BRAZILIAN ARCHIVES OF BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY A N I N T E R N A T I O N A L J O U R N A L Detection of Lsr2 Gene of Mycobacterium leprae in Nasal Mucus

ABSTRACT In the present study, nasal mucus from patients with leprosy were analyzed by PCR using specific primers for Lsr2 gene of Mycobacterium leprae

Clinical profile of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis treated at theUniversity Hospital of Londrina, Paraná

The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical profileof patients positive for tuberculosis through an epidemiological study, descriptive and retrospective, based on secondary data contained in medical records of patients that attended the Hospital Universitário de Londrina comprising from January 2010 to December 2014. From the medical records available for analysis at the moment of study 86 cases were positive for tuberculosis, being the majority male (65/76%) with age group comprised between 2 to 91 years. The main symptoms presented were cough (50/58%), fever (45/52%) and weight loss (34/40%). Regarding the clinical form, 58/67% of the patients presented the pulmonary form, and 28/33% the non-pulmonary form. Positive cases for tuberculosis in association with HIV/AIDS corresponded to 32/37%. Harmful habits were also reported in patients in which 30/34% were smokers, 20/23% drug users and 14/16% were alcoholics. Against scarcity of published data referring to tuberculosis in our region and its relevance to public health, our study contributes to the epidemiological aspects mainly in relation to the high number of cases of coinfection with Human ImmunodeficiencyVirus and patients with evolution to death, assisting the development and implementation of campaigns or projects aimed at early diagnosis and treatment

Dementia in Latin America : paving the way towards a regional action plan

Regional challenges faced by Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) to fight dementia, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instabilities, and socioeconomic disparities, can be addressed more effectively grounded in a collaborative setting based on the open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence-based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into actions with transformative power. Then, by characterizing genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions and mapping these to the above challenges, we provide the basic mosaics of knowledge that will pave the way towards a KtAF. We describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF

Detection of Lsr2 gene of Mycobacterium leprae in nasal mucus

In the present study, nasal mucus from patients with leprosy were analyzed by PCR using specific primers for Lsr2 gene of Mycobacterium leprae. The presence of Lsr2 gene in the nasal mucus was detected in 25.80% of patients with paucibacillari leprosy, and 23.07% of contacts. Despite the absence of clinical features in the contact individuals, it was possible to detect the presence of Lsr2 gene in the nasal mucus of these individuals. Therefore, PCR detection of M. leprae targeting Lsr2 gene using nasal mucus samples could contribute to early diagnosis of leprosy

Postnatal growth and cardiometabolic profile in young adults born large for gestational age

Context the association between large for gestational age (LGA) phenotype, postnatal growth and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in adult life remains unclear. the role of IGF1 genotype on LGA-related outcomes in adult life is unknown.Aim To assess the postnatal growth, IGF-I levels, CMR and the influence of the 737.738 IGF1 in adults born LGA.Subjects Case-control study (n = 515) nested in a population-based prospective cohort (n = 2063); 117 LGA and 398 gender-matched controls appropriate for gestational age (AGA) subjects.Methods Anthropometry was evaluated at birth, at 9-10 and at 23-25 years old. At the age of 23-25 years, blood pressure (BP), glycaemia, insulinaemia, homeostasis model assessment - insulin resistance, lipids, fibrinogen, and plasma IGF-I and 737.738 IGF1 polymorphism were assessed.Results Large for gestational age subjects remained heavier and taller than AGA at 9-10 and 23-25 years (P < 0.05); at 23-25 years, LGA had greater waist circumference (WC; P < 0.05) and higher BP (P < 0.05) than controls. Body proportionality at birth did not predict metabolic outcome. LGA subjects presenting catch-down of weight in childhood had lower body mass index (BMI; P = 0.001), lower WC (P < 0.05) and lower BP (P < 0.05) at 2325 years. 737.738 IGF-I genotype differed between groups (P < 0.001). Homozygosis for polymorphic alleles was associated with increased odds of LGA (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5-6.9), higher IGF-I (56.9 +/- 16.4 vs 37.7 +/- 16.0 nm; P < 0.01) and lower BP (114/68 vs 121/73 mmHg; P < 0.05).Conclusions Young adults born LGA presented higher BMI, WC and BP and appear to be at higher CMR risk than AGA subjects. the 737.738 IGF1 polymorphism appears to play a role on birth size and LGA-related metabolic outcomes.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ São Paulo, Sch Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Pediat, BR-14091900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Internal Med, BR-14091900 São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 06/50570-4FAPESP: 07/58105-1Web of Scienc

Dementia in Latin America: Paving the way toward a regional action plan.

Across Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs), the fight against dementia faces pressing challenges, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instability, and socioeconomic disparities. These can be addressed more effectively in a collaborative setting that fosters open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence-based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking, and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into transformative actions. Then we characterize key sources of complexity (genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions), map them to the above challenges, and provide the basic mosaics of knowledge toward a KtAF. Finally, we describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF