Search

Some researchers suggest the use of residual rice-husk ash (RHA) finely divided as a mineral addition to cement, despite the reduced content of amorphous silica compared to RHA produced by controlled burning. This article presents an investigation of the pozzolanic activity of residual RHA A and residual RHA B, with high and low contents of amorphous silica, respectively, showing different particle size distributions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 29Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and determination of amorphous silica through the rapid analytical method were used for the microstructural characterization of the RHA samples. The RHA B with low content of amorphous silica increases the consumption of calcium hydroxide when its particle size decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some researchers suggest the use of residual rice-husk ash (RHA) finely divided as a mineral addition to cement, despite the reduced content of amorphous silica compared to RHA produced by controlled burning. This article presents an investigation of the pozzolanic activity of residual RHA A and residual RHA B, with high and low contents of amorphous silica, respectively, showing different particle size distributions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 29Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and determination of amorphous silica through the rapid analytical method were used for the microstructural characterization of the RHA samples. The RHA B with low content of amorphous silica increases the consumption of calcium hydroxide when its particle size decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUÇÃO: Nas Américas, Lutzomyia longipalpis tem sido incriminada como vetora da leishmaniose visceral em, praticamente, todas as áreas de ocorrência dessa parasitose. A notificação de casos humanos a partir de 1980 e a presença de cães com aspecto sugestivo de leishmaniose visceral no Município de Corumbá, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, levaram a investigações entomológicas na área, com o objetivo de identificar a população de flebotomíneo vetora. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: A pesquisa foi realizada no peri e intradomicílio de três residências urbanas e em ecótopo natural, representado por uma gruta, situado fora do perímetro urbano. As capturas, semanais em sua maioria, foram realizadas com armadilhas automáticas luminosas, no período de 1984 a 1986. Os dados metereológicos desse período foram obtidos junto à Estação Metereológica da cidade e os de 1925 a 1982, de bibliografia. RESULTADOS: A fauna flebotomínea urbana, composta de oito espécies, mostrou-se semelhante à da gruta, porém nesta, a abundância das espécies foi maior. Na área urbana, Lu. cruzi predominou tanto no intra como no peridomicílio: no bairro central, representou 90,3% dos espécimens e nos dois bairros periféricos, os seus percentuais foram menores. Lu. forattinii, também, teve freqüência expressiva em um dos bairros periféricos (39,0 %). Na gruta, Lu. corumbaensis foi a espécie predominante. Comenta-se o impacto das condições climáticas e do inseticida aplicado na área urbana na freqüência das espécies, e da utilização da gruta como criadouro pelos flebotomíneos, com base na evolução da razão entre os sexos ao longo do período. Foram adicionadas informações sobre antropofilia e de coleta com isca canina de Lu. forattinii. CONCLUSÃO: O predomínio de Lu. cruzi na área urbana; a expressiva freqüência de Lu. forattinii na periferia da cidade, bem como a sua antropofilia e o estreito grau de parentesco destas espécies com Lu. longipalpis, a principal vetora da leishmaniose visceral em outras áreas da América, são aspectos que sugerem a participação de ambas na transmissão da doença, em Corumbá.

The aim of this study was to characterize the yield components of the grape BRS Isis grown in tropical conditions of the São Francisco Valley. The work was carried out during five growing seasons (2013–2015) in Petrolina, PE. The phenological cycle was 127 days between pruning to harvest. It was obtained 65.8% of sprouting on the rootstock IAC 313 and 60.4% on ‘SO4’. The bud fertility rates were high, around 1.00 bunches per shoot. The average production per plant was 20.63 kg on ‘SO4’ and 18.34 kg on ‘IAC 313’, corresponding to an yield at 29.45 ton/ha/season on ‘SO4’ and 26.19 ton/ha/season on ‘IAC 313’. The bunches are medium in size and cylindrical shaped with mass of 400 g on ‘SO4’ and 370 g on ‘IAC 313’. The bunch length and width were also slightly higher on ‘SO4’ (21.32 cm × 11.89 cm) compared to ‘IAC 313’ (20.42 cm × 11.50 cm). The berries are large, elliptical shaped, crunchy with a neutral flavor. The grape presented SS content around 16.0°Brix and low TA (0.44 and 0.49%), giving an apropriate SS/TA ratio and pleasant taste. The results showed that ‘BRS Isis’ can be considered as a new option of seedless grape for the tropical viticulture in the Northeastern of Brazil.

