Characterization of the glycosylation of human tumor cells

Ovarian cancer is within the most lethal gynecological malignancies in woman. Therefore, many investigators study its biological aspects with the purpose of discovering more rapid diagnostic methods and efficient treatment. Resembling many other tumors, in ovarian cancer, aberrant glycosylation occurs with the appearance of novel or altered carbohydrate structures. These can be terminal motifs, such as the Lewis determinants, or entire carbohydrate sequences, which have been related to tumorigenesis and its outcome.(...)

Schistosomiasis mansoni in the municipality of Pedro de Toledo (São Paulo, Brazil) where the Biomphalaria tenagophila is the snail host: I - Prevalence in human population (

Due to the scarce information about the epidemiological features of schistosomiasis in which the vector is Biomphalaria tenagophila, an investigation was carried in Pedro de Toledo in 1980 where such peculiarity is observed. Stool examinations (Kato-Katz method) were performed in 4,741 individuals (22.8% positive to Schistosoma mansoni eggs) of this 583 had previously received chemoterapy and 4,158 remainders, untreated. The schistosomiasis prevalence in those two groups where respectively 31.7% and 21.6%. Epidemiological investigation showed that 83.6% were autochthonous cases from the studied area: the autochthonous prevalence rate, and the intensity of infection in the untreated autochthonous cases were higher in males than in females; the intensity in the latter untreated group was low, 58.5 eggs/g feces (geometric mean). Moreover, according to the age groups the intensity of infections correlated well (r s = 0.745) with the prevalence rates. Schistosomiasis was verified to occur mostly during the leisure time and by the use of water streams for housework in rural zone. Only 0.4% out of 1,137 snails was positive for S. mansoni cercariae, apparently unchanged from the 1978 study when the human prevalence was 12.0%. The studied area presented differences and similarities in relation to the other Brazilian areas were the main intermediate host is B. glabrata.

A case study on the improvement of eco-efficiency ratios: application to a composite processing industry

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) defines Eco-Efficiency as follows: ‘Eco- Efficiency is achieved by the delivery of competitively priced-goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life-cycle to a level at least in line with the earth’s estimated carrying capacity’. Eco-Efficiency is under this point of view a key concept for sustainable development, bringing together economic and ecological progress. Measuring the Eco-Efficiency of a company, factory or business, is a complex process that involves the measurement and control of several and relevant parameters or indicators, globally applied to all companies in general, or specific according to the nature and specificities of the business itself. In this study, an attempt was made in order to measure and evaluate the eco-efficiency of a pultruded composite processing company. For this purpose the recommendations of WBCSD [1] and the directives of ISO 14301 standard [2] were followed and applied. The analysis was restricted to the main business branch of the company: the production and sale of standard GFRP pultrusion profiles. The main general indicators of eco-efficiency, as well as the specific indicators, were defined and determined according to ISO 14031 recommendations. With basis on indicators’ figures, the value profile, the environmental profile, and the pertinent eco-efficiency’s ratios were established and analyzed. In order to evaluate potential improvements on company eco-performance, new indicators values and ecoefficiency ratios were estimated taking into account the implementation of new proceedings and procedures, both in upstream and downstream of the production process, namely: a) Adoption of new heating system for pultrusion die in the manufacturing process, more effective and with minor heat losses; b) Implementation of new software for stock management (raw materials and final products) that minimize production failures and delivery delays to final consumer; c) Recycling approach, with partial waste reuse of scrap material derived from manufacturing, cutting and assembly processes of GFRP profiles. In particular, the last approach seems to significantly improve the eco-efficient performance of the company. Currently, by-products and wastes generated in the manufacturing process of GFRP profiles are landfilled, with supplementary added costs to this company traduced by transport of scrap, landfill taxes and required test analysis to waste materials. However, mechanical recycling of GFRP waste materials, with reduction to powdered and fibrous particulates, constitutes a recycling process that can be easily attained on heavy-duty cutting mills. The posterior reuse of obtained recyclates, either into a close-looping process, as filler replacement of resin matrix of GFRP profiles, or as reinforcement of other composite materials produced by the company, will drive to both costs reduction in raw materials and landfill process, and minimization of waste landfill. These features lead to significant improvements on the sequent assessed eco-efficiency ratios of the present case study, yielding to a more sustainable product and manufacturing process of pultruded GFRP profiles.

DOT-ELISA for detection of anti-Cysticercus cellulosae antibodies in human cerebrospinal fluid using a new solid-phase (resin-treated polyester fabrics): preliminary report

A dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DOT-ELISA) was developed to detect specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for human neurocysticercosis immunodiagnosis, with Cysticercus cellulosae antigen dotted on a new solid-phase. This was represented by sheets of a synthetic polyester fabric impregnated with a polymerized resin (N-methylol-acrylamide). A very stable preparation was thus obtained, the antigen being covalently bound by cross-linking with free N-methylol groups on the resin. Since robust, no special care was necessary for handling the solid-phase. The test could be performed at room-temperature. From 30 CSF samples assayed, 14 were positive, from a group of 15 cases of neurocysticercosis, with titers from 1 to 128; 15 other samples, from normals or other neurological diseases, were all negative. Test characteristics seem to indicate it as adequate for epidemiological surveys. A more detailed study on sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and the use in serum samples is being conducted.

