Severity of papular urticaria in children is associated with specific IgG4 anti-salivary gland antigens from Aedes aegypti.

Summary: Background. Papular Urticaria (PU) is a cutaneous hypersensitivity disorder triggered by hematophagous arthropod bites. Despite being a common condition, especially in tropical environments, many knowledge gaps are observed for this disease. The main objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of humoral immune response to mosquito antigens in children with PU and establish a correlation between this response and the severity of clinical symptoms. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional observational study was carried out. Clinical and sociodemographic data and children's blood samples were collected to measure the specific antibodies from: 1. A. aegypti salivary gland antigens; 2. A. aegypti whole body antigens (both produced in the laboratory of the Center for Health Sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). A PU severity score based on clinical data is proposed to correlate disease severity with antibody reactivity signatures. Results. According to the clinical data, 58.9% of children received high severity scores. A significant statistical correlation was found between patients with high PU severity score and the development of symptoms before the age of two (p = 0.0326) and high IgG4 anti-salivary gland antigens concentration (p less than 0.05). Conclusion. It is suggested that PU severity in children is associated with a high concentration of IgG4 anti-salivary gland antigens from Aedes aegypti. Further studies are recommended to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms involved.

DNA damage and aging on hematopoietic stem cells: Impact of oxidative stress in ApoE-/- mice.

The effects of aging on ROS production and DNA damage were assessed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice (2-, 12- and 24-month-old), a traditional experimental model of atherogenic dyslipidemia. HSCs from aged ApoE-/- mice were associated with increased ROS levels, leading to loss quiescence, DNA damage, apoptosis and telomere shortening. The concurrence of lack of ApoE and aging result in exhaustion and senescence of HSCs accompanied by increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, our data open avenues to a better understanding of age-related changes and genetic factors, which may synergistically compromise the efficacy of aged HSC recovery and/or transplantation.

Vitamin D Supplementation Seems to Improve Fibromyalgia Symptoms: Preliminary Results.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency have been reported in fibromyalgia. However, to the best of our knowledge, only one study has evaluated the role of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] supplementation on fibromyalgia symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effects of 3 months of 25(OH)D supplementation on symptoms of fibromyalgia. METHODS: This study included 11 female patient. Demographic and clinical data, tender points, visual analog scale results, and pre- and post-serum levels of 25(OH)D supplementation were analyzed. The levels of 25(OH)D were measured by a radioimmunologic test. RESULTS: Patients with fibromyalgia diagnosis and 25(OH)D values ≤ 30 ng/ml were recruited to receive 50,000 IU of oral vitamin D once every week for 3 months. The disease was diagnosed based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria. The median age of all patients was 48.5 (28-67) years and 63.4% were Caucasian. Disease duration varied from 1-10 years. The 25(OH)D levels increased significantly after 3 months, 18.4 (15.5-25.8) ng/ml vs. 33.8 (28-58) ng/ml, P = 0.01. Interestingly, an improvement of visual analog scale scores was observed at 3 months, 90 (0-100) vs. 30 (0-80), P = 0.002. Eight patients (72.2%) responded that they experienced a very significant improvement in symptoms. In addition, a trend for reduction of the number of tender points was observed after 3 months, 17 (11-18) vs. 10 (0-18), P = 0.07. CONCLUSIONS: The 25(OH)D levels and disease symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency seem to improve with vitamin D supplementation.

Time course of changes in heart rate and blood pressure variability in rats with myocardial infarction.

