Immunohistochemical detection of Lp25 and LipL32 proteins in skeletal and cardiac muscles of fatal human leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an acute infection caused by pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira, which affects humans and animals in all world. In severe forms of the disease, kidneys, liver and lungs are the main affected organs, resulting in acute kidney injury, jaundice and pulmonary hemorrhage. Previous post-mortem studies have shown that lesions are not limited to these organs. Cardiac and striated muscle injuries have already been reported, but the pathophysiology of cardiac and skeletal lesions in leptospirosis is not fully understood. It has been suggested that the tissue damage observed in leptospirosis could be directly mediated by leptospires or by their toxic cellular components. LipL32 and Lp25 are leptospira membrane proteins with unknown functions, that are present only in pathogenic strains of Leptospira spp. Both proteins induce skeletal muscle lesions similar to those observed when normal guinea pigs are inoculated with leptospires. Through immunohistochemistry, this study showed the presence of LipL32 and Lp25 proteins on muscle cell membranes and in the underlying cytoplasm of skeletal muscles, as well as focal lesions in cardiac tissues of fatal cases of leptospirosis. Altogether, these results reinforce that both proteins can be important factors in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis

Renal Involvement in Leptospirosis: The Effect of Glycolipoprotein on Renal Water Absorption

on vasopressin (Vp) action in the guinea pig inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Copenhageni, GLPc, n = 5); Group II, IMCD from normal guinea-pigs in the presence of GLPc (GLPc group, n = 54); Group III, IMCD from injected animals with GLPc ip (n = 8). (GLPp, non pathogenic, 250 µg) did not alter Vp action. In Group III, GLPc (250 µg) injected intraperitoneally produced a decrease of about 20% in IMCD Aquaporin 2 expression.The IMCD Pf decrease caused by GLP is evidence, at least in part, towards explaining the urinary concentrating incapacity observed in infected guinea-pigs

Surto de toxoplasmose em um seminário de Bragança Paulista (Estado de São Paulo): aspectos clínicos, sorológicos e epidemiológicos

Nove casos de toxoplasmose adquirida comprovada (forma linfoglandular), ocorridos em um Seminário de Bragança Paulista, motivaram uma investigação clínica e sorológica. De acôrdo com os dados assim obtidos, pelo menos 30 pessoas (em um total de 81) apresentavam toxoplasmose na ocasião. Ao todo, foram realizadas 314 reações de Sabin-Feldman e de imunofluorescência indireta. O inquérito sorológico pela prova do corante extendeu-se também a algumas espécies animais da localidade. Em vista das limitações relativas à investigação epidemiológica, foi possível apenas a colocação de várias hipóteses, nada se podendo concluir quanto aos aspectos epidemiológicos do surto. Registrando, pela primeira vez, na literatura médica esta ocorrência, os autores alertam para a possibilidade dêstes surtos em instituições fechadas ou zona rural. Insistem na necessidade de pesquisas mais profundas, em situações similares, para o reconhecimento das fontes de infecção e mecanismos de transmissão, a despeito das dificuldades decorrentes dos escassos conhecimentos sôbre a história natural da toxoplasmose e do ciclo biológico do parasita.<br>Nine cases of comproved acquired toxoplasmosis (lymphatic form), from a Seminary in Bragança Paulista, (Brazil) motivated a clinical and serological survey. According to the data, at least 30 people (in a total of 81) presented, then, toxoplasmosis. Three hundred fourteen (314) dye-tests and indirect immunofluorescent tests were performed in all. The serological survey based on dye-test antibodies was extended to some local animal species. In view of the epidemiological survey limitations and notwithstanding the fact that a number of hipothesis have been suggested, no conclusions have been drawn, as far as the epidemiological aspects of the epidemics are concerned. Reporting this occurrence for the first time in the medical literature, the authors point out to the possibility of these outbreaks in closed institutions and in the rural area. They insist on the need for more complete researches, in similar situations, for the recognition of the sources and transmission mechanisms of the infection. Research work must be carried out in spite of the difficulties inherent to this subject

IMCD water permeability.

<p>Effects of GLPc (250 µg/ml) on: 2A - Vasopressin action (Vp, 200 pg/ml, n = 5), 2B - cAMP activity (10⁻⁵ M), 2C - Forskolin action (Fors 10⁻⁹ M, n = 5), 2D - Cholera Toxin action (ChT 10⁻⁹ M, n = 6), 2E - effect of GLPp on Vp action (GLPp- 250 µg/ml, n = 5). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. Lines connect the averages of the data for each different period of the experiments. Significant differences: * p<0.02, **p<0.01. £ p<0.05, # p<0.001.</p

Data from normal and leptospirotic guinea pigs.

<p>Values are expressed as mean±SEM. Pf- Osmotic Water Permeability, µm/s; UOsm- Urinary Osmolality, mOsm/Kg H₂O; UV- Urinary Volume ml; BUN-Blood Urea Nitrogen mg%; ngp- normal and lgp leptospirotic guinea pigs.</p>**<p>-p<0.05;</p>*<p>p<0.01 vs ngp values.</p

Western blot analysis of water transporter protein in IMCD from normal (n = 3) and injected i.p. with GLPc (n = 5) guinea pigs.

<p>3A- Western blot analysis of AQP2 protein expression showing the 29 KDa and 35–50 KDa bands and the actin band; 3B- Quantitative densitometric analysis of AQP2 protein abundance. * p<0.05 vs. control.</p

Leptospirotic guinea pig data.

<p>A- Urinary Volume (ml) and Urinary Osmolality (mOsm/Kg H₂O). Dotted bar-UOsm; Open bar-UV. B- Water permeability. Pf µm/s. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. Significant differences: * p<0.01; ** p<0.05.</p

La mirada y la comida: Un ejercicio de antropología visual acerca de prácticas alimenticias en Colombia

Hablamos entonces del comer como una experiencia que nos condiciona permanentemente como individuos, como sociedad,&nbsp; omo seres culturales y espirituales. El cocinar y el comer entendidos como conocimiento, herencia y sabiduría, pertenecientes a un grupo de personas, que hace parte de su cotidianidad, que se transfiere y que muta con el paso del tiempo, tiene un altísimo valor identificador, por lo que su culto y la continuidad de sus prácticas son elementales para la fijación de la identidad cultural y la memoria colectiva de cualquier grupo social, sea una familia, una comunidad, un pueblo, una región o un país