Markers of human T lymphotropic virus type I in patients with cancer of uterine cervix in Amazon, Brazil.

Human T lymphotropic virus type I(HTLV-I) has been implicated in various human diseases. Serum samples of 390 Brazilian Amazonians with cancer of various types were tested for HTLV-I antibodies by Gelatin particle agglutination test, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. Of 134 sera from patients with cancer of uterine cervix, 4 were positive by all the methods. Three of these were from non-transfused patients. DNA was extracted from 2 of 4 seropositive sera that gave strong reactions and were analyzed by PCR-SSCP for HTLV-I sequences. One was positive for all HTLV-I genes tested while the other one was positive for LTR and tax and negative for gag. In view of a possible pathway of the virus by sexual contact, the involvement of HTLV-I in cervical cancer warrants further studies.

Comparison of DNA sequences of the long terminal repeat of human T lymphotropic virus type I in Japanese and Brazilian Amazonian samples.

Antibodies to human T lymphotropic virus type I has been detected in subjects of different human ethnicities all around the world. Etiological relationship between the virus and human diseases has been claimed by many investigators. Amplified and sequenced region of the long terminal repeat of human T lymphotropic virus type I obtained from nucleic acid extracted from serum samples of Japanese and Brazilian patients with cancer of uterine cervix and normal Brazilian subjects, all seropositives for the virus, showed minor genetic variations when compared to the Japanese prototype.

[The current situation and treatment strategy for gastric cancer at the National Cancer Center of Tokyo, Japan]. / Situación actual y estrategia en el tratamiento del cáncer gástrico en el National Cancer Center de Tokyo-Japon.

At the National Cancer Center of Tokyo Gastric Division, from 13/09/1993 to 12/11/93, 42 gastrectomies, 3 local resections and 1 exploratory laparotomy, for gastric cancer, were carried out. Resection R2 were carried out in 29/42 (69%), resection R2 plus dissection of the station 16 in 5/42 (12%), resection R3 plus dissection of the station 16 in 4/42 (9.5%) and distal pancreas preserving in 11/14 (78.6%) of the total gastrectomies. The most frequently type of reconstruction done after distal gastrectomy was Billroth 1 in 20/28 (71.4%) and the most frequent stage of the disease was la-b in 34/46 (74%). Postoperative severe complications were present in 5/42 (12%) and the most frequently histological type was tubular adenocarcinoma 27/46 (58.7%).

Prevalence of HTLV-I antibody among two distinct ethnic groups inhabiting the Amazon region of Brazil.

HTLV-I seroprevalences of 3.63% (02/55), 12.19% (10/82) and 13.88% (10/72) were demonstrated among Tiryio, Mekranoiti and Xicrin Amazonian Indians, respectively, by the Western blotting enzyme assay (WBEI). By indirect immunoelectron microscopy (IIEM), 2 Tiriyo, 9 Mekranoiti and 6 Xicrin Amerindians were reactive. Of 44 serum samples from Japanese immigrants, none reacted by any of the techniques before mentioned. One, 8 and 6 serum samples from Tiryio, Mekranoiti and Xicrin Indians, respectively, were both WBEI and IIEM positive. Our results strongly suggest that HTLV-I and/or an HTLV-I antigenic variant circulate (s) among populations living in the Amazon region of Brazil.

Antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus in a patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome: case report

Amostra de soro obtida de paciente com a sindrome de Guillain-Barre revelou-se positiva quanto a presenca de anticorpos para o virus linfotropico humano T (HTLV-I) pelo metodo imuno-enzimatico (ELISA) e a analise por "Western-Blot". Resultaram negativos os testes visando a deteccao de enterovirus (incluindo poliovirus) a partir de material fecal, tanto em cultura de tecidos como em camundongos recem-nascidos; exames com amostras de soro aguda e convalescente nao exibiram qualquer evidencia de infeccao recente pelos tres tipos de poliovirus. O teste de Paul-Bunnel, assim como o "ELISA" para a deteccao de IgM anti-citomegalovirus resultaram negativos. Nao foi registrada, no presente caso, quer a leucemia adulta de celulas T, quer linfomas.

Antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (case report)

Serum sample obtained from a male, 12 year old patient suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) was positive for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I) antibody by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western Blot analysis (WB). Attempts to isolate enteroviruses (including poliovirus) from faecal material in both tissue culture and suckling mice were unsuccessful; in addition, acute and convalescent paired serum samples did not show any evidence of recent poliovirus infection when tested against the three serotypes. Specific tests for detection of Epstein-Barr virus infection were not performed; however, the Paul-Bunnel test yielded negative results. ELISA for detection of anti-cytomegalovirus IgM was also negative. The concomitant occurrence of either adult T cell leukemia (ATL) or lymphoma was not recorded in this case.

Prevalence of human T cell leukemia virus-I (HTLV-I) antibody among populations living in the Amazon region of Brazil (preliminary report)

Forty-tree (31.4%) out of 137 serum samples obtained from two Indian communities living in the Amazon region were found to be positive for HTLV-I antibody, as tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa). Eighty-two sera were collected from Mekranoiti Indians, yielding 39% of positivity, whereas 11 (20.0%) or the 55 Tiriyo serum samples had antibody to HTLV-I. In addition, positive results occurred in 10 (23.2%) out of 43 sera obtained from patients living in the Belem area, who were suffering from cancer affecting different organs. Five (16.7%) out of 30 Elisa positive specimens were also shown to be positive by either Western blot analysis (WB) or indirect immunogold electron microscopy (IIG-EM)

Prevalence of human T cell leukemia virus-I (HTLV-I) antibody among populations living in the Amazon region of Brazil (preliminary report).

Forty-three (31.4%) out of 137 serum samples obtained from two Indian communities living in the Amazon region were found to be positive for HTLV-I antibody, as tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Eighty-two sera were collected from Mekranoiti Indians, yielding 39% of positivity, whereas 11 (20.0%) of the 55 Tiriyo serum samples had antibody to HTLV-I. In addition, positive results occurred in 10 (23.2%) out of 43 sera obtained from patients living in the Belem area, who were suffering from cancer affecting different organs. Five (16.7%) out of 30 ELISA positive specimens were also shown to be positive by either Western blot analysis (WB) or indirect immunogold electron microscopy (IIG-EM).

Elevation of laminin and beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase in the sera of human subjects with Schistosomiasis mansoni.

Serum levels of several markers for liver fibrosis were measured utilizing three groups of human subjects related with schistosomiasis mansoni in northeast Brazil; (1) 20 Schistosoma mansoni egg-positives, who have never been administered with anti-schistosomal drugs, (2) 29 egg-negative inhabitants in the endemic area of schistosomiasis, and (3) 23 egg-negative Japanese immigrants in the non-endemic area. None of these sera were positive for antibody to the surface antigen of human hepatitis B (HBs) and circulating HBs antigen. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of N-terminal peptide of procollagen type-III between the egg-positive subjects and either of the egg-negative Brazilian or Japanese immigrants, whereas the mean value of serum laminin significantly increased in the egg-positive subjects. A significantly higher concentration of serum immunoreactive beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (IR beta PH) was also observed in the egg-positive subjects only in comparison with that of the egg-negative Brazilian. Serum laminin and IR beta PH concentrations of the egg-positive subjects did not correlate with the absorbance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which utilized crude antigens isolated from schistosome adults or eggs. No significant difference in these two parameters was observed between two subgroups of the egg-negative Brazilian or Japanese immigrants divided according to the serological data by ELISA. These findings suggest that serum laminin and IR beta PH levels are worth further evaluation for their usefulness as the marker for liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis.