9 research outputs found
Water-contact patterns and risk factors for Schistosoma mansoni infection in a rural village of Northeast Brazil
Comparative evaluation of esophageal Barrett's epithelium through esophageal capsule endoscopy and methylene blue chromoendoscop
Background: Patients presenting with Barrett's esophagus (BE) should be under life-long surveillance in an attempt to detect cancer in its early stages. Esophageal capsule endoscopy (ECE) is a new technique that enables a noninvasive evaluation of the esophagus.
Aims: To evaluate ECE effectiveness compared with methylene blue (MB) chromoendoscopy for the detection of esophageal lesions in which there was suspicion of cancer, the length and pattern of BE, and the presence of hiatal hernia.
Material and methods: Twenty-one patients with BE who underwent Nissen fundoplication and had a follow-up period of more than five years were prospectively enrolled in the study. The patients underwent ECE and chromoendoscopy with MB performed by different physicians who were blinded to each of the procedures.
Results: ECE sensitivity, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 100%, 100%, and 79%, respectively, for the detection of esophageal lesions suspected of cancer. ECE accuracy in assessing BE length was 89% and in the evaluation of finger-like projections, circumferential BE, and mixed BE was 74%, 79%, and 74%, respectively.
In relation to hiatal hernia detection, ECE sensitivity was 43% and its accuracy was 74%.
Conclusions: ECE appears to be a good method for detecting lesions in which there is suspicion of esophageal cancer and it had modest results in regard to the accurate identification of BE length and pattern. ECE is not a good method for detecting hiatal hernia. Further studies are needed in order to define the definitive role of ECE in BE monitoring
Light microscope observation of circulating human lymphocytes cultured in vitro
The purpose of this work was to study the isolation and a light microscopy technique for cultured lymphocytes. Blood samples were obtained by venipuncture with an anticoagulant added and centrifuged in a Percoll density gradient to separate the leukocytes. Lymphocytes were placed in 25 cm ³ tissue culture flasks at 37ºC. After culturing, they were fixed and stained with the methods used for blood smears. Results showed that not all fixing solutions and stains were an equally good choice for cultured lymphocytes.<br>Os linfócitos são células importantes do sistema imune e têm sido largamente utilizados em estudos morfológicos. Entretanto, a literatura sobre técnicas de preparação dessas células é escassa e antiga, especialmente para linfócitos cultivados in vitro. Portanto, o objetivo desse estudo foi relatar com detalhes as técnicas de isolamento e microscopia de luz de linfócitos mantidos em cultura. Amostras de sangue foram obtidas por punção venosa e centrifugadas em gradiente de densidade de Percoll, para separar os leucócitos. Os linfócitos foram mantidos em frascos de cultura de 25 cm³ a 37ºC. Após a cultura, as células foram fixadas e coradas de acordo com a metodologia utilizada para esfregaços sanguÃneos. Nossos resultados mostraram que nem todos os fixadores e corantes utilizados para esfregaços sanguÃneos são uma boa escolha para linfócitos cultivados in vitro
Imunidade relativa à poliomielite em crianças de zero a dez anos, após o "Quarto Dia Nacional de Vacinação Contra a Poliomielite" com a vacinação oral trivalente, tipo Sabin, em área da Região da Grande São Paulo, SP (Brasil), 1982 Relative immunity to poliomyelitis in children up to ten years of age, after the "4th National Antipoliomyelitis Vaccination Day" with trivalent oral Sabin vaccine, in Greater S. Paulo (Brazil), 1982
Efetuou-se um levantamento soro-epidemiológico, abrangendo 898 crianças, para a verificação da imunidade aos poliovÃrus 1, 2 e 3 por meio da determinação dos tÃtulos de anticorpos neutralizantes. De 522 crianças, ou seja, de 58,1% da população estudada, foi possÃvel a obtenção de informações referentes à situação vacinal a partir de anotações existentes nas próprias Cadernetas de Vacinação. Neste último sub-grupo foi estudado o estado imunitário em relação ao número de doses de vacina oral tipo Sabin recebidas. Os resultados mostraram alta proporção de imunes para os três tipos de poliovÃrus entre as crianças estudadas, porém também revelaram a existência de lacuna imunitária nos menores de um ano, especialmente no primeiro semestre de vida. Não foram observadas diferenças importantes na proporção de imunes segundo o sorotipo considerado. Salientou-se a necessidade de um alerta constante e permanente em relação à ocorrência de possÃveis surtos epidêmicos em segmentos mais vulneráveis da população, particularmente entre crianças menores de 1 ano.<br>An epidemiological analysis was carried out on 898 children, in order to study the immune response to polioviruses 1, 2 and 3 by means of the measurement of neutralising antibodies. Information was obtained from 522 (58.1%) of the children with regard to their vaccinal position by examination of the observations recorded on the individual vaccination certificates. In this subgroup the immune status in relation to number of Sabin type oral vaccine doses was analysed. The analysis demonstrated a high proportion of protected children for three types of polivirus, but also an immune response failure among the children of less than one year old, mainly during the first semester after birth. There were no relevant differences in relation to the proportion of protected individuals according to the considered serotype. The need for persistent and continuous vigilance in view of the possible occurence of epidemic outbreaks in high risk segments of the population, principally among children under one year of age was emphasized
Rat hepatocyte invasion by Listeria monocytogenes and analysis of TNF-alpha role in apoptosis Invasão de hepatócitos de rato por Listeria monocytogenes e análise do papel do TNF-alfa na apoptose
Listeria monocytogenes, etiological agent of severe human foodborne infection, uses sophisticated mechanisms of entry into host cytoplasm and manipulation of the cellular cytoskeleton, resulting in cell death. The host cells and bacteria interaction may result in cytokine production as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) alpha. Hepatocytes have potential to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines as TNF-alpha when invaded by bacteria. In the present work we showed the behavior of hepatocytes invaded by L. monocytogenes by microscopic analysis, determination of TNF-alpha production by bioassay and analysis of the apoptosis through TUNEL technique. The presence of bacterium, in ratios that ranged from 5 to 50,000 bacteria per cell, induced the rupture of cellular monolayers. We observed the presence of internalized bacteria in the first hour of incubation by electronic microscopy. The levels of TNF-alpha increased from first hour of incubation to sixth hour, ranging from 0 to 3749 pg/mL. After seven and eight hours of incubation non-significant TNF-alpha levels decrease occurred, indicating possible saturation of cellular receptors. Thus, the quantity of TNF-alpha produced by hepatocytes was dependent of the incubation time, as well as of the proportion between bacteria and cells. The apoptosis rate increased in direct form with the incubation time (1 h to 8 + 24 h), ranging from 0 to 43%, as well as with the bacteria : cells ratio. These results show the ability of hepatocyte invasion by non-hemolytic L. monocytogenes, and the main consequences of this phenomenon were the release of TNF-alpha by hepatocytes and the induction of apoptosis. We speculate that hepatocytes use apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha for release bacteria to extracellular medium. This phenomenon may facilitate the bacteria destruction by the immune system.<br>Listeria monocytogenes, agente etiológico de infecção grave de origem alimentar, utiliza mecanismos sofisticados de entrada no citoplasma do hospedeiro e manipulação do citoesqueleto, resultando em morte celular. As interações entre células do hospedeiro e bactérias podem resultar em produção de citocinas como o Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa (TNF-alfa). Hepatócitos têm potencial de produzir citocinas pro-inflamatórias como TNF-alfa, quando invadidos por bactérias. No presente trabalho demonstramos o comportamento dos hepatócitos invadidos por L. monocytogenes pela análise microscópica, determinação da produção de TNF-alfa por bioensaio e análise da apoptose pela técnica TUNEL. A presença da bactéria, na razão que variou de 5 a 50.000 bactérias por célula, induziu ruptura das