CXCL10 immunomodulatory effect against infection caused by an antimony refractory isolate of Leishmania braziliensis in mice.

Leishmania braziliensis is the main causative agent of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in Brazil. Current treatment includes different drugs that have important side effects and identification of cases of parasite resistance to treatment support the search for new therapeutic strategies. Recent findings have indicated that CXCL10, a chemokine that recruits and activates Th1 cells, NK cells, macrophages, dendritic cells and B lymphocytes, is a potential alternative to treat Leishmania infection. Here, we tested CXCL10 immunotherapy against experimental infection caused by an antimony-resistant isolate of Leishmania braziliensis. Following infection, mice were treated with CXCL10 for 7 days after onset of lesions. We demonstrate that mice treated with CXCL10 controlled lesion progression and parasite burden more efficiently comparing to controls. An increased IFN-γ, IL-10, TGF-ß and low IL-4 production combined with a distinct inflammatory infiltrate composed by activated macrophages, lymphocytes and granulomas was observed in the CXCL10-treated group comparing to controls. However, CXCL10 and Glucantime combined therapy did not improve CXCL10-induced protective effect. Our findings reinforce the potential of CXCL10 immunotherapy as an alternative treatment against infection caused by L. braziliensis resistant to conventional chemotherapy.

Photodynamic effect of palladium porphyrin derived from cashew nut shell liquid against promastigote forms of Leishmania braziliensis.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD), endemic mainly in low-income countries that lack adequate basic health care. The emergence of resistant parasites to pentavalent antimonials has led to the search for new treatments for CL. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising non-invasive and less toxic alternative for the treatment of CL. The present work describes the synthesis, characterization and photodynamic effect against CL of a new metalloporphyrin Pd (II) meso-tetra[4-(2-(3-n-pentadecylphenoxy)ethoxy]phenylporphyrin (PdP) derived from the cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). The PdP complex presented a singlet oxygen quantum yield of 0.49, favoring a type II photochemical reaction. The results of the photodynamic experiment carried out with PdP on the promastigote forms of Leishmania braziliensis indicated a mortality percentage of 70 % of the cells when compared to the control after exposure to blue light (λ = 420 nm). Besides this, the metalloporphyrin PdP did not show considerable toxicity to macrophages, indicating the cell viability of the compound. Therefore, this metalloporphyrin derived from biomass represents an interesting alternative as a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of CL through PDT, especially for patients with intolerance to the chemotherapeutic drugs currently available.

Aspectos das interações sociais de crianças portadoras de hiv pela ótica dos seus cuidadores / Aspectos de las interacciones sociales de niños portadoras de vih bajo la óptica de sus cuidadores / Aspects of social interactions of hiv-positive children from the perspective of their caregivers

A ocorrência de mulheres infectadas pelo HIV resultou no nascimento de crianças expostas ou infectadas pelo vírus. O objetivo da pesquisa foi identificar aspectos das interações sociais de crianças portadoras de HIV pela ótica de seus cuidadores Estudo exploratório-descritivo e qualitativo, realizado num serviço de referência em HIV/aids, em Fortaleza-CE, entre julho e dezembro de 2009. Participaram cuidadoras de 13 crianças infectadas pelo HIV. As entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise de conteúdo possibilitaram a elaboração das categorias: medo do contágio do HIV no seio familiar; falta de sigilo e preparo dos profissionais de saúde no atendimento aos portadores de HIV/aids e exclusão social na família, vizinhança e no ambiente escolar. Conclui-se que as interações sociais das crianças revelam-se prejudicadas. Medo, exclusão e preconceito permeiam a vida dos cuidadores, pelo receio de as crianças serem discriminadas pela sociedade. Este estudo revela informações passíveis de subsidiar atenção integral de enfermagem.

La ocurrencia de mujeres infectadas por VIH ha resultado en nacimiento de niños expuestos o infectados por el virus. El objetivo de la investigación fue identificar aspectos de las interacciones sociales de niños portadores del VIH. Estudio exploratorio-descriptivo y cualitativo, desarrollado en servicio de referencia en VIH/sida, en Fortaleza-CE, entre julio y diciembre del 2009. Participaron cuidadoras de 13 niños infectados por VIH. Entrevistas semiestructuradas y contenidos analizados han permitido la elaboración de categorías: miedo del contagio del VIH en el seno familiar; falta de sigilo y preparo de profesionales de salud en la atención a portadores de VIH/sida, exclusión social en la familia, vecindad y ambiente escolar. En conclusión, las interacciones sociales de niños se muestran perjudicadas. Miedo, exclusión y prejuicio permean la vida de cuidadores, debido al recelo de que los niños serán discriminados por la sociedad. Este estudio revela informaciones que pueden subsidiar atención integral de enfermería.

The occurrence of HIV-infected women resulted in the birth of children exposed or infected by the virus. This research aimed to identify aspects of HIV-positive children's interactions. This exploratory and descriptive study of qualitative approach was developed at an HIV/AIDS care referral service in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil, between July and December 2009. Participants were caregivers of 13 children infected with HIV. The semi-structured interviews and content analysis enabled the creation of categories: fear of contamination by HIV in the family core; lack of confidentiality and training of health professionals in care delivery to HIV/AIDS patients; and social exclusion in the family, neighborhood and school environment. In conclusion, the social interactions of HIV-positive children are impaired. Fear, exclusion and prejudice permeate the caregivers' lives, due to the fear that the children will be discriminated against in society. This study reveals information that can support holistic nursing care.