Caliandra Maria Bezerra Luna Lima

Ultrastructural study on the morphological changes to male worms of Schistosoma mansoni after in vitro exposure to allicin

INTRODUCTION Garlic has a wide range of actions, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal and anthelmintic actions. This antiparasitic activity has been attributed to allicin, which is the main constituent of garlic. The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro activity of allicin on the tegument of adult Schistosoma mansoni worms using scanning electron microscopy. METHODS Swiss Webster mice were infected with S. mansoni cercariae (100 per mouse) and sacrificed 50 days later to acquire the adult worms. These worms were collected by perfusion and placed in RPMI medium 1,640 at 37°C before transferring to RPMI media containing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20mg/mL of allicin, where they were incubated for 2h. The worms were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution, washed twice, post-fixed in osmium tetroxide, washed twice and then dehydrated with ascending grades of ethanol. The samples were air-dried, mounted on stubs, gold coated in an ion sputtering unit and viewed using a scanning electron microscope. RESULTS A concentration of 5mg/mL caused wrinkling in the tegument; a concentration of 10mg/mL resulted in changes to tubercles and loss or modification of spines. With 15 and 20mg/mL increasing damage to the tegument could be seen, such as vesicle formation and the presence of ulcers. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the effect of allicin on adult S. mansoni worms and indicate that most of the changes occur at concentrations greater than that normally indicated for treatment.

Recomendações da Sociedade Brasileira de Reumatologia sobre diagnóstico e tratamento das parasitoses intestinais em pacientes com doenças reumáticas autoimunes

Intestinal parasites - helminths and protozoa - are cosmopolitan diseases which are most prevalent in tropical regions. Patients with diagnoses of autoimmune rheumatic diseases have, due to the underlying disease or its treatment, an increased risk of occurrence of severe manifestations of intestinal parasites. Although the prevalence of these parasitic infections is very high in our environment, not always is the rheumatologist attentive to the need for investigation and treatment of helminthiasis and protozooses before the use of immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive therapies, and of biological drugs that are modifiers of the course of the disease. In this document, the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology establishes general recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal parasitic infections in Brazil in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, highlighting rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and spondyloarthritis.

Intestinal parasites infection: protective effect in rheumatoid arthritis?☆

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease, with a progressive course, characterized by chronic synovitis that may evolve with deformities and functional disability, and whose early treatment minimizes joint damage. Its etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated but comprises immunologic responses mediated by T helper cells (Th1). An apparent minor severity of RA in patients from regions with lower income could be associated with a higher prevalence of gut parasites, especially helminths. Strictly, a shift in the immune response toward the predominance of T helper cells (Th2), due to the chronic exposure to helminths, could modulate negatively the inflammation in RA patients, resulting in lower severity/joint injury. The interaction between the immunological responses of parasitic helminths in rheumatoid arthritis patients is the purpose of this paper.

Modelagem da Proporção de Obesos nos Estados Unidos Utilizando o Modelo de Regressão Beta

Neste artigo tivemos como objetivo modelar a proporcao de adultos obesos nos estados dos Estados Unidos considerando os individuos que apresentaram IMC (Indice de Massa Corporal) maior ou igual a 30.0 kg/m2. Utilizamos o modelo de regressao beta com finalidade de explicar a proporcao de adultos obesos, uma vez que os dados apresentam assimetria e estao restritos ao intervalo (0,1). Os resultados mostraram que a falta de atividade fisica, o pouco consumo de vegetais por dia, o habito de fumar e as taxas de inseguranca alimentar nos estados, apresentam um efeito positivo no aumento da proporcao media de adultos obesos, por outro lado as taxas de desemprego e o escore de bem-estar, exibem uma relacao negativa com o desfecho. Estimamos o impacto das taxas de inatividade fisica sobre a proporcao media de adultos obesos e os resultados revelaram que o efeito desse impacto e positivo e apresenta uma forma acelerada para valores de inatividade fisica menores do que 0.85.

Non-Clinical Acute and Chronic Toxicity Evaluations of Cissus sicyoides L. (Vitaceae) Hydroalcoholic Leaf Extract

Graphical abstract

Isopropyl Caffeate: A Caffeic Acid Derivative—Antioxidant Potential and Toxicity

Phenolic compounds, among them isopropyl caffeate, possess antioxidant potential, but not without toxicity and/or adverse effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and toxicity of isopropyl caffeate through in silico, in vitro and in vivo testing. The results showed that isopropyl caffeate presents no significant theoretical risk of toxicity, with likely moderate bioactivity: GPCR binding, ion channel modulation, nuclear receptor binding, and enzyme inhibition. Isopropyl caffeate induced hemolysis only at the concentrations of 500 and 1000 μg/ml. We observed types A and O erythrocyte protection from osmotic stress, no oxidation of erythrocytes, and even sequestrator and antioxidant behavior. However, moderate toxicity, according to the classification of GHS, was demonstrated through depressant effects on the central nervous system, though there was no influence on water and food consumption or on weight gain, and it did present possible hepatoprotection. We conclude that the effects induced by isopropyl caffeate are due to its antioxidant activity, capable of preventing production of free radicals and oxidative stress, a promising molecule with pharmacological potential.

Scientific Production of Patient’s Electronic Health Record in Online Journals from Brazilian scenario

The study aims to analyse the scientific production about patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) available in online journals from 2006 to 2015. This is an integrative review. The search was conducted in the Virtual Health Library and Portal Capes, considering only studies in Portuguese. The sample consisted of 17 articles. It was observed that from 2011 to 2012 is the period with the highest number of publications about the investigated issue. The majority of papers were published in journals in the area of computer science and the most common modality of publication was original article. It was found that scientific productions involving Electronic Health Record discussed about its importance and implementation in health services, as well as perceptions of health professionals about its utilization. The research evidenced the relevance of EHR in health services, emphasizing necessity for improved regulations of ethical and legal issues and creation of legal provision to concede judicial validity in Brazil.

Gut Parasites in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Imminent Threat or Protective Effect?

Parasitic infections are among the oldest and most common infections in humans. Host defense alterations caused by autoimmune diseases or immunosuppressive drugs can cause modifications of the symptoms: indolent parasites can be reactivated, asymptomatic patients may experience new symptoms, or mild or moderate symptoms can become serious and, rarely, may lead to death. In recent years, new drugs have been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), causing a greater level of immunosuppression and, therefore, more concerns regarding the risk of serious parasitic diseases. Of note, experimental studies have demonstrated that the immunomodulation induced by infection with helminths can minimize the occurrence and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Products derived from helminths (such as glycoprotein ES-62) can exert favorable effects in RA patients via their anti-inflammatory actions. Greater knowledge of these substances may serve as a basis for the development of new treatments for RA. The full impact of parasitic diseases on patients with rheumatoid arthritis remains controversial, and further studies are warrented.

Erratum to “Recommendations from the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology on the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal parasitic infections in patients with autoimmune rheumatic disorders” [Rev Bras Reumatol. 2015;55(4):368–380]

Alessandra Sousa Braza, Carlos Augusto Ferreira de Andradeb,c,∗, Licia Maria Henrique da Motad, Caliandra Maria Bezerra Luna Limae a Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil b Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas – Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil c Universidade Severino Sombra, Vassouras, RJ, Brazil d Advisor Professor of the Post-Graduation Program of Medical Sciences at the School of Medicine of Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil e Post-Graduation Program of Model of Decision and Health, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil