Detection of Treponema pallidum in whole blood samples of patients with syphilis by the polymerase chain reaction.

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The diagnosis is based on clinical data and serological analysis; however, the sensitivity and specificity of such tests may vary depending on the type of test and stage of the infection. In order to overcome this premise, this study utilized the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of T. pallidum DNA in whole blood samples of patients with syphilis. The blood samples from patients with or without symptoms of syphilis, but with positive results in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were included in this study. A venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test was performed for all collected sera samples. For PCR, the T. pallidum DNA was extracted from the collected blood samples and a specific primer set was designed to amplify 131 nucleotides of polA (Tp0105). The specificity of the primers was evaluated with the DNA of 17 different pathogens. From a total of 314 blood samples reactive in ELISA, 58.2% (183/314) of the samples were reactive in the VDRL test. In the PCR, 54% (168/314) of the ELISA-reactive samples were positive. In both tests (VDRL and PCR) 104 samples were positive. Of 104 positive samples for both tests, 71 were at the latent stage. Based on these results, it can be concluded that PCR with the designed set of primers can be utilized as a diagnostic method for T. pallidum detection in blood samples of patients with syphilis, especially those with latent infection. In addition, it can be utilized as a supplement for serological methods to improve the diagnosis of syphilis.

Detection of Treponema pallidum in whole blood samples of patients with syphilis by the polymerase chain reaction

ABSTRACT Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The diagnosis is based on clinical data and serological analysis; however, the sensitivity and specificity of such tests may vary depending on the type of test and stage of the infection. In order to overcome this premise, this study utilized the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of T. pallidum DNA in whole blood samples of patients with syphilis. The blood samples from patients with or without symptoms of syphilis, but with positive results in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were included in this study. A venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test was performed for all collected sera samples. For PCR, the T. pallidum DNA was extracted from the collected blood samples and a specific primer set was designed to amplify 131 nucleotides of polA (Tp0105). The specificity of the primers was evaluated with the DNA of 17 different pathogens. From a total of 314 blood samples reactive in ELISA, 58.2% (183/314) of the samples were reactive in the VDRL test. In the PCR, 54% (168/314) of the ELISA-reactive samples were positive. In both tests (VDRL and PCR) 104 samples were positive. Of 104 positive samples for both tests, 71 were at the latent stage. Based on these results, it can be concluded that PCR with the designed set of primers can be utilized as a diagnostic method for T. pallidum detection in blood samples of patients with syphilis, especially those with latent infection. In addition, it can be utilized as a supplement for serological methods to improve the diagnosis of syphilis.

Descriptive analysis of syphilis cases reported in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil identifies failure in treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Syphilis infection remains an alarming public health problem worldwide. METHODS: This study analyzed syphilis cases listed in the Information System on Diseases of Compulsory Declaration (SINAN) of Mato Grosso do Sul state in Brazil between January 2013 and December 2014. RESULTS: Most of the evaluated syphilis cases would have been preventable through public education, particularly congenital syphilis in children of previously diagnosed mothers and infection by untreated sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of syphilis could be reduced by improving prevention through counselling on the risk of infection, improving access to condoms, and increasing the frequency of diagnostic tests.

Descriptive analysis of syphilis cases reported in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil identifies failure in treatment

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Syphilis infection remains an alarming public health problem worldwide. METHODS: This study analyzed syphilis cases listed in the Information System on Diseases of Compulsory Declaration (SINAN) of Mato Grosso do Sul state in Brazil between January 2013 and December 2014. RESULTS: Most of the evaluated syphilis cases would have been preventable through public education, particularly congenital syphilis in children of previously diagnosed mothers and infection by untreated sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of syphilis could be reduced by improving prevention through counselling on the risk of infection, improving access to condoms, and increasing the frequency of diagnostic tests.

Treatment Outcomes of Brazilian Inmates with Treponema pallidum and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Prospective Cohort Study.

A prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the incidence and treatment outcomes of syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in inmates from Central Brazil. In 2013, 3,363 inmates from 12 prisons in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul were recruited, and 1,614 remained incarcerated after 1 year. The inmates were interviewed, and blood samples were collected for serological testing for Treponema pallidum and HIV infections. Inmates infected with T. pallidum or HIV within the first year were assessed for treatment using prison medical record data, based on Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test results, HIV-1 viral load, and CD4 counts. Acquired syphilis was identified in 5.8% (N = 95) of the inmates and 74% (N = 70) of them demonstrated poor treatment outcomes after 1 year. Multivariate analysis revealed that not reporting a stable partner was a risk factor for failure of syphilis treatment. Twenty-five patients had HIV (1.5%) and among those, 13 (52%) had an HIV-1 viral load > 200 copies/mL after 1 year. The incidence of T. pallidum and HIV infections was 0.5% (N = 9). The poor treatment outcomes of syphilis and HIV within Brazilian prisons demonstrate the inadequacy of public health programs. Although the incidence of these infections within the prison population is low, new cases still occur. Our results reinforce the significance of screening programs during prison admission for early detection and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

High mortality rate associated with KPC-producing Enterobacter cloacae in a Brazilian hospital.

We describe a clonal dissemination of KPC-producing Enterobacter cloacae in a Brazilian hospital. Patients diagnosed with theses isolates showed high mortality rate (41.8%) and were associated with previous use of antibiotics and urinary catheterization. Therefore, infection control measures and use of stricter antibiotic policies are required to control the spread of these organisms.

High Prevalence of Treponema pallidum Infection in Brazilian Prisoners.

The number of new syphilis cases in Brazil has risen alarmingly in recent years. However, there is limited data regarding syphilis prevalence in the Brazilian prison population. To facilitate the development of effective interventions, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection, active syphilis, and associated risk factors among Brazilian prisoners. We administered a questionnaire to a population-based sample of prisoners from 12 prisons in Central-West Brazil and collected sera for syphilis testing, from January to December 2013. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess associations with active syphilis. We recruited 3,363 prisoners (men: 84.6%; women: 15.4%). The overall lifetime and active syphilis prevalences were 10.5% (9.4% among men; 17% among women, P < 0.001) and 3.8% (2% among men; 9% among women, P < 0.001), respectively. The variables associated with active syphilis in men prisoners were homosexual preference, history of sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus status. Among women, the factors were sex with intravenous drug users, genital ulcer disease, and previous incarceration. Despite the high prevalence of active syphilis, 88.5% reported unawareness of their serological status and 67% reported unprotected sexual practices. Women had the highest rates of infection, including them in a high-risk group for the development of syphilis during pregnancy. Thus, implementing screening programs to enable continuous measures of control and prevention of T. pallidum infection in the prison environment, mainly in women institutions, is important to prevent severe forms of this disease and congenital infections.

Enzymes that hydrolyze adenine nucleotides in platelets and polymorphisms in the alpha2 gene of integrin alpha2beta1 in patients with von Willebrand disease.

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is one of the most common inherited bleeding diseases caused by a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of the von Willebrand factor (FvW). FvW is a multimeric glycoprotein synthesized by megakaryocytes and endothelial cells and it is present in the subendothelial matrix, blood plasma, platelets, and endothelium. This glycoprotein plays an important role in thrombus formation by initiating platelet adhesion to sites of injury as well as platelet aggregation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activities of enzymes that hydrolyze adenine nucleotides in platelets, ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA), and polymorphisms of the alpha2 gene of alpha2beta1 integrin from VWD patients. Platelet nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase), 5'-nucleotidase, and ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP) activities were verified in 14 VWD patients. For RIPA determination, a final concentration of 1.25 mg/ml of ristocetin was used. Polymorphisms of the alpha2 gene were analyzed through PCR. Platelet NTPDase and E-NPP were decreased in VWD patients. 5'-Nucleotidase activity was not statistically significant between controls and VWD patients. RIPA was significantly reduced, with an allelic frequency of 78.57% for 807C in VWD patients. Our results indicated reduced platelet NTPDase and E-NPP activities which might be related to the low platelet adhesiveness. The prevalence of the 807C allele might account for the variability in bleeding in VWD.

