Search

Abstract Objective Eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that occurs during pregnancy and can lead to death. The literature has gaps by not providing comprehensive data on the epidemiology of the disease, restricting analysis to limited temporal intervals and geographical locations. This study aims to characterize the epidemiological profile of women who died from eclampsia in Brazil from 2000 to 2021. Methods The maternal mortality data were obtained from the Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade, with the following variables of interest selected: “Federative Unit,” “Year,” “Age Range,” “Race/Color,” and “Education Level.” The collection of the number of live births for data normalization was conducted in the Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism, calculating odds ratio for variables and fixing number of deaths per 100,000 live births for calculating maternal mortality ratio (MMR). Results There was a downward trend in maternal mortality rate during the study period. Maranhão stood out as the federative unit with the highest MMR (17 deaths per 100.000 live births). Mothers aged between 40 and 49 years (OR = 3.55, CI: 3.11–4.05) presents higher MMR. Additionally, black women showed the highest MMR (OR = 4.67, CI: 4.18–5.22), as well as mothers with no educational background (OR = 5.83, CI: 4.82–7.06). Conclusion The epidemiological profile studied is predominantly composed of mothers with little or no formal education, self-declared as Black, residing in needy states and with advanced aged. These data are useful for formulating public policies aimed at combating the issue.

Background/Objectives: Cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 is responsible for irreversible tissue damage and death. Soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily, their correlation with clinical outcome, and the use of TNF receptors as a potent predictor for clinical outcome were evaluated. Methods: Severe COVID-19 patients had the levels of soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily quantified and categorized according to the clinical outcome (death versus survival). Statistical modeling was performed to predict clinical outcomes. Results: COVID-19 patients have elevated serum levels from the TNF superfamily. Regardless of sex and age, the sTNFRI levels were observed to be significantly higher in deceased patients from the first weeks following the onset of symptoms. We analyzed hematological parameters and inflammatory markers, and there was a difference between the groups for the following factors: erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes, neutrophils, band cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, CRP, IL-8, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, IL-2, leptin MIF sCD40L, and sTNFRI (p < 0.05). A post hoc analysis showed an inferential capacity over 70% for some hematological markers, CRP, and inflammatory mediators in deceased patients. sTNFRI was strongly associated with death, and the sTNFRI/sTNFRII ratio differed between outcomes (p < 0.001; power above 90%), highlighting the impact of these proteins on clinical results. The final logistic model, including sTNFRI/sTNFRII and CRP, indicated high sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and an eight-fold higher odds ratio for an unfavorable outcome. Conclusions: The joint use of the sTNFRI/sTNFRII ratio with CRP proves to be a promising tool to assist in the clinical management of patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Objective: to compare the effectiveness of different diagnostic methods to estimate postpartum blood volume loss. Methods: a systematic review of effectiveness according to PRISMA and JBI Protocol. Searches in PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL, with descriptor “Postpartum Hemorrhage” associated with keyword “Quantification of Blood Loss”. Tabulated extracted data, presented in metasynthesis and meta-analysis was applied to quantitative data. To assess risk of bias, JBI Appraisal Tools were applied. Results: fourteen studies were included, published between 2006 and 2021. Quantification of loss by any method was superior to visual estimation and is highly recommended, however the studies’ high heterogeneity did not allow estimating this association. Conclusion: the studies’ high heterogeneity, with a probable margin of error given the uncontrolled factors, indicates the need for further studies, however quantification proved to be effective in relation to visual estimate. PROSPERO registration CRD 42021234486.

Resumo Este estudo teórico discorre sobre a bioética no sentido de promover e assegurar a dignidade do paciente de uma forma segura, que obedeça a sua tomada de decisão, seguindo normativas e protocolos que garantam o cumprimento dessa vontade, e trazendo também segurança para equipe assistencial. A ausência de consenso no meio jurídico, por falta de regulamentações que explicitem as regras para a elaboração de um modelo de diretivas de vontade, gera insegurança nos profissionais de saúde envolvidos, familiares e paciente. Para garantir esse direito, além da normatização jurídica, é necessário que os profissionais tenham pleno conhecimento do assunto, a fim de orientar e informar corretamente seus pacientes. Não basta assegurar ao indivíduo o direito de manifestar sua vontade, é preciso ainda a certeza de que esta será cumprida. Há a necessidade de ampliar discussões acerca da temática, com ênfase na realidade brasileira.

