Longterm survey (7 years) in a population at risk for Lyme borreliosis: what happens to the seropositive individuals?

In 1986, a 26% seroprevalence of IgG- anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies was observed among 950 orienteers and the incidence of new clinical infections was 0.8%. In 1993, a total of 305 seropositive orienteers were reexamined. During that time, 15 cases (4.9%) of definite/probable Lyme disease occurred in this seropositive group (12 skin manifestations and 3 monoarticular joint manifestations). Among the 12 definite cases, 9 showed new clinical infections (7 EM, 1 acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, 1 arthritis), and 3 were recurrent (2 EM, 1 arthritis). The annual incidence (0.8%) in this seropositive group was identical to the incidence observed among the whole population in 1986. The individual antibody titer decreased slightly but the seroreversion rate was low (7%). Serology was not very helpful in identifying clinical cases and evolutions, and it can be stated, that a positive serology is much more frequent in this risk group than clinical disease

Recurrent rhinovirus detections in children following a rhinovirus-induced wheezing exacerbation: A retrospective study

Introduction: It is unclear if children with a rhinovirus (RV)-induced wheezing exacerbation are more susceptible to viruses longitudinally, and whether a parental history of asthma and/or allergy impacts their susceptibility. The objective of this study was to determine if RV, RV-A and RV-C related wheezing exacerbations in children were associated with prior or subsequent viral detections and investigate the role of parental history of asthma and allergy. Materials and methods: Children presenting to hospital with acute wheeze were prospectively recruited and tested for respiratory viruses. Data on viruses detected in other respiratory samples (May 1997 to December 2012) were collected from hospital microbiology records and additional RV testing was performed on stored hospital respiratory samples (September 2009 to December 2012). A positive parental history was defined as either parent with self-reported asthma and/or allergy. Results: At recruitment, RV was detected in 69.2% of samples from children with an acute wheezing episode (n=373, 0–16 years of age), with RV-C the most common virus (65.5%). Children with a history of parental asthma and/or allergy and RV at recruitment had a 14-fold increased incidence rate ratio (IRR) of subsequent RV detection (IRR 14.0, 95% CI 1.9–104.1; p=0.01) compared with children without RV at recruitment. Children without this parental history had a reduced incident rate ratio for samples assessed during this time (IRR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.9; p=0.03). Conclusion: Children with a parental history of asthma and/or allergy may become more susceptible to recurrent symptomatic RV infections

Determinação dos parâmetros de fragmentação da Ivermectina para sua identificação por espectrometria de massas.

A Ivermectina é um antiparasitário pertencente ao grupo das lactonas macrocíclicas, constituída por dois homólogos, sendo esses denominados B1a que representa 80% e B1b 20 %. No Brasil, a Ivermectina é um fármaco amplamente utilizado na bovinocultura, contudo seu uso pode gerar resíduos. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi otimizar os parâmetros de fragmentação e ionização do medicamento no espectrômetro de massas afim de, posteriormente, usá-los em desenvolvimento de método quantitativo de análise por LC-MS/MS. Para a otimização dos parâmetros preparou-se duas soluções de concentrações distintas e fez-se a infusão no equipamento, de acordo com o sinal dos picos nos espectros obtidos verificou-se a solução que obteve-se um sinal de melhor qualidade. Após a escolha da concentração ideal para infusão, determinou-se as melhores condições analíticas para a fragmentação e ionização da molécula de Ivermectina. Com o sinal intenso e estável, identificou-se o íon precursor da molécula e dois íons provenientes da sua fragmentação. Sendo possível afirmar, devido a razão m/z apresentada no espectro que a molécula refere-se ao homólogo B1a. Portanto, com o presente trabalho determinou-se os parâmetros analíticos mais eficientes de fragmentação no espectrômetro de massas para a Ivermectina e a partir deles constatou-se a presença do homólogo B1a e seus principais fragmentos, conforme descrito na literatura

Caracterização físico-química de nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio para produção de nanocompósitos.

