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Horse welfare assessment (HWA) does not account for individual or herd parasite infection. This study investigated the connection between HWA and individual parasite fecal egg count (FEC) in 90 Thoroughbred horses. All horses were naturally infected with gastrointestinal parasites and were evaluated for individual welfare indicators and FEC monthly, for 12 months. Horses were divided into three groups of 30 mares, 30 foals aged between 13 and 16 months (G2013), and 30 foals aged between two months and one year (G2014). A horse welfare protocol was developed and 1024 assessments were carried out by five trained assessors. FEC ranged from 0 to 5,760 with 98.8 % showing small strongyle eggs. Body condition scores were ideal in 94.4 % of the evaluations (n = 967), and 95.8 % of all horses had good clinical and behavioral indicators. Despite the variation in FEC, the data found no significant association between FEC and the behavioral indicators. The study suggests that FEC alone should not be used as a determinant of welfare when animals are managed with good nutritional and health management practices.
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Bem-Estar do Animal , Doenças dos Cavalos , Animais , Cavalos/parasitologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Feminino , Fezes/parasitologia , Contagem de Ovos de Parasitas/veterinária , Masculino , Enteropatias Parasitárias/veterinária , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Interações Hospedeiro-ParasitaRESUMO
Chigger mites are ectoparasites of terrestrial tetrapods and can cause dermatitis in the host, known as trombiculiasis. In Brazil, there are 73 species of chiggers; however, cats never have recorded as a host in this country. Here, we report the first record of chiggers parasitizing a domestic cat in Brazil; and a new locality for Eutrombicula tinami (Oudemans 1910) in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.
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Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Dermatite/veterinária , Larva/classificação , Trombiculíase/veterinária , Trombiculidae/classificação , Animais , Brasil , Gatos , Infestações por Ácaros/veterinária , Trombiculidae/genéticaRESUMO
Chigger mites are ectoparasites of terrestrial tetrapods and can cause dermatitis in the host, known as trombiculiasis. In Brazil, there are 73 species of chiggers; however, cats never have recorded as a host in this country. Here, we report the first record of chiggers parasitizing a domestic cat in Brazil; and a new locality for Eutrombicula tinami (Oudemans 1910) in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers with the disease severity, pulmonary function and diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with COPD. METHODS: Seventy-four subjects were included, 39 with COPD (age 69±7 years; female 41%) and 35 for control group (age 69±7 years; female 43%). They were diagnosed with MetS and allocated in one of 4 subgroups: COPD and control, with and without MetS, respectively. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), paraoxonase-1, catalase activity, sulfhydryl group and total lipid hydroperoxide were assayed. Pulmonary function was performed with a plethysmograph. RESULTS: COPD severity (GOLD≥3) and pulmonary function were associated with sulfhydryl group and AOPP (P≤.03 for all). The prevalence of MetS was associated with AOPP in COPD (P=.04). Individuals with COPD and MetS showed higher AOPP compared to COPD without MetS (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: COPD severity, worse pulmonary function and presence of metabolic syndrome are associated with oxidative stress in individuals with COPD.
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BACKGROUND: Prophylactic administration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from adipose (AD-MSC) and bone marrow tissue (BM-MSC) in ovalbumin-induced asthma hinders inflammation in a Treg-dependent manner. It is uncertain whether MSCs act through Tregs when inflammation is already established in asthma induced by a clinically relevant allergen. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of therapeutic administration of MSCs on inflammation and Treg cells in house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma. METHODS: BM-MSCs and AD-MSCs were administered intratracheally to C57BL/6 mice 1 day after the last HDM challenge. Lung function, remodelling and parenchymal inflammation were assayed 3 or 7 days after MSCs treatment, through invasive plethysmography and histology, respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and mediastinal lymph nodes (mLNs) were assessed regarding the inflammatory profile by flow cytometry, ELISA and qRT-PCR. MSCs were studied regarding their potential to induce Treg cells from primed and unprimed lymphocytes in vitro. RESULTS: BM-MSCs, but not AD-MSCs, reduced lung influx of eosinophils and B cells and increased IL-10 levels in HDM-challenged mice. Neither BM-MSCs nor AD-MSCs reduced lung parenchymal inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness or mucus hypersecretion. BM-MSCs and AD-MSCs did not up-regulate Treg cell counts within the airways and mLNs, but BM-MSCs decreased the pro-inflammatory profile of alveolar macrophages. Co-culture of BM-MSCs and AD-MSCs with allergen-stimulated lymphocytes reduced Treg cell counts in a cell-to-cell contact-independent manner, although co-culture of both MSCs with unprimed lymphocytes up-regulated Treg cell counts. CONCLUSIONS: MSCs therapeutically administered exert anti-inflammatory effects in the airway of HDM-challenged mice, but do not ameliorate lung function or remodelling. Although MSC pre-treatment can increase Treg cell numbers, it is highly unlikely that the MSCs will induce Treg cell expansion when lymphocytes are allergenically primed in an established lung inflammation.