Introdução/Objetivo: A sífilis é uma infecção sexualmente transmissível (IST) causada por Treponema pallidum. Nos últimos anos, o número de casos de sífilis aumentou consideravelmente no município de Uberaba, sendo a terceira cidade mineira com maior número de notificações de sífilis gestacional. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar os casos de sífilis gestacional e congênita notificados no município de Uberaba/MG, entre os anos de 2012 a 2022. Métodos: Neste estudo foram avaliadas três variáveis relacionadas à sífilis gestacional (teste diagnóstico, esquema de tratamento, tratamento do parceiro) e três variáveis vinculadas à sífilis congênita (faixa etária, raça e sexo). Essas variáveis foram obtidas a partir das fichas de notificação disponíveis no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Resultados: No período avaliado foram notificados 915 casos de sífilis em gestante, sendo que 871 (95%) tiveram VDRL reativo, 4 (0,43%) não reativo, 7 não realizaram o teste diagnóstico (0,76%) e 33 (3,6%) foram ignorados. Essas porcentagens revelam a sensibilidade do teste não treponêmico VDRL, em que 95% das gestantes portadoras de sífilis obtiveram positividade no rastreio desta IST. No que se refere ao esquema de tratamento, 494 gestantes (53,98%) realizaram o tratamento preconizado, 208 (22%) foram ignorados ou não preenchidos na ficha de notificação, 159 (17%) pacientes usaram outro esquema de tratamento e 54 (5,9%) não realizaram nenhum tratamento. Apenas 219 parceiros (23,93%) destas gestantes foram tratados, 277 não realizaram nenhum tratamento (30,27%) e em 419 fichas de notificação não havia a informação (45,6%). Em relação à sífilis congênita foram notificados 493 casos, sendo 490 (99,39%) casos em menores de 1 ano, 2 (0,4%) casos com 1 ano e 1 (0,2%) caso com 7 anos. Dessas crianças, 170 (34,4%) foram declaradas brancas, 43 (8,72%) pretas, 1 (0,2%) amarela, 126 (25,6%) pardas e 153 (31%) ignorados ou em branco. Observou-se também que 235 (47,7%) crianças eram do sexo masculino e 242 (49%) do sexo feminino (em 16 (3,24%) dos casos notificados não havia informação sobre tal variável). Conclusão: A baixa porcentagem de tratamento dos parceiros está aliada à maior probabilidade de reinfecção da gestante. Assim, ações que visem a divulgação de informações a respeito de sífilis e o treinamento dos profissionais de saúde têm sido conduzidas no município e espera-se reduzir o número de casos dessa IST nos próximos anos.

