T-cells producing multiple combinations of IFNγ, TNF and IL10 are associated with mild forms of dengue infection.

Multifunctional interleukin 10 (IL10)+ Th1 cells have been implicated in favorable evolution of many infectious diseases, promoting an efficacious immune response while limiting immunopathology. Here, we investigated the presence of multifunctional CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells that expressed interferon gamma (IFNγ), IL10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or its combinations during dengue infection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from outpatients with dengue (mild dengue forms) and hospitalized patients (or patients with dengue with warning signs and severe dengue) were cultured in the presence of envelope (ENV) or NS3 peptide libraries of DENV during critical (hospitalization period) and convalescence phases. The production of IFNγ, IL10 and TNF by CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Our data show that patients with mild dengue, when compared with patients with dengue with warning signs and severe dengue, presented higher frequencies of multifunctional T-cells like NS3-specific IFNγ/IL10-producing CD4+ T-cells in critical phase and NS3- and ENV-specific CD8+ T-cells producing IFNγ/IL10. In addition, NS3-specific CD8+ T-cells producing high levels of IFNγ/TNF and IFNγ/TNF/IL10 were also observed in the mild dengue group. We observed that multifunctional T-cells produced higher levels of cytokines as measured by intracellular content when compared with single producer T-cells. Importantly, multifunctional CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells producing IFNγ, TNF and IL10 simultaneously displayed positive correlation with platelet levels, suggesting a protective role of this population. The presence of IL10+ Th1 and IL10+ Tc1 multifunctional cells was associated with mild dengue presentation, suggesting that these cells play a role in clinical evolution of dengue infection.

Retinal detachment in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is an obstetric disease of unknown cause that affects approximately 5% of pregnant women. The visual system may be affected with variable intensity, being the retinal detachment a rare complication. The retinal detachment in preeclampsia is usually bilateral and serous, and its pathogenesis is related to the choroidal ischemia secondary to an intense arteriolar vasospasm. The majority of patients have complete recovery of vision with clinical management, and surgery is unnecessary. This is a case report of a 27 year old patient who developed the severe form of preeclampsia on her first pregnancy. She had progressive blurred vision, until she could see only shadows. Ophthalmic examination diagnosed spread and bilateral retinal detachment. With blood pressure control at postpartum, the patient had her retina reattached, and recovery of vision.

Comparative clinical and ultrasound study of egg-negative and egg-positive individuals from Schistosoma mansoni low morbidity endemic areas, and hospitalized patients with hepatosplenic disease / Estudo clínico comparativo e ultra-sonografia entre indivíduos negativos e positivos para Schistosoma mansoni em áreas endêmicas de baixa morbidade e pacientes hospitalizados com doença hepatosplênica

Duzentos e vinte e três indivíduos de área endêmica de baixa morbidade para esquistossomose e nove pacientes hospitalizados com a forma hepatoesplênica foram submetidos ao exame de fezes e clínico e à ultra-sonografia do abdômen. De acordo com os resultado dos exames de fezes e do ultra-som eles foram agrupados do seguinte modo: G1 - 63 indivíduos sem ovos de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes; G2 - 141 indivíduos apresentando ovos de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes, sem ecogenicidade peripttal. G3 ­ 19 indivíduos com ovos de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes e ecogenicidade peripttal entre 3-6mm.; G4 ­ 9 pacientes hepatesplênicos com ecogenicidade peripttal > 6mm. Pelo exame físico do abdômen, a hepatomegalia na linha hemiclavicular direita foi constatada em G1, G2 E G3, respectivamente, em 11,1, 12,1 e 26,3%. Nos grupos G1, G2 e G3, houve espessamento peripttal somente em esquistossomáticos (8,5%). Alterações patológicas leves em pacientes, as quais não puderam ser detectadas pelo exame clínico, foram evidenciadas no fígado pelo ultra-som e podem ser devidas à fibrose. O grau de fibrose peripttal leve foi diminuído em 57,9% dos pacientes 12 meses após tratamento da esquistossomose com oxamniquine. Na ultra-sonografia, a média da medida do lobo esquerdo do fígado dos indivíduos de G3 foi maior que a de G1 e, a de G4 maior que a de G1 e G2. O tamanho médio do baço de G4 foi significativamente maior que o dos outros grupos e o de G3 foi maior que o de G1 e G2.

Deslocamento de retina na doença hipertensiva específica da gravidez / Retinal detachment in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is an obstetric disease of unknown cause that affects approximately 5 percent of pregnant women. The visual system may be affected with variable intensity, being the retinal detachment a rare complication. The retinal detachment in preeclampsia is usually bilateral and serous, and its pathogenesis is related to the choroidal ischemia secondary to an intense arteriolar vasospasm. The majority of patients have complete recovery of vision with clinical management, and surgery is unnecessary. This is a case report of a 27 year old patient who developed the severe form of preeclampsia on her first pregnancy. She had progressive blurred vision, until she could see only shadows. Ophthalmic examination diagnosed spread and bilateral retinal detachment. With blood pressure control at postpartum, the patient had her retina reattached, and recovery of vision