Fernanda Washington de Mendonça Lima

Epidemiologia, fisiopatogenia e diagnóstico laboratorial da infecção pelo HTLV-I

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) has been identified as the causative agent of both adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Similar to other retroviruses, HTLV-I has a positive strand RNA diploid genome consisting of four genes: gag, pol, env and pX. The pX region codes for the two regulatory proteins tax and rex. Tax protein is essential for efficient virus expression and plays an important role for activation of cellular genes, such as cytokine genes and protooncogenes. Rex protein induces the expression of unspliced and single spliced mRNAs and regulates a fine balance between the levels of expression of the viral proteins. HTLV-I is widely spread throughout the world. It is endemic in Japan, Africa, the Caribbean and South America. In Brazil, Salvador city shows the highest HTLV-I prevalence rate (1.7%) of the country. It has been established that a vast majority (nearly 95%) of HTLV-I-infected individuals will remain asymptomatic throughout their life. The mechanisms by which HTLV-I causes diseases are not fully elucidated. The HTLV-I diagnosis is based on serologic detection of specific antibodies against several antigens of the virus or through amplification of proviral sequences in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, there is not an epidemiological study with populational bases and suitable methodology in order to estimate its real prevalence in Brazil.

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection among healthy blood donors in Bahia State, Brazil

Nos objetivamos analisar a soroprevalencia para infeccao por citomegalovirus (CMV) e avaliar aspectos particulares do perfil imunologico relacionado em doadores de sangue no estado da Bahia. Foram realizados imunoensaios de deteccao de IgG e IgM anti-CMV, bem como avaliacao da avidez dos anticorpos IgG anti-CMV. A metodologia utilizada foi o Teste imunoenzimatico ELISA, confirmado por quimioluminescencia. A reatividade das amostras para a infeccao por CMV foi comparada entre generos e grupos etarios. Entre os 636 doadores testados, 428 (67,3%) eram do sexo masculino e 208 (32,7%) do sexo feminino. A soroprevalencia geral para CMV observada foi de 87,9%, sendo maior estatisticamente entre as mulheres (94,7%) do que entre os homens (84,6%) (p<0,05). Nenhuma amostra foi positiva para IgM anti-CMV. Cerca de 4,6% das amostras testadas apresentaram IgG anti-CMV em altos titulos, nestes casos foi realizado o imunoensaio de avidez do IgG anti-CMV que evidenciou: baixa avidez (31%), moderada avidez (21%) e alta avidez (48%). A alta soroprevalencia encontrada ressalta a importância do uso de estrategias como a leucorreducao e a transfusao com hemocomponente CMV-negativo em pacientes com alto risco de desenvolverem infeccao severa por CMV. Os altos titulos de IgG anti-CMV e o perfil da avidez dessa IgG sugerem a possibilidade da reativacao ou reinfeccao.

Parâmetros hematológicos e alterações histopatológicas em bijupirá (Rachycentron canadum Linnaeus, 1766) com amyloodiniose

O objetivo do trabalho foi descrever os parâmetros hematologicos e as alteracoes histopatologicas em bijupiras infectados por Amyloodinium ocellatum. Um grupo de 27 peixes foi anestesiado para coleta de amostras de sangue e eutanasiados para coleta de muco e fragmentos de tecido cutâneo e branquial. Foram avaliadas a prevalencia e a intensidade parasitaria da infeccao, assim como os valores de parâmetros hematologicos e alteracoes histopatologicas. A prevalencia parasitaria nas brânquias foi de 100% e no muco foi de 80,8% e as intensidades parasitarias medias foram de 683,5 nas brânquias, e 67,1 no muco cutâneo. Os valores medios dos parâmetros hematologicos foram: eritrocitos 4,3x106µL; VG 26%; VGM 64,2fL; proteina plasmatica 5,8mg/dL; trombocitos 5,2 x103/µL e leucocitos 3,6 x103/µL. Alem disso, foram verificadas hiperplasia do epitelio respiratorio acompanhada de fusao lamelar, descolamento do epitelio, dilatacao do seio venoso, formacao de aneurisma, ruptura do epitelio lamelar, hemorragia, necrose, reacao inflamatoria linfocitica. O parasito foi observado nas lamelas branquiais, o VMA variou do grau discreto ao severo e o IAH foi de 76,8. A pesquisa assume importância por se tratar dos primeiros estudos em Rachycentron canadum, um peixe que se destaca com potencial ao cultivo.

Radio resource allocation for maximization of user satisfaction

This paper proposes a time-frequency scheduling algorithm to maximize the satisfaction of users served by an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system. The satisfaction oriented resource allocation (SORA) algorithm takes into account in its formulation the channel quality, quality of service (QoS) requirements and effect of past allocations, so as to select, in an intelligent way, the set of users that can be more easily satisfied according to the system conditions.

