Immune response of toddlers with history of prematurity.

BACKGROUND: It is not quite well established how immune responses differ in term and preterm infants beyond the first year of life. This study aimed to evaluate aspects of the innate and adaptive immune responses in a group of preterm infants in comparison with their term peers. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from preterm and term children at age three years. Innate immune response was evaluated by the analysis of TLR receptors expression on CD11c+HLADRhigh cells and inflammatory cytokine production after PBMC stimulation with Toll like receptors (TLR) ligands. Adaptive immune response was evaluated by T cells' phenotyping and function after stimulation with polyclonal conventional T cell stimulus. CONCLUSION: We have found that the patterns of innate and adaptive immune responses at 3 years of age were not affected by the fact of the children having being born preterm or at term.

Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain UFMG A-905 in experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease.

In the present study, the protective potential of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain UFMG A-905 was evaluated in a murine model of acute ulcerative colitis (UC). Six groups of Balb/c mice were used: not treated with yeast and not challenged with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) (control); treated with S. cerevisiae UFMG A-905 (905); treated with the non-probiotic S. cerevisiae W303 (W303); challenged with DSS (DSS); treated with S. cerevisiae UFMG A-905 and challenged with DSS (905 + DSS); and treated with S. cerevisiae W303 and challenged with DSS (W303 + DSS). Seven days after induction of UC, mice were euthanised to remove colon for enzymatic, immunological, and histopathological analysis. In vivo intestinal permeability was also evaluated. An improvement of clinical manifestations of experimental UC was observed only in mice of the 905 + DSS group when compared to animals from DSS and W303 + DSS groups. This observation was confirmed by histological and morphometrical data and determination of myeloperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase activities, intestinal permeability and some pro-inflammatory cytokines. S. cerevisiae UFMG A-905 showed to be a potential alternative treatment for UC when used in an experimental animal model of the disease.

Extracellular DNA traps in bronchoalveolar fluid from a murine eosinophilic pulmonary response.

Asthma is associated with a loss of the structural integrity of airway epithelium and dysfunction of the physical barrier, which protects airways from external harmful factors. Granulocyte activation causes the formation of extracellular traps, releasing web-like structures of DNA and proteins, being important to kill pathogens extracellularly. We investigated whether eosinophils infiltrating airways in an experimental model of asthma would induce eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue. We showed that an ovalbumin (OVA) asthma protocol presented a significant increase in eosinophil counts with increased extracellular DNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as in lung tissue, confirming the presence of DNA traps colocalized with eosinophil peroxidase. EETs formation was reversed by DNase treatment. With these approaches, we demonstrated for the first time that OVA-challenged mice release extracellular DNA traps, which could aggravate pulmonary dysfunction.

Bioatividade de extratos aquosos de plantas medicinais em sementes de feijão-fava / Behavioral and physiological health of lima bean seeds subjected to aqueous extract of medicinal plants

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a bioatividade de extratos aquosos de plantas medicinais em sementes de Phaseolus lunatus L. (feijão-fava) via comportamento fisiológico e fitossanitário. Foram utilizadas sementes de feijão-fava da variedade Anduzinha tratadas com seis extratos aquosos de plantas medicinais a 5% (Ocimun gratissimum, Plectranthus neachilus, Vernonia condensata, Cymbopogom citratus, Equisetum sp., e Piper aduncum L.), juntamente com a testemunha (água destilada). A bioatividade foi determinada pelo comportamento fisiológico e sanitário avaliados por meio dos testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, comprimento de raiz na primeira e última contagem, e teste de sanidade. Realizou-se a análise de variância e teste Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. O extrato aquoso de cavalinha (Equisetum sp.) promoveu a melhor qualidade fisiológica das sementes de feijão-fava. Houve maior incidência de fungos nas sementes de feijão-fava que receberam o extrato de boldinho (Plectranthus neachilus).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactivitt of medicinal lants aqueous extracts in Phaseolus lunatus L. (lima bean) s via through physiological and behavioral health. We the llima bean seeds of the variety Anduzinha ins of medicinal lants aqueous extracs ato 5% (Ocimun gratissimum, Plectranthus neachilus, Vernonia condensata, Cymbopogom citratus, Equisetum sp. and Piper aduncum L.) together with the control (distilled water). The bioactivity was determined by physiological and sanitary qutyies reviews through germination, first counting of germination, speed of germination, root length in the first and last counting, and sanity check. We carried out the analysis of variance and the Tukey test at 5% probability. The aqueous extract of Equisetum sp. promoted beseed physiological quality of the lima bean seed. There was a higher incidence of fungs of lima bean sract that received the extract of Plectranthus neacilus).