Background: Patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs) have been prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination to mitigate the infection severity risks. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at a high risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, especially those under immunosuppression or with associated comorbidities. However, few studies have assessed the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with RA., Objective: To evaluate the safety of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with RA., Methods: This data are from the study "Safety and Efficacy on COVID-19 Vaccine in Rheumatic Diseases," a Brazilian multicentric prospective phase IV study to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine in IMRDs in Brazil. Adverse events (AEs) in patients with RA of all centers were assessed after two doses of ChAdOx1 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) or CoronaVac (Sinovac/Butantan). Stratification of postvaccination AEs was performed using a diary, filled out daily and returned at the end of 28 days for each dose., Results: A total of 188 patients with RA were include, 90% female. CoronaVac was used in 109 patients and ChAdOx1 in 79. Only mild AEs were observed, mainly after the first dose. The most common AEs after the first dose were pain at the injection (46,7%), headache (39,4%), arthralgia (39,4%), myalgia (30,5%) and fatigue (26,6%), and ChAdOx1 had a higher frequency of pain at the injection (66% vs 32 %, p < 0.001) arthralgia (62% vs 22%, p < 0.001) and myalgia (45% vs 20%, p < 0.001) compared to CoronaVac. The more common AEs after the second dose were pain at the injection (37%), arthralgia (31%), myalgia (23%), headache (21%) and fatigue (18%). Arthralgia (41,4% vs 25%, p = 0.02) and pain at injection (51,4% vs 27%, p = 0.001) were more common with ChAdOx1. No serious AEs were related. With Regard to RA activity level, no significant difference was observed between the three time periods for both COVID-19 vaccines., Conclusion: In the comparison between the two immunizers in patients with RA, local reactions and musculoskeletal symptoms were more frequent with ChAdOx1 than with CoronaVac, especially after the first dose. In summary, the AE occurred mainly after the first dose, and were mild, like previous data from others immunizing agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Vaccination did not worsen the degree of disease activity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The 2006 Revised Sapporo Classification Criteria for Definite Antiphospholipid Syndrome included as laboratory criteria the tests for antiphospholipid antibodies whose accuracy was regarded as satisfactory according to the evidence available at that time. In practice, however, the sensitivity and specificity of these "criteria" of antiphospholipid antibodies are sometimes insufficient for identifying or ruling out antiphospholipid syndrome. It has been studied whether the accuracy of the laboratory diagnosis of the syndrome could be improved by testing for non-criteria antiphospholipid antibodies. In this work, we review evidence on the clinical associations and diagnostic value of the most commonly studied non-criteria antibodies, namely: antiphosphatidylethanolamine, anti-annexin A5, anti-prothrombin, anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex, IgA anticardiolipin, and IgG anti-domain I of the β2 glycoprotein antibodies.

Background/objective: The epidemiology of vasculitis is variable in different geographic areas, and this issue has not been approached in Brazil yet. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of vasculitis in specialized centers in Brazil., Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 9 vasculitis outpatient clinics from 6 different states mainly from the Southeast and the Northeast regions of Brazil between 2015 and 2017. Diagnosis and/or classification criteria for Behçet disease (BD), Takayasu arteritis (TA), giant cell arteritis (GCA), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CryoVas) were used to include patients with at least 6 months of follow-up in this hospital-based survey., Results: A total of 1233 patients with systemic vasculitis were included from the Southeast region. Behçet disease was the most frequent vasculitis (35.0%) followed by TA (26.4%), GPA (16.2%), PAN (5.8%), GCA (5.8%), EGPA (4.3%), MPA (3.4%), and CryoVas (3.0%). Up to 7.8% of vasculitis patients had a juvenile onset, and the frequency of vasculitides found in children and adolescents was as follows: TA (52.6%), BD (24.7%), GPA (12.4%), and PAN (10.3%). No cases of EGPA, MPA, and CryoVas were diagnosed before the age of 18 years. As a comparator, 103 vasculitis patients were included in the Northeast of Brazil where TA was found in 36.9% and BD in 31.1% of vasculitis cases. No GCA cases were found in the Northeast part of Brazil., Conclusions: Similar to the epidemiology of vasculitis in Asia, BD and TA are the most frequent vasculitis in Southeastern Brazilian referral centers.

