17 research outputs found
Serum antibodies against genitourinary infectious agents in prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia patients: a case-control study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of many human malignancies. Whether prostate cancer (PCa) - an important health issue in the aging male population in the Western world - belongs to these conditions has been a matter of research since the 1970 s. Persistent serum antibodies are a proof of present or past infection. The aim of this study was to compare serum antibodies against genitourinary infectious agents between PCa patients and controls with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). We hypothesized that elevated serum antibody levels or higher seroprevalence in PCa patients would suggest an association of genitourinary infection in patient history and elevated PCa risk.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 434 males who had undergone open prostate surgery in a single institution were included in the study: 329 PCa patients and 105 controls with BPH. The subjects' serum samples were analysed by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, complement fixation test and indirect immunofluorescence for the presence of antibodies against common genitourinary infectious agents: human papillomavirus (HPV) 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33, herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2, human cytomegalovirus (CMV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Treponema pallidum. Antibody seroprevalence and mean serum antibody levels were compared between cases and controls. Tumour grade and stage were correlated with serological findings.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PCa patients were more likely to harbour antibodies against Ureaplasma urealyticum (odds ratio (OR) 2.06; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-4.28). Men with BPH were more often seropositive for HPV 18 and Chlamydia trachomatis (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.09-0.61 and OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.21-0.99, respectively) and had higher mean serum CMV antibody levels than PCa patients (p = 0.0004). Among PCa patients, antibodies against HPV 6 were associated with a higher Gleason score (p = 0.0305).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Antibody seropositivity against the analyzed pathogens with the exception of Ureaplasma does not seem to be a risk factor for PCa pathogenesis. The presence or higher levels of serum antibodies against the genitourinary pathogens studied were not consistently associated with PCa. Serostatus was not a predictor of disease stage in the studied population.</p
Electrochemical methods for determination of thymine in medical pipefish samples based on HPMαFP/Ppy/GCE-modified electrode
A deficiĂȘncia de vitamina A em crianças no Brasil e no mundo Vitamin A deficiency among children in Brazil and worldwide
O presente artigo expĂ”e, com base em uma revisĂŁo de literatura dos Ășltimos dez anos, aspectos relevantes da DeficiĂȘncia de Vitamina A (DVA) em crianças no Brasil e no mundo. Apresenta a DVA no contexto da deficiĂȘncia clĂnica e subclĂnica, com ĂȘnfase na caracterização desta como problema de saĂșde pĂșblica. A DVA foi diagnosticada em crianças de vĂĄrias regiĂ”es do Brasil, principalmente no Sudeste e Nordeste; entretanto, nĂŁo foram encontrados estudos relativos a sinais clĂnicos. Mundialmente, as maiores prevalĂȘncias de DVA foram registradas em paĂses da Ăfrica como Mali, EtiĂłpia e NigĂ©ria, sendo que os sinais clĂnicos estiveram presentes, principalmente, em regiĂ”es da Ăsia e Ăfrica. Os estudos apontam a DVA como problema de saĂșde pĂșblica em crianças, principalmente nas regiĂ”es mais pobres do globo.<br>Based on a ten-year literature review, this paper describes important aspects of Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) among children in Brazil and worldwide. It presents VAD within a clinical and sub-clinical deficiency context, emphasizing this as a public health issue. VAD has been diagnosed in children from several parts of Brazil, especially in the Southeast and Northeast. Worldwide, the highest VAD prevalence is found in parts of parts of Africa: Mali, Ethiopia and Nigeria, and clinical indications noted especially in parts of Asia and Africa. However, no studies of clinical indications were located. Studies point to VAD as a public health issue among children, particularly in the poorest parts of the world