Características morfológicas do pelame de vacas holandesas puras por cruza na região semiárida de Minas Gerais / Hair coat characteristics of graded Holstein cows in semiarid region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar as características morfológicas como densidade numérica e espessura do pelame e comprimento dos pelos de vacas Holandesas predominantemente negras, puras por cruza em lactação na região de Montes Claros no norte de Minas Gerais. O estudo foi conduzido em duas fases, A: julho/agosto e B: outubro/novembro de 2010, utilizando 12 fêmeas Holandesas em lactação, puras por cruza de pelame predominante negro. Foram medidas as características de densidade numérica (nº pelos/cm²), espessura (mm), comprimento (mm) e a temperatura da superfície do pelame (TPE). Os resultados mostraram que o pelame foi menos denso, com pelos mais curtos na fase B, no entanto a espessura não variou entre as duas fases. No período em que ocorreu maior densidade numérica houve menor TPE. As características do pelame das vacas Holandesas puras por cruza observadas indicam uma boa adequação às condições ambientais da região em estudo.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the morphological characteristics such as number density, coat thickness and length of predominantly black lactating graded Holstein cows, in the region of Montes Claros in the north of Minas Gerais. The study was conducted in two phases, A: July/August and B: October/November 2010, using 12 lactating female Holstein crossbred dairy cows with predominant black coat. We measured the characteristics of numerical density (number of hair/cm²), thickness (mm) length (mm) and coat surface temperature (CST). Three samples of hair of each animal were taken at each stage through adjusted pliers. The results showed that the coat was less dense, with shorter hair in phase B, and the thickness did not change in the two phases. In the period when the coat was denser, that is, phase A, there was lower CTS. The observed coat characteristics of graded Holstein cows indicate good adaptation to environmental conditions in the region.

Use of poly(DL-lactide-ε-caprolactone) membranes and mesenchymal stem cells from the Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord for promoting nerve regeneration in axonotmesis: in vitro and in vivo analysis.

Cellular systems implanted into an injured nerve may produce growth factors or extracellular matrix molecules, modulate the inflammatory process and eventually improve nerve regeneration. In the present study, we evaluated the therapeutic value of human umbilical cord matrix MSCs (HMSCs) on rat sciatic nerve after axonotmesis injury associated to Vivosorb® membrane. During HMSCs expansion and differentiation in neuroglial-like cells, the culture medium was collected at 48, 72 and 96 h for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis in order to evaluate the metabolic profile. To correlate the HMSCs ability to differentiate and survival capacity in the presence of the Vivosorb® membrane, the [Ca(2+)]i of undifferentiated HMSCs or neuroglial-differentiated HMSCs was determined by the epifluorescence technique using the Fura-2AM probe. The Vivosorb® membrane proved to be adequate and used as scaffold associated with undifferentiated HMSCs or neuroglial-differentiated HMSCs. In vivo testing was carried out in adult rats where a sciatic nerve axonotmesis injury was treated with undifferentiated HMSCs or neuroglial differentiated HMSCs with or without the Vivosorb® membrane. Motor and sensory functional recovery was evaluated throughout a healing period of 12 weeks using sciatic functional index (SFI), extensor postural thrust (EPT), and withdrawal reflex latency (WRL). Stereological analysis was carried out on regenerated nerve fibers. In vitro investigation showed the formation of typical neuroglial cells after differentiation, which were positively stained for the typical specific neuroglial markers such as the GFAP, the GAP-43 and NeuN. NMR showed clear evidence that HMSCs expansion is glycolysis-dependent but their differentiation requires the switch of the metabolic profile to oxidative metabolism. In vivo studies showed enhanced recovery of motor and sensory function in animals treated with transplanted undifferentiated and differentiated HMSCs that was accompanied by an increase in myelin sheath. Taken together, HMSC from the umbilical cord Wharton jelly might be useful for improving the clinical outcome after peripheral nerve lesion.

Normal red blood cells partially decrease diepoxybutane-induced chromosome breakage in cultured lymphocytes from Fanconi anaemia patients.

OBJECTIVES: Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a cancer-prone chromosome instability syndrome characterized by hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, such as diepoxybutane (DEB). Previous studies have shown that normal red blood cells (RBC) can protect cultured lymphocytes against chromosomal breaks induced by DEB. The present study was designed to analyse influence of RBCs from normal individuals on frequency of DEB-induced chromosome breaks in lymphocyte cultures from FA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative study was performed between DEB-induced chromosome breaks in cultures of FA lymphocytes with either autologous or heterologous RBCs. A further comparative study was carried out between whole blood cultures from FA patients performed on two occasions, before and 1 week after transfusion of RBCs. RESULTS: It was observed that normal RBCs compared to FA RBCs, partially reduced chromosome breaks in cultured FA lymphocytes. A significant reduction in DEB-induced breaks was also observed in FA cultured lymphocytes obtained 1 week after transfusion of RBCs, in comparison to those observed in the same patients before RBC transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that DEB-induced chromosome instability in FA lymphocytes is partially reduced by normal RBCs. This effect may have some clinical relevance in vivo, whenever FA patients receive a RBC transfusion.

