RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The rheumatoid factor (RF) is the most common antibody found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It is an inflammatory chronic disease characterized by articular involvement, inflammation of synovial fluid, tissue infiltration by leucocytes and joint destruction, which ultimately determine articular deformities. The rheumatoid factor is found in 70%-80% of the adult population and in 10% of the young population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to compare immunoturbidimetric and latex agglutination methods for the detection of RF in serum. RESULTS: The immunoturbidimetric method displayed sensitivity (95.2%), specificity (89.4%) and high positive correlation (R² = 0,8077) with the latex agglutination method in positive serum samples. CONCLUSION: The study allowed to demonstrate that both immunoturbidimetric and latex agglutination methods equally discriminate between negative and positive serum samples for RF.
INTRODUÇÃO: O fator reumatoide (FR) é o autoanticorpo mais comum encontrado em pacientes com artrite reumatoide, uma doença crônica inflamatória caracterizada pelo envolvimento articular com inflamação do líquido sinovial, infiltração de tecido por leucócitos e destruição das articulações, que acaba por determinar deformidades articulares. O FR é encontrado em 70%-80% da população adulta e em 10% da população juvenil. OBJETIVO: Comparar os métodos de imunoturbidimetria e aglutinação (prova do látex) para a determinação de FR em soro. RESULTADO: Foi possível observar que o método imunoturbidimétrico apresenta sensibilidade (95,2%), especificidade (89,4%) e correlação positiva elevada (R² = 0,8077) com o método de aglutinação pelo látex em amostras de soro positivas. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo permitiu demonstrar que o método imunoturbidimétrico e o método de aglutinação pelo látex são igualmente capazes de discriminar amostras negativas e positivas para FR.
Assuntos
Humanos , Fator Reumatoide/análise , Nefelometria e Turbidimetria/métodos , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Testes de Fixação do Látex/métodosRESUMO
AIM: The purpose of this research was to assess the effects of the flower essences She Oak and Bush Fuchsia on behavioral anxiety in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS: For four weeks, OVX rats received the flower essences She Oak, Bush Fuchsia or a combination of the two. After flower therapy, the animals were subjected to an elevated plus maze (EPM) behavioral anxiety-test. Cortisol blood level was also evaluated. RESULTS: OVX rats treated with the flower essence She Oak became less anxious and had more entries in the EPM open arms. On the other hand, OVX rats treated with the Bush Fuchsia essence spent more time in the EPM closed arms. This finding is similar to those obtained with controls. In addition, OVX rats that received She Oak and Bush Fuchsia in combination presented the same results as those receiving the Bush Fuchsia alone. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the flower essence She Oak could have an anxiolytic effect in OVX rats, but that the combination therapy of the She Oak and Bush Fuchsia could avoid the effects of the She Oak.