A Microtus fortis protein, serum albumin, is a novel inhibitor of Schistosoma japonicum schistosomula

Schistosomiasis is an endemic parasite disease and praziquantel is the only drug currently in use to control this disease. Experimental and epidemiological evidence strongly suggests that Microtus fortis ( Mf ) is a naturally resistant vertebrate host of Schistosoma japonicum . In the present study, we found that Mf serum albumin ( Mf -albumin) and the conditioned medium of pcDNA3.1- Mf -albumin caused 46.2% and 38.7% schistosomula death rates in 96 h, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the negative control (p < 0.05). We also found that mice injected with Mf -albumin had a 43.5% reduction in worm burden and a 48.1% reduction in liver eggs per gram (p < 0.05) in comparison to the control animals. To characterise the mechanisms involved in clearance, schistosomula were incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled Mf -albumin and fluorescent enrichment effects were found in the gut lumen of schistosomula after 48 h of incubation. Next, digestive tract excretions from schistosomula were collected and the sensitivity of Mf -albumin to digestive tract excretions was evaluated. The results indicated that schistosomula digestive tract excretions showed indigestibility of Mf -albumin. The death of schistosomula could be partially attributed to the lack of digestion of Mf -albumin by digestive tract excretions during the development of the schistosomula stage. Therefore, these data indicate the potential of Mf -albumin as one of the major selective forces for schistosomiasis.

Edema macular diabético: análise de fatores agravantes / Diabetic macular edema: analysis of aggravating factors

O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a possível associação entre as alterações laboratoriais com edema macular, em portadores de retinopatia diabética. Foi realizado estudo tipo corte transversal. Incluiu-se 103 pacientes diabéticos, atendidos na Fundação Altino Ventura, sendo 54 com diagnóstico de retinopatia diabética com edema macular (grupo I) e 49 com retinopatia diabética sem edema macular (grupo II). A presença de edema macular em portadores de retinopatia diabética esteve associada significantemente com: hiperglicemia de jejum; hipercolesterolemia total; hipercolesterolemia LDL; hipoproteinemia total e hipoalbuminemia. Além do tratamento direto com fotocoagulação a laser, injeção de triancinolona intra-vítreo ou vitrectomia posterior, deve ser tentado o controle adequado das alterações laboratoriais como hiperglicemia, hipercolesterolemia, hipoproteinemia total e hipoalbuminemia para o manejo do edema macular diabético

Purification of human albumin by the combination of the method of Cohn with liquid chromatography

Large volumes of plasma can be fractionated by the method of Cohn at low cost. However, liquid chromatography is superior in terms of the quality of the product obtained. In order to combine the advantages of each method, we developed an integrated method for the production of human albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG). The cryoprecipitate was first removed from plasma for the production of factor VIII and the supernatant of the cryoprecipitate was fractionated by the method of Cohn. The first precipitate, containing fractions (F)-I + II + III, was used for the production of IgG by the chromatographic method (see Tanaka K et al. (1998) Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 31: 1375-1381). The supernatant of F-I + II + III was submitted to a second precipitation and F-IV was obtained and discarded. Albumin was obtained from the supernatant of the precipitate F-IV by liquid chromatography, ion-exchange on DEAE-Sepharose FF, filtration through Sephacryl S-200 HR and introduction of heat treatment for fatty acid precipitation. Viral inactivation was performed by pasteurization at 60oC for 10 h. The albumin product obtained by the proposed procedure was more than 99 per cent pure for the 15 lots of albumin produced, with a mean yield of 25.0 ñ 0.5 g/l plasma, containing 99.0 to 99.3 per cent monomer, 0.7 to 1.0 per cent dimers, and no polymers. Prekallikrein activator levels were ó5 IUml. This product satisfies the requirements of the 1997 Pharmacopée Européenne.