Cytomegalovirus infection in pediatric rheumatic diseases: a review

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is familiar to pediatric rheumatologists mainly as a cause of opportunistic disease in pharmacologically immune suppressed patients. However, HCMV also has a variety of immuno-modulatory effects, through which it may influence the course of rheumatic conditions. In this article we discuss the interplay between HCMV and the immune system, and review the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of HCMV infection in children with rheumatic disease

Viabilidade da equação do arco da parábola no cálculo do perímetro molhado na irrigação por sulco Feasibility of the parabolic arc equation for calculating the wetted perimeter in furrow irrigation

Neste trabalho, estudou-se a viabilidade da equação do arco da parábola no cálculo do perímetro molhado, para fins de avaliação do desempenho da irrigação por sulco. Os valores do perímetro molhado estimados pela equação proposta, foram avaliados mediante comparação com resultados obtidos a partir de outras equações apresentadas na literatura e com dados de campo. Os resultados mostraram que a equação do arco da parábola é viável no cálculo do perímetro molhado, na irrigação por sulco.For purposes of evaluation of performance of furrow irrigation, this research verified the feasibility of the parabolic arc equation for calculating the wetted perimeter. The values of the wetted perimeter estimated by the proposed equation were evaluated by comparison with results obtained from others equations presented in the literature and with the field data. The results showed that the parabolic arc equation is feasible for calculating the wetted perimeter in furrow irrigation

A latitudinal gradient study of common anti-infectious agent antibody prevalence in Italy and Colombia

Background: Infectious agents are important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease since they are a major part of the environmental trigger of autoimmunity. A negative relationship between latitude and infectious disease species richness has been suggested. Objectives: To examine whether their prevalence differs in two latitudinally different populations. Methods: The prevalence of infections with Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and Treponema pallidum was compared between subjects from Italy and Colombia. Results: We found high titers of antibodies against four of five microorganisms tested, Toxoplasma gondii (50.8%), rubella virus (German measles) (75%), cytomegalovirus (86.3%), Epstein-Barr virus (83.3%) and Treponema pallidum (6.3%) in completely healthy individuals from a tropical country (Colombia) and a European country (Italy). Differences between two groups of volunteers were noted regarding two infectious agents. The prevalence of immunoglobulin G anti-rubella antibodies was significantly higher among Italian subjects (85% vs. 67.9%, P = 0.002), whereas antibodies against CMV were less prevalent among Italian as compared to Colombian subjects (77% vs. 92.9%, P less than 0.001). Conclusions: These differences might also result in a different tendency towards development of autoimmune diseases associated with these infectious agents in different populations