Homogeneidade de índices de refração aplicada ao clareamento de esfregaços de fezes

Thick smears of human feces can be made adequate for identification of helminth eggs by means of refractive index matching. Although this effect can be obtained by simply spreading a fleck of feces on a microscope slide, a glycerol solution has been routinely used to this end. Aiming at practicability, a new quantitative technique has been developed. To enhance both sharpness and contrast of the images, a sucrose solution (refractive index = 1.49) is used, which reduces the effect of light-scattering particulates. To each slide a template-measured (38.5 mm³) fecal sample is transferred. Thus, egg counts and sensitivity evaluations are easily made.Os esfregaços espessos de fezes humanas podem tornar-se adequados para a identificação de ovos e larvas de helmintos por meio da busca de homogeneidade de índices de refração. Embora seja possível obter esse efeito por meio de simples espalhamento de um fragmento de fezes sobre uma lâmina de microscopia, uma solução de glicerol tem sido usada rotineiramente para este fim. Visando à praticabilidade, elaborou-se uma técnica quantitativa em que é usada uma solução de sacarose (Índice de refração = 1,49) para reduzir o efeito da difusão da luz produzido por material particulado. O volume da amostra fecal a examinar em uma lâmina corresponde ao da cavidade cilíndrica da placa medidora (38,5 mm²). Avaliações de sensibilidade e contagens de ovos tornam-se, portanto, de fácil execução

Coloração vital com azul de metileno aplicada a tripomastigotas e epimastigotas de Trypanosoma cruzi

The morphological identification of Trypanosoma cruzi is currently considered to have a high specificity, but its sensitivity, which depends on the volume of the sample examined, is rather low. Trypanosome developmental stages suspended in blood, reduviid feces, and culture media are routinely searched for by means of fresh film examination (about 2 µL). High speed centrifugation of blood samples separates the buffy coat, where most trypomastigotes concentrate. As the parasites are transparent and colorless, their detection is mostly dependent on their motility. The fluorescent vital stain acridine orange has been used to enhance image contrast, as exemplified by the QBC (Quantitative Buffy Coat) technique. Staining blood, buffy coat, reduviid feces, and culture media samples with methylene blue (also a vital dye) is a means of producing sharp, well contrasted images of motile or non-motile T. cruzi developmental stages, only standard laboratory microscopes being required. Slides previously coated with a thin layer of methylene blue are used to stain fresh blood films. Photomicrographs exemplify the results of methylene blue staining applied to living and fixed parasites.A identificação morfológica de Trypanosoma cruzi tem alta especificidade, segundo é geralmente aceito; entretanto, sua sensibilidade, dependente do volume da amostra examinada, é baixa. Formas evolutivas de T. cruzi suspensas em sangue, fezes de reduviídeos e meios de cultura são rotineiramente pesquisadas em esfregaços a fresco (cerca de 2 µL). Centrifugação de amostras de sangue a altas velocidades produz a separação do creme leucocitário, onde se concentram as formas tripomastigotas. Em preparações a fresco, a motilidade das formas tripomastigotas e epimastigotas de T. cruzi, protozoário transparente e incolor, facilita sua detecção. Laranja de acridina, corante vital fluorescente, tem sido usada para acentuar o contraste das imagens de parasitas. Disto é exemplo a técnica QBC (Quantitative Buffy Coat). A coloração por meio de azul de metileno (também um corante vital), de amostras de sangue, de fezes de reduviídeos ou de meios de cultura permite obter imagens nítidas e contrastadas de formas evolutivas de T. cruzi com ou sem motilidade. Microscópios de uso geral em laboratórios permitem o exame dos parasitas corados. Uma camada bem delgada de azul de metileno colocada sobre a parte central da lâmina limpa (por meio da evaporação de solução diluída do corante) é usada para corar as preparações a fresco. O aspecto dos parasitas corados em materiais frescos ou previamente fixados pode ser observado em fotomicrografias

Rock art at S. Gonçalo hill, Barcelos (NW Portugal), and the construction of a structural place in the prehistoric landscape

[Excerpt] Introduction In 2012 the first engravings were discovered at hill of S. Gonçalo, due to occasional prospection works performed by the City Hall Archaeological Cabinet. Since 2015 this entity developed the systematic inventory of the rock art identified at the hill, mainly with two objectives: update the Archaeological County Map and classify the archaeological set of rock art as Property of Public Interest. At this scope, all the occurrences were photographed during daytime, and surveying photogrammetric works were accomplished. The morphological analysis to the engraved surfaces was done using Meshlab soLware.This work was developed under the projects Northwest Rock Art Route. A Project of Cultural Tourism (RAR/Lab2PT2014) and North‐west Iberia Rock Art. Liminality and Heterotopy (SFRH/BSAB/114296/2016)

High Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) Prevalence, Clinical Correlates and High Incidence among Recently HIV-1-Infected Subjects in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is the etiological agent for Kaposi Sarcoma, which occurs especially in HIV-infected subjects. HHV-8 infection and its clinical correlates have not been well characterized in recently HIV-1-infected subjects, especially men who have sex with men (MSM).Methodology/Principal Findings: We assessed the HHV-8 seroprevalence, clinical correlates, and incidence after one year of follow-up in a cohort of 228 recently HIV-1-infected individuals, of whom 83.6% were MSM, using indirect immunofluorescence assay. the prevalence of HHV-8 infection at the time of cohort enrollment was 25.9% (59/228). in the univariate model, there were significant associations with male gender, black ethnicity, MSM practice, and previous hepatitis B virus and syphilis infections. in the multivariate model we could still demonstrate association with MSM, hepatitis B, and black ethnicity. No differences in mean CD4+ cell counts or HIV viral load according to HHV-8 status were found. in terms of incidence, there were 23/127 (18.1%) seroconversions in the cohort after 1 year.Conclusions: HHV-8 is highly prevalent among recently HIV-1-infected subjects. Correlations with other sexually transmitted infections suggest common transmission routes.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Orf virus from sheep in Brazil: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Orf virus </it>(ORFV), the prototype of the genus <it>Parapoxvirus </it>(PPV), is the etiological agent of contagious ecthyma, a severe exanthematic dermatitis that afflicts domestic and wild small ruminants. Although South American ORFV outbreaks have occurred and diagnosed there are no South American PPV major membrane glycoprotein B2L gene nucleotide sequences available.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>an outbreak of ovine contagious ecthyma in Midwest Brazil was investigated. The diagnosis was based on clinical examinations and molecular biology techniques. The molecular characterization of the virus was done using PCR amplification, cloning and DNA sequencing of the B2L gene. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a high degree of identity with ORFV strains, and the isolate was closest to the ORFV-India 82/04 isolate. Another Brazilian ORFV isolate, NE1, was sequenced for comparative analysis and also showed a high degree of identity with an Asian ORFV strain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Distinct ORFV strains are circulating in Brazil. This is the first report on the phylogenetic analysis of an ORFV in South America.</p

Analgesic efficacy of Lysine Clonixinate, paracetamol and dipyrone in lower third molar extraction. A randomized controlled trial

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the analgesic effect of lysine clonixinate, paracetamol and dipyrone after lower third molar extraction.Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 90 individuals, with clinical indication for inferior third molars extraction. The mean age of the sample was 22.3 years (DP±2.5). The individuals received the medication in unidentified bottles along with the intake instructions. The postoperative pain parameters were measured according to Visual Analogical Scale (VAS) and the data was evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis Test and Friedman Test, with the latter used to test different time intervals for each one of the drugs.Results: The final sample consisted of 64 individuals, including 23 males (45.9%) and 41 females (64.1%) The mean age of the entire sample was 22.3 years (±2.5). The average length of the procedures was 33.9 minutes (±9.8).The distribution of mean values for this variable showed little variance for the different drugs (p=0.07).Conclusion: Lysine Clonixinate did not show any substantial impact on the postoperative pain control when compared to other drugs

Serum Klotho (but not haplotypes) associate with the post-myocardial infarction status of older adults

The number of deaths from vascular diseases is incredibly high worldwide, and reliable markers for major events are still needed. The current cross-sectional study investigated the association of Klotho haplotypes and Klotho serum levels with classic risk factors and a clinical history of vascular events. METHODS: Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and nutritional assessments were conducted with 168 older adults, complemented by genotyping (rs9536314 and rs9527025) and the detection of serum Klotho (ELISA). RESULTS: Klotho levels and haplotypes did not associate with most classic risk factors for vascular events, including markers such as C-reactive protein and homocysteine. A positive association was only found between Klotho levels and the previous occurrence of a myocardial infarction by both correlational (p=0.006) and variance analyses (p<0.001), and these associations were independent of the context. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that serum Klotho is higher in individuals with a clinical history of myocardial infarction but not with a history of coronary artery disease or stroke. None of the Klotho haplotypes were associated with the variables investigated herein

Serum Klotho (but not haplotypes) associate with the post-myocardial infarction status of older adults

OBJECTIVES: The number of deaths from vascular diseases is incredibly high worldwide, and reliable markers for major events are still needed. The current cross-sectional study investigated the association of Klotho haplotypes and Klotho serum levels with classic risk factors and a clinical history of vascular events. METHODS: Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and nutritional assessments were conducted with 168 older adults, complemented by genotyping (rs9536314 and rs9527025) and the detection of serum Klotho (ELISA). RESULTS: Klotho levels and haplotypes did not associate with most classic risk factors for vascular events, including markers such as C-reactive protein and homocysteine. A positive association was only found between Klotho levels and the previous occurrence of a myocardial infarction by both correlational (p=0.006) and variance analyses (