Modulatory actions of Echinococcus granulosus antigen B on macrophage inflammatory activation.

Cestodes use own lipid-binding proteins to capture and transport hydrophobic ligands, including lipids that they cannot synthesise as fatty acids and cholesterol. In E. granulosus s.l., one of these lipoproteins is antigen B (EgAgB), codified by a multigenic and polymorphic family that gives rise to five gene products (EgAgB8/1-5 subunits) assembled as a 230 kDa macromolecule. EgAgB has a diagnostic value for cystic echinococcosis, but its putative role in the immunobiology of this infection is still poorly understood. Accumulating research suggests that EgAgB has immunomodulatory properties, but previous studies employed denatured antigen preparations that might exert different effects than the native form, thereby limiting data interpretation. This work analysed the modulatory actions on macrophages of native EgAgB (nEgAgB) and the recombinant form of EgAg8/1, which is the most abundant subunit in the larva and was expressed in insect S2 cells (rEgAgB8/1). Both EgAgB preparations were purified to homogeneity by immunoaffinity chromatography using a novel nanobody anti-EgAgB8/1. nEgAgB and rEgAgB8/1 exhibited differences in size and lipid composition. The rEgAgB8/1 generates mildly larger lipoproteins with a less diverse lipid composition than nEgAgB. Assays using human and murine macrophages showed that both nEgAgB and rEgAgB8/1 interfered with in vitro LPS-driven macrophage activation, decreasing cytokine (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12p40, IFN-ß) secretion and ·NO generation. Furthermore, nEgAgB and rEgAgB8/1 modulated in vivo LPS-induced cytokine production (IL-6, IL-10) and activation of large (measured as MHC-II level) and small (measured as CD86 and CD40 levels) macrophages in the peritoneum, although rEgAgB8/1 effects were less robust. Overall, this work reinforced the notion that EgAgB is an immunomodulatory component of E. granulosus s.l. Although nEgAgB lipid's effects cannot be ruled out, our data suggest that the EgAgB8/1 subunit contributes to EgAgB´s ability to regulate the inflammatory activation of macrophages.

Geohelmintiasis, estado nutricional y antropometría de niños de 3 a 6 años del Centro Escolar de la ciudad de Guayaquil, Ecuador / Geohelminthiasis, nutritional status and anthropometry of children from 3 to 6 years old from the School Center of the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador

Las geohelmintiasis son nematodos que afectan al hombre a través de la ingesta de huevos parasitarios, afectando el estado nutricional antropométrico de la población infantil, motivo por el cual se planteó como objetivo determinar incidencia de las helmintiasis transmitidas por el suelo en el estado nutricional antropométrico de niños de 3 a 6 años en un centro escolar Guayaquil en Ecuador, durante el último semestre del 2018. Se aplicó la metodología descriptiva de corte transversal; donde se incluyeron 92 preescolares de 3 a 6 años. A cada niño(a) se le hizo su estudio antropométrico nutricional, unido a un estudio coprológico realizado a 45 niños. Se obtuvo el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) con el cual se determinó el estado nutricional (IMC/Edad/Sexo), usando los percentiles del Ministerio de Salud Pública de Ecuador. Se revisaron los IMC de los 35 niños que presentaron geohelminiasis quienes evidenciaron una ligera disminución en la ganancia de los valores de las variables antropométricas. Se encontró predominio del sexo femenino (54,35%), la edad fue 3,78 años, peso: 15,21 Kg y talla: 100,23 cm2, el IMC fue 16,62 Kg/cm2, sin diferencias entre el sexo; la especie de mayor ocurrencia fue la Trichuris. trichiura 43,47% (niñas 10/23) y 66,67% (niños 8/12). Se concluye que 29,34% de los preescolares estudiados están malnutridos, presentan geohelmintiasis, por ello es recomendable realizar intervenciones dirigidas a representantes, estudiantes y docentes, para atender paralelamente geohelmintiasis y nutrición para garantizar la calidad de vida(AU)

Geohelminthiasis are nematodes that affect man through the ingestion of parasitic eggs, affecting the anthropometric nutritional status of the infant population, which is why the objective was to determine the incidence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the anthropometric nutritional status in children aged 3 to 6 years of a school in Ecuador, during the last semester of 2018. A cross-sectional descriptive methodology was applied; where 92 preschoolers from 3 to 6 years old were included. Each child was given his or her nutritional anthropometric study, together with a coprological study of 45 children. There was obtained the Body Mass Index (BMI) with which there decided the nutritional state (BMI / Age / Sex), using the centiles of the Department of Public health of Ecuador. The BMI of the 35 children with geohelminiasis were reviewed and showed a slight decrease in the gain of anthropometric variables. The prevalence of female sex was found (54,35%), the age was 3,78 years, weight: 15,21 Kg and height: 100,23 cm2, the BMI was 16,62 Kg/cm2, with no differences between sex; the species of greatest occurrence was Trichuris trichiura 43,47% (girls 10/23) and 66,67% (boys 8/12). It is concluded that 29.34% of the preschools studied are malnourished, have geohelminthiasis, so it is advisable to make interventions aimed at representatives, students and teachers, to attend parallel geohelminthiasis and nutrition to ensure quality of life(AU)

