Prediction of molecular mimicry between proteins from Trypanosoma sp. and human antigens associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The immune response against pathogens induces protection from future infection, however, molecular mimicry between the pathogen and the human host can promote autoreactive responses. Using in silico approaches, we identified molecular mimicry between Trypanosoma sp. and human autoantigens involved in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We retrieved all reported autoantigen amino acid sequences for SLE from the AAgAtlas database to perform PSI-BLAST against the Trypanosoma sp proteome to determine amino acid sequence identity with each other. The antigens given in the Protein Data Bank without a 3D structure were modeled by homology with the "Swiss Modeller Server". Epitopes shared between Trypanosoma sp. and human antigens were identified using the Ellipro server and the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), and cross-reactive epitopes were assigned to the 3D models. 36 autoantigens involved in SLE showed molecular mimicry with Trypanosoma sp. Antigens Epitope prediction revealed that some autoantigens shared several antigenic.

Prediction of molecular mimicry between antigens from Leishmania sp. and human: Implications for autoimmune response in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Pathogens and humans share an intrinsic relation related to molecular mimicry in their antigens. Interactions between immune system and pathogenic antigens result in a production of antibodies that could protect against infection, but develop autoreactive responses mediated by autoantibodies that react to pathogenic and human antigens because they share epitopes. In this study, a pipeline of bioinformatic tools was used to explore the repertory of autoantigens implicated in the develop of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and their homologous in Leishmania sp. With this, we screened and selected 33 molecular mimicry candidates. In 17 autoantigens from lupus was possible to perform epitope prediction and was found that, at least one potential cross epitope. Some of autoantigens with molecular mimicry were Aquaporin 4, nuclear autoantigens such as: Ubiquitin-related modifier 1 and Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein Sm. Also, mitochondrial, and ribosomal autoantigens were found to share molecular mimicry with antigens from Leishmania sp. In conclusion, this is the first study that provide evidence of molecular mimicry between antigens from Leishmania sp. and human. Implications for the develop of SLE and clinical manifestation deserve more study.

Stress distribution for mandibular extra-alveolar anchorage at different angles and force magnitudes: a finite element study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution in cortical and cancellous bones and within the screw when a stainless steel extra-alveolar screw (EA-S) is inserted into the retromolar region of the mandible using the finite element method (FEM). The stress values in the EA-S were highest at 60° with horizontal (shear) force and lowest at 90° with axial force. In the bones (cortical and cancellous), the stress value was greatest at 90° with horizontal force. Greater stability of the screw may be achieved by tilting it to the force when horizontal loads are applied.

Molecular mimicry among human proteinase 3 and bacterial antigens: implications for development of c-ANCA associated vasculitis.

Wegener's granulomatosis is an autoimmune disease where autoantibodies target human autoantigen PR3, a serine protease locates on the neutrophil membrane. This disease affects blood small vessels and could be deadly. The origin of these autoantibodies is unknown, but infections have been implicated with autoimmune disease. In this study, we explored potential molecular mimicry between human PR3 and homologous pathogens through in silico analysis. Thirteen serine proteases from human pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Salmonella sp., Streptococcus suis, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacteroides fragilis, Enterobacter ludwigii, Vibrio alginolyticus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) shared structural homology and amino acid sequence identity with human PR3. Epitope prediction found an only conserved epitope IVGG, located between residues 59-74. However, multiple alignments showed conserved regions that could be involved in cross-reactivity between human and pathogens serine proteases (90-98, 101-108, 162-169, 267 and 262 residues positions). In conclusion, this is the first report providing in silico evidence about the existence of molecular mimicry between human and pathogens serine proteases, that could explain the origins of autoantibodies found in patients suffering from Wegener's granulomatosis.

Micosis fungoide y VIH ¡Es posible esta excepcional relación! / Mycosis fungoides and HIV.This exceptional relationship is possible! Case report

RESUMEN Las enfermedades cutáneas en pacientes con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y/o síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA) son comunes y altamente incapacitantes; sin embargo, la micosis fungoide (MF) es una complicación inusual en pacientes con VIH, por tal motivo no ha sido completamente dilucidado su etiopatogénesis ni su forma de presentación o manifestaciones clínicas en pacientes con esta patología. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con diagnóstico de VIH y MF atendida en la unidad de Dermatología del Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe. Medellín - Colombia.

ABSTRACT Cutaneous diseases in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are common, becoming highly disabling entities in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); however, mycosis fungoides (MF) is a complication of low occurrence in patients with HIV, so it has not been clearly elucidated its presentation or manifestations in patients with this pathology. In this report we present the case of a patient with a diagnosis of HIV and MF treated at the Dermatology Unit of the Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, in Medellín, Colombia.

[Where are we going with neuroimaging?]. / Hacia dónde vamos con la neuroimagen?

