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

Atividade antibacteriana das plantas copaifera duckei dwyer e pseudobombax marginatum e sua interação com a superfície celular bacteriana

A resistência microbiana a antimicrobianos tem favorecido a busca por substâncias bioativas provenientes de plantas usadas na medicina popular, com o intuito de se obter novos fármacos com atividade antimicrobiana. Neste estudo, foi proposta a investigação da atividade antibacteriana do óleo-resina de Copaifera duckei e de diferentes extratos da casca de Pseudobombax marginatum, e seus possíveis mecanismos de ação. O potencial inibitório antibacteriano foi avaliado utilizando-se os métodos de difusão e diluição em ágar, e a bioautografia. O mecanismo de ação foi analisado por microscopia eletrônica, no qual se observou alterações na ultraestrutura bacteriana, e por eletroforese em SDS-PAGE, que determinou ação sobre as proteínas das superfícies celulares. A análise química foi realizada pelas técnicas de Espectrometria de massas acoplada ao Cromatógrafo a gás- EM/CG (C. duckei) e Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência- CLAE (P. marginatum). Entre as bactérias estudadas, B. cereus foi a mais suscetível às plantas em estudo, com concentrações inibitórias mínimas (CIMs) correspondentes a 0,3125 mg/mL para o óleo-resina de copaíba, e 0,5 mg/mL para extrato hidroalcoólico (1:1) e 0,512 mg/mL para a fração butanólica da casca P. marginatum, nos quais pôde-se observar alterações na parede celular do B. cereus, com remoção da camada S, espessamento da parede celular e formação de diversos septos nos centros de divisão celular. A análise química por EM/CG mostrou compostos terpênicos no óleo-resina de C. duckei, tendo como composto majoritário o β-bisaboleno, e a análise por CLAE mostrou a presença de compostos derivados da catequina na casca do P. marginatum. Desta forma, as plantas em estudo mostram um potencial antibacteriano considerável, podendo contribuir tanto na terapia antimicrobiana como na área de alimentos, tendo como um de seus prováveis sítios de ação a parede celular bacteriana

Avaliação de efeitos biológicos de antiinflamatórios derivados do ácido propiônico através de modelos experimentais em nível molecular e celular

Derivatives of propionic acid NSAIDs are irreversible inhibitors of cyclooxygenase enzyme widely used. The aim of this study was to evaluate, through different experimental models, biological effects of derivatives of propionic acid (fenoprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen and ketoprofen) in cellular and molecular level. The labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m (99mTc) and morphological analysis of erythrocytes of blood of rats, as well as growth, survival of cultures of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the assessment of bacterial plasmid electrophoretic profiles were models used for experimental evaluation of possible biological effects of antiinflammatory drugs. The results show that, in general, anti-inflammatory drugs evaluated were not able to alter the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc, the morphology of red blood cells from blood of rats, as well as the growth of cultures of E. coli and the electrophoretic profile of plasmid DNA. However, naproxen appears to cytotoxic effect on bacterial cultures, plasmids and genotoxic effects in reducing the action of stannous chloride in cultures of E. coli. The use of experimental fast performance and low cost was important for assessment of biological effects, contributing to a better understanding of the properties of propionic acid derivatives studied. anti-inflammatory, blood constituents, technetium-99m, stannous chloride, Escherichia coli; DNA

Avaliação in vitro da eficácia de produtos homeopáticos contendo momordica charantia através de bioensaios

Homeopathic medicines have been used for over two hundred years without the examination of their effects on in vivo and in vitro assays, due to the peculiarity of homeopathic preparations, the high dilution, which creates a challenge for the use of usual analytical techniques of quality control of medicine.Although there is scarcity of literature and variety of experiments, recently there have been some studies with few in vitro assays which have shown positive responses when evaluating the mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines which are able to act on a specific system.The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of homeopathic products containing Momordica charantia through bioassays.Homeopathic products were tested by the MTT to assess cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 (macrophage-like cells) and in tumor cells HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma cells), CHO K1 (Chinese hamster ovary cells), PANC-1 (human pancreas cancer cells) and PC-3 (human prostate cancer cells), dosage of inflammatory mediators NO, TNF-α and IL-6 released by RAW 264.7 cells, analysis of the death process and cell cycle changes of PC-3 by flow cytometry. The data demonstrate that homeopathic products of Momordica charantia did not show cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7, increased the production of inflammatory mediators by RAW 264.7 synergistically with LPS, showed cytotoxicity to PC-3 with change in its cell cycle inhibiting its proliferation, being the 30CH the most potent sample. Correlation studies were conducted in order to evaluate the possible in vitro applicable models to the quality control of homeopathic products with Momordica charantia. The data showed that the best applicable models in assessing the quality are the MTT to assess cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 and PC-3 in 24 hours for Momordica charantia fruit products and dosage of NO production by RAW 264.7 with and without LPS

