The effect of IFN-γ and TGF-β in the functional activity of mononuclear cells in the presence of Entamoeba histolytica

Abstract Background Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) causes amoebiasis, which is a disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Phagocytic cells and cytokines appear to be important in amoebiasis, but very little is known about the influence of these cells and cytokines in protozoan infections. The aim of this study was to analyse the supernatant of cultures of mononuclear (MN) cells with E. histolytica to determine: 1) the levels of the cytokines IFN-γ and TGF-β, and 2) the amoebicidal activity of MN cells after incubation with cytokines. Methods Blood samples were collected from 30 volunteer donors. The cytokine concentrations in MN cells culture supernatants, superoxide release, leukophagocytosis, amoebicide activity, intracellular calcium release and apoptosis were analysed. Results The IFN-γ concentrations were 6.22 ± 0.36 and TGF-β concentrations were 17.01 ± 2.21 in cells–trophozoite culture supernatants. MN cells, independently of cytokines, in the presence of amoeba increase the superoxide release. In the absence of cytokines, the ingestion of MN cells by amoebae was higher. In the presence of IFN- γ or TGF- β, a lower ingestion of MN cells was observed by amoebae. MN cells treated with cytokines exhibited higher amoebicide and apoptosis indexes. The incubation of cytokines increased the intracellular calcium release by MN cells. Conclusions These results suggest that cytokines play a beneficial role for the host by activating MN cells against E. histolytica. The increased death of amoebae during the leukophagocytosis suggests that both cytokines (IFN-γ and TGF-β) can modulate the functional activity of MN cells and that these cytokines probably are important in the control of amoebic infections

Paraganglioma na coluna vertebral: relato de caso

Os paragangliomas são tumores neuroendócrinos raros com origem em células especializadas derivadas da crista neural, acometendo a região da carótida ou jugulotimpânica. São raros dentro do canal vertebral, e quando ocorrem são normalmente encontrados no compartimento intradural e extramedular da região lombossacra. Este relato apresenta o caso de um paciente de 26 anos, sexo masculino, com diagnóstico de fratura patológica da coluna torácica (T10), secundária a paraganglioma, causando lesão medular completa. Foi realizado tratamento cirúrgico no Hospital Geral do Estado da Bahia, que apresentou sangramento excessivo como complicação que indicou necessidade de embolização prévia. Com isso, os autores recomendam cautela ao avaliar e tratar esta rara lesão causadora de déficit neurológico, cujo planejamento cirúrgico deve ser criterioso a fim de evitar complicações catastróficas.Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that originate in specialized cells derived from neural crest cells, affecting the region of the carotid or jugular-tympanic artery. They are rare within the spinal canal and, when they occur, they are normally found in the extramedullary intradural compartment of the lumbosacral region. This report presents the case of a 26-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with pathological fracture of the thoracic spine (T10), secondary to paraganglioma, thus causing complete spinal cord injury. Surgical treatment was performed at the General Hospital of the State of Bahia and the complication of excessive bleeding occurred, which indicated that there had been a need for prior embolization. Because of this, the authors recommend caution when evaluating and treating this rare lesion that causes neurological deficits, with careful surgical planning in order to catastrophic complications

Paraganglioma na coluna vertebral: relato de caso

Os paragangliomas são tumores neuroendócrinos raros com origem em células especializadas derivadas da crista neural, acometendo a região da carótida ou jugulotimpânica. São raros dentro do canal vertebral, e quando ocorrem são normalmente encontrados no compartimento intradural e extramedular da região lombossacra. Este relato apresenta o caso de um paciente de 26 anos, sexo masculino, com diagnóstico de fratura patológica da coluna torácica (T10), secundária a paraganglioma, causando lesão medular completa. Foi realizado tratamento cirúrgico no Hospital Geral do Estado da Bahia, que apresentou sangramento excessivo como complicação que indicou necessidade de embolização prévia. Com isso, os autores recomendam cautela ao avaliar e tratar esta rara lesão causadora de déficit neurológico, cujo planejamento cirúrgico deve ser criterioso a fim de evitar complicações catastróficas