A percepção de que animais também sentem medo dor e angústia leva a necessidade de desenvolvimento de inúmeros métodos alternativos ao uso de animais em experimentação. Assim, métodos in vitro são uma alternativa para contornar este problema. Baseado em sua biocompatibilidade e sua baixa toxicidade, as nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio (TiO2NPs) apresentam grande potencial para serem utilizadas na produção de desenvolvimento de matrizes 3D para a bioengenharia de tecidos. Dentro deste contexto, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar fisicoquimicamente TiO2NPs para em um futuro utilizá-las para produção de nanocompósitos. Para tanto, TiO2NPs (NM01001a, European Union reference material) foram caracterizadas por técnicas espectroscópica (Raman e Infravermelho), bem como por microscopia de força atômica e espalhamento dinâmico de luz. As TiO2NPs apresentaram geometrias e tamanhos heterogêneos, contudo apresentando pelo menos um dos eixos cardinais com tamanho inferior a 100nm, elevado Índice de Dispersão (0,526 ± 0,05) e baixa estabilidade coloidal (potencial Zeta de -3,50 ± 0.40 mV). Por sua vez, o material apresentou indicativo de elevado grau de preza, com bandas características de ligações de Ti-O e grupos OH na superfície da partícula, respectivamente em 542 e 686 cm− 1 3427 cm− 1 na espectroscopia e infravermelho e 639, 517 e 395 cm− 1 espectroscopia Raman. Baseado nos resultados encontrados, pode-se concluir que as TiO2NPs apresentam elevado grau de pureza e caráter nanométrico com formato heterogêneo. Baseado em dados de literatura que relatam toxicidade em função da forma de nanopartículas, recomenda-se a realização recomenda-se a realização de mais estudos de toxicidade antes de seu uso em nanocompositos destinados a bioengenharia

Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Induced by a Genetically Modified Picornavirus in Its Natural Murine Host

Infections with the picornavirus, human rhinovirus (HRV), are a major cause of wheezing illnesses and asthma exacerbations. In developing a murine model of picornaviral airway infection, we noted the absence of murine rhinoviruses and that mice are not natural hosts for HRV. The picornavirus, mengovirus, induces lethal systemic infections in its natural murine hosts, but small genetic differences can profoundly affect picornaviral tropism and virulence. We demonstrate that inhalation of a genetically attenuated mengovirus, vMC0, induces lower respiratory tract infections in mice. After intranasal vMC0 inoculation, lung viral titers increased, peaking at 24 h postinoculation with viral shedding persisting for 5 days, whereas HRV-A01a lung viral titers decreased and were undetectable 24 h after intranasal inoculation. Inhalation of vMC0, but not vehicle or UV-inactivated vMC0, induced an acute respiratory illness, with body weight loss and lower airway inflammation, characterized by increased numbers of airway neutrophils and lymphocytes and elevated pulmonary expression of neutrophil chemoattractant CXCR2 ligands (CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5) and interleukin-17A. Mice inoculated with vMC0, compared with those inoculated with vehicle or UV-inactivated vMC0, exhibited increased pulmonary expression of interferon (IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-λ), viral RNA sensors [toll-like receptor (TLR)3, TLR7, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (NOD2)], and chemokines associated with HRV infection in humans (CXCL10, CCL2). Inhalation of vMC0, but not vehicle or UV-inactivated vMC0, was accompanied by increased airway fluid myeloperoxidase levels, an indicator of neutrophil activation, increased MUC5B gene expression, and lung edema, a sign of infection-related lung injury. Consistent with experimental HRV inoculations of nonallergic, nonasthmatic human subjects, there were no effects on airway hyperresponsiveness after inhalation of vMC0 by healthy mice. This novel murine model of picornaviral airway infection and inflammation should be useful for defining mechanisms of HRV pathogenesis in humans

Procedimento para avaliação da dinâmica da mastite sub- clínica em rebanhos bovinos utilizando planilha eletrônica do Excel ou similares de software livre.

O objetivo desta instrução técnica é apresentar uma metodologia para avaliar a dinâmica das infecções subclínicas em função dos dois últimos resultados de CCS (Contagem de Células Somáticas) de vacas em lactação. Para tal serão utilizados os dois últimos resultados de CCS de vacas individuais e funções de lógica em uma planilha do Excel em Português.bitstream/item/126046/1/COT-76-Proced-aval-mastite-planilha-excel.pd

Epigenome-wide analysis links SMAD3 methylation at birth to asthma in children of asthmatic mothers

Background The timing and mechanisms of asthma inception remain imprecisely defined. Although epigenetic mechanisms likely contribute to asthma pathogenesis, little is known about their role in asthma inception. Objective We sought to assess whether the trajectory to asthma begins already at birth and whether epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, contribute to asthma inception. Methods We used the Methylated CpG Island Recovery Assay chip to survey DNA methylation in cord blood mononuclear cells from 36 children (18 nonasthmatic and 18 asthmatic subjects by age 9 years) from the Infant Immune Study (IIS), an unselected birth cohort closely monitored for asthma for a decade. SMAD3 methylation in IIS (n = 60) and in 2 replication cohorts (the Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study [n = 30] and the Childhood Origins of Asthma Study [n = 28]) was analyzed by using bisulfite sequencing or Illumina 450K arrays. Cord blood mononuclear cell–derived IL-1β levels were measured by means of ELISA. Results Neonatal immune cells harbored 589 differentially methylated regions that distinguished IIS children who did and did not have asthma by age 9 years. In all 3 cohorts methylation in SMAD3, the most connected node within the network of asthma-associated, differentially methylated regions, was selectively increased in asthmatic children of asthmatic mothers and was associated with childhood asthma risk. Moreover, SMAD3 methylation in IIS neonates with maternal asthma was strongly and positively associated with neonatal production of IL-1β, an innate inflammatory mediator. Conclusions The trajectory to childhood asthma begins at birth and involves epigenetic modifications in immunoregulatory and proinflammatory pathways. Maternal asthma influences epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to the inception of this trajectory

Endotypes of difficult-to-control asthma in inner-city African American children

African Americans have higher rates of asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality in comparison with other racial groups. We sought to characterize endotypes of childhood asthma severity in African American patients in an inner-city pediatric asthma population. Baseline blood neutrophils, blood eosinophils, and 38 serum cytokine levels were measured in a sample of 235 asthmatic children (6–17 years) enrolled in the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)-sponsored Asthma Phenotypes in the Inner City (APIC) study (ICAC (Inner City Asthma Consortium)-19). Cytokines were quantified using a MILLIPLEX panel and analyzed on a Luminex analyzer. Patients were classified as Easy-to-Control or Difficult-to-Control based on the required dose of controller medications over one year of prospective management. A multivariate variable selection procedure was used to select cytokines associated with Difficult-to-Control versus Easy-to-Control asthma, adjusting for age, sex, blood eosinophils, and blood neutrophils. In inner-city African American children, 12 cytokines were significant predictors of Difficult-to-Control asthma (n = 235). CXCL-1, IL-5, IL-8, and IL-17A were positively associated with Difficult-to-Control asthma, while IL-4 and IL-13 were positively associated with Easy-to-Control asthma. Using likelihood ratio testing, it was observed that in addition to blood eosinophils and neutrophils, serum cytokines improved the fit of the model. In an inner-city pediatric population, serum cytokines significantly contributed to the definition of Difficult-to-Control asthma endotypes in African American children. Mixed responses characterized by TH2 (IL-5) and TH17-associated cytokines were associated with Difficult-to-Control asthma. Collectively, these data may contribute to risk stratification of Difficult-to-Control asthma in the African American population