7 research outputs found

    IgG Autoantibody Response against Keratinocyte Cadherins in Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus (Fogo Selvagem)

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    It is well established that autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 and desmoglein 1 (Dsg1) are relevant in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus, including its endemic form fogo selvagem (FS). Isolated reports have shown that in certain patients with these diseases, autoantibodies against other desmosomal cadherins and E-cadherin may also be present. The goal of this investigation was to determine whether FS patients and normal individuals living in endemic areas possess autoantibodies against other desmosomal cadherins and E-cadherin. By testing a large number of FS and endemic control sera by ELISA, we found a consistent and specific autoantibody response against Dsg1 and other keratinocyte cadherins in these individuals, which is quite different from healthy individuals from the United States (US controls). Overall, the highest correlations among the autoantibody responses tested were in the endemic controls, followed by FS patients, and lowest in the US controls. These findings suggest that multiple, perhaps cross-reactive, keratinocyte cadherins are recognized by FS patients and endemic controls.NIH [R01-AR30281, R01-AR32599, T32-AR07369

    Inquérito de toxoplasmose e de tripanossomíases realizado no Território do Amapá pela III Bandeira Científica do Centro Acadêmico "Oswaldo Cruz" da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo

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    The survey was performed in three localities, in January 1962, and included inhabitants with 10 or more years of age and who had never left the Amazon Region.The Sabin-Feldman dye test was positive in 68.1 percent of 354 persons examined and the intradermal test with toxoplasmin in 46.4 percent of 366. The distribution of positive tests by locality, age, sex and race are presented.Through the complement fixation test for Chagas' disease (Guerreiro and Machado's test) performed in 353 persons and the xenodiagnosis in 116, no evidence of trypanosome infection was found.A severe malária outbreak which was occurring in the region is discussed.Descreve-se uma excursão realizada em janeiro de 1962 por estudantes da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo ao Território do Amapá, onde realizaram inquéritos de toxoplasmose e tripanossomíase na cidade de Macapá e nas vilas de Paredão e Ferreira Gomes.A reação de Sabin-Feldman foi positiva em 68,1 % das 354 pessoas examinadas e a intradermorreação com toxoplasmina em 46,4% de 366. A distribuição das provas positivas é apresentada por localidade, sexo, idade e côr.A reação de fixação do complemento para doença de Chagas (prova de Guerreiro e Machado, técnica quantitativa), feita em 353 pessoas, não apresentou nenhum resultado seguramente positivo, sendo ainda negativos os 116 xenodiagnósticos efetuados com ninfas de triatomíneos (Rhodnius prolixus).Fazem-se ainda considerações sobre o intenso surto de malária que ocorria então na região

    Impacto do COVID-19 na qualidade do ar a nível mundial: uma revisão sistemática

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    ABSTRACT - WHO had announced on the 11th of March that COVID-19 was considered a pandemic disease. At this stage, around 37 million cases and one million deaths were confirmed worldwide (in October 2020). To try to avoid the contagion of the population, all governments around the world had applied several social and hygienic recommendations, as well as mandatory measures. All of this had a huge impact not only on people’s lifestyles but also on the environment. Based on PRISMA methodology, this study aims to identify the main impacts of coronavirus on air quality. Seven articles had accomplished all inclusion criteria and were deeply studied. In general, all air quality pollutants had decreased during the (partial) lockdown, showing a positive impact on air quality worldwide. In areas associated with urban traffic, the differences before/during lockdown became significant for the CO (-53.1%), PM10 (-22.8%), PM2.5 (-29.8%) and NO2 (-54.3%). Similar results were observed all around the world. Although this statement, the authors are aware of the extremely negative impact that all this situation has on the social and economic point of view.RESUMO - A Organização Mundial da Saúde anunciou no dia 11 de março que a COVID-19 era considerada uma doença pandémica. Nesta fase, cerca de 37 milhões de casos e um milhão de mortes foram confirmados em todo o mundo (outubro de 2020). Para tentar evitar a propagação do contágio na população, todos os governos a nível mundial aplicaram diversas recomendações sociais e higiénicas, para além de medidas obrigatórias. Tudo isto teve um grande impacto não só no estilo de vida das pessoas, mas também em termos ambientais. Com base na metodologia PRISMA, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar os principais impactos do coronavírus na qualidade do ar. Sete artigos preencheram todos os critérios de inclusão e foram sujeitos a um estudo aprofundado. Em geral, todas as concentrações de poluentes atmosféricos diminuíram durante o confinamento (parcial), mostrando um impacto positivo na qualidade do ar em todo o mundo. Nas áreas associadas ao tráfego urbano, as diferenças antes/durante o confinamento tornaram-se significativas para o CO (-53,1%), PM10 (-22,8%), PM2.5 (-29,8%) e NO2 (-54,3%). Resultados semelhantes foram observados em todo o mundo. Não obstante estes resultados, os autores estão cientes do impacto extremamente negativo desta situação do ponto de vista social e económico.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Atopic dermatitis in adults: evaluation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferation response to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins A and B and analysis of interleukin-18 secretion

