Metologia antropométrica do diagnóstico nutricional: um exemplo do nordeste brasileiro

The research carried out consisted of the comparison of several methods of analysis of anthropometric data used as indicators of nutritional health with a view to testing their validity and sensitivity as tools for nutritional surveillance or intervention. The sample population studied, in a town in the hinterland of Paraíba State, consisted of 110 children of both sexes, aged from 3 to 71 months. Several combinations of weight/height and weight and height by age were used, based on different reference standards. The employment of the standard deviation was found to be more adequate than simple percentages, since these last tend to exaggerate the number of cases of malnutrition. Weight and height were shown to be the minimum indicators of nutritional health, but these should be supplemented by arm-circumference and skinfold measurements which are useful and simple to take.Foram comparados os diferentes métodos de análise dos dados antropométricos usualmente utilizados como indicadores nutricionais, a fim de testar a sua sensibilidade e validade para a elaboração de planos de vigilância e/ou intervenção. A população estudada, numa comunidade do sertão paraibano (Brasil), constituiu em uma amostra de 110 crianças de ambos os sexos, na faixa etária de 3 a 71 meses. Várias combinações de peso e altura entre si e com relação à idade foram executadas utilizando diversos padrões de referência e métodos de avaliação comparativa. Verificou-se que a utilização de desvios-padrões é preferível às percentagens na caracterização epidemiológica e quantificação do estado nutricional de populações em situação de carência; no caso do emprego exclusivo de percentagens, o levantamento se limita à simples enumeração, as vezes exagerada, dos casos possíveis de desnutrição. Demonstrou-se também que o peso e a altura são realmente os indicadores mínimos, mas que para se obter dados epidemiológicos bem mais completos e proveitosos, é útil acrescentar a tomada do perímetro do braço e da prega cutânea tricipital

Generation of the Brucella melitensis ORFeome version 1.1.

The bacteria of the Brucella genus are responsible for a worldwide zoonosis called brucellosis. They belong to the alpha-proteobacteria group, as many other bacteria that live in close association with a eukaryotic host. Importantly, the Brucellae are mainly intracellular pathogens, and the molecular mechanisms of their virulence are still poorly understood. Using the complete genome sequence of Brucella melitensis, we generated a database of protein-coding open reading frames (ORFs) and constructed an ORFeome library of 3091 Gateway Entry clones, each containing a defined ORF. This first version of the Brucella ORFeome (v1.1) provides the coding sequences in a user-friendly format amenable to high-throughput functional genomic and proteomic experiments, as the ORFs are conveniently transferable from the Entry clones to various Expression vectors by recombinational cloning. The cloning of the Brucella ORFeome v1.1 should help to provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of virulence, including the identification of bacterial protein-protein interactions, but also interactions between bacterial effectors and their host's targets

The Lipopolysaccharide Core of Brucella abortus Acts as a Shield Against Innate Immunity Recognition

Innate immunity recognizes bacterial molecules bearing pathogen-associated molecular patterns to launch inflammatory responses leading to the activation of adaptive immunity. However, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the gram-negative bacterium Brucella lacks a marked pathogen-associated molecular pattern, and it has been postulated that this delays the development of immunity, creating a gap that is critical for the bacterium to reach the intracellular replicative niche. We found that a B. abortus mutant in the wadC gene displayed a disrupted LPS core while keeping both the LPS O-polysaccharide and lipid A. In mice, the wadC mutant induced proinflammatory responses and was attenuated. In addition, it was sensitive to killing by non-immune serum and bactericidal peptides and did not multiply in dendritic cells being targeted to lysosomal compartments. In contrast to wild type B. abortus, the wadC mutant induced dendritic cell maturation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. All these properties were reproduced by the wadC mutant purified LPS in a TLR4-dependent manner. Moreover, the core-mutated LPS displayed an increased binding to MD-2, the TLR4 co-receptor leading to subsequent increase in intracellular signaling. Here we show that Brucella escapes recognition in early stages of infection by expressing a shield against recognition by innate immunity in its LPS core and identify a novel virulence mechanism in intracellular pathogenic gram-negative bacteria. These results also encourage for an improvement in the generation of novel bacterial vaccines

Brucellosis Vaccines: Assessment of Brucella melitensis Lipopolysaccharide Rough Mutants Defective in Core and O-Polysaccharide Synthesis and Export

