Increased flexibility, pain reduction and unaltered levels of IL-10 and CD11b + lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were associated with kinesiotherapy.

The effect of physical activity on the immune system is still poorly understood in cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therefore, our aim was to investigate differences in the serum levels of cytokines (IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α) and the numbers of CD11b + and CXCR2 + neutrophils and lymphocytes in women with SLE undergoing drug treatment, without ( n = 9) or with ( n = 5) 4 months of kinesiotherapy. Parameters related to functional capacity were also analyzed. In the case of the patients who were not submitted to kinesiotherapy, there were reductions in the levels of IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10, and an increase in the number of CD11b + leukocytes, in addition to an increase in abdominal circumference after the monitoring time. Patients submitted to kinesiotherapy did not present changes in serum cytokines or in the numbers of CD11b + and CXCR2 + neutrophils and lymphocytes, but there were increases of flexibility and strength, as well as a reduction in pain sensation after the monitoring time. In conclusion, kinesiotherapy was able to increase flexibility and reduce pain in SLE patients without influencing immune parameters.

High incidence of testicular hypoplasia in Brangus-Ibagé bulls in Mato Grosso do Sul state: case report / Alta incidência de hipoplasia testicular em touros Brangus-Ibagé no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul: relato de caso

This study describes a high incidence of testicular hypoplasia observed during breeding soundness examination conducted on a commercial farm in Mato Grosso do Sul state. Sixty-eight Brangus-Ibagé bulls aged between 36 and 48 months were evaluated and eight animals were diagnosed with testicular hypoplasia, which corresponded to an incidence of 11.8%. The hypoplastic animals presented flaccid testicular consistency and small size of scrotal circumference (mean of 28.9 cm) compared with the other animals evaluated, which presented a firm-elastic testicular consistency and mean scrotal circumference of 36.6 cm. In the semen evaluation of hypoplastic animals, low progressive motility (mean of 47%) and high percentage of major and total defects (means of 56% and 62%, respectively) were observed. The animals that were approved in the breeding soundness examination presented mean progressive motility, major defects and total defects of 68%, 17% and 23%, respectively. Given the genetic character of testicular hypoplasia, the immediate removal of hypoplastic animals from breeding was recommended. Finally, it was suggested to investigate the origin of these animals in order to avoid that new animals from this lineage are acquired by the owner.

Neste trabalho, relata-se um caso de alta incidência de hipoplasia testicular observada durante exame andrológico realizado em uma fazenda comercial no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. Foram avaliados 68 touros Brangus-Ibagé com idade entre 36 e 48 meses e observou-se oito animais com hipoplasia testicular, o que correspondeu a uma incidência de 11,8% desta patologia. Os animais hipoplásicos apresentaram consistência testicular flácida, bem como tamanho médio do perímetro escrotal bastante reduzido (28,9 cm) em comparação aos demais animais avaliados, que apresentaram média do perímetro escrotal de 36,6 cm e consistência testicular firme-elástica. Na avaliação do sêmen dos animais com hipoplasia testicular, observou-se baixa motilidade progressiva (média de 47%) e alta porcentagem de defeitos maiores e totais (média de 56% e 62%, respectivamente). Nos demais animais aprovados no exame andrológico, a média de motilidade progressiva, defeitos maiores e defeitos totais foram 68%, 17% e 23%, respectivamente. Dado o caráter genético da hipoplasia testicular, recomendou-se o descarte ou retirada imediata destes animais da reprodução. Por fim, sugeriu-se a investigação da origem destes animais de modo a evitar-se que novos animais oriundos dessa linhagem genética sejam adquiridos pelo proprietário.

The challenge of Chagas' disease: has the human pathogen, Trypanosoma cruzi, learned how to modulate signaling events to subvert host cells?

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is an urgent and highly prevalent danger that is endemic to Latin America, and which the research community continues to ignore. Each year, Chagas' disease kills more people in Latin America compared to any other parasite-borne disease, including malaria. In addition, between 15 and 18 million people worldwide are afflicted with this potentially lethal disease. Despite these devastating numbers, less than 0.5% of worldwide research and development for neglected diseases was aimed at Chagas' disease. The aim of this review is to draw the attention of biotechnologists to the intriguing parasite that causes Chagas' disease, which is T. cruzi. Additionally, we would also like to convince the community that basic science research can have a profound impact on the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas' disease. In this review, we introduce distinct features of T. cruzi such as its complex life cycle (e.g. the potentially infective extracellular amastigote form), its genome and genomics, as well as proteomic analysis of this parasite. Notably, the PIK pathway has been widely acknowledged as an excellent target for drug discovery to combat this pathogen. Furthermore we also describe how the identification and characterization of PIK genes can aid in neutralizing Trypanosoma infections.

Symptomatic environmental enteropathy in infancy: bacterial proliferation, funcional and morphological alterations of the small bowel

Asymptomatic Environmental enteropathy may occur in the low social economic stratum of the population temporarily, thus contributing to marginal malnutrition. Bacterial proliferation in the upper portions of the small bowel may be responsible for alterations in the digestive-absorptive function leading to nutritional dwarfism. Forty infants of the Cidade Leonor slum who were under one year of age and presented with asymptomatic environmental enteropathy were investigated for digestive-absorptive function, bacterial proliferation in the small bowel lumen, and jejunal morphology. The mean value of the D-xylose absorption test was 21.0 ñ 10.0 mg per cent, significantly lower than controls (48.0 ñ 13.8 mg per cent) (p < 0.001). Bacterial proliferation in the small bowel of the colonic type was identified in 25 (62,5 per cent) of the infants and jejunal mucosa abnormalities were found in 29(72.5 per cent) of the specimens. Grade II villous atrophy was the most frequent alteration found. The inflammatory infiltration in the lamina propria increased in the total group, varying from light to severe. Alterations in the microecology of the small intestine can occur even in the absence of diarrhea. Therefore, the nonexistence of symptoms does not necessarily imply a condition of weillbeing. If true measures are proposed to improve the quality of life in these poor communities the whole infant population must be taken into account and not only the group with overt symptoms

[Visceral larva migrans. Report of 3 cases]. / Larva migrans visceral--relato de três casos.

We report three cases of children with visceral larva migrans confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in Goiânia. Pulmonary interstitial infiltrates with dry cough and peripheral eosinophilia characterised the first case. Clinical and laboratorial finding in the second case included dry cough, pulmonary infiltrates, peripheral eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinaemia. A persistent eosinophilia, between 1987-1989, without apparent cause led to the confirmation of parasite infection in the third case.