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Asma/imunologia , Asma/terapia , Imunomodulação , Transplante de Células-Tronco Mesenquimais , Células-Tronco Mesenquimais/metabolismo , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Alérgenos/imunologia , Animais , Asma/diagnóstico , Asma/metabolismo , Biópsia , Comunicação Celular , Técnicas de Cocultura , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Pyroglyphidae/imunologia , Testes de Função Respiratória , Linfócitos T Reguladores/metabolismoRESUMO
PURPOSE: A great proportion of the heritability of colorectal cancer (CRC) still remains unexplained, and rare variants, as well as copy number changes, have been proposed as potential candidates to explain the so-called 'missing heritability'. We aimed to identify rare high-to-moderately penetrant copy number variants (CNVs) in patients suspected of having hereditary CRC due to an early onset. METHODS/PATIENTS: We have selected for genome-wide copy number analysis, 27 MMR-proficient early onset CRC patients (<50 years) without identifiable germline mutations in Mendelian genes related to this phenotype. Rare CNVs were selected by removing all CNVs detected at MAF >1% in the in-house control CNV database (n = 629 healthy controls). Copy number assignment was checked by duplex real-time quantitative PCR or multiplex ligation probe amplification. Somatic mutation analysis in candidate genes included: loss of heterozygosity studies, point mutation screening, and methylation status of the promoter. RESULTS: We have identified two rare germline deletions involving the AK3 and SLIT2 genes in two patients. The search for a second somatic mutational event in the corresponding CRC tumors showed loss of heterozygosity in AK3, and promoter hypermethylation in SLIT2. Both genes have been previously related to colorectal carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that AK3 and SLIT2 may be potential candidates involved in genetic susceptibility to CRC.
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Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Variações do Número de Cópias de DNA/genética , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/genética , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/genética , Idade de Início , Metilação de DNA , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Variação Genética , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Humanos , Perda de Heterozigosidade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo RealRESUMO
Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is characterized by the absence of HBsAg and persistence of the virus genome (HBV-DNA) in liver tissue and/or blood. OBI has been reported in several clinical contexts. However, the clinical significance of OBI in tuberculosis (TB) treatment is unknown. We investigated the OBI prevalence and its impact on the risk of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) during TB treatment. This was a prospective cohort study with one hundred patients who were treated for TB from 2008 to 2015. Laboratory, clinical and demographic data of TB patients were extracted from medical records. Based on HBV-DNA testing of serum samples, an OBI prevalence of 12% was established; almost half of these patients had both anti-HBc and anti-HBs serological markers. Low CD4+ cell counts have been shown to be a risk factor for OBI among TB patients co-infected with HIV (P=.036). High DILI incidence was observed in this study. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was conducted and identified OBI (HR 2.98, 95% CI 1.30-6.86) as the strongest predictor for DILI when adjusted to CD4+ cell count (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.90), ALT before TB treatment (HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.81-2.32) and TB extrapulmonary clinical form (HR 2.91, 95% CI 1.75-7.21). The main aim of this study was to highlight DILI as a clinical outcome during treatment of TB patients with OBI. Therefore, HBV-DNA testing should be considered routinely in monitoring DILI, and also in other clinical implications associated with OBI, reduce morbidity and mortality.
