Ancilla-assisted measurement of photonic spatial correlations and entanglement.

We report an experiment in which the moments of spatial coordinates are measured in down-converted photons directly, without having to reconstruct any marginal probability distributions. We use a spatial light modulator to couple the spatial degrees of freedom and the polarization of the fields, which acts as an ancilla system. Information about the spatial correlations is obtained via measurements on the ancilla qubit. Among other applications, this new method provides a more efficient technique to identify continuous variable entanglement.

A cost evaluation of treatment alternatives for mild-to-moderate bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors in Brazil.

The first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors in Brazil is currently activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC), with recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) used as second-line therapy or as a last resort. The aim of this study was to determine the cost and effectiveness of these treatments from the perspective of the Brazilian National Health Service. A decision analysis model was constructed to assess total direct medical costs (including drug costs, costs of outpatient or inpatient care, ambulance transportation and cost of concomitant medications) of first-line treatment with aPCC or rFVIIa. Clinical outcome and resource utilization data were obtained both retrospectively and prospectively and validated by the consensus of an expert panel of Brazilian haematologists. A total of 103 bleeds in 25 patients were included in the analysis. rFVIIa resolved bleeds more quickly (4.4 h) than aPCC (62.6 h) and was more effective (100% vs. 56.7% respectively). Mean total direct medical costs (from initiation to cessation of bleed) were estimated to be US$13 500 (aPCC) and US$7590 (rFVIIa). Extensive sensitivity analyses confirmed the cost-effectiveness of rFVIIa. Compared with aPCC, rFVIIa was more effective and less expensive when used as first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors in Brazil. rFVIIa should be considered a first-line treatment for the management of these patients.

[Guerreiro Machado reaction. Chromatographic analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi antigens]. / Estudos sobre a reacão de Guerreiro Machado. Análise cromatográfica de antígenos de Trypanosma cruzi.

The aqueous extract of Trypanosoma cruzi, previously treated by benzene, was filtered through a column of Sephadex G-200. The eluted fractions were tested by complement-fixation with the chagasic reference serum. It was found that the CF antigens were eluted in the first fractions and the contaminants in the last ones. The aqueous antigen, when dried and extracted with methanol, showed a very high titer in the complement-fixation quantitative test. This antigen is free of contaminants and can be recommended for use in the serological test for the diagnosis of Chagas' disease.

Effect of Richardson's preseving solution on the hemolytic activity of human complement.

O efeito da solucao preservadora de Richardson sobre a atividade hemolitica do soro humano foi avaliado atraves de uma tecnica cinetica de fixacao de complemento Com os dados obtidos foi possivel relacionar, comparativamente a condutividade do meio de reacao e a determinacao do numero de unidades hemoliticas (CH5 0) em soro humano preservado ou nao com solucao Richardson. Verificou-se, tambem, que o uso de solucao preservadora e improprio para o estudo da acao anticomplementar de substancias que interagem com a vida alternativa do complemento, como a endotoxina e o zymosan, pois mascara o efeito inibitorio previsto

Estudos sobre a reacao de Guerreiro Machado. Analise cromatografica de antigenos de Trypanosoma cruzi. / Guerreiro Machado reaction.Chromatographic analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi antigens

O extrato aquoso de T. cruzi, previamente tratado pelo benzeno, mostrou, por cromatografia em Sephadex G-200, que sua reatividade antigenica estava presente nos primeiros eluatos, separando nitidamente daquelas fracoes inertes sorologicamente. A extracao pela agua remove parte dos antigenos especificos do Trypanosoma cruzi de onde podem ser removidos pelo metanol.Aqui tambem os perfis do cromatograma permitem separar as fracoes especificas enquanto os contaminantes se acumulam nos ultimos eluatos. Quando o antigeno aquoso e liofilizado e reconstituido com metanol, em vez da solucao salina, os seus titulos por fixacao de complemento, sao maiores do que os determinados com o antigeno aquoso. A analise cromatografica dos antigenos de Trypanosoma cruzi permitiu preparar um antigeno, para as reacoes de fixacao do complemento, destituido de contaminantes sorologicamente inertes

