High Trypanosoma spp. diversity is maintained by bats and triatomines in Espírito Santo state, Brazil

The aim of this study was to reevaluate the ecology of an area in the Atlantic Forest, southeast Brazil, where Chagas disease (CD) has been found to occur. In a previous study, immediately after the occurrence of a CD case, we did not observe any sylvatic small mammals or dogs with Trypanosoma cruzi cruzi infections, but Triatoma vitticeps presented high T. c. cruzi infection rates. In this study, we investigated bats together with non-volant mammals, dogs, and triatomines to explore other possible T. c. cruzi reservoirs/hosts in the area. Seventy-three non-volant mammals and 186 bats were captured at three sites within the Guarapari municipality, Espírito Santo state. Rio da Prata and Amarelos sites exhibited greater richness in terms of non-volant mammals and bats species, respectively. The marsupial Metachirus nudicaudatus, the rodent Trinomys paratus, and the bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most frequently captured species. As determined by positive hemocultures, only two non-volant mammals were found to be infected by Trypanosoma species: Monodelphis americana, which was infected by T. cascavelli, T. dionisii and Trypanosoma sp., and Callithrix geoffroyi, which was infected by T. minasense. Bats presented T. c. cruzi TcI and TcIII/V, T. c. marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. rangeli B and D, and Trypanosoma sp. infections. Seven dogs were infected with T. cruzi based only on serological exams. The triatomines T. vitticeps and Panstrongylus geniculatus were found to be infected by trypanosomes via microscopy. According to molecular characterization, T. vitticeps specimens were infected with T. c. cruzi TcI, TcII, TcIII/V, and TcIV, T. c. marinkellei and T. dionisii. We observed high trypanosome diversity in a small and fragmented region of the Atlantic Forest. This diversity was primarily maintained by bats and T. vitticeps. Our findings show that the host specificity of the Trypanosoma genus should be thoroughly reviewed. In addition, our data show that CD cases can occur without an enzootic cycle near residential areas

Visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Maranhão, Brazil: evolution of an epidemic

The authors provide a brief report on the historical evolution of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Maranhão, Brazil, evaluating possible factors for growth of the disease in the State and control measures by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to integrate health services finto the maintenance of control programs.Os autores fazem um breve relato da evolução histórica da leishmaniose visceral no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil, avaliando as possíveis causas da expansão da referida doença no Estado, assim como as medidas de controle adotadas pelo Ministério da Saúde objetivando a diminuição da incidência da mesma.Universidade Federal do Maranhão Faculdade de Medicina Departamento de PatologiaEscola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions: immunophenotypic cellular characterization

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis and cancer are the main causes of pleural effusion. Pleural involvement is associated with migration of immune cells to the pleural cavity. We sought to characterize the immunophenotype of leukocytes in the pleural effusion and peripheral blood of patients with tuberculosis or malignancy. METHODS: Thirty patients with tuberculosis (14) or malignancy (16) were studied. A control group included 20 healthy blood donors. RESULTS: Malignant phycoerythrin pleural effusions showed higher percentages of CD3, CD4, CD3CD45RO, and CD20CD25 lymphocytes and lower percentages of CD3CD25 and CD20HLA-DR when compared to PB lymphocytes. Compared to PB, tuberculous effusions had a higher percentage of lymphocytes that co-expressed CD3, CD4, CD3CD45RO, CD3TCRαβ, CD3CD28, and CD20 and a lower percentage of CD14, CD8 and CD3TCRγδ-positive lymphocytes. Malignant effusions presented higher expression of CD14 whereas tuberculous effusions had higher expression of CD3 and CD3CD95L. Peripheral blood cells from tuberculosis patients showed higher expression of CD14, CD20CD25 and CD3CD95L. Compared with the control cells, tuberculosis and cancer peripheral blood cells presented a lower percentage of CD3CD4 and CD3CD28-positive cells as well as a higher percentage of CD3CD8, CD3CD25 and CD3CD80-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous and malignant peripheral blood is enriched with lymphocytes with a helper/inducer T cell phenotype, which are mainly of memory cells. CD14-positive cells were more frequently found in malignant effusions, while CD3-positive cells expressing Fas ligand were more frequently found in tuberculous effusions.(FAPESP) São Paulo Research FoundationCNPq National Council of Researc

