Expression of B7-1 costimulatory molecules in patients with multibacillary leprosy and reactional states.

BACKGROUND: The expression of B7 as a costimulatory molecule on the surface of antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and on dendritic cells characterizes the efficiency of the cell-mediated immune response. AIMS: Our purpose was to evaluate B7-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) immediately after cell isolation ('spontaneous' B7 expression), and in inflammatory cells from cutaneous lesions of patients with multibacillary leprosy (MB-L) without and during the reactional states of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or reversal reaction (RR). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples and skin biopsies of eight patients without (MB-L) and with reactional episodes (ENL and RR) were studied using antibodies against B7-1, CD1b, DR and CD14 in flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry experiments. RESULTS: The flow-cytometry studies (mean +/- SD% of fluorescent cells) revealed significant B7-1 expression on PBMCs isolated from patients with ENL (8.0 +/- 0.6%) and RR (15.0 +/- 1.4%) compared with that observed for patients with MB-L (0.4 +/- 0.2%). Similar results were observed for cutaneous lesions of these patients by immunohistochemical assays. One patient studied before and during ENL revealed weak B7 expression before the reactional episode (0.3% of cells) compared with the marked level of B7-expressing cells detected during ENL (8.5% fluorescent cells). Interestingly, an even higher B7 expression (15% of cells) was observed in patients with RR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest that B7 expression precedes reactional episodes in MB-L, which could be related to the acquisition of effective immunity to Mycobacterium leprae during reactional episodes in leprosy. We propose B7 expression as a marker of CMI response in reactional episodes in leprosy.

Relaciones con la prensa en as campañas de salud animal

La comunicación es una ciencia que a cada día exige más de todos los segmentos de una comunidad. La midia escrita, hablada y televisada, los folders, carteles, out-doors y otros medios de comunicación son poderosos instrumentos que, los que trabajan en defensa sanitaria animal deben valerse.

[The enteroparasitic contamination of commercial vegetables in the cities of Niterói and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Contaminação por enteroparasitas em hortaliças comercializadas nas cidades de Niterói e Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the parasitological contamination of vegetables to be consumed raw and commercialized in Niterói and Rio de Janeiro cities. We studied 128 samples of vegetables--lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and watercress (Nasturtium officinale)--from supermarkets, greengrocer shops and self-service restaurants. Only 6.2% of the samples were positive for parasitic structures with morphological aspects similar to those of animal parasites. We detected acarids, acarid eggs, insects, nematode larvae and ciliated protozoa in most of the samples (96.1%), including those from restaurants. This high percentage suggests a risk of human infection since parasite structures capable of infecting man may exist in association with these agents.

Paleoparasitology: perspectives with new techniques.

Paleoparasitology is the study of parasites found in archaeological material. The development of this field of research began with histological identification of helminth eggs in mummy tissues, analysis of coprolites, and recently through molecular biology. An approach to the history of paleoparasitology is reviewed in this paper, with special reference to the studies of ancient DNA identified in archaeological material.

Experimental paleoparasitology: identification of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in desiccated mouse tissue.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used for clinical diagnosis of infectious disease and to research ancient animal and microbiological DNA from a wide range of tissues. PCR was used to study the possibility of Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) extraction from experimentally desiccated mouse tissue (heart, skeletal muscle, liver, spleen, and pancreas). The results obtained suggest the application of this technique to T. cruzi detection in archaeological material.

[The epidemiological determinant aspects in the maintenance of visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Maranhão, Brazil]. / Aspectos epidemiológicos determinantes na manutenção da leishmaniose visceral no Estado do Maranhão--Brasil.

The authors analysed the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) aspects in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, from 1982 to 1993. The disease happens to occur predominantly in São Luís Island (MA) and during the epidemic period, town of São Luís was pointed out as the main endemic area. The greatest frequency of cases occurred in 1993, despite the use of insecticide and dogs control. There was predominance of age between 0- to 4-year-old population with 58.04% of cases. Neither the human disease nor the rainfall index had significant seasonal variation. However they were correlated moderately, with high number of cases after the period of great precipitation of rain. After this study, the data obtained will allow a better control of the disease, despite some factors such as: the urbanization, localization and dynamic of transmission in endemic areas in the Maranhão state.

Avaliaçåo da eficácia, tolerabilidade e segurança da sertalina (50 mg a 200 mg) durante 8 semanas no tratamento de 150 pacientes ambulatoriais com depressåo maior / Evaluation of effectiveness, tolerance and safety of sertraline (50 mg to 200 mg) during 8 weeks in the treatment of 150 patients outpatients with major depression