Alterações anatômicas induzidas pelo cálcio na parede celular de frutos de goiabeira

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

Danos da morte súbita dos citros sobre a produção de laranja

A Morte Súbita dos Citros (MSC) afeta laranjeiras doces (Citrus sinensis) e algumas tangerineiras (Citrus reticulata) enxertadas em limoeiro 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia) no norte do Estado de São Paulo e sul do Triângulo Mineiro. O progresso da doença nos pomares têm causado grande preocupação para o agronegócio citrícola. Para caracterizar e quantificar os danos causados pela MSC, a produção de frutos (peso total e número de frutos por planta e tamanho dos frutos) foi avaliada em quatro talhões para cada combinação variedade ('Hamlin', 'Pêra', 'Natal' e 'Valência') / classe de idade (três a cinco anos, seis a dez anos e 11 a 15 anos). em cada talhão, as plantas foram classificadas de acordo com a severidade de MSC (0 = sadia, 1 = sintomas iniciais e 2 = sintomas severos). Para cada nível de severidade foram colhidas dez plantas escolhidas ao acaso. Os danos foram caracterizados pela redução do peso total de frutos por planta (28% e 50% para o nível 1 e 2, respectivamente), do número total de frutos por planta (12% e 26% para o nível 1 e 2, respectivamente) e do tamanho do fruto (22% e 41% para nível 1 e 2, respectivamente). As variedades de laranja não diferiram em relação à porcentagem de redução para todas as variáveis de produção avaliadas. As plantas mais jovens tiveram a maior redução no número total de frutos por planta e as plantas com mais de cinco anos de idade tiveram as maiores reduções no tamanho dos frutos. As classes de idade não diferiram na porcentagem de redução do peso total de frutos por planta.

Digestibilidade Aparente da Proteína Bruta e dos Componentes da Parede Celular de uma Ração Completa, com Bovinos de Diferentes Grupos Genéticos

Avaliaram-se os coeficientes de digestibilidade do extrato etéreo (EE), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), hemicelulose (HCEL) e celulose (CEL) de uma ração completa, composta por 44,3% de feno de braquiária, 55% de concentrado e 0,7% de mistura mineral, fornecida a bovinos de diferentes grupos genéticos (Gir, Nelore, Guzerá, Santa Gertrudis e Caracu), pelas metodologias de coleta total de fezes e com indicador interno (lignina em detergente ácido - LDA), em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições por grupo genético, com análise de variância individual dentro de cada metodologia e uma análise de correlação entre as metodologias. Não houve diferença entre grupos genéticos para a digestibilidade de EE, PB, FDN, FDA, HCEL e CEL, pelas metodologias de coleta total de fezes e com LDA, com médias de 44,28 e 40,38%; 52,46 e 49,51%; 57,04 e 54,25%; 37,71 e 34,04%; 71,66 e 69,68%; e 48,27 e 45,20%, respectivamente. As digestibilidades da PB, FDA e CEL não mostraram correlação. A LDA foi eficiente na estimativa da digestibilidades e os nutrientes foram utilizados de forma semelhante pelos diferentes grupos genéticos.

Desejo, preconceito e morte: assassinatos de LGBT em Segipe 1980 a 2010

This study examines the phenomenon of the murders of LGBT in Sergipe, between 1980 and 2010. Data were collected from newspapers, police, and judicial proceedings in the Courts with family members and friends of victims. The data show that despite the existence of death for involvement with drugs (crack), crimes of passion, among others, homophobia is one of its most characteristic elements. The victim profile also differs greatly from the aggressor, while the first is made up of individuals aged 25 to 44 years, the offender is between 15 and 29 years. Added to this the sensationalism of the press, the limits of police and justice in dealing with such events. The results seem to be forgetting some of the cases that do not reach the jury. It is an extensive study that combines statistical and qualitative data with a view to offering a closer look at the issue. The result is a mapping of brutal crimes, which, in part, has homophobia as the primary cause for its implementation

Apoptose na infecção experimental de cães domésticos com Ehrlichia canis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Viabilidade celular da fração mononuclear da medula óssea e fração vascular estromal do tecido adiposo de equinos após o processo de congelamento e descongelamento

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

O discurso formativo do Biólogo sobre a morte: matizes e metáforas do saber que o sujeito não deseja saber