Sala lúdica: La promoción de salud en enfermedades vectoriales eje integrador ante la deserción estudiantil Carrera de Enfermería Universidad de Guayaquil / Playroom: Health promotion in vector diseases integrating axis in the face of student dropout Nursing career University of Guayaquil

Las Enfermedades vectoriales, impulsan la responsabilidad social de las instituciones de Educación Superior, sensibilizando al estudiante en formación, hacia la promoción de salud en atención a las poblaciones más vulnerables. El diseño de materiales bioeducativos como actividad asociada a la Sala Lúdica que permite ofrecer una acción integradora ante la deserción estudiantil del sector universitario, quienes al enfrentar una maternidad/paternidad durante su escolaridad corren el riesgo de abandonar sus carreras.Ni las universidades ni el Estado cuentan con infraestructura, políticas, estatutos que permitan brindar el apoyo necesario. Por lo que se propuso al determinar la deserción de madres/padres universitarios de la carrera de Enfermería de la Universidad de Guayaquil verificar la implementación de la Sala Lúdica como un eje integrador que desde la promoción de salud atienda la deserción estudiantil. Se realizó un estudio de tipo cuantitativo, experimental, con enfoque descriptivo y cohorte restrospectivo. La muestra estuvo conformada por 169 estudiantes matriculados. Se observó una distribución de frecuencia de 24% graduados, 43% desertores y 34% repitientes, dentro del grupo de repitientes, la causa de mayor frecuencia fue el cuidado de hijos en 31%. El porcentaje de disposición para la utilización del servicio de Sala lúdica fue de 90%, con un 73% de aceptación del diseño de materiales bioeducativos para la prevención de las enfermedades vectoriales, resultando el dengue con una incidencia del 87% como temática. Igualmente, un 84% de los desertores retomarían sus estudios. Como conclusión una Sala Lúdica constituye un eje integrador de promoción de salud en enfermedades vectoriales disminuyendo la deserción de madres/padres universitarios(AU)

Vector Diseases, promote the social responsibility of Higher Education institutions, sensitizing the student in training, to wards the promotion of health in attention to the most vulnerable populations. The design of bioeducational materials as an activity associated with the Playroom that allowsus to offer an integrative action in the face of student desertion from the university sector, who when facing maternity / paternity during their schooling run the risk of abandoning their careers. Neither the universities nor the State have infrastructure, policies, statutes that allow them to provide the necessary support. Therefore, when determining the desertion of university mothers / fathers from the Nursing career of the University of Guayaquil, it was proposed to verify the implementation of the Playroom as an integrating axis that, from the health promotion, addresses student desertion. A quantitative, experimental study was carried out, with a descriptive approach and a retrospective cohort. The sample consisted of 169 registered students. A frequency distribution of 24% graduates, 43% dropouts and 34% repeaters was observed; within the group of repeaters, the most frequent cause was child care in 31%. The percentage of willingness to use the playroom service was 90%, with 73% acceptance of the design of bioeducational materials for the prevention of vector diseases, resulting in dengue with an incidence of 87% as a theme. Similarly, 84% of the drop outs would resume their studies. In conclusion, a Playroom constitutes an integrating axis of health promotion in vector diseases, reducing the dropout rate of university mothers / fathers(AU)

Innate immune responses and antioxidant/oxidant imbalance are major determinants of human Chagas disease.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the pathological and diagnostic role of selected markers of inflammation, oxidant/antioxidant status, and cellular injury in human Chagas disease. METHODS: Seropositive/chagasic subjects characterized as clinically-symptomatic or clinically-asymptomatic (n = 116), seronegative/cardiac subjects (n = 102), and seronegative/healthy subjects (n = 45) were analyzed for peripheral blood biomarkers. RESULTS: Seropositive/chagasic subjects exhibited an increase in sera or plasma levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO, 2.8-fold), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP, 56%), nitrite (5.7-fold), lipid peroxides (LPO, 12-17-fold) and malondialdehyde (MDA, 4-6-fold); and a decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD, 52%) and glutathione (GSH, 75%) contents. Correlation analysis identified a significant (p<0.001) linear relationship between inflammatory markers (AOPP/nitrite: r = 0.877), inflammation and antioxidant/oxidant status (AOPP/glutathione peroxidase (GPX): r = 0.902, AOPP/GSH: r = 0.806, Nitrite/GPX: 0.773, Nitrite/LPO: 0.805, MDA/MPO: 0.718), and antioxidant/oxidant levels (GPX/MDA: r = 0.768) in chagasic subjects. Of these, MPO, LPO and nitrite biomarkers were highly specific and sensitive for distinguishing seropositive/chagasic subjects from seronegative/healthy controls (p<0.001, training and fitting AUC/ROC >0.95). The MPO (r = 0.664) and LPO (r = 0.841) levels were also correlated with clinical disease state in chagasic subjects (p<0.001). Seronegative/cardiac subjects exhibited up to 77% decline in SOD, 3-5-fold increase in LPO and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels, and statistically insignificant change in MPO, AOPP, MDA, GPX, GSH, and creatine kinase (CK) levels. CONCLUSIONS: The interlinked effects of innate immune responses and antioxidant/oxidant imbalance are major determinants of human Chagas disease. The MPO, LPO and nitrite are excellent biomarkers for diagnosing seropositive/chagasic subjects, and MPO and LPO levels have potential utility in identifying clinical severity of Chagas disease.