Perceived stress in obsessive-compulsive disorder is related with obsessive but not cmpulsive symptoms

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is achronic psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive compulsory behaviors. This psychiatric disorder is known to be stress responsive, as symptoms increase during periods of stress but also because stressful events may precede the onset of OCD. However, only a few and inconsistent reports have been published about the stress perception and the stress-response in these patients. Herein, we have characterized the correlations of OCD symptoms with basal serum cortisol levels and scores in a stress perceived questionnaire (PSS-10). The present data reveals that cortisol levels and the stress scores in the PSS-10 were significantly higher in OCD patients that in controls. Moreover, stress levels self-reported by patients using the PSS-10 correlated positively with OCD severity in the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y–BOCS). Interestingly, PSS-10 scores correlated with the obsessive component, but not with the compulsive component, of Y–BOCS. These results confirm that stress is relevant in the context of OCD, particularly for the obsessive symptomatology.Pedro Morgado is supported by a fellowship “SFRH/SINTD/60129/2009” funded by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology. Supported by FEDER funds through Operational program for competitive factors – COMPETE and by national funds through FCT –Foundation for Science and Technology to project “PTDC/SAU-NSC/111814/2009.

Variabilidade do gene da proteína capsidial do Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 no Brasil

Leafroll is an economically important disease affecting grapevines (Vitis spp.). Nine serologically distinct viruses, Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-1 through 9, are associated with this disease. The present study describes the coat protein gene sequence of four GLRaV-3 isolates occurring in the São Francisco River basin, Northeastern Brazil. The viral RNA was extracted from GLRaV-3 ELISA-positive plants and the complete coat protein gene was amplified by RT-PCR. Sequences were generated automatically and compared to the complete coat protein sequence from North American (NY1) and Chinese (Dawanhong Nº2 and SL10) GLRaV-3 isolates. The four studied isolates, named Pet-1 through 4, showed deduced amino acid identities of 98-100% (Pet-1 through 3) and 95% (Pet-4) with North American and Chinese isolates. A total of seventeen amino acid substitutions was detected among the four characterized isolates in comparison to the NY1, Dawanhong No.2 and SL10 sequences. The results indicated the existence of natural variation among GLRaV-3 isolates from grapevines, also demonstrating a lack of correlation between sequence data and geographic origin. This variability should be considered when selecting regions of the viral genome targeted for reliable and consistent virus molecular detection.O enrolamento da folha é uma doença economicamente importante que afeta videiras (Vitis spp.). Nove vírus sorologicamente distintos, Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-1 a -9, estão associados à doença. Este estudo descreve a seqüência do gene da proteína capsidial de quatro isolados do GLRaV-3 encontrados no Vale do Rio São Francisco, Nordeste do Brasil. O RNA viral foi extraído de plantas positivas em ELISA para o GLRaV-3 e o gene da proteína capsidial completo foi amplificado por RT-PCR. As seqüências foram geradas automaticamente e comparadas a seqüências completas do gene da proteína capsidial de isolados Norte-Americano (NY1) e Chineses (Dawanhong Nº;2 e SL10) de GLRaV-3. Os quatro isolados estudados, denominados Pet-1 a 4, exibiram identidades de aminoácidos deduzidos de 98-100% (Pet-1 a 3) e 95% (Pet-4) com os isolados Norte-Americano e Chineses. Um total de dezessete substituições de aminoácidos foi detectado entre os quatro isolados caracterizados em comparação com as seqüências do NY1, Dawanhong No.2 e SL10. Os resultados indicaram a existência de variação natural entre os isolados de GLRaV-3 de videiras, demonstrando também a falta de correlação entre dados de sequência e origem geográfica. Esta variabilidade deve ser considerada quando se selecionam regiões do genoma viral para uma detecção molecular confiável e consistente

Variabilidade da extremidade 3' do gene da polimerase de isolados de Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3 do Submédio do Vale do São Francisco

