Neutrophil paralysis in Plasmodium vivax malaria Leoratti, Fabiana Maria de Souza; Trevelin, Silvia Cellone; Cunha, Fernando Queiroz ...
PLoS neglected tropical diseases,
06/2012, Letnik:
6, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The activation of innate immune responses by Plasmodium vivax results in activation of effector cells and an excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that may culminate in deleterious ...effects. Here, we examined the activation and function of neutrophils during acute episodes of malaria.
Blood samples were collected from P. vivax-infected patients at admission (day 0) and 30-45 days after treatment with chloroquine and primaquine. Expression of activation markers and cytokine levels produced by highly purified monocytes and neutrophils were measured by the Cytometric Bead Assay. Phagocytic activity, superoxide production, chemotaxis and the presence of G protein-coupled receptor (GRK2) were also evaluated in neutrophils from malaria patients.
Both monocytes and neutrophils from P. vivax-infected patients were highly activated. While monocytes were found to be the main source of cytokines in response to TLR ligands, neutrophils showed enhanced phagocytic activity and superoxide production. Interestingly, neutrophils from the malaria patients expressed high levels of GRK2, low levels of CXCR2, and displayed impaired chemotaxis towards IL-8 (CXCL8).
Activated neutrophils from malaria patients are a poor source of pro-inflammatory cytokines and display reduced chemotactic activity, suggesting a possible mechanism for an enhanced susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection during malaria.
Abstract
Background
Annexins are a group of conserved proteins which exert several regulatory functions on various cellular activities. Increased frequency and levels of antibodies against annexin V ...have already been observed in several autoimmune diseases including systemic sclerosis (SSc), but their role as a vascular biomarker is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels and the dynamical behavior of anti-annexin V antibodies over a 24 months follow-up in patients with SSc.
Methods
In this bicentric cross-sectional study, 70 patients with SSc were consecutively selected from March 2016 to April 2017. Demographic and clinical features, including the presence of active DUs, were collected. Serum anti-annexin V IgG and IgM antibodies were measured at baseline and after 6, 12 and 24 months of follow-up. Videocapillaroscopy was performed in all patients.
Results
Among the 70 SSc patients included anti-annexin V IgG was found in 11 patients (15.7%) (range of 15.88–39.48 U/mL) and anti-annexin V IgM in 10 patients (14.3%) (range of 14.16–22.69 U/mL) at baseline. During follow-up, the number of patients who were positive for anti-annexin V IgG and IgM remained stable over 24 months. Among the patients with positive anti-annexin V IgG at baseline the frequency of patients with necrosis or amputation of extremities, forced vital capacity less than 70% and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was significantly higher than in patients with negative anti-annexin V IgG antibodies. Patients with anti-annexin V IgG had also a higher Raynaud’s Condition Score and a higher Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) than patients without these antibodies at baseline. Patients with positive anti-annexin V IgM at baseline presented a higher frequency of PAH, compared to those with negative anti-annexin V IgM at baseline.
Conclusions
Anti-annexin V antibodies are stable and do not change their positivity during a 24 month follow-up in SSc patients. Anti-annexin V IgG was associated with more severe interstitial lung involvement and digital microangiopathy, and patients with anti-annexin V IgG or IgM had a higher occurrence of PAH indicating an association of these biomarker with more severe disease.
Buddleja bordignonii is a new species from southern Brazil. This species belongs to Buddleja sect. Buddleja ser. Thyrsoides, and is morphologically similar to B. cuneata, from which it can be ...distinguished by its leaves with attenuate base, leaf shape and length/width ratio, its longer peduncle of cymes, and pedicellate flowers. The species is restricted to one location in the Midwest region of Rio Grande do Sul, occurring in rocky shrublands in the municipality of Jari. We present here a morphological description, illustration and photographs of the new species. Also. we propose the inclusion of B. bordignonii in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in the critically endangered (CR) category since its habitat has been drastically reduced by human activity.
Actinobacillosis outbreak with clinical manifestation of hippopotamus-like face observed in a property located in the municipality of Capão do Leão, Southern Brazil, in September 2016, is described. ...The cattle herd remained for most of the year in rice stubble. When these areas were occupied with new crops, they were transferred to areas where there were small native forests. Three cattle were affected. They presented a volume increase in the nasolabial and maxillary region, and there was also regional lymph node swelling. The evolution of the disease occurred in approximately six months. In tissue fragments collected for culture, Actinobacillus lignieresii was isolated. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings, histopathological evaluation characterized by the presence of piogranulomas with Splendore Hoepli reaction in its center, bacterial isolation, and identification of A. lignieresii by polymerase chain reaction (PRC) and genetic sequencing.