Background: The term Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) refers to a group of drugs that inhibit factor Xa or thrombin. Even though their use for treating different thrombotic or prothrombotic conditions is increasing recently, there is no compelling evidence indicating that those medications are safe in all antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients., Methodology: To address this issue, specialists from the Antiphospholipid Syndrome Committee of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology performed a comprehensive review of the literature regarding DOACs use in APS to answer the three following questions: (1) potential mechanisms of action of these drugs that could be relevant to APS pathogenesis, (2) DOACs interference on lupus anticoagulant testing, and (3) the efficacy of DOACs in APS., Position Statement: After critically reviewing the relevant evidence, the authors formulated 8 Position Statements about DOACs use in APS., Conclusion: DOACs should not be routinely used in APS patients, especially in those with a high-risk profile (triple positivity to aPL, arterial thrombosis, and recurrent thrombotic events). In addition, DOACs interferes with LA testing, leading to false-positive results in patients investigating APS.

After publication of the original article [1], we were notified that there is a mistake in Fig. 2.

Background: The V Brazilian Consensus for determination of autoantibodies against cellular constituents on HEp-2 cells, held in Brasilia (DF, Brazil) on August 27, 2016, discussed the harmonization between the Brazilian Consensus on ANA (BCA) guidelines and the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP) recommendations ( www.anapatterns.org ). Initial guidelines were formulated by the group of Brazilian experts with the purpose of guiding and enabling Brazilian clinical laboratories to adopt recommendations and to provide a common standard for national and international consensuses., Mainbody: Twenty Brazilian researchers and experts from universities and clinical laboratories representing the various geographical regions of the country participated in the meeting. Three main topics were discussed, namely the harmonization between the BCA guidelines and latest recommendations of the ICAP initiative, the adjustment of the terminology and report on HEp-2 patterns, and a reassessment of quality assurance parameters. For the three topics, our aim was to establish specific guidelines. All recommendations were based on consensus among participants. There was concrete progress in the adjustment of the BCA guidelines to match the ICAP guidelines. To a certain extent, this derives from the fact that ICAP recommendations were largely based on the algorithm and recommendations of the IV Brazilian ANA Consensus, as consistently recognized in the ICAP publications and presentations. However, although there is great overlap between the two Consensuses, there are some point divergences. These specific items were individually and extensively discussed, and it was acknowledged that in several points ICAP improved recommendations previously issued by the Brazilian ANA Consensus and these changes were readily implemented. Regarding some specific topics, the BCA panel of experts felt that the previously issued recommendations remained relevant and possibly will require further discussion with ICAP. The term anti-cell antibodies was adopted as the recommended designation, recognizing that the assay addresses antibodies against antigens in the nucleus and in other cell compartments. However, the acronym ANA HEp-2 was maintained due to historical and regulatory reasons. It was also signalized that the latest trend in ICAP is to adopt the term Indirect Immunofluorescent Assay on HEp-2 cell substrate (HEp-2 IIFA). In addition, the quality assurance strategies previously presented were ratified and emphasized., Conclusion: The V BCA edition was successful in establishing an overall harmonization with the ICAP recommendations for interpretation of the HEp-2 IIFA test, pinpointing the perspectives in filling the remaining gaps between both initiatives.