Estudos sobre a reacao de Guerreiro-Machado. Efeitos da inativacao do soro chagasico na fixacao do complemento com antigeno de Trypanosoma cruzi. / Study on Guerreiro-Machado reaction. Inactivation effect of Chagas's serum in complement fixation with Trypanosoma cruzi antigen

O aquecimento de soros chagasicos a 56 grausC por 30 minutos,nao so inativa o complemento, como altera a mobilidade ionica das proteinas sericas. Com a inativacao, os titulos dos soros por fixacao de complemento decrescem sendo a queda do poder fixador relacionada com a diminuicao da avidez do complexo-imune, formado com o antigeno de Trypanosoma cruzi para o complemento. Nao se observaram diferencas na reatividade especifica dos soros chagasicos, antes e depois de inativados, quando os titulos foram determinados por tecnicas que nao envolvem o complemento, tais como a imunofluorescencia e a hemaglutinacao

Preliminary investigations on abnormal immunoglobulin(s) in leprosy.

A new, abnormal immunoglobulin designated IgK has been discovered in leprous Rubino-negative sera. The IgK having a negative net charge and its own antigenic specificity appears to be partly related to the Fc fragment of IgA and to Fab fragments of known immunoglobulins, but its net charge is negative at pH 8.8. Its molecule seems to possess kappa but not lambda light polypeptide chains. Implications of this discovery are discussed.

Bacteriological status (point prevalence) of lepromatous outpatients under sulfone treatment.

The study concerns 337 outpatients with lepromatous leprosy who had been receiving dapsone treatment for 1-26 years-69% of them regularly and 31% irregularly. Routine bacterial examination (10 min per slide) by a paramedical technician showed only 50% of these patients to be bacteriologically positive. This rate attained 99% when each slide was examined for 30-60 min by a qualified bacteriologist. Other factors-apart from the limited action of sulfones-might account for these unexpected results: the material was collected by an experienced leprologist; the disease was still clinically active in 75% of the patients; about 25% of them had been treated for only 1-4 years; and the intake of dapsone in long-term treatment gradually decreases.

Immunological determination of Mycobacterium leprae by means of cytoplasmic antigens.

Mycobacterium leprae was isolated and purified from lepromas, the spleen, and the liver of leprosy patients. An immunodiffusion analysis of the cytoplasms obtained from four lots of M. leprae and M. lepraemurium, 295 strains of different actinomycetales, and 12 other bacteria was performed with the use of the cytoplasm antisera. Immunological relationships were revealed between the cytoplasms of M. leprae, M. lepraemurium, M. avium, M. gallinarum, M. tuberculosis, M. simiae, M. kansasii, M. chitae, M. capsulatum, Actinomyces israelii, A. naeslundii, and some strains of saprophytic mycobacteria. These studies led to the proposed concept of the immunological evolution of M. leprae and M. lepraemurium and an Actinomyces-like progenitor through M. avium-M. gallinarum and to a proposal for the polyvalent vaccine currently being developed by this research group.

Serology in leprosy.

A critical survey of the literature on serology in leprosy has shown that sera taken from lepromatous patients display some striking differences in comparison with sera from tuberculoid patients. The tests most frequently employed were complement-fixation, haemagglutination, electrophoresis, precipitation and immunofluorescence, together with a variety of antigens not only from lepromas but also from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other actinomycetales.With the exception of the Rubino test, all these serological tests are lacking in specificity for leprosy since leprous sera have a broad range of reactivity with different antigens, including those employed in the serological diagnosis of syphilis.Some features of the leprous sera could be related to a hypersensitivity state involving circulating immune complexes, low levels of complement and the presence of antibodies similar to those found in sera from patients with autoimmune diseases.