MODELING the INTERACTION BETWEEN AIDS and TUBERCULOSIS

A deterministic model is proposed for the study of the dynamics of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection. the model is comprised by a set of sixteen ordinary differential equations representing different states of both diseases, and it is intended to provide a theoretical framework for the study of the interaction between both infections. Numerical simulations of the model resulted in three striking outcomes: first, the pathogenicity of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is enhanced by the presence of TB, and vice-versa; second, the prevalence of AIDS is higher in the presence of TB; and third, relative risk analysis demonstrated a much stronger influence of AIDS on TB than the other way around.ESCOLA PAULISTA MED,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILUNIV São Paulo,INST PHYS,São Paulo,BRAZILHCFMUSP,BR-01246 São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

CYP2C19 and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms are differently distributed according to ethnicity in the Brazilian general population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies have reported the clinical importance of <it>CYP2C19 </it>and <it>ABCB1 </it>polymorphisms in an individualized approach to clopidogrel treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequencies of <it>CYP2C19 </it>and <it>ABCB1 </it>polymorphisms and to identify the clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes according to ethnic groups in a sample of individuals representative of a highly admixtured population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and eighty-three Amerindians and 1,029 subjects of the general population of 4 regions of the country were included. Genotypes for the <it>ABCB1</it>c.C3435T (rs1045642), <it>CYP2C19*2 </it>(rs4244285), <it>CYP2C19*3 </it>(rs4986893), <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>(rs28399504), <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>(rs56337013), and <it>CYP2C19*17 </it>(rs12248560) polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by high resolution melting analysis. The <it>CYP2C19*3</it>, <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>variants were genotyped in a subsample of subjects (300 samples randomly selected).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>CYP2C19*3 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>variant alleles were not detected and the <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>variant allele presented a frequency of 0.3%. The allelic frequencies for the <it>ABCB1</it>c.C3435T, <it>CYP2C19*2 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*17 </it>polymorphisms were differently distributed according to ethnicity: Amerindian (51.4%, 10.4%, 15.8%); Caucasian descent (43.2%, 16.9%, 18.0%); Mulatto (35.9%, 16.5%, 21.3%); and African descent (32.8%, 20.2%, 26.3%) individuals, respectively. As a result, self-referred ethnicity was able to predict significantly different clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes prevalence even for a highly admixtured population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate the existence of inter-ethnic differences in the <it>ABCB1 </it>and <it>CYP2C19 </it>variant allele frequencies in the Brazilian general population plus Amerindians. This information could help in stratifying individuals from this population regarding clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes and design more cost-effective programs towards individualization of clopidogrel therapy.</p

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with visceral adiposity, high levels of low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides in alternating shift workers.

Background: Studies suggest that there is a strong association between low vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors (RFs). Hypovitaminosis D (25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL or 75 nmol/L) is a recent public health problem that has reached different populations. The objective of the study was to investigate whether hypovitaminosis D is an additional mechanism to explain the disturbances in the lipid profile as well as the excess of abdominal fat presented by alternating shift workers of a mining company in the region of Inconfidentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 391 adult males, aged 20 - 57 years old and working alternating shifts, who had at least one risk criterion for CVD. Demographic, behavioral, clinical, and anthropometric and body composition variables were obtained. A blood sample was drawn for determining 25(OH) D, parathyroid hormone intact molecule, lipid profile, blood glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, and adipokines. Results: The average age of the 391 study participants was 36.1 ? 7.3 years. The percentage of hypovitaminosis D and dyslipidemia was 73% and 74.2%, respectively. Excess visceral fat was significant in the hypovitaminosis D group, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1 - 5.2). Dyslipidemia showed 25(OH)D levels significantly lower (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.6 - 4.3) than in individuals with normal levels of cholesterol and fractions, and triglycerides. After adjusted the analysis by age and seasonality, the vitamin levels had a significant inverse association and dose-dependent with lowdensity lipoprotein (OR: 5.9), triglycerides (OR: 2.3) and visceral fat area (OR: 2.4). Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D and dyslipidemia were found in the majority of our mining company shift workers. Furthermore, excess visceral adiposity, hypertriglyceridemia and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are strong predictors of hypovitaminosis D

