CORAL SNAKE ANTIVENOM PRODUCED IN CHICKENS (Gallus domesticus)

The production of anti-snake venom from large mammal's blood has been found to be low-yielding and arduous, consequently, antivenom immunoglobulins for treatment are achieved regularly as polyvalent serum. We have standardized an undemanding technique for making purified immunoglobulin IgY antivenom consisting of polyclonal antibodies against coral snake venom in the egg yolk of immunized hens. We have adapted a reported process of antibody purification from egg yolks, and achieved 90% antibody purity. The customized technique consisted of the removal of lipids from distilled water-diluted egg yolks by a freeze–thaw sequence. The specific immunoglobulins were present in the egg yolk for up to 180 days postimmunization. Therefore, by means of small venom quantities, a significant amount of immunoglobulins were found in an adequately purified state (The obtained material contained about 90% pure IgY). The antigen binding of the immunoglobulins was detected by a double immunodiffusion test. Titers of antibodies in the yolk were estimated with a serum protection assay (Median effective dose = ED50) (ED50= 477 mg/kg). Given that breeding hens is economically feasible, egg gathering is noninvasive and the purification of IgY antibodies is quick and easy, chicken immunization is an excellent alternative for the production of polyclonal antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first coral snake antivenom prepared in birds.

EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION WITH Toxocara cati IN PIGS: MIGRATORY PATTERN AND PATHOLOGICAL RESPONSE IN EARLY PHASE

Experimental inoculations of approximately 100,000 infective Toxocara cati larval eggs were done in twelve pigs. The T. cati eggs used for inoculation were collected from cat's feces. Another group of three pigs served as an uninfected control. Groups of infected pigs were euthanized at seven, 14, 21, and 28 days post-inoculation (dpi). Tissue samples were taken for digestion and histopathology changes in early phase. The number of larvae recovered from the lungs peaked at seven and 14 dpi and were also present at 21, and 28 dpi. Larvae of T. cati were present in the lymph nodes of the small and large intestine at seven, 14, and 28 dpi and at seven, 14, 21, and 28 dpi respectively. In other studied tissues, no larvae or less than one larva per gram was detected. The pathological response observed in the liver and lungs at seven and 14 dpi, showed white spots on the liver surface and areas of consolidation were observed in the lungs. The lungs showed an inflammatory reaction with larvae in center at 28 dpi. In the liver we observed periportal and perilobular hepatitis. The lymph nodes of the intestines displayed eosinophil lymphadenitis with reactive centers containing parasitic forms in some of them. The granulomatous reaction was not observed in any tissues. The role of the other examined tissues had less significance. The relevance of this parasite as an etiological agent that leads to disease in paratenic hosts is evident.

Leishmaniose visceral fatal associada à síndrome de imunodeficiência adquirida: relato de caso com achados necroscópicos e estudo imuno-histoquímico

Um caso de leishmaniose visceral em associação com a síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida em paciente do sexo masculino, com 32 anos de idade é relatado, tendo a protozoonose sido responsável pelo óbito do paciente. À necropsia, a leishmaniose visceral manifestou-se de uma forma atípica, com intenso parasitismo visceral, comprometendo órgãos não comumente atingidos pela doença, tais como adrenais, rins, pulmão e cérebro. Os órgãos do sistema fagocítico mononuclear foram intensamente afetados e macrófagos parasitados foram observados na luz de pequenos vasos em vários tecidos. Foi realizado estudo imuno- histoquímico de amostras tissulares de baço, linfonodo e cérebro, comprovando-se a presença de material antigênico relacionado com a leishmânia.

Acute exacerbation in chronic hepatitis B virus infection

A case of an acute exacerbation of liver injury in a chronic HBV infected young male is reported. The correlation between the severe symptomatic hepatitis is done with the histopathologic findings of extense areas of bridging necrosis on the Iwer biopsy. The serological pattern for markers of HBV (HBsAg +, anti HBs g -, HBeAg -, anti HBe +, anti HBcIgG + and IgM -) confirm a chronic infection, ana the authors propose that the episode of severe hepatitis relates to the recent spontaneous seroconvertion of HBe Ag to anti HBe. Other causes of hepatitis were excluded, and the control liver biopsy (6 months later) showed normalization of hepatic architecture and absence of markers of viral replication in tissue and serum. A review of literature is done in an attempt to elucidate the diagnostic possibilities in this case, with emphasis on new immunoassays useful in differentiating between acute hepatitis B and acute exacerbation of a chronic hepatitis by the same virus.