Nucleotide degrading enzymes in platelets from uterine cervical neoplasia patients treated with conization or radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Uterine cervical neoplasia is an important worldwide malignancy sometimes associated with thrombosis. Ectonucleotidases are membrane-bound enzymes which participate in thromboregulation by hydrolyzing adenine nucleotides in the extracellular medium. In this sense, we aimed to investigate their activity in patients with uterine cervical neoplasia. METHODS: We evaluated NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities from patients previously treated for uterine cervical neoplasia with either conization or radiotherapy (RTX). These patients were divided into four groups: two conization groups (I and II) and two RTX groups (III and IV), which were further divided based on the amount of time that had passed since the conclusion of their treatment, where groups I and III were extended-remission-period groups (patients with 1 to 5 years elapsed after the conclusion of treatment), and groups II and IV were recently treated patients (treated up to three months before). RESULTS: For both conization and RTX groups, ATP and ADP hydrolysis decreased in the extended-remission groups when compared to the control and recently treated groups. On the other hand, AMP hydrolysis was decreased in all the treated groups (both conization and RTX) compared to the control. CD39 expression was decreased in extended-remission groups (I and III) when compared to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: NTPDase protects against platelet aggregation and 5'-nucleotidase is more involved in the control of adenosine formation.

The activity and expression of NTPDase is altered in lymphocytes of multiple sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating neurological disease, which is presumed to be a consequence of infiltrating lymphocytes that are autoreactive to myelin proteins. ATP and adenosine contribute to fine-tuning immune responses and NTPDase (CD39) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) are important enzymes in the control of the extracellular levels of these molecules at the site of inflammation. We evaluated the activity and expression of NTPDase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in lymphocytes from patients with the relapsing-remitting form of MS (RRMS). METHODS: This study involved 22 patients with RRMS and 22 healthy subjects as a control group. The lymphocytes were isolated from blood and separated on Ficoll density gradients and after isolation the NTPDase and ADA activities were determined. RESULTS: The NTPDase activity and expression were increased in lymphocytes from RRMS patients when compared with the control group (p<0.05). In addition, a decrease in ADA activity was observed in lymphocytes from these patients when compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The regulation of ATP and adenosine levels by NTPDase and ADA activities may be important to preserve cellular integrity and to modulate the immune response in MS.

Activities of the enzymes that hydrolyze adenine nucleotides in platelets from multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic disabling neurological disease in young adults. Alterations in platelet function have been observed in MS; however, the mechanism and the relevance of this blood cell disorder with regard to MS pathogenesis are not yet understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate activities of ectonucleoside thiphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase, CD39), ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP), 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in platelets from patients with the relapsing-remitting form of MS (RRMS), as well as to analyze platelet aggregation and expression of NTPDase. The results obtained show that NTPDase, 5'-nucleotidase, E-NPP and ADA activities were decreased in platelets of RRMS patients when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, NTPDase expression in platelets was also decreased in these patients (p < 0.05); however, no differences were observed in platelet aggregation between RRMS patients and the control group. Our results suggest that the alterations in NTPDase, E-NPP, 5'-nucleotidase and ADA may have contributed to the alterations in platelet function in MS by altering the levels of nucleotides and nucleosides in the circulation.

