Low frequency of regulatory B-cells and increased CD4+ and CD8+ interferon-γ-producing cells in patients with tropical spastic paraparesis associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) is a disease caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) that mainly infects CD4 T cells-for example, those of the CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ [Treg] phenotype-where it inhibits forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) expression and promotes interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expression. However, the role it exerts on regulatory B cells (CD19+CD24hiCD38hi; Breg) is unknown. METHODS: The frequencies of Treg and Breg cells was evaluated and the Th1 profiles were assessed in TSP/HAM patients and healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Low percentages of Breg cells and high production of IFN-γ were observed in patients compared to those in healthy control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The low percentage of Breg cells in patients and the increase in the frequency of Th1 cells suggest an imbalance in the control of the inflammatory response that contributes to the immunopathogenesis of TSP/HAM.

Situación del parasitismo intestinal en preescolares de un hogar infantil estatal en Popayán, Colombia / Situation of intestinal parasitism in preschools of a state child's home in Popayan, Colombia

deficientes. Se describen prevalencias a nivel nacional de este mayores al 80%, con predominio de protozoos. Objetivo: describir la situación de parasitismo intestinal en preescolares de un hogar infantil estatal de Popayán (Colombia) y su relación con variables sociodemográficas. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, entre mayo y septiembre de 2013, en 187 niños de 1 a 5 años de edad, matriculados en un hogar infantil estatal de Popayán (Colombia). Se realizó una encuesta sociodemográfica y análisis parasitológico de muestras de materia fecal mediante examen directo y método de concentración modificado de Ritchie-Frick. Se calcularon prevalencias, distribuciones de frecuencia y asociaciones de factores sociodemográficos con la presencia de parasitismo intestinal utilizando regresiones logísticas. Resultados: se identificó una prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal de 43,3%. La especie encontrada con mayor frecuencia fue Blastocystis spp. (24,6%), seguida por Entamoeba coli (13,4%) y Giardia intestinalis (11,8%). En ninguna de las muestras se observaron helmintos. Conclusiones: la prevalencia encontrada de parasitismo intestinal se aproxima al promedio nacional, de acuerdo con reportes para población preescolar en otros municipios del país. La ausencia de helmintos y el predominio de especies de protozoos respaldan la necesidad de futuras investigaciones que permitan conocer la epidemiología local. Además, se identificaron condiciones sociodemográficas de riesgo para infecciones en la población estudiada, algunas de ellas asociadas a la presencia de protozoos intestinales

Intestinal parasitism, generally asymptomatic problem but with important repercussions at socioeconomic and health field, mainly affects children with poor sanitary conditions. Their nationwide prevalence is higher than 80% with predominance of protozoa. Objective: To describe the situation of intestinal parasitism in preschools of a statechild's home in Popayan (Colombia) and its relationship with socio-demographic variables. Materials and methods: A cross - sectional descriptive study was carried out, between May and September 2013, with 187 children between 1 and 5 years of age, enrolled in a statechild's home in Popayan (Colombia). A sociodemographic survey was applied and parasitological analysis of stool samples was performed by direct examination and by the modified Ritchie-Frick concentration method. Prevalence and frequency distributions were calculated as well as logistic regression of associations of sociodemographic factors with the presence of intestinal parasitism. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 43.3%. The most frequently species was Blastocystis spp. (24.6%), followed by Entamoeba coli (13.4%) and Giardia instestinalis (11.8%). Helminths were not observed in any of the samples. Conclusions: The identified prevalence of intestinal parasites is close to the national average, according with previous reports for pre-school children in other municipalities in the country. The absence of helminths and the predominance of the protozoan species support the need for future research that allows knowing the local epidemiology. In addition, it was identified that the studied population is continuously exposed to different sociodemographic risk conditions that increase the possibility of acquiring enteroparasitosis

Frecuencia de aislamiento de streptococcus agalactiae en un grupo de embarazadas y sus productos / Frequency of isolation of streptococus agalactiae in pregnant women and their offspring

Se estudiaron 86 madres y 61 de sus recien nacidos con el fin de determinar la frecuencia de aislamiento de Streptococcus agalactiae (esptreptococo beta hemolitico del grupo B); no se aislo el germen de ninguno de los cultivos tomados de las secreciones del cuello uterino pero si a partir de las muestras faringeas, en tres de las madres (3.4%) y en dos de sus hijos. El tercer nino no se estudio porque su nacimiento ocurrio por cesarea. Las cifras encontradas en el presente trabajo estan de acuerdo con lo que relata la literatura, pero el bajo numero de casos estudiado no permite hacer consideraciones epidemiologicas mas profundas

A group of 88 pregnant women and 61 of their newborn Infants was studied In order to determine the frequency of isolation of Streptococcus agalactiae; all genital maternal cultures were negative but 3 mothers and 2 Infants had positive pharyngeal secretions; no evidence of streptococcal disease was found in the colonized Infants. The frequency of colonization found in this study agrees with that reported by other authors but the reduced number of cases does not allow In depth epidemiological considerations.

Meningitis bacteriana aguda en ninos: estudio clinico y bacteriologico en el hospital infantil de Medellin / Acute bacterial meningitis in children: clinical and bacteriologic study in Medellin children hospital

Entre Abril 3 de 1984 y Marzo 31 de 1986, se estudiaron 95 ninos que ingresaron al Hospital Infantil de Medellin con el diagnostico de meningitis bacteriana aguda (MBA); 68 de ellos fueron menores de 2 anos (71.6%); el haemophilus influenzae tipo B fue el germen predominante (41.0%); le siguieron el streptococcus pneumoniae (27.4%), las enterobacterias (15.8%), la neisseria meningitidis (4.2%),el staphylococcus aureus (3.2%) y estreptococos beta hemiliticso (2.1%); uno de estos fue streptococcus agalactiae y correspondio al primer caso de MBA descrito en Medellin por tal microorganismo; igualmente, se hallo el primer caso colombiano de MBA por shigella. La fiebre, el vomito, la irritabilidad, los signos de irritacion meningea y las convulsiones, fueron las manifestaciones mas frecuentes; en general el cuadro clinico fue mas severo y mayores las complicaciones mientras menor fuera el paciente; los pacientes con convulsiones persistentes de predominio focal tenian, por lo general infarto cerebral, derrame subdural, dilatacion ventricular o una combiancion de los mismos. El origen bacteriano del padecimienyo se pudo comprobar en 89 pacientes (93.7%) mediante una combinacion de examenes directos, cultivos y contrainmunoelectroforesis. La mortalidad general fue de 19.0%; de otro lado el 26% de los pacientes quedo con secuelas tales como convulsiones, deficit motor y sordera. Por primera vez se comprobo en este Hospital resistencia del H. influenzae a la ampicilina ( 3 de las 26 cepas estudiadas). Con base en este y los demas hallazgos se recomiendan modificaciones..

Between aprl13, 1984 and march 31, 1986, 95 children with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) were admitted to Hospital lnfantil, Medellín, Colombia. 68 (71.6%) were under two years old. Haemophifus influenza type B was the predominant microorganism (41%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (27.4%), enterobacteriaceae (15.8%), Neisseria meningitidis (4.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (3.2%) and betahemolytlc streptococci (2.1%). One case produced by Streptococcus agalactiae was the first one in our Hospital and another one due to Shigella was the first one in Colombia. Bacterial origin was confirmed in 93.7% of the cases, employing direct examination, cultures and counter immuno electrophoresis. The most frequent clinical manifestations were: fever, vomit, irritability, meningeai irritation and seizures; the younger the patient the most severe the clinical picture. Those with persistent focal seizures showed cerebral infarction, subdural effusion, ventricular dilatation or a combination of them. Mortality was 19%; sequelae were observed in 26% (seizure, motor deficit and deafness); Haemophilus influenzae resistance to ampicilin was observed for the first time in this institution. We suggest modifications in the initial therapeutic approach and recommend the suppression of the routine pre-discharge lumbar puncture