SLCO1B1 rs4149056 polymorphism associated with statin-induced myopathy is differently distributed according to ethnicity in the Brazilian general population: Amerindians as a high risk ethnic group

Background\ud Recent studies reported the association between SLCO1B1 polymorphisms and the development of statin-induced myopathy. In the scenario of the Brazilian population, being one of the most heterogeneous in the world, the main aim here was to evaluate SLCO1B1 polymorphisms according to ethnic groups as an initial step for future pharmacogenetic studies.\ud \ud Methods\ud One hundred and eighty-two Amerindians plus 1,032 subjects from the general urban population were included. Genotypes for the SLCO1B1 rs4149056 (c.T521C, p.V174A, exon 5) and SLCO1B1 rs4363657 (g.T89595C, intron 11) polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by high resolution melting analysis with the Rotor Gene 6000® instrument.\ud \ud Results\ud The frequencies of the SLCO1B1 rs4149056 and rs4363657 C variant allele were higher in Amerindians (28.3% and 26.1%) and were lower in African descent subjects (5.7% and 10.8%) compared with Mulatto (14.9% and 18.2%) and Caucasian descent (14.8% and 15.4%) ethnic groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Linkage disequilibrium analysis show that these variant alleles are in different linkage disequilibrium patterns depending on the ethnic origin.\ud \ud Conclusion\ud Our findings indicate interethnic differences for the SLCO1B1 rs4149056 C risk allele frequency among Brazilians. These data will be useful in the development of effective programs for stratifying individuals regarding adherence, efficacy and choice of statin-type.PCJLS is recipient from fellowship from FAPESP, Proc. 2010-17465-8, Brazil. The technical assistance of the Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology group, Heart Institute group is gratefully acknowledged

Ability of body mass index to predict abnormal waist circumference : receiving operating characteristics analysis.

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are the most used anthropometric measures to identify obesity. While BMI is considered to be a simple and accurate estimate of general adiposity, WC is an alternative surrogate measure of visceral obesity. However, WC is subject to significant inter-examiner variation. The aim of the present study was to correlate BMI and WC measures in a group of Brazilian adults to determine the most accurate BMI values for predicting abnormal WC

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO MODELO INFLAMATÓRIO DE CISTITE INDUZIDA POR CICLOFOSFAMIDA EM CAMUNDONGOS SWISS

A Cistite Hemorrágica é um problema de saúde importante no mundo causado pelo uso da oxazoforinas. Apesar dos tratamentos disponíveis, há uma incidência de 2 até 40% em pacientes tratados com Ciclofosfamida (CYP). O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar um modelo experimental de cistite induzida por CYP em camundongos Swiss. Para isto, camundongos fêmeas foram distribuídos em 5 grupos com 7 animais, onde 4 grupos sofreram eutanásia após 0,5, 6, 12 e 24h da aplicação de 150mg/kg de CYP via intraperitoneal. O grupo controle recebeu salina tamponada pela mesma via. Foram avaliados o peso da bexiga e seu aspecto histopatológico, o hemograma, e a contagem celular de medula óssea e linfonodo ilíaco. Os resultados demonstraram que houve aumento significativo do peso da bexiga nos tempos de 6 e 12h. Houve aumento na infamação aguda nestes dois tempos. Após 24 horas houve diminuição da resposta inflamatória aguda e início da fibrose. O número de leucócitos foi menor em todos os tempos em relação ao controle. Da mesma forma, o número de células da medula óssea foi menor nos tempos de 6, 12 e 24h. Por outro lado, o número de células do linfonodo aumentou após 12 horas. Concluímos que houve aumento progressivo da inflamação até as 12h  e que após 24h já há um processo de resolução do quadro inflamatório. Sendo assim, sugerimos a utilização do tempo de 12h como padrão experimental por ser o de maior disponibilidade de parâmetros elevados para avaliação da inflamação.Descritores: Cistite. Ciclofosfamida. Camundongo. Modelo experimental.AbstractCharacterization of cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis inflammatory model in Swiss mice. The Hemorragic Cystitis (HC) is an important health problem over the world caused by oxazoforines. Despite the available treatments, still have an incidence of 2 to 40% of HC in patients following treatment with Cyclophosphamide (CYP). The aim of this work was characterize a model of CYP-induced cystitis  in Swiss mice. Female mice were divided  in 5 groups with 7 animals each, 4 groups were killed 0.5, 6, 12 and 24h after an injection of CYP (150mg/kg). The control group received phosphate buffered saline at the same way. In each time the bladders were collected, weighted and prepared to histopathology analyses. The complete blood count was evaluated. The cell number from lymph nodes and bone marrow was quantified. The results showed that bladder weight was increased at 6thand 12th hour pos cystitis induction. There was acute inflammation increased after 6 and 12h. After 24h there was an initial fibrosis. The leucocytes count was decreased in all times. The cells number was decreased at 6th,12th, and 24th hours in bone marrow and it was increased at 12th in lymph nodes. We concluded that there is an increase in inflammatory parameters until the 12th hour pos CYP injection which are decreased at 24th hour. We suggest using the time of 12h as the standard experimental time because of the biggest availability parameters for evaluating.Descriptors: Cyclophosphamide. Cystitis. Mice. Experimental model

