Toxocariosis: seroprevalencia y contaminación ambiental en dos comunas periurbanas de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina / Toxocariosis: seroprevalence and enviroment contamination in two periurbana communities of Córdoba City, Argentina

La toxocariasis humana es una enfermedad parasitaria que se encuentra en todo el mundo.Los humanos están infectados por la ingestión de los huevos que contaminan el medio ambiente. El diagnóstico serológico se lleva a cabo mediante inmunoensayo enzimático y por lo general confirmado por Western blot. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la concentración de anticuerpos contra Toxocara canis y el total de los niveles de IgE en suero, el número de eosinófilos en sangre y grado de contaminación del suelo por la técnica de flotación en dos ciudades de la periferia de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. De las 64 muestras de 29,7% (19/64) fueron reactivos y 70% (45/64) no fueron reactivos por ELISA. Sólo una muestra fue positiva por Western blot (1/64). Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, Blastocystis sp. y Entamoeba coli fueron las especies parasitarias más frecuentes que se encuentran en las heces. La concentración total de IgE mostró diferencias significativas entre los grupos. Los niveles de eosinófilos mostraron un aumento significativo en la muestra positiva confirmado por Western blot en comparación con los otros dos grupos. De las 70 muestras de suelo, 77% (54/70) estaban contaminadas con huevos de Toxocara sp. Estos resultados revelan la presencia de reacciones cruzadas en la prueba de ELISA. Por esta razón, se propone el Western blot como técnica confirmatoria. Podemos concluir que la toxocariosis humana es un problema de salud grave que al día de hoy recibió poca atención de la comunidad médica. Los programas educativos deben ser desarrolladas para promover el concepto social de la tenencia responsable de mascotas. Otros estudios serán necesarios para determinar la contribución de esta enfermedad parasitaria a la morbilidad general de la población.(AU)

Efecto de distintos anticoagulantes sobre índices plaquetarios / Theeffect of different anticoagulants on platelets index

El efecto de anticoagulantes sobre el recuento de plaquetas (CP), Plaquetocrito (PCT), volumen plauqetario medio (VPM) y amplitud de la distribución plaquetaria (PDW) fue evaluado en sangre venosa de pacientes ambulatorios a distintos intervalos de tiempo luego de la extracción. El CP basal fue realizado en cámara a partir de sangre capilar. La mediadel CP basal y CP inicial (tiempo 0= con EDTA, heparina o citrato fueron similares, al igual que las medidas del PCT, VPM y PDW inicial con EDTA o heparina. Durante el período de evaluación, el CP y el PDW en muestras con EDTA se mantuvieron constantes, mientras que el PCT y el VPM evidenciaron un aumento. Con heparina hubo disminución del CP y PCT, aumento sostenido del VPM y PDW. Además se constataron agregados plaquetarios en los frotis, perfiles de histogramas y alrmas leucocitarias asociados con un incremento de leucocitos. Con citrato, el CP corregido y los índices plaquetarios se mantuvieron constantes. Estos resulatdos indican que: 1) el citrato sódico es más conveniente para evaluar índices plaquetarios, 2) Con EDTA, se debe estandarizar el tiempo de análisis de las muestras para obtener resultados comparables, especialmente al evaluar VPM y 3) la heparina produce marcadas modificaciones de los índices plaquetarios

Efecto de distintos anticoagulantes sobre índices plaquetarios / Theeffect of different anticoagulants on platelets index

El efecto de anticoagulantes sobre el recuento de plaquetas (CP), Plaquetocrito (PCT), volumen plauqetario medio (VPM) y amplitud de la distribución plaquetaria (PDW) fue evaluado en sangre venosa de pacientes ambulatorios a distintos intervalos de tiempo luego de la extracción. El CP basal fue realizado en cámara a partir de sangre capilar. La mediadel CP basal y CP inicial (tiempo 0= con EDTA, heparina o citrato fueron similares, al igual que las medidas del PCT, VPM y PDW inicial con EDTA o heparina. Durante el período de evaluación, el CP y el PDW en muestras con EDTA se mantuvieron constantes, mientras que el PCT y el VPM evidenciaron un aumento. Con heparina hubo disminución del CP y PCT, aumento sostenido del VPM y PDW. Además se constataron agregados plaquetarios en los frotis, perfiles de histogramas y alrmas leucocitarias asociados con un incremento de leucocitos. Con citrato, el CP corregido y los índices plaquetarios se mantuvieron constantes. Estos resulatdos indican que: 1) el citrato sódico es más conveniente para evaluar índices plaquetarios, 2) Con EDTA, se debe estandarizar el tiempo de análisis de las muestras para obtener resultados comparables, especialmente al evaluar VPM y 3) la heparina produce marcadas modificaciones de los índices plaquetarios (AU)

Oxidative stress-related parameters in prostate of rats with experimental autoimmune prostatitis.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress in tissues can be provoked by an augmented metabolic rate, which may sometimes be combined with a decrease in the antioxidant capacity. METHODS: In this study we examined the primary enzymatic defense mechanisms against the damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS): the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and glutathione content, as well as the levels of total thiobarbituric acid-reactant substances (TBARS), indicative of lipid peroxidation. These studies were made in prostate homogenates of rats with experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) and of control rats treated with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or nontreated. RESULTS: The evaluation of antioxidant defenses revealed a significant diminution of the catalase activity in autoimmune rats without changes in SOD activity and glutathione content. TBARS levels evidenced a significant increase in prostate homogenates from autoimmune rats in relation to control rat samples. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that in EAP, a marked diminution of catalase activity associated with an enhanced oxidative metabolism of inflammatory macrophages might lead to oxidative damage in this autoimmune disease.

