Leprosy diagnosis is mainly based on clinical evaluation, although this approach is difficult, especially for untrained physicians. We conducted a temporary campaign to detect previously unknown ...leprosy cases in midwestern Brazil and to compare the performance of different serological tests.
A mobile clinic was stationed at the main bus terminal in Brasília, Brazil. Volunteers were quizzed and given a clinical exam to allow categorization as either patients, known contacts of patients or non-contacts, and blood was collected to determine anti-PGL-I and anti-LID-1 antibody titers by ELISA and by the NDO-LID rapid test. New cases of leprosy and the impact of performing this broad random surveillance strategy were evaluated. Accuracy values and concordance between the test results were evaluated among all groups.
Four hundred thirty-four individuals were evaluated, and 44 (10.1%) were diagnosed with leprosy. Borderline forms were the most frequent presentation. Both tests presented higher positivity in those individuals with multibacillary disease. Serological tests demonstrated specificities arround 70% for anti-PGL-1 and anti-LID ELISA; and arround 40% for NDO-LID. Sensitivities ranged from 48 to 62%. A substantial agreement between NDO-LID and ELISA with concomitant positive results was found within leprosy patients (Kappa index = 0.79 CI95% 0.36-1.22).
The unexpectedly high leprosy prevalence in this population indicates ongoing community-based exposure to Mycobacterium leprae antigens and high rates of subclinical infection. All tests showed low specificity and sensitivity values and therefore cannot be considered for use as stand-alone diagnostics. Rather, considering their positivity among MB patients and non-patients, these tests can be considered effective tools for screening and identifying individuals at high risk who might benefit from regular monitoring.
Previous studies have discussed the low prevalence of psoriasis among indigenous peoples of South America. The state of Roraima, Brazil, where the present study was performed, is crossed by the ...equator line. It is likely that key factors for the absence of psoriasis in this indigenous population include genetic factors, a lack of environmental triggers and high sun exposure.
Leishmania parasites utilize adaptive evasion mechanisms in infected macrophages to overcome host defenses and proliferate. We report here that the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling branch of the integrated ...endoplasmic reticulum stress response (IERSR) is activated by Leishmania and this pathway is important for Leishmania amazonensis infection. Knocking down PERK or ATF4 expression or inhibiting PERK kinase activity diminished L. amazonensis infection. Knocking down ATF4 decreased NRF2 expression and its nuclear translocation, reduced HO-1 expression and increased nitric oxide production. Meanwhile, the increased expression of ATF4 and HO-1 mRNAs were observed in lesions derived from patients infected with the prevalent related species L.(V.) braziliensis. Our data demonstrates that Leishmania parasites activate the PERK/eIF2α/ATF-4 pathway in cultured macrophages and infected human tissue and that this pathway is important for parasite survival and progression of the infection.
•Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) biopsies displayed high expression of IL-1β.•Inflammasome genes such as NLRP3, NLRP1, NLRC5, AIM2 were upregulated in LCL.•Inflammasome components were high ...expressed mainly in late lesions of LCL patients.•NLRP1, AIM2, P2RX7 and IL-R mediate susceptibility in Leishmania-infected mice.
Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) can ultimately progress to chronic ulcerated lesions with strong local inflammatory reactions. The functional role of certain inflammasomes in mediating inflammation caused by Leishmania braziliensis needs to be addressed. By combining PCR-array, quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical analysis, we identified inflammasome genes, such as IL-1β, NLRP3, NLRP1, NLRC5, AIM2 and P2RX7, that were upregulated in LCL patients. Temporal gene expression studies showed that the early phase of LCL displayed increased NLRP3 and reduced AIM2 and NLRP1 expression, while the late stages showed increased AIM2 and NLRP1 and lower NLRP3 expression. Our findings also showed that AIM2, NLRP1, and P2RX7 promoted susceptibility to experimental L. braziliensis infection. These results highlight the importance of inflammasome machinery in human LCL and suggest that inflammasome machinery plays a role in the acute and chronic phases of the disease.
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA) from nasal swabs (NSs), saliva, and oral filter paper imprints ...(OFPI) in diagnosing mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (ML) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Seventeen patients with ML, 19 patients with CL, and 33 controls were evaluated. In patients with ML, PCR from NS showed an 86% diagnostic accuracy (95% confidence interval CI = 73.81–93.05), followed by saliva 74% (95% CI = 60.45–84.13) and OFPI 68% (95% CI = 54.19–79.24). The highest sensitivity was reached by using the NS 58.82% (95% CI = 36.01–78.39), followed by saliva 23.53% (95% CI = 9.56–47.26) and OFPI 5.88% (95% CI = 1.05–26.98). The specificities of the tests were complete. The NS and OFPI were positive in 2 cases of CL. Mucous membrane samples exhibited a higher specificity compared to the Montenegro skin test and indirect immunofluorescence. NS sensitivity was higher than that of parasitological examinations.
Background: Glycemic disorders are strong predictors of mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, and disruption in nitric oxide (NO) production is associated with ...insulin-resistant states. We evaluated whether a defective allele of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene (NOS1) might influence insulin response and blood-glucose balance during the acute phase of STEMI and if post-infarction total plasma-NO levels and vasodilation scores varied across nNOS genotypes. Methods: Consecutive patients with STEMI (n=354) underwent clinical evaluations and genotyping for the promoter variation rs41279104. In-hospital clinical and blood evaluations were performed at admission and five days after STEMI, with glycemic, insulinemic, and disposition indices assessed at the same times. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed by reactive hyperemia on the 30th day. Results: Homozygotes for the defective allele (A) showed lower glycemia and insulin sensitivity on day 1 while showing the highest beta-cell function and no changes in the circulating NO pool, which is compatible with hyperresponsive beta cells counteracting the inherent glucoseresistant state of AA patients. At day 5, glycemic scores had shifted to indicate greater insulin sensitivity among A homozygotes, paralleled by a significant yet poor increase in NO bioavailability compared to that among G carriers. All in all, defective homozygotes showed greater insulin resistance at admission that had reversed by 5 days after STEMI. Even so, A carriers developed lower FMD scores compared to G homozygotes after the acute phase. Conclusion: A defective nNOS allele (and due decline in NO production) seemed to elicit a hyperinsulinemia response to compensate for an insulin-resistant state during the acute phase of STEMI and to be associated with poor endothelial function after the acute phase. Keywords: nitric oxide, insulin, blood glucose, vasodilation, polymorphism, myocardial infarction
Background. Disseminated leishmaniasis (DL) is an emerging clinical form of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) that occurs mainly in Northeastern Brazil. This study describes 18 cases where DL ...has not yet been reported.
Methods. Disseminated leishmaniasis cases were extracted from ATL recorded cases between 1987 and March 2015. Disseminated leishmaniasis identification was based on ≥10 mixed-type lesions, located in ≥2 body parts.
Results. Eighteen (5.4%) patients were identified as DL. Polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic digestion confirmed Leishmania viannia subgenus in 17 patients; amastigotes forms were identified in another one.
Conclusions. Considering that DL diagnosis and management is challenging, clinicians must be aware of this emerging clinical form of the disease.
Objective.—To test if the cerebral vasoreactivity among migraineurs is influenced by the prandial state.
Design and Methods.—Eight patients with migraine without aura were studied (mean age = 23.75 ...years; range = 19 to 32 years; 6 women). We also studied 8 healthy controls (mean age = 20.63 years; range = 18 to 22 years; 3 women), with no history of migraine. Cerebral vasoreactivity was measured on the right side by the breath holding index (BHI) using an EZ‐Dop transcranial Doppler instrument, with a 2‐MHz transducer fitted on a headband. Serum glucose levels were measured after a 10‐hour fasting period and then 10 minutes after a standardized breakfast.
Results.—In both groups, we found a postprandial (PP) glycemia enhancement (P < .02). Migraineurs showed enhanced PP cerebral vasoreactivity when compared to the fasting state (FS) (BHI‐PP = 1.46; BHI‐FS = 1.16; P= .02). Among controls, we found a trade to enhancement, but without statistic significance (BHI‐PP = 1.28; BHI‐FS = 1.11; P= .30). Glucose levels were not significantly correlated to cerebral vasoreactivity in any of the groups (P > .05).
Conclusion.—Our findings suggest that migraineurs have a higher reactivity to hypercapnia during the PP period.
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