Inverse association between skin response to aeroallergens and Schistosoma mansoni infection

BACKGROUND: Helminthic infections and allergic disease are highly prevalent in many areas of the world. It is known that IgE antibodies are involved in the pathogenesis of both helminthiasis and atopy. However, the consequences of the presence of helminthic infections in atopic patients are still not completely understood. METHODS: Subjects infected by Schistosoma mansoni with more than 200 eggs/g of feces (n = 42) and uninfected subjects (n = 133) were selected from an endemic area of schistosomiasis. The history of allergy and results of the immediate hypersensitivity prick tests with inhalant allergen extracts were registered. Total IgE and IgE specific to S. mansoni and aeroallergens were measured in serum by ELISA. RESULTS: The proportion of individuals with a positive skin test to allergens was higher in the uninfected group (24.3%) than in the group with more than 200 eggs/g of feces (4.8%). The odds of atopy (defined as a positive test for at least one of the antigens) were 5 times higher (odds ratio = 7.0; 95% confidence interval = 1.6-31.1%; p = 0.01) in the uninfected group, after taking into account the potential influence of gender and age. While there was a tendency for higher total and S. mansoni-specific IgE levels in infected patients, an opposite trend, that is higher aeroallergen-specific IgE, was observed in uninfected subjects. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong and statistically significant inverse association between the immediate skin test response to common aeroallergens and infection by S. mansoni. The results indicate that immediate hypersensitivity reactions may be suppressed in S. mansoni-infected individuals.     

Dysphonia and laryngeal sequelae in paracoccidioidomycosis patients: a morphological and phoniatric study.

The larynx is the third most commonly involved organ in paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). While a few studies have evaluated laryngeal sequelae, there have not been any investigations of voice abnormalities in PCM patients. To evaluate persistent dysphonia and laryngeal lesions, we studied 15 normal subjects and 30 post-treatment PCM patients, i.e., 15 with only pulmonary and 15 with both laryngeal and pulmonary involvement. Perceptual and acoustic voice analysis were performed with all patients, while endoscopic studies were also conducted with the 15 laryngeal patients. Voice analysis showed instability by perceptual analysis (P<0.01) in both groups, but more severe dysphonia was noted in the laryngeal group (P<0.01). The dysponia, seen in 66.7% of these patients (dysphonia index < 7.0), was characterized by roughness and breathness. The Dr. Speech (Tiger Electronics) analysis program did not accept five voices from the laryngeal group due to the severe dysphonia. Jitter was elevated in five laryngeal lesion patients. Endoscopy showed that 80% of patients with laryngeal lesion had two or more laryngeal structures involved. Vocal fold alterations were seen in all laryngeal lesion patients, which included involvement of the arythenoids, epiglottis, and vestibular folds. This first functional study of laryngeal sequelae in PCM revealed frequent and severe dysphonia that may have important social consequences for patients.     

Prevention of acute immunological lung lesion in rats by decomplementing treatment

The intravenous administration of nephrotoxic antibody serum to rats produced a rapid and pronounced reduction in the serum complement level; this was observed before lung lesions became apparent.

A total suppression of the acute immune lung change was observed in animals depleted of complement by treatment with heat-aggregated human γ-globulin or zymosan.

Albeit the experimental evidence presented is of indirect nature, it suggests that the complement system is involved in the mediation of the acute pulmonary injury following injection of nephrotoxic antibody serum.

     

Five haplotypes account for fifty-five percent of ATM mutations in Brazilian patients with ataxia telangiectasia: seven new mutations

We have studied the molecular genetics of 27 Brazilian families with ataxia telangiectasia (AT). Five founder effect haplotypes accounted for 55.5% of the families. AT is an autosomal recessive disorder of childhood onset characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, ocular apraxia, telangiectasia, immunodeficiency, radiation sensitivity, chromosomal instability, and predisposition to cancer. The ATM gene spans more than 150 kb on chromosome region 11q23.1 and encodes a product of 3056 amino acids. The ATM protein is a member of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) family of proteins and is involved in cell cycle control and DNA repair pathways. DNA was isolated from lymphoblastoid cell lines and haplotyped using four STR markers (D11S1818, NS22, D11S2179, D11S1819) within and flanking the ATM gene; all allele sizes were standardized in advance. In addition to the STR haplotypes, SNP haplotypes were determined using 10 critical polymorphisms. The entire gene was screened sequentially by protein truncation testing (PTT), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and then denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) to identify the disease-causing mutations. Of the expected 54 mutations, 50 were identified. All mutations but one, led to a truncated or null form of the ATM protein (nonsense, splice site, or frameshift). Five families (18.5%) carried a deletion of 3450nt (from IVS28 to Ex31), making this one of the two most common Brazilian mutations. Mutations were located throughout the entire gene, with no clustering or hotspots. Standardized STR haplotype analysis greatly enhanced the efficiency of mutation screening.     

Antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella serotypes isolated from slaughter-age pigs and environmental samples

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella strains isolated from slaughter-age pigs and environmental samples collected at modern swine raising facilities in Brazil. Seventeen isolates of six serotypes of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were isolated out of 1,026 collected samples: Salmonella Typhimurium (1), Salmonella Agona (5), Salmonella Sandiego (5), Salmonella Rissen (1), Salmonella Senftenberg (4), and Salmonella Javiana (1). Resistance patterns were determined to extended-spectrum penicillin (ampicillin), broad-spectrum cephalosporins (cefotaxime and ceftriaxone), aminoglycosides (streptomycin, neomycin, gentamicin, amikacin, and tobramycin), narrow-spectrum quinolone (nalidixic acid), broad-spectrum quinolone (ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin), tetracycline, trimethoprim, and chloramphenicol. Antimicrobial resistance patterns varied among serotypes, but isolates from a single serotype consistently showed the same resistance profile. All isolates were resistant to tetracycline, streptomycin, and nalidixic acid. One isolate, Salmonella Rissen, was also resistant to cefotaxime and tobramycin. All serotypes were susceptible to ceftriaxone, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol. The high resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin may be linked to their common use as therapeutic drugs on the tested farms. No relation was seen between nalidixic acid and fluoroquinolone resistance.     

