Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants: a review

The autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) includes several autoimmune conditions and phenomena that occur after exposure to substances with adjuvant activity. The spectrum of the disease is heterogeneous with respect to the clinical presentation as well as the severity of the clinical manifestations. Different substances and medical devices with adjuvant activity are currently known, such as vaccines, oils, silicones, mineral salts, lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycans, among others. These adjuvants are immunological molecules that function through potentiation of antigen-specific immune responses. Thus, the etiopathogenesis of ASIA syndrome involves a multifactorial interaction between environmental factors and genetic predisposition, and secondary activation of the adaptive and innate arms of the immune system through various mechanisms. Although in some reported cases the ASIA syndrome improves considerably when removing the implants, there are no conclusive results for the clinical benefit of removing the implants, so it is necessary to carry out further basic, clinical and surgical investigations in order to determine the best therapeutic decision

Immobilization of coagulant Moringa oleifera lectin to remove humic acid from water

Humic acids are linked to carcinogenic by-products formation in water treatment. In this work coagulant Moringa oleifera lectin (cMoL) immobilized to matrices was used to remove humic acid from water. Seed proteins were extracted with 0.15 M NaCl (E) and precipitated with ammonium sulphate (0-60F). Fraction was guar gel column chromatographed and cMoL was eluted (1.0 M NaCl). E, 0-60F and cMoL affinity to bind humic acid was characterized using hemagglutinating activity (HA) with rabbit erythrocytes. Inhibition HA was evaluated with humic acid, humic acid and calcium or magnesium (5 and 10 mM), carbohydrates and halogenated compounds. cMoL immobilized in silica, clay, cellulose, agarose and sepharose was packed into columns. Humic acid (29 mg/L of carbon) was pumped through columns at 0.2 mL/min. Total organic carbon (TOC) was measured (600 nm) using the Method 10129 from Hach Lange GmbH (0.0 to 20.0 mg/L of carbon). HA was detected in E, 0-60F and cMoL. With humic acid SHA decreased 94 % for E and cMoL; diminished 50 % for 0-60F. K+ enhanced interaction of cMoL with humic acid in comparison to Ca2+, since a larger decrease of SHA was obtained, 97 % and 75 %, respectively. D(+)-Galactose and L(+)-arabinose inhibited cMoL SHA by 87.5 %. Trichloroacetic acid, dicholoroacetic acid and chloroform had no activity effect. The highest amount of cMoL was immobilized on cyanogen bromideactivated Sepharose 4B, 2.4 g/mg, followed by cyanogen bromide-activated Agarose, 0.2 g/mg. A considerable humic acid removal was obtained in the new purification protocol.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Persistent toxic substances in the Brazilian Amazon: contamination of man and the environment

The organochlorine insecticide DDT was extensively used in Brazil since 1945, both for agricultural purposes and for vector control measures. In 1986 its uses were forbidden in agriculture and in 1997 it was also phased-out in vector controls programs. However, the presence of DDT in urban and forested soils, breast milk and aquatic biota is still common, especially at the Amazon region. The results gathered since the middle of the 90s indicate that environmental contamination with this pesticide is still relatively high. Due to the high fish consumption by traditional riverside populations, human breast milk may represent an important source of DDT exposure to newborns. New results on DDT and PCBs in red dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), an endemic aquatic mammal of the Amazon region, is also reported