ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Synthetic parathyroid hormone [PTH(1-34)] has been investigated for its benefits on bone healing and osteoporosis treatment; however, there is little information regarding bone grafts. This study therefore investigates the effect of PTH(1-34) on autogenous bone graft healing. METHODS: Bone grafts were harvested from the calvarium of rats with a trephine bur (3-mm internal diameter) and placed on the cortex near the mandible angle with a titanium screw. Animals were randomly assigned to group 1 (control): subcutaneous injections of saline solution, three times a week (n = 15); group 2: 2 µg/kg PTH(1-34), three times a week (n = 15); and group 3: 40 µg/kg PTH(1-34), three times a week (n = 15). Thirty days postoperatively, the animals were killed, and specimens (implant + bed + graft) were removed and used for undecalcified sections. The following histometric parameters were evaluated: total bone thickness (TT) (bed + gap + graft), graft thickness (GT) (adjacent to the implant), bone-to-implant contact (BIC), and bone area (BA) (within the limits of the threads). Five additional animals were sacrificed immediately after surgery (zero hour) to register bed and graft sizes before healing. RESULTS: Group 3 showed significantly greater bone gain compared with groups 1 and 2 (TT and GT, P <0.05). In relation to initial thickness (zero hour), groups 1 and 2 showed a total decrease in volume of 15.91% and 20.83%, respectively, whereas group 3 showed a slight bone gain (1.21%). Data analysis revealed a significant difference for group 3 compared with groups 1 and 2 (P <0.01). No differences were observed for BIC and BA (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: Systemic administration of PTH(1-34) augmented bone volume in autogenous grafts.
Subject(s)
Bone and Bones , Animals , Autografts , Bone Transplantation , Dental Implants , Osseointegration , Parathyroid Hormone , Rats , TitaniumABSTRACT
Antiparasitic effect of a lectin isolated from Synadenium carinatum latex (ScLL) was evaluated against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis promastigotes/amastigotes. Pretreatment of murine inflammatory peritoneal macrophages with ScLL reduced by 65.5% the association index of macrophages and L. (L) amazonensis promastigotes. Expression of cytokines (IL-12, IL-1 and TNF-α) was detected in infected macrophages pretreated with ScLL (10µg/mL). ScLL also reduced the growth of L. (L) amazonensis amastigote intracellular forms, showing no in vitro cytotoxic effects in mammalian host cells. ScLL treatment in infected murine inflammatory peritoneal macrophages did not induce nitric oxide production, suggesting that a nitric oxide independent pathway is activated to decrease the number of intracellular Leishmania.
Subject(s)
Euphorbiaceae/chemistry , Latex/pharmacology , Leishmania mexicana/drug effects , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/drug therapy , Macrophages, Peritoneal/parasitology , Plant Lectins/pharmacology , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Cytokines/biosynthesis , Cytokines/genetics , Latex/therapeutic use , Macrophages, Peritoneal/drug effects , Macrophages, Peritoneal/immunology , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis , Nitric Oxide/genetics , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/biosynthesis , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics , Plant Lectins/therapeutic use , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
A cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted to assess the proportion of persons exposed to hantaviruses in a virus-endemic area of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Findings of this study suggested the presence of > or =1 hantaviruses circulating in this region causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, mild disease, or asymptomatic infection.
Subject(s)
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Brazil/epidemiology , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The protective effect of the Synadenium carinatum latex lectin (ScLL), and the possibility of using it as an adjuvant in murine model of vaccination against American cutaneous leishmaniasis, were evaluated. BALB/c mice were immunized with the lectin ScLL (10, 50, 100 microgram/animal) separately or in association with the soluble Leishmania amazonensis antigen (SLA). After a challenge infection with 10(6) promastigotes, the injury progression was monitored weekly by measuring the footpad swelling for 10 weeks. ScLL appeared to be capable of conferring partial protection to the animals, being most evident when ScLL was used in concentrations of 50 and 100 microgram/animal. Also the parasite load in the interior of macrophages showed significant reduction (61.7%) when compared to the control group. With regard to the cellular response, ScLL 50 and 100 microgram/animal stimulated the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction significantly (P < 0.05) higher than SLA or SLA plus ScLL 10 weeks after the challenge infection. The detection of high levels of IgG2a and the expression of mRNA cytokines, such as IFN-gamma, IL-12, and TNF-alpha (Th1 profiles), corroborated the protective role of this lectin against cutaneous leishmaniasis. This is the first report of the ScLL effect on leishmaniasis and shows a promising role for ScLL to be explored in other experimental models for treatment of leishmaniasis.
Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic , Euphorbiaceae/chemistry , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/immunology , Plant Lectins/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology , Antibody Formation , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Cytokines/genetics , Cytokines/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Delayed/immunology , Immunization , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Latex/chemistry , Leishmania/immunology , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/pathology , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/immunology , Plant Lectins/isolation & purification , Protozoan Vaccines/immunology , Protozoan Vaccines/pharmacology , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
Considering that little is known about the epidemiology of Neospora caninum infection in humans, particularly in populations with high Toxoplasma gondii infection rates, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in T. gondii-seropositive and -seronegative individuals. A total of 256 serum samples divided into four groups (61 samples from human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-positive patients, 50 samples from patients with neurological disorders, 91 samples from newborns, and 54 samples from healthy subjects) were assessed for N. caninum and T. gondii serologies by indirect fluorescent-antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoblotting (IB). Immunoglobulin G antibodies to N. caninum were predominantly detected in HIV-infected patients (38%) and patients with neurological disorders (18%), while newborns and healthy subjects showed lower seropositivity rates (5% and 6%, respectively). Seropositivity to N. caninum was significantly associated with seropositivity to T. gondii in both HIV-infected patients and patients with neurological disorders. Seroreactivity to N. caninum was confirmed by IB, with positive sera predominantly recognizing the 29-kDa antigen of N. caninum. The results of this study indicate the presence of N. caninum infection or exposure in humans, particularly in HIV-infected patients or patients with neurological disorders, who could have opportunistic and concurrent infections with T. gondii. These findings may bring a new concern for the unstable clinical health of HIV-infected patients and the actual role of N. caninum infection in immunocompromised patients.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Coccidiosis/immunology , HIV Infections/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Neospora/immunology , Nervous System Diseases/immunology , Adult , Animals , Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology , Antibody Specificity , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Bias , Coccidiosis/blood , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , HIV Infections/blood , HIV Seropositivity , Humans , Immunoblotting , Infant, Newborn , Nervous System Diseases/blood , Patients , Toxoplasma/immunologySubject(s)
Anemia, Aplastic/chemically induced , Leprostatic Agents/adverse effects , Leprosy, Lepromatous/drug therapy , Adult , Anemia, Aplastic/physiopathology , Anemia, Aplastic/therapy , Brazil , Clofazimine/adverse effects , Clofazimine/therapeutic use , Dapsone/adverse effects , Dapsone/therapeutic use , Disease Progression , Drug Therapy, Combination , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Leprostatic Agents/therapeutic use , Leprosy, Lepromatous/diagnosis , Male , Rifampin/adverse effects , Rifampin/therapeutic use , Risk Assessment , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
In order to verify the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, 100 HIV/AIDS patients (Group 1) and 85 clinically healthy individuals (Group 2) were submitted to coproparasitological examination. Intestinal parasites were detected in 27% of patients from Group 1 and in 17.6% from Group 2. In Group 1 the most frequent parasites were Strongyloides stercoralis (12%), with 2 cases of hyperinfection; Isospora belli, 7%; Cryptosporidium sp., 4%; with 1 asymptomatic case and hookworm, 4%. Of the infected patients from Group 1 who reported to be chronic alcoholics, 64.3% had strongyloidiasis. Only 6 of the 27 infected patients from Group 1 were on highly antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In Group 2 the most frequent parasites were S. stercoralis, 7.1%; hookworm, 7.1% and Giardia lamblia, 3.5%. In conclusion, diagnosing intestinal parasites in HIV/AIDS patients is necessary especially in those who report to be chronic alcoholics or are not on antiretroviral treatment.