Background: The brucellae are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause brucellosis, one of the major neglected zoonoses. In endemic areas, vaccination is the only effective way to control this disease. Brucella melitensis Rev 1 is a vaccine effective against the brucellosis of sheep and goat caused by B. melitensis, the commonest source of human infection. However, Rev 1 carries a smooth lipopolysaccharide with an O-polysaccharide that elicits antibodies interfering in serodiagnosis, a major problem in eradication campaigns. Because of this, rough Brucella mutants lacking the O-polysaccharide have been proposed as vaccines. Methodology/Principal Findings: To examine the possibilities of rough vaccines, we screened B. melitensis for lipopolysaccharide genes and obtained mutants representing all main rough phenotypes with regard to core oligosaccharide and O-polysaccharide synthesis and export. Using the mouse model, mutants were classified into four attenuation patterns according to their multiplication and persistence in spleens at different doses. In macrophages, mutants belonging to three of these attenuation patterns reached the Brucella characteristic intracellular niche and multiplied intracellularly, suggesting that they could be suitable vaccine candidates. Virulence patterns, intracellular behavior and lipopolysaccharide defects roughly correlated with the degree of protection afforded by the mutants upon intraperitoneal vaccination of mice. However, when vaccination was applied by the subcutaneous route, only two mutants matched the protection obtained with Rev 1 albeit at doses one thousand fold higher than this reference vaccine. These mutants, which were blocked in O-polysaccharide export and accumulated internal O-polysaccharides, stimulated weak anti-smooth lipopolysaccharide antibodies. Conclusions/Significance: The results demonstrate that no rough mutant is equal to Rev 1 in laboratory models and question the notion that rough vaccines are suitable for the control of brucellosis in endemic areas.This work was funded by the European Commission (Research Contract QLK2-CT-2002-00918) and the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología of Spain (Proyecto AGL2004-01162/GAN)

A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.

Global insights into cellular organization and genome function require comprehensive understanding of the interactome networks that mediate genotype-phenotype relationships(1,2). Here we present a human 'all-by-all' reference interactome map of human binary protein interactions, or 'HuRI'. With approximately 53,000 protein-protein interactions, HuRI has approximately four times as many such interactions as there are high-quality curated interactions from small-scale studies. The integration of HuRI with genome(3), transcriptome(4) and proteome(5) data enables cellular function to be studied within most physiological or pathological cellular contexts. We demonstrate the utility of HuRI in identifying the specific subcellular roles of protein-protein interactions. Inferred tissue-specific networks reveal general principles for the formation of cellular context-specific functions and elucidate potential molecular mechanisms that might underlie tissue-specific phenotypes of Mendelian diseases. HuRI is a systematic proteome-wide reference that links genomic variation to phenotypic outcomes

