Heme-Induced ROS in Trypanosoma Cruzi Activates CaMKII-Like That Triggers Epimastigote Proliferation. One Helpful Effect of ROS

Heme is a ubiquitous molecule that has a number of physiological roles. The toxic effects of this molecule have been demonstrated in various models, based on both its pro-oxidant nature and through a detergent mechanism. It is estimated that about 10 mM of heme is released during blood digestion in the blood-sucking bug's midgut. The parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, proliferates in the midgut of the insect vector; however, heme metabolism in trypanosomatids remains to be elucidated. Here we provide a mechanistic explanation for the proliferative effects of heme on trypanosomatids. Heme, but not other porphyrins, induced T. cruzi proliferation, and this phenomenon was accompanied by a marked increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in epimastigotes when monitored by ROS-sensitive fluorescent probes. Heme-induced ROS production was time-and concentration-dependent. In addition, lipid peroxidation and the formation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) adducts with parasite proteins were increased in epimastigotes in the presence of heme. Conversely, the antioxidants urate and GSH reversed the heme-induced ROS. Urate also decreased parasite proliferation. Among several protein kinase inhibitors tested only specific inhibitors of CaMKII, KN93 and Myr-AIP, were able to abolish heme-induced ROS formation in epimastigotes leading to parasite growth impairment. Taken together, these data provide new insight into T. cruzi- insect vector interactions: heme, a molecule from the blood digestion, triggers epimastigote proliferation through a redox-sensitive signalling mechanism

Unexpectedly long incubation period of Plasmodium vivax malaria, in the absence of chemoprophylaxis, in patients diagnosed outside the transmission area in Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2010, Brazil recorded 3343,599 cases of malaria, with 99.6% of them concentrated in the Amazon region. <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>accounts for 86% of the cases circulating in the country. The extra-Amazonian region, where transmission does not occur, recorded about 566 cases imported from the Amazonian area in Brazil and South America, from Central America, Asia and African countries. Prolonged incubation periods have been described for <it>P. vivax </it>malaria in temperate climates. The diversity in essential biological characteristics is traditionally considered as one possible explanation to the emergence of relapse in malaria and to the differences in the duration of the incubation period, which can also be explained by the use of chemoprophylaxis. Studying the reported cases of <it>P. vivax </it>malaria in Rio de Janeiro, where there is no vector transmission, has made it possible to evaluate the extension of the incubation period and to notice that it may be extended in some cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Descriptive study of every malaria patients who visited the clinic in the last five years. The mean, standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum of all incubation periods were analysed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From the total of 80 patients seen in the clinic during the study time, with confirmed diagnosis of malaria, 49 (63%) were infected with <it>P. vivax</it>. Between those, seven had an estimated incubation period varying from three to 12 months and were returned travellers from Brazilian Amazonian states (6) and Indonesia (1). None of them had taken malarial chemoprophylaxis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The authors emphasize that considering malaria as a possible cause of febrile syndrome should be a post-travel routine, independent of the time elapsed after exposure in the transmission area, even in the absence of malaria chemoprophylaxis. They speculate that, since there is no current and detailed information about the biological cycle of human malaria plasmodia's in Brazil, it is possible that new strains are circulating in endemic regions or a change in cycle of preexisting strains is occurring. Considering that a prolonged incubation period may confer advantages on the survival of the parasite, difficulties in malaria control might arise.</p

Plantar povoações no território: (re)construindo a urbanização da capitania do Piauí, 1697-1761

