15 research outputs found
Immunological imbalance between IFN-Âł and IL-10 levels in the sera of patients with the cardiac form of Chagas disease
The immune response is crucial for protection against disease; however, immunological imbalances can lead to heart and digestive tract lesions in chagasic patients. Several studies have evaluated the cellular and humoral immune responses in chagasic patients in an attempt to correlate immunological findings with clinical forms of Chagas disease. Moreover, immunoglobulins and cytokines are important for parasitic control and are involved in lesion genesis. Here, cytokine and IgG isotype production were studied, using total epimastigote antigen on sera of chagasic patients with indeterminate (IND, n = 27) and cardiac (CARD, n = 16) forms of the disease. Samples from normal, uninfected individuals (NI, n = 30) were use as controls. The results showed that sera from both IND and CARD patients contained higher levels of Trypanosoma cruzi-specific IgG1 (IgG1) antibodies than sera from NI. No difference in IgG2 production levels was observed between NI, IND and CARD patients, nor was a difference in IL-10 and IFN-Âł production detected in the sera of IND, CARD and NI patients. However, IND patients displayed a positive correlation between IL-10 and IFN-Âł levels in serum, while CARD patients showed no such correlation, indicating an uncontrolled inflammatory response in CARD patients. These findings support the hypothesis that a lack of efficient regulation between IFN-Âł and IL-10 productions in CARD patients may lead to cardiac immunopathology.CNP
2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015
Abstract Chagas disease is a neglected chronic condition with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable psychological, social, and economic impacts. The disease represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, with different regional patterns. This document presents the evidence that resulted in the Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease. The objective was to review and standardize strategies for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of Chagas disease in the country, based on the available scientific evidence. The consensus is based on the articulation and strategic contribution of renowned Brazilian experts with knowledge and experience on various aspects of the disease. It is the result of a close collaboration between the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health. It is hoped that this document will strengthen the development of integrated actions against Chagas disease in the country, focusing on epidemiology, management, comprehensive care (including families and communities), communication, information, education, and research
Flora e aspectos auto-ecolĂłgicos de um encrave de cerrado na chapada do Araripe, Nordeste do Brasil Flora and autecology's aspects of a disjunction cerrado at Araripe plateau, Northeastern Brazil
Este trabalho visa conhecer a composição e riqueza florĂstica, os padrĂ”es fenolĂłgicos reprodutivos, as sĂndromes de dispersĂŁo e as formas de vida das espĂ©cies de uma disjunção de cerrado em clima semi-ĂĄrido, na chapada do Araripe, Estado do CearĂĄ. Foram encontradas 107 espĂ©cies e 41 famĂlias. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae e Malpighiaceae foram as mais ricas em espĂ©cies. Foi feita a distribuição geogrĂĄfica de 47 espĂ©cies arbustivas e arbĂłreas em 27 listagens de cerrados brasileiros. Doze espĂ©cies apresentaram ampla distribuição geogrĂĄfica e 13 foram registradas apenas neste trabalho. Cerca de 76% das espĂ©cies floresceram e frutificaram no perĂodo chuvoso. As sĂndromes de dispersĂŁo predominantes foram: zoocoria, autocoria e anemocoria. O espectro biolĂłgico foi predominantemente constituĂdo por fanerĂłfitos (50,7%), hemicriptĂłfitos (14,9%) e camĂ©fitos (13,1%). O cerrado estudado apresentou menor riqueza taxonĂŽmica que os cerrados contĂnuos e comportamento das fenofases reprodutivas, percentagem de sĂndromes de dispersĂŁo e formas de vida similares.<br>This study subject to investigate the floristic composition and richness, the reproductive phenological patterns, the dispersal syndromes and life forms of species of a disjunt cerrado in semiarid climate at Araripe plateau during a one year period. We found 107 species and 41 families. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Malpighiaceae showed the largest number of species. For 47 of the woody species found, we studied the geographical distribution based on 27 papers of the Brazilian cerrados. Twelve species are of widespread occurence in the cerrado, and 13 are restricted to the Araripe plateau. Zoocory, autocory, and anemocory are the predominant syndromes of dispersal. The predominant life forms were phanerophytes (50.7%), hemicriptophytes (14.9%) and camephytes (13.1%). The cerrado of Araripe have lower species richness than continous cerrados, but a similar pattern of reproductive phenology, dispersal syndromes and life forms in more humid zones