Subject(s)
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/epidemiology , Eukaryota/isolation & purification , HIV Infections/complications , Helminths/isolation & purification , Hospitals, Teaching , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/parasitology , Adult , Aged , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Eukaryota/classification , Female , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Helminthiasis/epidemiology , Helminthiasis/parasitology , Helminths/classification , Humans , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology , Male , Middle Aged , Protozoan Infections/epidemiology , Protozoan Infections/parasitologyABSTRACT
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been recognized recently in Brazil, where 28 cases have been reported as of September 1999. We report here the clinical and laboratory findings of three cases whose diagnoses were confirmed serologically. All the patients were adults who presented a febrile illness with respiratory symptoms that progressed to respiratory failure that required artificial ventilation in two of them. Laboratory findings were most of the time consistent with those reported in the United States in patients infected with the Sin Nombre virus, and included elevated hematocrit and thrombocytopenia; presence of atypical lymphocytes was observed in one patient. The chest radiological findings observed in all the patients were bilateral, diffuse, reticulonodular infiltrates. Two patients died. Histopathological examination of the lungs of these patients revealed interstitial and alveolar edema, alveolar hemorrhage, and mild interstitial pneumonia characterized by infiltrate of immunoblasts and mononuclear cells. In the epidemiologic investigation of one of the cases, serologic (ELISA) tests were positive in 3 (25 percent) out of 12 individuals who shared the same environmental exposure. HPS should be included in the differential diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia progressing to acute respiratory failure
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Female , Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome/diagnosis , Brazil , Fatal Outcome , Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome/blood , Hantavirus Pulmonary SyndromeABSTRACT
In the past few years, new aspects of the immunopathology of Chagas' disease have been described in immunosuppressed patients, such as fatal central system lesions related to the reactivation of the parasite. This article is the first description of the genotypic characterization, at the strain level, of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from a patient with Chagas' disease/AIDS co-infection. The presence of four hypodense lesions was observed in the cranial compute tomographic scan. The diagnosis of AIDS was assessed by the detection of anti-HIV antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot techniques. The CD4+ lymphocyte counts were maintained under 200 cells/mm cube number during one year demonstrating the severity of the state of immunosuppression. Chagas' disease was confirmed by serological and parasitological methods. Trypomastigote forms were visualized in a thick blood smear. The parasite isolated is genotypically similar to the CL strain. The paper reinforces that cerebral Chagas' disease can be considered as another potencial opportunistic infection in AIDS resulting from the reactivation of a dormant T. cruzi infection acquired years earlier.
Subject(s)
Humans , Chagas Disease/complications , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications , Trypanosoma cruzi/genetics , AIDS-Related Opportunistic InfectionsABSTRACT
Linfomas näo Hodgkin de alto grau sao comumente relatados em pacientes com a síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS). Comprometendo com grande frequência o sistema nervoso central, particularmente as leptomeninges e os hemisférios cerebrais. O acometimento epidural é pouco frequente, variando de 3,5 por cento a 8,3 por cento de acordo com os registros da literatura. Os autores relatam o caso de um paciente de 27 anos de idade com AIDS, cuja manifestaçao clínica inicial da doença linfomatosa disseminada foi a mielite transversa associada à mielopatia vacuolar. Destaca-se a importância do diagnóstico diferencial precoce das mielopatias na AIDS, em virtude da alta malignidade da neoplasia e da evoluçao extremamente rápida nesses pacientes.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/etiology , Lymphoma, AIDS-Related/pathology , Myelitis, Transverse/etiology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications , Vacuoles/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Spinal Cord Diseases/diagnosis , Spinal Cord Diseases/pathology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/complications , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/pathology , Myelitis, Transverse/diagnosis , Myelitis, Transverse/pathology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/pathologyABSTRACT
We report the case of a 52-year-old male heterosexual patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and reactivation of Chagas' disease manifested by meningoencephalitis and myocarditis, diagnosed post-mortem. Unexplained reactivation of Chagas' disease should be included among the diagnostic criteria of AIDS in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients. On the other hand, AIDS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained reactivation of Chagas' disease.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Chagas Disease/complications , Meningoencephalitis , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications , Chagas Cardiomyopathy/complications , Pneumocystis InfectionsABSTRACT
O comprometimento do sistema nervoso na esquistossomose mansônica é evento raramente diagnosticado na evoluçäo desta parasitose. Os autores descrevem o caso de uma paciente de 23 anos, natural de Säo Francisco-MG, que apresentava há duas semanas quadro de cefaléia, vômitos em jato, febre e sonolência: o exame neurológico mostrava rigidez de nuca, paresta com hipertonia muscular bilateral em membros superiores, perda de motricidade e sensibilidade em membros inferiores. Näo se palpava hepato-esplenomegalia. O exame do líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) mostrou hipoglicorraqui (28 mg%), hiperproteinorraquia (113 mg%) e pleocitose acentuada (949 células/mm**3), com predomínio de neutrófilos (70%), além de eosinofilorraquia (9%). A reaçäo de imunofluorescência indireta para esquistossomose, no LCR, realizada em cortes de fígado com granuloma peri-ovular foi reagente (IgG: 1/16; IgM: 1/4). As pesquisas de fungos e b.a.a.r. no LCR, assim como a cultura para b.a.a.r. (apóos 60 dias) e as reaçöes imunológicas para neurocisticercose foram negativas. Uma tomografia computadorizada do cérebro e medula espinhal näo evidenciou anormalidades. No exame parasitológico das fezes foi identificada a presença de ovos viáveis de S. mansoni. Instituiu-se tratamento com corticóides e praziquantel (60 mg/kg/dia; 7 dias) tendo havido regressäo das alteraçöes do LCR, permanecendo entretanto seqüelas neurológicas graves (paraplegia e bexiga neurogênica)