Anti-Treponema pallidum IgA response as a potential diagnostic marker of syphilis

Objectives: Serological tests for syphilis detect mainly total Ig, IgM or IgG antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the specific IgA response in syphilis patients according to disease stage. Methods: A serum IgA-enzyme immunoassay was developed using commercially available microplates coated with recombinant treponemal antigens and an anti-IgA-conjugate. To define a cut-off, we used 91 syphilis positive and 136 negative sera previously defined by the rapid plasma reagin and the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination results. Then we determined the intra- and inter-assay precisions, diagnostic sensitivity according to the clinical stage (in 66, 55 and 42 sera from primary, secondary and latent syphilis patients, respectively) and specificity (in 211 sera from people with conditions different to syphilis). IgA values were further measured in 71 sera from patients with previously treated syphilis. Results: The newly developed IgA-enzyme immunoassay showed a good discrimination between negative and positive samples with intra- and inter-assay variation coefficients <20%. The sensitivity was 80.3% (95% CI, 70.0-90.6), 100.0% (95% CI, 99.1-100.0) and 95.2% (95% CI, 87.6-100.0) in primary, secondary and latent syphilis, respectively, and the specificity was 98.1% (95% CI, 96.0-100.0). Further, IgA values were negative in 61.3% (38/62) of patients with previously treated syphilis. Discussion: Our findings suggest serum IgA as a sensitive and specific marker of syphilis and its detection could be used as a screening assay for active infection. Further evaluation is needed in prospective longitudinal field studies

PCR altamente sensible para la detección de Leptospira spp. patógenas en tejidos embebidos en parafina

This study describes the development and application of a new PCR assay for the specific detection of pathogenic leptospires and its comparison with a previously reported PCR protocol. New primers were designed for PCR optimization and evaluation in artificially-infected paraffin-embedded tissues. PCR was then applied to post-mortem, paraffin-embedded samples, followed by amplicon sequencing. The PCR was more efficient than the reported protocol, allowing the amplification of expected DNA fragment from the artificially infected samples and from 44% of the post-mortem samples. The sequences of PCR amplicons from different patients showed >;99% homology with pathogenic leptospires DNA sequences. The applicability of a highly sensitive and specific tool to screen histological specimens for the detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. would facilitate a better assessment of the prevalence and epidemiology of leptospirosis, which constitutes a health problem in many countries.El presente estudio describe el desarrollo y aplicación de un nuevo ensayo de PCR para la detección específica de leptospiras patógenas y su comparación con un protocolo reportado previamente. Se diseñaron nuevos cebadores para la optimización y evaluación de la PCR en tejidos embebidos en parafina infectados artificialmente. La PCR se aplicó además a muestras de tejidos embebidos en parafina y se realizó la secuenciación del amplicón resultante. La PCR diseñada fue más eficiente que el protocolo reportado, permitiendo la amplificación del fragmento de ADN esperado en las muestras infectadas artificialmente y del 44% de las muestras post mortem. Se secuenciaron 10 amplicones provenientes de pacientes diferentes. La aplicabilidad de una herramienta altamente sensible y específica en la búsqueda de leptospiras patógenas en especímenes histopatológicos podría facilitar una mejor valoración de la prevalencia y la epidemiología de la leptospirosis, la que constituye un problema de salud en disímiles países

Caracterização da autoestima e higiene bucal em idosos, Santiago de Cuba 2017

Introduction: in the Periodontics department of the "Mártires del Moncada" Teaching Provincial Stomatology Clinic in Santiago de Cuba, the level of self-esteem and oral hygiene of the elderly has not been characterized.Objective: to characterize the levels of self-esteem and oral hygiene in the elderly, during the period July to December 2017.Method: a descriptive-cross-sectional study was carried out in the 32 older adults who attended the Periodontics Department of the Teaching Provincial Stomatological Clinic from Santiago de Cuba, which met the inclusion criteria: over 60 and older, of both genders, who gave their consent to participate in the research. The variables were studied: age, sex, education, level of self-esteem and oral hygiene.Results: the 65-69 year old group (37.5%), the female sex (62.5%), the pre-university school level (37.5%), the average self-esteem level (56.2%) and poor oral hygiene (53.1%).Conclusions: the level of average self-esteem is one of the psychological elements closely linked to poor oral hygiene in the older adults studied, so special attention is required in the comprehensive assessment of these patients, given its possible influence with the state of health oral.Introducción: en el departamento de Periodoncia de la Clínica Estomatológica Provincial Docente "Mártires del Moncada" de Santiago de Cuba, no se ha caracterizado el nivel de autoestima e higiene bucal de los adultos mayores.Objetivo: caracterizar los niveles de autoestima e higiene bucal en los adultos mayores, durante el periodo julio a diciembre del 2017.Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo-transversal en los 32 adultos mayores que acudieron al departamento de Periodoncia de la Clínica Estomatológica Provincial Docente de Santiago de Cuba, que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión: mayores de 60 y más años, de ambos géneros, que dieron su consentimiento para participar en la investigación. Se estudiaron las variables: edad, sexo, escolaridad, nivel de autoestima e higiene bucal. Resultados: predominó el grupo de 65-69 años (37,5 %), el sexo femenino (62,5 %), el nivel escolar pre-universitario (37,5 %), el nivel de autoestima medio (56,2 %) y la higiene bucal deficiente (53,1 %).Conclusiones: el nivel de autoestima medio es uno de los elementos psicológicos estrechamente vinculado con la higiene bucal deficiente en los adultos mayores estudiados, por lo que se requiere especial atención en la valoración integral de estos pacientes, dada su posible influencia con el estado de salud bucal.Introdução: no departamento de Periodontia da Clínica Provincial de Estomatologia Mártires del Moncada, em Santiago de Cuba, o nível de auto-estima e higiene bucal dos idosos não foi caracterizado.Objetivo: caracterizar os níveis de autoestima e higiene bucal em idosos, no período de julho a dezembro de 2017.Método: foi realizado um estudo descritivo-transversal dos 32 idosos atendidos no Departamento de Periodontia da Clínica de Estomatologia Provincial de Ensino de Santiago de Cuba, que atendiam aos critérios de inclusão: maiores de 60 anos, de ambos os sexos, que consentiram em participar da pesquisa. As variáveis estudadas foram: idade, sexo, escolaridade, nível de autoestima e higiene bucal.Resultados: grupo de 65 a 69 anos (37,5%), sexo feminino (62,5%), nível de ensino pré-universitário (37,5%), nível médio de auto-estima (56,2%) e falta de higiene bucal (53,1%).Conclusões: o nível médio de autoestima é um dos elementos psicológicos intimamente ligados à falta de higiene bucal nos idosos estudados, sendo necessária atenção especial na avaliação abrangente desses pacientes, dada a sua possível influência no estado de saúde bucal