Evaluation of two Taenia solium cysticercal antigenic preparations (vesicular fluid and a glycoprotein fraction with affinity for lentil lectin) for the immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of two antigenic preparations (vesicular fluid - VF and a glycoprotein fraction, LLa-Gp fraction, purified from a whole parasite extract by lentil lectin affinity chromatography) from Taenia solium cysticerci for the immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis. METHOD: Fifty-six cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (22 from patients with neurocysticercosis and 34 from patients with other neurological disorders) and 57 serum samples (22 from patients with neurocysticercosis, 18 from patients with other infections and 17 from presumably healthy persons) were assayed for anticysticercal IgG antibodies with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The VF ELISA showed 100% sensitivity and specificity in CSF and serum samples, whereas the sensitivity and specificity of the LLa-Gp ELISA were, respectively, 90.9% and 97.1%, with the CSF samples and 95.5% and 100% with serum samples. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity and specificity of the two antigenic preparations used to screen CSF and serum samples. CONCLUSION: Considering the complexity and high cost of obtaining the LLa-Gp fraction, VF could be more suitable for screening specific antibodies by ELISA in CSF and serum samples from patients with neurocysticercosis

Frequency of depression among patients with neurocysticercosis Depressão em pacientes portadores de neurocisticercose

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common central nervous system infection caused by Taenia solium metacestodes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of depression in patients with calcified NCC form. The study group consisted of 114 patients subdivided in four groups: NCC with epilepsy, NCC without epilepsy, epilepsy without NCC and chronic headache. METHOD: Depression was evaluated and quantified by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-21). RESULTS: Percentage of patients with depression was as follows: group 1 (83%); group 2 (88%); group 3 (92%); group 4 (100%). The majority of patients had moderate depression. CONCLUSION: Incidence of depression in all groups was higher than in the general population. It is possible that, in a general way, patients with chronic diseases would have depression with similar intensity. NCC is associated with the presence of depression.<br>Neurocysticercose (NCC) é uma infecção do sistema nervoso central comum causada por metacestodes da Taenia solium. OBJETIVO: investigar a ocorrência de depressão nos pacientes com NCC forma calcificada. O grupo de estudo é formado por 114 pacientes subdivididos em quatro grupos: NCC com epilepsia, NCC sem epilepsia, epilepsia sem NCC e cefaléia crônica. MÉTODO: A presença de depressão foi determinada e quantificada pela Escala de Depressão de Hamilton (HRSD-21). RESULTADOS: A porcentagem de pacientes com depressão foi: grupo 1 (83%); grupo 2 (88%); grupo 3 (92%); grupo 4 (100%). A maioria dos pacientes apresentou depressão moderada. CONCLUSÃO: A incidência da depressão em todos os grupos foi mais elevada do que na população geral, contudo não houve diferença entre os grupos estudados. É possível que, de uma maneira geral, os pacientes portadores de doença crônica apresentarem a depressão em intensidade similar. NCC está associada com a presença de depressão

Design, synthesis, and characterization of novel iron chelators: Structure-activity relationships of the 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone series and their 3-nitrobenzoyl analogues as potent antitumor agents

Previously, we demonstrated that the potent antiproliferative activity of the di-2-pyridylketone thiosemicarbazone (DpT) series of Fe chelators was due to their ability to induce Fe depletion and form redox-active Fe complexes (Richardson, D. R.; et al. J. Med. Chem. 2006, 49, 6510-6521). We now examine the role of aromatic substituents on the antiproliferative and redox activity of novel DpT analogues, namely, the 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (BpT) and 2-(3-nitrobenzoyl)pyridine thiosemicarbazone (NBpT) series. Both series exhibited selective antiproliferative effects, with the majority having greater antineoplastic activity than their DpT homologues. This makes the BpT chelators the most active anticancer agents developed within our laboratory. The BpT series Fe complexes exhibit lower redox potentials than their corresponding DpT and NBpT complexes, highlighting their enhanced redox activity. The increased ability of BpT-Fe complexes to catalyze ascorbate oxidation and benzoate hydroxylation, relative to their DpT and NBpT analogues, suggested that redox cycling plays an important role in their antiproliferative activity

Reflexões sobre as relações entre drogadição, adolescência e família: um estudo bibliográfico Reflections about the relationships among drug addiction, adolescence and family: a bibliographic review

O consumo de drogas entre adolescentes tem sido alvo de diversas pesquisas. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar uma sistematização dos resultados obtidos por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica envolvendo três eixos: drogadição, adolescência, família. Foram enfocados aspectos referentes ao consumo de drogas hoje e a utilização destas na adolescência, além da relação entre drogas, adolescência e família. Por meio desta revisão, observou-se que a literatura da área aponta que aspectos do funcionamento familiar podem atuar como fatores que propiciam o envolvimento dos adolescentes com substâncias psicoativas. Conclui-se pela necessidade de mais investigações buscando verificar as relações entre adolescência, drogadição e família.<br>The consumption of drugs among adolescents has been the target of several studies. The objective of this review was to present a systematization of the results obtained through a bibliographic study involving three axes: drug addiction, adolescence, family. The focus was on aspects referring to the current consumption of drugs and their use during adolescence, besides the relationship among drugs, adolescence and family. Through this study, it was observed that the literature of the area points out that aspects of the family operation can act as factors that propitiate the adolescents' involvement with psychoactive substances. It is concluded that there is need of more investigation to verify the relationships among adolescence, drug addiction and family

Suicide risk and prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) among individuals infected with HIV-1 subtype C versus B in Southern Brazil

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders associated with HIV infection; however, its risks and neurobiologic correlates in diverse cultures are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the frequency of MDD among HIV+ participants in southern Brazil. We hypothesized that the frequency and severity of MDD would be higher among individuals HIV+ compared with HIV−, and higher in HIV subtype B compared with C. Individuals with HIV (n=39) as well as seronegative controls (n=22) were enrolled in a cross-sectional, prospective, observational study. Current and lifetime history of MDD was diagnosed by MINI-Plus; symptom severity was assessed by BDI-II. Current and past episodes of MDD were significantly more frequent in the HIV+ versus HIV− group: current MDD, 15 (38.5%) vs. 0 (0%), p = 0.0004; past MDD, 24 (61.5%) vs. 3 (13.6%), p = 0.0004. The median BDI-II score in the HIV+ group was significantly higher than in the HIV− (13 [8–27.5] vs. 2.5 [1–5.5]; p < 0.0001). Current suicide risk, defined as during the last month, was found in 18% of participants in the HIV-positive and in none in the HIV-negative group. Neither current MDD frequency (8 (57.1%) vs. 6 (40%), p = 0.47) nor BDI-II score differed across subtypes B and C. CONCLUSIONS: HIV+ group may be more likely to experience current MMD than HIV−. This was the first study to compare the frequency and severity of MDD in HIV subtype B and C; we found no difference between HIV subtypes B or C