Enhanced Leishmania braziliensis Infection Following Pre-Exposure to Sandfly Saliva

Parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a variety of diseases known as leishmaniasis, that are transmitted by bites of female sand flies that, during blood-feeding, inject humans with parasites and saliva. It was shown that, in mice, immunity to sand-fly saliva is able to protect against the development of leishmaniasis. We have investigated, in the present study, whether this finding extends the sand fly species Lutzomyia intermedia, which is responsible for transmission of Leishmania braziliensis, a parasite species able to cause destructive skin lesions that can be fatal if left untreated. We observed that mice injected with sand fly saliva develop a specific immune response against salivary proteins. Most importantly, however, this immune response was unable to protect mice against a challenge infection with L. braziliensis, indicating that exposure to this sand fly saliva is harmful to the host. Indeed, subjects with cutaneous leishmaniasis have a higher immune response against L. intermedia saliva. These findings indicate that the anti-saliva immune response to sand fly saliva plays an important role in the outcome of leishmaniasis caused by L. braziliensis, in both mice and humans, and emphasize possible hurdles in the development of vaccines based on sand fly saliva

Práticas Educomunicativas

Esta publicação pretende divulgar as práticas educomunicativas realizadas em diferentes regiões do país e que estão sendo implantadas por nossos associados. O e-book Práticas Educomunicativas, que visa oferecer um material de uso prático que possa servir de apoio pedagógico em diferentes contextos, escolar ou de ações junto a instituições, apresenta 20 artigos de profissionais e pesquisadores que implementam ações que inter-relacionam comunicação e educação no contexto da educação apontando as experiências e processos de educomunicação e valorizando desta forma, o trabalho realizado por cada educomunicador oferecendo, ao leitor, um material de uso prático que possa servir de apoio pedagógico em diferentes contextos

B-cell Infiltration and Frequency of Cytokine Producing Cells Differ between Localized and Disseminated Human Cutaneous Leishmaniases

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2016-02-29T13:09:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Vieira M G B-cell infiltration....pdf: 57883 bytes, checksum: dcb00a38cbd96d2a01cb584028725a4c (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2016-02-29T13:21:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Vieira M G B-cell infiltration....pdf: 57883 bytes, checksum: dcb00a38cbd96d2a01cb584028725a4c (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-29T13:21:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vieira M G B-cell infiltration....pdf: 57883 bytes, checksum: dcb00a38cbd96d2a01cb584028725a4c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-07-29Universidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, BrasilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Hospital Professor Edgard Santos. Serviço de Anatomia Patológica. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Hospital Professor Edgard Santos. Serviço de Anatomia Patológica. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, Brasil / ***Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto do Milênio, São Paulo, SP, BrasilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, Brasil / ***Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto do Milênio, São Paulo, SP, BrasilBiopsies from human localized cutaneous lesions (LCL n = 7) or disseminated lesions (DL n = 8) cases were characterized according to cellular infiltration, frequency of cytokine (IFN-g, TNF-a) or iNOS enzyme producing cells. LCL, the most usual form of the disease with usually one or two lesions, exhibits extensive tissue damage. DL is a rare form with widespread lesions throughout the body; exhibiting poor parasite containment but less tissue damage. We demonstrated that LCL lesions exhibit higher frequency of B lymphocytes and a higher intensity of IFN- g expression. In both forms of the disease CD8+ were found in higher frequency than CD4+ T cells. Frequency of TNF-a and iNOS producing cells, as well as the frequency of CD68+ macrophages, did not differ between LCL and DL. Our findings reinforce the link between an efficient control of parasite and tissue damage, implicating higher frequency of IFN-g producing cells, as well as its possible counteraction by infiltrated B cells and hence possible humoral immune response in situ

Sexual Function, Physical Activity, Mean Amplitudes and Maximal Voluntary Contraction of Pelvic Floor Muscles Are Related to Handgrip Strength: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pelvic floor musculature assessment methods are generally invasive, subjective, and technologically expensive. Therefore, there is a need to identify other methods that can predict changes in the function of these muscles. This study aimed to verify whether the levels of strength and myoelectric activity of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) can be related to handgrip strength (HGS), to ensure faster and earlier identification of possible dysfunctions of this musculature. Furthermore, we verified whether these variables vary across different age groups. This was a cross-sectional observational study involving 44 healthy women. The women were divided into two groups: the young (18–35 years) and middle-aged (36–55 years) adult groups. Social, anthropometric, and clinical data were collected from the participants, and a functional assessment of their PFM was performed by bidigital palpation, electromyographic biofeedback (sEMG), and HGS (using a dynamometer). The levels of physical and sexual activity were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Sexual Quotient–Female version (SQ-F) questionnaire. There were no differences in HGS, power/pressure, sEMG, SQ-F score, or IPAQ score between the two groups (p > 0.05). Moderate correlation (r = 0.601; p = 0.019) was observed during multivariate analysis. HGS is related to mean amplitudes (p = 0.123), MVC (p = 0.043), sexual function (p = 0.049), and physical activity (p = 0.004). We therefore conclude that there were no differences between HGS and PFM strength in young adult and middle-aged women. Furthermore, HGS is related to the PFM functionality, sexual function, and physical activity

First Clinical Consensus and National Recommendations on Tracheostomized Children of the Brazilian Academy of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (ABOPe) and Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP),

Abstract Introduction: Tracheostomy is a procedure that can be performed in any age group, including children under 1 year of age. Unfortunately health professionals in Brazil have great difficulty dealing with this condition due to the lack of standard care orientation. Objective: This clinical consensus by Academia Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia Pediátrica (ABOPe) and Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) aims to generate national recommendations on the care concerning tracheostomized children. Methods: A group of experts experienced in pediatric tracheostomy (otorhinolaryngologists, intensive care pediatricians, endoscopists, and pediatric pulmonologists) were selected, taking into account the different regions of Brazil and following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The results generated from this document were based on the agreement of the majority of participants regarding the indications, type of cannula, surgical techniques, care, and general guidelines and decannulation. Conclusion: These guidelines can be used as directives for a wide range of health professionals across the country that deal with tracheostomized children