Haptoglobin phenotype and risk of cervical neoplasia: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: Haptoglobin is an acute-phase glycoprotein that influences host response to infections and tumours. The haptoglobin locus is polymorphic with 2 classes of alleles (Hp(1) and Hp(2)) yielding 3 phenotypes: Hp1-1, Hp2-2, and Hp2-1 with structurally and functionally distinct protein products, suggesting that haptoglobin polymorphism may influence susceptibility to infections and cancers. METHODS: We examined the relation between haptoglobin phenotype and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in a hospital-based case-control study. Cases (n = 307) were women with biopsy-confirmed CIN-2 or CIN-3. Controls (n = 358) were a random sample of women with normal cytology. The PGMY polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot methods were used for HPV detection and genotyping. Haptoglobin phenotype was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Among controls, phenotype distribution corresponded to allele frequencies of 0.39 for Hp(1) and 0.61 for Hp(2) with no significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p=0.66). With all women included in the analysis, the Hp1-1 phenotype was associated with increased risk of CIN (OR contrasting Hp1-1 vs. Hp2-2 = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6-1.5). However, in analyses restricted to HPV-positive participants, the Hp1-1 phenotype was associated with 2.7-fold (95% CI: 1.0-7.2) higher risk of CIN. CONCLUSIONS: If confirmed, these findings indicate an increased risk of CIN among women with the Hp1-1 phenotype.     

Periradicular lesions in HIV-infected patients attending the faculty of dentistry: clinical findings,socio-demographics status,habits and laboratory data - seeking an association

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of periradicular lesions in HIV-infected Brazilian patients and to assess the correlation of several factors with the periradicular status.

METHOD:

One hundred full-mouth periapical radiographs were evaluated. A total of 2,214 teeth were evaluated for the presence of periradicular lesions, caries lesions, coronal restorations, pulp cavity exposure and endodontic treatment.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of periradicular lesions was 46%. There were no significant differences between individuals with or without periradicular lesions with respect to their socio-demographic status, habits, laboratory data and route of HIV infection. However, the presence of a periradicular lesion was statistically correlated with the number of teeth with endodontic treatment (p = 0.018), inadequate endodontic treatment (p = 0.025), images suggesting pulp cavity exposure (p = 0.002) and caries lesions (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of periradicular lesions in HIV-infected individuals was 46% and was not related to HIV infection.     

Factors associated with immunoglobulin G subclass polarization in naturally acquired antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface proteins: a cross-sectional survey in Brazilian Amazonia

We investigated immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) and MSP-2 in 112 malaria-exposed subjects in Brazil. IgG3 polarization was primarily epitope driven, being little affected by cumulative or current exposure to malaria and not affected by a subject's age and Fcgamma receptor IIA genotype.     

Adherence rate to inhaled corticosteroids and their impact on asthma control

Background:  Poor asthma control is associated to high morbidity. The objective of this study was to assess the association between adherence rates to beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and the degree of asthma control.
Methods:  A cohort concurrent study was carried out for 12 months with 122 asthmatic patients, aged 3–12 years, randomly selected in a pediatric pulmonology outpatient clinic, who received BDP free of charge. Adherence rates were verified by pharmacy records. Clinical control was assessed through a scoring system comprised four variables (nocturnal and morning symptoms, limitation of physical activities and exacerbations). Total score was 16 points. Patients whose score was below or equal to two were considered controlled (group 1), and patients whose score was above or equal to three were considered uncontrolled (group 2). For patients able to perform spirometry, we considered as controlled the patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) equal to or above 80% of the predicted value, and as uncontrolled the patients with FEV₁ below 80%.
Results:  Fewer than half (40.3% maximum) of the 122 patients maintained asthma control. Median adherence rate of groups 1 and 2 were 85.5% and 33.8%, ( P  < 0.001) in the 4th month, 90.0% and 48.0% ( P  < 0.001) in the 8th month and 84.4% and 47.0% in the 12th month ( P  < 0.001), respectively.
Conclusion:  In all periods, there were statistically significant differences in adherence rates for maintaining or not maintaining the asthma control. Optimal asthma control entailed adherence rate higher than 80%. Strategies for reducing asthma morbidity should include a regular monitoring of adherence to inhaled steroids.     

IgG isotype to C-terminal 19 kDa of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 among subjects with different levels of exposure to malaria in Brazil

Subclasses of antibodies to the C-terminal 19 kDa fragment of the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 (PvMSP-1₁₉) were assessed among subjects with distinct degrees of malaria exposure in the Brazilian endemic area. The PvMSP-1₁₉ specific IgG1and IgG3 levels were low among subjects with long-term exposure (~19 years) when compared to subjects less and sporadically exposed (<1 year). No statistically difference was observed in IgG subclass distribution of antibodies from symptomatic Plasmodium-infected patients, asymptomatic parasite carriers and non-infected subjects living in a same mesoendemic area. Subjects briefly exposed to a P. vivax outbreak living in a rural community outside the endemic area were also evaluated to measure the persistence of specific antibodies. IgG anti-PvMSP-1₁₉ antibodies persisted in 40% of the subjects who had had malarial symptoms 8 months before and decreased after 7 years (28%). Specific IgG1 were the predominant isotype. Our study emphasizes the highly immunogenicity of the PvMSP-1₁₉ and points toward its possible use as a potential malaria vaccine.     

Genotypic variation and stability of four variable-number tandem repeats and their suitability for discriminating strains of Mycobacterium leprae

It has not been possible to distinguish different strains of Mycobacterium leprae according to their genetic sequence. However, the genome contains several variable-number tandem repeats (VNTR), which have been used effectively in strain typing of other bacteria. To determine their suitability for differentiating M. leprae, we developed PCR systems to amplify 5 different VNTR loci and examined a battery of 12 M. leprae strains derived from patients in different regions of the United States, Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines, as well as from wild armadillos and a sooty mangabey monkey. We found diversity at four VNTR (D = 0.74), but one system (C(16)G(8)) failed to yield reproducible results. Alleles for the GAA VNTR varied in length from 10 to 16 copies, those for AT(17) varied in length from 10 to 15 copies, those for GTA varied in length from 9 to 12 copies, and those for TA(18) varied in length from 13 to 20 copies. Relatively little variation was seen with interspecies transfer of bacilli or during short-term passage of strains in nude mice or armadillos. The TA(18) locus was more polymorphic than other VNTR, and genotypic variation was more common after long-term expansion in armadillos. Most strain genotypes remained fairly stable in passage, but strain Thai-53 showed remarkable variability. Statistical cluster analysis segregated strains and passage samples appropriately but did not reveal any particular genotype associable with different regions or hosts of origin. VNTR polymorphisms can be used effectively to discriminate M. leprae strains. Inclusion of additional loci and other elements will likely lead to a robust typing system that can be used in community-based epidemiological studies and select clinical applications.     

Characterization of the human jumonji gene

While constructing a cDNA library of human embryos, we have isolated a clone homologous to jumonji, a mouse gene required for neural tube formation. We have determined the complete coding sequence of the human homologue (JMJ) and deduced the amino acid sequence of the putative protein. We show here that human and mouse jumonji putative proteins are homologous and present 90% identity. During human embryogenesis, JMJ mRNAs are predominantly expressed in neurons and particularly in dorsal root ganglion cells. They are also expressed in neurons of human adult cerebral cortex. In view of these observations, we propose JMJ as a candidate gene for developmental defects of the central nervous system in the human. The human JMJ gene maps at position 6p24-6p23.      

Sympathoinhibition to Bezold-Jarisch reflex is attenuated in protein malnourished rats

Commuting by bike has a clear health enhancing effect. Moreover, regular exercise is known to improve brain plasticity, which results in enhanced cognition and memory performance. Animal research has clearly shown that exercise upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF - a neurotrophine) enhancing brain plasticity. Studies in humans found an increase in serum BDNF concentration in response to an acute exercise bout. Recently, more evidence is emerging suggesting that exposure to air pollution (such as particulate matter (PM)) is higher in commuter cyclists compared to car drivers. Furthermore, exposure to PM is linked to negative neurological effects, such as neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. We carried-out a cross-over experiment to examine the acute effect of exercise on serum BDNF, and the potential effect-modification by exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Thirty eight physically fit, non-asthmatic volunteers (mean age: 43, 26% women) performed two cycling trials, one near a major traffic road (Antwerp Ring, R1, up to 260,000 vehicles per day) and one in an air-filtered room. The air-filtered room was created by reducing fine particles as well as ultrafine particles (UFP). PM10, PM2.5 and UFP were measured. The duration (～20min) and intensity of cycling were kept the same for each volunteer for both cycling trials. Serum BDNF concentrations were measured before and 30min after each cycling trial. Average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were 64.9μg/m(3) and 24.6μg/m(3) in cycling near a major ring way, in contrast to 7.7μg/m(3) and 2.0μg/m(3) in the air-filtered room. Average concentrations of UFP were 28,180 particles/cm(3) along the road in contrast to 496 particles/cm(3) in the air-filtered room. As expected, exercise significantly increased serum BDNF concentration after cycling in the air-filtered room (+14.4%; p=0.02). In contrast, serum BDNF concentrations did not increase after cycling near the major traffic route (+0.5%; p=0.42). Although active commuting is considered to be beneficial for health, this health enhancing effect could be negatively influenced by exercising in an environment with high concentrations of PM. Whether this effect is also present with chronic exercise and chronic exposure must be further elucidated.     

Early Treatment of Depressive Symptoms and Long‐Term Survival After Liver Transplantation

While depression after liver transplantation (LTX) is associated with decreased survival, the effects of treating depression remain unknown. We assessed a previously described, prospective cohort of 167 patients transplanted for alcohol‐related liver disease from 1998 to 2003. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory serially throughout the first posttransplant year. Adequacy of antidepressant treatment was measured with the Antidepressant Treatment History Form. Using Cox‐proportional Hazards modeling, survival times were assessed for recipients with no depression versus depression with adequate medications versus depression with inadequate medications. Seventy‐two recipients had depressive symptoms in the first posttransplant year. Of these, 43% (n = 31) received adequate pharmacotherapy and 57% (n = 41) received inadequate (n = 7) or no pharmacotherapy (n = 34). After a median follow‐up time of 9.5 years, 32% of the inadequately treated depressed group survived versus 52% of the adequately treated group and 56% of the nondepressed group (p = 0.006). Compared to the nondepressed group, those with adequately treated depression had no significant difference in survival. However, recipients with depression and inadequate pharmacotherapy had decreased survival times compared to nondepressed recipients (HR for death = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.45, 4.11), controlling for other known confounders. The factor most strongly linked to long‐term mortality after liver transplantation in this cohort was untreated depression.