Hypergammaglobulinaemia in Leishmania donovani infected hamsters: possible association with a polyclonal activator of B cells and with suppression of T cell function.

Defective yeast opsonization in sera with no demonstrable abnormality of known complement components is associated with the absence of inactivity of a co-factor which enhances the deposition of C3 fragments (C3b/C3bi) derived from both classical and alternative pathways of complement activation. The factor binds strongly to zymosan at 4 degrees C and loses its biological activity completely when heated for 30 min at 56 degrees C but not when similarly heated at 50 degrees C. Sera with defective deposition of C3 fragments may be readily corrected with small quantities of sera having normal function. Sera with the defect do not correct other similar sera.     

Isolation and identification of compounds with antinociceptive action from Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br.

This study describes the isolation and identification of several constituents from Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br., a medicinal plant frequently employed in folk medicine of many countries as a remedy against several diseases, including inflammation and pain. Our results demonstrate that some of these compounds, such as glochidone, betulinic acid, alpha- and beta-amyrin acetate, isoquercitrin, etc. showed pronounced antinociceptive properties in the writhing test and formalin test in mice. These data confirm our previous work concerning the antinociceptive action of the hydroalcoholic extract of I. pes-caprae and justify, at least in part, the popular use of this plant for the treatment of dolorous processes.     

Neuronal organelles and nuclear pores of hypothalamic ventromedial neurons are sexually dimorphic and change during the estrus cycle in the rat

Neurons in the ventrolateral division of the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMNvl) become hypertrophied when exposed to high estrogen levels, an effect that has been observed after estrogen treatment of ovariectomized rats as well as during the proestrus stage of the ovarian cycle. In an attempt to examine whether the neuronal hypertrophy noticed in these conditions reflects metabolic activation of the neurons we have examined, using quantitative methods, the cytoplasmic organelles involved in protein synthesis and the nuclear pores of VMNvl neurons from females on proestrus, when estrogen levels are high, and on diestrus, when estrogen levels are low. Because VMNvl neurons are sexually dimorphic with respect to their size we have performed, in parallel, similar analyses in neurons from age-matched male rats. Our results show that the volume and the surface area of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and Golgi apparatus are increased at proestrus. They also show that the density of nuclear pores is greater in males than in females whereas the volume and the surface area of the RER and Golgi apparatus are sexually dimorphic only at specific phases of the ovarian cycle: the male-female differences are notorious in the RER when females are on diestrus and in the Golgi apparatus when they are on proestrus. Given that the size of the RER and of the Golgi apparatus correlates with the level of neuronal protein synthesis, data obtained in this study suggest that the sex-related differences and the estrus cycle variations in neuronal size reflect corresponding differences and fluctuations in the metabolic activity of VMNvl neurons.     

Correlation between serology and nucleic acid amplification test in blood donors who are reactive for hepatitis B virus,hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus and evaluation of the epidemiological profile of infected people in blood centers in the State of Paraná

ObjectivesTo compare the results of conventional serological tests and molecular technology (NAT, Nucleic Acid Amplification Test), identify donors in the diagnostic window period, and determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among the samples of blood donors blocked by serological screening.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out by analyzing blood donor information contained in the database of 20 blood centers in Paraná, from January 2018 to December 2019.ResultsA total of 1,496 blood bags were reactive for HBV, HCV, or HIV in serological and/or NAT tests. The 20th Regional Health (RH) Unit had the greatest number of unfit individuals with altered screening for the three infections, with a prevalence of 0.70%. The lowest number of blocked blood donors occurred in the 15th RH, with a prevalence of 0.08%. The highest prevalence of HBV occurred in the 8th RH, with a reagent serology of 0.34% and a positive NAT of 0.17%. For HCV, the prevalence for reagent serology was 0.28%, while that for NAT was 0.02%, which occurred in the 20th RH. For HIV and for NAT, the prevalence of blood donors with positive serology occurred in the 20th RH, at 0.25% and 0.04%, retrospectively. The 13th RH had the highest prevalence of HIV in relation to NAT, that is, conventional serology in concomitance with NAT technology, at 0.07%. During the 2-year period, only 1 reactive donor in the 9th was found for NAT (HBV), in a diagnostic window.ConclusionIn Paraná’s blood centers, the inability to donate due to HBV, HCV, and HIV, occurred mainly in initial donors, men, those with >8 years of education, aged 16–45 years, married, and O positive. The most affected regions were located in the west and northwest of Paraná. Most of the results showed a discrepancy between the methodologies used.