In vitro anthelmintic activity of Siparuna guianensis extract and essential oil against Strongyloides venezuelensis.

New therapeutic approaches are necessary to control strongyloidiasis due to the side effects of, and resistance to, currently available drugs thiabendazole, albendazole, and ivermectin. This study examined the anthelmintic properties of extracts and isolated compounds from Siparuna guianensis against Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs and larvae, using the egg hatching test (EHT) and larval motility test (LMT). Albendazole (0.025 mg/ml) and ivermectin (0.316 mg/ml) were used as the positive controls for the EHT and LMT assays, respectively. Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs or larvae (±50 specimens) were treated with ethanol extract (0.05-1.0 mg/ml), ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions (0.05-0.8 mg/ml), essential oil (0.2-1.0 mg/ml) and α-bisabolol (0.2-1.0 mg/ml) from S. guianensis, and analysed by optical microscopy after 48 h (EHT), or after 24, 48 and 72 h (LMT). All the tested compounds exhibited ovicidal activity equivalent to the positive control and changed the morphology of the eggs. The S. guianensis ethanol extract and aqueous fraction were as effective as the positive control. Phytochemical analysis of the ethanol extract and fractions revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids. Therefore, S. guianensis is effective against S. venezuelensis eggs and larvae in vitro, and can be considered as a potential alternative treatment for strongyloidiasis.

PML has a predictive role in tumor cell permissiveness to interferon-sensitive oncolytic viruses.

The oncotropic phenotypes of several viruses correlate with tumor-associated deficiencies within interferon (IFN) signaling pathways. This observation formed the conceptual basis for developing oncolytic viruses deleted for viral proteins that inhibit the host IFN-dependent antiviral response, such as herpes simplex virus type-1 infected cell protein-0 (ICP0) and vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein. Many viruses have evolved means to disrupt promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) nuclear bodies. For example, ICP0 promotes PML degradation to inhibit the antiviral activities of this IFN-stimulated gene. As PML is downregulated in a variety of tumors, we hypothesized ICP0-null herpes simplex type-1 viruses are selectively oncolytic in tumors with impaired PML expression. We illustrate that ICP0-null herpes simplex type-1 viruses target tumor cells that either possess impaired PML signaling or cannot upregulate PML because of impaired IFN responsiveness. Disruption of PML signaling through overexpression of the dominant-negative protein PML-retinoic acid receptor alpha in PML-positive cells renders them sensitive to oncolysis by ICP0-null herpes simplex virus type-1 and vesicular stomatitis virus M protein mutant viruses, whereas PML overexpression reverses this phenomenon. Together, these data illustrate that PML mediates an antiviral mechanism that predicts the tropism of IFN-sensitive oncolytic viruses. To our knowledge, these viruses are the first examples of anti-cancer therapeutics capable of targeting deficiencies in PML expression.

Immunolocalization and pathological alterations following Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in the lungs and the intestine of MHC class I or II deficient mice.

The present study, investigated the mechanisms involved in the immune responses of Major Histocompatibility Complex class I or class II knockout mice, following Strongyloides venezuelensis infection. Wild-type C57BL/6 (WT), MHC II(-/-) and MHC I(-/-) mice were individually inoculated with 3000 larvae (L3) of S. venezuelensis and sacrificed on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 13 and 21 post-infection (p.i.). Samples of blood, lungs and small intestines were collected. The tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for the pathological analysis. The presence of the parasite was demonstrated by immunoperoxidase analysis. MHC II(-/-) mice presented a significantly higher number of adult worms recovered from the small intestine on day 5p.i. and presented elevated numbers of eggs in the feces. The infection by S. venezuelensis was completely eliminated 13 days after infection in WT as well as in MHC I(-/-) mice. In MHC II(-/-) mice, eggs and adult worms were still found on day 21 p.i., however, there was a significant reduction in their numbers. In the lung, the parasite was observed in MHC I(-/-) on day 1 p.i. and in MHC II(-/-) mice on days 1 and 5 p.i. In the small intestine of WT mice, a larger number of parasites were observed on day 8 p.i. and their absence was observed after day 13 p.i. Through immunohistochemistry analysis, the parasite was detected in the duodenum of WT on days 5 and 8 p.i., and in knockout mice on days 5, 8 and 13 p.i.; as well as in posterior portions of the small intestine in MHC I(-/-) and MHC II(-/-) on day 13 p.i., a finding which was not observed in WT mice. We concluded that immunohistochemistry analysis contributed to a more adequate understanding of the parasite localization in immunodeficient hosts and that the findings aid in the interpretation of immunopathogenesis in Strongyloides infection.

Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs from different living conditions in Uberlândia, Brazil.

Infection rates with Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. were compared among dogs living under different conditions. Stool samples (n = 433) collected from dogs of different ages, gender, living conditions and origin were analyzed using three techniques, i.e., centrifugal flotation in zinc sulfate solution, centrifugal flotation in sucrose solution, and methylene blue gram safranin staining. Eighty-nine of the samples were from stay dogs living in shelters run by animal protection societies, 199 were from kennels and 122 from households. A total of 119 (29.0%) had G. duodenalis cysts and six (1.4%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Dogs from kennels were most frequently affected by G. duodenalis (49.7%) while those from shelters showed a higher prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. (2.2%). A significant difference (p < or = 0.05) was observed between immature dogs and adults only with respect to Giardia infection. There was no significant difference between the gender with regard to the presence of either protozoan.

Absence of vacuolar membrane involving Toxoplasma gondii during its intranuclear localization.

Tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii were located inside the nucleus of both skeletal muscle cells infected in vitro and peritoneal exudate cells collected from infected mouse in vivo. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated that T. gondii invades the nucleus of host cells by the parasite apical region and with constriction of its body. We noted that the rhoptry, a secretory organelle of the parasite that is involved in the host cell invasion mechanism, was empty in the intranuclear T. gondii. The parasites were found in the nuclear matrix without evidence of the vacuolar membrane. Frequently, new parasites invaded host cell nucleus, which was already infected. The significance of this nuclear invasion could reflect an alternative route of T. gondii for its transitory survival or an escape mechanism from the host immune response during the in vivo infection (or both).

[Nursing understood as a vocation and its relationship to nurses' attitudes towards work conditions]. / Enfermagem compreendida como vocação e sua relação com as atitudes dos enfermeiros frente às condições de trabalho.

This study aimed at reflecting about nursing as job by disconsidering the widely accepted conception that identifies it as an assistance activity for that conception might hinder actions towards coping with and changing work conditions. The study attempted to place in history the context in which the vocational/religious model was elaborated as well as to identify the manifestations of that conception in the discourse of Nursing freshmen and seniors, pointing out the fact that the teaching activity must be permeated by the conception of nursing/work.

[Nursing care theory and practice: teaching and the labor market]. / Teoria e prática assistencial na enfermagem: o ensino e o mercado de trabalho.

This study identifies how faculty nurses and clinical nurses experience the relationship between teaching and the labor market in Nursing. Data were collected by means of interviews and documentary analysis. Methodological and content categories were utilized for analysis. It became evident that teaching is far from the clinical practice and that it is based on contents which do not have correspondents; there is a phase displacement between what is taught in undergraduation and the incorporation of new technologies, practices and knowledge. Action towards reflections about nursing teaching in order to approach it to clinical work areas is pointed out.

[Care of patients with psychiatric disorders]. / A enfermagem na assistência ao indivíduo em sofrimento psíquico.

Nursing care to the human being in psychical suffering is the theme of this investigation, developed in a psychiatric hospital, in the west region of the Paraná State. This is a qualitative research with the aim of finding out nurses' understanding about their work in psychiatric nursing. Authors used open interview to all the nurses of the institution. Then, data were grouped in thematic unities and analysed through the analysis of the content.

[Revealing the nurses participation in the Brazilian Nurses Association-Cascavel region]. / Revelando a participação dos (as) enfermeiros (as) na Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem-regional Cascavel.

The objective of the present research is to identify the reasons for the scarce participation of nursing professionals in the Brazilian Association of Nursing (ABEn) and other professional associations. The data was collected from nurses in the city of Cascavel-Paraná and was analysed according to qualitative and quantitative methods. Results show that a small number of professionals take part in the events promoted by ABEn-Cascavel and that there is little interest in joining any professional association. 36.6%, of nurses interviewed showed interest in becoming members of ABEn. Thus, for these professionals ABEn should define strategies of inclusion. The data collected in this research, regarding the reasons for the participation of nurses in the association, has provided ABEN-Cascavel with information that can support its performance in the city, as well as help on the planning of new activities and policies such as the promotion of events and changes on the price of the tuition, which was pointed out as one of the main reasons for the scarce participation of nurses in the association.

[Simultaneous determination of specific antigen, antibody and immune complexes in the serum of patients with chronic schistosomiasis]. / Pesquisa simultãnea de antígeno, anticorpo e imunocomplexos específicos no soro de pacientes com esquistossomose crõnica.

The main steps of a sensitive and quantitative technique for the simultaneous determination, in the same microplate, of antigen, antibody and specific immune complexes has been described. The assay involved principles of the double sandwich technique used in the "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay" (ELISA). The technique proved to be useful for the estimation of antigen, antibody and specific immune complexes in sera of patients with human chronic hepato-intestinal schistosomiasis.

Pesquisa simultânea de antígeno, anticorpo e imunocomplexos específicos no soro de pacientes com esquistossomose crônica / Simultaneous determination of specific antigen, antibody and immune complexes in the serum of patients with chronic schistosomiasis

Säo descritas as principais etapas de uma técnica simples e sensível para a pesquisa, na mesma placa, do antígeno, do anticorpo e de imunocomplexos específicos baseada no "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay" (ELISA). A técnica se mostrou de grande utilidade na pesquisa do antígeno, do anticorpo e de imunocomplexos específicos no soro de pacientes com esquistossomose hépato-intestinal crônica

Imunofluorescencia direta em biopsia de pele no penfigo foliaceo brasileiro. / Direct immunofluorescence in skin biopsy in Brazilian pemphigus foliaceus

Os autores estudaram, pela tecnica de imunofluorescencia direta, a presenta de anticorpos in vitro no material de biopsia de 47 doentes com penfigo foliaceo brasileiro. Obtiveram resultados positivos em 45 doentes, com padrao de fluorescencia intercelular na epiderme; destes, na quase totalidade (44 casos) foi encontrado deposito de IgG. Em seis casos houve presenca tambem de complemento e, em um caso, a concomitancia de IgM. Em um caso esteve presente apenas o complemento. Em 36 doentes foi simultaneamente feito exame histopatologico; destes, em 28 ele foi caracteristico para penfigo foliaceo brasileiro e, em oito, o diagnostico foi "dermoepidermite cronica inespecifica". Em 28 doentes foi tambem realizada imunofluorescencia indireta: 23 apresentaram titulos positivos entre 1:50 e 1:3.200. Houve negatividade em cinco casos, provavelmente pela natureza do substrato (Esofago de cobaio). Os autores concluem ser de utilidade fazer imunofluorescencia direta paralelamente a histopatologia, dividindo o fragmento de biopsia em dois