOXICATION

The influence of subacute and chronic lead intoxication on the responsiveness of the rat vas deferens was investigated by determining pD2 and relative responsiveness ratio (p) values for noradrenaline and for acetylcholine. Thus, the pD2 values of noradrenaline and acetylcholine from vas deferens of lead-treated rats were greater than those from normal rats, indicating that lead, in the dose and periods of treatment utilized, provoked a rise in vas deferens sensibility to noradrenaline and acetylcholine. Since it is known that the cirurgical or chemical denervation of the sexual ducts also provokes hypersensitivity, it may be suggested that this would be a possible mechanism for the observed alterations. A local lead toxic effect on the smooth muscle or at the level of androgen receptors should also be considered.