Production of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) by peritoneal macrophages from rats with experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP).

Peritoneal macrophages from experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) rats were examined for their capacity to secrete reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI), measured by the release of nitrite (NO2-). Under basal conditions, there was a significant increase of NO2- secretion by cells from autoimmune rats in relation to resident cells. After stimulation in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the NO2- production was higher in cells from autoimmune rats compared to treated and nontreated controls. The NO2- production was dependent upon the presence of L-arginine in the culture medium. The addition of L-NG-monomethyl arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, to the medium reduced the amount of measurable NO2-. Kinetic studies in cells from EAP rats showed that in basal conditions there was an significant release of NO2- at day 7 of immunization that was maintained during the whole period studied. After LPS stimulation, there was a similar behavior and maximum values were reached at day 28 of immunization. These results, together with the lesion observed in the prostate gland, suggest that RNI may be of pathogenic importance in the development of early tissue inflammation and autoimmune disease of the prostate.

Time course of reactive oxygen intermediates release and histopathological findings during experimental autoimmune prostatitis development.

Spontaneous and stimulated reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) release by peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and histopathological findings in the prostate gland were assessed during experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) development. Results in EAP rats were compared with data from rats immunized with kidney homogenate, BSA, and CFA, as well as nontreated rats. At 28 days of first immunization (FI), EAP rats spontaneously released significantly more ROI than occurred in the cells from control rats. A similar response was found when ROI release was analyzed after in vitro stimulus. In time course studies, an increased spontaneous O2- production was observed at day 7 after FI, and remained the same during all period studied, (14, 21, and 28 days after FI). The stimulated O2- production showed elevated levels at 7 days after FI and fell afterward to levels similar to those of nontreated rats and increased again at 28 days. Spontaneous or stimulated H2O2 release showed a progressive increase during the study periods. ROI release was correlated with infiltrate formation in the prostate gland. This differential responsiveness could indicate that, during the autoimmune process, the autoantigen(s) amplify the inflammatory response triggered by them.

Effects of serum from HIV-infected subjects on the functional activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

The oxidative capacity of polymorphonuclears neutrophils (PMN) was assessed in 17 subjects with asymptomatic infection (AI), 16 patients with acquired immnunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 12 healthy normal subjects using a quantitative Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test. The effect of the serum of patients on the functional activity of normal and patients' PMN was also investigated. The NBT reduction non stimulated and stimulated with zymosan particles in presence of normal serum was similar to normal controls in both groups of patients. The serum from 11 out of the 17 AI subjects (65%) induced an increase while the serum from 8 out of the 16 AIDS patients (50%) induced a diminution in the stimulated NBT reduction in normal and patients' PMN. Those effects did no, appear to be related to complement C3 and circulating immune complexes levels. These results are indicating that PMN of HIV-seropositive patients do not present an intrinsic disfunction and that the impact of serum factor/s affects the normal functionalism of these cells depending on the infection stages.

Effect of serum from HIV-infected subjects on superoxide production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Superoxide (O2.-) production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was assessed in 17 subjects with asymptomatic infection (AI), 16 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and 12 healthy normal subjects. The effect of patients' serum on the oxidative activity of normal and patients' PMN was also investigated. The O2.- production, nonstimulated and stimulated with zymosan particles in the presence of normal serum, was similar to that of normal controls in both groups of patients. The serum from 11 out of the 17 AI subjects (65%) induced an increase in the stimulated O2.- production in normal and patients' PMN, while the serum from 8 out of the 16 AIDS patients (50%) induced a diminution. These effects did not appear to be related to complement C3 and circulating immune complex levels, but suggest that PMN of HIV-seropositive patients do not present an intrinsic dysfunction and that the impact of serum factor(s) affects the normal oxidative activity of these cells depending on the stage of infection.

Experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP): enhanced release of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in peritoneal macrophages.

The metabolic state of peritoneal macrophages is defined quantitatively for spontaneous ROI release and compared with those produced after cell contact with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or zymosan (OZ) particles. Peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from EAP animals spontaneously released significantly more ROI than cells from controls rats, indicating that mononuclear phagocytes from autoimmune rats were more activated than populations cells arising from rats injected with BSA, with CFA or non-injected. These findings could indicate an in vivo activation state in PEC from autoimmune rats different from that obtained with heterologous antigens or CFA immunization procedures. The release of ROI induced after in vitro stimulus was, in general, higher in cells from autoimmune than in BSA or CFA treated rats. This differential responsiveness between the MAG, BSA and CFA injected macrophage populations could indicate that during the autoimmune process the autoantigen/s could amplify the inflammatory response triggered by them. Although release of oxygen metabolites represents only one of many potential mechanisms of tissue injury, this together with the lesions observed in the prostate gland indicate that oxygen radicals could be involved in this autoimmune disease.