Many viral diseases, including leafroll, which is of great economic importance, affect grapevines (Vitis spp.). A complex of eight viruses [Grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV) -1 to 8] is associated with this disease. The objective of this study was to compare the variability of the 3' terminal region of the polymerase gene of three isolates of GLRaV-3 (Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3), from Submédio do Vale do Rio São Francisco (Petrolina-PE) with that of other isolates available at the GenBank, including an isolate from North America and another from Southern Brazil. The viral RNA was extracted from three infected ELISA reactive plants and a fragment of 340 bp was amplified, by RT-PCR, using primers that recognize that portion of the polymerase gene found between nucleotides 8267 and 8606. The three isolates from Vale do Rio São Francisco named Pet-1, Pet-2 and Pet-3, showed similarities ranging from 98% and 94%, respectively to the isolates from North America (AF037268) and Southern Brazilian (AF438411). Considering the whole genome, the main variation found was one amino acid change at position 2766 (F2766Y). These preliminary data indicate the existence of a natural variation among GLRaV-3 isolates from grapevines. This could be due to the vegetative propagation and long cycle of the plant, associated with the error-prone nature of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.A videira (Vitis spp.) é afetada por diversas viroses, dentre essas, o enrolamento da folha se destaca pela importância econômica. A doença é causada por um complexo formado por até oito vírus [Grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV) -1 ao -8]. O objetivo desse trabalho foi comparar a variabilidade da extremidade 3' do gene da polimerase de isolados de GLRaV-3, provenientes do Submédio do Vale do Rio São Francisco (Petrolina, PE) com a de outros isolados disponíveis no GenBank, incluindo um isolado da América do Norte e um da região sul do Brasil. O RNA viral foi extraído de três amostras infetadas, reagentes em teste de ELISA, e um fragmento de 340 pb foi amplificado por RT-PCR, utilizando-se oligonucleotídeos para a região do gene da polimerase viral compreendida entre os nucleotídeos 8267 a 8606. Observou-se que os três isolados da região do São Francisco, denominados Pet-1, Pet-2 e Pet-3, apresentaram 98% e 94% de similaridade com o isolado norte-americano (AF037268) com aquele do sul do Brasil (AF438411), respectivamente. A principal variação observada foi uma troca de um aminoácido da posição 2766 (F2766Y), considerando-se o genoma completo. Esses dados preliminares indicam a existência de uma variabilidade natural entre isolados de GLRaV-3 em videiras. Isso pode ser explicado pela propagação vegetativa e pelo longo ciclo da planta associados à propensão ao erro da RNA polimerase dependente de RNA

Antiretroviral resistance and genetic diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates from the Federal District, Central Brazil

In the context of universal access to antiretroviral therapy, the surveillance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genetic diversity and resistance becomes pivotal. In this work our purpose was to describe the genetic variability; prevalence of drug-resistance mutations; and genotypic resistance profiles in HIV-1 infected individuals under antiretroviral treatment, from the Federal District, Brasília, Central Brazil. The entire viral protease and codons 19 to 234 of the reverse transcriptase gene from 45 HIV-1 isolates were amplified and sequenced for subtyping and genotyping. By phylogenetic analysis, 96% of the samples clustered with subtype B and the remaining 4% with HIV-1 subtype F sequences. One major protease inhibitor resistance-associated mutation, I50V, was detected in 38% of the samples. Minor mutations were also found at the protease gene: L10I/V (7%), K20M (2%), M36I (11%), L63P (20%), A71T (2%), and V77I (7%). Many mutations associated with reduced susceptibility to nucleoside or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were detected: M41L (11%), E44D (4%), D67N (11%), T69D (2%), K70R (11%), L74V (2%), L100I (4%), K103N (18%), V118I (9%), Y181C (11%), M184V (18%), G190A (4%), T215Y (4%), and K219E (4%). This study has shown that 84% of the studied population from the Federal District, showing evidences of therapy failure, presented viral genomic mutations associated with drug resistance. The main antiretrovirals to which this population showed resistance were the PI amprenavir (38%), the NNRTIs delavirdine, nevirapine (31%), and efavirenz (24%), and the NRTIs lamivudine (18%), abacavir, and zidovudine (13%)

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in blood donors from the Federal District, Central Brazil

The objective of this study was to characterize hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in blood donors from the Federal District, Central Brazil, and to compare HCV screening by serological assays and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma samples from 57 individuals with reactive or indeterminate results in serological anti-HCV screening assays (ELISA or EIA) were tested for HCV RNA by RT-PCR. The results from a confirmatory LIA serological assay were also evaluated. The 5' non-coding region of the HCV genome was amplified from 41 PCR positive samples (71.9%), which were further characterized by nucleotide sequencing analysis. Of these, 60.9% were of HCV genotype 1 and 39.1% of genotype 3

Comparação das incidências de tumores cutâneos malignos em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia ambulatorial no PACS nos períodos de 1998-1999 e 2000-2001

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Prevalência das patologias mais frequentes diagnosticadas por anatomopatológicos entre junho de 2000 e de 2001 em procedimentos realizados num posto de atendimento primário de Porto Alegre

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Diagnósticos anatomopatológicos de cirurgias eletivas no HPS-Sul/PAM3

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Prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 variants in the Federal District, Central Brazil

We report the prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) variants in women with cervical lesions from the Federal District, Central Brazil. We analyzed 34 HPV-16 samples, identifying the sequence variations of E6 and L1 genes and correlating variant frequency with disease status. The most prevalent HPV-16 variant was the European (50%), followed by Asian-American (41.2%), African-1 (5.9%), and African-2 (2.9%). European and non-European variants appeared in equal frequencies among the cytological types of lesions - atypical squamous or glandular cells of undetermined significance, cytological alterations suggesting HPV infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma