Rosana Rosa Miranda Corrêa

Mucosal Immunity in the Female Genital Tract, HIV/AIDS

Mucosal immunity consists of innate and adaptive immune responses which can be influenced by systemic immunity. Despite having been the subject of intensive studies, it is not fully elucidated what exactly occurs after HIV contact with the female genital tract mucosa. The sexual route is the main route of HIV transmission, with an increased risk of infection in women compared to men. Several characteristics of the female genital tract make it suitable for inoculation, establishment of infection, and systemic spread of the virus, which causes local changes that may favor the development of infections by other pathogens, often called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The relationship of these STDs with HIV infection has been widely studied. Here we review the characteristics of mucosal immunity of the female genital tract, its alterations due to HIV/AIDS, and the characteristics of coinfections between HIV/AIDS and the most prevalent STDs.

Neonatal Sepsis and Inflammatory Mediators

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and its signs and symptoms are nonspecific, which makes the diagnosis difficult. The routinely used laboratory tests are not effective methods of analysis, as they are extremely nonspecific and often cause inappropriate use of antibiotics. Sepsis is the result of an infection associated with a systemic inflammatory response with production and release of a wide range of inflammatory mediators. Cytokines are potent inflammatory mediators and their serum levels are increased during infections, so changes from other inflammatory effector molecules may occur. Although proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been identified as probable markers of neonatal infection, in order to characterize the inflammatory response during sepsis, it is necessary to analyze a panel of cytokines and not only the measurement of individual cytokines. Measurements of inflammatory mediators bring new options for diagnosing and following up neonatal sepsis, thus enabling early treatment and, as a result, increased neonatal survival. By taking into account the magnitude of neonatal sepsis, the aim of this review is to address the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of neonatal sepsis and its value as a diagnostic criterion.

Efetividade do tratamento de gestantes hipertensas

OBJECTIVE: To compare the maternal-fetal clinical intercurrences and the effectiveness of treatment in the different clinical forms of hypertensive syndromes during pregnancy (HSP). METHODS: Medical records of 200 pregnant women with HSP were reviewed to appraise fetal intercurrences, classification of the hypertensive syndrome and use of antihypertensives. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients analyzed, 85 (42.5%) were controls; 32 (16%) presented gestational hypertension (GH), 67 (33.5%) had Pre-eclampsia (PE), 6 (3%) had chronic hypertension and 10 (5%) cases had PE superimposed chronic hypertension (PSCH). The lowest values for gestational age, weights of the newborn and for the Apgar index were observed in the patients with PE and PSCH. Treatment did not alter the Apgar index in relation to control and non-treated GH patients. Patients with PE presented the lowest gestational age and the smallest Apgar index when compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Introduction of an antihypertensive therapy during gestation was of fundamental importance for health improvement and pressure control of the pregnant woman with HSP. Nevertheless, it has been of little help for prevention of perinatal intercurrences. This was substantiated by the absence of improvement in the gestational conditions between the treated group when compared to the non-treated. Medication did not significantly improve the maternal-fetal blood flow and consequently in the birth condition of the child.The objective was to compare the maternal-fetal clinical intercurrences and the effectiveness of treatment in the different clinical forms of hypertensive syndromes during pregnancy (HSP). Medical records of 200 pregnant women with HSP were reviewed to appraise fetal intercurrences classification of the hypertensive syndrome and use of antihypertensives. Of the 200 patients analyzed 85 (42.5%) were controls; 32 (16%) presented gestational hypertension (GH) 67 (33.5%) had Pre-eclampsia (PE) 6 (3%) had chronic hypertension and 10 (5%) cases had PE superimposed chronic hypertension (PSCH). The lowest values for gestational age weights of the newborn and for the Apgar index were observed in the patients with PE and PSCH. Treatment did not alter the Apgar index in relation to control and non-treated GH patients. Patients with PE presented the lowest gestational age and the smallest Apgar index when compared to controls. Introduction of an antihypertensive therapy during gestation was of fundamental importance for health improvement and pressure control of the pregnant woman with HSP. Nevertheless it has been of little help for prevention of perinatal intercurrences. This was substantiated by the absence of improvement in the gestational conditions between the treated group when compared to the non-treated. Medication did not significantly improve the maternal-fetal blood flow and consequently in the birth condition of the child. (authors)OBJECTIVE To compare the maternal-fetal clinical intercurrences and the effectiveness of treatment in the different clinical forms of hypertensive syndromes during pregnancy (HSP). METHODS Medical records of 200 pregnant women with HSP were reviewed to appraise fetal intercurrences, classification of the hypertensive syndrome and use of antihypertensives. RESULTS Of the 200 patients analyzed, 85 (42.5%) were controls; 32 (16%) presented gestational hypertension (GH), 67 (33.5%) had Pre-eclampsia (PE), 6 (3%) had chronic hypertension and 10 (5%) cases had PE superimposed chronic hypertension (PSCH). The lowest values for gestational age, weights of the newborn and for the Apgar index were observed in the patients with PE and PSCH. Treatment did not alter the Apgar index in relation to control and non-treated GH patients. Patients with PE presented the lowest gestational age and the smallest Apgar index when compared to controls. CONCLUSION Introduction of an antihypertensive therapy during gestation was of fundamental importance for health improvement and pressure control of the pregnant woman with HSP. Nevertheless, it has been of little help for prevention of perinatal intercurrences. This was substantiated by the absence of improvement in the gestational conditions between the treated group when compared to the non-treated. Medication did not significantly improve the maternal-fetal blood flow and consequently in the birth condition of the child.

Role of mast cell chymase and tryptase in the progression of atherosclerosis: study in 44 autopsied cases.

The aim of this study was to describe the role of mast cell chymase and tryptase in the progression of atherosclerosis. Forty-four sections of aortas were obtained from autopsies. We assessed the macroscopic degree of atherosclerosis, microscopic intensity of lipid deposition in the tunica intima, percentage of collagen in the tunica intima, and density of immunostained mast cells. There was no significant difference between the density of mast cell tryptase and chymase concerning ethnicity, sex, cause of death, or degree of atherosclerosis. The density of mast cell chymase was significantly higher in the nonelderly group. The percentage of collagen was significantly higher in elderly patients. There was a positive and significant correlation between the degree of macroscopic atherosclerosis and lipidosis, the density of mast cell chymase and the percentage of collagen, the density of mast cell tryptase and the percentage of collagen, and lipidosis and the density of mast cell tryptase. The degree of macroscopic lesion of atherosclerosis increased proportionally with the increase in the density of mast cell chymase and tryptase and in the intensity of lipid deposition and with the percentage of collagen in the atherosclerotic plaques. Thus, mast cells may play a crucial role in aggravating atherosclerotic lesions.

An Overview of Molecular Mechanism of Nephrotic Syndrome

Podocytopathies (minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)) together with membranous nephropathy are the main causes of nephrotic syndrome. Some changes on the expression of nephrin, podocin, TGF-β, and slit diaphragm components as well as transcription factors and transmembrane proteins have been demonstrated in podocytopathies. Considering the pathogenesis of proteinuria, some elucidations have been directed towards the involvement of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, the usefulness of some markers such as TGF-β1, nephrin, synaptopodin, dystroglycans, and malondialdehyde have been determined in the differentiation between MCD and FSGS. Experimental models and human samples indicated an essential role of autoantibodies in membranous glomerulonephritis, kidney damage, and proteinuria events. Megalin and phospholipase-A2-receptor have been described as antigens responsible for the formation of the subepithelial immune complexes and renal disease occurrence. In addition, the complement system seems to play a key role in basal membrane damage and in the development of proteinuria in membranous nephropathy. This paper focuses on the common molecular changes involved in the development of nephrotic proteinuria.

Esophageal epithelium of women with AIDS: Thickness and local immunity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the esophageal epithelium (EE) and its local immunity. Esophageal fragments of autopsied women were collected from 1980 to 2008, and two groups were analyzed: with AIDS (n=17) and without AIDS (n=12). The measurement of the esophageal epithelium was carried out through the image analysis software ImageJ, and the immunostaining of Langerhans cells (LCs) was carried out using anti-S100 antibody. Women with AIDS, when compared with women without AIDS, had significantly thinner EE (220.6 versus 243.5 microm), a less number of LCs (6.2 versus 18.8 LCs/mm(2)), and a higher percentage of immature or morphologically altered LCs (66.6 versus 40.0%). The malnourished women, when compared with normonourished women, regardless of AIDS, had significantly thinner EE (227.1 versus 238.0 microm) and a less number of LCs (6.2 versus 12.5 LCs/mm(2)). The percentage of immature or morphologically altered LCs was the same in both groups. Additionally, the women with AIDS (7.0 versus 2.8%) and the malnourished women (5.8 versus 3.1%) presented a significantly higher percentage of fibrosis. We concluded that AIDS and malnutrition contribute to the decrease in esophagus local immunity and, therefore, to a possible increase in local opportunistic infections.