Tratamento da Leishmaniose tegumentar americana, com lesão em mucosa, por meio do isotionato de pentamidina

Dez pacientes com leishmaniose tegumentar americana, acometidos de lesão em mucosa, foram tratados por meio do isotionato de pentamidina na dose de 4mg/kg, em dias alternados, por via endovenosa. A posologia média correspondeu a 2.140mg. A cicatrização das lesões ocoireu em 9 (90%) dos pacientes que completaram o tratamento. Não houve recidiva no período de acompanhamento de 1 a 24 meses (média de 7, 7 meses). Uma paciente interrompeu o tratamento, antes da cicatrização da lesão, por ter desenvolvido diabetes melito. Em 3 (30%) pacientes, o exame de sangue mostrou aumento da uréia e da creatinina e leucopenia, corrigido pelo espaçamento da administração do medicamento. O isotionato de pentamidina é eficiente na cicatrização das lesões, mas hã necessidade de melhor avaliação de seu valor na prevenção das recidivas.

Parotid enlargement due to adenovirus infection in patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection

The authors report a case of adenovirus- induced enlargement of the parotid gland involving a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Physical examination revealed good general condition, no fever and bilateral enlargement of the parotid region, which was of increased consistency and slightly tender to palpation. Histological examination of the parotid gland demonstrated a slight periductal lymphomononuclear inflammatory infiltrate with the presence of focal points of necrosis. Tests to determine the presence of fungi and alcohol-acid resistent bacilli were negative. Immunohistochemistry for cytomegalovirus, heipes simplex, HIV p24 antigen and adenovirus showed positivity only for adenovirus in the epithelial nuclei of numerous gland ducts. Tins is the third case of this type reported in the literature, indicating the importance of including adenovirus in the differential diagnosis of this condition.

Lesões cutâneas como únicas manifestações de reativação da infecção pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em receptora de rim por transplante

Paciente com doença de Chagas, em fase crônica, após ter sido submetida a transplante de rim sofreu reativação da infecção devido ao Trypanosoma cruzi, como conseqüência de imunodepressão medicamentosa. O acontecimento manifestou-se exclusivamente através de lesões cutâneas ulceradas, merecendo portanto divulgação tal aspecto clínico inusitado.

Chagas' disease: study of congenital transmission in cases of acute maternal infection

We studied three pregnant women with acute chagasic infection. Two patients, infected in the third trimester of pregnancy, had uninfected children. The third patient, infected earlier, had an infected newborn. These results encourage research on risk factors of transmission and on medical decisions concerning pregnant women with acute Chagas' disease.

Eritema nodoso como forma de reativação da doença de Chagas em transplantado cardíaco

O presente caso ilustra uma forma de eritema nodoso, cujo agente foi o Trypanosoma cruzi em paciente chagásica submetida a transplante cardíaco. O diagnóstico foi firmado através do exame histopatológico de biópsia da lesão cutânea e estudo imunohistoquímico. O tratamento com nifurtimox promoveu regressão total das lesões.

Experimental ophitoxemia produced by the opisthoglyphous lora snake (Philodryas olfersii) venom

Several colubrid snakes produce venomous oral secretions. In this work, the venom collected from Venezuelan opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) Philodryas olfersii snake was studied. Different proteins were present in its venom and they were characterized by 20% SDS-PAGE protein electrophoresis. The secretion exhibited proteolytic (gelatinase) activity, which was partially purified on a chromatography ionic exchange mono Q2 column. Additionally, the haemorrhagic activity of Philodryas olfersii venom on chicken embryos, mouse skin and peritoneum was demonstrated. Neurotoxic symptoms were demonstrated in mice inoculated with Philodryas olfersii venom. In conclusion, Philodryas olfersii venom showed proteolytic, haemorrhagic, and neurotoxic activities, thus increasing the interest in the high toxic action of Philodryas venom.

Hepatitis C virus and human T-lymphotropic virus coinfection: epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and histopathological features

Twenty-four hepatitis C virus patients coinfected with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 were compared with six coinfected with HTLV-2 and 55 with HCV alone, regarding clinical, epidemiological, laboratory and histopathological data. Fischer's discriminant analysis was applied to define functions capable of differentiating between the study groups (HCV, HCV/HTLV-1 and HCV/HTLV-2). The discriminant accuracy was evaluated by cross-validation. Alcohol consumption, use of intravenous drugs or inhaled cocaine and sexual partnership with intravenous drug users were more frequent in the HCV/HTLV-2 group, whereas patients in the HCV group more often reported abdominal pain or a sexual partner with hepatitis. Coinfected patients presented higher platelet counts, but aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were higher among HCV-infected subjects. No significant difference between the groups was seen regarding liver histopathological findings. Through discriminant analysis, classification functions were defined, including sex, age group, intravenous drug use and sexual partner with hepatitis. Cross-validation revealed high discriminant accuracy for the HCV group.