A dinucleotide mutation in the endothelin-B receptor gene is associated with lethal white foal syndrome (LWFS); a horse variant of Hirschsprung disease

Lethal white foal syndrome (LWFS) is a congenital anomaly of horses characterized by a white coat colour and aganglionosis of the bowel, which is similar to Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). We decided to investigate possible mutations of the endothelin-B receptor gene ( EDNRB ) in LWFS as recent studies in mutant rodents and some patients have demonstrated EDNRB defects. First, we identified a full-length cDNA for horse EDNRB . This cDNA fragment contained a 1329 bp open reading frame which encoded 443 amino acid residues. The predicted amino acid sequence was 89, 91 and 85% identical to human, bovine and mouse as well as rat EDNRB respectively, but only 55% identical to the human, bovine and rat endothelin A receptor (EDNRA). Secondly, sequence analysis, together with allele-specific PCR and the amplification- created restriction site (ACRS) technique, revealed a dinucleotide TC-- >AG mutation, which changed isoleucine to lysine in the predicted first transmembrane domain of the EDNRB protein. This was associated with LWFS when homozygous and with the overo phenotype when heterozygous.      

Ultrastructural changes in cells of the inner enamel epithelium, stratum intermedium and reticulum stellatum in the enamel organ of the upper incisor of the Wistar rat at different phases of amelogenesis]

An electronmicroscopical study of the enamel organ of the upper incisors germs of Wistar rats was performed to analyse the ultrastructural features of the cells of the inner epithelium, the intermediate layer and the stellate reticulum, during preimary, young, transitional and mineralized enamel phases of amelogenesis. So, it was observed that the mitochondria in the ameloblasts are ovoid before the beginning of the enamel matrix formation and in the primary and young enamel phases. However, in the transitional and mineralized phases, these organelles are long and tortuous and some are characterized by a compact structure. In the cells of intermediate layer and stellate reticulum, the mitochondria are ovoid until the beginning of the mineralized phase. At the ending of this phase, these organelles are very long and present irregular form; many of them show also a compact structure. The "zonula adhaerens" could be observed only in the ameloblasts of the primary and young enamel phase. The cytoplasm of ameloblasts, during primary and young enamel phases is characterized by an abundance of free ribosomes and a branular endoplasmic reticulum; but during transitional and mineralized enamel phases, the cytoplasm of these cells shows little granular endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes, but ehe agranular endoplasmic reticulum is present. The granular endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes are abundant in the cells of the intermediate layer and stellate reticulum at the ending of the young enamel phase, in the transitional enamel phase and in the beginning of the minieralized phase. During different phases of amelogenesis, in the three above referred layers of the enamel organ, were also studied the features of the Golgi apparatus the presence and topographic distribution of the pigment granules, as well as the lysosomes, desmosomes and the tonophibriles.     

Differential effects of eight metal ions on lymphocyte differentiation antigens in vitro

In vitro studies were conducted to determine the effects of metal ions known to be released from metallic implants in vivo on the expression of lymphocyte surface antigens. Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes were exposed to various concentrations of metal ions (Fe3+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mo6+, V5+, Cr6+, Cr3+, and Ti3+) for 30 min at 37 degrees C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere, and then analyzed for their ability to form rosettes with sheep red blood cells. Following this preliminary analysis, lymphocytes were exposed to the metal ions found to inhibit the E-rosette reaction (Fe3+, Ni2+, and Co2+) in order to determine which of the following surface antigens were affected: CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD1, CD22, CD10, and HLA-DR. Our results showed that the in vitro treatment of lymphocytes with Fe3+ or Co2+ caused inhibition of CD2 only, whereas Ni2+ caused inhibition of both CD2 and CD3 antigens. These findings suggest that Fe3+, Co2+, and Ni2+ ions may interfere with T cell activation since both CD2 and CD3 are involved in that process.     

Compartmentation of glycolysis and glycogenolysis in the perfused rat heart

Developing methods that can detect compartmentation of metabolic pathways in intact tissues may be important for understanding energy demand and supply. In this study, we investigated compartmentation of glycolysis and glycogenolysis in the isolated perfused rat heart using (13)C NMR isotopomer analysis. Rat hearts previously depleted of myocardial glycogen were perfused with 5.5 mm [U-(13)C]glucose plus 50 mU/mL insulin until newly synthesized glycogen recovered to new steady-state levels ( approximately 60% of pre-depleted values). After a short wash-out period, the perfusate glucose was then switched to [1-(13)C]glucose, and glycolysis and glycogenolysis were stimulated by addition of glucagon (1 microg/ml). A (13)C NMR multiplet analysis of the methyl resonance of lactate provided an estimate of pyruvate derived from glucose vs glycogen while a multiplet analysis of the C4 resonance of glutamate provided an estimate of acetyl-CoA derived from glycolytic pyruvate vs glycogenolytic pyruvate. These two indices were not equivalent and their difference was further magnified in the presence of insulin during the stimulation phase. These combined observations are consistent with functional compartmentation of glycolytic and glycogenolytic enzymes that allows pyruvate generated by these two processes to be distinguished at the level of lactate and acetyl-CoA.