Epidemiology of gestational syphilis in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil: an uncontrolled disease

This cross-sectional study investigated the epidemiological profile of pregnant women with positive VDRL in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil, in 2008. The study verified the proportion of pregnant women with syphilis that was classified as treated incorrectly according to Brazilian Ministry of Health guidelines, and assessed the reasons for inadequate treatment. Fifty-eight women who had given birth at five public maternity hospitals were interviewed consecutively following delivery. Data were also recovered from medical files and pregnancy cards. Sociodemographic and obstetric data and information related to the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis in both pregnant women and their partners were analyzed. Only three (5.2%; 95%CI: 1.8%-14.1%) pregnant women had received adequate treatment. The main reason for inadequate treatment was lack of partner treatment (88% of cases; 95%CI: 76.2%-94.4%). Medical care as currently provided does not guarantee the control of gestational syphilis in this sample.     

Is maintenance of the ileocecal valve important to the intestinal adaptation mechanisms in a weaning rat model of short bowel?

Purpose

To evaluate the role of maintenance of the ileocecal valve (ICV) in intestinal adaptation mechanisms, in a weaning rat experimental model of short bowel.

Methods

Forty animals were operated on to produce short bowel syndrome. They were divided into five groups: maintenance (MV) or resection of ICV (RV), kill after 4 days (MV4 and RV4) or 21 days (MV21 and RV21), and a control group (21-day-old rats). Body weights, small bowel and colon lengths and diameters, villus heights, crypt depths, lamina propria and muscle layer thickness, as well as the apoptosis index of villi and crypts and expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, were studied.

Results

Preservation of the ICV promoted increased weight gain (p?=?0.0001) and intestinal villus height after 21 days; crypt depth was higher in comparison to controls. It was verified a higher expression of Ki-67 in bowel villi and crypts (p?=?0.018 and p?=?0.015, respectively) in RV4 group and a higher expression in bowel villi of MV4 group animals (p?=?0.03). The maintenance of ICV promoted late increased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-XL in the colon (p?=?0.043, p?=?0.002, p?=?0.01).

Conclusion

The maintenance of the ICV led to positive changes in this model.

     

Association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cervical carcinoma: A meta-analysis

Objectives

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated as a major factor in cervical carcinogenesis. However, many pieces of evidence gathered over the last two decades suggest Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) plays a secondary role in this process. The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to determine whether the presence of EBV infection increases the risk of cervical carcinoma.

Intrauterine infection,immune system and premature birth

Preterm birth accounts for nearly one million deaths among children under five years of age, and although its etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated, ascending intrauterine infection and fetal inflammatory response seem to be the main triggers. The intense inflammatory response mediated by IL-1β, TNF-α, PAF, IFN-γ and IL-6, PGE₂ and MMP-1 and MMP-9 causes fetal membrane damage and rupture, increased uterine contractions and biochemical and structural changes in the cervix. Furthermore, preterm neonates have deficient innate and adaptive immune responses characterized by reduced levels of IgG, opsonization and phagocytosis, as well as increased activation of Th1 cells in relation to Th2 cells. Therefore, this triad is favors the occurrence of neonatal complications, such as respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Due to serious maternal and child health complications of intrauterine infection, several studies have tried to identify biomarkers for the early diagnosis of this entity. This literature review aims to discuss the main scientific findings regarding the association between ascending intrauterine infection, immune system and preterm birth.     

Protection induced by pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is enhanced by conjugation to a Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide

The currently available anti-pneumococcal vaccines are based on capsular polysaccharide (PS), plain or conjugated to a carrier protein. Conjugated vaccines are expensive products, especially in the case of pneumococcus, in which reasonable coverage requires from 7 to 13 serotypes. To obtain increased coverage with fewer components, we evaluated the immunogenicity of the pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), conjugated to capsular polysaccharide serotype 23F, aiming at induction of an immune response against both components. Mice immunized with PS23F-rPspA1 conjugate produced antibodies against both PS and rPspA1, comparable or slightly higher than that obtained by free PS. The immunized animals challenged with a lethal dose of a virulent strain bearing a homologous PspA, showed that the PS23F-rPspA1 conjugate induced higher survival than rPspA1 alone or in combination with PS. This increased protection was shown to correlate with the enhanced capacity of the antibodies to bind to the pneumococcal surface and to induce complement deposition. Our results indicate that the use of PS-PspA conjugates may be a way to increase coverage against pneumococci with fewer components.