EFEITO ADJUVANTE DO CLORETO DE DIMETILDIOCTADECILAMÔNIO EM PREPARAÇÕES DE TOXÓIDE TETÂNICO

Foram formuladas duas vacinas contendo a mesma concentração de toxina, com o intuito de se avaliar a habilidade do adjuvante cloreto de demetiloctadecilamônio (DDA cloreto) em potencializar a resposta imune em cobaias imunizada com o toxóide tetânico. A vacina A foi adsorvida com hidróxido de alumínio e a vacina B cmpreendia a associação do hidróxido de alumínio e DDA cloreto. Os títulos de antitoxina no soro dos cobaios imunizados foram quantificados por soroneutralização em camundongos frente a uma dose contendo 1 Lp/10 (limite paralítico) de toxina tetânica. A inclusão do DDA cloreto em vacinas constituídas por toxóide tetânico adsorvido com hidróxido de alumínio promoveu maior ativação das respostas imunes humoral e celular de cobaios, quando comparada à resposta imune dos animais que receberam o antígeno adsorvido apenas com o hidróxido de alumínio. Os animais recebedores da vacina B apresentaram títulos de anticorpos neutralizantes 2,66 vezes maiores que os que recebedores a vacina A, demonstrando a potencialização da resposta imune humoral promovida pelo DDA cloreto. A resposta imune celular, avaliada pela reação de hipersensibilidade cutânea tardia, foi 17,8 maior no grupo B. Esses resultados demonstram que o DDA cloreto é um potente ativador da resposta imune humoral e celular de cobaios imunizados com o toxóide tetânico. Adjuvant effect of dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium chloride in tetanic toxoid preparations Abstract Two vaccines were formulated with the same concentration of antigen and different adjuvants to assess the performance of dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium chloride (DDA chloride) in boosting the immune response in guinea pigs immunized with tetanic toxoid. Vaccine A was adsorbed with aluminum hydroxide and vaccine B contained an association of aluminum hydroxide and DDA chloride. The antitoxin titres in the immunized guinea pig sera were assessed serum neutralization in mice using a toxin containing one Lp/10 dose (paralytic limit). The inclusion of DDA chloride in vaccines made up of tetanic toxoid adsorbed with aluminum hydroxide causes a greater activation of the humoral and cell immune response in guinea pigs when compared with the animals which received the antigen adsorbed only with aluminum hydroxide. The animals which received vaccine B had 2.66 times more neutralizing antibodies than those which received vaccine A, showing the boosting of the humoral immune response caused by DDA chloride. The animals from group B also had a strong immune cell response by the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, which was 17.8 times higher than group A. These results show that DDA chloride is a potent activator of the humoral and cell immune response in guinea pigs immunized with tetanic toxoid

Quantum mechanical virial theorem in systems with translational and rotational symmetry

Generalized virial theorem for quantum mechanical nonrelativistic and relativistic systems with translational and rotational symmetry is derived in the form of the commutator between the generator of dilations G and the Hamiltonian H. If the conditions of translational and rotational symmetry together with the additional conditions of the theorem are satisfied, the matrix elements of the commutator [G, H] are equal to zero on the subspace of the Hilbert space. Normalized simultaneous eigenvectors of the particular set of commuting operators which contains H, J^{2}, J_{z} and additional operators form an orthonormal basis in this subspace. It is expected that the theorem is relevant for a large number of quantum mechanical N-particle systems with translational and rotational symmetry.Comment: 24 pages, accepted for publication in International Journal of Theoretical Physic

The impact of carotid plaque presence and morphology on mortality outcome in cardiological patients

BACKGROUND: Carotid plaque severity and morphology can affect cardiovascular prognosis. We evaluate both the importance of echographically assessed carotid artery plaque geometry and morphology as predictors of death in hospitalised cardiological patients. METHODS: 541 hospitalised patients admitted in a cardiological division (age = 66 ± 11 years, 411 men), have been studied through ultrasound Duplex carotid scan and successively followed-up for a median of 34 months. Echo evaluation assessed plaque severity and morphology (presence of heterogeneity and profile). RESULTS: 361 patients showed carotid stenosis (67% with <50% stenosis, 18% with 50–69% stenosis, 9% with >70% stenosis, 4% with near occlusion and 2% with total occlusion). During the follow-up period, there were 83 all-cause deaths (15% of the total population). Using Cox's proportional hazard model, age (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.09, p = 0.000), ejection fraction > 50% (RR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.4–0.96, p = 0.03), treatment with statins (RR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.29–0.95, p = 0.34) and the presence of a heterogeneous plaque (RR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.14, p = 0.002) were independent predictors of death. Kaplan – Meier survival estimates have shown the best outcome in patients without plaque, intermediate in patients with homogeneous plaques and the worst outcome in patients with heterogeneous plaques (90% vs 79% vs 73%, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In hospitalised cardiological patients, carotid plaque presence and morphology assessed by ultrasound are independent predictors of death

Central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity: relationship to target organ damage and cardiovascular morbidity-mortality in diabetic patients or metabolic syndrome. An observational prospective study. LOD-DIABETES study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetic patients show an increased prevalence of non-dipping arterial pressure pattern, target organ damage and elevated arterial stiffness. These alterations are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.</p> <p>The objectives of this study are the following: to evaluate the prognostic value of central arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity in relation to the incidence and outcome of target organ damage and the appearance of cardiovascular episodes (cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, chest pain and stroke) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p><b>Design</b>: This is an observational prospective study with 5 years duration, of which the first year corresponds to patient inclusion and initial evaluation, and the remaining four years to follow-up.</p> <p><b>Setting</b>: The study will be carried out in the urban primary care setting.</p> <p><b>Study population</b>: Consecutive sampling will be used to include patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 20-80 years of age. A total of 110 patients meeting all the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be included.</p> <p><b>Measurements</b>: Patient age and sex, family and personal history of cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular risk factors. Height, weight, heart rate and abdominal circumference. Laboratory tests: hemoglobin, lipid profile, creatinine, microalbuminuria, glomerular filtration rate, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood insulin, fibrinogen and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Clinical and 24-hour ambulatory (home) blood pressure monitoring and self-measured blood pressure. Common carotid artery ultrasound for the determination of mean carotid intima-media thickness. Electrocardiogram for assessing left ventricular hypertrophy. Ankle-brachial index. Retinal vascular study based on funduscopy with non-mydriatic retinography and evaluation of pulse wave morphology and pulse wave velocity using the SphygmoCor system. The medication used for diabetes, arterial hypertension and hyperlipidemia will be registered, together with antiplatelet drugs.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The results of this study will help to know and quantify the prognostic value of central arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity in relation to the evolution of the subclinical target organ damage markers and the possible incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01065155</p