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Antituberculosos/efeitos adversos , Antituberculosos/uso terapêutico , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/epidemiologia , DNA Viral/sangue , Hepatite B Crônica/complicações , Tuberculose/complicações , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Antígenos de Superfície da Hepatite B/sangue , Hepatite B Crônica/patologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Estudos Prospectivos , Tuberculose/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Efficient control of gastrointestinal parasites is necessary in sheep breeding. However, the available chemically based anthelmintics are becoming less effective due to the development of parasite resistance. An alternative to this problem is biological control. In the present study, we tested the larvicidal effect of Bacillus circulans by administering a spore suspension (2 × 109 colony forming units/ml) orally to lambs naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus. The number of faecal larvae was quantified daily and a significant reduction (~87%, P< 0.05) of larval development was observed after administration of B. circulans. Using a transformed B. circulans with green fluorescent protein, we were able to detect B. circulans in the faeces at 4 h post-administration and 72 h after cessation of its administration. These results suggest the use of B. circulans as a promising biological alternative for parasite control.
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Antibiose , Bacillus/fisiologia , Hemoncose/veterinária , Haemonchus/microbiologia , Larva/microbiologia , Doenças dos Ovinos/terapia , Animais , Fezes/parasitologia , Hemoncose/parasitologia , Hemoncose/terapia , Haemonchus/fisiologia , Larva/fisiologia , Controle Biológico de Vetores , Ovinos , Doenças dos Ovinos/parasitologia , Esporos Bacterianos/fisiologiaRESUMO
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Anti-tuberculosis drugs (ATD), although highly effective, often cause liver injury. Glutathione S-transferases (GST) play a crucial protective role in the detoxifying mechanisms of drugs. Several studies have investigated the genetic null variants of GSTM1 and GSTT1 as possible risk factors for ATD-induced liver injury; however, those findings are inconsistent. We investigated GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in Brazilian patients with tuberculosis (TB), adjusting for other possible predictors of ATD-induced liver injury. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study with patients who were treated for TB from 2006 to 2011. GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletions were analysed from genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were extracted from medical records and possible predictors of liver injury were evaluated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This study enrolled 177 patients. Anti-tuberculosis drugs-induced liver injury incidence was 33.3%. Hepatitis B infection (HBV) and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) baseline were significant predictors. Neither GSTM1 nor GSTT1 null genotypes were associated with ATD-induced liver injury; nevertheless, the comparison among four different liver toxicity grades showed that GSTM1 non-null genotype was significant more frequent among the higher grades of liver toxicity. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes do not seem to play important roles in ATD-induced liver injury in Brazilians. However, there was evidence that GSTM1 polymorphisms were possibly related to the intensity of toxicity. Active HBV and initial high ALT could predict ATD-induced liver injury.
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Antituberculosos/efeitos adversos , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/etiologia , Glutationa Transferase/genética , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiologia , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/epidemiologia , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/genética , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Deleção de Genes , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Genótipo , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo Genético , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Tuberculose/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
Environmental biomonitoring has demonstrated that organisms such as crustaceans, fish and mushrooms are useful to evaluate and monitor both ecosystem contamination and quality. Particularly, some mushroom species have a high capacity to retain radionuclides and some toxic elements from the soil and the air. The potential of mushrooms to accumulate radionuclides in their fruit-bodies has been well documented. However, there are no studies that determine natural and artificial radionuclide composition in edible mushrooms, in Brazil. Artificial ((137)Cs) and natural radioactivity ((40)K, (22)(6)Ra, (2)(28)Ra) were determined in 17 mushroom samples from 3 commercialized edible mushroom species. The edible mushrooms collected were Agaricus sp., Pleurotus sp. and Lentinula sp. species. The activity measurements were carried out by gamma spectrometry. The levels of (137)Cs varied from 1.45 ± 0.04 to 10.6 ± 0.3 Bq kg(-1), (40)K levels varied from 461 ± 2 to 1535 ± 10 Bq kg(-1), (2)(26)Ra levels varied from 14 ± 3 to 66 ± 12 Bq kg(-1) and (228)Ra levels varied from 6.2 ± 0.2 to 54.2 ± 1.7 Bq kg(-1). (137)Cs levels in Brazilian mushrooms are in accordance with the radioactive fallout in the Southern Hemisphere. The artificial and natural activities determined in this study were found to be below the maximum permissible levels as established by national legislation. Thus, these mushroom species can be normally consumed by the population without any apparent risks to human health.