This study - Biologist s formative speech about death. Nuances and metaphors from knowing that the subject of do not want to know - shows a marginal cognitive construction in scientific education from biologist - death. It considered as obvious that death is a theme that covers both the scientific education from biologist and the division of the subject, and concerns the splitting of the double life-death and the principles of inclusion and exclusion of the subject. Part of sensitive question: What is the epistemological weave who supports biologist's speech about death? It is constituted an object of study of the biologist s speech on death. It is advocated the thesis that: Death is an epistemological obstacle announcing for something always aims to escape from the perspective of knowledge, especially of scientific knowledge because, since it is understood as cognitive learning about the disruption of biological phenomenon life which is involved on weave of imaginary and symbolic constructions about the finiteness of life; it has constituted a metaphorical knowing - encouraged by the noisy silence - which does not allow to know in full, mobilizing hence subject in searching for transitional truths that reduce the ontological being-mortal anguish centered in subjective dimension involved in the act of knowing. From this movement of search that the object mental life after death wins a symbolic value that requires a real-looking multi-referential for the study of biology - life - and its implications: the finiteness of life, especially by moving the omnipotence of scientific objectivity expressed by signs and symbols that seek say the completeness of scientific knowledge-, signaling thus the existence of the dynamics of incompleteness implicit in subjectivity that supports knowledge relating to the double, life and death, and to the temporality of the existence of Homo sapiens sapiens, with the axis guiding the desire of the subject, do not want to know about death, implicit in the mechanisms objective-subjective founded by non-said of death is the epistemology of the existence of objective-subjective subject, whose core is the negation of death. The theoretical methodological knowing web is anchored in the multi-reference which favors a transit by theoretical current, as the Psychoanalysis, bachelardian philosophy, the epistemology of complexity, the Thanatology, the Social Psychology, and Etnocenology, and Understanding Interview. The unveiling of the study object from the analysis of oral speech of eleven biologists who serve in high school, from three main guiding: Death in the history of life,Death in biologist s academic education and, Conceptions about concepts

O conceito de morte: significações de professoras dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental

Cette étude appartient à l un des principaux défis de l éducation dans l actualité qui est la production de connaissances concernant la mort comme objet d investigation théorique et empirique dans le domaine éducationnel. Des recherches récentes signalent le besoin d une éducation contemplant des études sur la mort et montrent l école tel qu un lieu de débats et reflexions à propos de ce thème. Cette reflexion est relevante et fondamentale, étant donné que la mort fait partie du cycle de la vie et se trouve présente dans les contenus scolaires des différents domaines de la connaissance. Ce travail a, donc, l objectif d analyser les signification attribués à ce concept mort et la relation qui s établit entre eux et la pratique des professeurs de l enseignement fondamental. Il adopte en tant que référentiel les principes de la recherche qualitative du type étnographique (André, Chizzotti et Meksenas), dans une approche socio-historique et en ce qui concerne la formation et le développement des concepts (Vygotsky, Kopnin, Guetamanova et Ferreira). La participation des professeurs a été faite par l observation participante, registres en cahier de bord et application d un instrument de construction de données pour l appréhension des significations attribués aux concepts qui sont à la base de la pratique de cinq enseignantes des premières séries de l Enseignement Fondamental d une école publique du réseau d enseignement de l État du Rio Grande do Norte située dans la Zone Sud de Natal. De ce fait, les analyses et les interprétations des observations de la pratique dans la salle de classe et des réponses aux quinze questions liées au thème ont permis de construire les significations des concepts qui appuient les pratiques enseignantes de ces professeurs, tout en mettant en relief la fragmentation et la désarticulation entre les expressions décrites dans les questionnaires et les pratiques développées en salle de clase. Ces reflexions mettent en évidence la nécessité de re-penser l articulation entre l énnoncé et la pratique des professeurs à propos de cette thématique au cours d une formation initiale et continue

Efeitos da tricostatina A sobre a acetilação de histonas, proliferação celular e diferenciação de células tronco embrionárias murinas