Comparative study of adenoviruses with monoclonal antibodies

The obtainment of monoclonal antibodies for adenovirus species 4(Ad4) is described.The specificities of selected monoclonal antibodies were determined by means of viral neutralization test in cell culture, immunofluorescence and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), in the presence of the following species of human adenovirus: 1, 2, 5 (subgenus C), 4 (subgenus E), 7 and 16 (subgenus B) and 9 (subgenus D). Two monoclonal antibodies species specific to adenovirus 4 (1CIII and 3DIII) and one monoclonal antibody that cross reacted with adenovirus species 4 and 7 (2HIII) were obtained.

Total serum IgE and parasite: specific IgG and IgA antibodies in human strongyloidiasis

Total serum IgE, and Strongyloides - specific IgG and IgA antibodies were studied in 27 patients with parasitologically proven strongyloidiasis. Clinical manifestations in this case series were investigated by a restrospective study of the patient's records. Total serum IgE levels were elevated (greater than 250 IU/ml) in 59% of the patients (mean concentration = 1364 IU/ml). Parasite - specific IgG and IgA antibodies were detected by ELISA in the serum of 23 (85.2%) and 21 (77.8%) patients, respectively. Elevated serum IgE and clinical manifestations were not useful indexes of the presence of strongyloidiasis. On the other hand, our results support the view that serologic tests, particularly ELISA for detecting Strongyloides - specific IgG antibodies, can be usefully exploited for diagnostic purposes in strongyloidiasis.

Study of a 9th century silver earrings set from Mikulčice: corrosion, conservation and maintenance

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

Studies on human anti-rabies immunization in Brazil: II - Preliminary evaluation of the 2-1-1 schedule for human pre-exposure anti-rabies immunization, employing suckling mouse brain vaccine

This study reports preliminary results of virus neutralizing antibody (VNA) titers obtained on different days in the course of human anti-rabies immunization with the 2-1-1 schedule (one dose is given in the right arm and one dose in the left arm at day 0, and one dose is apllied on days 7 and 21), recommended by WHO for post-exposure treatment with cell culture vaccines. A variant schedule (double dose on day zero and another on day 14) was also tested, both employing suckling mouse brain vaccine. A complete seroconversion rate was obtained after only 3 vaccine doses, and almost all patients (11 of 12) presented titers higher than 1.0 IU/ml. Both neutralizing response and seroconversion rates were lower in the group receiving only 3 doses, regardless of the sample collecting day. Although our results are lower than those found with cell culture vaccines, the geometry mean of VNA is fully satisfactory, overcoming the lower limit recommended by WHO of 0.5 IU/ml. The 2-1-1 schedule could be an alternative one for pre exposure immunization, shorter than the classical 3+1 regimen (one dose on days 0, 2, 4 and 30) with only three visits to the doctor, instead of four.

Microencapsulation technology: a powerful tool for human embryonic stem cells expansion and cryopreservation

Dissertation presented to obtain a Master degree in Biotechnology at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Some hematimetric findings in human Giardia lambia infection

Up to now few reports about haematological alterations induced by Giardia lamblia infection have been described. Because there are questions on this matter still not answered, we carried out a study to evaluate some erythrometric and leucometric parameters in a sample that consisted of 55 patients exclusively infected with G. lamblia and of 55 sex and age matched parasite-free individuals. The haematological parameters evaluated were: mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin concentration, and relative and absolute number of eosinophils and lymphocytes. No significant differences in the mean values of MCV, hemoglobin levels and absolute relative lymphocyte numbers between the two groups could be detected. When the giardiasis and control groups were separated by pediatric (0-18 years old) and adult (older than 18 years) classes, a very significant difference in both relative and absolute number of eosinophils in the adult class was observed. With respect of the pediatric class, no differences, either in relative and absolute number of eosinophils, could be observed. Our findings suggest that, during G. lamblia infection, some kind of parasite allergen(s) could be secreted and be responsible for the increasing of eosinophil counts in peripheral blood of adults.

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of B. fragilis group organisms isolated from clinical specimen and human intestinal microbiota

Epidemiological aspects and the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the Bacteroides fragilis group isolated from clinical and human intestinal specimens were examined in this study. B. fragilis group strains were isolated from 46 (37%) of 124 clinical specimens and the source of the samples was: Blood culture (3), intraabdominal infection (27), brain abscess (2), soft tissue infection (17), respiratory sinus (3), pleural aspirate (9), breast abscess (3), surgical infected wound (22), pelvic inflammatory disease (22), chronic otitis media (9) and miscellaneous (7). Intraabdominal and soft tissue infections were responsible for more than half of the clinical isolates. Susceptibility to penicillin, cefoxitin, tetracycline, metronidazole, chloramphenicol and clindamycin was examined. All isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and chloramphenicol. For clindamycin and cefoxitin the resistance rates observed were 21.7% and 10.9% respectively. Susceptibility profiles varied among the different species tested. A total of 37 species of B. fragilis group isolated from intestinal microbiota of individuals who had no antimicrobial therapy for at least 1 month before the sampling was also examined. All strains were also susceptible to chloramphenicol and motronidazole and the resistance rates to clindamycin and cefoxitin were 19.4% and 5.4% respectively. A few institutions, in Brazil, have monitored the antimicrobial susceptibility of B. fragilis group strains isolated from anaerobic infections. The resistance rates to cefoxitin and clindamycin and the variation in susceptibility patterns among the species isolated in this study emphasize the need for monitoring of susceptibility patterns of B. fragilis group organisms isolated, especially at our University Hospitals.