Our aim was to determine the time course of changes in autonomic balance in the acute (1 and 3 days), sub-acute (7 days) and chronic (28 days) phases of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Autonomic balance was assessed by temporal and spectral analyses of blood pressure variability (BPV) and heart rate variability (HRV). Pulsatile blood pressure (BP) recordings (30 min) were obtained in awake and unrestrained male Wistar rats (N = 77; 8-10 weeks old) with MI (coronary ligature) or sham operation (SO). Data are reported as means±SE. The high frequency (HF) component (n.u.) of HRV was significantly lower in MI-1- (P<0.01) and MI-3-day rats (P<0.05) than in their time-control groups (SO-1=68±4 vs MI-1=35.3±4.3; SO-3=71±5.8 vs MI-3=45.2±3.8), without differences thereafter (SO-7=69.2±4.8 vs MI-7=56±5.8; SO-28=73±4 vs MI-28=66±6.6). A sharp reduction (P<0.05) of BPV (mmHg2) was observed in the first week after MI (SO-1=8.55±0.80; SO-3=9.11±1.08; SO-7=7.92±1.10 vs MI-1=5.63±0.73; MI-3=5.93±0.30; MI-7=5.30±0.25). Normal BPV, however, was observed 4 weeks after MI (SO-28=8.60±0.66 vs MI-28=8.43±0.56 mmHg2; P>0.05). This reduction was mainly due to attenuation of the low frequency (LF) band of BPV in absolute and normalized units (SO-1=39.3±7%; SO-3=55±4.5%; SO-7=46.8±4.5%; SO-28=45.7±5%; MI-1=13±3.5%; MI-3=35±4.7%; MI-7=25±2.8%; MI-28=21.4±2.8%). The results suggest that the reduction in HRV was associated with decrease of the HF component of HRV suggesting recovery of the vagal control of heartbeats along the post-infarction healing period. The depression of BPV was more dependent on the attenuation of the LF component, which is linked to the baroreflex modulation of the autonomic balance.

Time course of changes in heart rate and blood pressure variability in rats with myocardial infarction

Our aim was to determine the time course of changes in autonomic balance in the acute (1 and 3 days), sub-acute (7 days) and chronic (28 days) phases of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Autonomic balance was assessed by temporal and spectral analyses of blood pressure variability (BPV) and heart rate variability (HRV). Pulsatile blood pressure (BP) recordings (30 min) were obtained in awake and unrestrained male Wistar rats (N = 77; 8-10 weeks old) with MI (coronary ligature) or sham operation (SO). Data are reported as means±SE. The high frequency (HF) component (n.u.) of HRV was significantly lower in MI-1- (P<0.01) and MI-3-day rats (P<0.05) than in their time-control groups (SO-1=68±4 vs MI-1=35.3±4.3; SO-3=71±5.8 vs MI-3=45.2±3.8), without differences thereafter (SO-7=69.2±4.8 vs MI-7=56±5.8; SO-28=73±4 vs MI-28=66±6.6). A sharp reduction (P<0.05) of BPV (mmHg2) was observed in the first week after MI (SO-1=8.55±0.80; SO-3=9.11±1.08; SO-7=7.92±1.10 vs MI-1=5.63±0.73; MI-3=5.93±0.30; MI-7=5.30±0.25). Normal BPV, however, was observed 4 weeks after MI (SO-28=8.60±0.66 vs MI-28=8.43±0.56 mmHg2; P>0.05). This reduction was mainly due to attenuation of the low frequency (LF) band of BPV in absolute and normalized units (SO-1=39.3±7%; SO-3=55±4.5%; SO-7=46.8±4.5%; SO-28=45.7±5%; MI-1=13±3.5%; MI-3=35±4.7%; MI-7=25±2.8%; MI-28=21.4±2.8%). The results suggest that the reduction in HRV was associated with decrease of the HF component of HRV suggesting recovery of the vagal control of heartbeats along the post-infarction healing period. The depression of BPV was more dependent on the attenuation of the LF component, which is linked to the baroreflex modulation of the autonomic balance.

Mas receptor overexpression increased Ang-(1-7) relaxation response in renovascular hypertensive rat carotid.