Background: Embryonic stem cells are cells derived from early-stage embryos that are characterized by pluripotency and self-renewal capacity. The in vitro cultured murine embryonic stem cells can indefinitely propagate in an undifferentiated state in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). However, when stimulated, these cells can differentiate into cell lines derived from all three embryonic germ layers. The trichostatin A (TSA) is an epigenetic modifier agent and several studies have used the TSA to stimulate cellular differentiation. However, most of these studies only assessed one TSA concentration. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different TSA concentrations on histone hyperacetylation during in vitro cell differentiation of murine pluripotent embryonic stem cells, cultured with or without LIF, in the quest of to standardize their application on early cultures of embryonic stem cells.Materials, Methods & Results: Undifferentiated murine embryonic stem cells were plated in the presence of different TSA concentrations (0 nM, 15 nm, 50 nM and 100 nM) in the presence or absence of LIF. Thus, the treatments were evaluated in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells cultured in the presence of LIF (Control group: 0 nM LIF(+); Group 15 nM LIF+; Group 50 nM LIF+ and Group 100 nM LIF+), and in embryonic stem cells cultured in the absence of LIF (Control group: 0 nM LIF; Group 15 nM LIF(-); Group 50 nM LIF(-) and Group 100 nM LIF-). Treatment with TSA was performed for 24 h. After that the medium was replaced with fresh medium without TSA. Samples were collected at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after the beginning of the experiment. Three replicates were performed in each experimental group. The relative amount of Histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation was analyzed in all groups, as well as the cell proliferation in the embryonic stem cells cultured in the presence of LIF. In the control group (0 nM), the absence of LIF resulted in higher levels (P < 0.05) of H3lys9ac compared to the cultures supplemented with LIF. In the embryonic stem cells cultured in the presence of LIF, the 50 nM and 100 nM treatments resulted in higher levels (P < 0.05) of H3lys9ac when compared with 0 nM and 15 nM treatments. Evaluating the Hoechst area in the 0 nM group, it was observed that the number of cells increased (P < 0.05) according to the time of culture. Treatment with 15 nM also reflected a similar distribution, but the Hoechst area in 15 nM group was lower (P < 0.05) at 24 and 48h when compared to the observed in the control group. In the 100 nM treatment, was observed that the area of Hoechst was lower (P < 0.05) to that obtained in the control group at 12, 24 and 48h. In addition, it was observed that treatment with TSA induces greater cellular differentiation when compared to control groups in stem cells cultured in the presence of LIF as well as in the absence of LIF.Discussion: In the present study it was observed that TSA treatment increased the levels of histone acetylation in murine embryonic stem cells at a 50 nM concentration, making it possible to reduce the concentration recommended in the literature (100 nM). In addtion, it was concluded that the lower TSA concentrations utilized (15 nm and 50 nM) was less harmful to cellular proliferation than the 100 nM TSA concentration.

Sentimentos de profissionais de enfermagem diante da morte de recém-nascidos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva

To understand the feelings of nursing professionals when faced with the death of newborn babies in an intensive care unit is the purpose of this investigation. Motivation was triggered by the countless hardships we go through everyday, as professionals, and the scarcity of publications in this specific area of knowledge. The aim is to describe the experience of the nursing professionals and identify their feelings when faced with the death of newborn babies in an intensive care unit. As a methodological procedure, this research is based on a qualitative, phenomenology-focused approach and on the following leading question addressed to the interviewed nurses and nursing technicians who work at the unit: How do you feel when you are faced with the death of a newborn baby in the ICU at which you work? Answers to this question on such phenomenon revealed a diversity of feelings, such as, loss, guilt, failure, negation, compassion, and sorrow, coupled with anguish, fear, and anxiety, resulting in an experience of the sensitive world of everyone. Theoretical support to this analysis was based on works by authors who discuss phenomenology, as well as authors who study the theme of death. An understanding of the phenomenon thus studied enables us to affirm that the death of a newborn baby is, for the nursing professional who takes care of the baby in the space of the ICU, an experience of conflicting, sometimes painful feelings, on account of their complexity. This is true not only in respect of their feelings for the baby, but for the family as well, especially the parents

As representações sociais da morte e do processo de morrer para profissionais que trabalham em unidade de terapia intensiva uti

This study aimed to seize the general social representations of doctors and nurses who work in ICUs on the process of death and dying. We also aimed to know the social representations of these professionals in relation to death and the process of dying of people who are under their care, identify factors that influence the construction of these representations and identify similarities and differences between the two professions. The study was conducted from the perspective of the Theory of Social Representations of Serge Moscovici and the Central Nucleus of Jean-Claude Abric. The study was conducted in the Intensive Care Unit of Natal Hospital Center, a private hospital of the city of Natal - Rio Grande do Norte. This is descriptive and exploratory research. Twenty-four (24) professionals were interviewed, twelve (12) nurses and twelve (12) doctors. Data were collected through two instruments: Test of Free Association of Words, semi-structured interview. Later, they were coded, categorized and analyzed according to Content Analysis of Bardin (1977). The words evoked after the use of inducing words - death and dying - and the interviews, led to three thematic categories: Death and dying as a biological event, death and dying as a psychosocial event, death and dying as a transcendental event. As final considerations, we believe that the social representations of the group are translated in death and dying as biological and psychosocial events and anchored in the transcendental aspects, we do not see obvious differences in the testimonies of doctors and nurses , and the factors that interfere the construction of these offices is the culture, including religion