Ectonucleotidase and acetylcholinesterase activities in synaptosomes from the cerebral cortex of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and treated with resveratrol.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol (RV), an important neuroprotective compound on NTPDase, 5'-nucleotidase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in cerebral cortex synaptosomes of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The animals were divided into six groups (n=8): control/saline; control/RV 10mg/kg; control/RV 20mg/kg; diabetic/saline; diabetic/RV 10mg/kg; diabetic/RV 20mg/kg. After 30 days of treatment with resveratrol the animals were sacrificed and the cerebral cortex was removed for synaptosomes preparation and enzymatic assays. The results demonstrated that NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities were significantly increased in the diabetic/saline group (p<0.05) compared to control/saline group. Treatment with resveratrol significantly increased NTPDase, 5'-nucleotidase activities in the diabetic/RV10 and diabetic/RV20 groups (p<0.05) compared to diabetic/saline group. When resveratrol was administered per se there was also an increase in the activities of these enzymes in the control/RV10 and control/RV20 groups (p<0.05) compared to control/saline group. AChE activity was significantly increased in the diabetic/saline group (p<0.05) compared to control/saline group. The treatment with resveratrol prevented this increase in the diabetic/RV10 and diabetic/RV20 groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the resveratrol interfere with the purinergic and cholinergic neurotransmission by altering NTPDase, 5'-nucleotidase and AChE activities in cerebral cortex synaptosomes of diabetic rats. In this context, we can suggest that resveratrol should be considered potential therapeutics and scientific tools to be investigated in brain disorders associated with the diabetes.

Effect of vitamin E on ectonucleotidase activities in synaptosomes and platelets and parameters of oxidative stress in rats experimentally demyelinated.

NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities in synaptosomes and platelets and oxidative stress parameters, such as TBARS levels, non-protein thiols and catalase activity were analyzed in rats submitted to demyelination by ethidium bromide (EB) and treated with vitamin E. The following groups were studied: I control (saline); II (canola oil); III (vitamin E); IV (EB) and V (EB and vitamin E). 2mg/kg of vitamin E were injected intraperitoneally in animals from groups III and V for seven days. After this time, the animals were submitted to euthanasia and samples were collected for biochemical assays. The results showed that NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities were significantly increased in synaptosomes and platelets of rats from group IV when compared with the groups I, II, III and V (p<0.05). When demyelinated rats were treated with vitamin E (group V), NTPDase activity in synaptosomes and platelets was reduced to control level, while 5'-nucleotidase activity was significantly increased in relation to the control group (p<0.05). TBARS levels and non-protein thiols were significantly increased in group IV (p<0.05), while catalase activity was significantly decreased in this group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). No differences in TBARS levels, non-protein thiols and catalase activity were observed in groups I, II, III and V. These findings demonstrate that ectonucleotidase activities in synaptosomes and platelets and some parameters of oxidative stress were altered after a demyelinating event on the nervous system and that treatment with vitamin E modulated adenine nucleotide hydrolysis and altered oxidative stress parameters in this experimental condition.

Resveratrol prevents memory deficits and the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the administration of resveratrol (RV) on memory and on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, hypothalamus, cerebellum and blood in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The animals were divided into six groups (n=6-13): Control/saline; Control/RV 10 mg/kg; Control/RV 20 mg/kg; Diabetic/saline; Diabetic/RV 10 mg/kg; Diabetic/RV 20 mg/kg. One day after 30 days of treatment with resveratrol the animals were submitted to behavioral tests and then submitted to euthanasia and the brain structures and blood were collected. The results showed a decrease in step-down latency in diabetic/saline group. Resveratrol (10 and 20 mg/kg) prevented the impairment of memory induced by diabetes. In the open field test, no significant differences were observed between the groups. In relation to AChE activity, a significant increase in diabetic/saline group (P<0.05) was observed in all brain structures compared to control/saline group. However, AChE activity decreased significantly in control/RV10 and control/RV20 (P<0.05) groups in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum, while no significant differences were observed in diabetic/RV10 and diabetic/RV20 groups in all brain structures compared to control/saline group. Blood AChE activity increased significantly in diabetic/saline group (P<0.05) decreased in control/RV10, control/RV20 and diabetic/RV20 groups (P<0.05) compared to control/saline group. In conclusion, the present findings showed that treatment with resveratrol prevents the increase in AChE activity and consequently memory impairment in diabetic rats, demonstrating that this compound can modulate cholinergic neurotransmission and consequently improve cognition.

Changes in acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity in lymphocytes and whole blood in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes and it is the most common form of cancer in children. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is well known as having non-cholinergic functions and has been detected in the blood and plasma of humans including in lymphocytes. Thus, we investigated whole blood and lymphocyte AChE activity in patients with ALL. METHODS: This study was performed on 72 children with ALL divided into 4 groups: newly diagnosed, remission induction, remission maintenance and out-of-treatment and one control group of 50 healthy subjects. We determined AChE activity in whole blood and lymphocytes of these patients. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that whole blood AChE activity was enhanced in the newly diagnosed group and reduced in the remission induction and remission maintenance groups in relation to the control group. For lymphocyte AChE activity we found an increase in the newly diagnosed group and a decrease in the remission induction group in relation to the control. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AChE activity was altered in ALL patients. This fact may be related with the essential role played by AChE in the development of hematological disease and its contribution to the regulation of immune function.

Effect of different vasodilators on NTPDase activity in healthy and hypertensive patients.

INTRODUCTION: The thrombogenic process that affects the hypertensive patient is associated with regulatory mechanisms present in the vascular endothelium. These mechanisms involve release of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor, ectonucleotidase activity and calcium ion concentration. METHODS: Interference with ENTPDase activity in platelets of hypertensive patients and healthy donors was evaluated for arginine, sodium nitroprusside, and hydralazine. In addition, the kinetic behavior of NTPDase was determined in the presence of the vasodilator that showed the greatest inhibitory influence. RESULTS: Vasodilators decreased NTPDase activity with ATP and ADP as substrates. In controls, hydrolysis was increased in the presence of arginine. Captopril did not affect enzyme activities. The dose response for increasing sodium nitroprusside was biphasic. Kinetic behavior studies were estimated in the presence of sodium nitroprusside, which caused a mixed inhibition. The K(m) values increased and V(max) decreased with increasing sodium nitroprusside concentrations. The IC(50) and K(i) values indicated that the vasodilator was a strong NTPDase inhibitor when tested for the control and hypertensive group, using ATP and ADP as substrate, respectively. CONCLUSION: It is postulated that there was an interaction between vasodilators, NO donors and inhibition of NTPDase.

Effects of resveratrol on nucleotide degrading enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIMS: Diabetes mellitus is associated with platelet alterations that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular complications. The present study investigates the effects of resveratrol (RSV), an important compound with cardioprotective activities, on NTPDase, ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP), 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in platelets from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. MAIN METHODS: The animals were divided into six groups (n=8): control/saline; control/RSV 10 mg/kg; control/RSV 20 mg/kg; diabetic/saline; diabetic/RSV 10 mg/kg; diabetic/RSV 20 mg/kg. RSV was administered during 30 days and after this period the blood was collected for enzymatic assay. KEY FINDINGS: The results demonstrated that NTPDase, E-NPP and 5'-nucleotidase activities were significantly higher in the diabetic/saline group (P<0.05) compared to control/saline group. Treatment with RSV significantly increased NTPDase, 5'-nucleotidase and E-NPP activities in the diabetic/RSV10 and diabetic/RSV20 groups (P<0.05) compared to diabetic/saline group. When RSV was administered per se there was also an increase in the activities of these enzymes in the control/RSV10 and control/RSV20 groups (P<0.05) compared to control/saline group. ADA activity was significantly increased in the diabetic/saline group (P<0.05) compared to control/saline group. The treatment with RSV prevented this increase in the diabetic/RSV10 and diabetic/RSV20 groups. No significant differences in ADA activity were observed in the control/RSV10 and control/RSV20 compared to control/saline group. SIGNIFICANCE: The present findings demonstrate alterations in nucleotide hydrolysis in platelets of STZ-induced diabetic rats and treatment with RSV was able to modulate adenine nucleotide hydrolysis, which may be important in the control of the platelet coagulant status in diabetes.

Pre-treatment with ebselen and vitamin E modulate acetylcholinesterase activity: interaction with demyelinating agents.

