Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from children in São Paulo, Brazil

The biochemical and serological characteristics, virulence properties, and genetic relatedness of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated in São Paulo, from April 1989 through March 1990, were determined. This is also the first report on clinic findings of human STEC infections in Brazil. The only three STEC strains identified in that period were lysine decarboxylase negative, belonged to serotype O111ac: non-motile, were Stx1 producers, carried the eae and astA genes, and 2 of them also presented the EHEC-hly sequence. The children carrying STEC were all boys, with less than two years old, and had no previous history of hospitalization. None of them presented blood in stools. Vomiting, cough and coryza were the most common clinical manifestations observed. Although the STEC strains were isolated during summer months, and presented similar phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, carbohydrate fermentation patterns and PFGE analysis suggested that these diarrheal episodes were not caused by a single clone.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e ParasitologiaUSP Hospital das Clínicas Instituto da CriançaUniversidade Estadual do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade Federal Fluminense Departamento de Microbiologia e ParasitologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Microbiologia, Imunologia e ParasitologiaSciEL

Two Separate Effects Contribute to Regulatory T Cell Defect in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients and Their Unaffected Relatives

Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)+ regulatory T cells (Tregs ) are functionally deficient in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), characterized by reduced surface CD25 [the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor alpha chain]. Low-dose IL-2 therapy is a promising current approach to correct this defect. To elucidate the origins of the SLE Treg phenotype, we studied its role through developmentally defined regulatory T cell (Treg ) subsets in 45 SLE patients, 103 SLE-unaffected first-degree relatives and 61 unrelated healthy control subjects, and genetic association with the CD25-encoding IL2RA locus. We identified two separate, uncorrelated effects contributing to Treg CD25. (1) SLE patients and unaffected relatives remarkably shared CD25 reduction versus controls, particularly in the developmentally earliest CD4+ FoxP3+ CD45RO- CD31+ recent thymic emigrant Tregs . This first component effect influenced the proportions of circulating CD4+ FoxP3high CD45RO+ activated Tregs . (2) In contrast, patients and unaffected relatives differed sharply in their activated Treg CD25 state: while relatives as control subjects up-regulated CD25 strongly in these cells during differentiation from naive Tregs , SLE patients specifically failed to do so. This CD25 up-regulation depended upon IL2RA genetic variation and was related functionally to the proliferation of activated Tregs , but not to their circulating numbers. Both effects were found related to T cell IL-2 production. Our results point to (1) a heritable, intrathymic mechanism responsible for reduced CD25 on early Tregs and decreased activation capacity in an extended risk population, which can be compensated by (2) functionally independent CD25 up-regulation upon peripheral Treg activation that is selectively deficient in patients. We expect that Treg -directed therapies can be monitored more effectively when taking this distinction into account.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Self-reported diabetes in older people: comparison of prevalences and control measures

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of diabetes in older people and the adopted control measures. METHODS Data regarding older diabetic individuals who participated in the Health Surveys conducted in the Municipality of Sao Paulo, SP, ISA-Capital, in 2003 and 2008, which were cross-sectional studies, were analyzed. Prevalences and confidence intervals were compared between 2003 and 2008, according to sociodemographic variables. The combination of the databases was performed when the confidence intervals overlapped. The Chi-square (level of significance of 5%) and the Pearson’s Chi-square (Rao-Scott) tests were performed. The variables without overlap between the confidence intervals were not tested. RESULTS The age of the older adults was 60-69 years. The majority were women, Caucasian, with an income of between > 0.5 and 2.5 times the minimum salary and low levels of schooling. The prevalence of diabetes was 17.6% (95%CI 14.9;20.6) in 2003 and 20.1% (95%CI 17.3;23.1) in 2008, which indicates a growth over this period (p at the limit of significance). The most prevalent measure adopted by the older adults to control diabetes was hypoglycemic agents, followed by diet. Physical activity was not frequent, despite the significant differences observed between 2003 and 2008 results. The use of public health services to control diabetes was significantly higher in older individuals with lower income and lower levels of education. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes is a complex and challenging disease for patients and the health systems. Measures that encourage health promotion practices are necessary because they presented a smaller proportion than the use of hypoglycemic agents. Public health policies should be implemented, and aimed mainly at older individuals with low income and schooling levels. These changes are essential to improve the health condition of older diabetic patients

Desigualdades socioeconomicas e demograficas como fatores de risco para a artrite autorreferida: estudo de base populacional em adultos no Sul do Brasil

Abstract published in English and Portuguese English title: Socioeconomic and demographic inequalities as risk factors for self-reported arthritis: a population-based study in southern BrazilThe study aimed to estimate prevalence of self-reported arthritis or rheumatism and associated factors. This was a cross-sectional population-based study in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, with 1,720 adults ranging from 20 to 59 years of age. Presence of self-reported arthritis or rheumatism was analyzed with a hierarchical approach, considering demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables and use of health services. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between the outcome and independent variables. Prevalence of self-reported arthritis or rheumatism was 7.7% (95%CI: 6.4-8.9). The odds of self-reported arthritis were twice as high in women, and increased self-reported arthritis was directly associated with BMI > 30kg/m2 and increasing age and inversely proportional to schooling. Self-reported arthritis or rheumatism was higher in this sample than in Brazilian adults in general in 2008. The results suggest the need to plan public health policies to address this problem. = Estimar a prevalência de artrite ou reumatismo autorreferido e os fatores associados. Realizou-se um estudo transversal de base populacional em Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil, com 1.720 adultos entre 20 e 59 anos. A presença de artrite ou reumatismo autorreferido foi analisada por meio do modelo hierárquico de determinação no nível demográfico, socioeconômico, comportamental e uso de serviços de saúde. Utilizou-se análise de regressão logística para avaliar a associação entre as variáveis. A prevalência de artrite ou reumatismo autorreferido foi de 7,7% (IC95%: 6,4-8,9). A chance de artrite ou reumatismo autorreferido foi duas vezes maior entre as mulheres, maior entre aqueles com índice de massa corporal (IMC) > 30kg/m2,diretamente proporcional à idade e inversamente proporcional à escolaridade. A prevalência de artrite ou reumatismo autorreferido foi maior do que a estimativa nacional no ano de 2008. Essa realidade sugere a necessidade de um planejamento de políticas públicas voltado para esse agravo de saúde.Rafael Santos Gomes, Karen Glazer Pere