RESUMO: Descreve-se um surto de actinobacilose com manifestação clínica de cara de hipopótamo diagnosticado em uma propriedade localizada no município do Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul em setembro de 2016. Os bovinos permaneciam durante a maior parte do ano em restevas de arroz e quando as áreas eram ocupadas com novas lavouras eram transferidos para áreas onde havia pequenas matas nativas. Foram afetados três bovinos adultos que apresentavam aumento de volume na região nasolabial e maxilar e havia, também, tumefação dos linfonodos regionais. A evolução da enfermidade era de aproximadamente seis meses. Nos fragmentos coletados para cultura houve isolamento de Actinobacillus lignieresii. O diagnóstico foi baseado nos achados clínicos, na avaliação histopatológica caracterizada pela presença de piogranulomas com reação de Splendori Hoepli no centro, no isolamento bacteriano, identificação de Actinobacillus lignieresii por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PRC) e sequenciamento genético.
Digital ulcers (DUs) represent a frequent complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, serological and capillaroscopy features that are associated with ...DUs in patients with SSc.
In this bicentric cross-sectional study, 70 patients with SSc were consecutively selected from March 2016 to April 2017. Demographic and clinical features, including the presence of active DUs, were collected. Videocapillaroscopy was performed in all patients.
Among the 70 patients included (mean age of 46.8 years, mean disease duration of 9.41 years), 14 (20%) had active DUs. Based on multivariate analysis, the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies, the HAQ-DI score, and the capillary loss score were independently associated with DUs with odds ratios of 7.96 (95% CI 1.32-47.99), 55.77 (95% CI 1.76-1764.28), and 16.66 (95% CI 2.07-133.81), respectively.
The presence of avascular areas in capillaroscopy, elevation of HAQ-DI score and anti-Scl-70 antibodies were independent factors associated with DUs in patients with SSc.
CoronaVac is an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that has been rolled out in several low and middle-income countries including Brazil, where it was the mainstay of the first wave of immunization of ...healthcare workers and the elderly population. We aimed to assess the T cell and antibody responses of vaccinated individuals as compared to convalescent patients. We detected IgG against SARS-CoV-2 antigens, neutralizing antibodies against the reference Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 strain and used SARS-CoV-2 peptides to detect IFN-g and IL-2 specific T cell responses in a group of CoronaVac vaccinated individuals (N = 101) and convalescent (N = 72) individuals. The frequency among vaccinated individuals, of whom 96% displayed T cell and/or antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2, is comparable to 98.5% responses of convalescent individuals. We observed that among vaccinated individuals, men and individuals 55 years or older developed significantly lower anti-RBD, anti-NP and neutralization titers against the Wuhan strain and antigen-induced IL-2 production by T cells. Neutralizing antibody responses for Gamma variant were even lower than for the Wuhan strain. Even though some studies indicated CoronaVac helped reduce mortality among elderly people, considering the appearance of novel variants of concern, CoronaVac vaccinated individuals above 55 years old are likely to benefit from a heterologous third dose/booster vaccine to increase immune response and likely protection.
O presente estudo se propõe a investigar como o profissional de Educação Física atuante em academia de ginástica concebe e lida com o seu envelhecimento, além de discutir eventuais relações no ...tocante ao envelhecimento, ao corpo e ao mercado de trabalho das academias de ginástica. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Deixar de ser o modelo jovem e saudável apreciado no âmbito das academias emerge negativamente a esses profissionais, que buscam no conhecimento adquirido na profissão encobrir estereótipos associados ao envelhecimento. Dessa forma acreditam aumentar as chances de permanência nesse mercado.
AbstractIn up to one-third of cases of sudden death, the medico-legal autopsy finding is inconclusive, and the option to perform a molecular autopsy is covered in international guidelines. The ...importance of postmortem genetic testing lies in its ability to identify hereditary diseases, often those with an autosomal dominant transmission pattern, and, through consultations and screening of relatives, to identify family members with a pathogenic mutation, who are often asymptomatic, providing an opportunity to change the course of their lives. The authors present three clinical cases that highlight the importance of postmortem genetic studies and family studies, as well as the integration of the data obtained in a cardiology consultation, which may be for arrhythmology, coronary disease or cardiomyopathy, depending on the specific condition. This could modify the course of the disease in many relatives.
In this work, the harvest variability of the varietal composition of Fernão-Pires grape variety was evaluated using a dichloromethane liquid–liquid continuous extraction followed by GC-qMS of the ...free (F) and potential varietal components (PVC) from the musts across four harvests (1998, 1999, 2000, and 2002). This study showed that Fernão-Pires musts exhibited varietal volatile composition variability along the years. Based on the data obtained, using GC-qMS in tandem with PCA, relationships were established between the varietal volatile composition of the musts and the white wine aroma quality classification conferred by the official wine taster chamber. The results of the volatile analyses were consistent with the wine quality classification, indicating that the wine aroma quality is clearly associated with the musts free varietal volatile composition. On the other hand, the PVC fraction allowed the distinction of the musts according to the composition of potential aroma precursors. The proposed approach can provide information to winemakers concerning the winemaking methodologies that can be implemented to improve the varietal wine aroma quality.
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