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE AND DEVELOPMENT: We present a short revision based on the latest advances in magnetic resonance image and its use in daily practice. Ranging from morphological image to functional imaging, including new three-dimensional capabilities applied as a pre-surgical tool. CONCLUSION: We explore its possibilities in brain pathology and psychiatry beyond morphological changes in order to ascertain the biochemical substratum, in some pathologies, with the use of spectroscopy.

Treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis with itraconazole.

Forty-seven patients with active paracoccidioidomycosis were treated with itraconazole. The majority of the patients (45) had the chronic adult form of the disease while the remaining exhibited the juvenile form. All of the patients received itraconazole, 100 mg day-1, with the exception of two for whom the clinical condition necessitated a larger dose. The mean duration of therapy was 6 months, with a range of 3-24 months. Clinically, the skin and mucous membrane lesions as well as abdominal pain, auscultatory alterations and dysphonia improved markedly during treatment with a concomitant increase in weight. However, other symptoms (cough, expectoration and dyspnoea) persisted as sequelae in some cases. As expected adrenal insufficiency also persisted. The radiological lesions showed a gradual decrease of both scattered and confluent infiltrates, present in 67% of patients before, and in 13% at the end of treatment. On the other hand, fibrosis became more evident at the termination of therapy, increasing from 62% of patients at the beginning of therapy to 81% at the end. The mycological tests (direct examination and cultures) became negative during the first month of treatment in 42 patients (87%). A decline in specific antibody titres was observed in 72% of patients by the end of treatment. Evaluation of therapy by means of a scoring system indicated complete resolution of the disease in one patient (2%), marked improvement in 42 (89%) and minor improvement in four (8.5%); none of the patients showed a deterioration of their disease during therapy. Of fifteen patients who were followed up for 12 months post-therapy none showed clinical relapse during this period. The results of this study confirm the efficacy of itraconazole in the treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis.

Determination of pefloxacin concentration in mesenteric lymph nodes by high-performance chromatography.

Ten patients who had undergone laparotomies for different abdominal pathological conditions were studied to determine the levels of pefloxacin in mesenteric lymph nodes. Each patient was given 400 mg of oral pefloxacin every 12 h for the 3 days prior to surgery. Drug levels in tissue were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (reverse phase); the mean +/- standard deviation was 17.1 +/- 11.9 micrograms/g, with a range of 2.12 to 36.6 micrograms/g. This indicates an adequate pefloxacin concentration in lymph nodes and makes the drug a good option for the treatment of conditions in which lymph nodes act as an infection-promoting and/or relapse-favoring factor.

¿Hacia dónde vamos con la Neuroimagen? / Where is Neuroimaging taking us?

Objetivo y desarrollo. Revisamos los últimos avances de la resonancia magnética y su aplicación en la práctica diaria. Desde la imagen morfológica hasta la imagen funcional, incluyendo las nuevas técnicas tridimensionales, con su aplicación en la planificación neuroquirúrgica. Conclusión. Se exploran las posibilidades de la RM y su aplicación en psiquiatría y en la patología cerebral más allá de la alteración morfológica, con la posibilidad de conocer el substrato bioquímico en ciertas alteraciones, con la aplicación de la espectroscopía (AU)

Evaluacion de la anatomia arterial en donantes renales intrafamiliares: comparacion de angiografia por tomografia computada helicoidal y angiografia convencional / HCTA and conventional angiography for the evaluation of arterial anatomy in intrafamiliar renal donors

El propósito de este estudio es comparar los hallazgos de angiografía por tomografía computada helicoidal (TCH) con los de angiografía convencional y los hallazgos quirúrgicos en un grupo de donantes renales en el Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl entre junio de 1996 y abril de 1998. Se realizó angiografía por TCH en 41 potenciales donantes renales quienes fueron remitidos al departamento de imágenes diagnósticas del H.U.S.V.R para evaluación con angiografía convencional. Para la angiografía por TCH, se inyectaron 100 ce de contraste intravenoso (iopamidol 300 mg/ml) y se hicieron reconstrucciones tridimensionales del árbol arterial. Los estudios de angiografía por TCH fueron evaluados por dos radiólogos en forma independiente; las diferencias de interpretación entre los observadores se resolvieron por consenso de ambos. Se compararon los hallazgos de ambas las entre sí y con los datos quirúrgicos en las unidades renales transplantadas. Utilizando la angiografía convencional como prueba de oro, la sensibilidad de la angiografía por TCH para la detección de variantes anatómicas arteriales fue del 100 por ciento y la especificidad del 97 por ciento , con una concordancia del 98 por ciento . Además, se demostraron anormalidades parenquimatosas y extrarenales, no visualizadas en la angiografía convencional. Los resultados permiten proponer el reemplazo de la angiografía convencional por la angiografía por TCH en la valoración de este tipo de pacientes, la cual se constituye en una herramienta rápida, segura, no invasora y menos costosa en nuestro medio. El uso de una menor cantidad de medio de contraste, con relación a los reportes ya publicados, podría contribuir a disminuir la nefrotoxicidad lo cual es deseable tanto en el donante como en el receptor