Introdução/Objetivo: A emergência de patógenos multirresistentes a antimicrobianos tem sido alertada por órgãos e instituições de saúde, constituindo uma grande ameaça e um problema de saúde pública mundial. Klebsiella Pneumoniae produtora de Carbapenemase (KPC) constitui atualmente um dos patógenos mais importantes como agentes etiológicos de Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência em Saúde (IRAS). O presente trabalho teve como objetivo geral avaliar a incidência de infecções causadas por KPC em um hospital terciário universitário na cidade de Uberaba/Minas Gerais, entre os anos de 2015 e 2021. Métodos: Os prontuários médicos de pacientes acometidos por infecções causadas por KPC, entre os anos de 2015 e 2021, foram avaliados. Os dados coletados foram organizados em tabelas, no programa Excel, sendo realizada uma análise quantitativa e qualitativa. Resultados: Foram analisados 330 prontuários médicos, sendo 143 prontuários pertencentes a pacientes do sexo feminino (43,3%) e 187 a pacientes do sexo masculino (56,7%). A maioria dos pacientes foram identificados como brancos (n=164) e a mediana de idade foi de 61 anos (mínima de 16 anos e máxima de 95 anos). A maioria dos casos ocorreu em 2021 (57,58%; n=190), sendo observada elevada taxa de mortalidade entre os pacientes no período avaliado (47,88%; n=158). Em todos os casos, a infecção por KPC foi comprovada por meio do isolamento da bactéria, sendo realizado adicionalmente o teste de Hodge. KPC foi detectada principalmente em amostras de swab anal e/ou retal (n=307), além de fragmento de biópsia, secreção de dreno e sangue. Para os isolados de KPC com perfil de sensibilidade a antimicrobianos avaliado (n=98), a maioria (84,69%; n=83) apresentou resistência a 2 dos 3 carbapenêmicos testados (Imipinem, Meropenem e Ertapenem). Nove linhagens de KPC (9,18%) apresentaram resistência aos três carbapenêmicos avaliados e somente seis (6,12%) foram resistentes a somente um dos antimicrobianos. Conclusões: Dentre os anos de 2015 a 2021, KPC constituiu um importante patógeno causador de infecções no hospital universitário avaliado. A elevada taxa de óbito entre os pacientes e a multirresistência dos isolados bacterianos reforçam a necessidade de uma rápida detecção laboratorial, assim como a implementação de medidas de prevenção e controle da disseminação desse patógeno, como as precauções de contato.

ABSTRACT Objectives: to compare exclusive breastfeeding prevalence versus artificial feeding in newborns of mothers with COVID-19. Methods: a systematic review of prevalence, according to JBI. Searches in PubMed®, Embase, CINAHL, LILACS and Web of Science™ databases in August 2021. Cross-sectional, longitudinal or cohort studies were selected, without language and time limitations that showed breastfeeding prevalence or that allowed calculation. Results: fifteen articles published in 2020 and 2021, cohort (60%) or cross-sectional (40%) were analyzed. The average of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers with COVID-19 was 56.76% (CI=39.90–72.88), and artificial breastfeeding, 43.23% (CI = 30.99 – 55.88), without statistically significant differences. Conclusions: despite the recommendations for maintaining breastfeeding, there was a reduction worldwide, when compared to periods prior to the pandemic. With advances in science, these rates have improved, showing the impact of evidence on practices. As limitations, study sources are cited. It is recommended to carry out new studies. PROSPERO registration CRD42021234486.

BackgroundAmong the social inequalities that continue to still surpasses the basic rights of several citizens, political and environmental organizations decisively “drag” the “ghost” of hunger between different countries of the world, including Brazil. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the difficulties encountered in fighting poverty, which has led Brazil to a worrying situation regarding its fragility in the fight against new pandemics.ObjectivesThe present study aims to estimate, compare, and report the prevalence of mortality due to child malnutrition among the macro-regions of Brazil and verify possible associations with the outcome of death by COVID-19. This would identify the most fragile macro-regions in the country with the greatest need for care and investments.MethodsThe prevalence of mortality was determined using data from the federal government database (DataSus). Child malnutrition was evaluated for the period from 1996 to 2017 and COVID-19 was evaluated from February to December 2020. The (dis)similarity between deaths from malnutrition and COVID-19 was evaluated by proximity matrix.ResultsThe North and Northeast regions have above average number of deaths than expected for Brazil (p < 0.05). A prospective analysis reveals that the distribution of the North and Northeast macro-regions exceeds the upper limit of the CI in Brazil for up to the year 2024 (p < 0.05). The proximity matrix demonstrated the close relationship between deaths from COVID-19 and malnutrition for the Northern region followed by the Northeast region.ConclusionsThere are discrepancies in frequencies between macro-regions. Prospective data indicate serious problems for the North and Northeast regions for the coming years. Therefore, strategies to contain the outcome of health hazards must be intensified in the macro-regions North and Northeast of the country.