Seroprevalence and serum profile of cytomegalovirus infection among patients with hematologic disorders in Bahia State, Brazil

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus with from 30% to 100% of the general population exhibiting prior exposure by serology. This cross‐sectional study evaluated the serological profile of anti‐CMV antibodies and two acute‐phase reaction proteins in Haematologic Disorder Patients (HDPs) from Bahia State, Brazil. Immuno‐chemiluminescence assays were performed to detect anti‐CMV IgM and IgG antibodies. Serological levels of High Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein (CRPH) and Alpha‐1‐Acid Glycoprotein (AAG) were measured using immunonephelometry. A total of 470 HDPs were enrolled, 238 (50.6%) males and 232 (49.4%) females. The overall seroprevalence of CMV was 89.4%, directly proportional to age and to the amount of blood units transfused. There was no difference between seroprevalence rates according to gender (P = 0.12). Four HDPs (0.9%) were seropositives for anti‐CMV IgM, only one could be characterized as recent acute infection. The most CMV seropositive HDPs had anti‐CMV IgG in low titers. There was a tendency for females to have higher anti‐CMV IgG titers than men (P < 0.05). CRPH levels were different among HDPs CMV negative and positive groups (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the AAG levels between groups (P = 0.15). The high CMV seroprevalence found underscores the importance of using strategies to provide “CMV safe” blood to HDPs who are at high risk of developing severe CMV infection. CRPH can be used as a biomarker associated with CMV seropositivity; however, more efforts are needed to better characterize the clinical profile of active CMV infection in this group of patients. J. Med. Virol. 83:298–304, 2011.

Prevalence of serological markers and risk factors for bloodborne pathogens in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of serological markers for HIV-1/2, HBV, HCV, Treponema cruzi and T. pallidum infections. The association of these infections with risk factors in a population from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil was also analysed. Of the 780 enrolled individuals, 545 (70%) were female and 235 (30%) were male. Seroprevalence of 0·8% (6/702), 1·3% (9/678), 1·5% (10/684), 3·5% (23/663) and 11·5% (77/668) for HIV-1/2, HBV, HCV, T. cruzi and T. pallidum infections, respectively, was observed. The seroprevalence of T. pallidum was higher in males 20% (43/210) than in females 7% (34/458) (P < 0·01). An association between age and seroprevalence for T. cruzi (P = 0·02) and T. pallidum (P < 0·01) was observed. HBsAg was associated with having tattoos (3/37 vs. 6/623, P = 0·01) and not having a steady sexual partner (5/141 vs. 4/473, P = 0·04), while anti-HIV-1/2 was associated with having tattoos (2/39 vs. 4/647, P = 0·04); however, larger studies are needed to categorically state the relationship of these risk factors with infectious agents. The prevalence of serological markers for HIV-1/2, HBV, HCV and T. cruzi was consistent with other studies.

New triterpene and antibacterial labdenoic acid derivatives from Moldenhawera nutans

A new triterpene derivative (22β-hydroxylupeol) was isolated from the MeOH extract of stems of Moldenhawera nutans (Leguminosae) together with labdenoic acid derivatives of common occurrence in this species. From the labd-8(17)-en-15-oic acid were prepared simple derivatives, which exhibited in vitro weak activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella cholerasuis, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Biological Effect of Leaf Aqueous Extract of Caesalpinia pyramidalis in Goats Naturally Infected with Gastrointestinal Nematodes

Forty-eight goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12): negative control (G1) (untreated), positive control (G2) (treated with doramectin, 1 mL/50 Kg b.w.), and G3 and G4 treated with 2.5 and 5 mg/Kg b.w. of a leaf aqueous extract of Caesalpinia pyramidalis (CP). Fecal and blood samples were regularly collected for the evaluation of fecal egg count (FEC), hematological and immunological parameters to assess the anthelmintic activity. In treated animals with CP, there was noted a significant reduction of 54.6 and 71.2% in the mean FEC (P < 0.05). An increase in IgA levels was observed in G3 and G4 (P < 0.05), during the experimental period, suggesting that it was stimulated by the extract administration. In conclusion, the results showed that CP provoked a protective response in infected animals treated with them. This response could be partly explained by the CP chemical composition.

Soroepidemiologia da infecção por HTLV-I/II em população assistida pelo Programa Saúde da Família em Salvador, Bahia

INTRODUCTION: HTLV is a retrovirus with high prevalence in Salvador, Bahia, when compared to other Brazilian capitals. The study of its risk factors is very important in order to understand the infection dynamics in the municipality. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and some risk factors for HTLV-I/II infection among people assisted by the Family Health Program (FHP) in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biological samples were obtained from FHP health centers in Salvador city. Immunoassays were performed by ELISA method for HTLV antibody detection. Retrospective data about potential risk factors to HTLV infection were obtained through questionnaire. RESULTS: 765 samples were tested, 529 (69.2%) females and 236 (30.8%) males. The overall HTLV-I/II seroprevalence was 1.96%, increasing according to age. HTLV-I/II seroprevalence was 2.16% and 1.89% for males and females, respectively (p = 0.833). Among seropositive individuals, 84.6% reported having a steady sexual partner and 61.5% do not use condoms frequently in their sexual intercourses, what similarly was observed among seronegative with 76.5% and 67.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence found is considered high compared to other Brazilian municipalities. The analyzed risk factors were not statistically different between HTLV-I/II seronegative and seropositive groups. The vertical transmission was not an important factor for virus maintenance.

Validation of an immunochromatographic assay for the multiple detection of specific antibodies against HIV, HBV, and HCV.

The manuscript published ahead of print as doi: [10.1128/CVI.00485-12][1] has been retracted. Although the authors maintain that the test procedures and results in the manuscript are valid and that they were not bound by a written contract with the product manufacturer, the authors have requested