The influence of gender and of AIDS on the immunity of autopsied patients' esophagus.

Previous studies have shown that males who have AIDS are more frequently affected by infectious diseases than females. The esophagus is the organ in the digestive tube that is more commonly affected by opportunistic infections during the syndrome. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of AIDS and of gender on local immunity of the esophageal epithelium. Fragments of the esophagus from 29 autopsied women and 37 autopsied men were collected at a university hospital from 1980 to 2009 and were divided in groups with and without AIDS. The IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-positive cells and Langerhans cells (LCs) were immunostained, respectively, with anti-IgA, anti-IgG, anti-IgM, and anti-S100. The software Image J was used to measure the esophageal epithelium and to count the epithelium cellular layers. Patients with AIDS, apart from gender, showed an increase in IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-positive cells and a reduction of Langerhans cells, in thickness and in number of cellular layers in the esophageal epithelium. However, among individuals with AIDS, men presented lower secretory expression of IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-positive cells than women and more intense reduction of LCs. Women have naturally presented better local esophageal immunity than men. Although AIDS possibly causes immunological and morphological alterations in the esophageal epithelium in both genders, women have better esophageal immunity, which may explain a greater frequency of hospital admissions due to infection of men with AIDS when compared with women.

Intrauterine infection, immune system and premature birth

Abstract Preterm birth accounts for nearly one million deaths among children under five years of age, and although its etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated, ascending intrauterine infection and fetal inflammatory response seem to be the main triggers. The intense inflammatory response mediated by IL-1β, TNF-α, PAF, IFN-γ and IL-6, PGE2 and MMP-1 and MMP-9 causes fetal membrane damage and rupture, increased uterine contractions and biochemical and structural changes in the cervix. Furthermore, preterm neonates have deficient innate and adaptive immune responses characterized by reduced levels of IgG, opsonization and phagocytosis, as well as increased activation of Th1 cells in relation to Th2 cells. Therefore, this triad is favors the occurrence of neonatal complications, such as respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Due to serious maternal and child health complications of intrauterine infection, several studies have tried to identify biomarkers for the early diagnosis of this entity. This literature review aims to discuss the main scientific findings regarding the association between ascending intrauterine infection, immune system and preterm birth.

Alterações anatomopatológicas da placenta e variações do índice de Apgar

OBJETIVOS: descrever possiveis alteracoes anatomopatologicas placentarias associadas a hipoxia fetal, avaliada pelo indice de Apgar. METODOS: foram estudadas 167 placentas de partos realizados no Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, em Uberaba, atraves da analise macroscopica e microscopica, e de informacoes clinicas obtidas de prontuarios. O indice de Apgar menor que sete foi o parâmetro utilizado para se diagnosticar hipoxia fetal. RESULTADOS: foram encontradas alteracoes placentarias compativeis com hipertensao e infiltrado inflamatorio. As placentas com alteracoes compativeis com baixo fluxo sanguineo cursaram mais frequentemente com fetos com indice de Apgar <7 no 5o minuto (p=0,017). CONCLUSOES: pode existir uma relacao entre alteracoes placentarias e hipoxia fetal evidenciada pelo indice de Apgar. Portanto, o exame anatomopatologico da placenta poderia ser utilizado para esclarecer causas de hipoxia perinatal nao evidenciadas na clinica.

Pulmonary innate immune response and melatonin receptors in the perinatal stress.

Objective. To analyze the cytokines of the innate immune pulmonary response and the capacity for local response to melatonin according to the perinatal stress. Methods. 49 cases of pediatric autopsies were evaluated, divided according to cause of death, perinatal stress, gestational age, and birth weight. The percentages of IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1β, TNF-α, and melatonin receptor were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results. The IL-6 expression was higher in the children showing chronic stress, anoxia, and infection. The IL-6 expression showed a progressive increase according to the relation between weight and GA. There was no significant difference in the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α. The CRP expression was higher in the cases showing chronic stress and premature cases. The expression of melatonin receptors was significantly higher in the cases showing chronic stress, being more evident in the cases showing infection. Conclusion. The cause of death and the type of stress influence the expression in situ of melatonin and cytokines of the innate immune pulmonary response. The evaluation of IL-6 and CRP may contribute to the understanding of the evolution of neonates with chronic stress. The greater sensitivity of the lung to melatonin in these cases may indicate an attempt at controlling the immunological response, in an attempt to diminish the harmful effects of stress.