Biofilm formation is a key factor in the pathogenesis of enterococcal infections. Thus, the biofilm-forming ability and frequency of biofilm-related genes in penicillin-resistant, ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis (PRASEF) compared to penicillin- and ampicillin-susceptible E. faecalis (PSASEF) were assessed in the present study. In addition, the effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics on biofilm formation and expression of virulence genes was evaluated. Twenty PRASEF and 21 PSASEF clinical isolates were used to determine the effect of sub-MICs of antibiotics (ampicillin, penicillin, and gentamicin) on biofilm formation, and ten selected isolates were subjected to RT-qPCR to detect the transcript levels of virulence genes (efaA, asa1, esp, and ace). Antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated by the microdilution broth method. Biofilm formation assay was performed using the microtiter plate method. All PSASEF and PRASEF isolates produced biofilms in vitro. Most isolates had three or four virulence genes. Sub-MICs of ampicillin significantly decreased biofilm production and expression of ace and asa1 genes, although the transcript levels were significantly lower (−350% and −606.2%, respectively) among the PSASEF isolates only. Sub-MICs of gentamicin did not have any significant effect on biofilm formation, but slightly increased the transcript levels of efaA. In conclusion, this study showed that the biofilm-forming ability and frequency of the evaluated virulence genes were similar among the PRASEF and PSASEF isolates. Further, in vitro antibiotic sub-MICs were confirmed to interfere with the expression pattern of virulence genes and biofilm formation by E. faecalis. However, further studies are required to clarify the role of sublethal doses of antibiotics on enterococcal biofilms.

ABSTRACT Background: Domestic pigeons carry pathogens in their droppings, posing a potential public health problem. Methods: The phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistances of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium in the feces of urban pigeons near hospitals with intensive care units were measured. Results: Twenty-nine samples showed Enterococcus growth, whereas one was positive for S. aureus. The S. aureus isolate was sensitive to the antibiotics tested via antibiogram, however resistance genes were identified. E. faecium isolates showed phenotypic resistance to gentamicin, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: Antimicrobial profiles harmful to health were demonstrated in bacterial pathogens isolated from the external environment of hospitals.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common and fourth type to cause the highest mortality rates worldwide. The leading cause is related to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Unfortunately, current treatments have low success rates, highlighting the need for alternative treatments against carcinogenic agents, specifically H. pylori. Noteworthy, natural origin products contain pharmacologically active metabolites such as flavonoids, with potential antimicrobial applications.Objective: This article overviews flavonoid-rich extracts’ biological and pharmacological activities. It focuses on using these substances against Helicobacter pylori infection to prevent gastric cancer. For this, PubMed and Science Direct databases were searched for studies that reported the activity of flavonoids against H. pylori, published within a 10-year time frame (2010 to August 2020). It resulted in 1,773 publications, of which 44 were selected according to the search criteria. The plant family primarily found in publications was Fabaceae (9.61%). Among the flavonoids identified after extraction, the most prevalent were quercetin (19.61%), catechin (13.72), epicatechin (11.76), and rutin (11.76). The potential mechanisms associated with anti-H. pylori activity to the extracts were: inhibition of urease, damage to genetic material, inhibition of protein synthesis, and adhesion of the microorganism to host cells.Conclusion: Plant extracts rich in flavonoids with anti-H. pylori potential proved to be a promising alternative therapy source, reinforcing the relevance of studies with natural products.

