Validation of the content of the prevention protocol for early sepsis caused by Streptococcus agalactiaein newborns / Validação de conteúdo do protocolo de prevenção da sepse precoce porStreptococcus agalactiae em recém-nascidos / Validación de contenido del protocolo de prevención de la sepsis precoz por Streptococcus agalactiaeen recién nacidos

AbstractObjective: to validate the content of the prevention protocol for early sepsis caused by Streptococcus agalactiaein newborns.Method: a transversal, descriptive and methodological study, with a quantitative approach. The sample was composed of 15 judges, 8 obstetricians and 7 pediatricians. The validation occurred through the assessment of the content of the protocol by the judges that received the instrument for data collection - checklist - which contained 7 items that represent the requisites to be met by the protocol. The validation of the content was achieved by applying the Content Validity Index.Result: in the judging process, all the items that represented requirements considered by the protocol obtained concordance within the established level (Content Validity Index > 0.75). Of 7 items, 6 have obtained full concordance (Content Validity Index 1.0) and the feasibility item obtained a Content Validity Index of 0.93. The global assessment of the instruments obtained a Content Validity Index of 0.99.Conclusion: the validation of content that was done was an efficient tool for the adjustment of the protocol, according to the judgment of experienced professionals, which demonstrates the importance of conducting a previous validation of the instruments. It is expected that this study will serve as an incentive for the adoption of universal tracking by other institutions through validated protocols.

ResumoObjetivo:validar o conteúdo do protocolo de prevenção da sepse precoce porStreptococcus agalactiaeem recém-nascidos.Método:estudo transversal, descritivo, do tipo metodológico, com abordagem quantitativa. A amostra foi composta por 15 juízes, oito médicos obstetras e sete pediatras. A validação ocorreu por intermédio da avaliação de conteúdo do protocolo pelos juízes, os quais receberam o instrumento de coleta de dados - checklist - contendo sete itens, que representam requisitos a serem contemplados no protocolo. A validação de conteúdo foi atingida mediante aplicação do Índice de Validade de Conteúdo.Resultado:no processo de julgamento, todos os itens que representam requisitos contemplados no protocolo obtiveram concordância dentro do nível estabelecido (Índice de Validade de Conteúdo >0,75). Dos sete itens, seis obtiveram concordância total, (Índice de Validade de Conteúdo 1.0) e o item exequibilidade obteve Índice de Validade de Conteúdo de 0,93. A avaliação global dos instrumentos obteve Índice de Validade de Conteúdo de 0,99.Conclusão:a validação de conteúdo realizada foi ferramenta eficaz para adequação do protocolo, de acordo com o julgamento de profissionais experientes, demonstrando a importância em se realizar validação prévia de instrumentos. Espera-se que, este estudo incentive a adoção do rastreio universal por outras instituições, mediante protocolos validados.

ResumenObjetivo:validar el contenido del protocolo de prevención de la sepsis precoz porStreptococcus agalactiaeen recién nacidos.Método:estudio transversal, descriptivo, del tipo metodológico, con un enfoque cuantitativo. La muestra fue conformada por 15 jueces, ocho obstetras y siete pediatras. La validación se dio a través de la evaluación de contenido del protocolo por los jueces, los cuales recibieron el instrumento de recolección de datos - checklist - conteniendo siete ítems, que representan los requisitos para ser incluidos en el protocolo. La validación de contenido se logró a través de la aplicación del Índice de Validez de Contenido.Resultado:en el proceso de evaluación, todos los ítems que representan los requisitos contemplados en el protocolo obtuvieron una concordancia dentro del nivel establecido (Índice de Validez de Contenido > 0,75). De los siete ítems, seis obtuvieron una concordancia total (Índice de Validez de Contenido 1,0), y el ítem viabilidad obtuvo un Índice de Validez de Contenido de 0,93. La evaluación global de los instrumentos obtuvo un Índice de Validez de Contenido de 0,99.Conclusión:la validación de contenido realizada fue una herramienta eficaz para la adecuación del protocolo, según la evaluación de profesionales expertos, demostrando así la importancia de realizar la validación previa de los instrumentos. Se espera que este estudio fomente la adopción del cribado (screening) universal por otras instituciones, mediante protocolos validados.

