Characterization of Leishmania spp. causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

In the State of Amazonas, American tegumentary leishmaniasis is endemic and presents a wide spectrum of clinical variability due to the large diversity of circulating species in the region. Isolates from patients in Manaus and its metropolitan region were characterized using monoclonal antibodies and isoenzymes belonging to four species of the parasite: Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis, 73% (153/209); Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, 14% (30/209); Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, 8% (17/209); and Leishmania (Viannia) naiffii, 4% (9/209). The most prevalent species was L. (V.) guyanensis. The principal finding of this study was the important quantity of infections involving more than one parasite species, representing 14% (29/209) of the total. The findings obtained in this work regarding the parasite are further highlighted by the fact that these isolates were obtained from clinical samples collected from single lesions

Biochemical characterization of tannases from Paecilomyces variotii and Aspergillus niger

A biochemical characterization of the tannases from Paecilomyces variotii (produced at Unicamp), Aspergillus niger (purchased from Industrial Kerry Bio-Science) and A. niger cnpat 001 (purchased from Embrapa. Agroindustrial Tropical-Brazil) was carried out. P. variotii is a new strain obtained from the, screening of 500 fungi that were tested for their production of tannase. The biochemical properties of this new tannase from P. variotii were determined and compared with those of two other tannase preparations. The tannase produced from P. variotii showed optimum activity at pH 6.5. The functional temperature range of the tannases was from 20-70 degrees C, with optima at 70 degrees C for P. variotii and at 60 degrees C for the commercially obtained tannase, whereas A. niger cnpat 001 showed optimum activity at 40 degrees C. The effects of 1 mM preparations of cations and anions, inhibitors, surfactants, and chelators on the tannase activity from P. variotii were also studied.16224324

One step immunochromatographic assay for the rapid detection of Alexandrium minutum

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Comparison of Noninvasive Measurements of Intracranial with Tap Test Results in Patients with Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Gabriel André da Silva Mendes,1,2 Cintya Yukie Hayashi,2,3 Gustavo Henrique Frigieri Vilela,3 Lissa Kido,3 Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira,2 Fernando Campos Gomes Pinto2 1Physiotherapy Nucleous, Hospital of the State Public Servant of São Paulo, São Paulo City, São Paulo State, Brazil; 2Brain Hydrodynamics Group, Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo, São Paulo City, São Paulo State, Brazil; 3Braincare Desenvolvimento e Inovação Tecnológica S.A, São Carlos City, São Paulo State, BrazilCorrespondence: Gabriel André da Silva Mendes, Email [email protected]: Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a disease directly related to the change in intracranial compliance and consequent repercussions in the brain parenchyma. Invasive monitoring of such parameters proves to be reliable especially for prognosis in neurocritical patients; however, it is not applicable in an outpatient service setting. The present study describes the comparison between the tap test results and the parameters obtained with a non-invasive sensor for monitoring intracranial compliance in patients with suspected NPH.Methods: Twenty-eight patients were evaluated before and after lumbar puncture of 50mL of CSF (the tap test), comprising clinical assessment, magnetic resonance imaging, physical therapy assessment using the Timed Up and Go test, Dynamic Gait Index, BERG test, neuropsychological assessment, and recording of non-invasive intracranial compliance data using the Brain4care® device in three different positions (lying, sitting, and standing) for 5 min each. The tap test results were compared to the Time to Peak and P2/P1 ratio parameters obtained by the device.Results: The group that had a positive Tap test result presented a median P2/P1 ratio greater than 1.0, suggesting a change in intracranial compliance. In addition, there was also a significant difference between patients with positive, negative, and inconclusive results, especially in the lying position.Conclusion: A non-invasive intracranial compliance device when used with the patient lying down and standing up obtained parameters that suggest correspondence with the result of the tap test.Keywords: normal pressure hydrocephalus, intracranial pressure, biomedical technology, cerebrospinal fluid pressur

Monoclonal antibody against the surface of Alexandrium minutum used in a whole-cell ELISA

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