Cytokine expression in the duodenal mucosa of patients with visceral leishmaniasis

INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease with a complex immune response in different organs. This pattern of organ-specific immune response has never been evaluated in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to determine the in situ immune response in duodenal biopsies on patients with VL. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 13 patients with VL in comparison with nine controls. The immune response was evaluated using immunohistochemistry, for CD4, CD8, CD68, IL-4, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10. Histological findings from the villi, crypts and inflammatory process were analyzed. RESULTS: All the cases of VL presented Leishmania antigens. No antigen was detected in the control group. The villus size was greater in the VL patients (p < 0.05). CD68 (macrophages) and CD4 levels were higher in the VL patients (p < 0.05). No differences in the expression of CD8, TNF-α, IL-10 or IL-4 were demonstrated. The number of cells expressing IFN-γ was lower in the VL patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of cytokines were found in the gastrointestinal tract of patients with VL. This pattern was not found in other organs affected by the disease. Immunotolerance of this tissue against Leishmania could explain these findings, as occurs with intestinal bacteria.

La progresiva construcción del Estado Social. La cuestión sanitaria en Córdoba 1916-1943

Los historiadores sociales de fines del siglo XX colocaron en el centro de sus preocupaciones nuevos temas y enfoques, entre ellos, los problemas vinculados con la denominada cuestión social. A ella se la define como el conjunto de problemas sociales surgidos como consecuencia de la industrialización, la urbanización, la inmigración entre los que se encontraban los conflictos del trabajo, la pobreza, el pauperismo, la marginalidad, la enfermedad, que restituyeron el protagonismo de sujetos olvidados como los enfermos, los locos, los delincuentes entre otros. Las enfermedades presentes en la sociedad, plantean un nuevo objeto de reflexión histórico que proporciona una ventana a la realidad social. Analizar la trilogía enfermedad-salud-atención de manera integrada es conocer un aspecto que explica la problemática social. La respuesta a los problemas sociales provino de la sociedad civil y del Estado, surgiendo instituciones de asistencia social que actuaban de manera combinada. La política social surgió como el diseño y ejecución programada y estructurada de todas las iniciativas del Estado adoptadas para atender las necesidades básicas de la población, como la salud, la educación, el trabajo, la vivienda y todas aquellas condiciones que impidieran la marginación social. El Estado Social adoptó un papel recaudador y redistribuidor hasta entonces desconocido, que garantizó a los ciudadanos un nivel de vida digna, interviniendo de una manera activa y progresiva en la sociedad. Esta investigación aborda el tema de la enfermedad-saludatención y la respuesta a esta problemática por parte del Estado cordobés durante el período 1916-1943, buscando reconstruircómo la enfermedad nos permite develar las condiciones de vida material y cultural donde emergieron y el proceso de constitución del Estado y la ciudadanía sociales, a partir de las continuidades, cambios y transformaciones que se fueron manifestando en el campo sanitario, en un período de alternancias entre demócratas, radicales y una intervención militar.

Cuestión social, políticas sociales y construcción del Estado Social en la Argentina. Miradas desde el interior nacional: Córdoba, 1914-1943

Esta propuesta pretende analizar históricamente el proceso de paulatina construcción del Estado y la ciudadanía sociales en Córdoba en las primeras décadas del S. XX, atendiendo a las continuidades, los cambios y las transformaciones en la cuestión social y en las respuestas del Estado y la sociedad civil frente a ella. La cuestión social suponía el socavamiento de la cohesión social y una amenaza de fractura de la sociedad, instalada en el centro del sistema productivo. En este contexto emergieron las primeras tentativas de previsión social y los primeros avances del Estado sobre el mercado; tras la búsqueda de mayores márgenes de igualdad e inclusión, a lo largo de décadas la sociedad transitará el arduo sendero que la conducirá desde los derechos civiles a los derechos políticos y de éstos a los derechos sociales. En este marco, el proyecto propone indagar los espacios cotidianos de la exclusión y el modelo de asistencia antes de la constitución del Estado social, cómo los sectores dirigentes concibieron y manejaron la exclusión social, cómo articularon una estrategia que atendiera a las demandas más críticas y, a la vez, asegurara el progreso material, el control político y el proyecto civilizador desplegado desde el Estado. Se aspira a avanzar en la comprensión de la interacción entre las elites dirigentes, sus ideas e instituciones y la gente común y sus experiencias, a la vez que propiciar una historia más humanizada de las transformaciones que marcaron la historia de Córdoba en las primeras décadas del S. XX.