Os resultados de um estudo multicêntrico, aberto e nåo comparativo, no qual foram avalaiados 150 pacientes com diagnóstico de depressåo maior de acordo com os critérios da DSM-III-R, såo relatados. Os pacientes selecionados foram inicialmente submetidos a um período simples-cego, durante 2 semanas. Após essa fase, aqueles que preenchiam os critérios de inclusåo e exclusåo iniciaram o tratamento com sertralina 50mg/dia que poderia ser aumentada gradualmente até 200mg/dia, incrementos de 50mg, e intervalos de no mínimo 2 semanas, caso a resposta ao tratamento fosse insatisfatória, segundo a avaliaçåo do investigador. O tratamento com sertalina mostrou-se altamente eficaz no alívio da depressåo. como também nos sintomas associados ao quadro depressivo como, ansiedade, transtornos do sono, agitaçåo ou inibiçåo psicomotora, trabalho e atividades, entre outros. Um total de 84,2 por cento dos pacientes responderam satisfatoriamente ao tratamento com sertralina em doses felíveis. Em relaçåo à tolerabilidade, um total de 54 por cento dos pacientes apresentaram algum efeito adverso ao longo do tratamento, porém estes efeitos foram geralmente de intensidade leve ou moderada e apenas 4,6 por cento dos pacientes interromperam o tratamento prematuramente devido à ocorrência de eventos adversos

Avaliacao da eficacia, tolerabilidade e seguranca da sertralina (50 mg a 200 mg) durante 8 semanas no tratamento de 150 pacientes ambulatoriais com depressao maior

Os resultados de um estudo multicentrico, aberto e nao comparativo, no qual foram avaliados 150 pacientes com diagnostico de depressao maior de acordo com os criterios do DSM-III-R, sao relatados. Os pacientes selecionados foram inicialmente submetidos a um periodo simples-cego de placebo, durante 2 semanas. Apos essa fase, aqueles que preenchiam os criterios de inclusao e exclusao iniciaram o tratamento com sertralina 50 mg/dia que poderia ser aumentada gradualmente ate 200 mg/dia, em incrementos de 50 mg, e intervalos de no minimo 2 semanas, caso a resposta ao tratamento fosse insatisfatoria, segundo a avaliacao do investigador. O tratamento com sertralina mostrou-se altamente eficaz no alivio da depressao, como tambem nos sintomas associados ao quadro depressivo como, ansiedade, transtornos do sono, agitacao ou inibicao psicomotora, trabalho e atividades, entre outras. Um total de 84,2 por cento dos pacientes responderam satisfatoriamente ao tratamento com sertralina em doses flexiveis. Em relacao a tolerabilidade, um total de 54 por cento dos pacientes apresentaram algum efeito adverso ao longo do tratamento, porem estes efeitos foram geralmente de intensidade leve ou moderada e apenas 4,6 por cento dos pacientes interromperam o tratamento premeturamente devido a ocorrencia de eventos adversos.

Clozapina no Brasil: avaliação da aplicabilidade do sistema de farmacovigilância e resultados terapêuticos preliminares / Clozapine in Brazil: evaluation of the feasibility of the drug surveillance system and preliminary therapeutic results

É apresentado o resultado de um estudo multicêntrico brasileiro cujos objetivos foram: aplicar em condições reais o modelo de farmacovigilância da clozapina no país (Sistema de Farmacovigilância de Leponex ð SFL) para detectar e corrigir eventuais falhas e proporcionar a diversos psiquiatras a experiência com o medicamento dentro das normas de segurança do SFL. Foram estudados 34 pacientes com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia crônica, refratários e/ou intolerantes ao tratamento com neurolépticos, que apresentavam exames hematológicos dentro dos parâmetros exigidos pelo SFL. A avaliação da eficácia antipsicótica da CZP foi feita pela BPRS e pela CGI e a tolerabilidade geral foi avalidada pela escala UKU, ao lado da avaliação hematológica semanal nas primeiras 18 semanas e mensal nos meses subseqüentes. O tratamento com a CZP incluiu doses crescentes e variáveis, tendo sido observado, ao final dos seis meses de tratamento, que a dose de manutenção se situava entre 75 e 700mg (mediana de 400mg). A análise da média dos escores da BPRS mostrou que houve melhora estatisticamente significante dos sintomas (ANOVA F = 112,24; p < 0,001), e essa diferença estatística ocorreu a partir do primeiro mês de tratamento. A avaliação préðtratamento, mostrou que houve redução significante da gravidade da doença, com remissão em 14,7 por cento (5/34) e melhora parcial em 70 por cento (24/34). Com relação à tolerabilidade, destacaðse a ausência de reações extrapiramidais bem como a boa adesão à rotina de controles hematológicos; um paciente apresentou trombocitopenia, que levou à interrupção da CZP, e outro interrompeu o tratamento devido a efeitos colaterais nãoðhematológicos. Os autores concluem que o efeito terapêutico da CZP foi promissor e ressaltam o bom resultado obtido com a operacionalização do SFL no Brasil

Clozapina no Brasil: avaliacao da aplicabilidade do sistema de farmacovigilancia e resultado terapeuticos preliminares