Estudo clínico epidemiológico das fraturas da coluna vertebral

OBJETIVO: Realizar um levantamento epidemiológico das fraturas da coluna vertebral. MÉTODOS: Estudo de revisão de prontuário, retrospectivo analisando dados clínicos e epidemiológicos no período de 1991 a 2010. Foram avaliados dados como: idade, sexo, procedência, escala de Frankel admissional, mecanismo de trauma, tipo de fratura, tratamento e complicações, nos prontuários de 1.917 pacientes submetidos a tratamento de fraturas da coluna vertebral. O teste do qui-quadrado foi utilizado para comparação entre as variáveis discretas e o teste t Student foi utilizado no caso de variáveis contínuas, adotando níveis de significância de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era do gênero masculino (85,2%), média de idade de 34 anos, procedência urbana (69,2%), sendo o mecanismo de trauma a queda de altura (40,4%). Quando a causa for mergulho em águas rasas, está associada a lesões na região cervical, pacientes mais jovens e tende a produzir déficit neurológico. As fraturas isoladas aconteceram em 75,6% dos casos, afetando mais o nível L1 (11,4%), sendo que o tratamento cirúrgico foi indicado em 88,2%, sem complicações pós-operatórias na maioria dos casos (61,7%). CONCLUSÃO: Os autores sugerem mudanças principalmente na área habitacional, com campanhas educacionais preventivas e orientações para jovens que gostam de fazer atividades recreativas como mergulho em água rasa

STANDARDIZED TERMINOLOGY OF ADULT SPINE DEFORMITY FOR BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE

Objective : To develop a consensus for translation of the most relevant terms used in the study of Adult Spinal Deformity, from their original languages into Brazilian Portuguese. Methods : A panel of 12 experts in spine surgery from the five Brazilian regions was constituted. To obtain the standardization of terminology, the Delphi method with an electronic questionnaire was administered to participants about their opinion on the translation of 13 relevant terms chosen by literature review. Each term was considered standard when there was consensus, that is, concordance higher than 80% among participants as to the suggestion to be adopted, and then on the acceptance of the term and its abbreviation in Portuguese. Results : Initially there was consensus (over 80% concordance) on the translation of seven terms in the electronic questionnaire. The other six terms that have not reached consensus were discussed at a meeting among the participants, relying on the opinion of a specialized professional in simultaneous translation of orthopedic terms in Portuguese and other professional majored in Portuguese language. It was decided how these terms should be translated and there was a consensus among all participants regarding their acceptance. Finally, there was consensus among the participants, who agreed with the translation and abbreviation of the 13 propose terms, defining its standardization for Brazilian Portuguese. Conclusion : We present a standard terminology used in the study of Adult Spinal Deformity through consensus among experts, seeking uniformity in the use of these terms in Brazilian Portuguese

Poor Agreement between Responses to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Objective ActiGraph&reg; Data among Persons with Major Depressive or Bipolar Disorders

The purpose of this research was to investigate the degree of agreement between data from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire&mdash;Short Form (IPAQ) and accelerometer (ActiGraph&reg;) readings for physical activity (PA), classified as moderate, vigorous, and moderate&ndash;vigorous PA, and sedentary behavior (SB) in participants with major depressive or bipolar disorder. Following a cross-sectional observational design (n = 30), participants used an accelerometer for 4 to 7 days (minimum of 10 h per day) and answered the IPAQ (for the same period as accelerometer use). Our results suggest significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) when comparing the ActiGraph&reg; and IPAQ data: for moderate PA, 155 min vs. 25 min per week; for moderate&ndash;vigorous PA, 157 min vs. 50 min per week; and for SB, 8 h vs. 3 h per day. Spearman&rsquo;s correlation coefficients (ActiGraph&reg; and IPAQ) were low for moderate PA, vigorous PA, and moderate&ndash;vigorous PA (rho = 0.03 to 0.13). The Bland&ndash;Altman plot showed a bias of &minus;75 min for moderate PA, 9 min for vigorous PA, &minus;66 min for moderate&ndash;vigorous PA, and &minus;5 h for SB. Considering the differences observed and the objectivity of the ActiGraph&reg; measurements, whenever possible, we recommend ActiGraph&reg; measurements of PA and SB for these clinical groups

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SPINE FRACTURES IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT VICTIMS

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the incidence of spinal injuries between 2000-2010 due to motorcycle accidents and the relation to the increase in motorcycle sales in the same period, as well as the anatomical distribution of these spinal injuries. Methods: Data were collected from 1,295 records of patients who have suffered spinal injury resulting from motorcycle accidents admitted to the ward TRM (Spinal Cord Trauma) of the Hospital Geral do Estado da Bahia from 2000 to 2010 in this retrospective study. We selected 110 medical records and collected information on sex, age, neurological deficit on admission (according to Frankel scale), diagnosis, and level of injury. Results: Between 2000 and 2010 there was an increase of almost five times in the incidence of patients who have suffered spinal injury due to motorcycle accidents. More than half (51.4%) had cervical spine injury, 37.2% thoracic spine injury and 11.34% had lumbar spine injury. Only 34.3% of patients had no neurological deficit on admission and patients with thoracic spine fracture had a higher incidence and severity of lesion. The average age of patients was 30 years. Conclusions: The increased incidence of spinal injuries due motorcycle accidents occurred in the same period in which there was an increase in motorcycle sales in the country. Patients who have suffered those injuries were young, with higher incidence in the cervical and thoracic spinal levels and high rates of neurological deficit