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    Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease with a high prevalence and complex pathogenesis. The skin of AD patients is usually colonized by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus); its exotoxins may trigger or enhance the cutaneous inflammation. Several mediators are related to the AD immune imbalance and interleukin-18 (IL-18), an inflammatory cytokine, may play a role in the atopic skin inflammation. To evaluate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation response to staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) and the levels of IL-18 in adults with AD. Thirty-eight adult patients with AD and 33 healthy controls were analysed. PBMC were stimulated with SEA and SEB, phytohemaglutinin (PHA), pokeweed (PWM), tetanus toxoid (TT) and Candida albicans (CMA). IL-18 secretion from PBMC culture supernatants and sera were measured by ELISA. A significant inhibition of the PBMC proliferation response to SEA, PHA, TT and CMA of AD patients was detected (P <= 0.05). Furthermore, increased levels of IL-18 were detected both in sera and non-stimulated PBMC culture supernatants from AD patients (P <= 0.05). A decreased PBMC proliferation response to distinct antigens and mitogens (TT, CMA, SEA and PHA) in adults with AD suggest a compromised immune profile. IL-18 secretion from AD upon stimulation was similar from controls, which may indicate a diverse mechanism of skin inflammation maintained by Staphylococcus aureus. On the other hand, augmented IL-18 secretion from AD sera and non-stimulated cell culture may enhance the immune dysfunction observed in AD, leading to constant skin inflammation.University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine - Laboratory of Medical Investigation - FM-US

    Increased circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and imbalanced regulatory T-cell cytokines production in chronic idiopathic urticaria

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    The immunologic characterization of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), mainly regarding cytokine profile needs more investigation. We examined circulating inflammatory cytokine levels, T-cell induced secretion, and cytokine mRNA expression in patients with CIU subjected to the intradermal autologous serum skin test (ASST). Increased levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-12p70, and IL-6 have been observed in most of patients with CIU, together with an enhancement of IL-2 secretion following T-cell stimulation. Highlighting the inflammatory profile in CIU found in ASST positive, is the enhanced B-cell proliferative responsiveness and increased IL-17 secretion levels. ASST-positive patients also exhibited impaired IL-4 secretion associated with increased IL-10 production. Altered cytokine expression in patients with ASST-negative, was the down-modulation of spontaneous IL-10 mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our findings support the concept of immunologic dysregulation in CIU, revealing a systemic inflammatory profile associated with disturbed cytokine production by T cells, mainly related to IL-17 and IL-10 production. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.FAPESP[2004/06937-5]CAPE

    Avaliação da circulação arterial pela medida do índice tornozelo/braço em doentes de úlcera venosa crônica Evaluation of arterial circulation using the ankle/brachial blood pressure index in patients with chronic venous ulcers

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    FUNDAMENTOS: As úlceras venosas dos membros inferiores são freqüentes e têm grande impacto na qualidade de vida e produtividade do indivíduo, além de alto custo para a saúde pública. OBJETIVOS: Detecção de alterações arteriais em pacientes de úlcera venosa crônica dos membros inferiores com emprego de método não invasivo, de modo a discriminar aqueles em que estaria contra-indicado o tratamento compressivo. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 40 doentes portadores de úlcera venosa crônica, com o intuito de se avaliar a presença de doença arterial periférica pela medida do índice tornozelo/braço por doppler-ultra-som. RESULTADOS: O índice tornozelo/braço mostrou-se alterado (menor que 1) em 9/22 (40,9%) doentes com úlcera venosa crônica e hipertensão arterial concomitante, e apenas em 1/13 (7,7%) doentes de úlcera venosa crônica sem hipertensão arterial. CONCLUSÕES: Doentes de úlcera venosa crônica e hipertensão arterial concomitantes devem ser submetidos rotineiramente à medida do índice tornozelo/braço para detecção de possível insuficiência arterial periférica associada.<br>BACKGROUND: Chronic venous ulcers are extremely frequent and have a significant impact on quality of life and work productivity of individuals, in addition to high costs to public health. OBJECTIVES: Detection of arterial circulation alterations in chronic venous ulcer legs using a non-invasive method to discriminate patients not indicated to have compressive treatment. METHODS: Forty patients with chronic venous ulcers were investigated for the presence of peripheral arterial disease with measurement of the ankle/brachial index by Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: The resting ankle/brachial pressure index was abnormal (lower than 1) in 9/22 (40.9%) patients with concomitant chronic venous ulcers and hypertension and only in one out of 13 (7.7%) patients with chronic venous ulcers and no hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with concomitant chronic venous ulcer and hypertension should be routinely evaluated with the ankle/brachial pressure index to detect a possible association with peripheral arterial disease

    Vasculopatia livedoide: uma doença cutânea intrigante Livedoid vasculopathy: an intringuing cutaneous disease

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    A vasculopatia livedoide é uma afecção cutânea oclusiva dos vasos sanguíneos da derme, de caráter pauci-inflamatório ou não-inflamatório. Caracteriza-se pela presença de lesões maculosas ou papulosas, eritêmato-purpúricas, nas pernas, especialmente nos tornozelos e pés, as quais produzem ulcerações intensamente dolorosas, que originam cicatrizes atróficas esbranquiçadas, denominadas "atrofia branca". Nesta revisão, abordamos os estudos e relatos de caso da literatura médica referentes às associações etiopatogênicas da doença, particularmente as que se referem aos estados de trombofilia, seus achados histopatológicos e abordagens terapêuticas empregadas na difícil condução clínica destes casos.<br>Livedoid vasculopathy is a skin disease that occludes the blood vessels of the dermis. It has a pauciinflammatory or non-inflammatory nature. It is characterized by the presence of macular or papular, erythematous-purpuric lesions affecting the legs, especially the ankles and feet, and producing intensely painful ulcerations, which cause white atrophic scars called "atrophie blanche". This review includes studies and case reports found in the medical literature regarding the etiopathogenic associations of the disease, particularly those related to thrombophilia, their histopathological findings and the therapeutic approaches used in the difficult clinical management of these cases
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