Ureaplasma urealyticum and U. parvum in sexually active women attending public health clinics in Brazil.

Ureaplasma urealyticum and U. parvum have been associated with genital infections. The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of ureaplasmas and other sexually transmitted infections in sexually active women from Brazil and relate these data to demographic and sexual health, and cytokines IL-6 and IL-1ß. Samples of cervical swab of 302 women were examined at the Family Health Units in Vitória da Conquista. The frequency of detection by conventional PCR was 76·2% for Mollicutes. In qPCR, the frequency found was 16·6% for U. urealyticum and 60·6% U. parvum and the bacterial load of these microorganisms was not significantly associated with signs and symptoms of genital infection. The frequency found for Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Gardnerella vaginalis and Chlamydia trachomatis was 3·0%, 21·5%, 42·4% and 1·7%, respectively. Higher levels of IL-1ß were associated with control women colonized by U. urealyticum and U. parvum. Increased levels of IL-6 were associated with women who exhibited U. parvum. Sexually active women, with more than one sexual partner in the last 3 months, living in a rural area were associated with increased odds of certain U. parvum serovar infection.

The uremic toxin methylguanidine increases the oxidative metabolism and accelerates the apoptosis of canine neutrophils.

We investigated the hypothesis that the increased concentration of plasma methylguanidine (MG) increases oxidative metabolism and accelerates apoptosis of neutrophils from dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To achieve this, the levels of MG were quantified in healthy (n=16) and uremic dogs with CKD stage 4 of according to the guidelines of the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS, 2015) (n=16) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To evaluate the isolated effect of MG on neutrophil oxidative metabolism and apoptosis, neutrophils isolated from 12 healthy dogs were incubated with the highest concentration of plasma MG (0.005g/L) observed in dogs with CKD. Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was assessed by flow cytometry, using the probes hydroethidine for superoxide production and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate for hydrogen peroxide production, with or without phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulus. Neutrophil apoptosis and viability were also evaluated in flow cytometer using the Annexin V-PE system, with or without the apoptosis-inducing effect of camptothecin. Uremic dogs presented higher concentrations of MG (p<0.0001), increased oxidative stress and primed neutrophils with higher apoptosis rate. The neutrophil abnormalities observed in vivo were also reproduced in vitro, using cells isolated from healthy dogs and incubated with MG. We obtained strong evidence that in dogs with CKD, increased MG levels contributed to oxidative stress and potentially compromised the non-specific immune response by altering the oxidative metabolism and viability of canine neutrophils.

Association of polymorphism +874 A/T of interferon-γ and susceptibility to the development of tuberculosis: meta-analysis.

The immune defence against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is complex and involves multiple interacting cells. Studies in subjects with polymorphisms in genes for IFN or its receptor gene evaluate their relationship with mycobacterium infections. The purpose of this study was to analyze the evidence of the effect of polymorphism +874 A/T from interferon-γ on the occurrence of tuberculosis. We performed a meta-analysis of studies published between June 2002 and April 2012. The articles analyzed assessed the relationship between the polymorphism +874 A/T and the development of tuberculosis. The meta-analysis was performed with a random effect model, considering the heterogeneity among studies. Genotype TT showed a protective effect (OR, 0.77; 95% CI = 0.67-0.88) while genotype AA may be associated with increased susceptibility to developing tuberculosis (OR, 1.51; 95% CI = 1.38-1.65). In relation to alleles, we can verify that the A allele is related to the development of tuberculosis (OR, 1.56; 95% CI = 1.42-1.71). This information reinforces the importance of host genetics in the development of infectious diseases. Studies in this area can result in the promotion of new and more accurate genetic markers.

Folate, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine levels in neonates from Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To determine folates, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine levels among neonates from mothers of low or high socioeconomic status. DESIGN: We carried out a cross-sectional transversal study comprising 143 neonates from two maternity hospitals in the city of Salvador, Northeast of Brazil. Cord blood samples were obtained at the time of delivery from newborns from low (group 1, n=77) or high (group 2, n=66) socioeconomic status. The vitamin B12 and folates were analyzed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and by a competitive test using a natural folate-binding protein (FBP), respectively. Total homocyteine levels were measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Maternal environmental risk factors for pregnancy complications were obtained from all mothers. RESULTS: Only 2% of women from group 1 received prenatal care/vitamin supplementation, whereas almost all mothers from group 2 (96%) were properly followed. Anemia and/or infections pre- or during pregnancy was more prevalent among mothers of babies from group 1. Folate levels among newborns from group 1 and 2 were 7.38+/-2.71 and 8.83+/-4.06 ng/ml, respectively. No difference in the vitamin B12 levels was determined between groups. In addition, tHcy serum levels were higher among newborns from group 1 compared to those from group 2 (8.54+/-4.06 vs 6.35+/-1.33 micromol/l, respectively; P=0.005). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that unprivileged young woman has limited accesses to prenatal care, present high-risk factors that hamper both maternal and newborn health. Maternal and newborn health status could be improved by simply reinforcing the use of folate-enriched diet. The work presented illustrates the challenges that developing countries have to face in order to provide preventive adequate health care to the population at large.