E apresentado o resultado de um estudo multicentrico brasileiro cujos objetivos foram: aplicar em condicoes reais o modelo da farmacovigilancia da clozapina no pais (Sistema de Farmacovigilancia de Leponex - SFL) para detectar e corrigir eventuais falhas e proporcionar a diversas psiquiatras a experiencia com o medicamento dentro das normas de seguranca do SFL. Foram estudados 34 pacientes com diagnostico de esquizofrenia cronica, refratarios e/ou intolerantes ao tratamento com neurolepticos, que apresentavam exames hermatologicos dentro dos parametros exigidos pelo SFL. A avaliacao da eficacia antipsicotica da CZP foi feita pela BPRS e pela CGI e a tolerabilidade geral foi avaliada pela escala UKU, ao lado da avaliacao hematologica semanal nas primeiras 18 semanas e mensal nos meses subsequentes. O tratamento com a CZP incluiu doses crescentes e variaveis, tendo sido observado, ao final dos seis meses de tratamento, que a dose de manutencao se situava entre 75 e 700mg (mediana de 400mg). A analise da media dos escores da BPRS mostrou que houve melhora estatisticamente significante dos sintomas (ANOVA F=112,24; p<0,001), e essa diferenca estatistica ocorreu a partir do primeiro mes de tratamento. A avaliacao final dos pacientes, em comparacao a avaliacao pre-tratamento, mostrou que houve reducao significante da gravidade da doenca, com remissao em 14,7 por cento (5/34) e melhora parcial em 70 por cento (24/34). Com relacao a tolerabilidade, detaca-se a ausencia de reacoes extrapiramidais bem como a boa adesao a rotina de controles hematologicos; um paciente apresentou trombocitopenia, que levou a interrupcao da CZP, e outro interrompeu o tratamento devido a efeitos colaterais nao-hematologicos. Os autores concluem que o efeito terapeutico da CZP foi promissor e ressaltam o bom resultado obtido com a operacionalizacao do SFL no Brasil.

Correlation between tissue damage and malondialdehydemia in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

Evolution of the acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease was correlated with tissue damage and plasma levels of malondialdehyde. Heart lesions were quantified by the Tissue Damage Unit (TDU) and malondialdehydemia (MDA) by the colorimetric determination of malondialdehyde. The binary correlations were: C(X,Y) = 0.965 (P less than 0.001); C(Y,Z) = 0.784 (P less than 0.01); and C(X,Z) = 0.824 (P less than 0.01), where X = days of infection, Y = TDU means and Z = MDA means. These results show a positive correlation between the duration of the acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease and TDU, and between the duration and MDA. The methods for measuring tissue damage and MDA are shown to be simple and adequate for monitoring tissue aggression in the protozoosis studied.

Malondialdehydemia and parasitemia during acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease in mice.

Parasitemia and malondialdehydemia were compared during the acute phase of the infection caused by the CL and Y strains of T. cruzi. Parasitemia was measured by counting blood trypomastigote forms, and malondialdehydemia by a colorimetric method. The duration of the acute phase of Chagas' disease was correlated with malondialdehydemia in both CL and Y strains. The correlations between parasitemia and duration of the acute phase, as well as between parasitemia and malondialdehydemia, were significant only in the group infected with the CL strain. These data suggest that malondialdehydemia may be an adequate parameter for evaluating and monitoring the acute phase in experimental Chagas' disease.

Correlation between tissue damage and malondialdehydemia in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

Evolution of the acute phase of experimetnal Chagas' disease was correlated with tissue damage and plasma levels of malondialdehyde. heart lesions were quantified by the Tissue Damage Unit (TDU) and malondialdehydemia (MDA) by the colorimetric determination of malondialdehyde. the binary correlations were: C(X,Y) =0.965 (P < 0.001); C(y,Z) =0.784 (P < 0.01); and C(X,Z) =0.824 (P < 0.01), where X = days of infection, Y = TDU means and Z = MDA means. These results show a positive correlation between the duration of the acute phase of experimental Cchagas' disease and TDU, and between the durtion and MDA. The methods for measuring tissue damage and MDA are shown to be simple and adequate for monitoring tissue aggression in the protozoosis studied

Malondialdehydemia and parasitemia during acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease in mice

Parasitemia and malondialdehydemia were compared during the acute phase of the infection caused by the CL and Y strains of T. cruzi. Parasitemia was measured by counting blood trypamastigote forms, and malondialdehydemia by a colorimetric method. The duration of the acute phase of Chagas' disease was correlated with malondialdehydemia in both CL and y strains. The correlations between parasitemia and duration of the acute phase, as well as between parasitemia and malondialdehydemia, were significant only in the group infected with the CL strain. These data suggest that malondialdehydemia may be an adequate parameter for evaluating and monitoring the acute phase in experimental Chagas' disease

[Natural infection of Holochilus brasiliensis nanus Thomas, 1897 (Rodentia, Cricetidae) by Litomosoides carinii]. / Infeccão natural do Holochilus brasiliensis nanus Thomas, 1897 (Rodentia, Cricetidae) por Litomosoides carinii.

It is recorded the natural infection of Holochilus brasiliensis nanus, a small semi-aquatic rodent of the Occidental Lowland of Maranhão State, Brazil, by Litomosoides carinii.