Bullying escolar: um fenômeno multifacetado

School bullying can involve children in different ways, making them play different roles, among them, victims, bullies and bully-victims. The aim of this study was to describe how bullying occurs in high social vulnerability schools of Florianópolis metropolitan area and the roles played by students in this phenomenon. Overall, 409 children and adolescents from the 3rd to 5th grades and of two public elementary schools aged 8-16 years (X = 11.14) participated in this study. As a tool, the Olweus Questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian population was used. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied by the Mann Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests. As for results, 29.8% of boys and 40.5% of girls reported being victims; 32.3% of boys and 24.6% of girls reported being bullies. Victims were the most willing to help a colleague who is suffering from bullying (X = 1.54; p> 0.001), even if they do not know the victims (X = 1.57; p> 0.004). Bullies are differentiated from the group that does not participate (X = 1.73) and the group of victims (X = 2.34), being those who felt less alone (x = 1.47; p> 0.001). It was concluded that the information obtained in this study is indispensable in the search for alternatives to reduce school bullying. The strengthening of relations between school and students and a better preparation of teachers and school staff are extremely necessary to try to minimize the effects of risk factors to which these children are exposed and consequently violence at school.O bullying escolar pode envolver crianças de diferentes maneiras, fazendo com que essas assumam papéis diferenciados. Dentre estes, têm-se vítimas, agressores e vítimas-agressoras. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever como ocorre o bullying em escolas de alta vulnerabilidade social da Grande Florianópolis e os papéis assumidos pelos alunos nesse fenômeno. Quanto ao método, participaram 409 crianças e adolescentes do terceiro ao quinto ano e da quarta à sexta série do ensino fundamental, de duas escolas públicas municipais, com idades entre 8 e 16 anos (X=11,14). Como instrumento, utilizou-se o Questionário de Olweus adaptado à população brasileira. Para a análise dos dados, empregaram-se a estatística descritiva e estatística inferencial por meio dos testes Mann Whitney e Kruskal Wallis. Quanto aos resultados, 29,8% dos meninos e 40,5% das meninas relataram terem sido vítimas; já 32,3% dos meninos e 24,6% das meninas relataram terem sido agressores. As vítimas foram as que se mostraram mais dispostas a ajudar como podem um colega que esteja sofrendo agressão (X=1,54; p>0,001), mesmo que não o conheçam (X=1,57; p>0,004). Em contrapartida, os agressores se diferenciaram do grupo que não participa (X=1,73) e do grupo das vítimas (X=2,34), sendo aqueles que menos se sentiram sozinhos (X=1,47; p>0,001). Concluiu-se que as informações obtidas neste estudo são indispensáveis na busca de alternativas para redução do bullying escolar. O fortalecimento das relações entre escola e alunos, e um maior preparo dos professores e funcionários são extremamente necessários para tentar minimizar os efeitos dos fatores de risco a que essas crianças estão expostas e consequentemente a violência na escola.CAPES - Proc. nº 0815/14-4CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho (UI 317 da FCT)Projeto Estratégico da FCT: UID/CED/00317/201