The Piauí province´s urbanization has kept up with since late 17th century a complex process dealt among Portuguese Crown, the regal representatives, the network woven by the Casa da Torre and by the resident population in its countryside. What it was content of Rodelas countryside has begun to build with territorial identity since the foundation of first parish in 1697. Structuring itself discontinuously in time and space, the Piauí had reformed in 1758, year of creation of its autonomous government. And had became urban in 1761 when the king D. José I and marquis of Pombal had framed by the royal letter written in June 19 a territory formed by six towns and one city. Thus, this paper purposes to reconstructing the Piauí province according to agents involved in the urbanization processes. It proposes to deconstructing Crown´s polices by means towns strategically placed in territory aiming at control and "remedy" of routine injustices practiced in Piauí´s hinterlands. The method of presenting this reconstruction draws on interconnection between text (manuscript documents) and image (maps and photography) which in their discourses have represented a Piauí as space of experiences apprehended as much in official dimension as inhabitant´s everyday life.A urbanização da capitania do Piauí acompanhou, desde finais do século XVII, um complexo processo negociado entre a Coroa portuguesa, os representantes régios, a rede clientelar urdida pela Casa da Torre e a população residente em seus sertões. O que antes era conteúdo dos sertões de Rodelas passou a construir-se como identidade territorial a partir da fundação da primeira freguesia, em 1697, dedicada a Nossa Senhora da Vitória. Estruturando-se descontinuamente no tempo e no espaço, o Piauí reforma-se em 1758, ano da autonomização do seu governo. E fez-se urbano em 1761, quando D. José I e o marquês de Pombal equacionaram, por meio da carta régia de 19 de junho, um território formado por seis vilas e uma cidade. Nessa direção, o objetivo deste artigo consiste em reconstruir o processo de formação da capitania do Piauí segundo os agentes envolvidos na urbanização do território. Propõe-se descortinar as políticas da Coroa por meio da oficialização de povoações estrategicamente locadas no território visando o controle e o "remédio" das injustiças rotineiras do Piauí. O método de apresentar essa reconstrução vale-se da interconexão entre texto (documentação manuscrita) e imagem (mapas e fotografias), que em suas entrelinhas representam um Piauí como espaço de experiências sentidas tanto na dimensão oficial quanto no cotidiano dos seus moradores

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to &lt;90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], &gt;300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of &lt;15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P&lt;0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P&lt;0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure &lt; 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate &lt; 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Tratamento farmacológico da malária em um instituto de pesquisa clínica no Rio de Janeiro