Scleroderma in a young man.

Scleroderma is a chronic disorder, slowly progressing characterized by diffuse fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. There are functional and structural abnormalities small blood vessels, fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, immune system activation and autoimmunity. Female predominance is most pronounced during mid and late childbearing age, women to men ratio is 7-12 : 1. In this case, we found a diffuse cutaneus scleroderma. Skin biopsy result showed hyperkeratosis, increased dermis thickness with deposition of collagen. The antigenic specificities of antibodies were related to distinct connective tissue disease. The diffuse cutaneus subset was associated with antibodies to topoisomerase I, formerly described as Scl-70 or Scl-86. Anti Scl-70 antibodies were shown in many studies as a marker antibodies for SSC. Colchicine was given in this case, which has the effects of microtubule assembly inhibition and interference with transcellular movement of collagen. During colchicine treatment serum hydroxyproline increased and serum proline decreased, suggesting increased collagen degradation.

Leptospiral proteins expressed during acute & convalescent phases of human leptospirosis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The available serological techniques for the diagnosis of leptospirosis have less sensitivity during the early stage of the disease. Understanding of leptospiral proteins expressed during acute and convalescent phases of leptospirosis, would be help the develop of new serodiagnostic strategies. Therefore, the present study was carried out to identify (i) an antigen that is conserved among the various pathogenic leptospira; (ii) best protein antigen to which immune response can be identified in the acute phase; and (iii) best protein antigen which is present in convalescent sera which can be used for seroepidemiological studies. METHODS: Quantitative immunoblot analysis was performed using acute and convalescent phase human sera along with sera from normal healthy individuals and from patients with typhoid, malaria and hepatitis as the controls. All the samples were analyzed for the leptospiral protein recognition by using IgM and IgG immunoblots. Leptospiral cell fractionation was performed using triton X-114 and lysozyme and further the conservation of leptospiral proteins was also performed. RESULTS: In confirmed cases of leptospirosis, the IgG recognition in acute phase sera was 30.2, 39.5, 27.9, 55.8 and 27.9 per cent for the leptospiral proteins p32, p41/42, p58, p62 and p82 respectively. The IgG has considerably increased to 65.1, 55.8, 46.5, 67.4 and 48.8 per cent against the same proteins during convalescent phase. The IgM recognition was 32.6 , 32.6, 30.2 and 37.2 per cent for acute phase sera and 32.6, 37.2, 44.2 and 41.9 per cent for convalescent phase sera for the leptospiral proteins p14, p25, p32 and p41/42, respectively. Leptospiral proteins like p62 and p82 were recognized among all the control groups with 3.3-15.3 per cent for IgG recognition. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Leptospiral protein p32 was found to be highly sensitive and specific and could be useful for the development of newer techniques for diagnosis and seroepidemiological studies. Combination of p32 and p41/42 for IgG and p14, p25, p32, p41/42 for IgM would increase the sensitivity of these techniques further.

Role of the cyclosporin-sensitive transcription factor NFAT1 in the allergic response

Proteins belonging to the NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) family of transcription factors are expressed in most immune cell types, and play a central role in the transcription of cytokine genes, such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and GM-CSF. The activity of NFAT proteins is regulated by the calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphotase calcinerium, a target for inhibition by CsA and FK506. Recently, two different groups have described that mice lacking the NFAT1 transcription factor show an enhanced immune reponse, with tendency towards the development of a late Th-like response. This review evaluates the possible role of NFAT proteins in the Th immune response and in the eosinophil-mediated allergic response.

Autoantibodies as tools for biochemists and cell biologists

In this report we deal with the interesting repertoire of autoantigens and discuss that they represent functional and evolutionary conserved sites in proteins. In addition, we show that the autoantibodies spontaneously generated against these antoantigens can be useful tools in the study of important cellular phenomena.