Distances biologiques de populations péruviennes pré-hispaniques

It has been calculated the distance of Penrose between the prehispanic Peruvian population: one of the Early Intermediate (ll-Vllls.), two of the Middle Horizon (IX-Xlls.), six of the Late Intermediate (XIII-XVs.) and one of the Late Horizon (XV-XVIs.). The distances were calculated from 14 cranial measures (mandible excluded). The results are the following: 1) The populations distinguish themselves by differences of proportions, much than systematic discordances of heigh between the metrical characteristics. 2) The male populations are different between them in the same way than the female ones. There are exceptions. 3) Neither altitude nor geographical distance seem to be determinant factors of dissimilitude between the populations. 4) One could not speak of one “race” of the sierra opposed to one “race” of the coast. Always and that is confirmed by the archaeology, there were contacts between these two regions, in particular through the Andean valleys. 5) The populations of the Late Intermediate have between them more similitudes than the anterior ones -result of the expansion of the Chavin Culture. 6) The relative dissimilitude of populations as San Damian and Jahuay could be tied to the linguistic factors. 7) The population of Machu Picchu shows similitudes of proportions with the populations of the north — coast and sierra — which confirms the tradition of “mitimae” brought del Chimu kingdom to Cuzco.Nous avons procédé au calcul de la distance de Penrose entre les populations préhispaniques du Pérou : une de l'Intermédiaire Ancien (II-VIIIs.), deux de l’Horizon moyen (IX-XIIs.), six de la période intermédiaire récente (XIII-XVs.) et une de l'horizon récent (XV-XVIs.). Les distances ont été calculées a partir de 14 mesures crâniennes (mandibule exclue). Les résultats sont les suivants : 1) Les populations se distinguent entre elles par les différences de proportions, beaucoup plus que par des discordances systématiques de taille entre les caractères métriques. 2) Les populations masculines se différencient en moyenne entre elles dans les mêmes proportions que les populations féminines. Il existe des exceptions. 3) Ni l'altitude, ni la distance géographique paraissent être des facteurs déterminant de dissimilitudes entre les populations. 4) On ne peut parler d’une race" de la sierra opposée a "une race" de la cote. Il y eut toujours des contacts — confirmés par l’archéologie — entre ces deux régions, en particulier par les vallées interandines. 5) Les populations de l'Intermédiaire récent ont entre elles plus de similitudes que celles antérieures -résultat de l'expansion de la culture chavine. 6) La relative dissimilitude de populations comme celles de San Damian et de Jahuay peut-être liée aux facteurs linguistiques. 7) La population du Machu Picchu montre des similitudes de proportions avec les populations du Nord de la Cote et de la Sierra, ce qui confirme la tradition des "mitimae" amenés du royaume chimu jusqu'au Cuzco.Se procedió al cálculo de la distancia de Penrose entre 10 poblaciones prehispánicas del Perú: una del periodo intermedio temprano (II-VIIIs.), dos del horizonte medio (IX-XIIs.), seis del período intermedio tardío (XIII-XVs.) y una del horizonte tardío (XV-XVIs.). La distancia ha sido calculada a partir de 14 medidas craneanas (mandíbula excluida). Los resultados son los siguientes: 1) las poblaciones sé distinguen entre ellas por la diferencia de proporciones (distancia de forma), mucho más que por discordancia sistemática de tamaño entre los caracteres métricos; 2) las poblaciones masculinas se diferencian en promedio entre ellas en la misma medida que tas poblaciones femeninas. Existen excepciones; 3) ni la altura ni la distancia geográfica parecen ser factores determinantes de disimilitud entre las poblaciones; 4) no se puede hablar de una “raza” serrana opuesta a una “raza” costeña. Siempre hubo contactos entre las dos reglones, en particular a través de los valles interandinos, lo que confirma la arqueología; 5) las poblaciones del período intermedio tardío tienen entre ellas más similitud que las anteriores. Es el resultado de la expansión de la cultura Huari; 6) la relativa disimilitud de poblaciones como San Damián y Jahuay puede ser relacionado a factores lingüísticos; 7) la población de Machu Picchu muestra similitudes de proporción con las poblaciones norteñas de la Costa y la Sierra, lo que confirma la tradición de “mitimae” traídas del reino de Chimú hacia el Cuzco.Dricot Jean M. Distances biologiques de populations péruviennes pré-hispaniques. In: Bulletin de l'Institut Français d’Études Andines, tome 6, N°3-4, 1977. pp. 63-84

Descubrimiento de una tumba en el sitio lítico de la Pampa de los Fósiles (zona de Cupisnique) y sus implicaciones

Il est rendu compte de la découverte d'une tombe d’enfant dans l'atelier N° 4 du site PV22-12, Pampa de los Fósiles. Cette tombe était recouverte par les déchets de taille de pointes du type connu sous le nom de pointe de Paiján. On peut donc la : considérer comme associée à cette industrie et appartenant à la période précéramique ancienne. Le squelette fut trouvé assez détérioré, sa position restant cependant visible. Le sexe est indéterminé, l’âge, peu précis, se situe aux environs de 3 ans. Les caractéristiques du sédiment et les dimensions probables de la fosse conduisent à une évaluation de la profondeur atteinte par la déflation eolienne en cet endroit depuis l'époque de l'enterrement : environ 50 cm.Se da cuenta del hallazgo de una tumba de niño en el taller N° 4 del sitio PV22-12, Pampa de los Fósiles. Esta tumba estaba cubierta por los desechos de talla de puntos del tipo conocido bajo el nombre de Paiján. Por lo tanto, se la considera asociada a esta industria y perteneciente al período precerámico temprano. El esqueleto se encontró bastante destruido, pudiéndose sin embargo apreciar su posición. El sexo es indeterminado y la edad no muy precisa, se trata de un niño de alrededor de 3 años. Las características del sedimento y las posibles dimensiones de la fosa de entierro llevan a hacer una evaluación de la erosión eólica desde el tiempo del entierro: aproximadamente 50 cm.Chauchat Claude, Dricot Jean M. Descubrimiento de una tumba en el sitio lítico de la Pampa de los Fósiles (zona de Cupisnique) y sus implicaciones. In: Bulletin de l'Institut Français d’Études Andines, tome 3, N°3, 1974. pp. 51-54

Fetal Rhd in Maternal Plasma in Prenatal Follow-up

peer reviewedSince the beginning of RHD genotyping in maternal plasma, no Rh D positive baby was diagnosed RHD negative in our institution. Genotyping from circulating DNA in maternal plasma is as efficient as genotyping on amniocyts but without the associated risks. We propose a prophylactic injection based on fetal genotyping RHD in maternal blood with 300 microg anti-D immunoglobulin at 28 weeks of amenhorrea in all of Rh D negative pregnant women whitch fetuses positive RHD