Systemic lupus erythematosus: disease activity may influence the release of endothelial microparticles?

: To evaluate blood-borne endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in women with SLE and correlated these to disease activity as defined by the SLEDAI-2K score. The study takes cross-sectional design. A total of 90 age-matched women were recruited including: G1 (healthy volunteers, n = 30), G2 (women with SLE and low disease activity (SLEDAI-2K score ≤4; n = 30) and G3 (women with SLE and moderate/high disease activity (SLEDAI-2K score >4; n = 30). Blood was collected in 3.2% sodium citrate. Subsequently, the microparticles were purified by ultracentrifugation and labeled with anti-CD51/61 and anti-Annexin-V antibodies. Quantification and phenotyping were performed using flow cytometry. The number of EMPs was significantly higher in SLE patients compared with controls (P = 0.0178). When SLE patients were stratified according to disease activity, the number of EMPs was significantly increased in women with moderate-to-high disease activity compared with controls (P = 0.0074). We observed a correlation between the number of EMPs and age (r = -0.34; P = 0.0123) and between the number of EMPs and SLEDAI-2K score (r = 0.30; P = 0.04). Our results suggest that the SLE causes increased EMPs release, especially in patients with SLEDAI-2K score greater than 4. Although measurement of the EMPs could be useful in distinguishing patients with SLE from health controls, they have limited value in differentiating between SLE subtypes.

A paracoccidioidomicose em pacientes atendidos no hospital das clínicas da UFMG (HC-UFMG) / Paracoccidioidomycosis in patients attended in a university hospital

A paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é a infecção fúngica sistêmica de maior prevalência na América Latina. Sua real prevalência, entretanto, não é conhecida, pois não é de notificação compulsória. Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, 74 pacientes com PCM atendidos no HC, entre 1975 e 2001. AS informações foram analisadas através do aplicativo EPIINFO 6.04. Os pacientes apresentaram a seguinte distribuição: 1) 54 (73%) eram homens; 2) 43 (58,1%) residiam em áreas urbanas e 26(35,1%) em áreas rurais de MG; 3) 47 (63,5%) relataram contato com área rural; 4) 28 (37,8%) eram lavradores, 19 (25,7%) eram prestadores de serviços em áreas urbanas, 15 (20,3%) eram estudantes, 6 (8,1%) eram "do lar" e 4 (5,4%) eram domésticas; 5) 31 (41,9%) eram feodérmico, 21 (28,4%) eram leucodérmicos, e 19 (25,7%) melanodérmicos.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent systemic fungal infection in Latin America. However, its real prevalence is not known because there is not compulsory notification. A sample of 74 patients with PCM attended in a university hospital, between 1975 and 2001, was evaluated. The data were analyzed through EPIINFO 6.04 program. The patients had the following distribuition: 1) 54 (73%) men. 2) 43 (58,1%) living in urban areas and 26 (35,1%)in rural areas of Minas Gerais State. 3) 47 (63,5%) reported contact with rural area. 4) 28 (37,8%) were rural workers, 19 (25,7%) worked in urban areas, 15 (20,3%) were students, 6 (8,1%) were housewives and 4 (5,4%) were domestic maids. 5) 31 (41;9%) were mulattos, 21 (28,4%) were white, and 19 (25,7%) were black.