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-05T18:36:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) renata_pedro_ipec_mest_2011.pdf: 1563772 bytes, checksum: 501b250be544969fc58268ae09a19bd8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-07Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrasilA malária é considerada um problema mundial amplamente distribuído pelas regiões tropicais e subtropicais e uma doença de evolução grave e potencialmente fatal quando não diagnosticada rapidamente e tratada corretamente. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o perfil de resposta ao tratamento farmacológico da malária em pacientes atendidos no IPEC/Fiocruz-RJ entre os anos de 2005 e 2010. Foram incluídos 88 pacientes provenientes da região Amazônica, África e Ásia. Desse total, sete pacientes foram tratados duas vezes e três foram tratados três vezes no IPEC. Com isso, foram realizados 101 tratamentos antimaláricos com dez diferentes esquemas terapêuticos. As espécies de plasmódio diagnosticadas foram Plasmodium vivax (65,0%), P. falciparum (23,0%), P.falciparum + P. vivax (9,0%), P. malariae (2,0%) e P. ovale (1,0%). A associação de cloroquina e primaquina foi utilizada em 94,0% das infecções por P. vivax e em 78,3% dos tratamentos para as infecções por P. falciparum foram utilizados os derivados de artemisinina associados a outros antimaláricos. Em relação à resposta terapêutica, a cura clínica e a cura parasitológica ocorreram em um período inferior a quatro dias (D3) após o início tratamento em 91,0% e 84,0% dos casos de P. vivax e P. falciparum, respectivamente A proporção de pacientes com sucesso terapêutico demonstra que pelo menos 52% dos tratamentos com os esquizonticidas sanguíneos foram efetivos. Foram identificadas duas falhas parasitológicas tardias: em um paciente com malária mista tratado com mefloquina e em um caso de malária por P. vivax tratado com cloroquina e primaquina. As 16 recaídas de malária por P. vivax observadas ocorreram em um tempo mediano de 57 dias após o início do tratamento. A análise de sobrevida demonstrou a associação de doses de primaquina sem ajuste por peso e a ocorrência de recaídas (p<0,02). Os pacientes utilizaram outros medicamentos concomitantemente aos antimaláricos em 39 tratamentos (38,6%). Esses foram predominantemente antiácidos e analgésicos. Registrou-se 53 eventos adversos (EAM) aos antimaláricos que foram considerados como 50 reações adversas a medicamentos (RAM) e três erros de medicação Houve predominância de distúrbios do sistema gastrointestinal. Foram em sua maioria de gravidade leve e considerados de causalidade possível segundo o algoritmo de Naranjo. O erro de administração de hidratação venosa não interferiu no tratamento antimalárico; diferente dos outros dois erros de prescrição observados. Em um, a monoterapia com cloroquina para malária por P. vivax ocasionou a recaída da doença; no outro, a instituição de terapia via oral para um paciente com sinais clínicos preditivos de gravidade de malária por P. falciparum levou à piora no quadro clínico do paciente revertida após instituição do tratamento venoso. A maioria dos pacientes entrevistados (88,5%) apresentou comportamento de adesão considerado alto de acordo com o questionário de Morisky. Após a implantação do acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico do paciente com malária, em 2009, houve um aumento das informações sobre os tempos de cura clínica e parasitológica e EAM e as perdas de acompanhamento foram reduzidas. Concluiu-se que a maioria dos tratamentos antimaláricos foi efetiva; as recaídas por P.vivax estão associadas à administração de doses subterapêuticas de primaquina; e houve uma melhoria na assistência prestada ao paciente com malária após implantação da farmacovigilânciaMalaria is considered a world problem widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions which quickly becomes life - threatening if not early diagnosed and promptly treated. The aim of this study was to describe the pharma cological treatment profile for Malaria in patients followed at the Acute Febrile Disease Outpatient Clinics of IPEC, Fiocruz - RJ , from J anuary , 2005 to December , 2010 in a coh ort of 88 individuals that acquired malaria infection at the Amazon region, Afric a and Asia. Ten of them were treated at least twice resulting in 101 malaria treatments with ten different types of therapeutic regimens. The species diagnosed were Plasmodium vivax (65 .0 %), P. falciparum (23 .0 %), P.falciparum + P. vivax (9 .0 %), P. malaria e (2 .0 %) and P. ovale (1 .0 %). Association of chloroquine and primaquine was prescribed to 94.0% of P. vivax infections and artemisinin derivates associated with other antimalarials were used in 78.3% of P. falciparum treatments. Clinical and parasitologica l cure occurred in 91.0% and 84.0% of P. vivax and P. falciparum infections, respectively, in less than three days after the beginning of treatment. Most patients responded well to antimalarials and blood schizonticidal drugs’ effectiveness was observed in at least 52.0% of these treatments. Two late parasitological failures were identified: one case of mixed infection ( P. falciparum and P. vivax ) treated with mefloquine, and another case of vivax malaria treated with chloroquine plus primaquine. Sixteen re lapses occurred between days 36 a nd 369 (median = 57 day s) after vivax malaria treatment. Survival analyses demonstrated association between primaquine unadjusted doses and relapses of vivax malaria (p<0.02). In 39 treatments (38 .6%), patients used also med ications other than antimalarials, mostly antacids and analgesics. We observed 53 adverse events to antimalarials considered as 50 adverse drug reactions and three medication errors. The most commonly reported adverse reactions were gastrointestinal disord ers. Most adverse reactions were mild and considered possible in Naranjo algorithm. An error in the administration of venous hydration bruised the patient’s arm but didn’t interfere clinically with treatment response. On the other hand, prescription errors were observed. In one patient, chloroquine monotherapy for vivax malaria was prescribed resulting in relapse. Another patient with predictive signs of P. falciparum malaria severity presented clinical worsening with the introduction of oral treatment whic h reverted to normal after venous treatment. The majority of patients (88.5%) had a high adherence behavior according to Morisky’s questionnaire. Since 2009, when pharmacotherapy follow - up started, information related to adverse event, clinical and parasit ological cures increased and loss to follow - up after malaria treatment reduced. We concluded that most antimalarial treatments were effective. Cases of relapses showed association between underdoses of primaquine and P. vivax malaria relapse. And improveme nt in malaria patient’s care was achieved by surveillance activities, including pharmacovigilanc

