INDÍOS: EM BUSCA DE CRITÉRIOS PARA DEFINIR A TITULARIDADE DOS DIREITOS FUNDAMENTAIS

Este trabajo académico se desarrolla dentro del alcance temático del derecho constitucional y tiene como objeto la construcción del concepto en torno a la palabra indios, asignado en el texto constitucional brasileño como un capítulo especial sobre la protección de los derechos de las comunidades originarias de Brasil. La propuesta de investigación busca, mediante una revisión bibliográfica, las nociones elementales que propone la literatura específica y que el alcance normativo establece como parámetros para definir la condición de indio y, por lo tanto, para conferir el título de los derechos constitucionales que integran el estado de la causa. indígena.Este trabalho acadêmico se desenvolve no âmbito temático do direito constitucional e tem por objeto a construção do conceito em torno do vocábulo índios, alocada no texto constitucional brasileiro como um capítulo especial de tutela de direitos das comunidades originárias do Brasil. A proposta investigativa busca, por meio de revisão bibliográfica, as noções elementares que a literatura específica propõe e que o âmbito normativo estabelece como parâmetros para definir a condição de índio e, por conseguinte, conferir a titularidade dos direitos constitucionais que integram o estatuto da causa indígena

Physiologic modulation of natural killer cell activity as an index of Alzheimer's disease progression

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are characterized by an altered sensitivity to cortisol-mediated modulation of circulating lymphocytes. Longitudinal studies are needed to address the clinical applicability of these abnormalities as prognostic factors. Therefore, we designed a longitudinal study to address the clinical applicability of physiologic modulation of Natural Killer (NK) cell activity as a prognostic factor in AD. NK activity was assessed as baseline measurement and in response to modulation by cortisol at 10-6M. To verify the immunophysiological integrity of the NK cell population, we tested augmentation of NK cytotoxicity by human recombinant interleukin (IL)-2 (100 IU/ml) as control. The response to modulation by cortisol or by IL-2 was significantly greater in patients with AD. Based on change in the Mini-Mental State score at entry and at 18 months, patients with AD could be assigned to a “fast progression” (Δ > 2 points) or to a “slow progression” group (Δ ≤ 2 points). The change in the response of NK cytotoxic activity to cortisol, and the strength of the association of this parameter with circulating activated T cells in time was greater in patients with Fast Progression vs. Slow Progression AD. These results suggest that changes in the response of NK cells to negative (e.g., cortisol) or positive modifiers (e.g., IL-2) follow progression of AD

Neuroendocrine immunity in patients with Alzheimer's disease: toward translational epigenetics

The emerging domain of epigenetics in molecular medicine finds application for a variety of patient populations. Here, we present fundamental neuroendocrine immune evidence obtained in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (sDAT), and discuss the implications of these data from the viewpoint of translational epigenetics of Alzheimer's disease. We followed 18 subjects with mild sDAT treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and 10 control subjects matched for age in a repeated measure design every six months for 18 months. We monitored psychosocial profile (Mini-Mental State Examination, Functional Assessment Staging, Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Depression, Profile of Moods States) in parallel to immunophenotypic parameters of T cell subpopulations by flow cytometry. Based on change in the mini-mental state score at entry and at 18 months, patients with sDAT were assigned to a “fast progression” (delta greater than 2 points) or to a “slow progression” group (delta less than or equal to 2 points). The change in circulating activated T cells (CD3+Dr+) with time in patients with sDAT was significantly inversely correlated with the change in time in natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity to cortisol modulation in these patients, which was greater in patients with fast progression, compared to slow progression sDAT. These data indicate underlying neuroendocrine immune processes during progression of sDAT. Our observations suggest that psychoimmune measures such as those we have monitored in this study provide relevant information about the evolving physiological modulation in patients with sDAT during progression of Alzheimer's disease, and point to new or improved translational epigenetic treatment interventions

(a) Pattern of progression of AD symptoms in terms of the score for the Mini-Mental State Examination-corrected for educational level and ethnicity at 0 to 18 months

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Physiologic modulation of natural killer cell activity as an index of Alzheimer's disease progression"</p><p></p><p>Bioinformation 2007;1(9):363-366.</p><p>Published online 21 Mar 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1891715.</p><p></p> The data in the figure (mean + SD) show that the score on the MMSE-C dropped significantly faster in patients with Fast Progression AD (