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Agaricales/metabolismo , Brasil , Radioisótopos de Césio/metabolismo , Radioisótopos de Potássio/metabolismo , Radioatividade , Radioisótopos , Rádio (Elemento)/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Liver toxicity due to tuberculosis (TB) treatment is a frequent cause of treatment interruption, and may sometimes lead to a change in therapy to a less potent regimen. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of hepatotoxicity in patients with or without hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection receiving TB treatment and to develop a clinical prediction rule. DESIGN: A prospective observational follow-up was conducted. Data from 154 patients who underwent TB treatment were analysed. Crude risk ratios were estimated and a Cox proportional hazards model was fit. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 187 days. Crude risk ratios showed that ethnicity, human immunodeficiency virus infection, multiple sexual partners, highly active antiretroviral treatment, and clinical forms of TB were possible predictors of liver toxicity. HBV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases showed considerable relative risk, although not statistically significant. The Cox proportional hazards model identified the following predictors of hepatotoxicity: White ethnicity, multiple sexual partners, high baseline alanine transferase and clinical forms of TB. Active HBV, indicated by the detection of surface antigen HBV, could predict hepatotoxicity, although with low precision. CONCLUSION: Using this information, we were able to apply a score and draw a nomogram to estimate survival probabilities and median times to event for each patient.
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Antituberculosos/efeitos adversos , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/etiologia , Hepatite B/complicações , Tuberculose/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade/efeitos adversos , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade/métodos , Antituberculosos/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Seguimentos , Infecções por HIV/complicações , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos de Riscos Proporcionais , Estudos Prospectivos , Grupos Raciais , Fatores de Risco , Parceiros Sexuais , Fatores de Tempo , Tuberculose/complicações , Tuberculose/mortalidade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
CONTEXTO: Uma síndrome amnésica clássica caracteriza-se por evidente prejuízo da memória anterógrada, variável e temporária amnésia retrógrada, sendo as formas não-declarativas da memória poupadas. Entretanto, publicações recentes relataram casos de prejuízo desproporcional da memória retrógrada em relação à anterógrada. OBJETIVOS: Relatar o caso de um paciente de 26 anos de idade com um quadro grave de amnésia retrógrada, aparentemente sem fatores desencadeantes. MÉTODOS: Entrevista psiquiátrica e avaliação neuropsicológica. RESULTADOS: A perda de memória do paciente se estendia por toda sua vida, mas ele era capaz de adquirir e reter novas informações. Ele também apresentava prejuízos na produção e na compreensão de palavras, assim como no reconhecimento e no uso de objetos. CONCLUSÃO: A formulação diagnóstica final do caso é difícil, apontando possivelmente o contínuo existente entre a amnésia retrógrada psicogênica e a orgânica.
BACKGROUND: A classic amnestic syndrome is characterized by a significant impairment of the anterograde memory, a variable and transitory retrograde amnesia with preserved non-declarative memory. However, case reports of patients with disproportionate compromise of the retrograde memory have been described in the recent literature. OBJECTIVES: To report a 26-year-old patient with a severe global retrograde amnesia with no evident triggering factor. METHODS: Psychiatric interview and neuropsychological evaluation. RESULTS: His memory loss compromised all domains of his life, although he could acquire and retain new information. He also exhibited prominent deficits in production and comprehension of common words as well as in recognition and use of objects. DISCUSSION: The final diagnostic formulation of the present case is difficult possibly indicating a continuum between psychogenic and organic retrograde amnesia.