Abstract The acute phase of experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection is associated with a strong inflammatory reaction, physiological changes, amastigote nests in tissues, and hematological alterations. ArtinM, a lectin extracted from Artocarpus heterophyllus seeds, is a homotetramer exhibiting immunomodulatory properties that promotes Th1 immune responses against intracellular pathogens, including the induction of neutrophil migration and increase in IL‐12 production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ArtinM on experimental Chagas disease in mice. We evaluated mouse survival curves, parasitemia, hematological parameters including quantification of inflammatory infiltrates, and amastigote nests in cardiac tissue during infection. The results showed a reduced number of parasites in the blood, an increase in animal survival, improvements in hematological parameters, and decrease in inflammatory infiltrates and amastigote nests in the group treated with ArtinM. Collectively, these data suggest that the administration of ArtinM can lower the number of parasites in peak parasitemia caused by the Colombian strain of T. cruzi and can increase survival of infected mice. The observed reduction in cardiac tissue injury may be due to fewer T. cruzi amastigote nests and lower levels of inflammatory infiltrates. This study highlights the need for further investigation into the use of ArtinM as a potential alternative therapeutic for treating Chagas disease.

COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019, is an infectious viral disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus. Since its emergence, its epidemiology has been explored; however, for some regions of the world, COVID-19’s behavior, incidence, and impact remain unclear. In continental nations like Brazil, this lack of knowledge results in nonuniform control, prevention, and treatment measures, which can be controversial in some locations. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of patients with COVID-19 in the macroregion of Triângulo Sul in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. Between March 25 and October 21, 2020, data were collected and statistically analyzed from 395 hospitalized patients in the city of Uberaba, MG, suspected to have moderate or severe forms of the disease. Of the 395 suspected cases, 82% were confirmed to be positive for COVID-19. The mean age of positive patients was 58.4 years, and 60.76% were male. Following these patients throughout their hospitalization, a mortality rate of 31.3% was observed. In the population positive for COVID-19, the risk of death increased by 4% for each year of the patient’s age. Likewise, the older the patient, the longer their hospitalization and the higher the risk of developing acute respiratory failure. Among the treatments tested in patients, heparin was associated with protection against mortality, and the absence of anticoagulant use was linked to a more than six times greater risk of death. Finally, comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 were positively correlated with increased hospitalization time. In summary, this study revealed that age, presence of comorbidities, length of hospitalization, and drug treatment considerably altered COVID-19’s lethality. To understand infection rates and the factors involved in COVID-19’s lethality, knowledge of the local epidemiology is necessary.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is responsible for causing a disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Predisposition to thromboembolic disease due to excessive inflammation is also attributed to the disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical and laboratory aspects of hospitalized patients, in addition to studying the pattern of serum cytokines, and associate them with the occurrence of thromboembolic events. Methodology: A retrospective cohort study with 97 COVID-19 patients hospitalized from April to August 2020 in the Triângulo Mineiro macro-region was carried out. A review of medical records was conducted to evaluate the clinical and laboratory aspects and the frequency of thrombosis, as well as the measurement of cytokines, in the groups that presented or did not present a thrombotic event. Results: There were seven confirmed cases of thrombotic occurrence in the cohort. A reduction in the time of prothrombin activity was observed in the group with thrombosis. Further, 27.8% of all patients had thrombocytopenia. In the group that had thrombotic events, the levels of IL1b, IL-10, and IL2 were higher (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In the studied sample, there was an increase in the inflammatory response in patients with thrombotic events, confirmed by the increase in cytokines. Furthermore, in this cohort, a link was observed between the IL-10 percentage and an increased chance of a thrombotic event.