Estudos dos casos suspeitos de malária importada, um Centro de Referência na região extra-Amazônica

Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-08T14:01:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1914 bytes, checksum: 7d48279ffeed55da8dfe2f8e81f3b81f (MD5) claudio_ribeiroetal_IOC_2014.pdf: 1153155 bytes, checksum: 078d6375db2a0fc9965373a5115f0327 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Centro de Informação Estratégica em Vigilância em Saúde. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.No Brasil, 99, 8% dos casos de malária ocorrem na região amazônica, 83, 7% destes por P.vivax. Taxas de letalidade 70, 8 vezes maiores têm chamado a atenção das autoridades brasileiras. A baixa especificidade do quadro clínico inicial, sobreposto a outras doenças febris agudas e o risco potencial de malária grave representam um desafio extra nas regiões não-endêmicas. Objetivo: Estudar os determinantes de risco dos casos de malária importada na extra- Amazônia que expliquem as elevadas taxas de morbi-letalidade observadas. Método: Estudo retrospectivo dos 406 casos suspeitos de malária atendidos em Centro de Referência no Rio de Janeiro entre 2005 e 2010, que foi responsável pelo atendimento de 25% de todos os casos suspeitos do estado. Resultados: Dos 406 suspeitos, 115(28, 3%) foram confirmados. A distribuição segundo a espécie de Plasmodium: 72(62, 6%) P.vivax e 24(20, 8%) P.falciparum. Houve predomínio dos homens (68, 2%), a mediana de idade foi de 35 anos. Observou-se também uma escolaridade elevada (34, 8% com nível médio ou mais). A taxa de letalidade total foi de 1, 7%. Apenas 29, 1% dos casos foram investigados para malária nas primeiras 48h do início dos sintomas. Países da África/Ásia foram a provável fonte de infecção para 124(30, 5%), com uma OR= 23, 3 (IC: 6, 91-83, 5) para infecção por P.falciparum Conclusão: O crescimento econômico brasileiro aumentou a presença de empresas de mineração, construção e petróleo em áreas endêmicas, especialmente na África. Dois desafios são definidos para este cenário em regiões não-endêmicas: a dificuldade de diagnóstico preciso e tratamento da malaria potencialmente grave.In Brazil, 99.8% of malaria cases occur in the Amazon region; 83.7% of them are due to P. vivax. Malaria cases at extra-Amazon regions has a much higher case-fatality rate (70.8% higher), and this has drawn the attention of the Brazilian authorities. The low specificity of initial clinical presentation, overlap with other acute febrile diseases, and the potential risk of severe malaria represent an extra challenge for unaffected regions. Objective:Study the risk factors for the imported malaria at extra-Amazon regions that can explain the high rates of morbidity and mortality observed. Method: A retrospective study was carried out at a Reference Center in Rio de Janeiro, which was responsible for 25% of all suspected cases of malaria reported between 2005 and 2010. Results: Among 406 suspects, 115 (28.3%) were confirmed. The distribution according to species of Plasmodium was 72 (62.6%) P. vivax and 24 (20.8%) P. falciparum. Men predominated (68.2%) with a median age of 35 years. There was also a high level of scholarity (34.8% finished school or went to the college). The mortality rate was 1.7%. Only 29.1% of cases were screened for malaria 48 hours before the onset of symptom. Countries in Africa / Asia were the likely source of infection for 124 (30.5%), with an OR = 23.3 (CI: 6.91 to 83.5) for P. falciparum infection. Conclusion: The Brazilian economic growth has increased the presence of mining companies, construction and oil in endemic areas, especially in Africa. Two challenges are defined for this scenario in non-endemic regions: the difficulty of accurate diagnosis and treatment of potentially severe malaria