monocamadas celulares. Observamos presença de bactérias internalizadas na 1ª hora de incubação por microscopia eletrônica. Os nÃveis de TNF-alfa aumentaram da 1ª hora de incubação até a 6ª hora, variando de 0 a 3749 pg/mL. Nas 7ª e 8ª horas de incubação, ocorreram quedas não significativas dos nÃveis de TNF-alfa, indicando possÃvel saturação dos receptores celulares. A quantidade de TNF-alfa produzido por hepatócitos foi dependente do tempo de incubação, assim como da proporção entre bactérias e células. A taxa de apoptose aumentou diretamente com o tempo de incubação (1 h a 8 + 24 h), variando de 0 a 43%, assim como com a razão bactérias : células. Estes resultados mostram a habilidade de L. monocytogenes não-hemolÃtica em invadir os hepatócitos, e as principais conseqüências deste fenômeno são: liberação de TNF-alfa e indução de apoptose. Assim, podemos especular que hepatócitos usam apoptose induzida por TNF-alfa para liberar bactérias de seu interior, facilitando a destruição destas pelo sistema imune
Migration and urban schistosomiasis. The case of São Lourenço da Mata, Northeast of Brazil Migração e esquistossomose urbana. O caso de São Lourenço da Mata, Nordeste do Brasil
A population-based case-control design was used to investigate the association between migration, urbanisation and schistosomiasis in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Northeast of Brazil. 1022 cases and 994 controls, aged 10 to 25, were selected. The natives and the migrants who come from endemic areas have a similar risk of infection. On the other hand, the risk of infection of migrants from nonendemic areas seems to be related with the time elapsed since their arrival in São Lourenço da Mata; those who have been living in that urban area for 5 or more years have a risk of infection similar to that of the natives. Those arriving in the metropolitan region of Recife mostly emigrate from "zona da mata" and "zona do agreste" in the state of Pernambuco. Due to the changes in the sugar agro-industry and to the increase in the area used for cattle grazing these workers were driven to villages and cities. The pattern of urbanisation created the conditions for the establishment of foci of transmission in São Lourenço da Mata.<br>Um estudo de caso-controle de base populacional foi desenvolvido para estudar a associação entre migração, urbanização e esquistossomose na Região Metropolitana do Recife, Nordeste do Brasil. Foram selecionados 1022 casos e 994 controles no grupo etário de 10 a 25 anos. Observou-se que os nativos e os migrantes que são provenientes de áreas endêmicas tem um risco semelhante de infecção. Por outro lado, o risco de infecção em migrantes não originários de áreas endêmicas parece estar relacionado com o tempo decorrido desde sua chegada em São Lourenço da Mata; aqueles que estão morando nessa área urbana por um perÃodo igual ou superior a cinco anos tem um risco de infeção semelhante ao dos nativos. As mudanças na indústria agro-açucareira na Zona da Mata e a expansão das áreas de criação de gado no Agreste impeliram os trabalhadores rurais a se deslocar para vilarejos e cidades. O padrão de urbanização que ocorreu em São Loureço da Mata criou as condições propÃcias para que se estabelecessem focos de transmissão
CMS Physics Technical Design Report: Addendum on High Density QCD with Heavy Ions
This report presents the capabilities of the CMS experiment to explore the rich heavy-ion physics programme offered by the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The collisions of lead nuclei at energies , will probe quark and gluon matter at unprecedented values of energy density. The prime goal of this research is to study the fundamental theory of the strong interaction \u2014 Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) \u2014 in extreme conditions of temperature, density and parton momentum fraction (low- x ). This report covers in detail the potential of CMS to carry out a series of representative Pb-Pb measurements. These include "bulk" observables, (charged hadron multiplicity, low p T inclusive hadron identified spectra and elliptic flow) which provide information on the collective properties of the system, as well as perturbative probes such as quarkonia, heavy-quarks, jets and high p T hadrons which yield "tomographic" information of the hottest and densest phases of the reaction