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BACKGROUND The knowledge about eicosanoid metabolism and lipid droplet (LD) formation in the Leishmania is very limited and new approaches are needed to identify which bioactive molecules are produced of them. OBJECTIVES Herein, we compared LDs and eicosanoids biogenesis in distinct Leishmania species which are etiologic agents of different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. METHODS For this, promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis and L. infantum were stimulated with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and LD and eicosanoid production was evaluated. We also compared mutations in structural models of human-like cyclooxygenase-2 (GP63) and prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) proteins, as well as the levels of these enzymes in parasite cell extracts. FINDINGS PUFAs modulate the LD formation in L. braziliensis and L. infantum. Leishmania spp with equivalent tissue tropism had same protein mutations in GP63 and PGFS. No differences in GP63 production were observed among Leishmania spp, however PGFS production increased during the parasite differentiation. Stimulation with arachidonic acid resulted in elevated production of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids compared to prostaglandins. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest LD formation and eicosanoid production are distinctly modulated by PUFAS dependent of Leishmania species. In addition, eicosanoid-enzyme mutations are more similar between Leishmania species with same host tropism.
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BACKGROUND Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often present with coagulopathies and have high titres of circulating antibodies against viral proteins. OBJECTIVES Herein, we evaluated the association between D-dimer and circulating immunoglobulin levels against viral proteins in patients at different clinical stages of COVID-19. METHODS For this, we performed a cross-sectional study involving patients of the first wave of COVID-19 clinically classified as oligosymptomatic (n = 22), severe (n = 30), cured (n = 27) and non-infected (n = 9). Next, we measured in the plasma samples the total and fraction of immunoglobulins against the nucleoprotein (NP) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike proteins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays. FINDINGS Patients with severe disease had a coagulation disorder with high levels of D-dimer as well as circulating IgG against the NP but not the RBD compared to other groups of patients. In addition, high levels of D-dimer and IgG against the NP and RBD were associated with disease severity among the patients in this study. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that IgG against NP and RBD participates in the worsening of COVID-19. Although the humoral response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is partially understood, and more efforts are needed to clarify gaps in the knowledge of this process.
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Lipid droplets (LDs; lipid bodies) are intracellular sites of lipid storage and metabolism present in all cell types. Eukaryotic LDs are involved in eicosanoid production during several inflammatory conditions, including infection by protozoan parasites. In parasites, LDs play a role in the acquisition of cholesterol and other neutral lipids from the host. The number of LDs increases during parasite differentiation, and the biogenesis of these organelles use specific signaling pathways involving protein kinases. In addition, LDs are important in cellular protection against lipotoxicity. Recently, these organelles have been implicated in eicosanoid and specialised lipid metabolism. In this article, we revise the main functions of protozoan parasite LDs and discuss future directions in the comprehension of these organelles in the context of pathogen virulence.
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Objetivo: Avaliar prevalência e intensidade de sintomas depressivos em pacientes admitidos no ambulatório de neurologia do HULW-UFPB por diversas outras queixas, analisando o perfil sociodemográfico e epidemiológico dessa população. Material e Métodos: Inquérito realizado de março de 2013 a agosto de 2015, com aplicação do Inventário de Depressão de Beck-II em 235 pacientes entre 17 e 59 anos de idade. A pesquisa realizada foi do tipo transversal, qualitativa e quantitativa. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de estatística inferencial univariada e bivariada. Resultados: O sexo feminino foi o mais frequente, 70% dos entrevistados; com média de 40,1 anos; casadas e com segundo grau completo. 48% exercem alguma atividade laboral, com jornada de dois turnos de trabalho (22,1%). Foram observados sinais de depressão mínima ou ausente em 51,9%; sintomas leves, em 23,4%; moderados em 15,7% e severos em 8,9% dos pacientes avaliados. Conclusão: Os sintomas depressivos foram cerca de 5 a 9 vezes mais prevalentes que os referidos na literatura, com uma porcentagem de sinais depressivos severos alarmantes. Esses achados configuram um importante problema de saúde pública, alertando quanto à investigação de queixas depressivas subestimadas por essa população.(AU)
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms among patients admitted to the HULWUFPB outpatient neurology service due to varied complaints. The sociodemographic and epidemiological profile of this population was further evaluated. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, qualitative and quantitative study carried out from March 2013 to August 2015, with the application of the Beck-II Depression Inventory in 235 patients randomly selected between 17 and 59 years of age. The data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate inferential statistics. Results: There was a prevalence of women (70% of respondents), with an average of 40.1 years, married, and with a high school education; 48% had some work activity, with a work journey of two shifts (22.1%). Signs of minimal or absent depression were observed in 51.9% of the cases; while mild, moderate and severe symptoms were found in 23.4%, 15.7%, and 8.9% of the patients evaluated. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms reported in this study were found to be about 5 to 9 times more prevalent than those reported in the literature, with an alarming percentage of severe depressive symptoms. These findings indicate the presence of an important public health problem and should further guide the investigation of the underestimated depressive complaints in this population.(AU)