In Chagas disease, the initial responses of phagocyte-mediated innate immunity are strongly associated with the control of Trypanosoma cruzi and are mediated by various signaling pathways, including the inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) pathway. The clinical and laboratory manifestations of Chagas disease depend on the parasite–host relationship, i.e., the responsive capacity of the host immune system and the immunogenicity of the parasite. Here, we evaluated effect sizes in clinical and laboratory parameters mediated by acute infection with different concentrations of T. cruzi inoculum in mice immunosuppressed via iNOS pathway inactivation. Infection was induced in C57BL/6 wild-type and iNOS-/- mice with the “Y” strain of T. cruzi at three inoculum concentrations (3 × 102, 3 × 103, and 3 × 104). Parasitemia and mortality in both mouse strains were monitored. Immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify amastigotes in cardiac tissues and cardiac musculature cells. Biochemical parameters, such as blood urea nitrogen, sodium, albumin, and globulin concentrations, among others, were measured, and cytokine concentrations were also measured. Effect sizes were determined by the eta squared formula. Compared with that in wild-type animals, mice with an absence of iNOS expression demonstrated a greater parasite load, with earlier infection and a delayed parasitemia peak. Inoculum concentration was positively related to death in the immunosuppressed subgroup. Nineteen parameters (hematological, biochemical, cytokine-related, and histopathological) in the immunocompetent subgroup and four in the immunosuppressed subgroup were associated with parasitemia. Parasitemia, biochemical parameters, and hematological parameters were found to be predictors in the knockout group. The impact of effect sizes on the markers evaluated based on T. cruzi inoculum concentration was notably high in the immunocompetent group (Cohen’s d = 88.50%; p

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of disk diffusion and Etest methods, compared to that of the broth dilution reference method for identifying beta-lactam susceptibilities of Penicillin-Resistant, Ampicillin-Susceptible Enterococcus faecalis (PRASEF) isolates. Fifty-nine PRASEF and 15 Penicillin-Susceptible, Ampicillin-Susceptible E. faecalis (PSASEF) clinical nonrepetitive isolates were evaluated. The effectiveness of five beta-lactams (ampicillin, amoxicillin, imipenem, penicillin, and piperacillin) was tested. All antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed and interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Interpretative discrepancies, such as essential agreement, categorical agreement, and errors, were assessed. The acceptability was ≥ 90% for both categorical agreement and essential agreement. Etest proved to be an accurate method for testing beta-lactam susceptibilities of the emerging PRASEF isolates, disk diffusion presented poor performance, particularly for imipenem and piperacillin.

Introduction: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This study aimed to understand the distribution and impact of Hansen's disease in different regions of Brazil and the outcome of cases in recent years. Methodology: An ecological study was conducted throughout the Brazilian territory for 11 years (2008–2018). The mortality rates, new cases of the disease, and proportion of physical disability and cure were assessed. Data were obtained using DATASUS. GraphPad Excel and “Prisma” programs were used for tabulation and data processing. To present an accurate perspective from all regions, the data were normalized according to the population. Results: Overall, the results demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of leprosy cases in Brazil over the last decade (p

Background: Changes in the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) observed during periodontal disease were linked with vascular manifestations. Recent studies showed that the beta-blocker propranolol reduces the pathological parameters associated with certain molecules at sites of bone injury. Hence, in this study, we evaluated the activity of propranolol on hematological parameters and systemic concentrations of inflammatory proteins in a model of experimental periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Periodontal disease was induced in rats. After euthanasia, the number of inflammatory cells in each rat was quantified using histopathological assays. In addition, hematological parameters were quantitated using automated analysers, cytokine levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and CRP levels were determined using a high-sensitivity immunoturbidimetric assay. Results: Low doses of propranolol suppressed the systemic production of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6; however, the hematological parameters were not affected. Conclusions: β-adrenergic activation indirectly contributes to the pattern of systemic inflammatory molecules observed in periodontal disease. These molecules may initiate cardiovascular diseases as a consequence of periodontitis.

Blood typing techniques have been improved to ensure greater safety for transfusion procedures. Typification for the DEA 1 antigen through flow cytometry should offer more reliability to routine immunohematology in donor and recipient dogs. Currently, the DEA 1 group is starting to be an autosomal dominant allelic system with the DEA 1 negative type and its variations of positivity. The present study investigated the DEA 1 antigen using the techniques of immunochromatography, hemagglutination and flow cytometry. Among the positive animals for the DEA 1 group, typified by flow cytometry, medium intensities of fluorescence were found, which are indicative of weak, moderate and strong antigenicity. This enabled the division of the DEA 1 group into weak positive, moderate positive and strong positive. The blood typing techniques for the DEA 1 group by flow cytometry, agglutination and immunochromatography had positive (Spearman r=0.70) and statistically significant (p>0.0001) correlations.

Background: Senescence is a multifactorial process that in humans may be accompanied by inflammation and immune dysfunction in the oral cavity. Notably, periodontal disease, considered one of the most common inflammatory disorders in the oral cavity, has also been linked to the onset of other chronic inflammatory diseases common in the elderly. Thus, investigating immunity and inflammation during senescence may not only illuminate the pathophysiology of periodontal disease, but also identify new therapeutic targets. Materials and Methods: To this end, we retrospectively and systematically reviewed studies of immune molecules associated with periodontal disease. These studies were identified in PubMed from three independent searches based on distinct sets of search terms. Results: The data highlight the need to further investigate inflammatory molecules involved in chronic periodontal disease in the elderly, but strongly suggest that interleukin (IL)-33 is involved. Indeed, various genetic and environmental factors appear to contribute to pathogenesis via IL-33. Conclusion: The IL-33 axis may be promising therapeutic target in elderly patients.

The dog erythrocyte antigen 1 (DEA 1) is the most immunogenic blood group in dogs, and blood transfusions may trigger some undesirable effects in veterinary patients, which are directly associated with incompatible transfusions. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of positive DEA 1 blood group in blood donor dogs from a blood bank in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and also to calculate the risk of managing incompatible blood in both first and second transfusion. A number of 203 dogs of different breeds, aged between 1 and 8 years, weighing 28 kg, with no degree of kinship and of both sexes in Salvador - BA, Brazil were evaluated to investigate the blood type DEA 1 frequency, by means of chromatography and flow cytometry tests for blood typing. The risk of incompatible blood transfusion in either a first or a second transfusion was also calculated. The frequency of the DEA 1 group ranged from 0% to 100% in various breeds, but with a mean positivity of 62.07% (126/203). And the lowest risk of an DEA 1 negative animal receiving DEA 1 positive blood within the group of animals evaluated was 0.92% at a first transfusion; and the risk of the same animal receiving incompatible blood for the DEA group 1 in the second transfusion was 0.008%. The highest risk of an DEA 1 negative animal receiving DEA 1 positive blood from these animals was 69.12%; and the risk of receiving incompatible blood for DEA 1 was 47.77%. In conclusion, the frequency of the DEA 1 group varied between the studied breeds and the risk of incompatible blood transfusions varies according to donor and recipiente breeds, but this can be overridden if blood typing tests are performed along with the cross-reaction test for compatibility.

