Reduced vitamin D receptor (VDR) and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) gene expression contribute to the maintenance of inflammatory immune response in leprosy patients.

Leprosy is an infectious disease influenced by genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. Reduced gene expressions may be associated with the immunological response pattern and leprosy susceptibility. We investigated the direct and indirect effects of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) and Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide (CAMP) gene expressions on the serum levels of vitamin D, Cathelicidin, and cytokines in newly-diagnosed leprosy patients and post-six-months of multidrug therapy (MDT). Thirty-four leprosy patients were assessed, paucibacillary (PB; n = 14) and multibacillary (MB; n = 20) cases, untreated or having received six months of MDT, 18 healthy controls, and 25 household contacts. VDR and CAMP gene expression levels were strongly correlated to some important cytokines in both, untreated leprosy patients (PB, r = 0.9319; MB, r = 0.9569) and patients who had undergone MDT (PB, r = 0.9667; MB, r = 0.9569). We observed that both gene expressions directly influenced IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-17F serum levels in leprosy patients compared to the household contacts and healthy individuals. VDR and CAMP gene expressions induced a persistent inflammatory response in PB and MB leprosy patients, even after six months of MDT, to fight the Mycobacterium leprae infection. Due to the persistent inflammatory profile, multidrug therapy is suggested to be maintained for more than six months, especially for MB patients. Vitamin D supplementation is recommended from the onset as a transcription factor to improve VDR and CAMP gene expression in leprosy patients.

Electroacupuncture in rats infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis: effects on gastrointestinal transit and parasitological measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 and CV12 on gastrointestinal transit and parasitological measurements during Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in rats. DESIGN: Rats were infected with S. venezuelensis and allocated to one of three groups that were infected and remained untreated (SV group, n=8), infected and treated with EA at CV12 (SV+CV12 group, n=8) or infected and treated with EA at ST36 (SV+ST36 group, n=8). EA was performed every 3 days over a 21-day period, at 4 mA intensity and 15 Hz frequency for 20 min. At 2 and 20 days post-infection (dpi), body weight, food and water intake, and faecal characteristics were monitored over a 24-hour period. Gastric emptying, caecal arrival time, small intestinal transit and eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces were calculated at 3, 9, 15 and 21 dpi. At 21 dpi, intestinal worm recovery was counted. RESULTS: EA at ST36 and CV12 slowed gastric emptying over the course of infection time. An accelerated intestinal transit was observed in the ST36 group, and after CV12 treatment the same effect was observed at 9 and 15 dpi. At 9 dpi, EPG was increased in the CV12 group. ST36 treatment decreased EPG at 9 and 15 dpi. At 21 dpi, both the ST36 and CV12 groups had increased EPG and worm numbers. No changes were observed in the other parameters analysed. CONCLUSIONS: EA at ST36 and CV12 provoked changes in gastrointestinal transit that may be beneficial to the host during S. venezuelensis infection; however, based on the number of worms and EPG at 21 dpi, the indication for EA in the treatment of strongyloidiasis needs to be carefully assessed.

Beneficial effects of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. flower aqueous extract in pregnant rats with diabetes.

PURPOSE: The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flower is widely used in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes and has shown antifertility activity in female Wistar rats. However, there is no scientific confirmation of its effect on diabetes and pregnancy. The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of H. rosa-sinensis flowers on maternal-fetal outcome in pregnant rats with diabetes. METHODS: Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 40 mg/kg) in virgin, adult, female Wistar rats. After diabetes induction, the rats were mated. The pregnant rats were distributed into four groups (n minimum = 11 animals/group): non-diabetic, non-diabetic treated, diabetic, and diabetic treated. Oral aqueous extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was administered to rats in the treatment groups during pregnancy. At term pregnancy, maternal reproductive outcomes, fetal parameters, and biochemical parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The non-diabetic treated group showed decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased atherogenic index (AI) and coronary artery risk index (CRI), and increased preimplantation loss rate compared to the non-diabetic group. Although treatment with H. rosa-sinensis led to no toxicity, it showed deleterious effects on cardiac and reproductive functions. However, the diabetic treated group showed increased maternal and fetal weights, reduced AI and CRI, and reduced preimplantation loss rate compared to the untreated diabetic group. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate beneficial effects of this flower only in pregnant rats with diabetes and their offspring. Although these findings cannot be extrapolated to human clinical use, they show that the indiscriminate intake of H. rosa-sinensis may be harmful to healthy individuals and its use should be completely avoided in pregnancy.

Nematicidal activity of Annona crassiflora leaf extract on Caenorhabditis elegans.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to investigate the potential nematicidal activity of Annona crassiflora leaf extract against Caenorhabditis elegans. METHODS: The hydroalcoholic leaf extract and its fractions (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water) were submitted to mobility assay against the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. GC-MS and NMR analysis were performed in order to identify metabolites. RESULTS: The dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions showed to be the most active among the hydroalcoholic leaf extracts and its four fractions. The percentages of C. elegans larvae immobility were 98.13 and 89.66%, respectively, at a concentration of 1000 µg.mL(-1). Besides some amino acids, palmitic acid methyl ester, 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanol, oleic acid methyl esther, stearic acid methyl ester, quercetin and kaempferol were also identified in these fractions. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that of A. crassiflora leaf ethanolic extract has a good potential as a source for natural nematicide.