The ethidium bromide (EB) demyelinating model was associated with vitamin E (Vit E) and ebselen (Ebs) treatment to evaluate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the striatum (ST), hippocampus (HP), cerebral cortex (CC) and erythrocytes. Rats were divided into seven groups: I-Control (saline), II-(canola); III-(Ebs), IV-(Vit E); V-(EB); VI-(EB+Ebs) and VII-(EB+Vit E). At 3 days after the EB injection, AChE activity in the CC and HC was significantly reduced in groups III, IV, V, VI and VII (p<0.05) and in the ST it was reduced in groups III and V (p<0.05) when compared to the control group. At 21 days after the EB injection, AChE activity in the CC was significantly reduced in groups III, IV and V, while in groups VI and VII a significant increase was observed when compared to the control group. In the HC and ST, AChE activity was significantly reduced in groups V, VI and VII when compared to the control group (p<0.05). In the erythrocytes, at 3 days after the EB injection, AChE activity was significantly reduced in groups III, IV, V, VI and VII and at 21 days there was a significant reduction only in groups VI and VII (p<0.05) when compared to the control group. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that Ebs and Vit E interfere with the cholinergic neurotransmission by altering AChE activity in the different brain regions and in the erythrocytes. Furthermore, treatment with Vit E and Ebs protected against the demyelination lesion caused by EB. In this context, we can suggest that ebselen and Vit E should be considered potential therapeutics and scientific tools to be investigated in brain disorders associated with demyelinating events.

Effect of high glucose levels in human platelet NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different glucose levels on the ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis in the platelets of diabetic, hypertensive and diabetic/hypertensive participants. METHODS: The activities of the enzymes NTPDase (ATP and ADP hydrolysis) and 5'-nucleotidase (AMP hydrolysis), and CD39 expression were analyzed in human blood platelets of diabetic (DM-2), hypertensive (HT) and diabetic/hypertensive (DM-2/HT) patients. To evaluate the interference of glucose and fructose in NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities, experiments were performed with glucose, fructose and mannitol concentrations ranging from 5 to 30 mM in platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Pre-incubation times of 10, 120 min and 24h were used. RESULTS: NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities increased with increasing glucose and fructose concentrations (P<0.001) and the different times of pre-incubation did not interfere in ectonucleotidases activities (P>0.5). NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities demonstrated a positive correlation between serum glucose levels and ATP and ADP hydrolysis in DM-2 and DM-2/HT patients. CD39 expression demonstrated that DM-2, HT and DM-2/HT groups presented a significant increase when compared to the control group (P<0.004). CONCLUSION: The hydrolysis of adenine nucleotides is enhanced in platelets of patients with diabetes and hypertension. We observed that an increasing glucose concentration had a direct effect on ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis. Furthermore, CD39 expression was enhanced in all patients groups, indicating that these enzyme activities are related with diabetes and hypertension.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in patients with uterine cervix neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities, in the platelets and serum, were examined in patients with uterine cervix neoplasia without treatment as well as in patients treated by conization or radiotherapy (RTX). DESIGN AND METHODS: The patients were divided based on the amount of time from the end of the treatments until the day of the blood sampling. Groups I (n=19) (conization) and III (n=11) (radiotherapy) (treated from one to five years earlier), groups II (n=19) (conization) and IV (n=16) (radiotherapy) (treated recently; up to three months earlier) and the non-treated group (cancer) (n=7). RESULTS: E-NPP and ADA in the platelets and E-NPP in the serum were decreased in all the treated groups in relation to the control and non-treated groups, while ADA in the serum was decreased only in the conization groups in relation to them. In group II, E-NPP and ADA, in the platelets, were increased in relation to group IV. CONCLUSION: The tendency of reduction for E-NPP and ADA indicates that they may act together to control nucleotide levels and it may also be speculated that surgery causes greater platelet activation contributing to the changes seen in the conization groups. In this sense, platelets seem to be more sensitive than serum.