Abstract Background Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is characterized by cardiac, gastrointestinal, and nervous system disorders. Although much about the pathophysiological process of Chagas disease is already known, the influence of the parasite burden on the inflammatory process and disease progression remains uncertain. Methods We used an acute experimental disease model to evaluate the effect of T. cruzi on intestinal lesions and assessed correlations between parasite load and inflammation and intestinal injury at 7 and 14 days post-infection. Low (3 × 102), medium (3 × 103), and high (3 × 104) parasite loads were generated by infecting C57BL/6 mice with “Y”-strain trypomastigotes. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance with Tukey’s multiple comparison post-test, Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparison, χ2 test and Spearman correlation. Results High parasite load-bearing mice more rapidly and strongly developed parasitemia. Increased colon width, inflammatory infiltration, myositis, periganglionitis, ganglionitis, pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, INF-γ, IL-2, IL-17, IL-6), and intestinal amastigote nests were more pronounced in high parasite load-bearing animals. These results were remarkable because a positive correlation was observed between parasite load, inflammatory infiltrate, amastigote nests, and investigated cytokines. Conclusions These experimental data support the idea that the parasite load considerably influences the T. cruzi-induced intestinal inflammatory response and contributes to the development of the digestive form of the disease.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) contain N-glycans, which are important glycotargets for plant lectins, to induce immunomodulation. The lectin ArtinM obtained from Artocarpus heterophyllus interacts with TLR2 N-glycans to stimulate IL-12 production by antigen-presenting cells and to drive the immune response toward the Th1 axis, conferring resistance against intracellular pathogens. This immunomodulatory effect was demonstrated by subcutaneously injecting (s.c.) ArtinM (0.5 μg) in infected mice. In this study, we evaluated the systemic implications of ArtinM administration in naïve BALB/c mice. The mice were s.c. injected twice (7 days interval) with ArtinM (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 μg), LPS (positive control), or PBS (negative control) and euthanized after three days. None of the ArtinM-injected mice exhibited change in body weight, whereas the relative mass of the heart and lungs diminished in mice injected with the highest ArtinM dose (5.0 μg). Few and discrete inflammatory foci were detected in the heart, lung, and liver of mice receiving ArtinM at doses ≥2.5 μg. Moreover, the highest dose of ArtinM was associated with increased serum levels of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and globulins as well as an augmented presence of neutrophils in the heart and lung. IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 measurements in the liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and lung homogenates revealed decreased IL-10 level in the heart and lung of mice injected with 5.0 μg ArtinM. We also found an augmented frequency of T helper and B cells in the spleen of all ArtinM-injected naïve mice, whereas the relative expressions of T-bet, GATA-3, and ROR-γt were similar to those in PBS-injected animals. Our study demonstrates that s.c. injection of high doses of ArtinM in naïve mice promotes mild inflammatory lesions and that a low immunomodulatory dose is innocuous to naïve mice.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite the vast number of studies evaluating the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease, the influence of parasite burden on kidney lesions remains unclear. Thus, the main goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of T. cruzi infection on renal function and determine whether there was a correlation between parasite load and renal injury using an acute experimental model of the disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Low, medium and high parasite loads were generated by infecting C57BL/6 mice with 300 (low), 3,000 (medium) or 30,000 (high) numbers of "Y" strain trypomastigotes. We found that mice infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes show increased renal injury. The infection resulted in reduced urinary excretion and creatinine clearance. We also observed a marked elevation in the ratio of urine volume to kidney and body weight, blood urea nitrogen, chloride ion, nitric oxide, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the number of leukocytes in the blood and/or renal tissues of infected mice. Additionally, we observed the presence of the parasite in the cortical/medullary and peri-renal region, an increase of inflammatory infiltrate and of vascular permeability of the kidney. Overall, most renal changes occurred mainly in animals infected with high parasitic loads. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These data demonstrate that T. cruzi impairs kidney function, and this impairment is more evident in mice infected with high parasitic loads. Moreover, these data suggest that, in addition to the extensively studied cardiovascular effects, renal injury should be regarded as an important indicator for better understanding the pan-infectivity of the parasite and consequently for understanding the disease in experimental models.

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the longitudinal growth of the tibia and bone quality parameters in young rats under an experimental setup. METHODS: The control (n=10) rats received only water. The ethanol (n=10) rats received ethyl alcohol at concentrations established in the protocol for the induction of chronic alcohol consumption. The blood samples were immediately collected via cardiac puncture and processed to evaluate the levels of alkaline phosphatase by automated spectrophotometry. Following blood sample collection, both tibias were dissected, and weighed; the tibial length was measured., and the samples were stored in a freezer for future analysis of the bone mineral content and mechanical resistance, known as maximal load and stiffness. RESULTS: Compromised bone health, with a 35.3% decrease in the serum alkaline phosphatase levels (p < 0.01), a 10% decrease in the tibial mass (p < 0.05), and a 5.3% decrease in the tibial length (p < 0.0001) were noted. Furthermore, a 10% decrease in the bone mineral density was observed (p < 0.01), which led to a 17.2% decrease in the maximum strength (p < 0.01) and 22.6% decrease in stiffness (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Chronic consumption of alcohol affected the bones of young rats, making them weaker and osteopenic. In addition, the long bones were shorter, suggesting interference with growth. Level of Evidence III, Case Control Study.