Human red blood cells have an enhancing effect on the relative expansion of CD8+ T lymphocytes in vitro.

The present study was designed to analyse the effect of red blood cells on T-cell proliferation and expansion. A comparative study was done in peripheral blood cell cultures stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, with or without red blood cells. The presence of red blood cells had a consistent enhancing effect on T lymphocyte proliferation, as determined by an increase in both the mitotic index and thymidine uptake. Phenotypic characterization of T cell blasts by flow cytometry revealed that, in the presence of red blood cells, expanding cells were preferentially CD8+ cells. Accordingly, proliferation of CD8+ lymphocytes from two patients with CD8+ hyperlymphocytosis was dependent on the presence of red blood cells. In contrast, proliferation of CD4+ lymphocytes from two patients with CD4+ hyperlymphocytosis was strongly inhibited by the presence of red blood cells. This is the first reported evidence that human red blood cells have an enhancing effect on the expansion of CD8+ lymphocytes in vitro.

Cytogenetic findings in a patient presenting simultaneously with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

A case of simultaneous presentation of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is described. CLL was documented by bone marrow and peripheral blood lymphocytosis with a typical B-CLL immunophenotype. The diagnosis of AML was supported by the presence of bone marrow and circulating blast cells positive for myeloperoxidase and myeloid-associated markers. Although the immunophenotyping and morphocytochemical studies indicated two different cell populations (mature B-CLL lymphocytes and myeloblasts), chromosome aberrations commonly associated with CLL and AML were found simultaneously in the same metaphases obtained from unstimulated 24-hour cultures of peripheral blood cells.

Specific induction of uncoiling in NORs of human acrocentric chromosomes by 5-azacytidine and 5-azadeoxicytidine.

The organization of rDNA-containing chromatin was analysed by transmission electron microscopy after treatment of cultured human lymphocytes with 5-azacytidine (ACR) or 5-azadeoxicytidine (AdCR). The number of observed acrocentric chromosomes with satellites was significantly increased after treatment with low doses of ACR or AdCR during the last 24 h of culture, whereas with exposures during the last 7 h the number remained normal. The results suggest that the incorporation of ACR and AdCR in the early period of the S-phase may have reverted the non-satellized to satellized chromosomes. The cytidine analogues may have become more visible during secondary constriction thus changing the NOR structure leading to an increased number of satellized chromosomes.

[Cytogenetic studies in hematological diseases. Analysis of 185 cases]. / Estudios citogenéticos en enfermedades hematológicas. Análisis de 185 casos.

PURPOSE: To analyse the chromosomal abnormalities found at diagnosis in patients with malignant blood diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between june 1988 and january 1992, cytogenetic studies were performed at the Cytogenetics Laboratory of the Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Sciences on 185 patients with malignant blood diseases. Bone-marrow and/or peripheral blood cells were used for such studies, two simultaneous cultures being prepared at 24 and 48 hr, plus another one, stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, at 72 hr. Trypsin G-banding techniques were used for chromosome identification. Chromosomes were classified in accordance with the international system, and a clone was judged abnormal whenever two or more metaphases showed identical structural abnormalities or extra chromosome(s) and three or more metaphases lacked the same chromosome(s). RESULTS: Evaluable mitoses were found in 152 of the 185 cytogenetic studies performed (82.2%), pertaining to chronic myelogenous leukaemia (39/42), acute nonlymphoblastic leukaemia (40/43), myelodysplastic syndromes (10/17), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (30/36), and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (10/14). Chromosomal alterations, previously described in each diagnostic variety, were found in 69% of the cases with abnormal karyotype. The remaining patients (31%) had chromosomal abnormalities not reported consistently. CONCLUSIONS: The karyotype should be studied regularly in haematologic disorders since, although lacking precise prognostic implications, it may help gain information with regard to the genetic alterations in different blood diseases.

Morphometric analysis of human chromosome satellites and NOR asymmetries by transmission electron microscopy.

Human chromosome satellites appear as roughly spherical telomeric structures of 0.215 +/- 0.013 microns mean diameter by electron microscopy. Morphometric evaluations showed that in the short arms of D and G chromosomes lacking secondary constrictions, the chromatin which constituted the satellites appeared virtually integrated within the short arms. Asymmetry was detected in sister satellites from almost identical dimensions to the near absence of one of them. When Ag-NOR staining was employed to locate active nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) these appeared associated with satellite short arms and active NORs were never found in non-satellite chromosomes. Asymmetry was also evident between sister NORs.