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is an important factor in the pathophysiology of hypertension. Mas receptor, Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)]-activated receptor, is an important RAS component and exerts protective effects in the vasculature. Ang-(1-7) vascular effects and Mas receptor expression in carotid from renovascular hypertensive (2K-1C) rats is not clear. In the present study we investigated Mas receptor vasodilator response activated by Ang-(1-7) in the carotid rings from sham and 2K-1C rats. Changes in isometric tension were recorded on organ chamber. Mas receptors expression was investigated in carotid by Western blot. Nitric oxide production was evaluated by 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) and eNOS expression and activity by immunofluoresce and western blot, respectively. Ang-(1-7) induced concentration-dependent vasodilator effect in carotid rings from sham and 2K-1C, which the hypertension increased vasodilatation response. In the 2K-1C carotid rings, A-779 (Mas receptor antagonist) reduced but not abolish the vasodilator effect of Ang-(1-7). Corroborating, Mas receptor protein expression was significantly increased in the 2K-1C rats. L-NAME and ibuprofen decreased Ang-(1-7) vasodilator response and L-NAME plus ibuprofen practically abolish the remaining vasodilatation response. Nitric oxide production is increased due increased of eNOS expression and pSer(1177) activity. Our results demonstrated that renovascular hypertension increased Mas receptors expression and nitric oxide production in the rats carotid which, consequently increased Ang-(1-7)-vasorelaxant response.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among tuberculosis patients with or without HIV in Goiânia City, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and tuberculosis (TB) represent major public health problems. There is currently little data on HBV infection among TB patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). OBJECTIVES: To assess HBV prevalence among TB patients with and without HIV. STUDY DESIGN: From April 2008 to March 2010, a cross-sectional study was conduct among TB patients attended at a reference hospital in Goiânia City, Brazil. The participants were tested for serological markers of HBV infection and HIV antibodies. HBV DNA was detected in HBsAg-positive samples, and also in HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive samples to look for HBV occult infection. RESULTS: Of 425 patients, 402 (94.6%) agreed to participate in the study. The overall prevalence of HBV (HBsAg and/or anti-HBc positive) and HIV infections were 25.6% (103/402) and 27.6% (111/402), respectively. A higher HBV infection rate was found among HIV-infected patients (36.9%; 41/111) compared to patients infected with TB only (20.0%; 57/285). A multivariate analysis of risk factors showed that age ≥ 50 years (p=0.03), non-injecting (p<0.01) and injecting (p<0.01) drugs use were associated with HBV infection. Among the HBsAg-positive samples (n=13), HBV DNA was detected in 10 (76.9%) samples. Of the 90 anti-HBc-positive samples, 13 were HBV DNA positive (with very low levels) resulting in an occult HBV infection rate of 14.4%. PCR-RFLP was successfully performed in 20 HBV DNA-positive samples: 15 were genotype A and 5 were genotype D. CONCLUSIONS: HBV infection was common, particularly among this with HIV infection.

Molecular sexing of unusually large numbers of Spheniscus magellanicus (Spheniscidae) washed ashore along the Brazilian coast in 2008.

There have been few studies on Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). In 2008, these penguins washed ashore along the Brazilian coast in unusually high numbers, some reaching as far as northeast Brazil. As Magellanic penguins show little sexual dimorphism, sex determination by morphological features is not accurate. Here, we tested a molecular procedure for sexing specimens of S. magellanicus washed ashore along the coasts of Sergipe, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul in 2008, comparing the sex ratio between these localities. Tissue samples were collected from 135 dead, beached specimens. We carried out total genomic DNA extraction and CHD-Z/CHD-W gene amplification by PCR using P2 and P8 primers. Amplicons were separated by 12% acrylamide gel electrophoresis. We found a greater proportion of females (70%). Sex could be determined because females have two intronic regions of CHD gene of different size in the sex chromosomes, visualized as two bands on the gel (380 and 400 bp approximately), while males have only one (400 bp). Therefore, this method proved to be effective and sensitive for sex determination of S. magellanicus individuals. Data on sex ratios are useful for understanding the dynamics and ecology of Magellanic penguin populations.

Surgical management in rerupture of internal carotid aneurysm after recanalization treated-coil: a case report

Introduction: Little is known about incidence, anatomical and clinical characteristics and results of endovascular treatment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. This type of the aneurysms can be approached by surgical with low morbidity and mortality. Clinical presentation: a 48-year-old woman submitted an endovascular embolization treatment in 2005, and in 2009 presents a new bleeding. The angiography shows that the same aneurysm was ruptured and a surgical repair was proposed. The surgical management shows detachable coils in the brain parenchyma. Conclusion: Some endovascular surgeons preferred the less invasive procedure (endovascular treatment) for intracranial aneurysms, but the surgical repair still remains the best choice for definitive treatment for intracranial aneurysms.