Haptoglobin study in myasthenia gravis Estudo sobre a haptoglobina na miastenia grave

OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional study of haptoglobin (Hp) in myasthenia gravis (MG) was designed, with the objective to identify its values and correlate them with different disease status. METHOD: 46 patients were enrolled in the study, all having disease severity established according to the quantitative myasthenia gravis strength scores (QMGSS). Based on the functional scale determined by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) recommendations, patients were classified as having: complete stable remission (CSR; n=10); minimal manifestations-0 (MM0; n=6), minimal manifestations-1 (MM1; n=4); pharmacological remission (PR; n=6). Two other groups participated: thymomatous patients (T; n=10) and patients without imunosuppression or thymectomy, until the assessment for Hp (WIT; n=10). Hp dosage was done by immunonephelometry, blindly to clinical data. Student's t-test, Anova test and linear regression were employed for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences occurred between CSR+MM0xWIT groups (86.62x157.57, pOBJECTIVO: Desenhou-se estudo transversal sobre a haptoglobina (Hp) na miastenia grave (MG) com o objetivo de identificar seus valores e correlacioná-los a diferentes condições na doença. MÉTODO: 46 pacientes foram incluídos, todos tendo a gravidade da doença estabelecida segundo escores internacionais (QMGSS). Os pacientes tiveram seu estado funcional determinado de acordo com a Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of América (MGFA) e classificados em: remissão completa estável (CSR; n=10); mínima manifestação-0 (MM0; n=6), mínima manifestação-1 (MM1; n=4); remissão farmacológica (PR; n=6). Dois outros grupos participaram: pacientes timomatosos (T; n=10) e pacientes sem imunossupressão ou timectomia, até o momento da inclusão no estudo (WIT; n=10). A dosagem de Hp foi realizada por imunonefelometria, de modo cego quanto à clínica. As análises estatísticas incluíram o teste de Student, Anova e regressão linear. RESULTADOS: Observou-se diferença significativa entre os grupos CSR+MM0xWIT (86,62x157,57, p<0,001) e entre PR+MM1xWIT (73,93x157,57, p<0,001). A regressão linear mostrou correlação positiva entre os valores de Hp e os escores QMGSS (r=0,759, p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: O estudo sugere que valores altos de Hp se correlacionaram a maior gravidade da MG

Analytical validation of real-time quantitative PCR assays for optimum diagnosis of vivax malaria

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2019-08-22T17:36:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AlineLavigne_OtacilioMoreira_etal_IOC_2019.pdf: 458878 bytes, checksum: 4993b198c5212641c504f2cc9791d069 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2019-08-22T17:42:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AlineLavigne_OtacilioMoreira_etal_IOC_2019.pdf: 458878 bytes, checksum: 4993b198c5212641c504f2cc9791d069 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-08-22T17:42:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AlineLavigne_OtacilioMoreira_etal_IOC_2019.pdf: 458878 bytes, checksum: 4993b198c5212641c504f2cc9791d069 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas. 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 Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Medicina Social. Departamento de Epidemiologia. 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 Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.BACKGROUND The prompt diagnosis of plasmodial species for effective treatment prevents worsening of individual health and avoids transmission maintenance or even malaria reintroduction in areas where Plasmodium does not exist. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows for the detection of parasites below the threshold of microscopic examination. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to develop a real-time PCR test to reduce diagnostic errors and increase efficacy. METHODS The lower limit of quantification and the linearity/analytical sensitivity to measure sensitivity or limit of detection (LoD) were determined. Intra-assay variations (repeatability) and alterations between assays, operators, and instruments (reproducibility) were also assessed to set precision. FINDINGS The linearity in SYBR™ Green and TaqMan™ systems was 106 and 102 copies and analytical sensitivity 1.13 and 1.17 copies/μL, respectively. Real-time PCR was more sensitive than conventional PCR, showing a LoD of 0.01 parasite (p)/μL. Reproducibility and repeatability (precision) were 100% for up to 0.1 p/μL in SYBR™ Green and 1 p/μL in TaqMan™ and conventional PCR. CONCLUSION Real-time PCR may replace conventional PCR in reference laboratories for P. vivax detection due to its rapidity. The TaqMan™ system is the most indicated when quantification assays are required. Performing tests in triplicate when diagnosing Plasmodium-infected-asymptomatic individuals is recommended to minimise diagnostic errors

Evaluation of PCR for Diagnosis of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an Area of Endemicity in Northeastern Brazil

PCR-based approaches targeting kinetoplast DNA were evaluated for the diagnosis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in regions of endemicity in northeastern Brazil. A total of 119 cutaneous biopsy specimens from patients with ACL and nonleishmaniasis cutaneous lesions were studied. Two PCR-based systems were used; one was specific for the subgenus Viannia, and the other was specific for the genus Leishmania. The PCR specific for the subgenus Viannia had a sensitivity of 95.4%, whereas the genus-specific PCR detected the target DNA in 88.2% of the samples tested. The specificities of the assays, determined with samples from a group with nonleishmaniasis cutaneous lesions, was 100%. The results of the conventional tests indicate that the sensitivities of the PCR-based methods were significantly higher than those of smear examination, histological staining, and isolation by culture (P < 0.05). Antibodies specific for Leishmania braziliensis were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 82.9% of the patients tested. Parasites were isolated from 40 of 86 patients (46.5%). Sixty-seven percent of dermal scrapings and 66.2% of stained tissue sections were positive by microscopy. Amplified products from the subgenus-specific PCR hybridized with the Leishmania panamensis minicircle, confirming infection consistent with L. braziliensis. The evidence available at present incriminates L. braziliensis as the only causative agent of ACL in the state of Pernambuco in Brazil

Miguel Ciera: um demarcador de limites no interior sul-americano (1750-1760)

In this paper, we examine the works produced by Miguel Ciera against the backdrop of the Third Delimitation Expedition, which was sent by Portugal to explore the interior of South America between 1752 and 1756. As the astronomer and cosmographer of the demarcation team, this Paduan engineer sailed up Paraguay River all the way to the mouth of Jauru River and there, with his companions, he set the border line, thus substantiating at site the Treaty of Boundaries. It was during this expedition that Ciera gathered information to design his Mappa geographicum quo flumen Argentum, Paranà et Paraguay [¿], a beautiful atlas that he later bestowed upon King Joseph I in 1758. In addition to accurate geographic charts, the atlas included depictions of fauna, popular types and landscapes made in pencil and watercolor, forming the first set of images available of that region, which was named Pantanal as from the 18th century. Here, we analyze this specific piece and seek to demonstrate that it was not merely a beautiful atlas; in fact, it was a refined visual document with which Miguel Ciera offered the Portuguese monarch valuable information about the hinterland here the border line was laid

Bullying: desafíos para a convivencia ética no combate ao assedio

Este artigo registra parte dos resultados de uma atividade de extensão universitária realizada junto a trabalhadores na educação e saúde do município de Humaitá, sul do Estado do Amazonas, onde foram realizadas atividades de reflexão-ação acerca da convivência ética e democrática. Está organizado em duas partes: a primeira destaca aspectos conceituais e filosóficos acerca do tema; a segunda parte apresenta os resultados da intervenção em contextos da educação e da saúde