The present study was conducted to describe the major seminal plasma proteome of rabbits and potential associations between seminal proteins and semen criteria. Semen samples were collected from 18 New Zealand adult rabbits, and seminal plasma proteins were analyzed by 2-D SDS-PAGE and tandem mass spectrometry. Sperm motility, vigor, concentration, morphology and membrane sperm viability were evaluated. Rabbits ejaculated 364 ± 70 million sperm/ml, with 81 ± 6.1% motile cells, 3.8 ± 0.2 vigor and 66.7 ± 2.5% sperm with normal morphology. Based on the viability and acrosome integrity assay, there were 65.8 ± 2.5% live sperm with intact acrosome and most spermatozoa had both intact acrosome and functional membrane. On average, 2-D gels of rabbit seminal plasma had 232 ± 69.5 spots, as determined by PDQuest software (Bio Rad, USA). Mass spectrometry allowed the identification of 137 different proteins. The most abundant proteins in rabbit seminal plasma were hemoglobin subunit zeta-like, annexins, lipocalin, FAM115 protein and albumin. The intensity of the spots associated with these five proteins represented 71.5% of the intensity of all spots detected in the master gel. Multiple regression models were estimated using sperm traits as dependent variables and seminal plasma proteins as independent ones. Also, sperm motility had positive association with beta-nerve growth factor and cysteine-rich secretory protein 1-like and a negative one with galectin-1. The percentage of rabbit sperm with intact membrane was related to seminal plasma protein FAM115 complex and tropomyosin. Then, the population of morphologically normal sperm in rabbit semen was positively linked to carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6-like and down regulated by seminal plasma isocitrate dehydrogenase. Based on another regression model, the variation in the percentage of live sperm with intact acrosome was partially explained by the amount of leukocyte elastase inhibitor and the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A in the rabbit seminal fluid. The current study reports the identification of 137 proteins of rabbit seminal plasma. Major proteins of seminal secretion relate primarily to prevention of damages caused by lipid peroxide radicals and oxidative stress, membrane functionality, transport of lipids to the sperm membrane and temperature regulation. Moreover, finding seminal plasma proteins as indicators of semen parameters will improve assisted reproductive technologies., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Understanding host immune pathways associated with tissue damage during reactions are of upmost importance to the development of immune intervention strategies. The participation of monocytes in leprosy reactions was evaluated by determining the frequency of monocyte subsets and the degree of cellular activation through the expression of MHCII and the co-stimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, CD86. Leprosy subjects with or without reactions were included in this cross-sectional study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell were isolated and stained ex vivo to determine monocyte subsets and the degree of cellular activation by flow cytometry. Intermediate monocytes were increased in leprosy patients with reactions when compared to patients without reactions. Although no difference was detected in the frequency of monocyte subsets between type 1 and 2 reactions, the expression of CD80 was increased in monocytes from patients with type 1 reactions and CD40 was higher in paucibacillary subjects presenting type 1 reactions. Moreover, CD86 and MHC II expression were higher in intermediate monocytes when compared to the other subsets in leprosy reaction types 1 and 2. Intermediate monocyte activation with CD86 and MHCII expression is involved with both type 1 and 2 reactions, whereas CD80 and CD40 expression is related to type 1 reactions., (Copyright © 2018 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The association between cardiovascular and periodontal diseases is characterized by chronic inflammatory processes, with a high prevalence worldwide and complex genetic-environment interactions. Although apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), one of the isoforms coded by a polymorphic APOE gene, has been widely recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and as an immunoinflammatory factor, less is known regarding how ApoE4 affects atherosclerosis in periodontitis patients. The aim of this review was to investigate the potential underlying mechanisms related to APOE4 that could increase the risk of periodontal disease and, ultimately, of atherosclerosis. There have only been a few studies addressing apoE polymorphisms in patients with chronic periodontitis. To date, no studies have been performed that have assessed how ApoE4 affects atherosclerotic disease in chronic periodontitis patients. Although clinical studies are warranted, experimental studies have consistently documented the presence of periodontal pathogens, which are usually found in the oral cavity and saliva, in the atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE-deficient mice. In addition, in this review, the potential role of the APOE4 allele as an example of antagonistic pleiotropy during human evolution and its relation to oral health is discussed., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) associated with thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity. Most APS events are directly related to thrombotic events, which may affect small, medium or large vessels. Other clinical features like thrombocytopenia, nephropathy, cardiac valve disease, cognitive dysfunction and skin ulcers (called non-criteria manifestations) add significant morbidity to this syndrome and represent clinical situations that are challenging. APS was initially described in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but it can occur in patients without any other autoimmune disease. Despite the autoimmune nature of this syndrome, APS treatment is still based on anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy.

Competing Interests: Conflito de interesse: Os autores declararam não haver conflitos de interesse que precisam ser informados.

The purpose of these recommendations is to guide the appropriate induction treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with active disease. The recommendations proposed by the Vasculopathies Committee of the Brazilian Society Rheumatology for induction therapy of AAV, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis and renal-limited vasculitis, were based on systematic literature review and expert opinion. Literature review was performed using Medline (PubMed), EMBASE and Cochrane database to retrieve articles until October 2016. PRISMA guidelines were used for the systematic review and articles were assessed according to the Oxford levels of evidence. Sixteen recommendations were made regarding different aspects of induction therapy for AAV. The purpose of these recommendations is to serve as a guide for therapeutic decisions by health care professionals in the management of AAV patients presenting active disease., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