Modified silicas covalently bounded to 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)porphyrinato iron(III): synthesis, spectroscopic and EPR characterization. Catalytic studies

In this work we have studied cyclooctene epoxidation with PhIO, using a new iron porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)porphyrinato iron(III), supported on silica matrices via eletrostatic interaction and / or covalent bonds as catalyst. These catalysts were obtained and immobilized on the solid supports propyltrimethylammonium silica (SiN+); propyltrimethylammonium and propylimidazole silica [SiN+(IPG)] and chloropropylsilica (CPS) via elestrostatic interactions and covalent binding. Characterization of the supported catalysts by UV-Vis spectroscopy and EPR (Electron paramagnetic resonance) indicated the presence of a mixture of FeII and FeIII species in all of the three obtained catalysts. In the case of (Z)-cyclooctene epoxidation by PhIO the yields observed for cis-epoxycyclooctane were satisfactory for the reactions catalyzed by the three materials (ranging from 68% to 85%). Such results indicate that immobilization of metalloporphyrins onto solid supports via groups localized on the ortho positions of their mesophenyl rings can lead to efficient catalysts for epoxidation reactions. The catalyst 1-CPS is less active than 1-SiN and 1-SiN(IPG), this argues in favour of the immobilization of this metalloporphyrin onto solids via electrostatic interactions, which is easier to achieve and results in more active oxidation catalysts. Interestingly, the activity of the supported catalysts remained the same even after three successive recyclings; therefore, they are stable under the oxidizing conditions.Neste trabalho estudamos a epoxidação do cicloocteno com PhIO utilizando uma nova porfirina 5,10,15,20-tetraquis(2-hidroxi-5-nitrofenil)porfirinato de ferro(III), suportada em matrizes de sílica via interação eletrostática e / ou ligações covalentes, como catalisador. Estes catalisadores foram obtidos e imobilizados em suporte sólido (sílica propiltrimetilamônio (SiN+); sílica propiltrimetilamônio e propilimidazol [SiN+(IPG)] e cloropropilsílica (CPS)) via interações eletrostáticas e ligações covalentes. A caracterização do catalisador suportado por UV-Vis e EPR (ressonância eletrônica paramagnética) indicou a presença de uma mistura de espécies de FeII e FeIII em todos os catalisadores obtidos. No caso da epoxidação do (Z)-cicloocteno por PhIO, os rendimentos observados para o cis-epoxiciclooctano foram satisfatórios para as reações catalisadas pelos três materiais (entre 65 e 85%). Estes resultados indicam que a imobilização de metaloporfirinas em suportes sólidos via grupos localizados na posição orto de seus anéis mesofenil pode promover a catálise eficiente das reações de epoxidação. O catalisador 1-CPS é menos ativo que 1-SiN e 1-SiN(IPG), o que está em acordo com a imobilização destas metaloporfirinas em suportes sólidos via interações eletrostáticas, o que é mais fácil de ocorrer e resulta em um catalisador mais ativo. A atividade do catalisador suportado permaneceu a inalterada, mesmo após três reciclos sucessivos, mostrando que eles são estáveis sob condições oxidantes

Fluorescence properties of a potential antitumoral benzothieno[3,2-b]pyrrole in solution and lipid membranes

Fluorescence properties of the antitumoral methyl 3-(benzo[b]thien-2-yl)-benzothieno[3,2-b]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (BTP) were studied in solution and in lipid bilayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (Egg-PC). BTP presents good fluorescence quantum yields in all solvents studied (0.20 ≤ ΦF ≤ 0.32) and a bathochromic shift in polar solvents. The results indicate an ICT character of the excited state, with an estimated dipole moment of μe = 7.38 D. Fluorescence (steady-state) anisotropy measurements of BTP incorporated in lipid membranes of DPPC, DOPE and Egg-PC indicate that this compound is deeply located in the lipid bilayer, feeling the difference between the rigid gel phase and fluid phases. BTP inhibits the growth of three human tumour cell lines, MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SF-268 (glioma) and NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), being significantly more potent against the NCI-H460 tumour cells.European Communitarian Fund (FEDER)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – projecto SeARCH (ref. REEQ/443/EEI/2005), bolsa SFRH/BPD/24548/2005, projecto PTDC/QUI/81238/200

ANESTRO pós-parto em ovelhas deslanadas.