Human infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in Nasca, Peru: A seroepidemiological survey (1)

We estimated the proportion of seropositivity for infection with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas’ disease) in a sample of the rural population of the Province of Nasca, Department of Ica, southwestern Peru. Although Triatoma infestans, the only vector species identified in the Department of Ica, is often found in domestic environments, data of the extent of human infection with T. cruzi are scant. This study comprised 446 houses, known to be infested with triatomines, distributed in 19 rural localities. While visiting those houses we collected filter paper bloodspots from 864 occupants (of both sexes, aged one year or over). By means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), we detected anti-T. cruzi IgG antibodies in samples from 178 individuals (20.6%). Seropositivity was significantly more frequent in females (23.8%) than in males (17.5%). Among the 410 individuals in the 1- to 10-year-old age group (47.5% of the population sample), 85 (20.7%) were found seropositive, which is indicative of an early acquisition of the infection. Within this group no significant differences in seropositivity were associated with sex

IgM and IgA Antibody Responses in 12 Cases of Human Acquired Toxoplasmosis

The persistence, in some subjects, of specific IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii for several months after the acute phase of infection has complicated the interpretation of serological test results for toxoplasmosis. Several reports have emphasized the value of the detection of Toxoplasma-specific IgA antibodies for the diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis. In this article, we report the follow-up profiles of Toxoplasma-specific IgM and IgA antibodies in serum samples obtained from 12 patients at various intervals after the onset of the clinical manifestations of infection. IgM antibodies were detected by the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test, antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) and enzyme-mediated chemilluminescent technique (CmL). IgA antibodies were quantified by the direct ELISA (dELISA) and cELISA procedures. As defined by the manufacturer of the cELISA test for IgA used, most patients with acute toxoplasmosis have antibody levels > 40 arbritary units per ml (AU/ml). At values > 40 AU/ml, the cELISA for IgA detected significant antibody levels for a shorter time than the other techniques used for IgM and IgA detection. However, IgA levels £ 40 AU/ml do not exclude the possibility of acute toxoplasmosis since such levels can be reached very soon after infection with T. gondii. The results obtained in the present study show that the serological diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis may not be such an easy task. Our data suggest that use of the IgA-cELISA concomitantly with IgM antibody screening could permit, in some circumstances, a more efficient diagnosis of acute acquired toxoplasmosis

FETO-PLACENTARY PATHOLOGY IN HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION

In view of the scarce references concerning the histological data in congenital parvovirus human B19 infection, we intend to provide a description of the pathological features observed in six autopsies.The virus was detected by DNA hybridization (ISH-DBH),PCR and electronmicroscopy (EM) in paraffin-embedded feto-placentary tissues.These cases constitute a subset from 86 Non Immunologic Hydrops Fetalis (NIHF) cases, in which a systemic complex of inflammatory/degenerative lesions of unknown etiology was visualized by optical microscopy. In one case a syphilitic process was detected, typefying a double infection. All fetuses showed a similar pathology - hydrops, hepato-splenomegaly, lung hypoplasia and erythroblastemia, the specific histological feature being the presence of intranuclear inclusions in the erythroid progenitors, in the erythropoietic visceral tissue and in blood marrow. Complex cardiopathy allied to abnormal lung lobulation and polisplenia were observed once; in 2 cases endocardial fibroelastosis was diagnosed. The pulmonary lesions were represented by dysmaturity allied to interstitial mononuclear infiltration. The hepatic consisted of cholestasis, portal fibrosis, canalicular proliferation, hemossiderosis, focal necroses and giant cell transformation. The central nervous system lesions were predominantly anoxic although the autolysis impaired a correct diagnosis.

THE PERSISTENCE OF LEPTOSPIRAL AGGLUTININS TITERS IN HUMAN SERA DIAGNOSED BY THE MICROSCOPIC AGGLUTINATION TEST

The persistence of agglutinins detected by MAT has created some problems to the interpretation of the results. The aim of this study was to examine the data of serology from 70 patients with serologically confirmed diagnosis of leptospirosis by during 3-13 months after being affected with leptospires in order to elucidate the interpretation of the persistence of agglutinins detected by MAT. Sixty-one patients sera (87.14%) had titers equal or greater than 800. Of these, two individuals maintained titers of 800 thirteen months after the onset. This study showed that only one sample of sera with high titers is not reliable to determine the time at which infection occurred.