Objective: The Fourth Brazilian Consensus for Autoantibodies Screening in HEp-2 Cells (ANA) was held in Vitória, Espírito Santo, and aimed to discuss strategies and recommendations about the technique, standardization, interpretation and quality control of the indirect immunofluorescence reaction on HEp-2 cells., Methods: Twenty three ANA experts from university centers and private laboratories in different areas from Brazil discussed and agreed upon recommendations for the fourth edition of the Brazilian Consensus for Autoantibodies Screening in HEp-2 Cells., Results and Conclusion: The 4th ANA Consensus included three novel patterns into the existing algorithm (cytoplasmic Rods and Rings, nuclear Quasi-homogeneous, and CENP-F). Emphasis was given to the need of attention in describing the peculiar mixed pattern elicited by anti-DNA topoisomerase I (Scl-70) autoantibodies, comprising nuclear fine specked, nucleolar homogeneous pattern, NOR staining in metaphase plates, and cytoplasmic fine speckled patterns. The group also emphasized the need for continuous quality control in indirect immunofluorescence assays, the establishment of screening dilutions, as well as conjugate titration. An alert was made regarding the heterogeneity of commercial kits in defining patterns and the use of solid phase methodologies to determine the presence of autoantibodies.

Objective: To determine the frequency of antiparvovírus B19 (B19) antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and the possible correlation of anti-B19 seropositivity with disease activity and quality of life., Patients and Methods: Serum samples from 57 patients with RA, 45 with SLE and 65 healthy controls were used. We applied protocol with clinical data, and the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) indexes. The anti-B19 serology was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: The mean age of patients was 42.74 ± 14.09 years, and of controls was 38.38 ± 13.42 years. 79 patients had active disease (77.5%), and 23 had inactive disease (22.5%). Anti-B19 (IgG) was positive in 49 (86.0%; CI 95% 77.0-95.0) RA patients, 38 (84.4%; CI 95% 73.9-95.0) SLE patients, and 40 (61.5%; CI 95% 49.7-73.4) controls (p = 0.002). Anti-B19 (IgM) was positive in 3 (5.3%; CI 95% 0.0-11.1) RA patients, in 7 (15.6%; CI 95% 5.0-26,2) SLE patients, and in 1 (1.5%; CI 95% 0.0-4.5) control (p = 0.011).There was no correlation of anti-B19 reactivity with disease activity and with DAS 28, HAQ and SLEDAI indexes., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the studied population is exposed to infection by B19, which demands attention with its manifestations, especially among patients at greatest risk, such as those immunosuppressed.

A procedure is proposed for Pb determination in medicinal plants by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GF AAS) using direct solid sampling. Among Pd(NO(3))(2), Pd/Mg(NO(3))(2), NH(4)H(2)PO(4) and the W-coated platform tested as chemical modifiers, Pd(NO(3))(2) presented the best performance. Calibration plots (10-1000 pg Pb) with regression coefficients better than 0.999 were typically obtained. Accuracy was checked for Pb determination in five plant certified reference materials. Results were in agreement with reference values at a 95% confidence level (paired t-test). Medicinal plant samples were analyzed by the proposed procedure and line-source GF AAS using slurry sampling as a comparative technique. The RSD was 10% (n=3) for a sample containing 0.88 μg g(-1) Pb. The limit of quantification (dry mass) was 0.024 μg g(-1). The contents of Pb in medicinal plant samples varied in the 0.30-1.94 μg g(-1) range., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, mediators synthesized in the adipose tissue, the so-called adipokines, have been described. They have a hormonal action, regulating appetite and glucose metabolism, but also act as cytokines with effects on the immune system, including effects on autoimmunity. The most important adipokines are leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin, and some of them have been assessed in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies have shown high levels of leptin and adiponectin in SLE, but correlation with disease activity is questionable. In RA, studies have also reported increased levels of leptin and adiponectin, and correlation with disease activity and joint erosion, but the results are conflicting. This review describes the role of leptin and adiponectin on the immune system, as well as on SLE and RA.

Eighty consecutive neurological ambulatory patients with various symptoms are presented. All patients with a history of diabetes or alcoholism were excluded. The group was composed of 54 females and 26 males ranging in age from 16 to 67 years. Neurological examination showed at least one peripheral abnormal finding in all patients. Absence of Achilles reflexes, impairment of tactile and vibratory sensibility in the distal portions of the legs and dysesthesia were the most frequent alterations. All patients showed normal fasting blood sugar and were submitted to the oral glucose tolerance test. Some evidence of abnormal glucose tolerance was present in 41 patients (51.25% of the entire group). Thus, we suggest that polyneuritis, misinterpreted as late complication, is indeed an integral part of the syndrome of diabetes and may be its very first objective sign. In conclusion, it is assumed that all patients with evidence of objective polyneuritis should be thoroughly tested for abnormality of glucose tolerance.