Anestro; Fases em que ocorre o anestro; Principais fatores que influenciam a duração do anestro pós-parto; Efeitos da amamentação no retorno ao estro pós-parto; Efeitos da nutrição no retorno ao estro pós-parto; Práticas de manejo que contribuem para antecipar o estro pós-parto. Equipe Técnica: Tânia Maria Leal, Maria do Perpétuo Socorro Cortez Bona do Nascimento, Raimundo Bezerra de Araújo Neto, Raimundo Bezerra de Araújo Neto, Adriana Mello de Araújo.bitstream/item/52990/1/FDAnestro0001.pd

Optimized extraction of a lectin from Crataeva tapia bark using AOT in isooctane reversed micelles

Crataeva tapia bark lectin was extracted from a crude extract into a reversed micelle phase of the anionic surfactant AOT in isooctane and back-extracted, to a final aqueous phase by addition of butanol. The effects of pH, ionic strength and surfactant concentration on the protein transfer process from the aqueous to the organic phase were characterized, being the best results obtained after 5 min of contact, under agitation, between the two phases, at pH 5.5 (10 mM citrate-phosphate buffer), 30 mM NaCl, and 5 mM AOT. Recovery to a new aqueous phase was performed with 5 min of contact, under agitation, 10 mM citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 5.5, 500 mM KCl and 5% of butanol. The overall yield obtained for the process was 80% for lectin activity and 56% for protein recovery. The efficiency of the process was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis.ALFA/VALNATURA; CNPq

Transtorno disforico interictal: uma comorbidade psiquiatrica frequente entre pacientes com epilepsia acompanhados em dois servicos terciarios

Psychiatric disorders are frequent among patients with epilepsy. Data in the literature have shown a heterogeneous clinical presentation of psychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy. Interictal dysphoric disorder could be a specific psychiatric comorbidity associated with epilepsy, primarily in patients treated in tertiary centers.Objective The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of interictal dysphoric disorder among patients with epilepsy who were followed in two tertiary epilepsy services in Brazil. Method Sixty-five patients with epilepsy completed the Portuguese version of the Interictal Dysphoric Disorder Inventory. Results Thirty-three (50.7%) patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for interictal dysphoric disorder, although all participants answered positively to having at least one key symptom. Conclusion The high rate of patients with epilepsy who fulfilled the diagnosis of interictal dysphoric disorder confirms an association between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. However, there is clearly a need to improve diagnostic tools to allow better differentiation between interictal dysphoric disorder and other psychiatric disorders.Transtornos psiquiátricos são frequentes entre pacientes com epilepsia. Estudos evidenciam apresentações clínicas heterogêneas neste grupo. O transtorno disfórico interictal pode um transtorno específico destes pacientes, particularmente naqueles acompanhados em centros terciários.Objetivo Determinar a prevalência de transtorno disfórico interictal entre pacientes com epilepsia atendidos em dois serviços terciários de epilepsia do Brasil. Método Sessenta e cinco pacientes foram convidados a responder a versão brasileira do Interictal Dysphoric Disorder Inventory adaptado e validado para o Português. Resultados Trinta e três pacientes (50,7%) preencheram critérios para transtorno disfórico interictal, embora todos os entrevistados tenham afirmado que são acometidos por ao menos um dos sintomas-chave. Conclusão A alta prevalência de transtorno disfórico interictal em pacientes com epilepsia pode ser um indício da associação entre epilepsia e transtornos psiquiátricos. No entanto, é necessário melhorar a acurácia dos instrumentos de diagnóstico para poder diferenciar casos de transtorno disfórico interictal de outros transtornos psiquiátricos.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychiatryUNIFESP, Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUNIFESP, Department of PsychiatrySciEL

Synthesis of fluorescent heteroaromatic compounds using dehydroamino acids as building blocks, studies of DNA and biomembranes interactions : evaluation of antiproliferative effects on tumor cell lines

Thanks are due to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER to financial support through the research centres, the research project POCI/59407/2004 and pos-Doc grants attributed to A.S.Abreu (SFRH/BPD/24548/2005) and to L.V.-S. (SFRH/BPD/29112/2006)