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Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Amnésia Retrógrada/diagnóstico , Transtornos da Memória/diagnóstico , Amnésia Retrógrada/fisiopatologia , Bateria Neuropsicológica de Luria-NebraskaRESUMO
Cognitive assessment in schizophrenia has traditionally used batteries that are long and complex or differ widely in their content. The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) has been developed to cover the main cognitive deficits of schizophrenia as well as to be easily and briefly administered, portable, sensitive and reliable. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the applicability and sensitivity of the Brazilian Version of the BACS (Brazilian-BACS). METHODS: Performance of 20 stable patients with schizophrenia on the Brazilian-BACS was compared to 20 matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Applying the Brazilian-BACS required 43.4±8.4minutes for patients and 40.5±5.7 minutes for controls (p=0.17). All tests demonstrated significant differences between controls and patients (P<0.01). Pearson's correlation analysis and Cronbach's a evidenced a high internal consistency for patient performance. The cognitive deficit in the patients was approximately 1.5 standard deviations below controls. These results were consistent with those reported in the validation of the original version and in meta-analyses of similar studies. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian-BACS displayed good applicability and sensitivity in assessing the major cognitive constructs that are impaired in schizophrenia. Thus, the Brazilian-BACS seems to be a promising tool for assessing cognition in patients with schizophrenia in Brazil.
A avaliação cognitiva na esquizofrenia tem utilizado tradicionalmente baterias longas e complexas ou que variam significativamente em seu conteúdo. A "Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia" (BACS) foi desenvolvida para cobrir os principais déficits cognitivos na esquizofrenia, para ser de fácil e breve aplicação, assim como portátil, sensível e confiável. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a aplicabilidade e a sensibilidade da versão brasileira da BACS (Brazilian-BACS). MÉTODOS: O desempenho de 20 pacientes estáveis com esquizofrenia na Brazilian-BACS foi comparado ao de 20 controles saudáveis pareados. RESULTADOS: A aplicação da Brazilian-BACS exigiu 43.4±8.4minutos nos pacientes e 40.5±5.7 minutos nos controles (p=0.17). Todos os testes foram significativamente diferentes entre pacientes e controles (P<0.01). A correlação de Pearson e o alfa de Cronbach evidenciaram alto grau de consistência interna no desempenho dos pacientes. O déficit cognitivo nos pacientes foi cerca de 1,5 desvio-padrão menor do que nos controles. Esses resultados são consistentes com os relatados na validação da versão original e em meta-análises de estudos similares. CONCLUSÕES: A Brazilian-BACS mostrou boas aplicabilidade e sensibilidade na investigação dos principais domínios cognitivos comprometidos na esquizofrenia. Portanto, a Brazilian-BACS mostra-se um instrumento promissor no estudo da cognição de pacientes com esquizofrenia no Brasil.
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To determine the prevalence and exposure factors associated with hepatitis B infection in tuberculosis patients with and without HIV type 1 coinfection, the presence of hepatitis B virus serological markers was investigated in a retrospective study. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus in patients with tuberculosis only was 14.6%, and in tuberculosis patients coinfected with HIV it increased to 35.8%. In patients with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection, homosexuality constituted the principal exposure factor, while in tuberculosis patients without HIV, a gradual increase in hepatitis B virus seroprevalence was noted along with increasing age. The results demonstrate that hepatitis B infection is highly prevalent in tuberculosis patients in Brazil and suggest that a vaccination program for the general population should be considered in order to prevent further hepatitis B infections.
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Infecções Oportunistas Relacionadas com a AIDS/diagnóstico , Infecções Oportunistas Relacionadas com a AIDS/epidemiologia , Hepatite B/epidemiologia , Tuberculose Pulmonar/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Brasil/epidemiologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Comorbidade , Feminino , Hepatite B/diagnóstico , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Medição de Risco , Testes Sorológicos , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Distribuição por Sexo , Taxa de Sobrevida , Tuberculose Pulmonar/diagnóstico , População UrbanaRESUMO
Diabetes mellitus is a widespread disease whose frequency increases constantly and is expected to reach alarming levels by the year 2025. Introduction of insulin therapy represented a major breakthrough; however, a very strict regimen is required to maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range and to prevent or postpone chronic complications associated with this disease. Frequent hyper- and hypoglycemia seriously affect the quality of life of these patients. Reversion of this situation can only be achieved through whole organ (pancreas) transplant or pancreatic islet transplant, the former being a high-risk surgical procedure, while the latter is a much simpler and may be accomplished in only 20-40 min. The advantages and perspectives of islet cell transplantation will be discussed, in the light of tissue engineering and gene therapy. Ongoing research carried out in our laboratory, aimed at developing clinical cell and molecular therapy protocols for diabetes will also be focused